Sony offers ultra-portable PC unit

Sony unveiled a Vaio ultra-portable PC yesterday that is about half the size and weight of competitors in the growing “netbook” category.

The P series Lifestyle PC is small enough and light enough – 1.5 pounds – to fit in a jacket pocket and is about the thickness of a cell phone. It comes with the ability to connect to Verizon's 3G data network and to widely available Wi-Fi networks.

Sony's announcement came on the eve of the International CES 2009, the industry trade show extravaganza that officially opens today.

Devices such as the EE PC from Asus and similar products from Hewlett-Packard and Dell have created and defined the netbook category as computers designed for on-the-go Web surfing, weighing roughly three pounds, with prices as low as $300. In a trade-off for price and portability, the netbooks lacked processing power and typically run the less-demanding Windows XP.

Sony's version is different. It's more powerful, strikingly smaller and far more costly. The device, which will go on sale later this month, will have a $900 price tag.

Sony, which has its U.S. headquarters in San Diego, also said yesterday that it would introduce an ultra-efficient “Eco” version of its Bravia LCD TV, which will reduce power use by 40 percent over comparable standard televisions. The TV has a standby mode that stops drawing power, unlike many TVs that consume energy when turned off. The Eco also has a motion sensor and will turn itself off when no viewer motion is detected.

 

Source : http://www3.signonsandiego.com/

Sony Vaio P Launch - Pocket Style PC

After all the mystery, leaks and speculation over Sony's latest product, we found ourselves in an interesting position on what to really expect when we headed over to The Salon, a very stylish venue over at the National Museum. Since it was a given that we already knew what Sony's little Pocket would look like, it's probably a good thing that we were looking forward to actually getting some hands-on time for this pretty little n3tb00k (which, by the way, isn't one according to Sony and totally not related to a certain company's discontinued product ).

Our first glimpse of the Sony VAIO P (not including pictures found on the interwebs, of course).

The LED-backlit XBRITE-ECO LCD display packs a 1,600 x 768 resolution that's bound to make you squint all day. Luckily, we have the ability to make the icons larger!

We're eagerly awaiting a review set from Sony, but so far, we like what we see. The absence of a trackpad may take some getting used to, but it does give you plenty of space for the keyboard and further helps in reducing the footprint of this already very slim, sexy and portable product. The isolated keyboard design of the current VAIO notebooks also makes it to the Pocket, but looks slightly cramped compared to the stylish layout of the other notebooks and will take a while to get used to for sure.
Lastly, Sony also claims 3 hours of battery life on the unit which runs on the industry average standard 3-cell, but a high capacity 6-cell version will extend this by double to a cool 6 hours worth of surfing time.

Pocket sized means you can fit it into your pocket right?

It does fit, but not all of us are blessed with sexy derrieres.

Sony VAIO P Specifications

Processor

• Intel Atom Z520 (1.33GHz)

RAM

• 2GB DDR2

HDD

• 60GB HDD or
• 64GB SSD

Video

• 8.0-inch screen
• LED Backlit
• XBRITE-Eco Technology
• 1600 x 768 resolution

Battery

• 3-cell Li-ion or
• 6-cell Li-ion

Dimensions:

• 279mm (W)  x 199.8mm (D) x 23.6mm (H)

Weight

• 0.635 kg

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

Seniors try Nintendo WII

An empty table at the Ida Benderson Center is a good sign that the seniors are making good use of a recent gift.
It's a Ninendo WII gaming system given to the center by National Grid.And so far it's gotten many off their feet. The Ida Benderson Center caters to about 1-hundred seniors daily...so far their Nintendo WII recreation time is a hit. It's causing more interaction and activity all around.

 

Source : http://www.wtvh.com/

For Intel, Netbooks Bring Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas

Our sister site JkOnTheRun reports on the proliferation (and large presence) of the netbooks at the CES 2009:

Netbooks are still a hot ticket item and we are keeping our eyes peeled for anything new that might come along. … More models, Atom inside, 8 - 10-inch screens, etc., etc. Asus is pushing the limits a bit with the touchscreen convertible T91 we spied last night but no word is being shared on pricing for this little netbook.

“The most crowded tables at CES Unveiled last night were all netbook vendors. And unlike last year when I was one of the few covering the show with Asus Eee PC, netbooks are being used everywhere I turn,” Kevin Toefel emailed from Las Vegas.

These little machines have caught the imagination of many and sold millions of units this past holiday season. Personally, I am staying on the sidelines, happy with a Macbook Air and the touchscreen joys of an iPhone; but the trend continues unabated, as more and more devices come to market. The growing popularity of these low-cost netbooks, which are now mimicking regular laptops, is a scary prospect for PC component makers, especially Intel.So far, Intel is holding its own in the category, but it has two worries: the success of ARM-based netbooks and whether such devices will steal sockets from gear powered by its higher margin chips. When it reports earnings on Jan. 15, analysts are sure to ask if Atom is cannibalizing sales of Intel’s higher-end processors, such as Celeron and Pentium Dual Core.

In its third-quarter earnings call in October, Intel said that the margins on its Atom chips are equal on a dollar basis to the margins on its Celeron chips used in lower-end computers and laptops and actually are higher on a percentage basis. But if consumers choose a netbook over a higher-end notebook, then cannibalization becomes a real concern.

Sales of these devices have increased from 1 million units in 2007 to an estimated 14 million in 2008, according to research from DisplaySearch. Still, that’s just a small fraction of the 80.6 million total PCs (including netbooks) Gartner estimates were sold in the third quarter of 2008. However, with the recession in full swing, netbooks could be gaining ground.

Mika Kitagawa, principal analyst for Gartner’s Client Computing Markets group, said in his October report on third-quarter PC sales, “In the North America market, the economic crunch created more interest in the sub $500 segment. Because the mini-notebook is still a new segment, it is too early to determine if the emerging segment created new market opportunities, or if it cannibalized lower priced systems.”

Such cannibalization is easier when computer manufacturers link their netbook branding with the names of their more powerful notebooks. C’mon, even Toyota keeps its luxury Lexus brand far away from its everyday Toyota Camry and Corolla brands. In its “Netbooks are the Third PC Form Factor” report, Forrester Research warned:

Consumer products strategists at key vendors have mistakenly named their netbooks as extensions of their laptop lines: The Dell inspiron mini is closely linked in nomenclature to the inspiron notebook line. Similarly, lenovo’s S10 is an ideaPad, while Acer’s one is an Aspire. Even HP’s mini-Note suggests a “miniature notebook.” This branding strategy is dangerous — it cultivates consumers’ confusion about whether netbooks are, in fact, laptops or something else. Craft a completely new sub-brand to market these devices appropriately.

Of course, Stacey made the very same point about consumer confusion months ago. The recent introduction of 12-inch models is only going to accelerate the cannibalization of the notebook market. For someone like Intel, that is a prospect scarier than the 20 percent decline in quarterly revenues.

Additional reporting by Kevin Toefel and Stacey Higginbotham.

Source : http://gigaom.com/

Asus Eee PC S101

Introducing the Eee PC S101, the super slim and stylish Netbook from Asus that houses a Solid State Drive (SSD) making it super slim. This new Netbook features the same configuration, so the Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM and a 10.2 inch screen makes a comeback. What's changed though is the storage, which is a 16GB SSD that consumes lower power and also performs better.

The finish and the build is a lot better compared to the regular Eee PC and a lot lighter too. In case you were worried about the small hard drive space, Asus also bundles a 16GB SD card to expand the storage space. Not only that, you also have 30GB of online storage so you can access you're files from anywhere.

Be sure to check out the full review.

Source : http://www.techtree.com/

AMD launches its fastest desktop chips ever

In an attempt to gain an advantage in the gaming PC market, Advanced Micro Devices on Thursday launched what it called its "highest-performing CPUs" to date.

Two new quad-core Phenom II processors, aimed at high-end desktop PCs, were announced by AMD at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The chips succeed the Phenom processor the company launched in 2007, and come two days after AMD announced the new Athlon Neo processor for small laptops.

The quad-core Phenom II chips run at speeds up to 3GHz and include 8MB of cache. The chips are capable of even faster clock speeds under certain circumstances. For example, AMD overclocked Phenom II processors to run at up to 4GHz on air-cooled systems, and up to 5GHz on liquid-nitrogen cooling late last year.

Dell is already offering the XPS 625 desktop based on the Phenom II, though pricing information was not immediately available. PC makers HP and Alienware will also offer Phenom II-based desktops later in the year, according to AMD.

AMD is targeting gamers and enthusiasts with the chips, which are also affordable enough for mainstream users looking for a good gaming system, the company said.

AMD's Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition processor, which runs at 3.0GHz, is priced at US$275, while the Phenom II X4 920 processor, which runs at 2.8GHz, is sold for $235.

The Phenom II CPUs are manufactured using a 45-nanometer process, which makes the chips more power efficient than earlier chips.

The new chips are part of AMD's new Dragon platform for desktops, which includes graphics chips, chipsets and CPUs for gaming and media-intensive desktops. The platform includes the ATI Radeon 4800 series graphics cards in addition to the Phenom II.

An interesting feature of the platform is a set of customized controls to boost performance of gaming PCs. Called OverDrive, these controls allow users to ratchet up performance by overclocking the CPUs, which can then be easily returned to a normal speed at the touch of a button.

The platform also includes the ATI Video Converter software, which can convert videos to play on portable entertainment devices, according to AMD.

The platform will initially support DDR2 memory, but faster DDR3 memory support may come in a few months, AMD has said. Compared to DDR2 memory, DDR3 provides a larger bandwidth for quicker data transfers between the CPU and memory in PCs. To support DDR3 memory, AMD will introduce the new AM3 socket for motherboards in the next few months.

Continues : http://www.networkworld.com/

AMD Phenom II CPU Review

AMD have officially announced the launch of the Phenom II, which is their most powerful CPU yet. The new processor from AMD will be sandwiched between Intel’s Intel’s Core 2 Quad and Core i7 processors. There is to be two Phenom II chips available, the X4 920 and the X4 940 Black Edition with speeds of 2.8 and 3.0 GHz, respectively.

The AMD Phenom II with its HyperTransport interface and integrated memory controller gives the CPU a technical edge over the Intel Core 2 Quad chips which do not have those features. Intel do use a similar system called QuickPath Interconnect, but is only used on their latest Core i7 platform.

With this feature, the Phenom II processor manages to achieve higher bandwidth than Intel’s Core 2 Quad processors; it does this by eliminating bottlenecks which are created by the frontside bus and an external controller. This new processor proves that AMD is waging the war with Intel and their faster Core i7 chips, as the new Phenom II is a dream for Upgraders’ and Overclockers.

Read full review

Hardware Roundup: AMD Phenom II X4 Edition

As we reported earlier, AMD has officially announced its first round of 45nm desktop processors. The Phenom II X4 920 runs at 2.8GHz and the Phenom II X4 940 is clocked at 3.0GHz. This promises to be just the first in the lineup of Deneb core processors AMD is slated to release in 2009. The Phenom II X4 will be part of the Dragon enthusiast platform consisting of a 790GX chipset motherboard and an AMD/ATI HD 4800-series videocard. While the chipset and videocard components of the platform are familiar to users by now, the CPU component is new so read on to found out what the Phenom II X4 processors can do.
AMD Phenom II X4 940 @ OCC
AMD Phenom II Arrives – 45nm Deneb and Dragon Platform @ TweakTown
Enter The Dragon: AMD Phenom II X4 940 @ HotHardware
AMD Phenom II X4 (Deneb) 940 Launch, Review & Overclocking @ Neoseeker
AMD Dragon: AMD Phenom II X4 940 @ Bjorn3D
AMD Phenom II X4 940 Processor @ Legit Reviews
AMD Phenom II X4 940 & 920 @ TechSpot
AMD Phenom II "Deneb" @ LostCircuits
AMD's Phenom II processors @ Tech Report
AMD Phenom II X4 Model 940 Black Edition Processor @ [H]ardOCP

Source : http://www.overclockersclub.com/

Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Pfizer, Biogen Idec, Amgen, Intel and AMD

Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Pfizer Ltd. (NYSE: PFE), Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB), Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN), Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE: AMD).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=4579

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

9 Possible Pharma Deals for ‘09

With everyone reporting and blogging over the past few weeks that Pharma M&A activity should heat up in 2009, we've decided to make nine bold predictions on deals that could get done -- or that at least make sense to us -- in 2009.

1.) Pfizer Ltd. (NYSE: PFE) is sitting on over $30 billion in cash and the Lipitor patent expiration in 2012 is bearing down like a freight train. Management needs to find new areas of growth. Pfizer has also mentioned in the past that they are keen on expanding the biologic business.

With "all deal sizes" on the table, the best move we see for Pfizer in 2009 is to acquire big-cap biotech firm Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB). We have heard rumors of a Pfizer-Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) combination, but Biogen would be a lot easier to swallow. The deal would give Pfizer several new revenue drivers and an enormous biologic pipeline for about a fourth of the price of Amgen. Biogen's core focus in central nervous system disorders, oncology, and inflammatory disease is just what Pfizer is looking for. Biogen also bring a massive biologic manufacturing footprint that will help Pfizer commercialize its next-generation portfolio.

Intel: 3 Concerns Plus Another

Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) has experienced very slow growth over the last four years. This was mainly due to Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NYSE: AMD) emerging as a competitor in the microprocessor, motherboard and chipset markets.

Costs have continued to outpace revenue growth. Against the 12.1% revenue increase in the 2004-2007 period, COGS [cost of goods sold] increased 24.9%, while operating expenses (R&D and SG&A) increased 10.8%. This brought down the operating margin from 30.1% in 2004 to 25.6% in 2007. While 2008 could develop into a good year in terms of operating margins, we expect margins to decline again in 2009.

Although notebooks are growing strongly, the company is seeing increasing demand for the lower-end variety. This is mainly due to the increasing demand from several emerging economies.

It now appears as though you can add macro economic and inventory concerns to the mix, as the firm warned for the 2nd time this quarter that revenue would be falling to levels not seen since the June of 2006 quarter. ($8.2 billion).

Want more from Zacks Equity Research? Subscribe to the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2649.

About Zacks Equity Research

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.

Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

Zacks "Profit from the Pros" e-mail newsletter provides highlights of the latest analysis from Zacks Equity Research. Subscribe to this free newsletter today: http://at.zacks.com/?id=2677

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978 by Leonard Zacks. As a PhD in mathematics Len knew he could find patterns in stock market data that would lead to superior investment results. Amongst his many accomplishments was the formation of his proprietary stock picking system; the Zacks Rank, which continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros at http://at.zacks.com/?id=4580.

Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

 

Source : http://www.businesswire.com/

AMD Phenom II X4 940

Today, AMD is introducing yet another CPU- this time it’s the follow up to their high-end desktop CPU and is being labeled as Phenom II. We received the X4-940 version, which is currently the highest end in the Phenom II range, clocked at 3.0Ghz and featuring four cores. With the Core i7 from Intel already dominating the benchmarks, lets find out if the Phenom II can hold its own or if it’s a bit too little too late from AMD. @ t-break

Nintendo games tap life improvement

Other than remembering to write 2009 instead of 2008, the hardest thing to do in the new year is to keep a resolution.

Promises to stop swearing don't get past the next sentence. Pledges to be nicer to siblings fall to the wayside. Vows to drive less may not make it when gas is relatively cheap.

If you're having trouble keeping your new year's resolution, help is available. And it comes from the most unlikely place — video games. A recent spate of titles for the Nintendo DS and Wii offer consumers a new way to fulfill that promise of eating healthy or stopping smoking.

Along with Nintendo, Ubisoft has been making headway in this area of gaming. With its My Coach series, the company has targeted a casual audience that appreciates this trend toward self-help titles.

"We're turning them into educational titles, but in fun ways," said Negar Baharlou, senior brand manager for the series. "They tackle some difficult issues. It takes a big challenge and breaks it down to smaller doses."

It's a formula that could work for gamers looking to better themselves in the new year.

For those who want to lose weight: If you were lucky enough to receive "Wii Fit" this Christmas, the game and its Balance Board peripheral can help keep you in shape as long as you eat a sensible diet and play it every day. The title features yoga, strength exercises and minigames to help you get off your feet and break a sweat.

The game can get engrossing as you see the small but constant improvement in your waistline and balance.

If you don't have a Wii, then "My Weight Loss Coach" for the Nintendo DS is a good alternative. Think of this as a portable personal trainer. The game comes with a pedometer that tracks how many steps you take. It also features a simple way to keep track of your diet.

If you fall off the wagon, the game offers helpful tips. It never scolds you like that sixth-grade gym teacher. This is also one of those titles that you will have to play daily.

For those who want to quit smoking: "My Stop Smoking Coach with Allen Carr" isn't a magic bullet to your smoking problems. It's not like Nicorette gum or the patch, but this game may be able to teach users a few cessation techniques and concepts through simple minigames.

Hey, if it's worked for celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher and Anthony Hopkins, it could work for regular folks, too.

Baharlou says the game is a great companion with Carr's book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking."

"It's a proven method," she said. "They sold 8 million copies of their book and have a success rate."

Like "My Weight Loss Coach," the game is portable so perhaps when you're jonesing for a fix, you can turn on the game and find a way to put off lighting up.

For those who want to eat out less: Last year, Nintendo launched its Personal Trainer series and the first game focused on the kitchen. With "Personal Trainer: Cooking," users can stop eating fast-food and save some money cooking for themselves.

The game helps you find recipes based on what you have at home, keywords or region. It's also programmed with videos to show some of the finer cooking concepts like filleting a fish. It even has voice recognition so that you can move on to the next step if you have your hands full.

Although the recipes come from the Tsuji Cooking Academy, the recipes are adequately balanced with European and Asian fare. Overall, there are 245 recipes in this relatively simple-to-use game.

For those who want to get better grades: If you want to improve your brain skills, Nintendo's "Brain Age" series isn't a bad way to go. But the younger set may want something a little more their speed, and that's where Electronic Arts' "Brain Quest" titles come in. Based on the best-selling educational products, the game comes in two versions directed toward third- and fourth-graders and fifth- and sixth-graders.

The questions span subjects that include math, science and history, and the game lets them do more than just answer multiple choice question. "Brain Quest" puts the touch-screen to good use, offering logic puzzles such as Sudoku and multiplayer games as well.

 

Source : http://www.insidebayarea.com/

Nokia ends production of N810 WiMAX tablet

Although it barely saw the light of day, Nokia's N810 Internet Table WiMAX Edition is no longer in production. Nokia said it is ceasing production of the highly touted device, despite the fact that WiMAX is finally ramping up in the U.S. The tablet only became available in October in conjunction with Sprint's launch of WiMAX in Baltimore.

InformationWeek asked the company about the move, and received this statement: "The Nokia N810 WiMAX Edition has reached the expected end of its life cycle. We will continue to follow the WiMAX network development and new product decisions will be considered based on the evolution of the business."

The struggling economy and the fact that LTE appears to be the winner in the next-generation wireless game could be the main reasons why Nokia is making the move.

Source : http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/

Grey’s Anatomy to Practice on Nintendo Wii, DS and PC

While certainly not as numerous, medical dramas can, at times, be just as annoying as the plethora of reality shows that clog up primetime.  The problem comes in when they focus too much on the drama, and not enough on the medical.  We’ve seen it time and time again on shows like E.R., Doc and, of course, Grey’s Anatomy.  Though that may sound appealing to a certain demographic, it can be entirely repulsive to another – it lacks action, it lacks mystery, it lacks...well, everything that might make a compelling video game.  That fact, however, may have been lost on Ubisoft and ABC, as the two today announced that an adaptation of the hit show is in development for the Nintendo Wii, DS and PC.  (Okay, so judging by the systems, maybe they understand their demographic perfectly.)  Featuring an original story set within the TV show’s canon, the gameplay sounds to be a mix of choose-your-own-adventure and a medical simulator, along the lines of Trauma Center.  Whether this will turn out to be just what the doctor order or if this game will be dead on arrival we should soon find out, as it is planned for release sometime early this year.  For more information on Grey’s Anatomy for the Nintendo Wii, DS and PC, be sure to check out the official press release below:

SAN FRANCISCO – January 7, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with ABC Studios to develop a video game based on the acclaimed television drama series "Grey’s Anatomy." Designed for the Wii™, the Nintendo DS™ and PC, Grey’s Anatomy: The Video Game is scheduled for release early 2009.

"Ubisoft is thrilled to be collaborating with ABC Studios to turn this phenomenal television series into an interactive experience," said Christian Salomon, vice president of worldwide licensing at Ubisoft. "In Grey’s Anatomy: The Video Game, fans will have a chance to take on the roles of all of their favorite doctors in an all-new original storyline. As each doctor, players will make important personal and professional decisions, explore the direct relationships with each other, and perform the delicate surgeries the series is known for, all through fun and engaging game play."

About Grey’s Anatomy
The doctors of Seattle Grace Hospital deal with life-or-death consequences on a daily basis – it’s in one another that they find comfort, friendship and, at times, more than friendship. Together they’re discovering that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white. Real life only comes in shades of grey.

The hit series "Grey’s Anatomy" stars Ellen Pompeo as Meredith Grey, Patrick Dempsey as Derek Shepherd, Sandra Oh as Cristina Yang, Katherine Heigl as Isabel "Izzie" Stevens, Justin Chambers as Alex Karev, T.R. Knight as George O’Malley, Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey, James Pickens, Jr. as Richard Webber, Sara Ramirez as Callie Torres, Eric Dane as Mark Sloan, Chyler Leigh as Lexie Grey and Brooke Smith as Erica Hahn.

"Grey’s Anatomy" was created and is executive produced by Shonda Rhimes ("Introducing Dorothy Dandridge"). Betsy Beers ("Casanova"), Mark Gordon ("Saving Private Ryan"), Krista Vernoff ("Law & Order"), Rob Corn ("Chicago Hope"), Mark Wilding ("Jake: 2.0") and Allan Heinberg ("The O.C.") are executive producers. "Grey’s Anatomy" is an ABC Studios production.

 

Source : http://www.vggen.com/

Reggie: Nintendo Listens To Its Fans, Honest

If you're feeling a bit neglected by the folks at Nintendo of America, now that it's at the top of the console market heap, President Reggie Fils-Aime wants you to know that they're listening.

Fils-Aime tells GameDaily that Nintendo that "We listen to our fans all the time."

But what about the grumble-inducing decisions? Things like Friend Codes, meager Wii storage options and an online gaming solution that feels very last-gen?

"We're not claiming our way of doing things is better or worse than anyone else – it's just different," Reggie contends. "We're on record for each of the items you cite, so I won't rehash all that here. But I will say that we listen very closely to what people have to say, both pro and con, and keep those feelings in mind as we plan ahead."

The NOA prez points to the adoption of Club Nintendo as evidence that Nintendo fan requests aren't falling on deaf ears. Hey, how about getting that Club Nintendo running a bit more reliably, Reg? We'll be right as rain once we can finally finish claiming our Nintendo hanafuda cards!

10 Questions: Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime [GameDaily]

 

Source : http://kotaku.com/

Windows 7 May Add Spice to CES

Software could overshadow gadgets at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show, with Microsoft expected to shed light on its upcoming Windows 7 OS.



The financial meltdown may also be lingering topic as tech vendors gather to flaunt products at the show in Las Vegas, hoping to show enough glitter and sparkle to bring them better fortunes in the new year. Attendees will pour over the latest technologies, including OLED (organic light-emitting diode) TVs, netbooks, smartphones, media players, and other entertainment devices.



Audiences may miss the show's perennial star, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, who gave his final CES speech earlier this year. Instead, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will kick off the event with a keynote address on Jan. 7. He's expected to give a peek at Microsoft's Windows 7 OS, which many hope will be zippier and less resource hungry than Windows Vista.



Microsoft expects to make "significant" Windows 7 announcements, including a possible release of Windows 7 beta software. A "sneak peek" at future Microsoft Office software may also be offered.



A look at Microsoft's future software could add pep to what otherwise might turn out to be a subdued show. Attendance at CES 2009 is expected to drop as consumers and technology vendors cut spending amid the economic crisis. Hotels, which in previous years were often packed months before the show, have been offering discounted rates to fill rooms.



The Consumer Electronics Association insists that pre-registration has been strong and says it's too early to call it a quiet show. Organizers expect 130,000 attendees, said CEA spokeswoman Tara Dunion.



However, that would still be a significant drop from 144,000 attendees at CES 2007.



The prospect of a reduced audience hasn't fazed companies like Intel, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Dell from showing products in or around the show. Overall, 2,700 companies will be present at various locations, including the Las Vegas Convention Center and surrounding resorts and hotels.



A standout at CES could be netbooks, small laptops used for basic applications such as Web surfing and e-mail. Intel defined the category with its Atom processor, which was then solidified by the success of Asus' Eee PC. The show could see an evolution of netbooks, with features like touch screens attracting interest. Asus will likely show a touch-screen netbook, and Intel is showing off its Convertible Classmate, a netbook with a touch screen that swivels.



Via's elusive Nano processor may also make an appearance. Rumor has it that Samsung will show its NC20 laptop based on a Nano processor.



Some of Intel's competitors, meanwhile, may try to redefine how people think of netbooks by pushing more advanced capabilities. Advanced Micro Devices and Nvidia may talk more about boosting graphics on netbooks. Freescale and Qualcomm could demonstrate netbooks with more communication-savvy chips.



Mundane laptops will also get a makeover. Expect plenty of buzz around a new Sony Vaio laptop, which the company says is "revolutionary" and will change the way users think about the products. It remains unclear if the tiny laptop is a netbook or a full-featured ultraportable. For power users, Lenovo is expected to show the ThinkPad W700DS laptop with two screens -- a first in laptops -- for people who want to perform multiple tasks at the same time.



Rounding off mobility will be smartphones with new operating systems, touchscreens and 3G connectivity. Many mobile phone companies are expected to adopt Google's Android platform, including Samsung, which may show an Android phone at CES.



Struggling smartphone maker Palm is holding a big event to announce its new Linux-based OS code-named Nova, along with new devices. The company hopes to use CES as a springboard to regain prominence in the smart phone market, where it has been eclipsed by Research In Motion and Apple.



Like past CES shows, televisions will grab the imagination of visitors as vendors fight to remain the centerpiece for home entertainment. CES 2008 saw the emergence of OLED screens with prototypes from Sony and Samsung, and CES 2009 could see further progress. In May, Sony CEO Howard Stringer said a 27-inch OLED TV would be coming, which could launch at the show.



Samsung showed a 40-inch OLED high-definition TV prototype in October, and larger screens may be on tap.



Given TV's ease of use, some may prefer these devices for Internet access in the future. With that in mind, some companies are working to merge the Internet and TV. Silicon Image will show its Allio high-definition LCD TV with a built-in PC so users can simultaneously use the TV and Internet through a split screen.



Intel will show prototype products for running mini-applications to complement TV viewing with information from the Internet. For example, widgets will allow TV watchers to talk to friends in real time or buy products advertised on TV from online stores.



The Internet also continues to shape how entertainment is delivered. Streaming media will battle Blu-ray DVD as the way to deliver entertainment and movies to end users. Having conquered HD DVD, Blu-ray still has a hurdle to pass with most players priced above US$150, so expect prices to drop at CES.



Some kinks also need to be worked out to better stream media between entertainment devices, and expect to see some improvements at the show. Tzero will demonstrate devices for wireless HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) multimedia streaming between devices using ultrawideband (UWB) wireless technology. Tzero's technology enables uninterrupted wireless delivery of high-definition video and surround sound at a rate of 480Mbps over 20 meters, the company claims.



Users may also see progress in data transfers between PCs and devices like digital cameras with improvements in the USB 3.0 specification.



Overall, many other gadgets will be on display to enjoy over the show's four days. CES may end up being more relaxing and intimate with the floors less crowded.



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Source : http://www.pcworld.com/article/156137/windows_7_may_add_spice_to_ces.html?tk=rss_news

CES: Ballmer Lowers Curtain On Windows 7 Beta

Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer made a big splash in his first keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show, announcing that Windows 7 Beta 1 is now available to testers, and will be launched to the public on Friday.


Ballmer delivered the opening keynote at CES in Las Vegas for the first time this year, taking a spot that had been held by Microsoft founder Bill Gates for the past 11 CES shows.



Although the announcement was widely expected, Ballmer appeared more animated than usual in announcing the news. Ballmer said Microsoft's focus with Windows 7 has been to get back to what he called the "special sauce" of Windows that resulted from the "whole industry of innovation" that Microsoft and its partners created around the operating system.



So far, those efforts have borne fruit, according to Ballmer. "We're really excited about the progress we've made with Windows 7, and we're on track to deliver the best version of Windows ever," Ballmer told the packed keynote hall. "We're working hard to get it right, and to get it ready."



Windows 7 will boot more quickly, boast better battery life, and be more reliable than previous versions of Windows, Ballmer said. Although he didn't mention Windows Vista, Ballmer was clearly referring to some of the biggest pain points that Vista users have encountered.



Ballmer also announced major partnerships with Facebook, Dell (NSDQ:Dell) and Verizon (NYSE:VZ) Wireless, deals that will help Microsoft further its cloud ambitions.



The Facebook-Microsoft deal will let Facebook users feed the digital content they post on Facebook into feeds on Windows Live, while the Dell agreement will see the PC maker pre-install Windows Live Essentials on its consumer and small business PCs beginning in February.



Verizon Wireless has agreed to include Live Search on all of its phones in the U.S., giving Microsoft a foothold in mobile search with the nation's largest carrier.



Ballmer also announced updates to the Windows Live Essentials suite of client applications, which includes Windows Live Mail, Live Messenger, Live Writer, and Live Photo Gallery. Windows Live Movie Maker remains in beta.



As Microsoft continues to develop Windows into a connected platform that many different types of devices, the cloud will provide the crucial link between them, Ballmer said.



"Windows is at the center of the technological 'solar system', and we're tying all that information together through the cloud," Ballmer said. "In many ways, connecting all this together is the 'Last Mile' for creating real breakthroughs for customers."



Microsoft also announced that Windows Server 2008 R2 beta is available for download.

Source : http://www.crn.com/software/212701284