The new Zune: better than before, but not quite good enough
Filed under: Features, Portable Audio, Portable Video
We all cheered Microsoft on when learning that the same firmware powering its freshly announced second-generation hardware would also be made available as a free update to all first-gen Zune users. Not that we really need to explain this to Engadget readers, but early adopters are far from accustomed to the kindly occurrence of getting software and feature parity for free and without having to buy later hardware.
Well, we’ve been playing with the new Zune hardware (as well as the software update to our first gen device), and there’s no mistake about it: Microsoft’s really put their nose to the grindstone, prettying it up and filling out essential features that should have been there on day one, like podcasting support and wireless syncing. But we also think Microsoft’s invested so much time mastering the basics that technologically it’s fallen even further behind the pack than before. Will this new hardware cure what ails the Zune? Read on for the full review.
Gallery: New Zune review
Continue reading The new Zune: better than before, but not quite good enough
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Intel rolls out 45nm microprocessors
Intel has recently released sixteen new chips that incorporate the 45nm Hafnium-based high-k metal gate transistors which have been proven to be smaller, faster and more eco-friendly than previous generations. According to Gordon E. Moore, co-founder of Intel, he thinks that this new process is a major breakthrough as the biggest transistor advancement in 40 years. In addition, this improvement is tipped to further extend Moore’s Law - at least for a little while longer when other folks thought that it is done and over with already.
These new processors managed to cram in a whopping 420 million transistors into each individual dual core chip, while each quad core chip has double that amount - which translates to nearly a 100% increase in transistor density compared to previous models. Both the Intel Core 2 Extreme and Xeon processors also hold the distinction of being the first to be manufactured on the 45 nanometer scale - a move that sees performance being boosted to unprecedented levels while lowering power consumption, a step that ought to go down well with folks who think that PCs consume way too much power than they should.
A dozen new quad-core chips will feature clock speeds that range between 2GHz and 3.20GHz, featuring front side bus speeds of up to 1600MHz, while cache sizes have reached an amazing 12MB in size. Not only that, three new dual-core chips boast clock speeds of up to 3.40GHz, a front side bus speed of up to 1600MHz, and cache sizes of 6MB. As for the 45nm Hi-k Intel Xeon processors, they are compatible with server platforms using the Intel 5000 chipset family. Three other platform solutions that support the new 45nm processors are:
- The Intel 5400 chipset-based platform (previously codenamed “Stoakley”) that is optimized for high-bandwidth applications like high-performance computing
(HPC).
-The Intel 5100 Memory Controller Hub chipset and Intel ICH-9R I/O controller (previously codenamed “Cranberry Lake”). These are cost-optimized solutions
that support either one or two processors and also provide reduced power consumption using native DDR2 memory.
- The Intel 3200 chipset-based platform (previously codenamed “Garlow”) that is specifically designed for single-processor entry servers.
Source: Gizmag
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Intel has recently released sixteen new chips that incorporate the 45nm Hafnium-based high-k metal gate transistors which have been proven to be smaller, faster and more eco-friendly than previous generations. According to Gordon E. Moore, co-founder of Intel, he thinks that this new process is a major breakthrough as the biggest transistor advancement in 40 years. In addition, this improvement is tipped to further extend Moore’s Law - at least for a little while longer when other folks thought that it is done and over with already.
These new processors managed to cram in a whopping 420 million transistors into each individual dual core chip, while each quad core chip has double that amount - which translates to nearly a 100% increase in transistor density compared to previous models. Both the Intel Core 2 Extreme and Xeon processors also hold the distinction of being the first to be manufactured on the 45 nanometer scale - a move that sees performance being boosted to unprecedented levels while lowering power consumption, a step that ought to go down well with folks who think that PCs consume way too much power than they should.
A dozen new quad-core chips will feature clock speeds that range between 2GHz and 3.20GHz, featuring front side bus speeds of up to 1600MHz, while cache sizes have reached an amazing 12MB in size. Not only that, three new dual-core chips boast clock speeds of up to 3.40GHz, a front side bus speed of up to 1600MHz, and cache sizes of 6MB. As for the 45nm Hi-k Intel Xeon processors, they are compatible with server platforms using the Intel 5000 chipset family. Three other platform solutions that support the new 45nm processors are:
- The Intel 5400 chipset-based platform (previously codenamed “Stoakley”) that is optimized for high-bandwidth applications like high-performance computing
(HPC).
-The Intel 5100 Memory Controller Hub chipset and Intel ICH-9R I/O controller (previously codenamed “Cranberry Lake”). These are cost-optimized solutions
that support either one or two processors and also provide reduced power consumption using native DDR2 memory.
- The Intel 3200 chipset-based platform (previously codenamed “Garlow”) that is specifically designed for single-processor entry servers.
Source: Gizmag
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Philips and Lite-on announce a $199 Blu-ray drive
Filed under: Media PCs, Peripherals, Storage
All the action in the next-gen format war might be at the front lines of cut-rate players, but the battle rages on across the entire spectrum of devices — which is why we’ve seen the poor $199 DH-401S BD-ROM drive from Philips and Lite-on touted as the answer to those $200 HD-A2s in a couple places. That’s quite a stretch, obviously, but it’s still much cheaper than any other BD-ROM drives we’ve seen. The read-only SATA drive pulls data off BD media at 4X, single layer DVDs at 12X, DVD-DL and DVD±RW at 8x, and CDs at 32X. Giving up write capabilites is obviously limiting, but for those of you building out HTPCs, this bad boy might be just the ticket.
[Thanks, AG23]
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Wii to drop MP3 support, add AAC in Photo Channel update
Filed under: Gaming, Portable Audio
While we’re sure that some Wii updates have been more highly regarded than others, it seems that MP3 diehards will want to pass on a forthcoming Photo Channel update if you just can’t bear to lose support for your favorite music format. Apparently, the aforementioned channel will be revamped early next month, and while users will then be able to personalize their menu by implanting an SD-based digital image into the Photo Channel icon, gamers who previously used their Wii to play back MP3s will no longer be able to do so. For whatever reason, the Big N will be axing MP3 support and adding in AAC compatibility, and the company even goes out of its way to make sure that you realize downgrading will not possible once you install v1.1. Mark it down folks — don’t be left full of regret (if you’re partial to MP3, that is) after carelessly downloading an update without reading the changelog first.
[Via GameBrink, thanks J]
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Samsung rolls out second generation WiMax devices in Korea
While Sprint teases us with their beleaguered WiMax offering, Samsung is already shipping product for KT’s and SKT’s year-old WiBro service in South Korea. In fact, they’ve already moved onto their second generation of devices available starting today. The list includes the SPH-9200 HSDPA, WiFi, and Mobile WiMax totin’ butterfly XP device we’ve seen before. New, is that pair of SPH-H1300 and SWT-H200K USB Mobile WiMax modems and CDMA SPH-M8200 candybar running Windows Mobile 6 on EV-DO and Mobile WiMax data beneath that biggie touchscreen display. Now please Google, just cut to the chase and acquire Sprint so that we can get a taste of that high-speed mobile data on a homegrown frequency, too. Pretty please, with sugar?
Gallery: Samsung rolls out second generation WiMax devices in Korea
[Via AVING]
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