Santa Rosa and Puma: the motors behind today’s notebooks

Berlin (dBTechno) - Notebook buyers have long been familiar with the Centrino name. Laptops can only use the label if they are packed with specific Intel-designed processors, chips and wireless adapters. Together, those components make a more energy efficient computer.

Now AMD also has its own line of energy efficient components, including its Turion mobile processors and a selection of chips. Starting in 2008, it plans to continue developing its platform under the name Puma.

Notebooks with Intel’s fourth generation Centrino products went on sale in May and are marketed as the Centrino Duo better known as the Santa Rosa.

This year will mark the first time more laptops than desktops are sold in Germany, says BITKOM, an industry association. Projections call for 5 million in laptop sales, a 14 per cent increase on last year. Meanwhile, the sale of PCs should stagnate at 4.9 million, the same number as last year.

The stars of the new Centrino Due Double Core Processor line-up are the 7100, 7300, 7500 and 7700 and have much higher processing speeds than their predecessors. On top of that, they communicate with other components much faster thanks to an 800 MHz Front-Side-Bus.

However, Peter Knaak, a computer expert with the Berlin-based Stiftung Warentest, a consumer product information organization, says these improvements are barely noticeable.

But the processors have made leaps in energy efficiency. “When they’re not operating at full capacity, they’re even better at conserving energy,” says Knaak. Of course, the new 965 chip series makes that irrelevant. “Santa Rosa saves a few watts with its processor, but the chip is hungrier.”

Before a laptop can be shipped with the Centrino-Duo logo, it has to be equipped with a 4965 AGN WLAN adapter, which supports the new n-standard for wireless networks.

“It seems to work, even if the standard hasn’t been completely finished yet,” says Knaak, who thinks the WLAN improvements might make a real difference to users. Under optimal circumstances, the new setup increases the amount of data transmitted. Additionally, the signal does not drop off as quickly when the machine moves away from the transmitter.

There are other attachments that will not work with a Centrino, but could be integrated into a Centrino Duo Platform, like the X3100 graphics chip and a flash drive module called Turbo Memory. Using Direct-X technology, it should allow seamless viewing of Window Vista’s Aero graphical user interface.

“These are 3-D effects that only gamers needed up until now,” said Knaak.

AMD plans to pursue the same strategy with its still unreleased platform. “Puma was developed to provide the best graphic and video applications with better system performance and longer battery time,” reports Munich-based AMD. The next stage in the Turion 64 double core processor and the chip set M690 along with special graphics chips from ATI and WLAN adapters should be available by mid 2008.

Whether one needs the latest platform when buying a laptop depends on individual needs and what’s on offer. But Knaak says the Centrino Duo isn’t a must.

“If I was buying a laptop right now, I would skip the Santa Rosa. It has a lot of pro’s and con’s.”

Sony To Offer New Ps3 Package In Europe

Berlin (dBTechno) - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has announced the August 1 introduction of a new starter package for the Playstation 3.

It will include two exclusive games as well as two wireless controllers.

The included titles will change from country to country-but will include titles such as “Resistance: Fall of Man” and “MotorStorm.”

The starter package will cost 599.95 dollars.

In most cases, being stuck with a bundle is a pain, but in this case, it seems like a pretty good deal. A second controller is always good to have, and if you’re going to buy two games for the PS3, odds are it’s going to be those two.

PS3 To Get “HeadZone” System

Heilbronn (dBTechno) - Beyerdynamic is presenting a set of headphones capable of reproducing music and film audio in surround sound.

The so-called Headzone system works with what is known as a “headtracking” function. That allows the system to adjust the sound based on the listener’s head movements, the manufacturer reports.

Voices of actors visible on screen seem to come from the front, even if the listener turns his head to the side. The spatial sensation is also increased when listening to hifi stereo music.

The device will be available starting in October and will cost 2,490 dollars. — Sony announces new starter package for the Playstation 3

Intel Cuts Prices On “Some” Processors

Washington (dBTechno) - Intel this week cut its prices on selected processors.

The price cuts notably affected the Core 2 Quad Q6600, which now sells for roughly 50 per cent less than it did last week.

The chip was available to system makers in lots of 1,000 for 266 dollars per chip from July 22, whereas before it sold for 530 dollars per chip.

Other chips affected by the latest price cuts included lower-end models of the Core 2 Duo, which now compete favourably with some of AMD’s X2 processors, currently favoured by some vendors for their bargain lines of computers.

1 Billion Copies Of Windows Vista To Be Sold By 2008

Boston (dBTechno) - Microsoft is hoping to sell 1 billion copies of their new operating system Windows Vista by the end of 2008.

Microsoft CEO Steve, Ballmer told analysts Thursday that the number is “mind-numbing.”
“By the end of fiscal year ‘08, there will be more PCs running Windows in the world than there are automobiles,” Ballmer said, according to PC World, a trade publication.

The new operating system has already sold over 60 million copies since its release in January. Ballmer said that 40 million copies of Vista were sold in the fist 100 days of launch.

Vista has had more than half the number of security patches of Windows XP over the first six months of Vista’s life, Kevin Turner, Microsoft’s chief operating officer told analysts.

iPhone To Be Released In Canada Before Christmas

Toronto (dBTechno) - Here in Canada there is still no official word on when the Apple iPhone will be released. Many consumers expect Rogers Communications will be the sole carrier of the new device since they are the only company in Canada currently using the GSM format.

Although no official release date has been announced by either Rogers, or Apple, many in the blogging world are speculating a September release date in Canada.

Best Buy Canada, briefly posted a noted announcing the sale of the iPhone saying that interested Canadian shoppers can submit their email address for availability information for the iPhone. So, it looks like the iPhone will be available at Best Buy in Canada, once it launches.

In the off chance to find any new information, we phoned Rogers costumer service. The sales representative did acknowledge that Rogers will have the Apple IPhone and even went as far to say that it “will be out before Christmas in Canada, probably by the end of October, or early November.”

hopefully Apple will make an official announcement within the next few months.

iPhone Nano By Christmas?

Boston (dBTechno) - One analyst is stating that the Apple iPhone Nano could be released as early as this coming November for Christmas sales.

With the Apple iPhone Nano expected to have a price point of about $299 it would be a very smart move for Apple to get it out before Christmas as it could end up being a major holiday gift.  The Apple IPhone Nano is expected to be a smaller version of the full iPhone with many of the same features for a smaller and cheaper price point.

Kevin Change who is a JPMorgam analyst has stated that he believes that the new iPhone Nano could cost below $300 and from patents filed by Apple the iPhone Nano could be ready to go by Christmas.

It may be too soon for Apple to push something such as this out but it is definitely possible.  Bill Shope though who is another JPMorgan analyst stated that the launch of the iPhone Nano so soon would be “unusual and highly risky.”

RIM Release New Blackberry 8820

Beijing (dBTechno) - Research In Motion, the maker of the Blackberry devices, has announced a new BlackBerry model which can oprate on WiFi networks as well as cellular networks.

This is a huge advancement for the BlackBerry device as it gives it two different mdes to function.  The smartphone will be the thinnest yet in terms of size and will also have a full keyboard.

The BlackBerry 8820 is set to launch in the US this summer on the AT&T service.

RIM President Mike Lazaridis stated that “The BlackBerry 8820 complements our carrier partners’ cellular networks with the added ability to stay connected via WiFi at home, through hotspots and corporate campuses.”  Other new features innclude GPS and new media player add-ins.

Low iPhone Demand Causes Apple Shares to Fall

Seattle (dBTechno) - The Apple Inc stock fell 6% on Tuesday after numbers were shown that the new iPhone may not meet expectations with sales and subscriptions.

The activation numbers for AT&T are not as good as many had hoped. Piper Jaffray and Co. analyst Gene Munster stated that the numbers given out are a “disappointment.” This is expecially the case since AT&T is the exclusive carrier of the iPhone.

146,000 iPhone devices were activated in the first two days of the sales agreement. The demand though for the iPhone now is in a huge decline.

CIBC World Markets stated “We have noticed decent inventories at stores and thin demand at best. Among the stores we visited, most visitors were not looking at the device and only a very small subset bought it.”

Microsoft Makes Deals With Digg and EA Sports

Houston (dBTechno) - Microsoft has announced that they are making big moves with online advertising striking deals with Digg.com and video-game publisher Electronic Arts and their EA Sports brand.

The Digg deal will allow Microsoft to be the exclusive provider of advertising in the form of display and context on the very popular site. Microsoft had a similar deal with Facebook last year.

Kevin Rose of Digg stated that “This move gives us an advertising partner with a larger organization and a more scalable technology platform to keep pace with Digg’s growth.”

Microsoft is going to replace Google to an extent on Digg but no financial terms were disclosed. Microsoft also announced a lot of in-game advertising to put ads in five upcoming EA Sports games Madden NFL 08, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, and others on the Xbox 360. These ads can be updated and changed over the internet as well.

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