12th October 2006 Archive

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Sony touts 3.6Mbps 'super 3G' Vaios

Not so fast from day one, we suspect

Sony has begun offering a Vaio notebook bundled with an HSDPA-enabled datacard supplied by T-Mobile. The manufacturer quickly claimed the kit will allow users to download data at speeds of up to 3.6Mbps. Good luck, we say. T-Mobile isn't expected to upgrade its 3G network to 3.6Mbps until next year. When the Vaio SZ3 series …

PCs 12 Oct 2006, 09:01
Transmeta accuses Intel of patent infringement

Crusoe tech vs Pentium III tech

One-time low-power x86-compatible processor provider Transmeta has initiated legal proceedings against Intel, alleging the chip giant used its power-efficiency technology without permission. The lawsuit claims infringement of ten Transmeta patents. Transmeta's lawsuit was filed with the US District Court of Delaware and names …

Bits 'n' Chips 12 Oct 2006, 09:24
Dell, Alienware ready AMD Live! media centre systems

Announcements this week, says AMD

Dell and Dell subsidiary Alienware are to announce a number of media centre machines based on AMD's Viiv-like platform, Live!, the chip maker has revealed. Expect unveilings at the DigitalLife show taking place in New York this week. All the machines - a Dell Dimension box and Alienware's DHS series - will be based on Athlon …

PCs 12 Oct 2006, 09:53
Sony launches leaked noise-cancelling Walkman line

NW-S700F series is official

Sony Japan has finally launched the NW-S700F digital Walkman series, a week and a half after details of the device slipped out on a UK retail website. As expected, the Flash-based line-up comprises models in a variety of metallic colours and with storage capacities of 1-4GB. Those bulbous earphones may look like noise- …

Media players 12 Oct 2006, 10:35
HTC runs in with T-Mobile Dash smart phone

BlackBerry who?

Taiwanese phone maker HTC today formally announced that T-Mobile will ship its S620 BlackBerry-like, QWERTY keyboard equipped handset in the US as the Dash. It's set to ship on 25 October, T-Mobile said. The Dash is a quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE phone, but it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on board too. It measures 11.2 x 6.3 x 1.3cm, …

Phones 12 Oct 2006, 11:27
Bluetooth SIG launches TransSend app

Grab bits of data and send them to your phone

The Bluetooth SIG has today launched its TransSend application, allowing websites to embed a chunk of data, such as an address or map, in a web page and have it copied to a mobile phone at the click of a mouse. Of course, the (Windows) desktop computer will need Bluetooth, and to be running Internet Explorer, but the process …

PCs 12 Oct 2006, 11:52
Seagate lifts Maxtor max capacities

More space for more data

Seagate has upped the storage capacity offered by its Maxtor Shared Storage II and OneTouch III external hard drive product line-ups, increasing the maximum unformatted data space provided by them to 1TB and 1.5TB, respectively. The OneTouch III Turbo Edition is now available with 1.5TB in addition to the 1TB model already …

Storage 12 Oct 2006, 12:04
Intel EOLs 91x, 955 chipsets

Making room for 'Bearlake'?

Intel has begun the process of discontinuing its 91x chipset family, along with the 955X. Some 15 chipsets in all will no longer be available for order after 13 March 2007, with all final orders due to be fulfilled by 12 October 2007. The EOL'ing of the 91x series isn't perhaps surprising. Most target the mainstream PC …

Bits 'n' Chips 12 Oct 2006, 13:07
Nvidia launches mobile GeForce 7950 GTX

World's fastest laptop GPU?

Nvidia has launched what it claims is the world's fastest notebook graphics chip. Yes, we're talking the mobile version of the GeForce 7950, appearing soon in a number of laptops as the GeForce Go 7950 GTX. The chip maker didn't say much about what the new GPU can do beyond the part's support for DirectX 9 Shader Model 3.0, …

Bits 'n' Chips 12 Oct 2006, 13:28
Audioengine A5 amplified iPod speakers

Review Too good for MP3?

Loudspeakers designed for digital music players are ten a penny these days but their ambitions rarely extend to the audiophile. Most are intended to replace portable CD or tape units rather than living room systems, let alone pro-level kit. Apple's iPod Hi-Fi has helped show the player can drive room-filling kit, but US-based …

Media players 12 Oct 2006, 14:10
Palm launches 'Low Rider' phone

Euro friendly enough?

Palm has launched its fourth smartphone of the year - a PalmOS model with a budget price. It's the first major upgrade to Palm's GSM line since the Treo 650, announced in late 2004 - and, which Palm was forced to stop selling in the EU in the summer because of the RoHS hazardous waste requirements. It's also much more …

Phones 12 Oct 2006, 20:35