News for Thursday, 26 July 2007

XDR is a fast and large bandwidth memory type developed by Rambus. It is already present in SONY game station PS3, but not as the main memory module (only 256KB/PS3). Specification of the XDR are impressive on paper, as it delivers a bandwidth up to 102 GB/s while the DDR2 tops at 12.8 GB/s and the future DDR3 25.6 GB/s.
Based on the Intel and AMD strategy to quickly promote multicore architecture, Rambus is arguing that such system will be limited due the memory bandwidth bottleneck, and according to the company the XDR is the only solution to fully benefit from multicore processing. So far only Samsung Electronics, Qimonda, and Elpida have been licensed to adopt the technology for the XDR architecture.
The past history between Rambus and RAM manufacturers is probably not helping them to re-enter into technology partnership, as Rambus is known for having obtained most of its revenues by licensing its patented technologies or suing RAM manufacturing companies; some people in the field claiming that Rambus has more lawyers than R&D resources. Every body remembers how Intel adopted, then quickly dropped Rambus RDRAM support due to the high cost of such modules (mostly linked to Rambus amazing royalties). The future will tell us if Rambus will re-enter the computer market, or if it will remain present in high-end consumer electronics such as game stations.

In a press release, the USB Implementer Forum announced to have certified the first six products compliant with USB Wireless specification.


Those products are:

- Dell Inspiron 1720 notebook
- D-Link-Wireless USA adapter (DUB-1210) and 4-Port Wireless USB hub (DUB-2240)
- IOGEAR's Wireless USB hub and adapter kit
- Lenovo ThinkPad T61/61p 15.4" Widescreen notebook

The Wireless USB format is backward compatible with wired USB, and allows users to connect up to 127 devices and delivers a bandwidth of up to 480 Mb/s at 3 meters, and 110Mb/s at 10 meters. It should end-up in many consumer-dedicated devices, such as external HD, printers and camera, including keyboard and mouse. And if components becomes cheap enough it could quickly replace Bluetooth.

Samsung announced to have finished developing its first DisplayPort-based LCD display. It will be a 30" model and it should be available in Q2 2008.
The DisplayPort is the next generation interface chosen by the VESA to replace the current DVI.

The compact DisplayPort connector supports dual link signal required by 30" and greater displays, but also audio and it is compatible with HDCP DRM (as the HDMI). Unlike the HDMI, the use of DisplayPort is royalty-free, so its adoption should be fast, and it might even quickly replace the HDMI in some consumer electronics devices, while it should become the default video output in many computers in the second half of 2008.

Samsung officially unveiled its first two hybrid BD/HD-DVD standalone players.

The first model, the BD-P1400 will be available in our shops in September, it will support 1080p and HDMI 1.3, while being able to play DVD and CD.
The technologically-most advanced second model, the BD-P2400 will support SD up-scaling, and will feature a 7.1 audio output while the first model is based on 5.1 audio. The high-end model should be available in October with an expected target price of US$650.
While none of those 2 models have already been reviewed or tested to evaluate the HD video rendering, their prices and availability define the strategy to be followed by player manufacturers while both BD and HD-DVD alliances keeps fighting during years about which format should prevail, if any. Consumers will adopt hybrid players as no one like to make the wrong choice.