Wednesday April 18, 2007

- Belkin to Release an USB WiFi 802.11n Hub - Joe Le Boss - 16:09:04

End of last year, the USB Implementers Forum announced the finalization of the Wireless USB format, but so far there are not much devices using this technology. Taking advantage of the drafted 802.11n, Belkin announced a new product bringing together the functions of an USB Hub and a WiFi 802.11n base station. One will be able to plug printer, iPod, scanner, external HD and other USB2 devices to the hub and make them accessible wirelessly to all computers connected via the WiFi network.
This product seems to be a strong competitor for the Airport Express, but it will first be available with all functionalities for Win users, even though it runs a modified Linux. Belkin expects to release a Mac OSX version in august, while the product will be first introduce in USA in June, then later on in Europe, for US$130.



Let's hope Belkin will be hard at work to make all functions available in this device fully Mac compatible that we can benefit from it, and stay away from the short lifetime Airport Express.


[translation by Linathael]

- News from the IDF: 4 Cores CPUs for Notebook [updated with Penryn benchs] - Eric - 10:35:25

Source : Intel

Intel advantage of the IDF to speak about the future for notebook and ultra mobile device. Santa Rosa will arrive in May, and will mostly be a revision of the current "Napa Refresh" processor technology. The main new feature will be the Intel Wireless-N Network Connection, Intel 82566MM and 82566MC Gigabit Network Connection, and the optional Turbo memory, aka Robson.
Then, in S1 2008, Santa Rosa will be refreshed with a new mobile CPU known as "Penryn" and featuring the 45nm Hi-k technology. In the second half of 2008, Intel will introduce a new processor technology named "Montevina", still powered by the Penryn, but dedicated to the sub-notebook market (integrated hardware decoding and HD video).
Based on the 45nm Hi-k technology, Intel should be able to launch 4 Cores notebook processor in 2008, while maintaining power consumption as low as possible.
In addition, Intel launched the Ultra Mobile platform 2007, known as "McCaslin", and dedicated to Mobile Internet devices (MID) and Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC). This new platform is based on Intel CPUs A100 and A110, working together with the Intel 945GU Express Chipset and the Intel ICH7U I/O Controller Hub. This platform will also benefit from Intel expertise developed for notebook processors and in 2008, the new MID/UMPC will be based on the 45nm low power micro-architecture too. Its code name, "Menlow" will be powered by a 45nm Hi-k low power micro-architecture-based CPU known as "Silverthorne" and the next-generation chipset, “Poulsbo". Last but not least for this platform, Intel announced the formation of the Mobile Internet Device Innovation Alliance, bringing together developers and companies to work on engineering challenges, among them: power management, wireless communications, and software integration.
As reported during the second day of the IDF, Intel is already working on smaller engraving process 32nm, 22nm and beyond...

[update - image by TGDaily]
Intel just released a benchmarks illustrating the performance gain expected with the Dual and Quad Core Penryn. of course such benchmarks were provided by Intel, without being checked or run under the control of independent expert, so one should consider them with a grain of salt, but it nevertheless give a good idea of the performance level to be expected as a currently high-end Quad Core Conroe is being used as the reference CPU.

- Apple TV: SoC Inside? - Lionel - 10:34:14

Source : Intel

Taking advantage of the Intel Developer Forum, Intel executives announced a new System-on-Chip (SoC) dedicated to the consumer electronic market. The Intel CE 2110 Media Processor is a complete SoC architecture, supporting numerous technology and powered by a 1GHz CPU derived from the Xscale. The audio and video capabilities of this SoC will make it the perfect unit for many consumer electronics devices, finding its way-in from the top box to handheld devices and next generation mobile phone (iPhone ?).

When one looks at its specification the CE 2110 and its embedded 1 GHz Intel XScale CPU have all the capabilities required for the iPhone or the Apple TV: MPEG-2 and H.264 hardware decoding, DDR2 memory interface, 2D/3D graphic acceleration. This SoC would allow apple to reduce the size of the component in the Apple TV as well as its price, making it possible to go below the marketing US$200 line. Running OSX on a XScale-based SoC should not be a problem as the iPhone system is already ready and running on the 3 Xscale-type CPU powering the future Apple mobile phone.

So one could currently ask why Apple did not wait for this SoC before introducing the Apple TV.

[translation by Linathael]

- Live from the NAB: Part III - Lionel - 10:33:00

Hereafter are some photos taken from the NAB
So let's start with the HD from AJA, acclaimed by Apple during its special event.





One can watch a demo video of this device on Apple's booth
:
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/action/?movie=aja

On Sonnet's booth, one can see the new HD video-dedicated RAID system from the company:



For additional information about this product: http://www.sonnettech.com

Last but not least, a quite impressive photo taken on Apple's booth:



This is the Xserve and Xserve RAID system managing all video/demonstration on Apple's booth. And again, we had no problem to take this photo, Apple collaborators were really friendly and helpful. Let's hope that Apple Europe will follow the same strategy, and that during the Apple Expo we will not have to sneak to take a photo of a Mac Pro in action.

[translation by Linathael]