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Thursday, May 5, 2011

Intel Reinvents Transistors Using New 3-D Structure

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Intel announces a major technical breakthrough and historic innovation in microprocessors: the world's first 3-D transistors, called Tri-Gate, in a production technology.
  • The transition to 3-D Tri-Gate transistors sustains the pace of technology advancement, fueling Moore's Law for years to come.
  • An unprecedented combination of performance improvement and power reduction to enable new innovations across a range of future 22nm-based devices from the smallest handhelds to powerful cloud-based servers.
  • Intel demonstrates a 22nm microprocessor – codenamed "Ivy Bridge" – that will be the first high-volume chip to use 3-D Tri-Gate transistors.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Internet Explorer 9

Internet Explorer 9 is now live for Windows 7. Download here the web-installer. More details on the features here: http://www.beautyoftheweb.com/

Because of Direct2D hardware acceleration, it is not available for Windows XP.

Installing it is just a breeze, though would require you to close your other applications, including Windows Explorer.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

[Free] iOS 4.3 Software Update

The world’s most advanced mobile operating system keeps getting better. Download the free iOS 4.3 Software Update and get new features that let you do even more with your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The software update is free.

Updating is easy. Just connect your device to your PC or Mac and follow the onscreen instructions in iTunes.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Toshiba NB520 Netbook

Reading the Philippine Star dated Feb. 25, on page 21 is the new Toshiba NB520 Netbook with the Intel® Atom™ Processor N550 (1.5GHz dual-core w/ HT). It boasts five (5) colors to choose from (Warm brown, Sophisticated Turquoise, Daring Sunlight Copper, Striking Lime Green, and Joyful Blue), and according to Toshiba, the world's first netbook with Harman Kardon® speakers.

The Special Features:

1. Harman Kardon® Speakers with Dolby Advanced Audio Support

As a technical guy with the audio industry for almost 10 years now, I am not a fan of any small/tiny speakers working on their own. For me it must be large 2.0 speakers, a 2.1 speaker setup, or the more expensive multi-channel speaker systems. Nevertheless, the speakers come from Harman Kardon which is a world-known and reputable brand. It should provide the NB520 better audio than those typically found with netbooks and notebooks. But of course do not expect much from it. In addition to this, it has the Dolby Advanced Audio support which optimizes audio quality to deliver the best possible sound.

2.  Sleep 'n Music

You can plug your iPod or any portable digital music player to it and be able to instantly listen to your music without the need of powering-up the NB520.


3. Integrated Bluetooth® 3.0

Good to know that the NB520 is on Bluetooth 3.0, which obviously is faster than the older versions.


4. USB Sleep 'n Charge

The NB520 comes with three (3) USB 2.0 ports plus one (1) USB 2.0 Sleep 'n Charge port. Again without powering-up the NB520, you can charge your other "smaller" portable devices. I said smaller because of course this doesn't include the iPad, let's not be harsh.

5. Fingerprint resistant palmrest

Goodie, especially if you have sweaty palms like me.




The full specifications and exact models can be found at the official Toshiba NB520 page.

My Grimaces:
1. 10.1" WSVGA Clear SuperView TFT display, resolution 1,024 x 600 - I wish it could have been the HD 1280x720 screen like the Acer Aspire One 522.

2. Intel® GMA 3150 - On-Die with the Atom N550, the graphics performance is just a bit better than those older netbooks with the Atom N270. It's the 45 nm shrink of the GMA 3100 with no HD capabilities. Hence explains the use of only 1024x600 screen for the NB520.

Final Thoughts:
Overall the NB520 is still a good netbook. Estimate price is at Php19,000+. By the way, the said PhilStar ad also showcases the Toshiba/Harman Kardon Boom Box Roadshow on March 10-16, 2011 at the SM MegaMall atrium. I'm putting it on my calendar.

Intel unveils Thunderbolt (a.k.a LightPeak)

Remember LightPeak? Thunderbolt is the new name.


SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 24, 2011 – Intel Corporation today announced the availability of Thunderbolt™ technology, a new high-speed PC connection technology that brings together high-speed data transfer and high-definition (HD) display on to a single cable. Running at 10Gbps, Thunderbolt technology can transfer a full-length HD movie in less than 30 seconds. This Intel-developed technology is coming to market through a technical collaboration with Apple, and is available first on Apple's new line of MacBook Pro laptop computers.


More info here:




Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 SP1

Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 is out. Get it via Windows Update or download directly from the Microsoft Download Center. Genuine product validation required.


More info on KB976932 here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976932

Mine came via Windows Update this morning. I also downloaded the 32-bit and 64-bit for deployment to other machines.


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Intel Identifies Chipset Design Error, Implementing Solution


SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 31, 2011 - As part of ongoing quality assurance, Intel Corporation has discovered a design issue in a recently released support chip, the Intel® 6 Series, code-named Cougar Point, and has implemented a silicon fix. In some cases, the Serial-ATA (SATA) ports within the chipsets may degrade over time, potentially impacting the performance or functionality of SATA-linked devices such as hard disk drives and DVD-drives. The chipset is utilized in PCs with Intel’s latest Second Generation Intel Core processors, code-named Sandy Bridge. Intel has stopped shipment of the affected support chip from its factories. Intel has corrected the design issue, and has begun manufacturing a new version of the support chip which will resolve the issue. The Sandy Bridge microprocessor is unaffected and no other products are affected by this issue.