Intel to Answer AMD's Fusion?

Intel is reportedly preparing its own product to compete against AMD's "Fusion" processor, a combined CPU/GPU, for an early 2009 release, according to published reports.

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) has made no secret of plans to integrate graphics with the core CPU but has not gone into detail on layout or exactly when it will ship. The chips are reportedly planned for Q2 2009, which would put it ahead of AMD's planned launch of Fusion in the second half of 2009.

The processors are being developed under the code names "Havendale" (desktop processor) and "Auburndale" (mobile processor).

Intel declined to comment on "rumor and speculation."

According to reports, Intel will combine its forthcoming Nehalem processor with a next-generation graphics processor from its current G45 chip.

The G45 is a decent performer, with support for DirectX 10 and Shader Model 4.0 as well as HD decoding and HDMI (define), Displayport (define) and DVI (define) ports.

The exact architecture is not known. A Japanese news site, PC Watch, has plenty of architectural designs that show Havendale/Auburndale as a dual-core processor with integrated graphics and a 4MB cache for the two cores.

Havendale will be use a new desktop-socket design, LGA-1160, and Auburndale will use the new mPGA-989 mobile socket. The desktop chip will have a 75-watt power envelop, while the mobile part will be between 45 and 55 watts.

It's quite a change for Intel to react to something AMD still has in the labs. It was dismissing 64-bit x86 extensions back when AMD first introduced them, then belatedly came to market a few years later with 64-bit chips.

"Intel is never going to let AMD get too far ahead of them again," said Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research. "They learned a hard lesson. I think Paul Otellini is probably one of the most enlightened CEOs Intel has had for a while and he's just not going to let that happen again."

Peddie believes that Intel will take the same strategy it took with its first dual-core and quad-core chips, and put two parts on the same die before integrating it.

"The pros of this approach are that it allows you to test the concepts and get more yield by using proven parts, and it allows you to make more SKUs because you can mix and match more easily," he told InternetNews.com. "The cons are there is an inherently higher silicon cost, and there is a higher power consumption due to the interface logic between the CPU and GPU chips."

AMD, being the No. 2 contestant in the field, needs to take a bigger risk for the bigger reward, so it's merging of CPU and GPU is more ambitious, added Peddie.

The question then becomes, what good is it? Fred Zeiber, president of Pathfinder Research, wasn't exactly sure himself. "You do get some advances in I/O but it's not like it's the Holy Grail," he said.

"They [Intel and AMD] probably feel that there's a market there. What they see there, I'm not sure but you have to take into account changes in technology and Internet delivery. There may be markets coming down the road."

Form : http://www.internetnews.com/

Review: Catbird Pocket V-Agent

Security is a never-ending to-do list.

On one hand, it's an ongoing source of revenue. On the other hand, it's a complex mishmash of various products.

Even after protecting the network, data needs to be encrypted, endpoints have to be secured, and compliance policies have to be enforced. With increased interest in sever consolidation, for both the cost-savings as well as space, and desktop virtualization to support multiple platforms, a new item is added to the checklist: virtual networks.

Test Center performed network security assessments on the virtual network using Catbird's Pocket V-Agent. A silver USB stick with a full-blown virtual appliance, the Pocket V-Agent offers rogue-device monitoring, intrusion detection and prevention, and vulnerability monitoring.

Catbird, Scotts Valley, Calif., offers a comprehensive Web Security and Network Access Control solution for the main network. The Catbird V-Agent is a VMware-based appliance that protects virtual machines -- hence the letter "V" -- instead. The Pocket V-Agent can instantly turn a PC into a full-blown comprehensive security agent. Along with monitoring the virtual machines on the host, V-Agent (pocket and otherwise) also monitors the physical network components attached to the host.

It's easy to think that virtual machines -- and the host machine on which they reside -- do not need any special protection from malicious attacks. After all, virtualization is about creating machines in a protected space to begin with, isn't it? In reality, a hacker who manages to gain access to the host PC can discover the virtual network and compromise the virtual machines in essentially the same way as a physical one.

With the Pocket V-Agent, solution providers can perform virtual network security assessments on the fly by plugging the USB drive into any PC. Once the appliance has been installed and booted, the PC can monitor networks and protect data.

The Pocket V-Agent shows up as Pocket ACE when plugged in to the device. It automatically tries to install VMware Player first in order to start the appliance. If the system already has VMware Server installed (as this one did), the installation would fail. Once uninstalled, the Player installed and appliance had no trouble starting.

Security monitoring and configuration are performed using a Web browser to access the Web portal. Pocket V-Agent provides a snapshot of real-time data to illustrate potential areas for security breaches.

Guest operating systems can be checked for vulnerability to a network attack, user misconfiguration, or a compromised hypervisor.

The USB drive gives a single admin the power to conduct remote security evaluations at multiple sites. Anyone in front of one of the machines onsite can mount the USB drive. The V-Agent is launched automatically within VMware Player. The agent is designed to be stateless, allowing access to the network data even after the machines have been shut down, restarted, or restored. All the collected data is stored in a Web-accessible portal. The portal has several configuration options, such as turning on quarantine, turning on the IPS capability, or applying policy compliance and validation rules.

There are many ways solution providers can use the Pocket V-Agent. They can bundle the V-Agent with various virtualization solutions, such as application and processing virtualization. It can also be used to measure security and compliance audit. Or VARs can add it to their personal toolbox to use on unknown systems when working on the client site.

Unlike assessment tools that require external appliances and extra software, the USB-based Pocket V-Agent converts the typical PC host into a security analysis tool.

A combination of one-time purchase and service fees, the product is available through the channel. Partners can pick and choose individual components from Catbird's array of products to create the right bundle and to set an appropriate price point instead of creating one-size-fits-all offerings.

Catbird's Software-as-a-Service option means there is no initial investment for partners. Catbird also allows partners to deliver their own branded security-as-a-service solution.

While there are a handful of security appliances that offer host PCs some protection, solution providers would find Catbird V-Agent a more cost-effective management and security agent for the midmarket and SMB.

Form : http://www.crn.com/security/206903677

Nokia 6121 classic BARGAIN! UMTS 900 here I come!

I just picked up a Nokia 6121 classic, yes that's right the only currently available 900MHz UMTS handset, for $305 off TradeMe BRAND NEW. Retail is $500! It is a Vodafone NZ one and was still in it's outer clear shrink wrap!

Great phone, very small and feels well built (in Korea), the keypad is surprisingly easy to use given it's size. I have RoadSync running (for push email from Exchange) but unfortunately the ability to install it to the standby screen is reserved for E (and N?) series devices :-( (And Nokia's Mail For Exchange isn't an option for the same reason.)

A Holux M-1200 Bluetooth GPS is next on the list!

Form : http://www.geekzone.co.nz/

Blu-Ray Nintendo Wii sighted in Tokyo

(Akihabra, Tokyo) Ucs Tech News : Unconfirmed sources report the Nintendo Wii Blu-Ray has been sighted in the wild. According to the source, a high level Tokyo gamer, was hunting through alleyways and tiny stalls of the Akihabra electronics district and sighted the heavily modified Wii Blu-Ray game console. With rumors of a Blu-Ray add-on for the 360 are showing up again it's logical that Nintendo would develope the technology. Tracing the origin of the modified Wii, Ucs Tech News has it from Nintendo insiders that a Blu-Ray installation is already specced out and just needs to go through the approval process. They foresee a release as soon as May 2008.


Nintendo's CEO Satoru Iwata stated in a February press release that "Nintendo is reviewing the Blu-ray technology and considering how it could enhance the Wii gaming experience." While the official word is wait and see rumors combined with the appearance of the console found in Akihabra has Wii watchers buzzing.

According to various Wii gaming blogs, the addition of a Blu-Ray drive and upgraded processor could spell trouble for Sony and the Playstation 3. The Current PowerPC-based "Broadway" processor clocked at 729 MHz is the slowest of the 3 major consoles but word has leaked that Nintendo is already in negotiation with AMD to purchase the next generation of the Athlon 64 X2 Dual core processor.

From : http://www.unconfirmedsources.com/

Master Chief Super Hack : Halo 3 ported to Nintendo Wii

(Reichtenburg, Germany : UCS News) German high school student has once again achieved the impossible. 18 years old Hans Nuttzipper has cracked the encryption and ported the shocking popular Halo 3 video game to the very popular Nintendo Wii game console.

According to tech watchers Nuttzipper has "Once again scaled the mount Olympus of Wii - XBox hacks." CNet declared the Halo/Wii hack "A stunning achievement that will inspire millions."

Nuttzipper announced the Halo Nintendo Wii hack on the website http://wii.wikia.com and provided the 28 step instructions and required code. The young German took on the challenge after a classmate stated it would be impossible. Nuttzipper attacked the Wii e and Xbox with vengeance and after a marathon coding session booted Halo 3 on his Nintendo Wii.

Nintendo's CEO Satoru Iwata stated in a press release "Nuttzipper is a giant among his peers, this single feat will nearly guarantee Nintendo sells another million Wii consoles next year."

"We are excited about creating a vibrant third-party developer community around the Wii and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users," Satoru Iwata said in the posting.

Form : http://www.unconfirmedsources.com

Sweeney Dismisses Nintendo Wii Controls As Gimmicky

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games and the man behind the Unreal, talked about the future of gaming in an interview and the subject of the Wii controls came up.

Speaking to TG Daily, he explained that the there needs to be a determination made between what is a fundamental change in gaming, and what is a gimmick. Sadly, he thinks that the Wiimote falls into the latter category.

"I still think that motion controllers, such as the Wii controller, have a limited purpose, sort of a gimmicky thing," he said.

"Standing there and holding a bunch of devices and moving them around wildly is great for party games, but I don't think that will fundamentally change the way people interact with computers," Sweeney opined.

He's more of a believer in the PS3 Eye school of motion sensing than having to hold a physical object or two.

"To me, it's more compelling to just use free-form movement and have computers recognize your gestures," he added.

Form : http://www.nintendorevolution.ca/