Thursday January 11, 2007

- Intel Successful at 45nm - Lionel - 13:31:33

Source : Dailytech

Intel has moved forward in it's production of 45 nm processors. The first processor samples have already been produced and seem functional.
It is likely that Intel's early succes will encourage them to avance the release of products based on this minute scale from the current plan, the end of 2007.
The first processors to benefit from this will most likely be the successors to the Meroms and destined for laptops.

[translation by jwa]

- Now that the enthusiasm has quieted down - Lionel - 13:20:56

More than ever, Steve Jobs' keynote has been a frenzied one. In the hall, the atmosphere was electric, and the web had gone berserk. To give you an idea, more than 30,000 people followed our live coverage, while we broke a new record on the [MacBidouille] forums with over 4,000 users simultaneously connected.
The unveiling of the iPhone made a big bang, even though it was more than expected, and every media in the world have echoed this announcement. The french daily newspaper Le Figaro even posted a link to Moose's video of the iPhone.

However, even if there's no doubt that the launch of the iPhone will great big ripples in the mobile market, there is nothing material left, 36 hours after the announcements.
- This device won't be available for a variable period of time, depending on geographic zones
- The Apple TV is only a new way of consuming iTunes Store stuff, after all. It has quite severe limitations in terms of compatible video formats, so important that Apple TV will have a hard time existing on its own, contrary to the iPod.
So in fact, for mac fans the "real" announcement of the show was the upcoming transition to 802.11n of the current line of macs. And this didn't get the slightest mention from Steve Jobs.

We're forgetting the name change: Apple sheds the term "computer" from its name. Some were shocked, probably the ones who had a hard time with the move away from the PowerPC. But this name change is only clarifying a situation. Apple makes computers, but mostly software and add to that more consumer products.

Let's be realistic, this keynote was not destined to mac fans. Apple has never hidden it's growing lack of interest for a community that has become too small for its ambitions.
It was destined to the rest of the world, with a specific focus towards stockholders, who had the pleasure of glimpsing a bright future. It also got the benefit of tightening the bolts that keep SJ firmly on his throne. Who would still ask for his head over the stock-options story? Certainly not the shareholders who saw their loot grow by 10% in 24 hours!
On the other hand, Mac resellers are a bit pale. No product announcement has come to boost their winter sales, contrary to habits. And the Apple TV will certainly not boost sales as well as a new mac would have.
This is how things are 36 hours after the keynote. The biggest fans of Steve Jobs are not mac owners or the ones living from this economy anymore, but those who invested money in Apple stocks.
Pity! They are usually the ones to leave the boat as soon as the wind blows the other way, while the others were always there to weather the storms.

[translation by pmax]

- Cisco Sues Apple! - Lionel - 13:20:22

Although some had implied that Apple and Cisco had come to an agreement on the use of the iPhone brand, the later released a press release stating that it is going to sue Apple for violation of its trademark (thanks Greg). Technically, Apple has basically no chance of winning. So they'll have the choice of either signing a large check or changing the name of their product between now and June.

[translation by jwa]

- The iPod Wins the Space Race - Lionel - 11:36:00

Source : http://www.spaceref.com

Thanks to Jeremi for the info.

NASA has published some photos taken of the interier of the international space sation, one of which is below:


In looking at the high resolution version, you can see an iPod on one of the walls :)


Steve Ballmer is likely to send some chairs flying when he hears the news: the iPod has one the battle for space!

[translation by jwa]

- Philips Reveals Wireless HDMI - Lionel - 11:22:41

Source : Dailytech

Phillips announced a new product capable of sending the HDMI signal without wires at CES.



According to manufacturer statements, this product is the first to be able to send 1080p without any loss in quality, and this is in a (small) radius of 7.5 meters.
The product will be priced at $299.99. Perhaps it will find use in connecting future HDCP compatible Macs with the plasma in the living room :)

[translation by jwa]

- Reflections on the iPhone Screen - Ewok - 11:10:16

After having seen the videos and the presentations of the iPhone, it appears to us that the screen is very different from anything else currently out:

- The touchpad is able to sense more than one area of pressure at the same time, which is not possible with the standard resistive touch input (the technology used by 99% of touch screens). Seeing that there is an "ear sensor," it is possible that the same technology was used to locate the position of the fingers (the measurement of the electric field).

It's not a screen with a "soft" surface, as everyone usually thinks of touch screens.

We know the intelliTouch is capable of detecting different spots of pressure, but on a glass surface not on a plastic one like this.

- As seen in the video, when the light reflects off the surface of the device, there are no cuts or recesses in the screen. The front face is a one piece polycarbonate mold. So you can expect a hard touch screen, protected by a resistant plastic, like the PSP.

[translation by jwa]

- The ModBook Revealed - Lionel - 10:49:25

Axiotron has revealed its ModBook, or TabletMac, which will only be sold in the US by OWC.



There is no doubt as to the origine of the parts. As you can see, the underside contains the MacBook onto which was grafted an aluminum cap containing the Wacom tablet.
The premium over the cost of a simple MacBook is extremely high, around $1200, with the base model costing $2279. This price is extremely likely to confine the product to a niche market. In addition, knowing how the MacBook is anything but light, holding on to it in order to write or draw will require much strength.

[translation by jwa]