Softpedia News - Technology

ThinkPad X100e is Lenovo's Business Netbook

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:39:00 GMT

Lenovo, one of the world's most recognizable brands in the segment of business-focused notebooks, is reportedly planning the expansion of its successful line of ThinkPad laptops with the introduction of a new ThinkPad X100e model. Set to launch on January the 5th, 2010, the upcoming system will be called ThinkPad X100e and is going to be part of the company's growing line of netbook systems. Said to have been designed as an “entry level ultra portable, the first ThinkPad of its size,” the new system could provide users with a few surprises, in terms of internal specifications.

While nothing is certain at this time, Thinkpadtoday.com took a guess at what the upcoming system would be packing under the hood, claiming that users could take advantage of AMD's Athlon Neo platform. According to them, the system will boast a 12.1-inch WXGA TFT 1,280 x 800 display, powered by the ATI Radeon HD 3410 graphics chip and a 1.6GHz Athlon Neo processor. Then again, another choice could be Intel's Centrino 2 ULV processor, with a 1.4GHz core speed and the familiar Intel GMA 4500MHD chip.

Additional features of the said device include up to 3GB of DDR2 SDRAM, an option for up to 320GB of storage space, with a choice for SSD upgrade, and six-cell or nine-cell Lithium-Ion battery packs. Given the fact that it will... (read more)

NVIDIA's Q3 FY2010 Revenue Up 16 Percent

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:52:00 GMT

NVIDIA has recently announced its financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2010, with a reported revenue of US$903.2 million, representing an increase of 16 percent from the previous quarter and up from US$897.7 million, recorded in Q3 FY2009. According to the Santa Clara, California-based graphics chip maker, the revenue went up in each of the company's product lines, confirming a stronger consumer demand

“We continued to make progress in the third quarter with healthy market demand across the board,” Jen-Hsun Huang, president and chief executive officer, NVIDIA, said. “Revenue was up from a year ago, with improvement in each of our PC, professional solutions and consumer businesses. It’s great to see us shipping orders with our Tegra mobile-computing solution, and growing enthusiasm for our Tesla platform for parallel computing in the server and cloud-computing markets.”

As stated by NVIDIA's CEO, the graphics chip maker continues to expand its market reach with the Tegra and Tesla platforms, enabling the company to provide solutions for a wider range of product segments. The results beat analysts' estimations, which indicated a revenue of US$838 million for this period. Continuing this trend, the company expects its fourth-quarter revenue to be slightly up fr... (read more)

Radeon HD 5870 2GB Card Packs Six DisplayPort Connectors

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:54:00 GMT

One of the main features that have been enabled by AMD's new series of Radeon HD 5000 GPUs (aside from the DirectX 11 support) is the integration of AMD's latest ATI Eyefinity technology, a solution that allows computer enthusiasts to use a Radeon graphics card for employment in a multi-display configuration. On that note, it appears that the Sunnyvale, California-based chip maker is preparing to launch a new version of its Radeon HD 5870 flagship product, which will provide customers with a choice for a card that is featured with a more-than-impressive six DisplayPorts.

Although the card isn't yet official, which is generally the case with almost every new product, details on its technical specifications and design have just surfaced on the Internet. Boasting 2GB of GDDR5 memory, double that of what is currently available on the reference HD 5870 model, the new card sports no less than six display ports. Unlike the majority of today's latest desktop GPUs, which feature at least a DVI or VGA connector, the 2GB-equipped Radeon HD 5870 comes with six display ports, arranged just under the card's cooler exhaust.

Featuring the same dual-slot cooling solution, as the reference model, the new card adopts an 8-pin and 6-pin PCIe power connector setup, compared with the standard model, which comes wi... (read more)

Netbooks Still in HTC's Plans, Company CEO Confirms

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:29:00 GMT

The popularity of netbook systems continues to grow as new technologies will enable vendors to further diversify their designs and provide customers with a few more options when choosing a new, low-power, ultraportable, Internet-capable device. We have already seen a number of companies joining the race for a better netbook design, including Nokia, the industry's leading phone maker. It now appears that HTC might also be entering the market with a design of its own, according to recent reports.

During an interview at the HD2 launch, earlier this week, the company's CEO, Mr. Peter Chou, confirmed that the outfit was still pretty much interested in the segment, but was looking into how it could participate at that moment without becoming just another netbook player. Peter Chou said that his company was “carefully looking into that category and how it can be part of that.” Basically, HTC is looking to build a product that will stand apart from the majority, especially since most netbook players have launched products that are based on the same Intel Atom platform.

While ASUS is the pioneer of the segment, companies such as Dell, HP, Acer and others have a significant market share, which is why HTC will have some tough competition. However, HTC isn't new to the segment of ultraportable compu... (read more)

Dual-Core Tegra 2 Scheduled to Arrive in 2010

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:19:00 GMT

NVIDIA's Tegra has gained an impressive amount of popularity over the course of the last few months, especially for having powered Microsoft's highly appreciated Zune HD media player. On that note, the Santa Clara, California-based chip maker is preparing to update its Tegra family of processors with the much-rumored introduction of the Tegra 2 chip. According to recent reports on the said processor, the chip is due out sometime next year, bringing along double the computational and graphics performance of its predecessor.

In a recent news article on Fudzilla, NVIDIA is said to be preparing the launch of its updated Tegra 2 chip, which is currently scheduled to arrive in 2010. The new chip will be based on an ARM 9 dual-core processor, a design feature that is expected to double its performance, by comparison with its predecessor. As expected, the company is targeting the smartphone market, although the chip might do just as fine in other segments, including the automotive industry, the music-player segment or any other one where a small-sized, performance-capable computational chip might be of use.

NVIDIA has already announced its big plans for the Tegra chip, with the company's CEO confirming that it expects the Tegra chip to account for half of the revenues in the next few years. Meanwhile, there is a... (read more)

Radeon HD 5800 GPU Shortage Leads to Price Increments

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:39:00 GMT

AMD might have a real money maker on its hands with the Radeon HD 5800 series of graphics cards, but the Sunnyvale, California-based chip maker appears to be really affected by TSMC's 40nm manufacturing process yield problems. According to recent reports on the Internet, the company has decided to raise the prices for at least one of its 5800 GPU-series solutions, namely the more affordable Radeon HD 5850. The chip maker claims that the price increase is due to supply issues with components and a heavy demand for said card.

We have already reported that TSMC's problems with the 40nm manufacturing is directly affecting both AMD's and NVIDIA's GPU shipments, which consequently affects the new product shipments of the industry's major OEMs. In AMD's case, it looks like both the Radeon HD 5000 series and HD 4000 series are facing supply issues, mainly due to the lack of components, but also to an AMD policy for its 55nm GPU sales.

It appears that these problems will now leave their mark on the consumer's pocket, as AMD decided to increase the prices of its Radeon HD 5850 cards, citing supply issues with components and the high demand for them. According to a recent report on Anandtech, prices for the aforementioned Radeon HD 5850 product will increase by about US$20, although vendors and retailers ha... (read more)

Dell Officially Debuts the Adamo XPS, a True MacBook Air Competitor

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:55:00 GMT

Following a series of leaked reports and teasers, the Round Rock, Texas-based Dell, one of the world's leading vendors of personal computer systems, has finally decided to officially debut its much-anticipated Adamo XPS ultra-thin laptop. Featuring a thickness of just 9.99mm, the new model adds to the company's growing Adamo family of high-end laptops, providing users with an alternative to Apple's successful MacBook Air. As expected, the Adamo XPS adopted Intel's CULV platform and integrated it into a high-class design.

“Our engineers and designers are breaking new ground and throwing away the old rules with the introduction of Adamo XPS,” Alex Gruzen, senior vice president of Dell consumer products, said. “We think the Adamo XPS will inspire an emotional connection with anyone who sees it.”

At the heart of Dell's new pride and joy there's an Intel Core 2 Duo processor that has been clocked at 1.4GHz and has been coupled with Intel's GS45 integrated graphics chipset. Additional features include the support for up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 128GB thin-micro solid state drive and a range of connectivity options that includes 802.11 a/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, location awareness, DisplayPort, two USB 2.0 ports and a 20Whr Li-Ion battery that is good for about two hour... (read more)

Viewsonic Debuts the VMP70 Media Player

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:48:00 GMT

In the past, Viewsonic might have been only about display solutions, but the company has recently expanded its portfolio with a range of new products, including netbooks, ultraportable PCs or ION-based nettops. Now, the company is entering a new market, namely that of media players, with the launch of its VMP70 direct-connect, HD media player. The new solution will enable consumers to play media files directly from a hard drive or a USB thumb drive on a Full HD display that can be connected via an HDMI connector.

“We believe in enhancing the entertainment experience in a way that is both convenient and user intuitive,” Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic North America, said. “With more compatible media formats than any other media player on the market, we are confident that our portable media box provides consumers the freedom to enjoy HD multimedia content on their favorite HDTV without limitation.”

Much like Western Digital's own WD TV product, the Viewsonic VMP70 comes with support for a wide range of photo, video and audio formats, while also enabling that for full 1,080p HD video playback. The unit measures just 203.98mm x 40mm x 140mm and weighs in at 420g. Featuring a single power button and an integrated OSD, the media player's functions are largely avail... (read more)

DFI to Launch the Mini-ITX MI P55-T36 Motherboard

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:02:00 GMT

Intel's P55 chipset will most likely be featured on the majority of Intel-based motherboards that will launch in the next few months, as this platform is aimed at mainstream users and delivers support for the chip maker's Core i7 and Core i5 processors. On that note, DFI, one of the world's leading vendors of high-performance motherboards, will soon announce the debut of its LanParty Mini ITX board, featuring the aforementioned chipset. Dubbed MI P55-T36, the upcoming board will boast a small-sized form factor and will likely become a choice for HTPC enthusiasts.

While the official release hasn't yet surfaced, details of the board, including photos and hardware specifications, have been made available on this website. The board sports the new Intel LGA1156 socket, which will offer support for compatible Core i7 and Core i5 processors. In addition, the design also features six Phase PWM with Japanese solid capacitors and high-frequency multi-layer inductors, as well as the company's new ABS II (Auto Boost System) technology.

Aside from that, the small form-factor motherboard will provide its users with two on-board connectors for up to four USB 2.0 ports, a single PCI-Express 2.0 slot for the latest graphics cards, three SATA II ports with RAID support, two dual-channel DDR3 memory DIMMs, an integrate... (read more)

QNAP Announces Collaboration with Hikvision to Provide High-End NVR Solutions

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 13:35:00 GMT

QNAP, a leading provider of network attached storage and video recorders announced today that it had entered a collaboration with Hikvision that would enable customers to take advantage of combined solution-integrating products from both companies. Worldwide customers will be able to use Hikvision's high-performance network cameras with QNAP's PC-less network video solutions.

“QNAP is proud to announce this technical synergy with Hikvision. We constantly expand our NVR compatibility with worldwide network camera brands. Hikvision has 30 years of experience in research and development of video technology. We believe our cooperation will offer our users more choices to set up their surveillance systems,” Andrew Yu, product manager of QNAP Security, said.

QNAP's family of VioStor network video recording surveillance systems for IP cameras includes a wide range of products that is aimed at the main market segments, including enterprise, SMB, SOHO and Home. With the recently announced 3.1.1. firmware, the company's line of VioStor NVR solutions will provide customers with features such as Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA), generic IP camera integration by CGI command, digital watermarking, SMS alert, multi-server monitoring.

“Hikvision is dedicate... (read more)

McAfee Launches the Email and Web Security Appliance 5.5

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 12:15:00 GMT

McAfee, one of the world's leading providers of security solutions and antivirus products, announced today the debut of its new Email and Web Security Appliance 5.5, specifically designed to meet the security requirements of SMB customers. The solution, which integrates both email and Web security solutions in a single unit, has been designed to protect users against the latest email and Web-borne threats, as well as manage Web and email traffic and usage. Integrating several noteworthy features, the McAfee Email and Web Security Appliance 5.5 helps customers reduce system-administration requirements.

“In addition to their market leading security effectiveness, these appliances also provide customers with email and Web usage policy enforcement capabilities, compliance tools, informative dashboards and comprehensive reporting,” Dave Macey, general manager of the Network Security business unit, McAfee, said. “McAfee’s combined intelligence capabilities add an essential layer of protection to guard against today’s most advanced threats and work by accumulating data from millions of sensors, creating a real-time profile of all suspicious activity and content, and then watching for deviations based upon expected behavior.”

Among some of... (read more)

ASUS Bets on All-in-Ones in the Desktop Segment

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:57:00 GMT

As we have stated in previous articles, the market for all-in-one PCs continues to grow, as new technologies enable companies to develop new designs with lower costs and a wider range of features. On that note, it appears that ASUS, one of the world's leading vendors of personal computer systems, hardware components and other computing products, is placing a big bet on the success of this form factor. To be more specific, ASUS believes that all-in-one PCs will eventually replace current desktop systems, mostly thanks to their design and user friendliness.

ASUS's Eric Lee, manager of the company's Eee Top all-in-one PC range, has recently told Register Hardware that the company expects the all-in-one PC to replace the traditional desktop system within the coming years. While no specific information has been given on the time-frame in which this will happen, Eric Lee has reportedly stated that the prices of these devices are expected to noticeably lower over the course of the next three years.

One of the main reasons behind the said statements is that these systems have a design advantage over traditional desktop solutions. All-in-ones are more compact, look better, often use touch-sensitive displays, take up less space and have an overall better cable management. However, this... (read more)

AMD GPU Shortage Said to Affect PC Vendors' Shipments

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:34:00 GMT

Sunnyvale, California-based Advanced Micro Devices is said to be facing problems with supplying its latest Radeon graphics processing units to several PC vendors, according to sources in the know as regards the matter. Said supplying issues are reportedly affecting PC vendors that are consequently forced to delay their mass shipment scheduled by about two months to the first quarter of 2010. This recent report is in accordance with several other rumors that have recently surfaced on the Internet, with regard to the GPU shipment issues that AMD has with its latest GPUs.

In a recent news article on Digitimes, citing sources from the affected companies, the world's second largest chip maker, AMD, is said to have problems shipping its latest GPUs to PC vendors, due to a tight supply. One of the main issues is with the company's 40nm ATI Radeon HD 5000 series of GPUs, but the 55nm ATI Radeon HD 4000 one is also said to have been affected.

While the shortage of 40nm HD 5000 GPUs is due to the low yields at the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), AMD is said to be responsible for the problems with the 55nm GPUs. According to said article, the chip maker has had a conservative attitude towards its 55nm GPU sales, after the launch of its 40nm products, which directly affects shipments.
... (read more)

ASUS Preps Two 3D Laptops, G51J3D and G72GX

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:55:00 GMT

ASUS, one of the leading brands in the computing industry, is expected to update its line of G-series laptops, designed for gaming enthusiasts, with the introduction of a new, 15.6-inch model. Dubbed G51J3D, the new laptop will provide users with some of the latest hardware specifications available for a portable computer system, but also with a choice for a 3D-enabled machine. This unique feature will appeal to those gaming enthusiasts that will most likely enjoy the high-quality 3D effects in the current and upcoming games.

The G51J3D and a 17.3-inch version that will be known as the G72GX will be part of ASUS's impressive line of gaming-focused portable computer systems. While the company was quite silent on the technical details of the 17.3-inch version, our colleagues over at Register Hardware were lucky enough to find more about the G51J3D and even had a chance to play around with the system.

At the core of the upcoming laptop, there's a Core i7 processor that will provide the necessary processing power to run the latest games and other CPU-challenging applications. In addition, the laptop comes equipped with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 160M graphics chip, featuring 1GB of DDR3 memory, coupled with up to 4GB of system memory and two 320GB HDDs. All of that has been made available in a 15.6-inch laptop that b... (read more)

PowerColor Intros Passively Cooled Radeon HD 5750 SCS3

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 09:52:00 GMT

PowerColor, one of the world's leading vendors of Radeon-based graphics cards, has just announced the expansion of its family of Radeon HD 5700 cards with the debut of the SCS3 HD 5750 model. The new product has been specifically designed to provide consumers with a 40nm GPU that works on a card with a passive cooling solution that should deliver high-quality graphics in a quieter manner. According to the company, the new passive cooler has the potential to provide an impressive cooling performance with minimal noise.

“To meet the demands of every kind of customers, we always try hard to create some impressive product series to achieve the goal,” Ted Chen, CEO of TUL Corporation, says. “With the PowerColor SCS3 HD5750, we’re offering a perfect balance of performance, price and superior noise suppression.”

The card's technical specifications have been kept to reference levels, with it featuring a core speed of 700MHz and being coupled with 1GB of GDDR5 memory working on a 128bit interface and a clock speed of 1150MHz (4.6Gbps effective). In addition to that, the card has been featured with a noteworthy line of connectivity options, including dual-DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort, all of which add to the usual features that have been enabled on AMD's la... (read more)

Toshiba Announces the Industry's First 1.8-Inch, 320GB Hard Drive

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:36:00 GMT

Toshiba's Storage Device Division (SDD) announced today the expansion of its line of 1.8-inch, traditional hard disk drives with the introduction of two new additions designed to meet the requirements of a full range of mobile computing applications. The new additions include a high-performance 5,400RPM family of drives, featuring an industry's leading 320GB capacity, but also a power-efficient 4,200RPM model boasting a 120GB storage capacity. The two families of drives are designed for the mobile computing market and are focused on delivering the necessary features to specific segments.

“Toshiba 1.8-inch HDDs provide a compelling solution for any application that demands extreme mobility along with the ability to reliably and quietly store large amounts of user content,” Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing at the Toshiba Storage Device Division, said. “As the market demands smaller devices, manufacturers can take advantage of the 1.8-inch form factor's small footprint, low power consumption, light weight, proven durability and volume manufacturability. With these benefits, Toshiba 1.8-inch HDDs have served as the foundation for a variety of innovative consumer electronics and PC products that have continued to evolve and transform the market o... (read more)

VIA Unveils the AMOS-5000 Chassis Kit to Support Em-ITX Boards

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:10:00 GMT

Having just announced its new series of Nano 3000 processors, designed specifically to meet the performance requirements of ultraportable computer enthusiasts, VIA Technologies has informed about the debut of its AMOS-5000 chassis kit. The new product has been built to meet the physical specifications of the Em-ITX form factor boards, including the company's own EITX-3000 board. The new chassis is part of the chip maker's expanding line of AMOS universal chassis products, which also includes the AMOS-1000 and the AMOS-2000 models, released back in late August.

“With the VIA AMOS-5000 we are offering developers the means to create a wealth of unique fanless designs using less time and fewer resources,” Daniel Wu, vice President, VIA Embedded Platform Division, VIA Technologies, Inc., said. “This is in keeping with our broader strategy to offer a complete and comprehensive product ecosystem that empowers our customers with a clear market advantage.”

Available now, the AMOS-5000 chassis targets a wide variety of embedded segments, including medical, healthcare, industrial and building automation, digital signage, kiosk, POI/POS, gaming and surveillance applications, according to the Taiwanese company. The modular chassis kit enables system builders to assemble robust... (read more)

HP Said to Be Preparing a New ENVY 14 Laptop

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:43:00 GMT

Back in mid-September, the Palo Alto, California-based HP officially announced the debut of its new line of ENVY laptops, introducing the ENVY 13 and ENVY 15 models. Designed to provide users with a choice for two different portable computer systems, the two laptops distinguish themselves from the rest thanks to the adoption of a unique and stylish design, combined with the latest mobile platforms. On that note, it appears that HP is preparing to launch another EVNY laptop, which will go somewhere between the two previously released models.

Reportedly dubbed ENVY 14, the new laptop has just been spotted on the PC vendor's website, although no specific details regarding the specifications or design have yet been made available. The webpage has quickly been posted in a thread on Notebookreview's forum, thanks to the details that have been brought about by a forum member.

While nothing is available at this time regarding the laptop's performance, the said page allows fans of the new series to speculate on the specifications of the upcoming system. Another point of interest is the speculated release date, which could be somewhere before the year's end or early next year, at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Considering that the Envy 13 is designed on a CULV platform and... (read more)

Atom-Based Litl Webbook Officially Debuts

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:11:00 GMT

Since its debut, a netbook was seen as a small-sized, low-power and low-cost computer system that could provide the end-user with a portable, Internet-capable computing solution. However, this type of devices has grown to something quite different, incorporating new features that have ultimately made it compete with some of those lower-end notebook PCs. Nevertheless, providing end-users with a Web-connected, portable computer system has remained the focus of some companies such as Litl. This company is responsible for the release of the webbook computer and operating system.

Seen as a new way for users to enjoy online photos and other things that are available via an Internet connection, the Litl webbook is described by the company as “an Internet computer for the home.” The system features an 1.6GHz Atom processor, paired with 1GB of RAM, 2GB of flash storage and a GPU acceleration for H.264 video. Unlike other Atom-based devices that have recently been launched, this system comes with a home-grown, always-on OS.

“As everything from music and photos to email and social networking moves online, it’s clear that the web is transforming personal computing. And yet, most homes are still using computers and software based on thinking from more than 30 years ago.&... (read more)

AMD 'Leo' and 'Dorado' Platforms Due Out in May 2010

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:46:00 GMT

There have been many rumors about AMD's upcoming desktop platforms, especially since the world's second largest chip maker is expected to up the performance ante with the release of its first, consumer-grade, six-core processors, codenamed Thuban. On that note, it appears that the rumor mill continues to turn, as more pieces of news about the company's upcoming products have just hit the web. According to the latest details, AMD is scheduled to release two new platforms in May 2010, namely the previously rumored Leo platform and the new Dorado, aimed at the enthusiast and mainstream market segments, respectively.

In a recent news article on Digitimes, citing the ever-so-popular sources at motherboard makers, the Sunnyvale, California-based chip maker is said to be planning the release of two new desktop platforms, due out in May 2010. Designed for computer enthusiasts and mainstream users, the Leo and Dorado platforms will consist of AMD's latest desktop processors, including the 45nm Phenom II series and the Athlon II CPUs, respectively.

According to said article, the 45nm Phenom II, six-core Thuban processors will be paired with either the 890FX or 890GX (RD890) northbridge and SB850 southbridge chipsets and the ATI Radeon HD 5000 series graphics cards. This multi-core pla... (read more)

LaCie Preps New Network Space 2 NAS Device

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 11:03:00 GMT

LaCie, one of the most recognizable brands on the market for computer storage solutions, has just announced that it has teamed up with Neil Poulton to design a new NAS server. Part of the company's growing line of consumer storage solutions, the new Network Space 2 will provide customers with a choice for up to 1TB or 2TB of storage space, packed inside a compact and stylish chassis that is said to have a weight as small as 950 grams.

“The Network Space 2 is a simple, out of the box solution for customers wanting to share and store media files from anywhere in the house,” Patrick Salin, LaCie Digital Home Business unit manager, said. “Whether a customer wants to centralize family photos, back up multiple computers or access music files using iTunes on the network, this device is a perfect connected storage solution for local use.”

LaCie's new NAS device has been created inside an enclosure that measures 117 x 193 x 45 mm and features the stylish design that has been made available thanks to LaCie's collaboration with designer Neil Poulton. Going deeper into the unit's hardware specifications, we should note that users will be able to back up their PCs or Mac systems, while also making files available on UpnP/DLNA-compliant devices. In addition, the drive al... (read more)

Gigabyte Readying the CULV-Based Booktop M1305

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 10:22:00 GMT

The market for ultraportable computer systems continues to expand with new designs, every day, with Intel's CULV platform powering the majority of these systems. While it may seem challenging to come out with a new design for the same hardware platform, as compared with what the competition has to offer, Gigabyte looks to be up to the challenge, with its new Booktop M1305. Boasting a design similar to the company's M1022 netbook, this system adopts Intel's CULV platform in a 13.3-inch enclosure that can be paired with a desktop-docking station that further expands the portable's functionality by adding a couple of performance-driven features.

The unit itself is based on Intel's CULV chipset and processors, meaning that it can hold up to 4GB of RAM and can be fitted with a 500GB hard drive. Additional features include a 13.3-inch, 1,366 x 768 display, a replaceable optical drive, a WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR wireless connectivity, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 and a combo eSATA/USB port. Also featured on the new laptop, there's a VGA, audio in/out ports, a multi-in-one media card reader, a 1.3MP webcam and a fingerprint reader. According to available details, the last two features will provide a level of security to the system.

If that's not enough, the docking station further ups the ante and offe... (read more)

Intel's Atom N270 Powers the Stealth LPC-395F Fanless Mini-PC

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:52:00 GMT

Intel's Atom processor, namely the successful 1.6GHz Atom N270 model, has found its way into a wide range of products, including some very interesting designs. Ranging from netbooks to nettops and other similar computer systems, the Atom N270 continues to be one of the most successful Intel products. On that note, it appears that the said processor has just been fitted into another new design from Stealth Computer, which has just announced its new “Little PC,” a fanless nettop PC that is featured with a rugged chassis and a front-loading 2.5-inch hard drive bay.

“Stealth’s removable storage feature presents a new level of security, maintenance and data protection in a small form factor PC. There is no longer any need to spend lengthy time to open a chassis to change/ remove the hard drive. Our removable storage feature allows the user to secure or replace their critical data in a matter of seconds,” Ed Boutilier, president and CEO of Stealth.com, said.

Measuring in at just 6.54 x 6.18 x 1.89 inches, the LPC-395F nettop has been featured with a lightweight metal chassis that is meant to protect the internal components from external damaging factors. In addition, the small-sized and compact nettop has also been featured with a numbe... (read more)

AMD Phenom II X4 965 C3 Revision Has 125W TDP

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:03:00 GMT

Sunnyvale, California-based Advanced Micro Devices, the world's second largest manufacturer of computer processors, has just released a new revision for its high-end Phenom II X4 965 desktop processor. Specifically designed to meet the performance requirements of computer enthusiasts, the new CPU now features a reduced power consumption, dropping from the previous 140W to 125W. This being the most notable feature of the new C3 revision, users should expect the updated model to provide a greater overclocking headroom.

Launched in mid August, the quad-core Phenom II X4 965 BE (Black Edition) processor has been designed to provide computer and overclocking enthusiasts with a new product that can fit AM2+ and AM3 platforms, providing a boost of performance. The updated model has a couple of new features that have been enabled, compared with the initial CPU, including the official support for four DDR3 modules at 1333MHz. In addition, the new chip also features C1E hardware support.

AMD has decided to keep the updated Phenom II X4 965 in its line of Black Edition CPUs, with the new model being clocked at the same 3.4GHz and being priced at US$195. In order to recognize the updated model from the previous version, be sure to look for part number HDZ965FBK4DGM, in comparison with the ... (read more)

Super Talent Intros the USB 3.0 RAIDDrive

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 08:05:00 GMT

The market for Flash-based storage solutions continues to grow, especially since the new USB 3.0 interface is expected to become the connectivity standard for the majority of USB Flash drives and other USB devices, thanks to its improved transfer rates. On that note, Super Talent, one of the world's leading vendors of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, has just announced the debut of its new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 RAIDDrive, specifically designed to deliver transfer speeds of up to ten times faster than traditional USB 2.0 drives.

According to the San Jose, California-based company, the new drive has been made available in a variety of storage capacities, including the 32GB, 64GB and 128GB ones, providing end-users with both a high-capacity, portable storage solution, but also the increased performance enabled by the USB 3.0 interface. The drives take advantage of the patented “multiple pairs of differential serial data lines technology,” which is meant to deliver optimal NAND Flash performance, according to Super Talent.

“This product underscores Super Talent’s continued leadership in USB drives.” Super Talent COO C.H. Lee said. “We’ve developed the world’s first mobile USB 3.0 flash drive. It delivers phenomenal performanc... (read more)

Mackie Introduces New Pumpkin-Shaped PMK Studio Monitors

Softpedia News (Florin Tibu) — Tue, 3 Nov 2009 19:11:05 GMT

From what we know so far, the new PMK studio monitors announced by Mackie could very well be a first in the industry. Since more complex info is currently missing, we can't tell if this is a joke, for it looks like these new monitors are some cool toys for the audio professionals and home-recording enthusiasts alike. The new monitors have received the “reference” tag, and that's no small thing. James Woodburn, recording product manager for Mackie, says these new monitors have been engineered to address two major issues: true audio quality to satisfy the music producers' needs and a cool, funny look – to attract more customers who are simply fed up with the traditional designs.

The PMK Series Reference Studio Monitors come with a specially designed structure, carefully engineered for minimum diffraction and low resonance, in a 2-way driver-array powered up by a top-drawer amplifier.

These speakers get their juice from Mackie's original Certified Organic-architecture amplifiers, which are able to deliver an ultra-flat frequency response that's critical for a true-to-life mix. Acoustic controls have been added, letting you adjust the high and low frequency response. At the same time, Mackie claims that you can compensate the sonic reproduction of the PMK Reference Studio Monitor... (read more)

IronKey D200 Debuts, Loaded with Security Features

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:17:00 GMT

There is an increasing number of portable storage solutions available out there, most of which are based on Flash memory technology. There are only so many features that can be made available on a USB Flash drive to distinguish it from similar competitive products. However, the fellows over at IronKey have specialized their products to provide users with a high level of security to protect their digital content. On that note, the company has just announced the debut of the new D200 drive.

“As mobile devices become more ubiquitous, it is imperative for enterprise organizations to be able to track, manage, maintain and update the USB drives in use in the organization. Many of our large government and enterprise customers require the ability to update and upgrade devices in the field. The addition of the D200 devices to the IronKey line provides this functionality and allows us to offer more management and more choices without ever compromising on security,” David Jevans, CEO of IronKey, said.

Among the features that have been built into the IronKey D200, the company has highlighted the use of a dual-channel architecture for rapid data transfers, designed to meet the security requirements for FIPS 140-2, Level 3 validation, strong design with self defense against p... (read more)

Western Digital Unveils First SAS Product, the WD S25

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Tue, 3 Nov 2009 15:31:00 GMT

Western Digital, one of the world's most recognizable brands in the consumer storage market, has announced today the debut of its new WD S25-inch 2.5-inch traditional hard drive, featuring a SAS interface.

Designed for the traditional enterprise market segment, the new drive is the company's first SAS-based product, offering an alternative for users looking for a high-performance storage solution. At the same time, it is aimed at mission-critical enterprise server and enterprise storage applications, such as data centers and large data arrays.

“Our entry into the traditional-enterprise market continues the strategic expansion and diversification of WD's broad market and product portfolio, and significantly increases our addressable revenue opportunity,” said John Coyne, president and CEO of WD. “As with our previous market expansion and diversification efforts, WD will approach the traditional enterprise space with the same focus on quality, customer service, technology and value that has earned us strong positions in every market we serve.”

According to the Lake Forest, California-based storage vendor, the WD S25 drive is capable of delivering a high level of performance, thanks to the adoption of the 3Gb/s and 6GB/s SAS interfaces. This enables the drive to delive... (read more)

Sony Selects SanDisk's pSSD Gen2 SSD for VAIO X Ultraportable

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Tue, 3 Nov 2009 15:20:00 GMT

SanDisk, one of the world's leading vendors of flash memory cards, has just announced that Sony, a leading merchandiser of portable computer systems, has selected the SanDisk pSSD Gen2 solid state drive to be incorporated into the company's line of ultra-thin VAIO X laptops. According to the Milpitas, California-based company, its 64GB storage solution has enabled Sony to develop an ultrathin laptop that runs quieter and cooler than comparable systems, while also drawing less power, thanks to the adoption of the Flash-based storage solution.

“The release of Sony's VAIO X symbolizes a market shift towards pioneering flash-based laptop designs, eliminating the weight and size constraints of the legacy hard disk drive,” said Doreet Oren, director of product marketing, solid state drives, SanDisk. “The SanDisk pSSD drive enables laptops to be thinner and lighter, while eliminating the mechanical slow downs and malfunctions most commonly attributed to the hard disk drive.”

The VAIO X, which we went hands-on approximately two weeks ago, features a slim and lightweight form factor, making it among the most portable com... (read more)

Dell's Inspiron Mini 10 Netbook Now Available Through AT&T

Softpedia News (Traian Teglet) — Tue, 3 Nov 2009 14:33:00 GMT

Netbooks are seen as a portable PC category that can easily be sold through network carriers, as they can be featured with integrated 3G connectivity options, and are among the most portable computing systems on the market. On that note, US-based Sprint has just announced that it would be offering Dell's Atom-based Inspiron Mini 10 netbook with a 3G plan for a price tag of “just” U$199.99, down from the US$349.99 for the same system, but from Dell itself.

“Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is a fun way to easily access the speeds of Sprint’s network to catch-up on email, surf the Web and more,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president of Product Development, Sprint. “We are excited to add this great Dell product to our industry-leading portfolio of devices available from Sprint that work on America’s most dependable 3G network. It offers an affordable way to stay in touch and stay connected.”

Dell's Inspiron Mini 10 has been around for some time now, but for those of you that haven't yet taken interest in what this category has to offer, here's a quick update on what the netbook is capable of, spec-wise. The system is based on Intel's Z520 processor, which is clocked at 1.33GHz, coupled with 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive. The 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 d... (read more)