HP today announced the industry’s first convertible notebook PC with multi-touch technology designed specifically for consumers. Building upon the touch innovation HP developed for its TouchSmart desktop PCs, the HP TouchSmart tx2 Notebook PC was developed for people on the go who value having their digital content at their fingertips – literally. The enhanced HP MediaSmart digital entertainment software suite on the tx2 allows users to more naturally select, organize and manipulate digital files such as photos, music, video and web content by simply touching the screen. “Breezing through websites and enjoying photos or video at the tap, whisk or flick of a finger is an entirely new way to enjoy digital content on a notebook PC,” said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. “With the introduction of the TouchSmart tx2, HP is providing users an easier, more natural way to interact with their PCs, and furthering touch innovation.” The tx2 is the latest result of HP’s 25 years of touch technology experience, which began with the introduction of the HP-150, a touch screen PC that was well ahead of its time, in 1983. Digital media powerhouseThe tx2 gives customers the choice to set aside the keyboard and mouse in favor of a more natural user interface – the fingertip. HP’s multi-touch display delivers quick and easy access to information, entertainment and other social media. The tx2 recognizes simultaneous input from more than one finger using “capacitive multi-touch technology,” which enables the use of gestures such as pinch, rotate, arc, flick, press and drag, and single and double tap. The convertible design with a twist hinge allows consumers to enjoy the TouchSmart in three modes: PC, display and tablet. With a rechargeable digital ink pen, users can turn the tx2 into a tablet PC to write, sketch, draw, take notes or graph right onto the screen – and then automatically convert handwriting into typed text. Starting at less than 4.5 pounds, the tx2 possesses a 12.1-inch diagonal BrightView LED display and an HP Imprint “Reaction” design. The tx2 notebook’s HP MediaSmart software lets customers enjoy photos, listen to music and watch Internet(1) TV or movies in high-definition.(2) The software is optimized for multi-touch input while also making it simple to search digital content. In an effort to provide consumers with rich content through the Internet, HP has expanded its partnership with MTV Networks (MTVN) by offering video content from 10 television channels and online brands within MediaSmart’s TV module. Beginning in December, users can enjoy all the best content from Nickelodeon, the No. 1 entertainment brand for kids; MTV, the premier destination for music and youth culture programming; and COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network and the No. 1 network in primetime for men ages 18 to 24. MTVN also plans to make content from Atom, CMT, GameTrailers, Logo, Spike, The N and VH1 available within MediaSmart’s TV module. The MediaSmart software was first brought to HP HDX notebook PCs in September, using the interface first popularized on HP TouchSmart PCs. HP plans to include the software in the tx2 and all future HP consumer notebook PCs. Powered by the AMD Turion™ X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor or AMD Turion X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processor(3) and built on Windows® Vista Home Premium, the tx2 will be made available worldwide in an array of configure-to-order options. Additional features, accessories and service The HP TouchSmart tx2 series is ENERGY STAR® qualified and EPEAT™ Silver registered. Mercury-free LED display panels are included on the tx2 as part of HP’s ongoing commitment to reduce its impact on the environment. The HP tx Series Notebook Stand elevates the tx2, enhancing its usability while stationary, including making it possible to put the PC in an upright position for full interactivity with the touch screen. HP Webcam with Integrated Microphones allows users to see brighter, cleaner images when chatting over an Internet(1) connection. The tx2 offers access to a variety of self-help tools built in and online. It also is supported by HP Total Care, which enables consumers to reach support agents 24/7 by phone, email or real-time chat. Pricing and availabilityThe HP TouchSmart tx2 is available for ordering today in the United States at www.hpdirect.com with a starting U.S. price of $1,149.(4) More information about the tx2 is available at www.hp.com/go/touchsmarttx2.
Three of the biggest laptop computer makers are recalling certain batteries because of a risk they may overheat and catch fire. Sony made the batteries and the recall mirrors -- yet appears a lot smaller than -- a similar one that occurred two years ago.
This time, around 100,000 batteries are affected, a fraction of the 9.6 million [m] recalled in 2006. Dell, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Toshiba have already issued recalls for the batteries that were used in their products and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said "consumers should stop using recalled products immediately."
The batteries in question were manufactured between October 2004 and June 2005 and to date there have been about 40 incidents reportedly globally of overheating, Sony said Friday.
Most of the incidents are believed to be due to manufacturing line adjustments made during the period that may have affected some batteries, Sony said. Additionally some may have been due to raw material flaws.
Of the 100,000 batteries affected, around 35,000 were used in laptops shipped in the U.S. By far the greatest number, about 32,000, were shipped with HP laptops.
The maker said it is recalling batteries that have a barcode label beginning with A0, L0, L1 or GC that were shipped with HP Pavilion dv1000, dv8000 and zd8000 models; with Compaq Presario v2000 and v2400 machines and with HP Compaq nc6110, nc6120, nc6140, nc6220, nc6230,nx4800, nx4820, nx6110, nx6120 and nx9600 computers.
Toshiba's U.S. recall covers around 3,000 Satellite A70/A75, P30/P5, M30X/M35X and M50/M55 laptops and Tecra A3, A5 and S2 computers.
Dell is recalling battery model OU091 in Latitude 110L and Inspiron 1100, 1150, 5100, 5150 and 5160 computers.
Consumers who believe they have batteries that have been recalled should stop using the batteries and check with their PC vendor.
An additional 2,000 batteries were shipped in the Japanese market and the remaining 63,000 went to consumers in other regions, including Europe and Asia. Recall notices for machines shipped in these other regions are expected to be issued shortly.
Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/153110/.html?tk=rss_news
Lenovo hit two different markets with dueling announcements this week. The PC maker announced a new ThinkCentre desktop with added remote manageability, as well as a low-cost netbook for the education market. The desktop is expected to start shipping in December and the netbook is slated to hit toward the end of November. The company yesterday also unveiled the ThinkServer line of servers. "Lenovo is trying to hold on to that business market," said Jim McGregor , an analyst with In-Stat . "With the desktops, they're going toward a manageability platform for business. It can be upgraded remotely. They can be monitored remotely. IT can even recognize hard drive problems or a virus attack before the user does." The new ThinkCentre desktop -- the M58/M58p -- uses Power Manager, which is designed to lower energy costs by enabling system administrators to remotely monitor and adjust the amount of electricity used by the PCs. For example, Lenovo noted that the PCs can be programmed to shut down evenings or weekends. The ThinkCentre M58/M58p also supports Hardware Password Manager, which enables administrators to remotely check on various system passwords and deal with issues that arise with them. Lenovo is also following the recent trend of PC makers churning out mini-laptops with the unveiling of its IdeaPad S10e netbook. The company noted that the ultra-portable is designed for students in K-12, as well as those in college. Weighing in at less than 3 pounds, the netbook runs Microsoft Windows XP Home or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell. "I think it's good for any company to get into the mobile area," said McGregor. "The market is moving faster than anyone predicted? And, yes, I think it's important for them to get into [netbooks]. Everyone is targeting Internet accessibility." Netbooks are relatively inexpensive, small-form-factor notebooks designed for basic applications, such as Web surfing, e-mailing and music downloads. They're designed to use less power than traditional laptops and aren't robust enough for serious power users or gamers. On Tuesday, Dell Inc. also unveiled a new netbook - the Inspiron Mini 12. And Acer, which is considered to be out front in the netbook market, came out with the Aspire One mini-laptop in June. Earlier this month, Gartner Inc. reported that mini-laptops have been keeping the PC market from sinking badly in the tough economy. A strong push from a new slew of mini-notebooks is bolstering what otherwise would be a soft PC market. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/152986/lenovo_new_hardware.html?tk=rss_news
Intel and the Taiwan government plan to open a development center to further the Linux-based Moblin OS for devices such as netbooks and mobile Internet devices (MIDs), they jointly announced on Thursday. Intel, the world's largest chip maker, created Moblin to use with devices that run on Intel Atom microprocessors. The open source software includes a Linux kernel, a user interface, a browser, developer tools and other resources that Intel will continue to optimize as part of the agreement with the Taiwan government. The new development center will be based in Taiwan so local device makers, including Acer and Asustek Computer, can make use of the software in their products. Netbooks made by the two companies, for example, come with either Microsoft Windows XP or a Linux OS currently. The new Moblin center aims to become a widely used OS for devices such as these and smaller gadgets that allow people wireless access to the Internet. "The hottest thing going on in the computer industry today is the netbook phenomenon, and it started in Taiwan," said Intel CEO Paul Otellini at a news conference in Taipei. The new Moblin development center will open in December, said Yiin Chii-ming, Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs. The joint effort appears to be a swipe at Microsoft. Taiwanese companies in particular have called for the development of a community based around the Linux OS for netbooks because of Microsoft's plan to retire Windows XP in favor of Vista. Vista is a problem in smaller devices because it requires more expensive components than XP, which would raise the price of a netbook. It also boots-up and runs slower on such devices compared to XP and Linux OS offerings. Linux is also less expensive due to easier hardware requirements and there is no license fee for the OS. Microsoft has worked to make XP available for netbooks and other devices, even extending XP's life beyond traditional norms for the company. XP will continue to be sold on certain systems meant for businesses until June 30, 2009, and on ultra-low cost PCs through June 30, 2010. The company has also tweaked XP to run on the One Laptop Per Child association's XO laptop. The XO was designed around a Linux OS. Despite the efforts, an XP license still makes netbooks and other low-cost laptops more expensive than Linux models. In addition, some companies have complained about Microsoft rules requiring them to use XP only in netbooks that fit certain requirements, such as limiting the screen size to 10 inches large and not allowing touchscreens. They also want Microsoft to support XP beyond its promised dates. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/153040/intel_linux.html?tk=rss_news
HP made another move into the mini-laptop, or netbook, market today, unveiling three models priced from $379-$699.
 The new mini-laptops will ship between today and January, and have the same basic hardware specs: they are each less than 1 inch thick, weigh a little over 2 pounds, and come with a built-in web cam and microphone. They're powered by an Atom 1.6 GHz processor (the netbook processor of choice) and have a 1024-by-600 glass display with an LED backlight (8.9 or 10.2 inch diagonal display), an Ethernet jack, 2 USB ports, Wi-Fi ( 802.11bg WAN) and Bluetooth wireless capabilities, and a keyboard that is slightly smaller than standard size. You also have your choice of a solid state hard drive (SSD) or mechanical hard drive (HDD).
 The first model available today is called the HP Mini 1000; it comes in black only, runs XP Home Edition and is priced at $399. (See PC World's review) The second model, available mid-December, had its shell designed by fashionista Vivienne Tam and the look was debuted in New York last month when Tam unveiled her Spring collection. But if you want a designer netbook you'd better be prepared to pay designer prices; this one will cost you $699 for almost the same specs as the Mini 1000. HP plans to roll out 3G option for both of these models in December. There's no word on whether the memory is the same for both netbooks, but the Mini 1000 currently offers an 8 or 16 GB SSD drive or a 60 GB HDD.
The final model is by far the most interesting one that HP has to offer. Priced at $379, the HP Mini 1000 with MIE (Mobile Internet Experience) is about as pure a netbook as you can get with web-only applications designed by HP. Boasting the same specs as the other two, the Mini with MIE runs the open source Linux Operating System and comes pre-loaded with Skype as well as applications for Instant Messaging, e-mail, music, and web browsing. Don't get too excited, though -- the mini MIE won't be available in the U.S. until after the holiday season, sometime in January. HP has no plans to introduce a 3G model for the MIE.
All three models are configure to order, so specs on RAM and memory are up to you. 
This is HP's second move into the netbook market after it unveiled its 2133 in April; however, the 2133 was basically a mini-laptop that you could preload with Windows Vista instead of the Web-centric devices the company launched today. Ever since Western consumers expressed interest in the One Laptop Per Child's XO laptop -- which launched in 2007 and is aimed at children in the developing world -- we've seen an explosion of netbooks from traditional PC makers. Just in the last week, Dell unveiled its Inspiron mini 12 after months of speculation, and Toshiba launched its first netbook in Japan and Europe (but with no plans for the U.S. market). As the global economy begins to slow, netbooks may become the laptop of choice for many consumers and computer makers are jumping in with both feet even as they slash prices on traditional notebooks. The holdout, of course, is Apple, which recently introduced the newest versions of its popular MacBooks. However, Jobs recently argued that Apple already had two devices that compete with netbook capabilities: the iPhone and the iPod Touch.
jobs the iphone is apples notebook
Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/152982/hp_netbooks_mini.html?tk=rss_news
Dell planned to refresh its line of Optiplex desktops on Tuesday with 10 new models, including a thin-client computer based on Intel's Atom processor. The company will also expand the availability of its Flexible Computing and Managed Desktop services, now available in the U.S., to customers in other markets. Dell's latest products arrive at a difficult time, with markets roiled by fears of a global recession and companies cutting back on expenses in the face of expected weaker demand. Dell isn't immune. The company warned last month that end-user demand had softened in the U.S., as well as in parts of Europe and Asia. But Dell said its latest products can help companies cut their IT costs -- provided companies are willing to invest capital in new computers. "These machines do consume less power than what's out there in the infrastructure today. With depreciation cycles of four or five years, those aging desktop machines out there are costing customers more money," said Jeff Clarke, senior vice president of Dell's Business Product Group, in a phone interview. The updated Optiplex range and the broader availability of Dell's Flexible Computing and Managed Desktop services reflects Dell's desire to offer its customers more than just hardware. "It's a signal of where Dell is going, this notion of hardware, software and services integrated together to bring a solution to the market place," Clarke said. The Atom-based Optiplex FX160 thin client is priced starting from US$399 and was designed to complement Dell services, like its On-Demand Desktop Streaming offering for customers. The FX160 gives customers another option when deciding how they want to run their systems, Clarke said, adding that Dell has long sold third-party thin clients to its customers. "We really believe in flexibility and not coming in and saying that the only way to do it is have a virtual client, or the only way to do it is a thin client," he said. The Atom's capabilities are well suited to a thin client, where the horsepower of Intel's mainstream processors aren't necessary. "The types of applications that are being deployed in call centers and point-of-sale locations are very single, or in some cases dual, application-based and the Atom processor has sufficient horsepower to do one or two applications in parallel," Clarke said. Introduced in June, Atom has been a runaway success and Intel has worked hard to keep pace with fast-growing demand, leading some computer makers to grumble about product shortages. But Dell won't face that problem. "I won't have a supply issue," he said. Besides the FX160, other models in the new desktop lineup include the Optiplex 960, 760 and 360. These systems will be available in a range of form factors and are priced starting from $863, $593 and $476, respectively. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/152910/.html?tk=rss_news
The first netbook-type portable computer from Toshiba hit store shelves in Japan over the weekend, ahead of its upcoming launch in Europe. U.S. sales are currently not planned for the machine. Like many other netbooks the NB100 is based on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor and has an 8.9-inch display with 1,024 pixel by 600 pixel resolution (WSVGA). The machine measures 22.5 centimeters by 19.1cm by 3.3cm. It weighs just over 1 kilogram and battery life is 2.9 hours, according to Toshiba. In Japan a single version is available, running Windows XP Home and with a 120G-byte hard-disk drive, wireless LAN and Bluetooth. Store prices for the machine range from ¥63,800 to ¥69,800 (US$677 to $740), according to price comparison site Kakaku.com. At one Tokyo electronics store on Monday the machine was being offered for as low as ¥24,800 if customers signed up for cellular data service. European models will be offered with up to 160G-byte hard-disk drives on Windows XP models. Versions based on Ubuntu Linux are also planned, although they'll have half the memory of the Windows versions and a maximum hard disk size of 120G-bytes. They also won't support Bluetooth. Pricing for these overseas models and launch dates are yet to be announced by Toshiba. However, European online electronics stores are already listing variations of the computer at prices between €366 and €403 (US$461 and $508). Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/152851/.html?tk=rss_news
Apple developers this weekend are enthusiastically reporting that they've been provided with new test releases of the both the next iPhone software update and Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.iPhone Software 2.2 beta 2iPhone Software 2.2 beta 2 is reported to have made its way to developers early friday afternoon alongside a new version of the iPhone SDK with support for hardware accessories that provide audio input to the iPhone and iPod touch.The new version of iPhone Software itself is said to add Google Street Views to the handset's built-in Maps application, as was reported earlier in the month. Other features expected as part of the upcoming release, and outlined earlier, include a preference to turn off the iPhone's text auto-correction, and support for Japanese emoji icons. Snow LeopardSeparately, developers are reporting on the web that they've been provided with the first test releases of Snow Leopard since June's Worldwide Developers Conference.The downloadable software is said to weigh is at nearly 7GB in size and carry build number is 10A190. The release is expected to incorporate enhancements noted earlier this month, such as a Finder completely re-written in Cocoa, the beginnings of Microsoft Exchange integration, and a new ImageBoot function. Reference : http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/10/25/apple_devs_get_new_iphone_snow_leopard_pre_releases.html
Intel last week gave a quick preview of its next generation laptop platform, which could shake up the chipmaker's mobile offerings. The company gave analysts and users a glimpse of the new platform, codenamed Calpella, at its fall Intel Developer's Forum (IDF) in Taiwan. Mooly Eden, corporate vice president and general manager of Intel's Mobile Platforms group, said during his keynote address at the forum that the platform focuses largely on energy efficiency and longer battery life. Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at research firm Insight 64, said that if he was a hardware vendor, he'd be eagerly awaiting the 2009 arrival of Calpella. "It's a very different platform than anything they've done to date," he said. "When Calpella shows up, everything inside that laptop will be brand new." The analyst explained that until now, Intel's laptop platforms have consisted of a CPU and a Northbridge chip, which holds the memory controller and the graphics chip. However, in Calpella, the memory controller has been moved onto the CPU itself. The graphics remain separate but will be packaged with the CPU, giving it better access to the memory controller and the CPU, he said. "These are all good things," said Brookwood. "If I was a vendor, I'd be excited over this, but a little nervous because everything inside the platform is changing at the same time. With so many balls in the air, it's easy to drop one." However, he added that since Intel is previewing the platform a year before it ships, most of his concerns are lessened. The Calpella platform will be based on Intel's upcoming 45nm-based Nehalem architecture. The first Nehalem chips, which will be quad-core server chips, are expected to ship this fall. The rest of the Nehalem family -- desktop chips, dual-core, more quad-core and eight-core chips -- are slated to be released over the course of next year. Brookwood noted that the Nehalem chips for the laptop are scheduled to ship in the second half of 2009. Intel execs showed off the first 8-core Nehalem chip at its Intel Developer Forum in August. A week before the forum, the chipmaker announced that it was naming the new family of chips Intel Core. The first Core chips to hit the market will get the added label of i7, making the full name Intel Core i7. The Nehalem technology has a new modular architecture, which officials say will make it easier to scale from two to eight cores. The Core chips also are being designed to have two-way, simultaneous multithreading, use Intel's QuickPath interconnect, and have a three-level cache hierarchy. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/152781/intel_laptop_platform.html?tk=rss_news
The dream of an $800 Mac notebook has been deferred. So what are Windows manufacturers going to do about it? Industry watchers predict they will keep cutting prices, but Apple is only part of the reason. It’s mostly the economy. Last week, the anticipated across-the-board price cuts for Apple’s new line of MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops fell short of analyst and blogger predictions. But Apple has amassed such a broad and loyal high-end buyer base that it can hang tight on prices and get away with it, perhaps even flourish, in an economy teetering on a recession. Apple may be its own breed (this week it reported record quarterly sales for both Macs and iPhones), but still it seems logical to think that Apple’s decision not to budge on pricing, paired with an economy forcing tech buyers and consumers to be frugal, puts Windows OEMs in a great position to sell more units. “There are more choices for Windows so this could hurt potential Apple buyers,” says J.P. Gownder, an analyst at Forrester who covers consumer product strategy. “Ultimately, Apple’s decision not to cut prices could be a net win for Windows OEMs. They will be able to keep people who were on the fence about switching to a Mac.” Gownder acknowledges that the economy is the main driver of Windows laptop pricing, but says that high-end laptops in the $1,500 to $1,800 price range from the likes of Toshiba and Sony will also stick to their prices. “However, the middle and lower-end laptops from Hewlett-Packard and Dell will continue to see price drops as we head into the holiday season in an uncertain economy,” he says. Indeed, data culled by technology research firm IDC (a sister company to CXO Media) shows that the average price of Windows laptops fell to $894 in the fourth quarter of this year, a 7 percent drop from the same quarter in 2007. IDC estimates that PCs will continue to see price cuts through next year, dropping another 9 percent to an average price of $810 by Q4 of 2009. Doug Bell, a research analyst at IDC who covers the U.S. PC market, says that Windows OEMs are battling to hit the right price points for the holidays, mostly against each other. “Windows laptop pricing is not too affected by Apple,” Bell says. Given that approximately 90 percent of the laptop market is Windows, the numerous OEMs are often differentiated by bells and whistles. “The prices are basically the same for all the OEMs, so they tend to push other features such as functionality, style, color, sexiness and other gimmicks,” Bell says. “With tech buyers, it’s all about brand reputation,” he added. Both analysts agree that inexpensive ultra-small notebooks in the $250 to $450 range, often called netbooks, are an emerging market that will benefit the most from lighter wallets and Apple’s high-end stance. Apple, after all, doesn’t make a netbook and doesn’t plan to. Most of the Windows manufacturers have added at least one netbook, which offers a choice between an open-source operating system and Windows XP, to their lines. The most notable are from Lenovo and Acer. Netbooks are so promising that the PC market is reportedly afraid that netbooks will soon hurt laptop sales. Thursday, Microsoft expressed concern during its quarterly earnings call with Wall Street that Windows Vista sales were sluggish this quarter, despite 11 percent growth in PC shipments. Microsoft says this is largely due to the rising sales of netbooks running Windows XP Home or Linux. One Microsoft watcher, blogger Joe Wilcox, states wholeheartedly that cutting prices is exactly the wrong thing for Windows OEMs to do. Wilcox recently wrote on his blog, Microsoft Watch: “Windows OEMs should follow Apple’s lead. Now is not the time to set off fire sales. Pricing panic now is sure to cost in margins and profits later on. By keeping firm, and even raising prices, Apple bets on a good holiday 2008 while leaving plenty of legroom for lowering prices if necessary. I would encourage Windows OEMs to do likewise. Slow October and early November sales can be recovered in December. It’s easy to panic with a short holiday selling season ahead. Black Friday is Nov. 28 this year. Panicky price cuts will be costly later.” Playing Apple’s game on pricing would be a bold move for most Windows OEMs, but industry analysts don’t think it will happen. “Windows manufacturers have to worry about buyers deferring a purchase until later, or sticking with Windows at all,” says Forrester’s Gownder. “So price cutting makes sense.” Reference : http://www.macworld.com/article/136373/2008/10/laptopprices.html?lsrc=rss_main
The next time Apple will have the opportunity to boost the processor specifications of its MacBook Pro line will be next spring, when Intel pushes out a final update to its Montevina platform consisting of two high-performance mobile chips, according to reports.Apple's current MacBook Pros employ a "P" series, medium voltage (25W) P8600 2.4GHz chip at the low end, and a "T" series, standard voltage (35W) T9400 2.53GHz chip at the high end. The T series chip costs the company roughly $32 less than the P series, according to pricing estimates published on the web, but runs slightly hotter. Apple also offers a build-to-order option on the MacBook Pro that lets customers choose a "T" series, standard voltage (35W) T9600 2.8GHz chip for a $300 premium. The chip costs the company roughly $200 to $250 more than the 2.53GHz variants, according to estimates.Citing sources at Taiwanese notebook makers, DigiTimes claims Intel will refresh these Montevina-based Core 2 Duo offerings in April by adding two new variants: a P8800 running at 2.66GHz and a T9900 clocking in at 3.06GHz. VR-Zone earlier in the week provided corroborating evidence to this end via a series of leaked Intel roadmap presentation slides. The visuals list the two chips as arriving anytime from mid-to-late second quarter, which runs April through June. At this juncture, Apple could presumably bump its 15-inch MacBook Pro configurations up to standard frequencies as high as 2.66GHz and 2.8GHz, with a 3.06GHz build-to-order option. Alternatively, it could inch standard configurations up to 2.53GHz and 2.66GHz, leaving the 2.8GHz and 3.06GHz chips as potential build-to-order choices. It should be noted, however, the 17-inch unibody MacBook Pro should be in the mix by this time, potentially adopting one of the remaining high-end chips, such as the 2.8GHz. The current array of Intel Core 2 Duo mobile chips employed in Apple's unibody MacBook Pros.The spring refresh is expected to be the last to hit Intel's Montevina platform before the chipmaker turns to its new and broad Nehalem architecture, which has since officially been dubbed the " Core i7." Calpella is the code-name for Intel's Core i7-based mobile platform, which will umbrella chips currently referenced by the "Clarksfield" code-name (the same way that Montevina umbrellas mobile chips from the Penryn family). [Dizzy yet?] Spring 2009 Core 2 Duo mobile chip additions likely to be adopted by Apple's MacBook Pros.With the launch of Calpella not scheduled until the third quarter of 2009 at the earliest, few if any hard specifications are known about its new mobile chips. More generally, however, it's been speculated that Calpella processors will be based on a 32-nanometer manufacturing process and possibly abandon the use of separate northbridge and southbridge chipsets for components that will be integrated into some of its processor families. A bit earlier next year, Intel also plans to introduce its new GM47 integrated graphics chipset with a 1066MHz front-side bus and 640MHz graphics core frequency. Given Apple's emphatic endorsement of NVIDIA's new chipsets across its notebook lines, it's unlikely the company holds any plans to adopt the new Intel part.Update: Charts and story text updated to reflect confirmation that the 2.53GHz Intel processor employed by the unibody MacBook Pro is the "T" series, standard voltage (35W) T9400, and that Apple is not using the "P" series, medium voltage (25W) P9500. Reference : http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/10/23/future_macbook_pro_bound_intel_chips_due_next_spring.html
Accessory-maker Kensington released some new products for use with Apple's notebooks, iPhones and iPods. The US$29.99 Kensington 4-Port USB Charger uses one wall plug and allows you to power iPhones and iPods. The $59.99 Media Sharing Cable allows users to share data between two computers without installing extra software. Kensington also introduced several car mounts for iPod and iPhone। All mounts cost $29.99 and include a variety of methods for connecting the device to the car. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/151133/.html?tk=rss_news
HP today announced new consumer notebook and desktop PCs and accessories that push the boundaries of personal computing design and experience while making it even easier for people to enjoy their photos, music and other content with anyone, anywhere. Striking new designs and innovative features distinguish the entertainment-rich HP HDX16 and HDX18 Notebook PCs, which deliver high-definition photos, videos and music on the go.(1) The HP TouchSmart IQ800 series PC with a 25.5-inch diagonal screen is a versatile entertainment system that puts the digital lives of consumers right at their fingertips. Additionally, an array of PC accessories, such as HP Digital Picture Frames and HP SimpleSave backup for music and data, help protect and enhance the digital entertainment experience. “HP’s new consumer notebooks and TouchSmart PC deliver smart and creative ways to engage the wealth of photos, videos, music and entertainment that was previously stuck on our PCs gathering digital dust,” said Stephen DeWitt, senior vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP. “HP is developing new products and solutions that help make connecting to people and information simple and fun and create a truly personalized computing experience.” Notebooks offer premium design and high-definition experience For people who want access – wherever they are – to friends and family, TV, photos, movies, music, games and online information, HP has introduced the powerful HP HDX16 and HDX18 Notebook PCs. These notebooks provide a truly mobile, high-definition(1) experience while featuring striking designs, vividly bright 1,080-pixel displays, built-in TV tuners(2) and Blu-ray(3) disk capabilities. Both notebooks include built-in Wi-Fi(4) networking, along with home-theater-quality audio/video options that include Altec Lansing speakers, an HP Triple Bass subwoofer and Dolby Home Theater software. The HDX16 is a midsize notebook with a 16-inch diagonal widescreen with 720- or 1,080-pixel resolution display. The HDX18 is a powerful and visually captivating full-size notebook with an 18.4-inch diagonal Ultra BrightView 1,080-pixel screen and enthusiast-class graphics capabilities. Additionally, the HP HDX notebook PCs feature HP MediaSmart, which allows consumers to enjoy photos, listen to music and watch movies in high definition.(1) A stunning new high-definition, touch-enabled screen for the ultimate user experience The new HP TouchSmart IQ800 series PC is a sleek all-in-one touchscreen desktop that can double as a TV with a huge 25.5-inch diagonal high-definition(1) widescreen. With the natural user touch interface of the HP TouchSmart, users can quickly check the weather; play music and create playlists; crop, edit and share photos; or watch TV(2) – with only a tap or swipe of a finger. The wall mountable TouchSmart PC includes an image resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels and a slot-load Blu-ray(3) player, providing a stunning high-definition experience(1) The IQ800 series also features a powerful, energy-efficient Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor(5) and uses HP power management technology to provide up to 45 percent energy savings compared to PCs without power management enabled. Other features built into the sleek IQ800 series include a webcam(6); colored HP Ambient Light; media card reader; large-capacity, high-speed hard drive; an HP Pocket Media Drive Bay for adding an additional hard drive; and premium speakers. New accessories personalize and protect the digital experience HP also introduced a wide variety of accessories, including digital picture frames, SimpleSave solutions, mice, keyboards and flash storage that enhance the PC experience.HP has expanded its easy-to-use digital picture frame portfolio to help consumers show off photos, create slide shows and play videos – with no computer needed. The picture frames come in a variety of sizes, including a portable, 3.5-inch pocket frame and an attractive 10-inch cherry wood-finish frame. The frames feature clock and calendar options, support MP3 and other audio formats, and play music through stereo speakers. A variety of interchangeable, double-matting options give HP frames a more professional look and allow easy personalization. PictBridge functionality allows consumers to print photos right from the digital picture frame. HP SimpleSave for music and data provides an easy way to back up digital music or important documents in three steps. Simply insert the SimpleSave disk into the DVD drive and the solution finds all music or documents and saves them to the DVD. In the event of a hard drive crash, the HP SimpleSave restore process is as quick and easy as the original backup process. The solution is compatible with hundreds of music, music video, document and file formats. Designed for expert gamers, HP’s new gaming mice – the HDX Laser Mouse and Laser Gaming Mouse with VoodooDNA – offer up to five levels of on-the-fly sensitivity, allowing gamers to adjust dots-per-inch (dpi) settings up to 3,200 dpi in-game. Using the five programmable buttons and VoodooDNA GUI software, gamers can preset five different macros with five unique profiles for up to 25 different combinations of ultimate game-playing flexibility. The spill-resistant HP Wireless Comfort Keyboard and Mouse combo provides wave-shaped keyboard design, cushioned wrist rest and three different adjustable heights designed for better comfort while typing. The keyboard features 31 hotkeys – including instant access to the Web; enhanced Windows Vista® experience; and programmable buttons for multimedia controls. The mouse features a four-way-tilt scroll wheel and two programmable buttons along with an asymmetric design for better ergonomics and comfort. Pricing and availability(7) The HP HDX16 starts at $1,299, while the HP HDX18 starts at $1,549. Both are expected to be available starting later this month. The HP TouchSmart IQ804 PC starts at $1,899 and is expected to be available Sept. 21, while the HP TouchSmart IQ816 PC starts at $2,099 and is expected to be available Oct. 12. Available now, HP Digital Picture Frames come in 3.5-inch, 7-inch, 8-inch and 10-inch sizes and range in price from $59 to $219. HP SimpleSave is available in a five-pack for $14.99 from major electronics retailers. The HP HDX Laser Mouse and Laser Gaming Mouse with VoodooDNA mice are priced at $39.99 and $59.99, respectively. HP Wireless Comfort Keyboard and mouse combo are available now and are priced at $79।99. Reference : http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2008/080916a.html?mtxs=rss-corp-news
Western Digital (WD) on Friday announced that it's shipping its Scorpion Blue 500GB 2.5-inch hard disk drive. It costs US$219.99. The new Scorpion Blue 500GB drive fits in standard laptop drive bays. The drive crams 250GB onto each of two platters into a Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive mechanism suitable for installation in laptop computers. The two platters reside in a 9.5mm hard disk drive mechanism--the standard height for a laptop hard drive. 300GB remains the largest hard drive you can order from Apple for a Mac laptop; that's an option on the 17-inch MacBook Pro. MacBooks and MacBook Pros both take commodity hard drive components, and a user interested in upgrading their system could add this 500GB drive themselves (or pay a technician to do it). The drive operates at 5400 revolutions per minute (RPM) and features WD's "WhisperDrive" technology, which the manufacturer claims allows it to operate more quietly। "ShockGuard" firmware and hardware protect the drive if it's dropped or bumped, while "IntelliSeek" calculates optimum seek speeds to lower power consumption. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/151005/.html?tk=rss_news
Hewlett-Packard (HP) will release a laptop next month that can run for to 24 hours using a high-capacity battery -- but only if it's running Microsoft's Windows XP operating system. The long-lasting notebook will be a special configuration of the 6930p, part of HP's EliteBook line that the company targets at businesses. The allure of a battery that can last a day is incontestable, as anyone who has spent time in an airport searching for a power outlet knows. The secret to the 6930p's long battery life is new technology -- and some old technology too. To get the best battery performance, the 6930p will have to run Windows XP rather than Windows Vista, Microsoft's latest operating system. Vista has been criticized as being a power hog, although some of its flashy, power-draining features such as the translucent Aero windows can be turned off. Although Microsoft has been heavily pushing Vista, HP has said it will offer downgrades from Vista to Windows XP on business laptops through next year. The 6930p will also need a 12-cell Ultra-Capacity Battery, which sells for US$189. The battery lasts about 10 hours longer than the regular-capacity one. The new laptop model will also have HP's Illumi-Lite LED (light-emitting diode) display, which the company says adds four more hours to a battery's life than a traditional LCD (liquid crystal display) screen. Further power savings will come from the use of an Intel SSD (solid-state drive), which uses power-saving NAND flash memory rather than a rotating magnetic disk to store information. Use of an Intel SSD enables the battery to last around 7 percent longer, HP said. HP is one of Intel's partners and will soon being incorporating Intel X25-M and X18M Mainstream SATA SSDs in its products. HP lists the current available version of the 6930p as starting at $1,199 on its Web site, although the company has not listed how much the 24-hour battery life configuration will cost। Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/150824/hp_laptop_battery.html?tk=rss_news
New Intel® High-Performance SATA Solid-State Drive Offers Users Responsive, Rugged, Reliable and Low-Power Storage Solution to Replace Hard Disk Drive SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 8, 2008 - Intel Corporation announced today it has begun shipping Intel® X18-M and X25-M Mainstream SATA Solid-State Drives (SSDs) based on multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash technology for laptop and desktop computers. The new high-performing data storage devices give computer buyers a new level of system responsiveness in a lightweight, rugged, low-power package that can replace traditional hard disk drives. Validated for Intel-based computers, the X18-M is a 1.8-inch drive and the X25-M a 2.5-inch drive, offering several advantages over hard drives including faster overall system response, boot and resume times. With no moving parts, SSDs run cooler and quieter and are a more reliable option than hard drives. In addition, SSDs remove input/output (I/O) performance bottlenecks associated with hard disk drives that help maximize the efficiency of Intel processors, such as the company’s Core™ family of products. For example, lab tests show that the Intel X18-M and X25M increase storage system performance nine times over traditional hard disk drive performance. "Validated by our rigorous testing and OEM customer feedback, we believe that we have developed an SSD that delivers on the promises of SSD computing," said Randy Wilhelm, Intel vice president and general manager of the NAND Products Group. "By combining our experience in flash memory design with our processor and computing expertise, we have added advances such as our parallel 10-channel architecture, proprietary controller, firmware and memory management algorithms that address write amplification and wear leveling issues to redefine SSD performance and reliability for computing platforms." The Intel X18-M and X25-M Mainstream SATA SSDs are available in 80 gigabyte (GB) capacities, with 160GB versions sampling in the fourth quarter of this year. The 80GB drive achieves up to 250MB per second read speeds, up to 70MB per second write speeds and 85-microsecond read latency for fast performance. The 80GB version is priced at $595 for quantities up to 1,000. These SSDs are available now and end-customer products containing the Intel® High-Performance SATA SSDs are expected to begin shipping in the next few weeks. The company is also expected to introduce a line of single-level cell (SLC) SSDs for the server, storage and enterprise environments within the next 90 days। Called the Intel® X25-E Extreme SATA Solid-State Drive, these products are designed to maximize the Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS), which equates to higher performance and lower enterprise costs. Since SSDs lower energy consumption, maintenance, cooling and space costs, an SSD-based data center will reduce overall infrastructure costs while increasing performance-per-square-foot by as much as 50x. Reference : http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20080908comp.htm?cid=rss-90004-c1-212452
When Samsung Electronics unveiled its new X360 laptop at the IFA electronics show in Berlin last week it made a big deal of the machine being lighter than Apple's Macbook Air। "Lighter than air," said the promotional material for the laptop, which like the Macbook Air has a 13.3-inch screen but which at 1.27 kilograms is 90 grams lighter. That difference is roughly the weight of a cell phone. But missing on the specifications sheet for the new laptop were the dimensions of the computer. Had Samsung managed the double and made it thinner than the Macbook Air? The likely answer at the time was no otherwise they'd have no doubt been promoting that too -- and now, with the release of specifications, we have the definitive answer. The X360 measures 311 millimeters wide by 228mm deep by between 16.5mm and 31mm thick. In comparison, the Macbook Air measures 325mm wide by 227mm deep by between 4mm and 19.4mm thick. So the Samsung X360 is at least a centimeter thicker than the Macbook Air at both its thinnest and thickest points. It remains competitive with many of the latest Windows-based machines so that shouldn't prove a disincentive to potential buyers, but it does go some way to illustrating the achievement Apple made in making the Macbook Air so thin. The Samsung laptop has an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a 128G-byte SSD (solid-state drive). SSDs are based on flash memory and should allow PCs to start and shut down faster than laptops with hard-disk drives. Other features include a built-in 1.3-megapixel webcam, Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11n wireless LAN, 3 USB ports, HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) connector and Express Card slot. It will go on sale this month in the U।K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia and Hong Kong. Pricing and launch details for other markets were not announced. Reference : http://www.macworld.com/article/135387/2008/09/x360.html?lsrc=rss_main
The One Laptop Per Child ( OLPC) association is changing strategy: It has joined forces with the United Nations' lead agency for information technology to further spread its green low-cost laptops to school kids in developing nations around the world. The partnership shows OLPC is diverging from its original strategy of working directly with governments in order to push its mission forward. OLPC started out as a non-profit focused on creating a US$100 laptop PC to distribute to kids in developing nations to keep them from falling behind the information technology revolution. The original idea was for governments to order OLPC's XO laptops by the millions, thereby driving down the cost per unit through volume discounts on parts and assembly. It hasn't worked out quite as hoped. The laptop is twice as expensive as originally planned, and it turns out, many countries want to order a limited number of them to run trials first. Other nations find them far too expensive no matter what the price. The result is that despite early hopes for the distribution of millions of XO laptops to school children everywhere, there are only about 400,000 or 500,000 in use today. "In the final analysis, even US$200 per laptop, which is hugely inexpensive for the technology you get, is just too much," said Matt Keller, OLPC's director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Enter the International Telecommunication Union ( ITU), a UN agency with the ambitious global goal of connecting everyone to information technology and communications by the year 2015. OLPC and the ITU plan to combine efforts to spread XO laptops to kids around the world, including promotional efforts, sharing contacts in government, industry, non-governmental organizations and others, and even finding ways to raise funds to drive down the cost of the laptops to zero for the poorest countries in the world. "Our mission is to spread information and communication technology (ICT) around the world. For the least developed parts of the world, the missing link is now available: affordable laptops," said Sami Al Basheer, director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau. "The most important element of this mission is education," he added. There are a number of countries around the world suffering from a lack of funds for such devices. In Afghanistan, for example, a country left with little infrastructure after 35 years of nearly constant warfare, first with the Soviet Union and then civil war, the idea of using technology such as the XO laptop is a stretch. Consider this: until 2002, Afghans had to travel to Pakistan or other neighboring countries just to make a phone call, according to Amirzai Sangin, Minister of Communications and Information Technology in Afghanistan. The U.S. and other members of the coalition with troops in Afghanistan have been generous with funds and building projects, said Sangin, "but you have to consider everything else that we have to allocate money for." "Two hundred dollars per laptop is a lot of money," he said. The country is trying to build a national army and school system, provide health care for the first time in many areas, electricity, and infrastructure such as roads and bridges that the Taliban keep blowing up. At the same time, the Afghan government is spending money to develop industries such as agriculture and mining to bring in much needed tax revenue for the central government. With six million school aged children, Afghanistan worries more about school buildings, books and finding qualified teachers, than providing laptops. There has been some technological progress in Afghanistan. Around 6.5 million people, a quarter of the population, now carry mobile phones. In fact, one of the largest mobile phone service providers in the country, Roshan, has signed on to work with OLPC to promote the XO. But for Afghanistan, like other desperately poor countries in Africa, Asia and elsewhere, putting one laptop in the hands of every school child is no easy task. That's why OLPC is revamping its efforts to work directly with international organizations such as the UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to further its mission. These groups can help provide the contacts and funding necessary to more broadly distribute the XO. "We want to get countries the ability to get these laptops, whatever it takes," said Keller. Groups such as the ITU put OLPC in contact with key people in governments around the world. Other partners, such as Microsoft, which shares the same mission of spreading technology to poor areas around the world, can be counted on for technology support as well as project funds. OLPC also hopes to attract more contributors later this year with its Give One, Get One program run in tandem with Amazon.com. Keller believes OLPC may be able to sell twice as many laptops through Amazon.com as when OLPC ran the online program itself. OLPC hopes donors of all sizes will be attracted to its cause. Although OLPC has succeeded in finding partners in many areas, there's more work to be done with foundations and other charitable organizations. Every new connection potentially means another XO laptop will end up in the hands of a school child, somewhere. "From what we've seen we think this laptop can make it," said Al Basheer। "It can spread around the world easily because of the quality and the low cost." Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/150696/.html?tk=rss_news
Amazon.com will start selling One Laptop Per Child's low-cost XO notebook computer as part of the Give One, Get One program OLPC developed last year, according to an official from OLPC. The non-profit organization started Give One, Get One as a way to raise money to send laptops to school kids in poor countries. The idea is that a person pays for two of the XO laptops developed by OLPC. One is sent to the buyer, and another is donated to a child in a developing country. This year, OLPC opted to team up with a Web e-tailer instead of running the program itself, said Matt Keller, director of Europe, Middle East and Africa at OLPC, in an interview Wednesday. Amazon.com will start selling XO laptops under the Give One, Get One program in late November, around the time of Thanksgiving in the U.S. Sales will likely extend through to around the end of December. "We're a small group of people," said Keller, explaining the rationale for working with Amazon.com. OLPC is run by a small group of people, he said। There are a few thousand volunteers that help out with software development and other projects, but the core group itself is just 25 people. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/150642/xo.html?tk=rss_news
The second-generation XO laptop from the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project, which features two touchscreens and was announced in May, will become available in the first quarter of 2010. That's the prediction from Matt Keller, OLPC's director of Europe, Middle East and Africa, who said the group has high hopes for the XO-2's e-book capabilities, which he believes will make reading easier for schoolchildren in emerging economies. "The e-book reader is the most popular function of the laptop," said Keller. The laptop is nearly half the size of current XO laptop and consists of two touchscreen displays. The XO-2 doesn't include a keyboard, but instead will feature a software-based touch-sensitive keyboard. The XO currently costs around $204 (£102) to make, said Keller, while the XO-2 will likely cost around $80 (£40)। OLPC's still hopes to reach a price of $75 per laptop for educational buyers. Reference : http://www.pcworld.com/article/150722/next_xo_laptop.html?tk=rss_news
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