Archive for April 26th, 2005
Samsung has used WinHec to demonstrate a prototype hybrid Flash / Hard Disc drive that is designed to work eith Microsoft’s new Longhorn operating system.
As the name suggests the new drive combines flash memory with rotating storage media. The flash memory is used as both a write and boot buffer allowing the drive to spin down for the majority of the time while the operating system writes and reads from the flash. As soon as the write buffer is full, the drive spins up and data is written to it.
This allows the disc drive to use minimal power for much of the time it is on.
“Hybrid drive architecture is extremely important to the future design of mobile computers. It is an advancement that will improve the performance and reliability of any computer using the Windows Longhorn operating system,” said Tom Phillips, General Manager of Windows Hardware Experience Group for Microsoft.
The hybrid drive is expected to be shipping in large quantities in time for the release of Longhorn at the end of 2006.
April 26th, 2005
Real Networks will announce today that it will launch a subscription service for digital music.
For a monthly fee of $14.95, which includes a subscription to the existing Rhapsody service which streams music to desktops, users will be able to move music files to portable devices.
Analysts are not convinced that Real has put enough effort into distinguishing the service from others in the marketplace, such as Napster-to-Go.
Source: MediaCenterPCWorld.com
April 26th, 2005
MontaVista Software has announced Mobilinux, a new product built to address key areas of development for mobile and wireless devices. Mobilinux is built on the fourth generation of MontaVista’s Linux platform, which is the most widely deployed Linux distribution in the world and the only proven Linux solution for mobile devices.
Mobilinux 4.0 serves as the core of the Mobilinux Open Framework, an industry-wide program for the creation and promotion of Linux-based handset reference architectures. In this capacity, Mobilinux 4.0 delivers an open and flexible operating system enabling differentiated and cost effective phone designs while giving operators the ability to leverage a single platform from the network to the device.
“The pressure to deliver new, unique handset features and mobile data services is causing software requirements to outstrip the capabilities of aging real-time operating systems,” said Kevin Morgan, vice president, Engineering, MontaVista Software. “Handset manufacturers see Mobilinux as an opportunity to move towards an open, full-featured operating system. Unlike proprietary operating systems, Mobilinux is a scalable platform allowing mobile operators, handset manufacturers, and developers to build differentiated feature- and smart-phones.”
“Around the world, manufacturers are increasingly looking to Linux to be their OS for wireless handsets and devices,” said Richard Kerslake, OMAP worldwide general manager, Cellular Systems, Texas Instruments. “MontaVista’s Mobilinux, together with TI’s OMAP processors, provide wireless OEMs with a flexible and scalable solution, enabling opportunities for differentiation while focusing on their own, unique value add.”
“The global mobile industry is looking to reduce fragmentation and control the costs associated with rolling out new devices and services. Momentum is shifting toward open, scalable client software platforms such as Linux,” said John Jackson, senior analyst, The Yankee Group. “Mobilinux, like the Mobilinux Open Framework, establishes a strong foundation for a mobile Linux ecosystem that will extend MontaVista’s industry-leading position in this space.”
April 26th, 2005
If TechSmec.com staff ever left the confines of their window-less hovel (apart from venturing out to the local pizza joint of course) they would love the new sporty phone from Nokia. Dust and splash-resistance combine with durability to make the triband Nokia 5140i an ideal outdoor training partner. The Nokia 5140i is expected to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2005 with an estimated retail price of 200EUR.
“The Nokia 5140i offers active consumers a mobile phone that complements
their on-the-go lifestyle. With its strong feature set and messaging
capabilities, the Nokia 5140i enables outdoors and fitness enthusiasts to
stay connected whatever their interests are - during hard-core training or
just a leisurely hike,” says Tomi Paatsila, Vice President, Mobile Phones,
Nokia.
The feature set of the Nokia 5140i has been designed to offer extra motivation during workouts or for enjoying downtime. With the Fitness Coach application, the Nokia 5140i offers an ‘always-on’ personal trainer that encourages you to go the extra mile or finish the last set. The Fitness Coach application also enables to track sports performance over time or sharing of results via SMS with coaches or team-mates. MP3 ring tones announce incoming calls and an FM radio provides extra energy while on the go. With improved Push to talk functionality, the Nokia 5140i enables users to conveniently coordinate outdoor activities or cheer sport mates - be it an individual or a whole team - at the push of a button.
Even personalized highlight reels can be created and shared thanks to the Nokia 5140i phone’s integrated VGA camera.
April 26th, 2005
There will be no more throwaway comments in the boardroom of Norwegian web browser developers Opera, after CEO Jon S. von Tetzchner was forced to make good on a pledge to ’swim from Norway to the USA’ if Opera 8 was downloaded more than a million times in its first four days of release.
The canny PR department made the pledge public and of course, downloads went through the roof with 1,050,000 reached by Saturday morning. Netizens just couldn’t wait to see Jon suffering from hypothermia.
With admirable dedication to the marketing cause von Tetzchner went through a ‘radical’ day of training for his marathon swim commenting, “Although I blatantly admit that my promise was based more on joy and enthusiasm than my swimming abilities and physical health, I will do my very best to keep it.”
“I take this challenge very seriously, but after three laps at Bislett Bad on Saturday I realized, as I was heaving like a whale, that I should probably have started the training a little bit earlier. I am hoping that my extra pounds of excess body fat will create enough buoyancy to keep me afloat and insulation to keep me warm.”
So, yesterday morning Jon set out for Iceland (where a stopover and a cup of his Mum’s hot chocolate awaited him) accompanied by his PR manager, Eskil Sivertsen in a rubber dinghy equipped with supplies.
After a long night at sea (or was it in a hotel - we hope that’s not too libelous) the brave swim went terribly wrong when the raft suddenly punctured in open sea. As the Opera website puts it, ‘a local farmer spotted the drama from his kitchen window and took surprisingly sharp photos with a remarkably powerful telescopic lens’.
“I have always dreamt of swimming to America, and I really thought this was my golden opportunity,” says Mr. von Tetzchner. “Both the raft and the PR manager were accidents waiting to happen; it is just too bad they had to happen at the same time. He does a good job when he sticks to what he knows, though, so I don’t see any reason to let him go. However, I hope people will remember me for the willingness to try rather than this embarrassing incident with the punctured raft. And my mother will be so disappointed when I call and tell her that I won’t be stopping by for hot chocolate after all.”
And you thought that Mozilla developers were the only ones with a sense of humour!
April 26th, 2005
Sony have surprised everyone by announcing a launch date for the PSP in Europe. Although word was expected in the ‘next few weeks’ noone expected news before E3, but here it is…..
Sony have announced the European launch date for the PSP. September 1st is the day, but you needn’t rob a bank to afford one as the Value Pack will sell for the reasonable sum of £179 (€249).
Unlike in North America, a UMD copy of Spider-Man 2 won’t be in the bundle (European’s get a bad deal again!) - but you might still be able to get hold of a free copy if you register your PSP through www.yourpsp.com and place an order.
Commenting on the news SCEE President David Reeves said, “PlayStation Portable will revolutionise portable entertainment, giving users the freedom to play full 3D games, watch movies, listen to music and connect wirelessly on their terms, wherever and whenever they wish to do so…More than ever, today’s consumer demands access to their personal entertainment outside the home, without compromising quality. With more than 100 PlayStation Portable game titles currently in development worldwide, and the ability to download and listen to music, and view feature films with breathtaking screen quality, PlayStation Portable lets users control their entertainment options, all in a single
package.”
April 26th, 2005
Bill Gates has declared that the arrival of 64-bit home computing is “a time of profound change in [the] industry.”
In his keynote speech to the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference in Seattle, Gates said, “The move from 32-bit to 64-bit computing offers a dramatic improvement in performance and reliability, enabling people to use their PCs in exciting new ways at work and at home.”
The keynote was times to coincide with launch of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition which hit the shops yesterday, but also allowed Bill Gates to showcase work on the next-generation of Windows operating systems, codenamed Longhorn.
Gates promised that the Longhorn would offer better security, richer graphics, better organization and search of information stored on PCs, as well as much faster performance - which is the least you would expect from a product that’s been in development for so long.
“If you had to take one area where we put the most investment in, the security area would be the head of that list by a significant amount,” said Gates, moving already to defend Microsoft against allegations that it doesn’t take security seriously.
Longhorn is now scheduled for a December 2006 launch.
April 26th, 2005
There’s been no official word from Apple, but the signs are that iTunes is about to launch its long-awaited Australian store.
The source of the rumours is, strangely, Aussie (or is he from New Zealand?) actor, Russell Crowe, who has a part time job as a rock musician.
Crowe claims the store will open for business on April 28, and that songs will cost A$1.80 per track.
Australian DJ BeXta confirmed the rumours when she recently wrote that “iTunes is about to become available in Australia finally.”
The final piece of the rumour jigsaw is that Apple has reportedly booked several radio and TV advertising slots for Thursday - the assumption being that these are for iTunes ads.
April 26th, 2005