News

INTEL INTRODUCES HIGH-PERFORMANCE DESKTOP & SERVER PROCESSORS
Processor giant Intel Corporation recently introduced several high-performance desktop and server processors bringing the next level of integration and intelligence to computers. An announcement to this effect said that the new Intel Core i5 processor family, two new Intel Core i7 processors and the Intel Xeon processor 3400 series bring Intel's latest Nehalem micro architecture to mainstream desktop and entry server markets. Formerly codenamed Lynnfield, these new chips are based on Intel's award-winning Nehalem micro architecture and are designed for consumers who need top-notch performance for digital media, productivity, gaming and other demanding applications. The announcement also pointed out that these processors, along with the new Intel P55 express chipset, are available at select partners in Pakistan. All processors are lead and halogen free and feature Intel exclusive Turbo Boost Technology. The top-of-the-line Core i7 processors also support Intel Hyper-Threading Technology. Combined, these features give computer users absolute intelligent performance when necessary and optimum power-efficiency when the computer is lightly loaded.

NOKIA N900: COMPUTER-GRADE PERFORMANCE IN A HANDSET
Nokia Corp. recently announced the Nokia N900 which packs a powerful ARM Cortex-A8 processor, up to 1GB of application memory and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration, resulting in PC-like multitasking and allowing many applications to run simultaneously. Taking its cues from the world of desktop computing, the open source, Linux-based Maemo software delivers a PC-like experience on a handset-sized device. The Nokia N900 has evolved from Nokia's previous generation of Internet tablets, broadening the choice for technology enthusiasts who appreciate the ability to multitask and browse the Internet like they would on their desktop computer. Running on the new Maemo 5 software, the Nokia N900 empowers users to have dozens of application windows open and running simultaneously while taking full advantage of the cellular features, touch screen and QWERTY keyboard. Designed for computer-grade performance in a compact size, Maemo complements Nokia's other software platforms such as Symbian, which powers Nokia's smartphones. The Nokia N900 will be available in select markets starting October.

MICROSOFT LAUNCHES OFFICE WEB TRIAL
Microsoft is making the new, Web-based version of its Office productivity suite available to a limited number of users under a trial program. The limited Technical Preview, as Microsoft is calling the program, is accessible through the company's Windows Live SkyDrive storage portal, Microsoft said. Invited participants will be given access to Microsoft Office Web Apps, which include the online editions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The Web Apps are part of Microsoft Office 2010, which rolls out next year. "While the initial functionality is modest it will expand over time," wrote Office Web Apps program manager Nick Simons, in a blog post Thursday. "As we get closer to the release of Office 2010 we will make the Office Web Apps available to more Windows Live users," said Simons. "This early peek at the Office Web Apps will include high-fidelity viewing of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files in the browser. Invitees will also be able to edit Excel and PowerPoint files," Simons added. Making a version of Office available online allows Microsoft to protect its flank from Web-based software from Google and from free, open source-based offerings, such as IBM's Lotus Symphony product. Businesses that purchase volume subscriptions to Office will receive access to the Office Web Apps at no additional charge. Microsoft has about 90 million such customers. It also has roughly 400 million Windows Live users, adding up to a potential installed base of almost a half billion users.

FACEBOOK TO LET USERS LOG IN WITH
VANITY URLS
Social networking website Facebook recently announced that members will be able to log into the site using their usernames, or vanity URLs, instead of e-mail addresses. The new log-in feature works for the Web and mobile versions of the site, as well as any Facebook Connect-enabled sites, Facebook said in a blog post. For those who really like typing the @ sign into fields, the e-mail address log-in is still enabled on the site. Facebook vanity URLs date back to June, when the social networking site announced that users could select usernames that would appear at the end of their URL. Rather than a series of numbers, users could choose their own name, like Facebook.com/brianheater. The sign-up process went live on June 13. More than 200,000 usernames were snapped up in the first three minutes, and 500,000 names were gone after 15 minutes, Facebook said. By the end of the weekend, Facebook logged 5.75 million usernames.
AMD Unveils Eyefinity Graphics Feature
Advanced Micro Devices continues to press its advantage in the graphics space and build on the company's purchase of ATI in July 2006. AMD in May announced it was merging its CPU and GPU (graphics processing unit) businesses, and on Oct. 10 said notebooks powered by AMD's new Vision Technology-combining CPU and GPU technologies-will be on store shelves by December, in time for the release of Microsoft's much-anticipated Windows 7 operating system. In addition, AMD officials talked about a new technology, called Eyefinity, which will enable users to run multiple displays off a single graphics card with a resolution officials said in a statement is "near eye resolution." Eyefinity will be included in the upcoming family of ATI Radeon DirectX 11-enabled graphics chips. The feature will enable PC users to connect up to six ultra high-definition screens-in a number of portrait and landscape configurations-on a single system. The clarity comes through the AMD graphics card, which will offer up to 12 times 1080p resolution, according to AMD officials. The displays will be able to reach a theoretical resolution of 268 megapixels. By comparison, an average 19-inch LCD display today has a resolution of just more than 1 megapixel, according to AMD. AMD and Samsung Electronics are working together to develop ultra thin bezel monitors and compatible stands, which will enable customers to customize ways to arrange the displays, the company said. AMD showed off Eyefinity at several events around the world, with officials talking about its benefits not only for gaming, but also for everyday PC use.

GOOGLE BRINGING RARE BOOKS TO PAPERBACK
You will soon be able to print your own copy of rare and hard-to-find books thanks to a deal between Google and On Demand Books, the maker of the Espresso Book Machine. Dubbed the "ATM for books," the Espresso Book Machine can print a "library quality" paperback book in less than five minutes for "under a penny a page," according to the manufacturer. On Demand's deal with Google puts approximately two million public domain books from Google's digitized book collection--Google Books--into Espresso Book Machines, which you could then print off at your local library, bookstore, or coffee shop. There's no official word on how much a single book will cost, but according to reports, the average price will be about eight dollars. Google and On Demand Books will each take a dollar from every transaction, and donate the rest of the proceeds to charity. Google's book catalog made available on the EBM will include only books that are in the public domain, and therefore not protected by copyright. This collection include titles like Homer's Odyssey and Grimm's Fairy Tales, but is largely made of up obscure books like Characteristic Anecdotes of Men of Learning and Genius: natives of Great Britain and Ireland During the Three Last Centuries Indicative of their Manners, Opinions, Habits and Peculiarities, Interspersed with Reflections and Historical Literary Illustrations, by John Watkins.

MICROSOFT EXEC: WINDOWS VISTA IS
"LESS GOOD"
With Windows 7's launch looming, a company executive recently denigrated its predecessor, calling Vista a "less good product." The comment won't surprise many analysts and users, who have condemned the 2007 operating system as bloated, slow and balky, but it's the furthest any high-level Microsoft executive has gone in criticizing Vista. "What people underestimate is the importance of good or bad products," said Charles Songhurst, Microsoft's general manager of corporate strategy, at a investor's conference recently. "And sometimes your products are good, sometimes the products are bad. And I think Vista was a less good product for Microsoft." Windows 7, on the other hand, is much better than good, Songhurst argued. "Windows 7 is an extremely good product from Microsoft. It's been brilliantly developed, and I think people probably underestimate the effects of the bad products and the good products." In the past, Microsoft's top managers have limited their public criticism of Vista to oblique comparisons with the new Windows 7. Last October, for example, CEO Steve Ballmer called Windows 7 "Windows Vista, a lot better."

INTEL REACHES FOUR-YEAR HIGH IN CPU SALES SHARE
An international analyst firm iSuppli has placed AMD's second-quarter CPU market share at a level much lower than an August report, and said that rival Intel's share reached a four-year high.
In August, Mercury Research said that AMD's global CPU market share during the second quarter of 2009 slipped from 20.9 percent to 18.7 percent, slightly lower than in 2008. That study measured the market share data in terms of units sold. But iSuppli said that AMD's second-quarter share was actually 11.5 percent when measured in terms of revenue, not units, down a percentage point sequentially and about half a percent from a year ago. Intel, meanwhile, recorded 80.6 percent of the microprocessor market, up 1.5 percent sequentially, and 1.4 percent from a year ago. This gave the company the largest share of global microprocessor revenue since it claimed 82.4 percent of revenue in the third quarter of 2005, iSuppli wrote in a report. Global PC units climbed by 1 percent from the first quarter, but declined versus a year ago. That means that both Intel and AMD saw revenue declines, even as Intel increased its market share and apparently sold processors at higher prices. That hasn't apparently bothered AMD much, however, as the company has aggressively lowered prices, and launched a quad-core chip priced below $100 recently.

WHY BING COULD BEAT GOOGLE
Microsoft's Bing is making some inroads as it continues to challenge the reigning search leader, Google. But Bing faces a long, steep road ahead if it's ever going to beat Google. Bing was the fastest growing search engine for the month of August, metrics firm Nielsen says. Bing expanded by 22.1 percent to claim 10.7 percent of the U.S. search market. Google also grew, by 2.6 percent to take a 64.6 percent market share, while Yahoo continued its decline shrinking by 4.2 percent to hold a total of 16 percent of all U.S.-based searches. If you're keeping score, that means the top three search engines rank in the following order: Google, Yahoo, and Bing. By comparison, the rankings in May of this year looked like this: Google (64.2 percent), Yahoo (20.4 percent), and Microsoft's Live Search (8.2 percent). So, while it's good news for Microsoft that Bing is growing, the new search engine has yet to prove that it's a better brand than its predecessor, Live Search. The difference this time is Microsoft is investing a lot more time and money into Bing.

KINGSTON TO SHIP 2133MHZ MEMORY
Kingston Technology Company recently announced it is leading the charge in memory support for Intel's new LGA1156 Core i5 and Core i7 systems by shipping super-fast 2133MHz HyperX running at a low 1.65 volts. The XMP-ready Kingston 4GB dual-channel 2133MHz CL8 kit is the perfect choice for ultra-enthusiasts who are ready to take the Intel Core i5 platform to the next level of memory overclocking performance. "Intel has worked closely with Kingston on testing HyperX memory for use with the Core i5 platform and P55 chipset," said Geof Findley, Memory Ecosystem Manager, Intel. "We've seen great results from all of the Kingston memory especially the high-performance dual-channel kits. The combination of Kingston HyperX and Core i5 utilizing the Nehalem architecture brings unsurpassed performance for mainstream and enthusiast users."