A.M.D. to Split Into Two Operations

Advanced Micro Devices
plans to announce Tuesday that it will split into two companies — one
focused on designing microprocessors and the other on the costly
business of manufacturing them — in a drastic effort to maintain its
position as the only real rival to Intel.

In
addition, the company said two Abu Dhabi investment firms would inject
at least $6 billion into the two firms, mostly to finance a new chip
factory that A.M.D. planned to build near Albany, N.Y., and to upgrade
one of the company’s existing plants in Dresden, Germany.

A.M.D.,
based in Sunnyvale, Calif., makes graphics, computer and server
processors. It will own 44.4 percent of the new entity, which has been
temporarily named the Foundry Company, a reference to the technical
term for a chip factory. The Advanced Technology Investment Company
will own the rest.

Advanced Technology, which was formed by the
Abu Dhabi government, has promised to put up $2.1 billion immediately
and contribute $3.6 billion to $6 billion more to build or upgrade chip
fabrication plants, also known as fabs. A.M.D. said the two companies
would share voting control equally.

The Mubadala Development
Company, an Abu Dhabi company that bought 8 percent of A.M.D. in
November, will pay $314 million for 58 million newly issued shares,
increasing its stake in the presplit company to 19.3 percent. It will
also get warrants to buy 30 million shares. A.M.D. stock closed Monday
at $4.23 a share, down 30 cents.

“We generally believe this deal
is a game changer for the industry,” said Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief
executive of Mubadala. “It’s bold, and I think it’s smart.”

Coming
up with the billions of dollars needed to construct each new chip plant
has proved to be a huge drain on A.M.D., the perennial No. 2 to Intel
in the market for microprocessors, the powerful chips that control the
functions of personal computers and the larger corporate machines known
as servers. As of June, A.M.D. reported that it had $5.3 billion in
debt and just $1.6 billion in cash.

With the constant need to
devise smaller, faster, more energy-efficient chips to keep up with
Intel, A.M.D. was forced to turn to outside help.

“This is the
biggest announcement in our history,” said A.M.D.’s chief executive,
Dirk Meyer. “This will make us a financially stronger company, both in
the near term and in the long term, as a result of being out from the
capital expense burden we have had to bear.”

The semiconductor
industry faces constant consolidation because of the amount of
investment required to create ever finer components on semiconductors.
In addition, chip makers tend to experience significant financial
fluctuations as they adapt to shifts in manufacturing processes.

But
executives from both Abu Dhabi investment groups expressed optimism
that they’re buying into what is overall a growth business.

“Yes,
it is a cyclical business, but over time the trajectory is always
upwards,” said Waleed al-Mokarrab, chairman of Advanced Technology.

The
transaction, which A.M.D. expects will close in early 2009, must be
approved by shareholders, regulators and officials in New York and
Germany who oversee government subsidies for the local chip plants.

A.M.D.
said Foundry would manufacture processors for A.M.D. as well as other
customers. This will place the new entity in competition with a host of
companies, many of them in Asia, that produce chips designed by other
firms.

The breakup of A.M.D. is a major shift in the processor
landscape, leaving Intel as the only significant maker of PC chips to
still design and build its own products. Such an arrangement is often
seen as an advantage since it allows the chip maker to align new
products with the latest advances in manufacturing technology.

The
split, which has been in the works for more than a year, did not come
easily to A.M.D. According to company lore, A.M.D.’s co-founder and
longtime chief executive, W. J. Sanders III, known as Jerry, once
remarked that “real men have fabs.”

Under the deal proposed by
A.M.D., the company would retain many of the traditional benefits of
fabs, since part of Foundry will be dedicated to serving A.M.D. and
will remain in close communication with the company’s engineers.

“We feel like we’re still pretty manly at A.M.D.,” Mr. Meyer said.
Noting that Mr. Sanders made his quip over a decade ago, he added,
“Frankly, the math has changed.”

A.M.D. owns a pair of plants in
Dresden. One of them is already state-of-the-art, but the other is
undergoing a conversion that will let it produce processors for other
companies as well as A.M.D.

With the cash infusion, A.M.D. said
it was now committed to moving forward with plans, first announced in
June 2006, to build a huge $3.2 billion chip fab in Malta, N.Y., north
of Albany.

The plant, which will be owned by the new
manufacturing company, will employ about 1,400 workers and is expected
to get about $1.2 billion in incentives from the State of New York.

I.B.M., which also has chip plants in the state, has extended a technology pact with A.M.D. to 2015.

A.M.D.
will count $700 million of the $2.1 billion from Advanced Technology as
payment for its stake in the foundry company. Foundry will also assume
$1.2 billion of A.M.D.’s debt.

Source : http://www.nytimes.com/

Asus TS500-E5 tower server

Asus' TS500
offers reliability, speed and efficiency at a low price for a mid-range
tower server. However, case design is not ideal, and the system
strangely requires a PS2 keyboard and mouse.

Small to medium business owners are generally well provided for by a
simple tower style server connected to other computers and devices by a
small switch. More complicated multi-server arrangements are
unnecessary complications. And yet, such businesses still deserve the
security of more massive and complicated systems.

Tower servers can provide the simplicity of a stand-alone unit while
still allowing for a great amount of power, flexibility and of course
reliability. RAID, dual CPUs and redundant power supplies are all
possible with the added benefit of plenty of free space for expansion
cards.

Test Procedure

After a subjective assessment of the native pre-installed operating
system, we installed MS Windows Server 2003 in preparation for
benchmarking. Test software used was SiS Sandra 2008, Cinebench 9.5 and
Intel Sungard 2.5. Sandra provides general information about the system
while Cinebench and Sungard are multithreaded applications used to
assess the machine's overall computational power. We also measure power
consumption and consider the build quality of the machine.

Design and Features

Businesses don't have to have astronomical IT budgets to benefit from
fast reliable servers in convenient packages. The Asus TS500 is a
mid-range, tower type server with plenty of features and room to grow.
The large lockable black case has silver front trim. Larger than a
standard PC it can still be comfortably situated under a desk in the
back office or beside the "IT guy". Furthermore, this machine can be
attached to rails and mounted in a rack if business expansion later
warrants the purchasing of a rack.

Aside from a slot that allows for a case lock, there is a second
lock at the front which blocks access to the drive slots and power
switch. This ensures that data is relatively secure from on-site
attacks or carelessness. At the same time, the machine is engineered
such that authorised personnel can readily remove drives and open the
case to access other components as necessary. Access to all components
is easy once the case is open.

The processing power comes from a dual quad-core Intel Xeon 5410
2.33GHz CPU. Aside from top of the line 45nm dual- or quad-core
processors, the machine also ships with older 65nm processors if
desired. The mounting of CPU cooling systems was a little unusual. Each
system was oriented in opposite direction such that the fan on one blew
toward the back of the machine and the other blew towards the front. It
seems unlikely that this represents the most efficient way to promote
airflow through the case.

Provided to the lab with 4GB of RAM, the TS500 supports up to
24GB across six slots. Permanent data storage is also well catered for.
The optional PIKE 1078 SAS RAID module supports up to eight
hot-swappable drives. (The machine as tested came with 3x 500GB
drives). This controller supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50 and 60.
Alternatively four- or eight-port controllers supporting only RAID 0, 1
and 1E are available.

This capacious machine takes standard 3.5-inch drives. This
measurement also brings to mind that a 3.5-inch floppy drive is also
included — a useful addition given that RAID drivers still insist on
loading from this medium. Finally there was an Asus branded DVD RW
optical drive.

"All appliance inlets shall be removal of all powers from the
product together." This little gem was printed on a sticker on one of
the power supplies and highlights the need for manufacturers to work
more closely with local distributors when producing documentation for
equipment.

The final step in any translation process should be to have the text
read by a native speaker. One can only guess at what the instruction is
meant to convey. The Asus website is also poor so perhaps local
suppliers are the best source of troubleshooting information. The
printed manuals, on the other hand, are of a much higher standard.

Asus also provides server management software called ASWM with the
device. Administrators can remotely monitor server health via a web
interface. Temperatures, fan speed, network activity and drive usage
data is logged and can be displayed graphically to enhance system
troubleshooting. Both Windows and Linux versions are supplied.

The TS500-E5 also comes in a PA4 design which includes a single power supply and different PCI slot configuration.

Verdict

The TS500 is built for both reliability and speed. Hot swappable
hard-drives and power supply reduce costly maintenance downtime. For
the most part the machine appears to be well engineered. Energy
consumption was remarkably low peeking at only 228.4W and idling at
148.5W. Obviously adding more drives will increase power consumption
figures. Annoyingly, USB keyboard and mouse did not operate when
plugged in initially and so PS2 devices were used; it's hard to believe
the device would be sold with anything but USB input devices.

The tower form-factor lends itself to expansion and flexibility via
the five PCI/PCI-E slots. The capacity to take the latest processors
further enhances the longevity of this product. Memory and drive
capacity also have excellent expansion potential.

Performance scores were remarkable for a server in this price range
and achieved with such low power consumption. The score achieved with
Sungard was particularly good. The new 45nm processors and chipset
certainly prove their worth.

Source : http://www.zdnet.com.au/

ASUS' Rampage II Extreme now fully equipped

First spotted in its more naked and unfinished form last week, images of the final revision ASUS R.O.G. series Rampage II Extreme motherboard for the Nehalem platform have appeared online.

As you can see, it certainly does look mighty extreme with its full
armoursuit attached. The cooling system covers much of the PCB and
looks convincingly effective at keeping all the key areas cool enough
for some monster FSB goodness.



However, the northbridge heatsink does seem a little out of place
compared to what's going on around it; i'm sure many of us were
expecting to see some form of waterblock like what GIGABYTE did with
their EX58-Extreme,
or at least something a bit more 'out there' that is typical of the
R.O.G. series characteristics. Perhaps they haven't decided what
they'll do with this just yet.

No word on pricing as yet, but apparently the board will be ready for action come launch day.

Source : http://www.tweaktown.com/

ASUS Adds a Simple Touch with Eee Top ET16 Series

Taipei, Taiwan
-- ASUS unveils the Eee Top ET16 Series of all-in-one touchscreen
computers that boast the full functionality of regular desktop PCs at
just the fraction of the footprint. Equipped with 15.6” five-wired
resistive touch panels, the new Eee Top ET1602 and Eee Top ET1603
enable users to manipulate what they see onscreen by applying direct
pressure with their fingertips, greatly enhancing the interactivity and
simplicity of performing daily computing tasks.

The benefits of
having a foolproof, touch-responsive interface are myriad, allowing
anyone in the family—regardless of computer proficiency—to experience
the convenience and excitement of computing. For example, family
members can scribble memos to each other, input text via handwriting
recognition or a virtual keyboard, and navigate web pages—all with just
their fingertips! These examples only touch the surface of what the Eee
Top ET16 Series is capable of. Each Eee Top ET16 Series computer comes
with a comprehensive suite of touch-optimized applications spanning
productivity, entertainment and communications—enabling users to do
virtually anything, easily.

Although housed in a compact LCD
monitor form factor, the Eee Top ET16 Series offers a rich complement
of features, such as Wi-Fi 802.11n connectivity for speedy and reliable
Internet access, built-in high fidelity speakers for crystal clear
audio and an integrated 1.3 megapixel web camera and microphone array
for convenient web conferencing.

Simple Setup and Ease of Use
In
keeping with the core tenet of Eee, which is ease of use, Eee Top ET16
Series touchscreen computers are exceedingly quick and simple to set
up—just attach a power cord, and they are ready for use. They are also
exceptionally easy to use. Catering to users new to Windows who would
appreciate the simplicity afforded by an icon-driven, touch-and-select
interface, Eee Top ET16 Series touchscreen computers feature an
exclusive Easy Mode within Windows that allows users to locate and
access commonly-used applications easily within streamlined and
readily-accessible menus. This makes Windows immediately intuitive to
users with the most meager of computing experience, including children.

Contributing
greatly to the Eee Top ET16 Series’ simplicity of use are its
preinstalled applications, many of which are tailored for touch panels.
Eee Memo, for example, enables users to write messages for their family
members on desktop ‘stickies’ with just their fingers. SoftStylus
allows them to input text without requiring a physical keyboard—it
recognizes handwriting and also offers a virtual keyboard as an
alternative. Surfing the Internet is also possible without a mouse,
thanks to Opera Touch, a rich-featured web browser enhanced for
touchscreen use that supports drag-and-drop functions, widgets and
‘speed dialing’.

Optimized Design and Flexibility of Placement
Owing
to the need to fit full functionality into such a sleek casing, the
designers behind the Eee Top ET16 Series carefully considered the use
of every iota of space. The result is an optimized product design that
is as elegant as it is attractive. This philosophy of optimization is
best evidenced in details such as the system’s carrying handle, which
also serves as a keyboard** holder. Another example would be the
cooling system—collectively known as ASUS Tranquiller Technology—that
utilizes an optimized blend of astute air flow design, quiet fans and
unique heat dissipation materials to ensure that the system stays cool
while operating at an extremely quiet 26 dB.

Given their compact
form factor and near-silent operation, Eee Top ET16 Series touchscreen
computers can be placed virtually anywhere in a house, office or
commercial space without being obtrusive or distracting. Their clean
and modern looks ensure that they will blend in nicely with
contemporary interiors, even functioning as talking pieces and points
of convergence in home settings such as the kitchen, living room and
study. They are also highly portable, and can be moved from room to
room with the greatest of ease. A user surfing the Internet in the
study could, for example, move it to the living room via its carrying
handle and set it up in seconds for an online yoga class.

The
beauty of the Eee Top ET16 Series is that it not only enhances the
interaction between user and computer, it also encourages more
interactivity between users in household settings. Possible usage
scenarios include homemakers searching for food recipes in the kitchen
and friends browsing through their music collections in the bedroom.
The Eee Top ET16 Series is the key to unlocking the door to truly
‘touching’ moments.

Powerful Multimedia Capabilities
Eee
Top ET16 Series touchscreen computers are fully-capable entertainment
centers. The 15.6” widescreen (16:9) LCDs are sharp and vibrant,
bolstered by Eee Splendid™ Video Intelligence Technology that ensures
the Eee Top’s display remains vivid and clear regardless of
environmental lighting. Users will also enjoy high quality audio
throughout—without the need for additional speakers—thanks to the
integrated Hi-Fi speakers and SRS TruSurround HD™ technology.

For
added graphics power, the Eee Top ET1603 features a discrete ATI
Mobility Radeon HD3450 graphics solution, enabling the system to run
graphically-intensive 3D applications and games more fluidly.

Tying
in all of the Eee Top ET16 Series touchscreen computers’ multimedia
capabilities is Eee Cinema, a full-featured multimedia center that
enhances the user’s enjoyment of photos, videos, music and movies.
Offering a user interface that is akin to that found in consumer
set-tops, Eee Cinema puts the ability to browse, select and play all of
the user’s media at his or her fingertips.

Source : http://www.hardwarezone.com/

New Sony Style Store Opens Its Doors With Preview of Sony Reader Digital Book

GLENDALE, Calif., Oct 06, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
Sony Electronics is opening a new
Sony Style store, located at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, Calif., and
offering a first look at the new Sony Reader Digital Book. The new model,
PRS-700, incorporates an interactive touch screen display for the most
intuitive digital reading to date.

"The new Reader Digital Book allows consumers to carry the reading
material they want in a convenient format that fits into their on-the-go
lives," said Steve Haber, president of Sony's Digital Reading Business
Division.

The Sony Style stores will be the first place where consumers can test
drive, as well as pre-order, the new Reader beginning next week.

"Giving consumers the opportunity to get a hands-on demonstration of the
latest Sony technologies is what the Sony Style stores are all about," said
Dennis Syracuse, Sony's senior vice president of retail. "The stores offer
shoppers an educational experience where they can become comfortable with our
products and really understand how they add value to their lives."

The Sony Style store provides a place to learn about emerging
technologies, such as the Reader or Blu-ray disc -- the next generation format
for high-definition video. At the stores, shoppers can see demonstrations of
products, get comfortable with their functionality, or attend an educational
seminar led by an in-store expert.

With a concierge located at the entrance of each store, personal in-home
delivery services and custom installation support, Sony Style retail stores
are designed to provide shoppers with the highest level of personalized
service.

Additionally, Backstage Services are available in-store and are provided
by Backstage Service Agents. The service includes new VAIO PC Set-up, PC trade
in, software installations, memory upgrades, post-sales PC service and repair
facilitation for VAIO PCs and select consumer electronics products. Backstage
Agents are a technical resource for customers to get their computer questions
answered throughout the entire ownership lifecycle of a new VAIO PC from set-
up all the way to trade in for a new PC.

The PRS-700 will be available for purchase at Sony Style stores,
sonystyle.com and through authorized retailers next month for about $400.

From : http://www.marketwatch.com/

Former Sony Pictures Entertainment Employee Kills Five In Family, Self

In a truly modern day tragedy, an unemployed financial advisor apparently despondent over his troubles shot and killed his wife, his mother-in-law and three children before taking his own life in the gated community of the 20600 block of Como Lane in Porter Ranch in the northwest San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles police said today. Concerned friends had phoned police over the night and when police showed up at 8:30 it was far too late. The LA Times writes, “We believe this to be a murder-suicide,” Moore said. “It appears [the gunman] killed his family and then took his own life.”

The 45-year-old suspect used a handgun he purchased Sept. 16, Moore said. The weapon was found next to the gunman’s body, officials said. The bodies of the man’s 39-year-old wife, 70-year-old mother-in-law, and three sons — ages 19, 12 and 7 — were found inside the home’s various bedrooms. Authorities had earlier said that one of the victims was the gunman’s mother but now say it was his mother-in-law. Friends and neighbors identified the couple as Karthik and Subasri Rajaram, who had lived in the neighborhood for a few years.

Moore said police believe that the gunman shot the victims sometime after 6 p.m. Saturday, and that he had left behind three letters indicating that he had carried out the killings. One letter, addressed to law enforcement, confessed to the shootings. He wrote a second letter to friends. The third letter, police said, appeared to be a will. He said the gunman had worked previously for Price Waterhouse and Sony Pictures and “had attested to some financial difficulties,” Moore said. “He had become despondent over his financial” situation.”

Source : http://www.sonyinsider.com/

Sony Updates Its Reader: Built-In Light, Touchscreen But Still No Wireless

We're in e-book leapfrog mode ... the third generation of *Sony's* Reader Digital Book (PRS-700BC) offers a 6-inch touch screen with built-in LED lighting, a stylus, a virtual keyboard and a faster processor. Priced at $400, $50 higher than the Amazon ( NSDQ: AMZN) Kindle, it should start shipping mid-November. Sony ( NYSE: SNE) has filled in some of the Kindle gaps and looks sleeker (that's not hard) but still lacks wireless. This reader is for people who aren't interested in impulse buying from the runway. Steve Haber, president of Sony's Digital Reading Business Division, told AP a wireless unit is in the plans but it has to work with the multiple vendors that are now part of Sony's more open strategy.

Sony has the same kind of trade-in offer it has for laptops with the current generation of Readers, offering $100 off for anyone turning in the first generation. A similar program for the new model hasn't been posted yet but this one runs through January 2009.
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Meanwhile, one of the favorite iPhone claims lately is how a free app called Stanza transforms the Apple ( NSDQ: AAPL) device into a Kindle-Sony killing e-book. I've used Stanza and it's no Kindle. It will appeal to people who want the iPhone to be a Swiss Army Knife.

Source : http://www.washingtonpost.com/

AMD breaking up, shifting manufacturing to new venture

It's
an early news leak but it seems AMD isset to spin off manufacturing
responsibilities to a new seperate venture which will also assume
responsibility for producing chips for other companies as well. The
large plants over in Germany and other regions are apparently all part
of the deal and the investment to fund this whole deal is said to be
associated with the government of Abu Dhabi.

Further details
about the split of power and future or name of the new company have yet
to be revealed, one has to wonder if this will help the company refocus
itself and get back into heavier R&D since they were already said
to be experimenting with TSMC on chips, one has to also wonder how this
might play in their already announced path to 45nm and if that might be
a factor in the company ramping up production so fast with early
samples already coming out.

We'll keep you posted as more breaks
on this with any details on how this will impact roadmaps or any
benefits coming to the company from the announcement of this change.

Source: Wall Street Journal Online