New Mac Pro, Xserve employ eight cores to beef up performance

Choosing not to wait until its own Macworld event next week, Apple today introduced during the middle of CES the new Mac Pro with two of Intel’s new 45 nanometer quad-core Xeon processors and a new system architecture that the company boasts is twice the performance of its predecessor.

“The new Mac Pro is the fastest Mac we’ve ever made,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With 3.2 GHz 8-core Xeon processing, a 1600 MHz front side bus and 800 MHz memory, the new Mac Pro uses the fastest Intel Xeon architecture on the market.”

On the graphics side, the new Mac Pro comes equipped standard with the ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT with 256MB of video memory. Those opting for other graphic options can upgrade using the Mac Pro’s standard PCI Express 2.0 graphics slot. Apple said that it would offer NVIDIA video cards as options in the near future.

With a starting price at a suggested retail price of $2,799, the Mac Pro isn’t just for any casual yuppie. Apple calls the new Mac Pro its “most expandable Mac ever” with four internal hard drive bays with direct-attach, cable-free installation of four 1TB Serial ATA hard drives and support for two SuperDrives – making it ideal for film and video editing applications.

For $2,799, the user will get two 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon processors, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD and a SuperDrive. The price quickly increases with upgrades to 3.0 or 3.2 GHz processors, more RAM, additional hard drives, RAID cards, SuperDrives and NVIDIA graphics.

Along with the new Mac Pro, Apple also announced the new Xserve, a similarly equipped 1U rack-optimized server also with two quad-core Intel Xeon processors. The 3.0 GHz model is priced at $2,999.

“With the latest Intel processors and no client access licenses, Xserve offers unbeatable server performance and value for under $3,000,” said Schiller. “Xserve’s power, storage and Leopard Server make it ideal for supporting Mac clients and mixed platform workgroups.”

Source From DailyTech

Samsung LCD TVs to run simple programs such as Sudoku

Samsung introduced at CES 2008 its new line of Series 6 and Series 7 LCD high-definition televisions. Besides the usual features of a 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rates and 4ms response times, Samsung was proud to point out that its full line (LN40A650T, LN46A650T, LN52A650T, LN40A750T, LN46A750T, and LN52A750T) will feature a “Touch of Color” design that adds a hint of amber color naturally blended into Samsung's piano black bezel frame.

With all the excitement of a colored bezel, Samsung may have forgotten to mention in its press release that its upcoming high-end LCD HDTVs will come packed with video games. Several models will come with content preloaded into the set’s built-in flash memory, some of which will be games.

Tim Baxter, executive vice president of Samsung, told the AP that simple games such as Sudoku will be bundled with televisions. Other programs potentially preloaded on the TV include artwork (for use as a digital picture frame), screensavers, fitness programs and recipes.

"If you think about the TV experience, it has historically been a lean-back experience," Baxter said, contrasting it to the "lean forward" experience of the PC. "We think there are opportunities to bring very relevant parts of that experience into the living room."

Users will also be able to add new programs and artwork by transferring them from the PC to a flash drive, which can interface with the set’s USB slot.

Furthermore, the TV’s Ethernet port can also pave the way for more content options, including news, weather, sports and stocks information supplied by USA Today in a picture-in-picture window.

Samsung’s Series 6 LCD HDTVs will be available starting this March, with the Series 7 hitting in May.

Source From DailyTech

Despite the recent string of bad news, Toshiba introduces new HD DVD-based products

Toshiba recently suffered a crippling blow by the hands of Warner Bros. The film studio announced on Friday that it would phase out the introduction of new HD DVD titles in May 2008 and instead will focus on standard definition DVDs and Blu-ray titles.

While the news was enough to make Toshiba and the HD DVD Group to cancel a CES press conference and 1:1 meetings with reporters, it hasn't stopped the introduction of the company's latest HD DVD-equipped notebook computer.

The new Qosmio G45-AV690 was announced today as the world’s first notebook with an HD DVD-R/RW drive.

“The Qosmio continues to lead the computer industry in terms of high-definition capabilities by bringing many of the most advanced technologies together into a solid and cohesive machine,” said Toshiba's Jeff Barney. “In a digital world that is driven by power cloaked in simplicity, the Qosmio G45-AV690 is the central hub of a user’s personal Digital Ecosystem, providing users with the ability to enjoy their HD content, while expressing themselves more fully in a digital world, and using HD DVD as a personal means of doing so.”

In addition to the headlining HD DVD-R/RW drive, the Qosmio G45-AV690 features an Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 processor, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT GPU, 3GB of DDR2 memory, a 320GB HDD, 17" 1080p display, 5.1 surround sound, HDMI output, an OpenCable (OCUR) HDTV tuner and four Harman Kardon stereo speakers with an integrated subwoofer.

The Qosmio G45-AV690 is available now with at a price tag of $3,199 USD.

Source From DailyTech

Dell pulls specifications and photos of upcoming Crystal display from its site

Dell is well known for a few things, one is as being one of the largest computer and accessory makers on the planet. The other thing Dell is widely known for is atrocious embargo leaks.

HotHardware snagged specs and images from the Dell Crystal website before the page and press release were pulled from the Dell site. That would likely mean some wayward Dell PR schlep posted the information on the display ahead of its expected release at CES 2008 starting next week.

The specifications show that the very attractive display is a 22-inch screen with 1680x1050 resolution. The display boasts TrueColor Technology with a 98% color gamut and a 2ms typical gray to gray response time.

Dell claims a 2000:1 contrast ratio and the display has several connectivity options with DVI, HDMI, subwoofer to and a USB connector. A DisplayPort connector such as the one Dell put on its recently announced 30-inch 3008 WFP display is lacking from the Crystal display. A two megapixel webcam with microphone is built-in as well.

The displays surround is made from 4mm thick tempered glass and it holds a quartet of speakers. When looked at from the front, the Dell Crystal display appears to be made entirely of glass. The effect isn’t as attractive when you see the display from the side and can tell it’s merely a standard display with a glass surround holding the speakers. The price is a whopping $1,199 and availability is unknown at this time.

Source From DailyTech

Lenovo slots in a new family of notebooks below the venerable ThinkPad line

Yesterday, DailyTech reported that notebooks outsold desktops for the first time in the consumer market during 2007. Lenovo is taking that news to heart and has launched three new notebooks aimed at the heart of the consumer market.

The new IdeaPad notebooks are available in three models: the U110, the Y510 and the Y710. All three IdeaPad notebooks feature Centrino technology, frameless display screens, touch-sensitive control surfaces, facial recognition technology, Dolby Home Theatre surround sound and textured LCD lids.

"Our ThinkPad notebooks are well-known around the world as the best engineered computer for business -- for quality, reliability and thoughtful design," said Lenovo Consumer Business Group Senior Vice President Liu Jun. "We’re now bringing Lenovo’s expertise in design and engineering to consumers with our Idea-branded PCs. We are confident we will grow our consumer business by blending innovative technologies like facial recognition with stylish designs to enhance the way people use technology in their personal lives."

The IdeaPad U110 is the smallest member of the family and features an 11.1" widescreen display screen backed by a red, aluminum-alloy LCD lid. The notebook weighs just 2.3 pounds and is only 0.7 inches thick. Lenovo will make a solid-state disk (SSD) optional when the notebook launches in March.

The 6.4 lb, 15.4" widescreen Y510 is the middle-child and sports a textured black LCD lid. Lenovo includes a Core 2 Duo T5550 processor, 2GB of memory, a 250GB HDD, DVD+-RW drive and adds four speakers plus a subwoofer with the Y510. The Y510 will be available for purchase on January 6, 2008.

The top-of-the-line 7.9 lb, 17" Y710 features hot-swappable second hard drive bay. Also included is Game Zone functionality which provides larger directional keys for gaming and four user-defined buttons and a secondary display. The Y710 also supports overclocking of the Core 2 Duo T9300 processor and includes an ATI Mobility Radeon HD2600 GPU -- a Blu-ray drive is optional. Like the U110, the Y710 will be available in March.

Pricing begins at $799 USD for the Y510 and $1,199 USD for the Y710. Pricing has not yet been set for the U110.

Source From DailyTech

Notebook Italia spills the beans on a slew of new "Penryn" notebooks

Intel's 45nm Penryn-based desktop and server processors were released to an eager audience a few months ago. January 6 is the big day for Intel's Penryn-based notebook processors and it appears that the Santa Clara-based company won't disappoint.

As reported by DailyTech in early December, the Penryn notebooks to be launched in January will consist of the Core 2 Duo T8100, T8300, T9300, T9500 and Core 2 Xtreme X9000. Frequencies for the processor range from 2.1GHz on the T8100 on up to 2.8GHz on the X9000.

Even though Intel's official announcement won't come until January's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), notebook manufacturers are already leaking details for their upcoming Penryn-based notebooks. Notebook Italia has scored information on new Penryn notebooks from Acer, Fujitsu and Sony.

Acer will launch no less than eight new Penryn-based notebooks in January ranging from the 12.1" Aspire 2920 with a Core 2 Duo T8300 processor and 320GB HDD to the massive 20.1" Aspire 9920G with a WXSGA+ screen resolution, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT GPU, Core 2 Duo T8100 processor and 500GB of storage space (250GB x 2). Acer also has a full range of notebooks in between with screen sizes of 14.1", 15.4" and 17.1".

Fujitsu has two new Penryn notebooks on deck. The first is the Amilo Pi 2550 which features a Core 2 Duo T8300 processor, 2GB of DDR2 memory, 15.4" WXGA screen, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2400 GPU and a 240GB HDD. The second notebook is the Amilo Xi 2428 which ups the ante with a Core 2 Duo T9300, 2GB of DDR2 memory, 15.4" WXGA screen, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS GPU and a 250GB HDD.

Not to be left out, Sony is unleashing five new VAIO models ranging from the 13.3" VAIO SZ71XN/C to the 17.1" VAIO AR61ZU. The VAIO SZ71XN/C comes up to bat with a T8100 processor, WXGA screen resolution, Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics and a 200GB HDD. The VAIO AR61ZU commands your attention with a T8300 graphics processor, 3GB of DDR2 memory, WUXGA screen resolution, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor, 500GB of storage space (250GB x 2) and a Blu-ray/DL DVD burner.

The above notebooks are just the first wave of new Penryn-announcements. Expect a bevy of new announcements at the start of CES from manufacturers including HP/Compaq, Dell and Asus.

Source From DailyTech

NEC and Alienware seem to be pulling form the same playbook

At CES 2008 last week Alienware announced a curved computer display geared for gamers and making people more productive through more screen space while working on a computer.

NEC must feel that the market for long, curved displays is a up and coming category as it announced its own curved display called the NEC CRVD-42DWX+. The NEC display has a screen resolution of 2880 x 900 with a response time of under 0.02 milliseconds. The NTSC color gamut the display is capable of is 170% and the dynamic range is 12-bit. In all the display can reproduce 68.7 billion colors.
NEC spokeswomen emphasized that the Alienware prototype and the NEC CRVD-42DWX+ "have nothing to do with each other."

While NEC claims the two displays share no common manufacturer, both displays are built with the same bezel and housing. Both displays use two LED-backlit DLP images to "stitch" the 2880 pixel-wide image across the curved display as well. The likelihood that these two displays are not made in the same place would be an unusually odd coincidence.

The display has a typical brightness of 350 nits with a contrast ratio greater than 10,000:1. The screen has an aspect ratio of 3.2:1 and weighs 25 pounds without a stand. The overall dimensions of the screen are 40.4-inches wide x 12.6-inches high.

NEC declined to comment on pricing or availability of the display at this time. However, given the high-markup nature of Alienware proprietary technology, NEC could be sitting on a goldmine if it markets the CRVD-42DWX+ just right.

Source From DailyTech