Do Not Argue

Google Chrome OS - FAQ

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:06:42 +0000

We've been getting a number of questions in reference to our 'Introducing the Google Chrome OS' blog post, and so here are a number of your most frequently asked Qs – along with our As. We'll be sure to add more to this list as popular questions come in.

Is Google Chrome OS free?
Yes – Google Chrome OS is an open source project and will be available to use at no cost.

What companies is Google working with to support Google Chrome OS?
The Google Chrome OS team is currently working with a number of technology companies to design and build devices that deliver an extraordinary end user experience. Among others, these companies include Acer, Adobe, ASUS, Freescale, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, and Toshiba.

I'm a developer – how can I work with you?
Thanks for your interest. Later this year, the Google Chrome OS code will be open sourced. We're looking forward to working with the open source community and making our own small contribution to the great work being done out there. Please stay tuned.

If you are interested in a full time position as a software engineer please visit the jobs pages for the following offices and indicate that you are interested in Chrome.

Source

Vendors take conservative attitude toward Atom N450-based netbook sales

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:04:44 +0000

Several notebook vendors have revealed that they will not take an aggressive role to launch the next generation Atom N450-based netbooks and will instead monitor Acer's schedule to lineup their launch plans.

Netbook demand in the first half of 2009 failed to reach some vendors expectations causing them to be left with a large amount of overstocked inventory and limited profits because of fierce competition. As a result these vendors have already significantly reduced their R&D and marketing budgets for netbook products.

White-box netbook makers in China also noted that the netbook market has already began to cool down triggering large numbers of white-box players to quit the market.

Although white-box netbook makers in China have already received engineering samples of the Atom N450 CPU, they have commented that they will first observe Acer and Asustek Computer's netbook lineups to form a reference for the fourth quarter of 2009 and will start mass production in first-quarter 2010.

Source

Mushkin adds GTX 295 to its lineup

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:09:29 +0000

Mushkin has announced its new addition to its recently announced ultimateFX line of graphics cards, the single-PCB GTX 295. Mushkin was keen on letting everybody know that they are currently testing overclocking capabilities of this card, so we guess that we might see an overclocked card pretty soon.

The card works at reference 576MHz, 1242MHz and 1998MHz for core, shaders and 1792MB of memory. Mushkin has kept its stickers at a minimum, so you will have an all black card with a small Mushkin sticker on the fan. The card is shipped in a wooden box, and should be available soon.

Unfortunately, neither one of the newly announced Mushkin graphics cards are still available.

Source

OCZ Technology Continues to Push the Envelope in SSDs, and Unveils the Vertex Turbo Featuring Increased Host Clock-Speed and DRAM Cache Speed

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:07:26 +0000

San Jose, Calif.—July 7, 2009—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory and computer components, today released the latest addition to their premium Vertex solid state drive series, the Vertex Turbo Edition. The tried-and-true architecture and performance of the original Vertex has been upgraded to meet the demands of enthusiasts and other performance-seeking users who benefit from SSD technology. The Vertex Turbo Series maximizes the potential for ultimate productivity and state-of-the-art computing experience, by increasing both the host clock-speed and the SDR DRAM Cache to 180MHz versus 166MHz on the original series.

“OCZ is constantly looking for ways to advance our solutions, and based on feedback from our enthusiast consumers and top system integrators we looked for ways to further push the performance envelope in our popular Vertex Series of SSD’s,” commented Ryan Edwards, Director of Product Management for the OCZ Technology Group. “The new Vertex Turbo makes use of the fastest SDR DRAM cache available and a proprietary FTL level firmware that provides an even faster solid state drive for enthusiasts looking for the ultimate desktop or laptop storage upgrade.”

OCZ Vertex Turbo Series provides a cutting-edge design for enthusiasts looking to transform their desktops or laptops. Enabled by a proprietary firmware and 64MB of 180MHz DRAM cache, the Vertex Turbo Edition ramps up performance levels to new heights, while providing the snappy computing, longer battery life, and shorter boot-ups users have enjoyed from the original. The Vertex Turbo delivers best-in-class read and write speeds clocking in at up to 270MB/s read and 210MB/s write along with the lower power consumption and superior durability compared to conventional hard drives.

OCZ continues to pioneer the flash-based storage initiative, by offering a variety of performance options and expanding its reach to all areas of computing interests and system preferences. OCZ Vertex Turbo is the result of the latest breakthroughs in SSD technology that translates to enthusiast-class data storage enthusiasts have come to expect from OCZ. Available in capacities of 30GB (32), 60GB (64), 120GB (128), and 250GB (256), Vertex Turbo SSDs offers ample room for all your data and comes backed with an industry leading 3 Year Warranty and OCZ’s exemplary service and support.

For more information about the OCZ Vertex Turbo Edition SSD, please visit our product page here

Square Enix Europe formed

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:41:11 +0000

Square Enix has announced the creation of a new entity, Square Enix Europe, to publish all games in Europe by Eidos and itself.

The most famous name in Britsoft will still exist as a developer, but its publishing days appear to be over.

Though current Eidos CEO Phil Rogers will head up the new operation, with John Yamamoto still head of Square Enix in North America, job losses are expected on both sides of the Atlantic. No cuts have been announced yet, however.

The move completes Square Enix's absorption of Eidos, driven by an interest in its global portfolio of developers, and its hit franchises such as Tomb Raider, Deus Ex and Hitman. The acquisition was completed in April at a cost of £84million for the Japanese company.

A press release at the time 'confirmed' that "the Eidos brand will continue to be the brand identity for the business." But if the business in question was publishing games, it seems Square Enix had other ideas.

Article supplied by Edge-Online

Update: Eidos UK, or Square Enix, just sent us the following:

Square Enix and Eidos Interactive are pleased to announce plans to create a new organisation to drive forward their European business. Square Enix Europe (final name tbc) will include Eidos' global network of studios and combine the Square Enix and Eidos European sales and marketing businesses to create one efficient and powerful structure for game publishing.

In North America the current Square Enix organisation will continue to serve this market. All marketing, sales and distribution functions will be transferred from Eidos Inc. to Square Enix in this territory.

Square Enix Europe will be led by Phil Rogers, Square Enix in North America will be led by John Yamamoto.

Will the Eidos brand remain? "Yes the Eidos brand will remain for games developed by Eidos studios."

Will any jobs be impacted? "Unfortunately we are expecting some jobs to be impacted directly by this in both Europe and North America. We are hoping to minimise this wherever possible and offer support and advice to any employees directly affected."

Source

Introducing the Google Chrome OS

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:00:11 +0000

It's been an exciting nine months since we launched the Google Chrome browser. Already, over 30 million people use it regularly. We designed Google Chrome for people who live on the web — searching for information, checking email, catching up on the news, shopping or just staying in touch with friends. However, the operating systems that browsers run on were designed in an era where there was no web. So today, we're announcing a new project that's a natural extension of Google Chrome — the Google Chrome Operating System. It's our attempt to re-think what operating systems should be.

Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we're already talking to partners about the project, and we'll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve.

Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS. We're designing the OS to be fast and lightweight, to start up and get you onto the web in a few seconds. The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way, and most of the user experience takes place on the web. And as we did for the Google Chrome browser, we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don't have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work.

Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 as well as ARM chips and we are working with multiple OEMs to bring a number of netbooks to market next year. The software architecture is simple — Google Chrome running within a new windowing system on top of a Linux kernel. For application developers, the web is the platform. All web-based applications will automatically work and new applications can be written using your favorite web technologies. And of course, these apps will run not only on Google Chrome OS, but on any standards-based browser on Windows, Mac and Linux thereby giving developers the largest user base of any platform.

Google Chrome OS is a new project, separate from Android. Android was designed from the beginning to work across a variety of devices from phones to set-top boxes to netbooks. Google Chrome OS is being created for people who spend most of their time on the web, and is being designed to power computers ranging from small netbooks to full-size desktop systems. While there are areas where Google Chrome OS and Android overlap, we believe choice will drive innovation for the benefit of everyone, including Google.

We hear a lot from our users and their message is clear — computers need to get better. People want to get to their email instantly, without wasting time waiting for their computers to boot and browsers to start up. They want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them. They want their data to be accessible to them wherever they are and not have to worry about losing their computer or forgetting to back up files. Even more importantly, they don't want to spend hours configuring their computers to work with every new piece of hardware, or have to worry about constant software updates. And any time our users have a better computing experience, Google benefits as well by having happier users who are more likely to spend time on the Internet.

We have a lot of work to do, and we're definitely going to need a lot of help from the open source community to accomplish this vision. We're excited for what's to come and we hope you are too. Stay tuned for more updates in the fall and have a great summer.

Source

Robo-Bats With Metal Muscles May Be Next Generation of Remote Control Flyers

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:55:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tiny flying machines can be used for everything from indoor surveillance to exploring collapsed buildings, but simply making smaller versions of planes and helicopters doesn't work very well. Instead, researchers at North Carolina State University are mimicking nature's small flyers – and developing robotic bats that offer increased maneuverability and performance.

Small flyers, or micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs), have garnered a great deal of interest due to their potential applications where maneuverability in tight spaces is necessary, says researcher Gheorghe Bunget. For example, Bunget says, "due to the availability of small sensors, MAVs can be used for detection missions of biological, chemical and nuclear agents." But, due to their size, devices using a traditional fixed-wing or rotary-wing design have low maneuverability and aerodynamic efficiency.

So Bunget, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering at NC State, and his advisor Dr. Stefan Seelecke looked to nature. "We are trying to mimic nature as closely as possible," Seelecke says, "because it is very efficient. And, at the MAV scale, nature tells us that flapping flight – like that of the bat – is the most effective."

The researchers did extensive analysis of bats' skeletal and muscular systems before developing a "robo-bat" skeleton using rapid prototyping technologies. The fully assembled skeleton rests easily in the palm of your hand and, at less than 6 grams, feels as light as a feather. The researchers are currently completing fabrication and assembly of the joints, muscular system and wing membrane for the robo-bat, which should allow it to fly with the same efficient flapping motion used by real bats.

"The key concept here is the use of smart materials," Seelecke says. "We are using a shape-memory metal alloy that is super-elastic for the joints. The material provides a full range of motion, but will always return to its original position – a function performed by many tiny bones, cartilage and tendons in real bats."

Seelecke explains that the research team is also using smart materials for the muscular system. "We're using an alloy that responds to the heat from an electric current. That heat actuates micro-scale wires the size of a human hair, making them contract like 'metal muscles.' During the contraction, the powerful muscle wires also change their electric resistance, which can be easily measured, thus providing simultaneous action and sensory input. This dual functionality will help cut down on the robo-bat's weight, and allow the robot to respond quickly to changing conditions – such as a gust of wind – as perfectly as a real bat."

In addition to creating a surveillance tool with very real practical applications, Seelecke says the robo-bat could also help expand our understanding of aerodynamics. "It will allow us to do tests where we can control all of the variables – and finally give us the opportunity to fully understand the aerodynamics of flapping flight," Seelecke says.

Bunget will present the research this September at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems in Oxnard, Calif.

Source

800TFLOPS Multicore IC for Realtime Ray Tracing

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:48:42 +0000

Tops Systems Corp of Japan, a venture involved in multicore technology, together with Toyota Motor Corp and Nihon Unisys Ltd, both of Japan, is developing a dedicated integrated circuit (IC) for ray tracing*, an image rendering method used in 3D computer graphics (3D CG) processing. A total of 73 heterogeneous cores designed specifically for ray tracing operations will be single-chipped, and nine of these chips interconnected (see Fig). With high-definition (HD) resolution at 1920 x 1080 pixels, the target processing speed is 800 tera floating point operations per second (TFLOPS).

* Ray tracing: A rendering method that traces light rays in reverse, from the point of view toward the pixels.

Researchers have figured out how to resolve the basic issues involved in the overall system architecture and application parallelism analysis, and will begin detail design and implementation as an application-specific IC (ASIC) shortly. They plan to fabricate the chips using 45nm manufacturing technology, and expect the chips to operate at 750MHz, integrating 130 million gates into a 17mm square footprint.

On Bezier Surfaces
The chip is intended for use in automobile design. Toyota Motor developed its own 3D CG rendering system in the early 1990s and used it in-house with the goal of evaluating design elements such as vehicle shape and coloration of painted surfaces through simulations to reduce the number of physical prototypes required. The new IC is being considered as the latest and greatest version of this system.

Most 3D CG realtime rendering used in games and other applications use a graphics processing unit (GPU) as an accelerator. Researchers this time, however, instead chose heterogeneous dedicated ICs because they can use direct rendering (ray tracing) on freely-curved surfaces (Bezier surfaces), without the polygons used in most 3D CG rendering systems. Compared to polygons, it is possible to generate much more precise imagery (Note 1).

Source

New algorithm guesses SSNs using date and place of birth

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:23:54 +0000

For citizens of the US, the social security number (SSN) is the gateway to all things financial. It fills its government purpose of helping us pay our taxes and track our (in many cases, hypothetical) government benefits, and it has also been widely adopted as a means of verifying identity by a huge range of financial institutions. As a result, anytime you disclose an SSN you run a real risk of enabling identity theft. So far, most of the SSN-related ID theft problems have resulted from institutions that were careless with their record keeping, allowing SSNs to be harvested in bulk. But a pair of Carnegie Mellon researchers has now demonstrated a technique that uses publicly available information to reconstruct SSNs with a startling degree of accuracy.

The irony of their method is that it relies on two practices adopted by the federal government that were intended to reduce the ability of fraudsters to craft a bogus SSN. The first is that the government now maintains a publicly available database called a Death Master File, which indicates which SSNs were the property of individuals who are now deceased. This record provided the researchers with the raw material to perform a statistical analysis of how SSN assignments related to two other pieces of personal information: date and state of birth.

The second is that the government has centralized its handling of SSN assignments and provided documentation of the procedures. The first three digits are based on the state where the SSN was originally assigned, and the next two are what's termed a group number. The last four digits are ostensibly assigned at random. Since the late 1980s, the government has promoted an initiative termed "Enumeration at Birth" that seeks to ensure that SSNs are assigned shortly after birth, which should limit the circumstances under which individuals apply for them later in life (and hence, make fraudulent applications easier to detect).

That last program proved to be the key feature that allowed the new research, as it ensured that SSN assignments were more tightly correlated to date of birth. The researchers used the Death Master File to split out data from individual states (which determine the first three digits) then order them by date. At that point, they searched for statistical patterns within the resulting data.

Even from data before the 1990s, rough patterns were apparent in the assignment of region and group numbers but, by the mid-90s, it's obvious that, with a few exceptions, individual region and group numbers are used in a clear sequential order for most SSNs. The patterns are even easier to pick out in less populous states. Patterns in the final four digits were harder to detect, but the authors created an algorithm that predicted them with a lower degree of confidence.

The accuracy of these algorithms is positively disturbing. Using a separate pool of data from the Death Master File, the authors were able to get the first five digits right for seven percent of those with an SSN assigned before 1988; after that, the success rate goes up to a staggering 44 percent. For a smaller state, like Vermont, they could get it right over 90 percent of the time.

Getting the last four digits right was substantially harder. The authors used a standard of getting the whole SSN right within 10 tries, and could only manage that about 0.1 percent of the time even in the later period. Still, small states were somewhat easier—for Delaware in 1996, they had a five percent success rate.

That may still seem moderately secure if it weren't for some realities of the modern online world. The authors point out that many credit card verification services, recognizing the challenges of data entry from illegible forms, may allow up to two digits of the SSN to be wrong, provided the date and place of birth are accurate. They often allow several failed verification attempts per IP address before blacklisting it. Given these numbers, the authors estimate that even a moderate-sized botnet of 10,000 machines could successfully obtain identity verifications for younger residents of West Virginia at a rate of 47 a minute.

All of that requires that the botnet master have access to date and place of birth information, and a number of commercial services will happily provide that data for a price. But the authors also point out that it may not be necessary to pay; they cite a publication in progress that indicates it's easy to harvest a lot of that information from social networking sites like Facebook.

Source

Ubisoft Opening New Ontario, Toronto-Based Development Studio

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:21:28 +0000

Paris, France-headquartered Ubisoft said Monday that it is opening a new "full development studio" in Toronto, Ontario, marking the company's first development presence in the province and creating 800 new jobs in the next decade.

Ubisoft called the opening "significant", as the government of Ontario is investing CAD$263 million ($226 million) over ten years. Ubisoft said its own net investment will amount to over half a billion Canadian dollars in the new studio, whose operations will start in late 2009.

"Today's announcement marks a strategic move for Ubisoft as we continue to expand our internal development force," said Yves Guillemot, president and CEO of Ubisoft. "We are in an excellent position to grow and after extensive analysis we are thrilled to have reached an agreement with the government of Ontario to open our new studio in Toronto."

Guillemot called Toronto "one of North America's economic and cultural epicenters," and expressed excitement for the local talent pool.

The studio is already two years in the works, Toronto officials said during an unveiling in the city on Monday.

Ubisoft Montreal CEO Yannis Mallat will oversee the new studio. Ubisoft Toronto will work on "triple-A" games, the company said.

"Ontario wants a bigger piece of the action, and it doesn't get much bigger than Ubisoft," said Dalton McGuinty, premier of Ontario. "This is kind of like landing a major Hollywood studio, only the video game industry is growing faster [than movies]."

Part of Ubisoft's attraction to Toronto was the established film production industry in the city. Ubisoft Toronto will play a key role in the convergence of film and games, the publisher said.

"Ubisoft Toronto will contribute to Ubisoft's global plan of extending its brands to complementary platforms and mediums, including books, comics, short films and other products," Ubisoft said.

Mallat said, "Toronto's unique pool of experienced video game and film industry talent will allow us to develop a team with exceptional ability to help us realize our goals for creating brands with universal appeal that extend beyond the world of video games."

The studio is the fourth for Ubisoft in Canada, where Ubisoft employs over 2300 workers.

"It's about jobs," said McGuinty.

Source

More details emerge on the Intel/TSMC deal and Moorestown

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:46:26 +0000

A new rumor in the Chinese-language Commercial Times, picked up by DigiTimes, indicates that Intel will use some intellectual property from its new foundry partner, TSMC, to fill out its upcoming ultramobile chipset, codenamed Langwell. This rumor, which I suspect is true, may provide the answers to long-standing questions about two different aspects of Intel's plans for Atom and its derivatives. But, before we get to the questions, let's talk about Langwell.

Langwell is the southbridge (or I/O hub) for Intel's forthcoming Atom successor, codenamed Moorestown. Above is a block diagram of Moorestown that shows the platform's two main components: the SoC, codenamed Lincroft, and the I/O hub, codenamed Langwell.

As you can see from the diagram, Lincroft features an Atom-derived CPU core, a GPU core, a memory controller, and two video processing blocks. Langwell features a solid state disk controller, a system controller, and an unspecified number of I/O blocks of indeterminate makeup. This latter part is where the DigiTimes rumor comes in.

Chronologically speaking, the first question that the new rumor sheds light on is about the mysterious I/O blocks, which have not been identified even as more recent Moorestown features have been revealed. With the news that Intel will fab Langwell on TSMC's process and customize the chip using non-Intel IP blocks, we now know that these "I/O blocks" are left unspecified by design. As in, a hypothetical fab customer who wants a customized version of Langwell will specify the number and nature of the (TSMC-authored) IP blocks that go into the empty slots.

The other interesting thing about this rumor is that it gives insight into how Intel will use its relationship with TSMC. Intel has maintained from the start that their intention is to offer potential "embedded x86" customers more options for using its processor designs for different applications, with customization being essential to these plans. My reading of this was that they would be let customers use third-party IP on the SoC part of the chipset, but clearly the real target for customization is the I/O hub.

Focusing all of the customization on the I/O hub makes total sense, both because it's the least complex of the two, and also because customer I/O requirements are what vary most by planned application. There's no point in buying chipset where the I/O hub supports six USB ports if your hardware doesn't need USB. On the flip side, the embedded world may feature a plethora of domain-specific or even proprietary interfaces that individual volume customers need support for (I'm just guessing here, though, because I don't know the larger embedded space super well). Either way, confining the customization to the 65nm I/O hub will maximize the strategy's effectiveness while minimizing its impact on development and fab costs.

Source

EMTEC preps the GBox ION nettop

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:39:24 +0000

There's not much on the market today in terms of ION products (apart from Acer's AspireRevo), but a lot of things are in the works, and that includes the recently unveiled GBox (name is not final) from EMTEC. Seen below, the upcoming nettop is pretty slim and features an Atom CPU (exact model unknown, either the N270 or N280), GeForce 9400M integrated graphics, an 160GB hard drives, and most likely 1GB of RAM.

The nettop will have six USB 2.0 ports, run Windows XP, and be available with just a D-Sub output at £179 ($292 / 209 Euro), or with a HDMI connector (priced a bit higher). The GBox's release date has not been revealed so we'll just have to wait on EMTEC (or a third party) to come up with that info.

Source

Sapphire readies 2GB-equipped Radeon HD 4890 Vapor-X

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:04:59 +0000

Sapphire Technology is currently gearing up to introduce a new RV790 card, namely, a Radeon HD 4890 Vapor-X with 2GB of onboard memory, which is double the amount found on the previously-released Vapor-X model. Other than the added memory, the new card isn't different from its slightly older relative and features a blue PCB, the dual-slot Vapor-X cooling solution, 800 Stream Processors, and factory overclocked frequencies - 870 MHz for the GPU and 4200 MHz for the GDDR5 memory.

The 2GB Radeon comes with D-Sub, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs and is available for pre-order around Europe for as low as 226 Euro.

Source

Ubisoft Picks Up Heroes Over Europe

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:15:43 +0000

Ubisoft announces they've picked up the publishing rights to Heroes Over Europe, the World War II aerial combat game in development at Transmission Games. Earlier this year publisher Red Mile indicated this project was in trouble after losing the support of Atari. With Ubisoft now keeping the game aloft, word is a worldwide release for Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 is now planned for this September. Here are a batch of new screenshots from the game, and here's the announcement:

SAN FRANCISCO – July 2, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced it will be publishing Heroes Over Europe, a flight combat game designed for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Windows-based PC. The sequel to Heroes of the Pacific, the World War II flight combat game, Heroes Over Europe builds on the game's impressive legacy with intense dogfights, a highly detailed realistic visual presentation and even more online options.

"We are pleased to be bringing Heroes Over Europe to retailers worldwide,” said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Ubisoft. "The action-packed gameplay and realistic imagery in Heroes Over Europe will help bring some of history's most exciting air battles to life for an experience that gamers will enjoy.”

Developed by Transmission Games in Melbourne, Australia, and powered by an all-new engine, Heroes Over Europe is set to raise the bar for flight combat games with the all new "Ace Kill” close combat action, four online modes supporting up to 16 players and fully customizable aircrafts with localized damage. Visually, the game takes no prisoners with meticulously rendered environments including faithful recreations of London, Berlin and the French Alps, and ultra-realistic iconic warplanes of the era, all presented in stunning high definition graphics.

Heroes Over Europe is scheduled for worldwide release in September 2009. For more information about Heroes Over Europe, please visit: http://www.heroesovereurope.com

Source

HP Introduces First Professional Workstation with Six-core AMD Opteron Processor

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:10:04 +0000

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced the immediate integration of the highly anticipated Six-Core AMD Opteron™ 2400 Series processor into the award-winning family of HP Workstations.

Ideal for high-end workstation applications in fields such as engineering, 3-D digital content creation, oil and gas, and science, the HP xw9400 Workstation taps the power of the new AMD Opteron processors to deliver higher productivity, especially for multi-threaded applications, multi-tasking and mega-tasking environments.

With the built-in engineering advantages of HP’s highly tuned workstations, the HP xw9400 Workstation can accommodate up to two Six-Core AMD Opteron processors – for a total of 12 cores – each of which offers up to 34 percent more performance per watt(1) over the previous-generation quad-core processors.

“HP understands the immense pressure its customers are under to deliver more return on investment in a shorter period of time,” said Jeff Wood, director, Worldwide Marketing, Workstations, HP. “By providing the most extreme combination of technologies – up to 12 cores in one workstation – HP continues its commitment to bringing customers leading-edge technologies.”

AMD HyperTransport™ 3.0 technology (HT3) increases interconnect rates from 2 gigatransfers per second (GT/s) up to a maximum 4.8 GT/s, allowing the entire system to provide superior performance. Additionally, the HP xw9400 can be configured with the ATI FirePro V7750 3-D workstation graphics accelerator.

“The Six-Core AMD Opteron processor delivers top-line performance with no compromise in feature sets across the product line,” said John Fruehe, director, Business Development, Server Workstation Business, AMD. “Including the Six-Core AMD Opteron processor and ATI FirePro V7750 3-D workstation graphics accelerator in the powerful HP xw9400 Workstation offers customers an optimal combination of computing performance and high-end graphics capability.”

The HP xw9400 Workstation is registered as an Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT™) Gold product, the highest rating available. All HP workstations are more than 90 percent recyclable by weight and incorporate a tool-less chassis design for quick and easy upgrades by hand. The HP xw9400 workstation includes an 80 PLUS power supply, which is substantially more efficient than a standard power supply, reducing both overall energy usage and the amount of waste heat released into the environment.

Companies use HP Workstations to design everything from running shoes to race cars, animated characters to deep-sea submersibles, and to manage everything from billions of dollars of tradable securities to mission-critical IT environments.

The HP xw9400 Workstation starts at a U.S. list price of $1,899(2) and is available for purchase at www.hp.com/go/workstations.

Source

Wolfenstein PC Minimum Specs

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:17:50 +0000

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS:
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP or Windows Vista(R) (Windows 95/98/ME/2000 are unsupported)
Microsoft DirectX(R) 9.0c (included & required for Windows XP & Vista)

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:
CPU: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 3.2 GHz or AMD Athlon(TM) 64 3400+ processor
RAM: 1GB RAM
Video Card: 256MB NVIDIA(R) Geforce(R) 6800 GT or ATI Radeon(TM) X800
Sound Card: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
HDD Space: 8GB (Plus an additional 800MB for Windows swap file)
Media: 100% Microsoft Windows compatible DVD-ROM drive
Internet: Broadband connection and service required for multiplayer

Source

YouTube Upload Size Doubles + HD Tips

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:39:32 +0000

Many of you have been asking for an increase in the size limit of your uploads. We're happy to announce that the size of standard uploads has doubled from 1GB to 2GB. The increase means you can upload longer videos at a higher resolution as well as large HD files directly from your camera.

In addition, the team has implemented some new features to make it easier for you to show these videos off to the world. The changes allow you to share links directly to the HD version of your video, as well as embed the HD version on your blog or website. Here's how:

* To share a link to the HD version of your video, simply append &hd=1 to the end of the URL. This means the video will start playing in HD as soon as someone follows the link. Cool, huh?

* To embed the HD version of a video on a website or blog, click the 'customise' button to the right of the embed box on the video page. Some options will appear; simply check 'play in HD'. The embed code that's generated will cause the video to start playing in HD as soon as a viewer clicks play. We recommend embedding HD videos at the largest size (853x505) for maximum enjoyment.

If you haven't yet started uploading your content in HD, see our Help Centre article for more information on how to do so. You can also browse some popular HD videos here.

Enjoy!
Ryan Junee
Product Manager
The YouTube Team

Source

Scythe BIG Shuriken CPU Cooler

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:49:00 +0000

BIG Shuriken - low-profile and powerful CPU Cooler

Hamburg, Germany. 30. June 2009: Scythe Europe hereby announces the availability of the new compact-size BIG Shuriken CPU Cooler. This new product enriches the series of compact and silent CPU Coolers for computes with very limited height and weight restrictions. Due to its height of only 58 mm and the weight of 405 g, the BIG Shuriken CPU Cooler is perfectly qualified for such PC Systems.

Compared to normal Shuriken CPU Cooler which comes with a Kaze Jyu 100 mm Slim fan, the BIG Shuriken CPU Cooler is equipped with the brand new Slip Stream 120 mm Slim case fan with 12 mm thickness. Despite the name “BIG” Shuriken, the total height shrank by 6 mm (0.236 in) to 58 mm (2.28 in). Whereas the Shuriken CPU Cooler was equipped with 3 copper heatpipes the BIG Shuriken CPU Cooler received an additional copper heatpipe to further increase the performance. Yet, both of the models support the PWM feature (pulse-width modulation) for flexible fan by the motherboard. The specified fan speed varies from 650 (+300) to 1600rpm (±10%) whereas the generated airflow varies from 15.77 to 38.05 CFM (27 to 65 m³/h) at a noise level of 12.91 to 28.89 dBA.

Using the supplied fan clips, it is possible to attach any aftermarkets 120 mm case fan (without tunnel mountings) to further customize the airflow and noise level of your PC. Big Shuriken CPU Cooler can be mounted easily on the Intel® socket 478, T / LGA 775, LGA1366 and AMD® socket 754, 939, AM2, AM2+, AM3, 940 tool-free by using the included VTMS clips.

Big Shuriken CPU Cooler is available at MSRP of 24.95 EUR (excluding VAT) or US$ 34.95 (excluding TAX).

Source

id Software ramps up for new project

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Games legend id Software is taking advantage of the buyout by Bethesda-parent Zenimax by expanding its team to work on an unannounced new project.

The partnership brings together two of the most critically-acclaimed and commercially-successful studios of recent years, with a combined list of gaming franchises set to include DOOM, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, QUAKE, Wolfenstein and RAGE.

The gaming genius that is John Carmack has continued to push the envelope of PC gaming technology since the early days of Doom and Quake, with more recent developments such as his 'megatexture' tech really setting the standard for FPS action gaming.

Jaws hit floors

Carmack will continue to serve as Technical Director at id Software and Zenimax assures us that "all the principals at id Software have signed long-term employment contracts."

So what, we asked Bethesda's VP of PR and Marketing, Pete Hines, was the feeling internally about the deal?

"There were a lot of jaws hitting the floor and more than a few "Holy *insert profanity*" when we told folks the news," joked Hines.

"Obviously, we're all thrilled to be working with a studio like id, whose games and reputation speak for themselves."

New team, new project

So what about specific new projects that gamers might soon see as a result of the deal?

"We expect id will keep doing what they've always been doing," adds Hines. "And that includes the projects they are already working on. They have a team working on RAGE, which will be published by EA next year, and they have a second team working on DOOM 4."

Tantalisingly, Hines adds: "They'd like to start building up a full third team and, as a result of this deal, they'll be able to do that more quickly than they could have previously with the additional resources they have to work with now."

You read it here first. Stay tuned for more info on id's secret new project as and when we get it straight from the horses' mouth.

id back on map

David Brown, Deputy Editor of PC Zone, noted that: "If we're looking at this in a positive light, we'd like to think id will benefit from improved financial support and so on.

"There are the obvious questions to raise about how much creative freedom they'll have, and there's always the fear that they'll be closed in the near future, but for now we're going to remain positive and hope that the buy-out will just mean id can put themselves back on the map."

Check out each studios websites for more on each company over at idsoftware.com and bethsoft.com

Source

Mushkin Launches Graphics Cards, Again

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:21:17 +0000

DRAM and storage-device maker Mushkin has announced their entry into the graphics card market with the release of no more than nine Nvidia-based graphics cards.

The new graphics cards will be branded ultimateFX and start off with a very tame GTX 260 card, but work all the way up to a 2GB GeForce GTX285. Included are stock configurations to overclocked versions of each card.

As everything Mushkin does, they like to keep things in special little wooden boxes they've trademarked as "WoodBox", which give the cards an upmarket packaging.

The card list is as follows:

Mushkin ultimateFX GeForce GTX260

Mushkin ultimateFX GeForce GTX260 (1792MB)

Mushkin ultimateFX GeForce GTX260 OC

Mushkin ultimateFX GeForce GTX260 OC2

Mushkin ultimateFX GeForce GTX275

Mushkin ultimateFX GeForce GTX275 OC

Mushkin ultimateFX GeForce GTX275 OC2

Mushkin ultimateFX GeForce GTX285

Mushkin ultimateFX GeForce GTX285 (2048MB)

Mushkin says it’ll be cherry-picking the cards and flashing them themselves at their own labs.

The company, widely known for their high-quality DRAM products (some of which were recently used in record-breaking OC attempts) had just over a year ago attempted an entry, with GeForce 8800- and 8600-series graphics cards popping up but disappearing shortly after.

The kicker is that the company’s plans also include a full complement of AMD/ATI-based graphics cards to be launched at an undisclosed date in the near future.

Source

Yahoo Kills Maven: From Acquisition To Deadpool In 17 Months (Updated)

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:17:17 +0000

At the beginning of last year, Yahoo made a fairly large acquisition with the purchase of online video distribution and advertising platform provider Maven Networks. Under the terms of the agreement, which we reported as a rumor the same day the papers were signed, the company acquired the startup for approximately $160 million. At the time, the press release touted the acquisition to lead to an expansion of the “state-of-the-art consumer video and advertising experiences on Yahoo.com and Yahoo’s network of leading premium video publishers across the web”.

Now we’ve learned Yahoo is going to kill Maven Networks instead, the most recent in a long series of deadpooling of products and services by the Sunnyvale Internet behemoth. A tipster, who works for a large media company, tells us that he has been a Maven customer for years and was informed last week that Yahoo will cease all development on the platform and will no longer be supporting it in 2010.

We’ve confirmed with another source that Yahoo has effectively decided to shelve Maven, firing most of its employees in a move packaged as a restructuring and has already notified customers that the product will no longer be supported as of next year. Furthermore, the source tells us that the Maven technology has never even been used for Yahoo’s own video properties, underscoring why the quote I lifted from the press release in the first paragraph of this post sounds so void today.

Update: we received a statement from Yahoo about this:

“Since acquiring Maven Networks in 2008, Maven has played an important role in our video strategy, providing essential talent and core technology that has helped Yahoo! to enhance its consumer and advertising offerings. Maven technology is used in the Yahoo video player, as well as in the Yahoo Video Advertising Platform that is being used to serve both on- and off- network advertising for Yahoo! partners.
While video initiatives remain a priority for Yahoo!, both for its consumer and advertising experiences, we are increasing investment in some areas while scaling back in others. After careful consideration, Yahoo! is planning to wind down its Maven Networks customer base. This decision will allow us to focus our resources on the continued improvement of our core video offerings, such as enhancing the consumer video experience on Yahoo!. Since Q4 2008, we have closed or announced our intention to close, nearly twenty Yahoo! services– such as Yahoo! 360, GeoCities, My Web and Yahoo! Briefcase. We continue to evaluate our portfolio of products and services on a regular basis, and plan to share details of further changes with people who use our products in the months ahead.”

Source

New High Speed Wireless Router from ASUS Delivers Convenient Bandwidth Management and Enhanced Connectivity

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:26:49 +0000

ASUS RT-N16 Sets Wireless Networking Standard with Leading Performance, Exceptional Ease-of-use, and Intuitive Traffic Management Capabilities

Taipei, Taiwan, June 29, 2009 – ASUS, a leading producer of innovative networking solutions, today announced the ASUS RT-N16, a technologically-advanced wireless router with a host of intuitive, easy-to-use features. Engineered for the future, the ASUS RT-N16 is a Wireless-N Gigabit Router offering three "S's" that fulfill users' all-around networking needs that no other brand can provide—Speed for ultra-fast data transfers, Simplicity for unparalleled ease-of-use and ease-of-setup, and Security for absolute peace of mind when performing online tasks. Such an unprecedented integration of powerful performance and user-friendly operation makes the RT-N16—and ASUS' full range of routers—the best choice on the market.

Speed: With a maximum wireless speed throughput of 300Mbps and 8 times faster operation, the ASUS RT-N16's data transfer performance is outstanding. It also enables 24/7 downloads to wireless clients even when PCs are turned off.

Simplicity: The ASUS RT-N16 is equipped with an innovative EZ UI which lets administrators easily setup and manage their network environments. Home and business users can seamlessly allocate bandwidth to suit their specific needs, share multimedia content and setup printer or scanner functions.

Security: With support for WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), the ASUS RT-N16 lets users set up secure Wi-Fi Networks within minutes and lock down the network to prevent potential intrusion by unauthorized outsiders.

Speed: Engineered for 8 Times Faster Operation and 300Mbps Performance
Ultra-fast and Convenient Downloads with the Revolutionary Download Master
The ASUS RT-N16 supports the latest Wireless-N Local Area Networking standard for wireless communications. Home users and businesses can experience the ultimate in wireless performance with maximum data speeds of 300Mbps. Combined with its powerful CPU, the ASUS RT-N16 delivers maximum bandwidth, ensuring effortless synchronous file transfers and downloads, flawless video streaming, incredibly low-ping wireless gaming, and VoIP calls with minimized jitter. Equipped with ample 128MB DDR2 video memory, it achieves eight times faster benchmarks, delivering exceptional multi-tasking with no system lags. Four Gigabit Ethernet ports are available for users to set up a wired LAN for faster transfer of data-intensive files. Additionally, two USB ports enable the creation of a secure network for sharing photos, data, audio visual files, and network resources such as a printer or storage devices.

Additionally, the Download Master provides up to 300,000 sessions for unparalleled P2P performance—offering an unprecedented 20 times larger bandwidth than traditional routers. Such a large volume of P2P or BitTorrent downloads are accomplished rapidly with assurance of complete data transfers throughout the day—even when the users' PCs are turned off. Despite such heavy loading, the ASUS RT-N16 can still allow more user connections onto the Internet, letting them run multimedia applications with ultra-stability.

Simple: Built with Easy Connectivity in Mind: EZ UI
The ASUS RT-N16 wireless router features EZ UI, a powerful graphical user interface that helps users manage their networks as well as set up a shared printer with the greatest of ease. With its auto-detection and network mapping capabilities, the wireless router simplifies the setup of multiple wireless clients. EZ UI comprises a whole host of innovative connectivity features such as the EZQoS, All-in-one printer, AiDisk, QIS (Quick Internet Setup), Network Map, Dr. Surf, and EZ MFP—all of which are controlled and managed through a single user interface.

The magnificent EZQoS feature lets an administrator easily allocate different bandwidth according to individual user needs, ensuring the smooth flow of data traffic and providing uninterrupted IP phone and A/V streaming. To support network usage of a shared printer, the EZ All-In-One Printer function allows multiple users to simultaneously access a printer and use its print and scan functions. Businesses can thus empower wireless users to perform printing tasks on networked printers without having to purchase a printer server. Another convenient feature is AiDisk which allows users to engage in file-sharing among peers in three easy steps.

Security: Secure Data Communication with WPS Support
The ASUS RT-N16 keeps streaming data safe from prying eyes with robust built-in WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) capabilities. All data is automatically encrypted to prevent unauthorized viewing of information by an outsider. By supporting WPS, the ASUS RT-N16 lets users set up secure Wi-Fi Networks within minutes and lock down the network to prevent potential intrusion by unauthorized outsiders.

Source

Nvidia Partners Get Ready 40nm G210 & GT 220 Cards

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:20:30 +0000

In mid June, Nvidia launched the GeForce 200M notebook GPUs; GTS 260M, GTS 250M, GT 240M, GT 230M and G210M based on 40nm GT21x architecture with DX10.1 support. However, we won't be seeing any decent quantities till only after August when the mass production starts at TSMC. So what about the desktop segment?

Right now, the AIC partners are preparing the new 40nm desktop cards already since they have received the design kits earlier this month and they have ample time to prepare since the launch is only slated for October. There will be at least 2 mainstream cards to be launched in October; G210 and GT 220 supporting DX10.1 as well.

G210 is GT218/D10M1 based using P690 and P691 PCB designs supporting DDR3 and DDR2 respectively. G210 has 24 shader processors clocked at 600MHz core and 1425MHz shader. G210 runs on 64-bit memory interface with 512MB DDR2/3 memories clocked at 800MHz. These cards will be priced very cheaply between US$30-35 replacing the current GeForce 9400 series.

GT 220 is GT215-300/D10M2 based and there will be 3 variants; P681 (DDR3), P682 (DDR2) and P680 (GDDR3). GT 220 has 48 shader processors clocked at 625MHz core and 1375MHz shader. It has 1GB memories onboard on 128-bit memory interface clocked at 800MHz. These cards are going to cost somewhere between US$55-60 and is going to outperform GeForce 9500 GT by much.

Source

Yamaha debuts neoHD media controllers, and a HTIB bundle too

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:45:00 +0000

Considering the continually falling prices of receivers and discrete speakers, Yamaha's new neoHD components that emphasize integration and ease of use rather than just the "boxes per dollar" HTIB metric sounds like a good move. On power-up, the YMC-500 ($600) and YMC-700 ($800) also turn on the TV, guide the user through a tree of activities (starting with "Watch/Listen/Play" options) and power up the correct devices. Both models pack 3 HDMI inputs, a pair of component ins, and one composite (yuck) set. On the audio side, there's decoding all the way up to Dolby TrueHD (no mention of DTS-HD MA in the PR -- perhaps a Zoran chipset lurks within?) and a nice dollop of Yamaha technologies, including Cinema DSP, AIR SURROUND XTREME, YPAO room correction and Adaptive DRC dynamic volume control. If you spring for the YMC-700 model, you also get wireless connectivity to the media lurking around your house on PCs, a license for TwonkyMedia software for streaming to the YMC-700, and Rhapsody access. Still not convenient enough for you? Then grab for the $800 YMC-S21 HTIB system (pictured) that combines the YMC-500 with a 2.1-channel speaker setup -- interestingly, the PR doesn't spell out a YMC-700 + 2.1-channel speaker bundle. Full details after the break.

BUENA PARK, Calif.––Yamaha Electronics Corporation, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today ushers in the future of home entertainment with the introduction of neoHD. These sophisticated Media Controllers provide the HD audio and video performance essential to true HD entertainment experiences and total control of all home and Internet components and sources connected to a home AV system. Using a simple remote to drive an intuitive menu-driven on-screen display, neoHD makes it easier than ever before to navigate and access all audio and video content in the home, regardless of where it is stored.

Upon touching the power button of the neoHD remote, the Media Controller and connected TV automatically power up and give the user three onscreen entertainment choices: "Watch," "Listen," or "Play." Next, the user is prompted to choose among more specific activities (such as Watch Movie, Watch LiveTV, Listen CD, etc) at which time icons for the appropriate video, audio or video game components (such as Blu-ray players, CD players, cable boxes, iPods, game consoles, etc.) will appear. Once the component is selected, it automatically powers on and is fully operational via the neoHD remote and on-screen interface. All individual component remotes that normally clutter
the room can be kept out of sight in a drawer.

neoHD can control up to six other AV components, such as TVs, Blu-ray disc players and set-top boxes, through its remote control and three IR outputs on the Media Controller's back panel. Remote control codes for the AV components (including TVs, DVD and Blu-ray players, VCRs, set-top boxes, etc.) from most manufacturers are embedded into the neoHD Media Controller for immediate compatibility and control. The codes for components that are not embedded can be quickly learned by the Media Controller.

neoHD is available in a variety of configurations, including neoHD (YMC-500), neoHD WiFi (YMC-700) with WiFi/Ethernet compatibility, and the neoHD System 2.1 (YMC-S21), a complete surround sound and system control solution that matches the YMC-500 Media Controller with two high-quality speakers and a subwoofer.

Both neoHD models feature HD quality audio playback (Dolby TrueHD) and three HDMI inputs for connecting HD AV sources, such as a Blu-ray player, digital set-top box or Apple TV. Also provided are two component video inputs for game consoles and DVRs, such as Tivo, and single composite video inputs for a VCR. The YMC-700's WiFi compatibility allow it to wirelessly play back content from PCs, laptops and audio files stored on hard drives. Even without the computer powered on, the Rhapsody online music service and Internet radio can be accessed directly from the Internet. YMC-700 can also playback iTunes AAC files via TwonkyMedia Server Software that purchasers
have access to via a bundled license key.

Both models also allow connectivity to portable devices, such as USB memory sticks, as well as iPods and Bluetooth-enabled devices (including cell phones, PCs or Macs) via optional accessories (Yamaha YDS-11, MSRP $99.95, and Yamaha YBA-10, MSRP $129.95, respectively).

neoHD employs several proprietary audio technologies. Users can take advantage of Yamaha's popular Cinema DSP programs, such as Movie, Music, Entertainment and All Channel Stereo, to optimize movie, TV and sports viewing experiences in systems with 5.1 speaker configurations. Yamaha's AIR SURROUND XTREME technology adds extra system setup flexibility for a two-speaker stereo configuration, delivering surround sound that clearly separates the audio from in front, behind and either side of the viewer. Yamaha's YPAO Automatic System Calibration quickly optimizes audio performance in any room, regardless of where the speakers are placed.

Adaptive DRC maintains the maximum dynamic range at all volume levels by continuously monitoring audio content and making low-volume sounds easier to hear as music or movies are playing. Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer restores the highs and lows that are lost when audio files are digitally compressed, such as with MP3 files, to make them sound fuller and more engaging.

Both neoHD Media Controllers, YMC-700 and YMC-500, are currently available for MRP $799.95 and $599.95, respectively. The neoHD System 2.1, YMC-S21 is also available for MRP $799.95.

Source

China bars use of virtual money for trading in real goods

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:40:00 +0000

China has unveiled the first official rule on the use of virtual currency in the trade of real goods and services to limit its possible impact on the real financial system.

The government also spelled out the definition of "virtual currency" for the first time, which includes prepaid cards of cyber-games, according to a joint circular from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Commerce Friday.

"The virtual currency, which is converted into real money at a certain exchange rate, will only be allowed to trade in virtual goods and services provided by its issuer, not real goods and services." it said.

China has the world's largest population of Internet users, with 298 million people online as of the end of last year.

According to media reports, the virtual money trade topped several billion yuan last year after rising around 20 percent annually.

Since 2007, virtual money trading has drawn official attention, with the government demanding tighter controls as such trading became an avenue for gambling and illicit trade.

Under the new rules, using virtual money for gambling will be punished by public security authorities, and minors may not buy virtual money.

The Ministry of Culture also vowed to step up supervision on money laundering via virtual credits and other illegal online activities.

The most popular Chinese online credits are "QQ coins" issued by Tencent. com, which has at least 220 million registered users. In a media statement Saturday, the company said it "resolutely" supported the new rule.

The statement said Tencent had strongly opposed the underground trading of virtual money, which could enable online theft and fraud. The company would work with the authorities to combat online crimes, according to the statement.

Cui Ran, an expert on the Chinese online industry, said the regulation aimed to "nip illegal online activities in the bud," as current trading volume was still too small to shake the nation's entire financial system.

But as the trade expanded steadily, with increasing conversions between virtual and real money, there would be an impact on the financial system, he noted.

Source

Acquisitions of The Pirate Bay and new file sharing technology, P2P 2.0

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:39:01 +0000

The listed software company, Global Gaming Factory X AB (publ) (GGF) acquires The Pirate Bay website, http://www.thepiratebay.org, one of the 100 most visited websites in the world and the technology company Peerialism, that has developed next generation file-sharing technology. Following the completion of the acquisitions, GGF intends to launch new business models that allow compensation to the content providers and copyright owners. The responsibility for, and operation of the site will be taken over by GGF in connection with closing of the transaction, which is scheduled for August 2009.

"We would like to introduce models which entail that content providers and copyright owners get paid for content that is downloaded via the site" said Hans Pandeya, CEO GGF.

"The Pirate Bay is a site that is among the top 100 most visited Internet sites in the world. However, in order to live on, The Pirate Bay requires a new business model, which satisfies the requirements and needs of all parties, content providers, broadband operators, end users, and the judiciary. Content creators and providers need to control their content and get paid for it. File sharers' need faster downloads and better quality" continues Hans Pandeya.

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Superhacker Max Butler Pleads Guilty

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:36:57 +0000

PITTSBURGH — A skilled San Francisco-based computer hacker who once sought to unite the cyber underworld under his benign rule pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges here Monday, admitting he stole nearly 2 million credit card numbers from banks, businesses and other hackers, which were used to rack up $86 million in fraudulent charges.

Max Ray Butler, 36, faces up to 60 years in prison for the two felonies under law, but his actual sentence will be influenced by a number of factors, not least a plea agreement with federal prosecutors that was filed under seal Monday.

Wearing an ill-fitting orange jail uniform and round glasses, his hair cut short and neat, the six-foot-plus Butler towered over the burly deputy marshals that brought him into the court room. Once he settled into his seat, he spoke softly and evenly as he answered questions from the judge, frequently drawing admonishments to speak up for the benefit of the court reporter.

“I actually did the actions that are relevant in the indictment, and I am guilty,” Butler said, at one point.

Butler identified himself in court as “Max Vision,” the name he gave himself in the 1990s when he became a superstar in the computer security community. At that time Butler was billing himself out as a $100-an-hour computer security consultant, and he earned the respect of his peers for creating and curating an open source library of attack signatures used to detect computer intrusions.

Source

WoW - Faction-Change Service in the Works

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:34:52 +0000

We wanted to give everyone a very early heads-up that, in response to player requests, we’re developing a new service for World of Warcraft that will allow players to change their faction from Alliance to Horde or Horde to Alliance. There’s still much work to do and many details to iron out, but the basic idea is that players will be able to use the service to transform an existing character into a roughly equivalent character of the opposing faction on the same realm. Players who ended up creating and leveling up characters on the opposite factions from their friends have been asking for this type of functionality for some time, and we’re pleased to be getting closer to being able to deliver it.

As with all of the features and services we offer, we intend to incorporate the faction-change service in a way that won’t disrupt the gameplay experience on the realms, and there will be some rules involved with when and how the service can be used. The number of variables involved increases the complexity of implementing this service, but we plan to take the time needed to ensure that it lives up to expectations before officially rolling it out. We’ll go into much more detail on all of this here at http://www.WorldofWarcraft.com as development progresses. In the meantime, we wanted to let you know that because this type of functionality requires extensive internal testing well in advance of release, you may be seeing bits and pieces of the service in the test builds we use for the public test realms moving forward.

Source

Briefly: more affordable iMacs from Apple expected by fall

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:02:05 +0000

Apple, which recently shaved down the cost of its popular Mac notebook lines, remains on track to pass on similar treatment to its all-in-one desktop line by this fall.

Back in April, AppleInsider reported that the Mac maker, determined to grow its share of the personal computer market during the worst economic backdrop in its corporate history, was gearing up to introduce more affordable versions of both its MacBook and iMac computers.

Roughly six week later at its annual developers conference, the Cupertino-based company announced price cuts of between $100 - $300 on its 13- to 17-inch unibody aluminum notebooks, all of which are now dubbed MacBook Pros.

iMacs were just recently refreshed in March but will see another update by fall, at which time they'll also be repositioned as more affordable offerings. Apple is reportedly mulling similar 7% - 10% price reductions alongside the introduction of those models, people familiar with the company's thinking say.

Thus far, Apple's move towards more affordable notebooks appears to be paying dividends. Citing market sources in Taiwan, DigiTimes reported Friday that Quanta this month is picking up momentum in its notebook shipments "due to increasing orders from Apple."

Source

Intel brings forward schedule for Clarkdale CPUs to 4Q09

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:15:40 +0000

Intel has brought forward the mass-production schedule of its new 32nm processor codenamed Clarkdale to the fourth quarter of 2009 from the originally planned first quarter of 2010, according to sources from motherboard makers.

The company's 32nm Clarkdale CPUs will account for 10% of Intel's total OEM desktop CPU shipments in the fourth quarter, while 45nm Core i7 processors will account for 1%, Lynnfield-based processor 2%, Core 2 Quad processors 9%, Core 2 Duo E8000/E7000 series processors 35%, Pentium E5000/E6000 series 31%, Celeron E3000 and Atom series together 8%, and 65nm-based Pentium E2000 and Celeron 400 together 4%.

In the first quarter of 2010, the proportion of Clarkdale-based CPUs will rise to 20%, while 45nm-based processors will account for 78%, and 65nm-based Celeron 400 series will drop to only 2%, the sources noted.

Intel declined the opportunity to respond to this report saying it cannot comment on unannounced products.

Source

Scientists create first electronic quantum processor

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:42:39 +0000

A team led by Yale University researchers has created the first rudimentary solid-state quantum processor, taking another step toward the ultimate dream of building a quantum computer.

They also used the two-qubit superconducting chip to successfully run elementary algorithms, such as a simple search, demonstrating quantum information processing with a solid-state device for the first time. Their findings will appear in Nature's advanced online publication June 28.

"Our processor can perform only a few very simple quantum tasks, which have been demonstrated before with single nuclei, atoms and photons," said Robert Schoelkopf, the William A. Norton Professor of Applied Physics & Physics at Yale. "But this is the first time they've been possible in an all-electronic device that looks and feels much more like a regular microprocessor."

Working with a group of theoretical physicists led by Steven Girvin, the Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics & Applied Physics, the team manufactured two artificial atoms, or qubits ("quantum bits"). While each qubit is actually made up of a billion aluminum atoms, it acts like a single atom that can occupy two different energy states. These states are akin to the "1" and "0" or "on" and "off" states of regular bits employed by conventional computers. Because of the counterintuitive laws of quantum mechanics, however, scientists can effectively place qubits in a "superposition" of multiple states at the same time, allowing for greater information storage and processing power.

For example, imagine having four phone numbers, including one for a friend, but not knowing which number belonged to that friend. You would typically have to try two to three numbers before you dialed the right one. A quantum processor, on the other hand, can find the right number in only one try.

"Instead of having to place a phone call to one number, then another number, you use quantum mechanics to speed up the process," Schoelkopf said. "It's like being able to place one phone call that simultaneously tests all four numbers, but only goes through to the right one."

These sorts of computations, though simple, have not been possible using solid-state qubits until now in part because scientists could not get the qubits to last long enough. While the first qubits of a decade ago were able to maintain specific quantum states for about a nanosecond, Schoelkopf and his team are now able to maintain theirs for a microsecond—a thousand times longer, which is enough to run the simple algorithms. To perform their operations, the qubits communicate with one another using a "quantum bus"—photons that transmit information through wires connecting the qubits—previously developed by the Yale group.

Source

Apple iPhone 3GS Overheating Reports

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:14:13 +0000

Is the Apple iPhone 3GS having overheating issues? I've seen some reports circulating on the Web today that indicate some handsets might indeed be affected. And I have my own tale to add to fray.

The story began at French site Nowhereelse.com, with a piece that showcases a discolored white iPhone 3GS whose owner says the discolorations came from the device noticeably heating up during use of the GPS over 3G wireless. This tale and image has circulated today at other U.S. gadget sites, including Gizmodo and Engadget.

For me, I had noticed from day one that the iPhone 3GS appeared to have similar heat issues to iPhone 3G: The phone's back got warm during use. I thought it curious that handset still got warm in many of the same areas as with the 3G, in part because, Apple had specifically told me that the components inside were reconfigured as compared with the 3G model.

I didn't think too much of this heat thing -- I recall the lower inch of the T-Mobile G1 getting toasty, too, when I had tested that model -- until last night. That was the first time I had used my 16GB iPhone 3GS while it was plugged into the wall outlet.

I don't recall how long I had been using the handset, but I was making my way steadily along The Oregon Trail, thank you. And at some point, I became aware the handset had become very hot. Very, very hot -- not just on the back, but the entire length of the front face, too. I was using a game, and then later the Web browser for reading the news about Michael Jackson, all over a Wi-Fi connection while plugged in. And in those circumstances, well...toasty doesn't even describe how surprisingly hot it got. It was too hot to even put the phone against my face. No discoloration to report, though; I have the black handset, and didn't see any effects.

After my own experience, I wondered if this was an isolated case, or if this was a sign of something bigger. The Nowhereelse.com blog appears to confirm that this may not be an isolated case. Anyone else noticing heat issues?

Source

Computer Failures Are Probed in Jet Crash

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:20:18 +0000

Aviation investigators, running out of time to find the "black boxes" with key information on the crash of Air France Flight 447, suspect a rapid chain of computer and equipment malfunctions stripped the crew of automation today's pilots typically rely on to control a big jetliner.

An international team of experts is building a scenario in which it believes a cascade of system failures, seemingly beginning with malfunctioning airspeed sensors, rapidly progressed to what appeared to be sweeping computer outages, according to people familiar with the probe. The Airbus A330, en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean during a storm 26 days ago, killing all 228 aboard.

Based on initial physical evidence and information from automatic maintenance messages sent by the aircraft, these people said, the plane bucked through heavy turbulence created by a thunderstorm without the full protection of its flight-control systems -- safeguards that experts say pilots now often take for granted.

Relying on backup instruments, the Air France pilots apparently struggled to restart flight-management computers even as their plane may have begun breaking up from excessive speed, according to theories developed by investigators.

The investigators stress it is too early to pinpoint specific causes. But whatever the eventual findings, the crash already is prompting questions about how thoroughly aviators are trained to cope with widespread computer glitches midflight.

If such emergencies do occur on today's increasingly automated jetliners, many industry safety experts wonder how proficient the average crew may be in trying to rely on less-sophisticated backup systems.

"The difficulty is, they're rare enough that pilots can be unprepared, but likely enough to pose a real threat," according to Bill Voss, president of the Flight Safety Foundation, an industry-supported group based in Alexandria, Va. "We need to examine how to deal with automation anomalies."

Unlike jetliners built in previous decades -- which required pilots to frequently manipulate controls and often manually fly the planes for long stretches -- newer computer-centric aircraft such as the A330 and Boeing's 777 are designed to operate almost entirely on automated systems. From choosing engine settings and routes to smoothing out the ride during turbulence and landing in low visibility, pilots essentially monitor instruments and seldom interfere with computerized commands. So when those electronic brains begin to act weirdly at 35,000 feet, the latest crop of aviators may be less comfortable stepping in and grabbing control of the

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Do Not Argue Site Version 5.2

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 10:41:08 +0000

Do Not Argue 5.2

CMS:

Cotonti Genesis 0.0.5

:Added:

DNA-light template: Light weigth template for the cummunity members that don't need Recent additions / New in forums / RECENT COMMENTS on the frontpage frontpage
Competitions to header (with direct text link)
More: Recent additions / New in forums / RECENT COMMENTS to frontpage (with direct text links)
DNA SHOP to Navigation

:Updated:

Bookmarking icon's and links
markItUp! preview window (will show correct fonts and background image now)
DNA-new template: Site border dotted
DNA-new template: Background image removed
News and Forums RSS updated to non add's versions (non google feedburner)

Additional Info:

Over all this is a release to speed up the site performance

Kind regards
Wandert "KillerSneak" van bruggen

Kaspersky launches 2010 range of security products

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Kaspersky have released their latest versions of the award winning security packages. While the internal build number starts with a 9, they will be marketed as 2010.

Among the new features is a game mode which prevents messages and alerts interrupting full screen applications and delays the start of scheduled scans. There is also an option enabled by default to disable scans on battery power for notebook users.

When you connect a flash drive or any other removable media, it opens up a scan dialogue asking if you want to scan the drive before using it which is a nice addition.

The interface has changed but existing users shouldn't have too much trouble finding their way around.

If you have a current licence for version 7 onwards you can install the latest release without having to get a new key. Just run the installer and it will remove the old version and install the new one retaining the licence information.

There is no mention of compatibility with Windows 7 in the system requirements on their site or in the manual. However, with the release of the new operating system imminent I am sure they will roll out an update for the Kaspersky products at that time. It currently supports x86 as well as x64 Windows XP and Vista systems.

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Android OS Now Booting on Samsung Omnia (1st Gen)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Update 6/24/09: For the most recent news on the Android-Omnia development, follows Tobias Kohler's forum, Andromnia.

News flash!

Industrious programmers have successfully transferred (note: not ported yet) the Android OS (currently on the HTC Magic, G1) onto the first generation Samsung Omnia. This is only the beginning, however; though the Android OS can:

1) boot up on the device,
2) load the kernel,
3) and see the clock tick on the android home screen.

There currently are no drivers for hardware interfacing (phone, camera, etc.) except touch screen interaction. "Fella" and others used a WM-based boot loader application which allows them to dual boot WM and Android without flashing the ROM.

Here are a few notes from their release:

NEW since rev78:

PROBLEMS:

CONTACT:
irc.freenode.net:6667
#andromnia
The package works on all Omnias (i900, i908, i910). You can try it out yourself (make sure to use an SD card, as it won't load off storage). A 1GB spare mini SD card should suffice:

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Do Not Argue - June 2009 - Steam Game Giveaway

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:23:41 +0000

Games:
1x Warhammer® 40,000™: Dawn of War® II

Rules:
1. You must be a registered member of the Do Not Argue website
2. The competition will close on the 4th Of July 2009
3. Winners will be chosen by Do Not Argue staff
4. The Competition is open worldwide
5. Multiple entries are allowed
6. Anyone with exception of: Do Not Argue staff can enter the Competition
7. You must have a active Steam / E-mail account to receive the game as Steam Gift

participate:
To take part in this competition all you have to do is post in this thread and let us know why we should give you this game.

EA combines BioWare and Mythic

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:32:36 +0000

"This newly formed team will be led by Ray Muzyka, co-founder and general manager of BioWare," the company said in a statement. "With this change, Ray becomes group general manager of the new RPG/MMO studio group. BioWare's other co-founder, Greg Zeschuk will become group creative officer. BioWare's studios remain unchanged and continue to report to Ray."

The company also confirmed that Mythic co-founder and general manager Mark Jacobs left EA yesterday. Rob Denton will assume the GM role at Mythic and report to Ray Muzyka.

Source

Bethesda buys id Software

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:24:00 +0000

ZeniMax, the parent company of Bethesda, has confirmed it's completed the acquisition of the veteran Doom and Quake developer, though "upcoming releases previously committed to other publishers", i.e. EA and Rage, aren't affected.

According to the release id Software will continue to operate as a studio under the direction of founder and tech guru, John Carmack. "No changes will be made in the operations of id Software in the development of its games," says Bethesda.

"All the principals at id Software have signed long-term employment contracts, assuring they will continue in their roles developing games at the studio," it says.

Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software, said of the transaction: "This was a unique opportunity to team with a smart, sophisticated publisher like Bethesda Softworks where the interests of the studio and the publisher will be fully aligned in the development and marketing of our titles. In addition, we will now have financial and business resources to support the future growth of id Software, a huge advantage which will result in more and even better games for our fans."

Carmack said of the deal: "This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward. We will now be able to grow and extend all of our franchises under one roof, leveraging our capabilities across multiple teams while enabling forward looking research to be done in the service of all of them.

"We will be bigger and stronger, as we recruit the best talent to help us build the landmark games of the future. As trite as it may be for me to say that I am extremely pleased and excited about this deal, I am."

Robert Altman, CEO of ZeniMax chucked in his 2p: "We, along with many others, consider id Software to be among the finest game studios in the world, with extraordinary design, artistic and technical capabilities. They have demonstrated, repeatedly, that rare ability to create franchise properties that are critical and commercial successes. Our intention is to make sure id Software will continue to do what they do best - make AAA games. Our role will be to provide publisher support through Bethesda Softworks and give id Software the resources it needs to grow and expand."

If it means more games from id and less farmed out to other developers, then we're pleased.

Source

Windows 7 Release Candidate downloads will end August 15th

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:52:00 +0000

Still on the Windows 7 Beta,? You need to move to the RC and fast. Starting July 1st, the Beta will start to reboot every 2 hrs and expire Aug 1st.

Want to download the RC? The RC download program closes August 15. After that, you won’t be able to get the download, but you can still install the RC and get a key if you need one. (To get a key, just go to the Downloads page and follow the instructions.)

If you’re using the Windows 7 Release Candidate, we hope you like what you see. Let us know - go to http://input.microsoft.com and tell us what you think. You’ll be able to give feedback on various aspects of the operating system.

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