Lenovo Puts a New Spin on the ThinkPad Tablet PC

Lenovo today announced the ThinkPad X60 Tablet, a new convertible tablet PC marking a technology trifecta for innovation, portability and performance — with two new screen choices and other innovative Lenovo features, such as dynamic screen rotation. The ThinkPad X60 Tablet offers new, combined MultiView/MultiTouch screen features in a convertible tablet PC, giving users the power to compute more naturally, whether working in the field or in the office.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet's new 12-inch MultiView indoor/outdoor, anti-reflective/anti-glare display, dramatically helps increase viewability in multiple environments. This screen choice comes combined with the new MultiTouch feature that allows users to move the cursor with their pen or finger, making interaction with the ThinkPad Tablet PC a natural fit.

The MultiView/MultiTouch screen combination along with the ThinkPad X60 Tablet's standard 170 degree viewing angle provides excellent usability for the healthcare professional recording patient information in a hospital, the real estate agent taking notes in a home or the sports coach reviewing statistics at a game. The ThinkPad X60 Tablet also gives users sharp, crisp images with more vibrant color when they choose to add a new, high-resolution SXGA+ screen.

According to IDC, convertible tablet PC unit shipments will reach more than one million this year and more than four million by 2010. With more industries relying on tablet PCs, Lenovo tablet customers have included mobile professionals in fields such as healthcare, insurance, real estate, government, education and sales.

"A recent campus-wide survey revealed that over 90 percent of the student body believes that computer technology enhances his or her learning experience," said Philip Lombardi, director of academic computing and media services at Bryant University. "Of the students surveyed, we discovered that more students would prefer to use a tablet over a traditional notebook PC because of its light weight and ease of use in taking notes. In the past year, a group of first year psychology majors have been using Lenovo Tablet PCs to administer surveys and collect data as part of a pilot program. Our goal is to extend this technology to more students in various majors to provide them with a PC solution that best complements their academic experience."

The ThinkPad X60 Tablets come equipped with Lenovo’s patent-pending Active Rotate function. With Active Rotate, the screen immediately orients to the user, no matter which direction it turns. The ThinkPad X60 Tablet's design also focuses on improving more traditional tablet features like navigational tools and the pen. Now a redesigned navigational dial lets users move easily in four directions, and it even remaps keys so "up" is always "up" as the user changes orientation with Active Rotate. Also, a new, more natural and durable pen resumes from suspend mode automatically when a user removes it from its cradle. An enhanced digital microphone repositioned on the front bezel enables accurate voice recognition and rounds out the ThinkPad X60 Tablet's sensory improvements.

"The Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet PC marries the best aspects of notebooks and pen-based devices," said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president, Notebook Business Unit, Lenovo. "With new screen options, hardware capabilities and an improved sensory experience interacting with the Tablet, the new Lenovo ThinkPad X60 Tablet is packed with the innovation our customers want."

The ThinkPad X60 Tablet's design also includes greater performance with more memory, a larger hard drive and longer battery life than Lenovo's previous Tablet PC. The ThinkPad X60 Tablet also prepares people for the next generation of wireless connectivity with select models offering 802.11n technology as well as an embedded WWAN card. ThinkPad X60 Tablet users are also ready for the next operating system with many ThinkPad X60 Tablet models shipped Windows Vista Capable and some Vista Premium Ready.

Pricing for the ThinkPad X60 Tablet starts at $1,799. The ThinkPad X60 Tablet will be available for shipping in early December with select models available immediately for pre-ordering.

Source: Lenovo

Driverless transport in big cities

While traffic problems in major cities have been familiar for a long time, the measures needed to deal with them have still to be put into effect. However, in its 6th Framework Programme, the EU is beating the big drum and looking for more efficient transport solutions in big cities, as well as more rational use of motor traffic. New traffic solutions such as completely automated vehicles moving on tracks, cars in defined corridors (cybercars) and bi-modal vehicles that can alternate between automatic and manual control, will aim to reduce traffic queues and pollution.

“This may sound like pure science fiction,” says senior scientist Torgeir Vaa at SINTEF (Norway), “but the technology already exists and a number of demonstrations and pilot studies in this area have already been carried out, and these show that the systems do work. In the future that we are talking about, private cars will have to park at the city limits, and other systems will take over in the centre. This means that there will be a need for rapid public transport systems (buses, trains, underground) and personal transport for short distances.

Heathrow Airport, a new exhibition centre in Rome and the Spanish city of Castellón are the sites that have been selected to demonstrate and confirm the viability of automated transport solutions. When the CityMobil project comes to an end in five years, these sites will have installed fully developed automated transport systems, and the first results will have been evaluated.

The Spanish city of Castellón will adopt bimodal buses that are capable of operating both manually and automatically – depending on where they are. In the new exhibition centre in Rome, a fleet of fully automated cybercars will be part of the fleet of vehicles that carry people between the car park, the railway station and the exhibition centre, while Heathrow will have a transit system that will carry people between the terminal and the car park in fully automated vehicles running on tracks.

From private motoring to public transport

Until now, advanced high technology has made most progress in private cars, where the introduction of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) has improved driving comfort. ADAS refers to support systems that prevent the driver from exceeding the speed limit by making the accelerator pedal “heavy”, or that ensure that cars keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead in a traffic queue.

CityMobil is a prolongation of the EU’s earlier Stardust project, in which SINTEF was also involved, and which built demonstration vehicles with ADAS technology that are in use today in the 0 Vision project in Lillehammer and in Trondheim City Operation.

Now, the EU wishes to focus on public transport, where little has been done, with the exception of a few automated metro systems (Paris, London, Lille) and some recently introduced automated buses and small units (Rouen, Eindhoven).

The SINTEF scientists regard it as extremely important to be members of the powerful EU consortium that comprises Europe’s total expertise in this area, with the Netherlands’ TNO in the driving seat, as it were. This large-scale European project consists of five sub-projects, and SINTEF will be involved in two of these, on tasks that include payment systems and safety legislation and regulations.

“Imagine that you arrive at Heathrow and want to get from the car park to the terminal”, say Vaa. “You call up an automatic driverless unit that is circulating and comes to the spot where you are parked. But what about personal protection and safety aspects? What about other people who are standing at the same parking place? Another example concerns driverless vehicles in mixed traffic; who would be responsible in the event of an accident?”

Trondheim has also been selected as a member of a reference group of 15 European cities that will submit relevant problems to CityMobil and test out technological solutions in the course of the project.

“Although Rome, Castellón and Heathrow are the major demonstration sites, plans and concepts will also be set out for a number of other cities, in order to help local authorities make decisions regarding automated transport systems,” says Vaa. “Some of these cities will also benefit from hosting small-scale demonstrations of automated vehicles. This will all depend on how active the individual cities are. Both the City of Trondheim and the Directorate of Public Roads are members of the reference group, and we hope to have the new transport solutions demonstrated in Trondheim and perhaps in other Norwegian cities as part of the project.”

The CityMobil project has a budget of € 40 million and involves 28 partners in 10 different countries.

Source: SINTEF

Intel Begins First Multi-Core Silicon Production

Intel Corporation today announced it has completed initial production runs of dual-core processors and provided further details about its multi-core plans to its customers, signaling the beginning of an era when PCs will have two or more “brains” inside. Intel plans to deliver two separate dual-core products and dual-core-enabled chipsets for its Pentium® processor-class families in the second quarter, including the Pentium® processor Extreme Edition.

The Intel® Pentium® Processor Extreme Edition will include Hyper-Threading Technology, providing the ability to process four software “threads” simultaneously.

“In addition to our products, we are investing heavily to further prepare the industry for the shift to multi-core computing platforms,” said Robert Crooke, vice president, Desktop Platforms Group and general manager, Desktop Marketing and Strategic Planning, Intel. “We accelerated this effort with the introduction of Hyper-Threading Technology three years ago and we’re extending it by building multi-core processors. Platforms based on Intel multi-core technology will provide the performance and responsiveness consumers and businesses need to get the most enjoyment and productivity from their applications.”

These first dual-core desktop platforms reflect Intel’s continued investment in silicon and platform innovation, manufacturing technology, capacity and industry enabling efforts that span the desktop, server, workstation and mobile market segments.

“As the leader in the extreme gaming, consumer and workstation markets, Dell plans to offer Intel’s powerful dual-core processor technology on high-end systems,” said John Medica, senior vice president, Dell Product Group. “No other companies make innovative technology more affordable to large groups of customers than Dell and Intel.”

Dual- and multi-core products are designed by including two or more full CPU cores within a single processor enabling the simultaneous managing of activities. When combined with HT Technology, which allows a processor to present itself as two logical processors, the Pentium Processor Extreme Edition product can process four software threads simultaneously by more efficiently using resources that otherwise may sit idle.

Platforms based around Intel’s dual-core Pentium Processor Extreme Edition are an ideal solution for PC computing and entertainment enthusiasts who crave computing power for audio, video, digital design and gaming tasks. The Pentium Processor Extreme Edition will be combined with a new chipset named the Intel® 955X Express chipset, formerly codenamed “Glenwood,” that includes features such as Intel® High Definition Audio, PCI-Express and faster dual-channel DDR-2 memory. Intel will also couple its mainstream “Smithfield” processor with two new chipsets named the Intel® 945G Express chipset and Intel® 945P Express chipset, both previously code-named “Lakeport” in the second quarter of the year.

Intel has more than 10 multi-core related projects underway and plans to increase its software and solutions enabling product lines, tools, investment and programs to further spur software design and validation.

India's $10 Laptop to be revealed Feb. 3 (Updated)

(PhysOrg.com) -- On February 3, the Indian government will display a prototype of the Rs 500, a $10 laptop that will hopefully give more young people the opportunity to learn and help increase the country's school enrollment.

UPDATE (February 4, 2009):
On Tuesday, February 3, India's national Mission on Education Program clarified that the $10 laptop is actually not a laptop, but a storage device. The storage device contains megabytes of data that can be accessed by a user by connecting the device to a laptop. The 5-inch by 10-inch Rs 500 storage device is now priced at $30. Joint Secretary N. K. Sinha, who made the announcement, did not explain why the device was being called a laptop when it was not. via: Times of India

The $10 laptop project is the product of a collaboration among institutions including the Vellore Institute of Technology, the Indian Institute of Science, and IIT-Madras. The project began about three years ago in response to the proposed $100 laptop (the "One Laptop Per Child" project), an idea from MIT's Nicholas Negroponte, which was going to cost $200. Currently, the $10 laptop is projected to cost $20, but India's secretary of higher education R. P. Agarwal hopes that price will come down with mass production.

The $10 laptop will be equipped with 2 GB of memory, WiFi, fixed Ethernet, expandable memory, and consume just 2 watts of power.

The unveiling of the laptop will occur at the government's launch of the National Mission on Education through Information and Technology, held next Tuesday in Tirupati. The Indian government is working with publishers to provide e-content on educational subjects which will be available free of cost. The government is also considering a plan to subsidize internet connections for schools.

Currently, the government is consulting with different production agencies, and hopes to make the computers commercially available in the next six months.

via: Engadget

© 2009 PhysOrg.com

Fermi mass availability delayed to Q2

Nvidia's upcoming Geforce GTX 400 series was expected to release sometime in March. However, Nvidia claims the GTX 400 series will bereleased in Q1 2011 - which runs till April 30th, 2010. Reporters suggestmass availability has been delayed till Nvidia's Q2 FY2011, which runsfrom May 2010 to as late as 31st July 2010.

In addition to GTX 400,Nvidia's CEO, Jen-Hsun Huang claims Nvidia is all set to "launch acouple of Fermi products" that will span Geforce, Quadro and Tesla - allby July 2010. However, there are no plans to refresh the mainstreamGPUs any time in the near future.

Despite losing to ATI on all levels - whether performance, value, power efficiency or features - at the mainstream segment, Nvidia feels the Geforce 210/310 and GT 220/240 products are "really fabulous" and offers everything that mainstream consumers may need. Obviously, thanks to Nvidia's marketing, the "new" mainstream products still have strong demand, despite losing out to ATI's Radeon HD 5450/5570/5670 on all counts. In the end, we might be looking till well after Q2 FY2011, that is after July for mainstream derivatives of Fermi/GF100.

The Fermi saga just keeps traveling what looks like a near endless tunnel. Every time we see glimpses light, a new delay creeps in. It might be released in limited quantities by April, but realistically, we are looking at May for widespread availability. In the end, with Fermi, it will release when it will release - and those dates, as witnessed by past history, are most likely to change.

Reference: Xbitlabs

Exclusive MSI's GTX 560 cards pictured

Were only hours from the official launch of Nvidias upcoming GTX 560 GPU, the one without Ti on the end which is set to, well, compete with something or the other at a price point of $10-20 less than something else. Anyhow, weve gotten our hands on a couple of pictures of MSIs upcoming N560GTX Twin Frozr II cards, both of which look very similar to MSIs N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr II, but not identical.

Were not quite sure why, but MSI seems to have added a small clamp on the rear part of the PCB that helps stabilize the GPU cooler. Oddly enough, the Ti versions dont have this little addition and were not quite sure why MSI has added, but there must be a reason for it. This is the only difference we managed to spot between the cards, but the real difference is of course inside the GPU itself.

The stock clocked card should have a core clock of 820MHz with the 336 shaders clocked at 1640MHz and the 1GB of GDDR5 memory at an effective speed of an even 4GHz. The GTX 560 GPU is said to have 32 ROPs and it retains the 256-bit memory interface. The N560GTX Twin Frozer II/OC is a little bit faster with a core clock of 870MHz which brings the shaders up to 1740MHz while the memory has been overclocked to 4080MHz.

Both cards have a pair of DVI ports and a mini HDMI port and MSI supplies a mini HDMI to HDMI adapter as well as a DVI to D-sub adapter with the cards. We found the N560GTX Twin Frozer II/OC listed on a European online retailer for €214.12 (S$380) which is only €9.16 (S$16) cheaper than the Ti version and with such a small price difference, its hard to see why anyone would go for the GTX 560 over the GTX 560 Ti.

Cypress New Universal Clock Gen

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY), a world leader in timing technologysolutions, today introduced the industry's first personal computer motherboardclock generator that supports multiple processors and chipsets. Cypress's newUniversal Clock Generator supplies timing signals for both Intel® P4 processorsand AMD K8 and next-generation processors, along with multiple chipsets fromIntel, VIA, and Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS). Users can choose the processorand chipset to support through pin selections on the device.

The new CY28551 device offers a number of advantages over clock solutionsdesigned specifically for a processor and chipset combination. Motherboardmanufacturers can greatly simplify their inventory requirements, and can makeadjustments to their product mix without the need for a different clock if achipset or processor is in short supply. In addition, designers can transfer thesame design and layout from one system to another using the new universal clock,reducing risk and saving design time and resources.

ASUSTeK Computer Inc., the world's leading provider of motherboards andnotebooks, worked with Cypress on the design of the new clock. ASUSTeK offeredmotherboard expertise, helping Cypress to define the part for maximumflexibility and performance.

"We have seen convergence in clock architectures supporting multiple chipsetsand platforms, driven by newer standards such as PCI Express," said S.Y. Shian,associate vice president of ASUSTeK. "The Universal Clock is a versatilesolution that leverages this trend, easing the process of board layout,termination and impedance matching over a variety of platforms. As the worldwideleader in motherboards, ASUSTeK is taking advantage of these features with newboards in development today."

"The motherboard expertise and market knowledge of ASUSTeK was instrumental inbringing this innovative solution to market," said Geoff Charubin, managingdirector of Cypress's PC Clock business unit. "We'd like to thank ASUSTeK forits collaboration, and we look forward to a strong partnership as ASUSTeK bringsleading-edge motherboards to market utilizing the Universal Clock."

The combinations of processors and chipsets supported by the Universal Clockappear below:

Processor
P4 K8
Chipset
Intel965(G, GC, GF, P), 948 ________
VIAPT890, PT890 Pro, PM890K8M890, K8T890Pro, K8T890, K8T900,K8N890
SiS 656, 656(FX, MX), 662, 670, 649MX 756FX, 761GX, 770

Product Features
The new device offers a variety of features, including:

· Easy configuration via hardware strapping
· Low power consumption for laptop applications
· Overclocking support for end-user modifications
· Low-power differential buffers for lower noise and better performance
· Watchdog timer with system reset for auto-reboot

"The Universal Motherboard Clock is a solution that showcases our strengths inthis market segment-system expertise, a broad and deep technical base, andexcellent customer relationships," said Elie Ayache, Cypress's marketingdirector for PC Clocks. "Working with a leader such as ASUSTeK has enabled us tointroduce a ground-breaking product that meets the needs of next-generation PCsystem design."

Availability
The Universal Clock is offered in a 64-pin QFN package (CY28551) and a 56-pinQFN (CY28551-3). High-volume pricing will be competitive with clocks designedspecifically for processor/chipset combinations. Samples of the new devices areavailable now, with full production expected later this month. A high-resolutionimage of the new product can be downloaded at www.cypress.com/universal-clock-photo.

Deepcool Preps Assassin CPU Cooler

Deepcool, manufacturer and provider of various thermal products for desktops, laptops and servers, is preparing to unleash the high performance Assassin CPU cooler - an Alpenfohn K2 lookalike.

The nickel plated boasts a twin tower design, eight 6mm copper heat-pipes, a copper base, uniquely shaped aluminum fins, and comes with two fans. The Assassin is compatible with all Intel LGA 775/ 1155/ 1156/ 1366 and AMD AM2/ AM2+/ AM3 processors.

News via [Softpedia]

DFI Showcases New Motherboards at Computex 2004

During Computex 2004, VR-Zone had the chance to visit DFI's booth in Hall 2. A total of 8 new motherboards were released.

The new LANPARTY Intel boards (925X-T2, 915P-T)will feature:Socket 775 platformKarajan 8-channel audio codecHigh speed GbE LAN on PCI Express busThe new LANPARTY AMD board (nF3 ULTRA-D) will feature:AMD 939 pin AMD64 platformKarajan 8-channel audio codecGbE PHY LAN by MarvellAs dor the INFINITY series, there will be two new models, 915P-T and 875P-T INFINITY, for P4 775-pin CPU platform and nF3 250Gb, K8T800 and K8M800 for AMD Athlon 64 754-pin CPU platform.

More photos of DFI's latest product offerings (which includes a barebone) can be found at VR-Zone's Computex 2004 Day 3 Report

ASUS Xonar D2 X Sound Card Details

We first broke the news about ASUSmaking sound cards over at CeBIT andDigiTimes followed up with an article yesterday stating Xonar D2X is usingCMedia sound chips instead of ADI we initially heard. If that the case, XonarD2/X is most probably based off C-MediaOxygen HDCMI8788 sound chip according to the specs we seen.

ASUS Xonar sound cards are primarily targeted at Gamers as well as Music andDigital Home users. There are two versions of cards but with the same specs;Xonar D2 is PCI based while D2X is PCI Express based. Xonar D2/X supports192K/24-bit with 118dB SNR for playback and 115dB SNR for recording. It supportsHW accelerated EAX 2.0 and OpenAL under Windows XP but not Windows Vista sinceHardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) is removed. Without that, games usingDirectSound3D will be rendered in software mode without EAX. It doesn't affectnew game titles since most of them run on OpenAL. Creative faced the sameproblem with their X-Fi sound cards therefore they have a ongoingALchemyproject to convert EAX into OpenAL so perhaps CMedia or ASUS can follow suit.

Other features include supports for Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect toconvert gaming audio into Dolby Digital & DTS 5.1 channels surround signal forHome Theater systems. It also supports Dolby Headphone and Dolby Virtual Speakerto provide 3D sound positioning over headphones and speakers. ASUS promises theywill provide constantly updated drivers on both XP and Vista to the consumers.ASUS plans to ship 500K Xonar D2X sound cards in 2007.

ASUS Unveils New Eee PC, EeeTop and EeeBox Powered by NVIDIA ION

ASUS, one of the world’s leading PC OEMs and pioneer of the netbook category, has adopted award-winning NVIDIA® ION™ graphics for many of its top-selling “Eee” netbooks and nettop PCs.

The NVIDIA ION graphics processor transforms low-power PCs into versatile media and entertainment centers that support stutter-free HD video, games and video editing. ION delivers up to 10x faster graphics performance than comparable systems with Intel integrated graphics.

All of the NVIDIA ION-based PCs and motherboards from ASUS fully support Windows 7, which takes advantage of graphics processors to accelerate a variety of applications, freeing the CPU to handle other tasks.

The new ASUS products include:

• ASUS Eee PC 1201N: An incredibly fast netbook that combines NVIDIA ION graphics with a dual-core CPU to deliver a superior multimedia experience.
• ASUS EeeTop PC ET2002T: A stylish all-in-one PC featuring a 20-inch Touchscreen display and built-in DVD drive.
• ASUS EeeBox PC EB1012: The latest version of ASUS’s pioneering nettop delivers an incredible media experience with support for HD video, HDMI, and casual gaming.
• ASUS EeeBox PC EB1501: A full PC experience with built-in DVD burner, up to 4GB of memory, wireless connectivity and Windows 7 Home Premium.
• ASUS AT3N7A-I: A mini-ITX motherboard that is ideal for building a media centre, small form factor desktop, or home theater PC.

Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of the GeForce and ION business units at NVIDIA said, “ASUS has energized an entire line of netbooks and nettops with our NVIDIA ION GPU. High definition media, great gaming, and Windows 7 – with these PCs consumers can truly have it all.”

“Our new ION-powered Eee PCs will redefine netbook and nettop performance,” said Jerry Shen, CEO of ASUSTeK Computer Inc. “They deliver an outstanding HD experience that isn’t possible with today’s basic integrated graphics.”

Jon Peddie, an industry analyst who specialises in graphics research, said, “ASUS is a leader in small form factor PCs, and this step shows that they are aware of the importance of great graphics, even for netbooks and nettops. These PCs will run circles around most Atom-based systems, so they are an excellent solution.”

ION graphics deliver a premium experience in small, low-powered PCs with support for:

• All versions of Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7
• Outstanding HD video including 1080p and Blu-ray*
• Smooth streaming video with the upcoming Flash Player 10.1
• Digital connectivity to an external monitor via HDMI
• Mainstream games including Spore, The Sims, UP, and LEGO games
• Hardware acceleration for NVIDIA® CUDA™ architecture-based applications such as vReveal, Badaboom, Arcsoft Total Media Theater, and Super LoiLoscope
• 24-bit 8-channel LPCM uncompressed audio through HDMI

Apple to release iPhone 5 or 4S

As the date draws nearer to 3rd quarter (which is rumoured to be the period for the launch of Apples next generation iPhone), reports are coming in saying it will not be the release of iPhone 5 but iPhone 4S. iPhone 5 is reported to be encountering heat issues with the implementation of the A5 processor. iPad 2 which are using the A5 processor faces no such problems probably due to its bigger surface area allowing a better dissipitation of heat. iPhone 5 will probably be using the A6 processor instead. iPhone 4S is rumoured to be released first to allow time for the issue to be resolved and will be equipped with a less powerful A5 processor in order to avoid overheating.

Source: PCgameshardware, Reghardware

ASUS Unveils 890FX Boards; Crosshair IV Formula amp; M4A89TD PRO

Press Release :
ASUS once again provides timely, optimized solutions to utilize incoming technology from AMD, supporting the chip maker?s new six-core CPU design. Exclusive features added to ASUS 890FX motherboards realize the hexa-core architecture?s capabilities to the fullest degree.


ASUS ROG Crosshair IV Formula
Better Performance Achieved
Both ROG Crosshair IV Formula and M4A89TD PRO include the AMD 890FX chipset and deliver thrilling PC performance through award-winning ASUS exclusives Core Unlocker and Turbo Unlocker, empowering users with on-demand overclocking and performance boosts for greater CPU capabilities in real time. Combined with the potential of the new design from AMD, these motherboards provide an experience like no other.

ASUS M4A89TD PRO
Unrivalled CPU Unlocking Leadership
ASUS shows the way in extreme PC performance with the inclusion of Core Unlocker on new 890FX boards. This technology has garnered much acclaim from international media since its inception, and remains the most reliable and successful way to unlock additional cores for performance improvements on motherboards using the AMD 800-series chipset. Core Unlocker makes it possible to turn a budget quad-core version of a CPU into a full six-cores for significant computing gains*.
It is accompanied by Turbo Unlocker, an intelligent overclocking engine that opens up CPU performance instantly by CPU core ratio when engaged in heavy computing or intensive tasks, including gaming.
Speaking on the inclusion of these two unique tools, Joe Hsieh, General Manager of Motherboard Business with ASUS, said: "ASUS will never stop developing the friendliest and most performance-boosting features available to consumers, whether enthusiasts, beginners or anyone else. Both Core Unlocker and Turbo Unlocker realize CPU potential, making them ideal for users looking for the best value on the best performance motherboards around."
Real Time Boost on All Phenom II Black Edition CPUs (2/3/4/6 Cores)
Turbo Unlocker represents the next evolution of performance tuning from ASUS. Designed for AMD Black Edition and 6-core processors equipped with an unlockable multiplier, it intelligently adjusts CPU clock speeds with one-click input from users to attain even more computing power. When running single-core optimized applications, Turbo Unlocker dynamically adjusts resources and ensures maximum performance on dedicated cores. For multi-threaded applications, all cores supercharge to the highest performance available. Performance gains occur dynamically and instantly based on actual system conditions, so overclocking is always safe and stable.
Turning Four Cores into Six
Using a switch on both new motherboards, award-winning Core Unlocker is an ASUS exclusive that leads to fast and easy performance gains through the activation of latent CPU cores. One press sets Core Unlocker going as it scans the CPU for additional cores and puts them to work for major computational gains. Heavy multitasking, rendering and gaming go faster and better with additional cores available, as Core Unlocker can turn a dual-core CPU into a tri or quad, or turn quad-core versions into a full six-cores for significant computing gains*. In many cases Core Unlocker has demonstrated up to 103% in added performance?it is a supremely capable technology that injects great value into these motherboards.
Faster than Ever Connectivity
Both ROG Crosshair IV Formula and the M4A89TD PRO boast native next-generation data USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s. These super-fast connections bring users into the HD era with the speed and reliability needed to handle large files quickly. The motherboards feature two USB 3.0 ports each, transferring data at up to ten times the speed of USB 2.0, so moving an entire Blu-ray disc (25GB) takes just 70 seconds. SATA 6Gb/s offers twice the throughput of its predecessor, making hard drives noticeably more expedient.
With the performance and speed demanded by users constantly rising, these technologies could not have come at a better time.
Specifications

Model

ASUS ROG Crosshair IV Formula

ASUS M4A89TD PRO/USB3

CPU

Phenom II/Athlon II/Sempron 100

Socket AM3

Phenom II/Athlon II/Sempron 100

Socket AM3

Chipset

AMD® 890FX/SB850

AMD® 890FX/SB850

Memory

4 DIMM max 16GB

dual channel DDR3 2000 (OC)/1600/1333/1066

4 DIMM max 16GB

dual channel DDR3 2000(OC)/1600/1333/1066

Power phase

8+2 phase

6+2 phase

PCIe x16 slots

3 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slots (dual x16, triple x16 x8 x8)

2 dual x16

Multi-GPU

CrossFireX

CrossFireX

Gigabit LAN

1

1

Audio

SupremeFX X-Fi 8-channel HD

8-channel HD

Storage

2 x USB 3.0

12x USB 2.0

2 x USB 3.0

12x USB 2.0

Exclusive features

Core Unlocker

Turbo Unlocker

ROG Connect

Game First

Turbo Key II

TurboV EVO

EPU

MemOK!

CPU Level Up

SupremeFX X-Fi built-in

Core Unlocker

Turbo Unlocker

Turbo Key II

TurboV EVO

TurboV

Express Gate

EPU

Stack Cool 3

MemOK!

CPU Level Up

AOC and DisplayLink launch 15.6-inch portable monitor

AOC and DisplayLink have launched a 15.6-inch USB 2.0 portable monitor, designed to help anyone running multiple applications on their PC or laptop.

The monitor, codenamed e1649fwu, employs a DL-125 chip supplied by DisplayLink and display technology by AOC.The screen has a maxmum resolution of 1366x768 at 60Hz. It does not need to be plugged into a mains, as it is powered directly through the USB port, which means it can feed off a laptops battery power when out and about.The monitor is also very light at just over two pounds, making it not much heavier than a typical tablet computer. It also looks very similar to an iPad or Galaxy Tab, with a sleek design and a fold out and rotatable stand that makes it operate like a picture frame.The monitor can be used in both landscape and portrait forms, with the image adjusting to the orientation of the device thanks to a built-in accelerometer.The display will work on most operating systems, including XP, Vista, Windows 7, OSX Tiger, Leopard and Lion, and many versions of Linux. It should be a simple case of plug and play.“With DisplayLink technology, AOC was able to rapidly bring to market this productivity-enhancing, versatile monitor for both mobile professionals and the home office user,” said Robert Velez, head of marketing at AOC. “The market for extended displays is growing rapidly, and this offering with its low power consumption, cord-independence and value price makes multi-screen computing more practical than ever.”Currently the monitor is only available in the US, with a price tag of $139.

Apple Magic Mouse Lookalike Spotted In...Japan

When it comes to drool-worthy PC accessories, it is hard to think of any company whose products and gadgets come close to delivering the same visual appeal that Apple is well-known for. After all, like it or not, Apple’s product designs and presentations are easily light-years ahead of just about every other manufacturer they compete with.

That being said, there are usually two reasons why people do not purchase Apple accessories: either because they are ridiculously overpriced, or because said consumers are staunchly anti-Apple to the point where they refuse to have a single Apple product invade their computing and entertainment habits. While we can do nothing for those who prefer to make do with cheaper alternatives, Sanwa Supply’s new mouse, the MA-TOUCH will probably appeal to the anti-Apple folks who want to experience the convenience of multi-touch on their Windows PCs but refuse to give up even a dime to the company they hate with a passion.

According to Sanwa, the MA-Touch wireless mouse is capable of recognizing finger gestures and swipes like four-directional scrolling and two-finger swiping. The main difference lies in the supported OS, as Sanwa’s MA-TOUCH is designed for use exclusively in Windows. In contrast, the Apple Magic Mouse will work in Windows but with almost all its multitouch support stripped out, essentially reducing the device to nothing more than a simple mouse with an exorbitant price tag.

In addition, the MA-TOUCH will probably not appeal to users who are stingy with their USB ports. This is due to the fact that it makes use of a small USB dongle for its wireless capabilities, unlike Apple’s Magic Mouse, which makes use of Bluetooth connectivity. That being said, it is unlikely that it will pose much of a problem, as most notebooks in the market today come with at least four USB ports, while desktops usually have at least eight such ports, if not more.

Last but not least, you will remember that we mentioned something about the MA-TOUCH catering to the anti-Apple folks but not the penny-pinchers, and for good reason. This is simply because the MA-TOUCH is not the cheapest mouse in the block: Sanwa’s website lists a retail price of 6090 yen, which translates to approximately US$74.

Source: Sanwa Supply

ASUS launches Eee PC 1002HA in Singapore

Today, ASUS launches the Eee PC™ 1002HA, an exquisitely designed netbook for fashion forward professionals. The Eee PC™ 1002HA builds upon theform factor, ergonomics and features of its predecessorsbut boasts areforged exterior in Ardent Grey – accentuated withinfusion finishes and crystal-adorned hinges.

It is also veryportable – weighing a mere 1.2 kg – andslim, which enables it to tuck easily into most bags.

Features-wise, the Eee PC™ 1002HA offers Wi-Fi 802.11n,Bluetooth V2.0, integrated 4-in-1 flash card reader that supports MMC, SD, Memory Stick and MS-PROand comes with an encrypted 10GB Internet storage facility(Eee Storage) that allows users to store and subsequently access their important documents and media securely whenever.

The ASUS also hasa vibrant 10.2-inch wide active matrix LED-backlit display and large ‘chiclet’ keyboard will allow you to work in absolute comfort for hours on end.

The Eee PC™ 1002HA features the exclusive Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) which greatly enhances its energy efficiency, letting users enjoy longer battery life per charge—enabling up to five hours of continuous use.

Price and Availability
The ASUS Eee PC 1002HA is available from 18th March with a retail price of SGD798 (GST included).

Model

Eee PC™ 1002HA

Operating System

Genuine Windowsâ XP Home

Display

10.2-inch wide active matrix LED-Backlit TFT, WSVGA 1024 x 600, 252K colors

CPU

Intel AtomÒ N280

Chipset

Intel 945GSE

ICH7-M

LAN

Onboard 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet controller

Wireless Data Network

WLAN 802.11n

Bluetooth V2.0

Memory

1 GB (DDR2)

Storage

Hard Disk Drive 160GB

10 GB Eee Storage

Interface

1 x VGA port (D-sub 1-pin for external monitor)

3 x USB 2.0 ports

1 x LAN RJ-45

2 x audio jacks: Headphone / Mic-In

Camera

1.3M Pixels

Reader

4-in-1 MMC, SD, Memory Stick and MS-PRO flash card slot

Touchpad

Multi-touch

Audio

Hi-definition audio CODEC

Built-in high quality stereo speakers

Digital Array Mic

Battery

Polymer battery: 36 W/hr; 2S2P (4200 mAh/cell)

Dimensions

264 mm (w) x 180.5 mm (d) x 27.6 mm (h)

Weight

1.2 Kg

Casing Colors/ Infusion

Ardent Grey, Pink, Red, White

AT Radeon 9600 Pro PC amp; Mac Edition

As the world leader in discrete graphics for both the Mac® and PC platforms,ATI Technologies Inc, is introducing the Radeon® 9600 Pro PC and Mac Edition,the first graphics card to support both platforms. While maintaining all the keysoftware features for Mac OS™ X and Windows® XP that users of ATI products forthe Mac and PC have come to rely on, the Radeon 9600 Pro PC and Mac Editionoffers dual-link capabilities to support ultra high-resolution flat panelmonitors like the Apple® 30-inch Cinema Display. The AGP based Radeon 9600 ProPC and Mac Edition is available for $ 199 MSRP.

This new card features one of ATI's most popular graphics processors for AGPsystems - the Radeon® 9600 Pro - and includes 256MB of dedicated high-speedmemory, has 128-bit memory interface and advanced DirectX® 9.0 shader supportwith floating point precision. Users will experience tremendous graphicsperformance, plus the ability to drive ultra high-resolution monitors up to2560x1600 resolution or better thanks to the card's dual-link DVI displaysupport.

"By providing one card as a solution for two distinct platforms, ATI is makingpurchasing decisions easy for the computer user. There is no confusion as towhether the card will work in a Mac or a PC, because the Radeon 9600 Pro PC andMac Edition will provide incredible performance and image quality in both," saidRich Heye, Vice President, Desktop Discrete Graphics, ATI. "As ultra-highresolution monitors have become increasingly popular for mainstream users, thedual-link functionality has become an important feature of graphics cards andATI is unmatched in the consumer space at this price."

The dual platform Radeon 9600 Pro PC and Mac Edition is AGP 2.0 compliant,compatible with both AGP 4X and 8X systems, including Apple's Power Mac® G4series, Power Mac G5 and tens of millions of PC's sold over the last few years.The card can be booted in either platform and software drivers are included forboth. ATI Displays, the fully optimized Mac OS® X OpenGL driver, featuresadvanced capabilities such as Versavision™, enabling screen rotation fromLandscape to Portrait mode. For PC users, the Radeon 9600 PC and Mac Editionwill feature ATI's award-winning Catalyst™ Control Center, where users canpersonally tweak settings to fit their needs.

Apple iPhone 5 scheduled to retail on 13 September

Even though Steve Jobs have kept mum on any details about the new iPhone 5, test centres, OEM parts manufacturers and operators have revealed a little of what they know about the new handheld. According to Gene Munster, managing director and senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray, the next generation iPhone could be announced on 24 August, and goes on retail on 13 September.

The dates information isnt leaked from Apple, but Munster revealed that based on the companys habit, it is approximately 79 days interval from Apple iOS update to the new iPhone hardware; and 99 days from the software distribution to the exact date of sales.

This means that if Apple is going to announce the new version of iOS at WWDC on 6 June, it will be on 24 August for the official announcement and 13 September for the retail date. Hopefully, if this is true, there will not be any more delay on the new iPhone 5.

Source: imobile.com.cn

Asus launches R.O.G. desktop with Ivy Bridge, GTX 680 and more

Were far from sold on Asus range of desktop systems and its R.O.G. series has yet to really impress, but the new CG8580 does at least have some pretty decent specs to say the least. This time around Asus has pulled out all the stops and gone with an Ivy Bridge CPU, a GeForce GTX 680 graphics card, Xonar DX audio and even a pair of SSDs in RAID, although most of these features are optional.

The CG8580 will come with a Core i7-3770K CPU overclocked to 4.6GHz, between two and 16GB of DDR3 1600MHz memory and a choice of graphics cards which consists of a GeForce GTX 560 Ti – or two in SLI – or a GTX 680. Amusingly, Asus hasnt specified which motherboard it has kitted out the CG8580 with and theres not even a mention of chipset, but wed presume its the Z77 chipset.

The default configuration will have a hard drive and Asus claims that it will offer models with up to 10TB of storage space. A pair or 128GB SSDs in RAID 0 is also available as a cost option, although we do hope that the SSDs Asus use is a lot faster than four times as fast as a hard drive as per the claims in the company website. The standard audio solution is via a Realtek ALC892 audio codec, but optionally one of Asus Xonar DX cards can be fitted.

Expansion slots consist of three x16 PCI Express slots, two x1 PCI Express slots and two PCI slots. The system also has four SATA 3Gbps and four SATA 6Gbps ports, four USB 3.0 ports, eight USB 2.0 ports, a PS/2 port, Gigabit Ethernet, 7.1-channel audio with optical S/PDIF out, DVI, D-sub and HDMI out and a front card reader as well as a pair of 3.5mm jacks for a headset. A 700W PSU is also part of the package as well as an unspecified optical drive – the pictures are showing a Blu-ray drive – a hot-swappable drive caddy, a keyboard, an Asus gaming mouse and a Wi-Fi card.

Asus bundles the CG8580 with Windows 7 Home Premium 64, Office 2010 starter and a copy of LucidLogix Virtu MVP. This is all good and well, but what we have a hard time understanding is Asus choice of chassis. Theres nothing about Asus R.O.G. chassis that makes us want to buy this system and the outright ugly rear-end of the chassis doesnt help the overall look of it. That said, we all have different taste and were sure there are people that disagrees with us, but wed suggest having a look at it in person before going ahead and ordering one of these systems. Due to the various configurations theres no word on price, but the CG8580 should be available as of right now.

Source: Asus

Apple ordered to give HTC settlement details to Samsung

A judge has ordered Apple to hand over details of its settlement with HTC to rival Samsung, the latest victory for the South Korean electronics giant.

HTC settled with Apple earlier this month, carving out a ten-year deal to share each others patents. Details of the deal were not revealed, but analysts believe HTC was forced to pay out between $5 and $20 on each handset it creates.The exact nature of the settlement will now be disclosed to Samsungs lawyers, not the public at large, and it is expected that it will deal with some of the same patents at the heart of Samsungs own dispute with Apple.This will give Samsung an edge in any kind of negotiation to end the close to 20 lawsuits the companies are engaged in, but Samsung has previously indicated that it has no intention on settling, despite a whopping $1.05 billion damages payment it was ordered to pay to Apple earlier this year, a ruling it is now appealing.Apple has also had a run of bad luck with its legal battles, including losing an appeal in the UK and being forced to publish an apology on its website, not to mention a failed attempt to dismiss a case launched against it by Motorola, now owned by Google. This latest setback, however, could pave the way for even more losses on Apples side of the patent war.Source: BBC

ATi R520 Core Exposed

It is interesting to see how the upcoming ATi R520 core based on90nm micron process looks like. Seems like the R520 core is slightly smallerthan the 0.13 micron R480 core though it is packed with many more transistorsthan the latter.

Asus reveals two budget friendly P8Z77-V motherboard models

If you like many others have found Asus range of P8Z77-V motherboards a bit on the expensive side, then the new P8Z77-V LK and P8Z77-V LX models might be what youve been waiting for, as both of these just announced models will end up just below the P8Z77-V LE in Asus range of Z77 motherboards. Weve seen LX and LE boards in the past from Asus, but the LK is a new budget model we havent seen in previous generations.

Were not entirely sure what Asus is trying to achieve by offering so many models as right now we have no less than seven P8Z77 SKUs if we include the Premium, plus two mini ATX, one ITX, the Sabertooth, the WS and soon to be two Maximus V boards with a potential third launching at Computex. Thats no less than 15 models in total and as youll see with these two new additions, only very minor features differ.

The P8Z77-V LX is the new entry level model and it has a smaller PCB at 305x218mm and gone are fancy features like heatsinks on the MOSFETs. Still, its not quite the scrape of the barrel, although Asus hasnt really included any extra features either. You get the standard six Intel SATA ports, two x16 PCI Express slots that can operate in dual x8 mode, two x1 PCI Express slots and three PCI slots. Theres no TB_Header on this board, as it doesnt have the required x4 PCI Express slot, something it shares with the P8Z77-V LE. No extra USB 3.0 controllers are to be found here either, so you have to make do with a header for two internal USB 3.0 ports, as well as six USB 2.0 ports.

The rear I/O isnt terrible with a PS/2 port, four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, three audio jacks, optical S/PDIF out and a D-sub, DVI and HDMI port. Price wise this board comes in at around US$140, not an incredible saving compared to the P8Z77-LE, but it might get cheaper over time.

For an extra US$5-10 you could pick up the P8Z77-V LK which has a slightly larger PCB at 305x224mm, yet is still smaller than the P8Z77-V LE at 305x244mm. The overall feature set of the P8Z77-V LK is similar to the P8Z77-V LX, but here you get angled SATA connectors which a bonus compared to the P8Z77-V LE, although no extra SATA controller is present. The slot layout has also been improved by adding a x4 PCI Express slot in lieu of a PCI slot, but we cant spot a TB_Header on this model. Asus has also kitted out the P8Z77-V LK with an ASMedia USB 3.0 host controller for a total of six USB 3.0 ports and a small heatsink on part of the MOSFETs.

Around the back you get a PS/2 port, two USB 2.0 ports, four USB 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, six audio jacks, an optical S/PDIF and a D-sub, DisplayPort, DVI and HDMI connector. The only thing you lose out compared to the P8Z77-V LE is an eSATA port, but price wise this board is about $10-15 cheaper than the P8Z77-V LE and if you dont need the extra eSATA and SATA ports, wed go for the P8Z77-V LK out of the two. One other thing that we noticed is that neither of these two new models features Asus TPU, USB BIOS Flashback or USB Charger+, so youre trading off some features for cost. Both models should be available as of now.

Source: Asus

Apple took 43 of industry's revenue in Q2

Apple shipped only about 6 percent of the industry’s smartphones and tablets, but according to the second quarter report from Raymond James, it took in about 43 percent of the industry’s revenue.

Samsung, Apple’s rival in the smartphone and tablet market, outsold Apple’s iPhone two to one, but that didn’t mean the South Korean tech giant made more money.

If you think Apple taking in 43 percent of the industry’s revenue is an astonishing number, this number is just as amazing: Apple generated 77 percent of the industry’s operating profits.

Supposedly, Apple’s innovation has helped the Cupertino based tech company garner immense profit even though it’s not selling as many products. Analyst Travis McCourt of Raymond James said:

“Ultimately, profits are the feedstock of innovation; and, innovation drives profits. Until Samsung starts generating more profits than Apple, we would not be overly concerned with who has the unit share lead. Remember, HP and Dell still sell a lot more PCs than Apple sells, but does it matter?”

Apple is currently battling Samsung in U.S court over patent infringement issues, and the court’s decision may ultimately decide whether or not Apple will remain on top. The Apple vs. Samsung case is expected to last at least a month.

Source: All Things D

ASUS K8N-E Deluxe nForce3 250GB Board

ASUS K8N-E Deluxe is based on the NVIDIA nForce3 250GB chipsetwas spotted at Akiba Japan. There are 3 versions of the nForce3 250 family;nForce3 250, nForce3 250GB and nForce3 Pro 250 core logic that supports754/939/940-pin 64-bit AMD processors and HT up to 1000Mhz. ASUS K8N-E Deluxeboard supports 754-pin Athlon 64, 3 DIMM slots up to 3GB of DDR400 SDRAM, 4Serial ATA ports (2 native and 2 by Silicon Image), ALC850 7.1 Audio controller,AGP 8x, 5 PCI slots, USB 2.0, 2 ATA-33/66/100/133 channels with RAID 0,1 and 0+1support, integrated Gigabit Ethernet and hardware firewall capability. Themotherboard manufacturers are expected to display their nForce3 250 boardsduring CeBIT and boards availability in April.

ASUS U46SV Launches in Europe

ASUS U46SV comes with an Intel Core i5-2410M 2.3GHz processor, up to 6GB of memory RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GT 540M graphics card, 500GB harddisk drive, DVD writer, card reader and a USB 3.0 port. Other features include a LED backlit 1366 x 768 display, 0.3-megapixel webcam and Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. The U46SV laptop is currently retailing for€799 ($1,387) in Europe.

Source: TCMagazine

Apple releases iOS 4.3 update

Apple has just released iOS 4.3 to the public, just a days ahead of the originally scheduled Friday launch. This new release brings a number of improvements to the iOS experience, most notably, Safari speed performance, personal hotspot for iPhone 4 and customizing the iPads side switch to serve as either a mute or screen orientation lock toggle.

This update contains new features and improvements, including the following:

* Personal Hotspot
- Share iPhone 4 cellular data with up to 5 devices (combination of up to 3 Wi-Fi, 3 Bluetooth, and 1 USB)

* iTunes Home Sharing
- Play music, movies, and TV shows from a shared iTunes library on a Mac or PC (requires iTunes 10.2)

* New AirPlay features
- Play videos from the Photos app including the Camera Roll album, iTunes previews, enabled third-party apps and websites on Apple TV
- Play slideshows from Photos on Apple TV using transitions available on Apple TV

* Faster Safari performance with Apple Nitro JavaScript engine

* HD video out using the Apple Digital AV Adapter
- View 720p HD videos from Videos app, iPod app, Photos, YouTube, Safari, Keynote, and enabled third-party apps on an HDMI display

* Ping features
- Push notifications for comments and follow requests
- Post and Like songs directly from the Now Playing screen
- Parental controls

* New Settings
- Messages setting for number of times to repeat an alert
- iPad side switch setting to lock screen rotation or mute audio notifications and sound effects

* Single tap conference call dialing with a pause to send a passcode

* Bug fixes

You can get your copy of iOS 4.3 through iTunes now.

Source: Apple

ASUS Finally Launched ROG XG Station

ASUS, leading provider of high-performance graphics solutions, today launchedthe world´s first VGA and multimedia docking station – the ASUS ROG (Republic ofGamer) XG Station. With extremely detailed and impeccable design, the XG Stationhas attained the honorific of being conferred with the red dot design awardhonourable mention 2008. The XG Station is also bundled with the EN8600GT/HTDP/256Mgraphics card, and equipped with an Express Card interface – seamlesslyintegrating notebook computing with powerful PC graphical power. It alsoincorporates 4 USB 2.0 ports and Dolby Technology – doubling as a USB hub thatdelivers true AV enjoyment.

Reddot Design Award Honourable Mention
With more than 7,000 submissions from 60 countries, the international reddotDesign Award ranks among the largest and most renowned design competitions inthe world. In the first time in the history of these prestigious awards, thejury of design experts have honoured 137 products that have stood out from theothers through especially refined and detailed solutions. The ASUS ROG XGStation is certified to be one such honourable mention, and is recognized as aproduct that sets itself apart from the competition with its successful designsolution for providing a unique user experience.

Engage Mobility with Powerful Graphics Processing
With the explosion of popularity of high-performance, powerful laptops in recentyears, there is an ever-increasing desire for computing users to utilize thesame laptop computer at home, in the office, and also on the road. However, inorder to conserve space, weight, and functionality, many of these sophisticatedlaptops have made sacrifices in terms of graphics, audio or processing power. Byproviding the power of a dedicated 3D graphics engine, users simply have toconnect the XG Station to any LCD monitor, connect to the notebook via anExpress Card connector, and then they are ready to game in with enhancedgraphics. This setup easily provides users with a complete mobile notebookcomputing solution while retaining the advantages of high powered 3D gaming andmultimedia experiences.

Sensational A/V Enjoyment
The XG Station also features enhanced audio and video functions withincorporated Dolby Technology – which encompasses Dolby Headphone, Dolby Virtualspeaker, Dolby Digital Live, and Dolby Pro LogicIIx. This allows dynamictrue-to-life quality audio to be achieved during PC gameplay, music or videoplayback. The Dolby Headphone enables 5.1 surround sound through any pair ofheadphones, while the Dolby Virtual speaker lets users experience 5.1-channelsurround sound from just two speakers. Dolby Digital Live enables users to enjoyaudio from the PC or game consoles through their home theater setups, and DolbyPro LogicIIx transforms any stereo or 5.1 channel source into 6.1 or 7.1 channelsurround sounds. Furthermore, with the XG Station, real-time overclocking can beeasily controlled with the ergonomic knob design for simple GPU clock speedadjustments – providing the best audio and video experiences.

Large Information Display and Easy Controls
With the adoption of a large LED screen, the XG Station is designed with ease ofuse in mind. This easy-to-read screen provides clear displays of critical systemstatus statistics that include:
• System master volume
• GPU clock speed
• Current GPU temperature
• Dolby® Headphone feature status
• Current actual Frames Per Second (FPS)
• GPU fan speed indicator
The XG Station also utilizes a dedicated control panel to let users control thesettings through a GUI based interface; and can also easily switch modes betweenthe notebook screen and the external LCD monitor.

Fast and Upgradeable Graphics Power
The XG Station is the world´s first docking station to provide a standard PCIExpress slot for additional graphics computing power for notebook computers todeliver VISTA Premium graphical performances. It also conveniently accommodatesfuture graphic upgrade possibilities for technologies such as HDCP. Labexperiments made on a notebook based on Intel 945GM and 965GM graphics connectedto the XG station with an ASUS EN8600GT graphics card showed an astounding 12and 6.7 times faster graphics acceleration respectively.

Specifications

ASRock Z68 Extreme4 and P67 Fatal1ty Performance Previewed

We are pleased to check out two upcoming boards from ASRock which Chris Lee, marketing director of ASRock is proudly holding.

On the right is the ASRock Z68 Extreme4 board which is unveiled recently and sports nice features likethree x16 PCIe slots, two SATA 6Gbps ports,on-board power and reset buttons, four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports for the front and two at the back. Apart from the heavily touted XFast USB feature that boosts your USB performance, another key feature highlighted is that this board comes bundled with theLucidLogix Virtusoftwarethat intelligently switch between Sandy Bridge iGPU and discrete graphics depending on applications usage.

On the left is the ASRock P67 Fatal1ty Performance board, a cheaper counterpart to the P67 Fatal1ty Professional board. As you can see, this board design is pretty different from the Professional and chipset cooler is less elaborated. The CPU VRM area is noticeably step down and has onlyone PCIe x16 slot instead of 3 on the Professional as well as two SATA3 ports instead of 6. Instead, it has three PCI slots and three PCIe x1 slots. On the rear IO panel, it has 2 USB 3.0 ports, a single LAN port, and of course a Fatal1ty mouse port. ASRock P67 Fatal1ty Performance is great for gamer who wants a relatively cheap solution with decent features that looks good.

Last but not least, ASRock is planning the Z68 Fatal1ty Professional too and you should see it later in May.

AMD Roadmap Updates

ModelsH1 2004H2 2004H2 2005Athlon 64 FXSledgeHammer
(0.13, 1MB L2, DC DDR400)
939-pin FX-53 "CG" (2.4Ghz) - JunSan Diego
(90nm, 1MBL2, DC DDR500?)
FX-55 "D" (2.6Ghz) Toledo
(90nm, DualCore, 2MB L2, DC DDR2-667?)Athlon 64Newcastle
(0.13, 150mm2, 512KB L2, DC DDR400)
939-pin 3500+ "CG" (2.2Ghz) - Jun
939-pin 3800+ "CG"(2.4Ghz) - JunWinchester
(90nm, 83mm2,512KB L2, DC DDR500?)
4000+ "D"(2.6Ghz)4200+ "D" (2.8Ghz) - Q1ClawHammer 754
(0.13, 192mm2,DDR400)
754-pin 3700+ "CG" (2.4Ghz, 1MB L2) - JunSon ofDuron?
maybe it is just Paris or it is Core "E"Paris
(130nm SOI, 256KB L2)
Athlon 33V - 1.8Ghz
Athlon 36V - 2.0GhzPalermo
90nm SOI