Tech News for Friday January 7th 2000.
Microsoft posts online DirectX 8.0 beta
signup.
Posted: 01/07/2000 Source: Microsoft
Added by: Kim Heise
With DirectX 7.0 just barely out the door the company
is already gearing up for the next release. Head on over to the Microsoft DirectX
8.0 beta site if you are interested in testing beta versions.
Samsung develops 288 Megabit DRAM.
Posted: 01/07/2000 Source: Avault
Added by: Kim Heise
Here's a clip from the article.
IDG is reporting that Samsung has developed a 288 megabit
Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory chip. The new chip, produced using 0.17
micron technology, can hold twice as much data as the previous largest capacity
Rambus DRAM chip. The data processing speed at each pin has also been improved
to 800 megabits per second. Rambus DRAMs use interface technology to speed the
moving of data in and out of the memory chip. As processors get faster and
central data buses run at higher speeds, the speed of the memory interface is
said to have an important role.
Future of 3D graphics.
Posted: 01/07/2000 Source: Voodooextreme
Added by: Kim Heise
Voodooextreme has posted a very interesting interview
with Tim Sweeney who is the top games developer for Epic and is responsible for
such titles as Unreal. Tim discusses some future 3D trends and where he believes
the technology is going to go. Here are some highlights from the interview.
For our next engine, there will be a major emphasis on Hardware T&L,
hardware per-pixel lighting, and procedural vertex shading -- basically, the key
advancements of DirectX8 and DirectX9. We're going to be totally focused on
standard 3D API's, Direct3D and OpenGL, so the 3D card makers who work closest
with Microsoft are going to be supported the best. Now that consumer 3D hardware
has surpassed what high-end SGI machines were once capable of, there's no longer
a clear roadmap for future features, so the future is being plotted out by
Microsoft, key game developers, and key hardware makers, with Microsoft's
DirectX team being the de facto rallying point.
I was a little hesitant in purchasing the GeForce because I was concerned
about the future of T&L hardware implementations but at this point my mind
is a little more at ease.
Windows 2000 banned by the Chinese
government?
Posted: 01/07/2000 Source: Various
Added by: Kim Heise
Nothing better than to spice up your Friday morning
with some hilarious news clips. Several web sites have posted the much denied
fact that the Chinese government is going to ban Windows 2000 and recommends
that the local population move to a local derived operating systems.
Read the CNET article here.
Site News Update - CL
Annihilator Pro Part 3.
Posted: 01/07/2000 Source: N/.A
Added by: Kim Heise
Mission Accomplished! I finally found one of two
Annihilator Pro cards in stock at a new computer store here in Denver called
Microcenter.
Was not able to install the card until late last night and installed a couple of
T&L demos. All I can say is WOW!
Will run some more tests over the weekend and write a small review sometime next
week for those who are curious to learn how this card performs.
Tech News for Thursday January 6th
2000.
New Beta nVidia Detonator drivers.
Posted: 01/06/2000 Source: 3D
Chipset Added by: Kim Heise
nVidia had released updated Detonator drivers for
Windows 95/98/NT and finally Windows 2000. The drivers will work for the
TNT2-Ultra and the GeForce. You can download the drivers here.
Sony PDA for Playstation 2.
Posted: 01/06/2000 Source: ARS
Technica Added by: Kim Heise
Over at Ars-Technica there is a quick note regarding
3COM Palm Pilot and Sony developing a version to work with the upcoming
Playstation 2.
AMD Athlon price drops on January 23d
and goodbye K7-500mhz.
Posted: 01/06/2000 Source: AMD
ZONE Added by: Kim Heise
AMD Zone posts some information that AMD is about to
cut prices on the Athlon series CPU's around January 23d. Also to be announced
on the same day is the retirement of the 500mhz version of the Athlon.
Seems like yesterday when the 500mhz chips became available and I remember it
becoming big news because we had reached 1/2 GHZ.
Site News Update - CL
Annihilator Pro Part 2.
Posted: 01/06/2000 Source: N/.A
Added by: Kim Heise
I spent most of last night trying to hunt down the
elusive Annihilator Pro GeForce256 video card. Both Best Buy and CompUSA simply
laughed at me and said "You and 1,000 others....". As you can guess I
did not find one and missed one at CompUSA by 1/2 hour. Best Buy had 20 of
them in stock and lost them all by the day's end and CompUSA also sold out the
entire stock in a couple of hours. Both stores promised more in stock shortly
and I'm going to try to hit the stores when they open on Saturday morning.
When I finally get my hands on this incredible video card I will write my first
hardware review. I will try to answer the question if it's worth the upgrade
going from a TNT2-Ultra to a GeForce DDR. Don't even bother with the SDR version
of the GeForce if you already have a TNT2-Ultra.
Will let you know how the story develops....
HP - AMD shake hands and
Athlon 800mhz to be released.
Posted: 01/06/2000 Source: News.com
Added by: Kim Heise
This is good news for AMD and I'm sure Intel is not
happy about this one. HP and AMD have struck a deal to work together for
upcoming power workstations based on the new 800mhz Athlon K7. The new 800mhz
AMD chip will be on par with Intel's latest offerings but at least the 800mhz
Athlon will be available. It is nearly impossible to find a 800mhz P3 CPU from
Intel.
I distinctly remember when people snubbed AMD because they claimed to have
released new CPU's but you couldn't find one anywhere. Sounds familiar?
Tech News for Wednesday January 5th
2000.
Steve Jobs accepts Apple CEO position.
Posted: 01/05/2000 Source: CNN
Added by: Kim Heise
Steve Jobs has done a fantastic job of saving Apple
from a nasty demise and at first he re-joined the company as "acting"
CEO. Not sure what "acting" CEO officially means and it sounds like
internal politics by Apple.
CNN reports that Steve Jobs has now officially been reigned in as Apple's new
CEO and with that he has unveiled the new Mac OS 9. Read the press
release for more details.
Microsoft releases TCP/IP update for
Windows 95/98.
Posted: 01/05/2000 Source: Microsoft
Added by: Kim Heise
I saw this original post on nV News and forgot to post
it out here since I think it's a very important patch. Visit Microsoft's
web site for official information and download information regarding the
TCP/IP bug that fixes timing issues for when the OS transmits IP packets.
Yesterday the Nasdaq dropped 229 points.
Posted: 01/05/2000 Source: N/A
Added by: Kim Heise
Several people asked me if the sudden drop in the
Nasdaq is Y2K related and I had to make it clear that the drop is in fact due to
the expected rate increase by the Fed's next month.
Minor Y2K problems reported.
Posted: 01/05/2000 Source: N/A
Added by: Kim Heise
With all the Y2K "hoopla" in the media there
have been some very minor problems. You can read about the US Military spy
satellite Y2K problem here,
or about the browser expiration
problems in Sweden.
These two articles are for those of you who want to say "See, I told you
so!".
Site News Update.
Posted: 01/05/2000 Source: N/A
Added by: Kim Heise
I know I'm most likely going to regret this but I was
out hunting yesterday for the ever elusive Create Labs Annihilator Pro DDR
GeForce256 (what a mouthful) video card. This video card speed king will most
likely be dethroned sometime during late May or early April by 3dFX's Voodoo 4/5
series card or by another hat-trick from nVidia.
What this means is that if I purchase the GeForce256 DDR for an outrageous
$299.00 it is going to be overthrown in less than 4 months. Unfortunately my
TNT2-Ultra is starting to show it's weak spots on some of the newer software
titles like Homeworld, BattleZone2 and MS Flight Sim 2000 so I might have a
reason to upgrade - but $299.00 is a LOT of money.
I visited a couple of stores yesterday and the cards were sold out everywhere.
CompUSA sold all 12 cards in stock the same day so it may be a blessing in
disguise.
Will your current hardware will be
supported by Windows 2000?
Posted: 01/05/2000 Source: Microsoft
Added by: Kim Heise
If you are planning on upgrading your PC at home with
Windows 2000 you may want to visit the Microsoft's "Hardware Compatibility
Listing for Windows 2000" website
to determine whether the OS will directly support your current hardware
configuration. The list
may also help you decide when planning a new PC purchase to find out what is
supported and what's not.
Remember even if your hardware is not on the list, this means that your specific
hardware manufacturer needs to provide you with drivers when Windows 2000 is
officially launched. Check with your hardware vendor website for driver updates.
Microsoft Intelli-Pro mouse review.
Posted: 01/05/2000 Source: Active
Windows Added by: Kim Heise
For Christmas this year I had only asked for one new
gadget for my PC and it was the new Intelli-Pro mouse from Microsoft. The price
for this mouse is not cheap at $69.00 but my experience with it has been worth
every dime. This new mouse has no ball and uses a high speed camera taking
around 1,500 updates a second and this allows for smooth, reliable and accurate
mouse movements.
Active Windows has posted a review
of Microsoft's new mouse for you to read if you are deciding about adding one to
your system.
Intel releases 533mhz Celeron processor.
Posted: 01/05/2000 Source: MSNBC
Added by: Kim Heise
The first batch of new processors are being unveiled
for the new year and so far the first release from Intel is not very exciting.
The new Celeron chip outruns it's predecessor by a measly 33mhz.
Gates to unveil new Windows
CE OS.
Posted: 01/05/2000 Source: CNET.com
Added by: Kim Heise
In the hand-held market Microsoft does not appear to
be winning the game and in fact Windows CE machines are falling behind in sales
when compared to the ever popular Palm Pilot systems.
Tonight during a keynote speech, Microsoft CEO Bill Gates will unveil a new
version of the Windows CE operating system to try to revive the losing CE
operating system.
Just to give you an idea of how far behind Windows CE is to Palm OS, Windows CE
only has about 10% of the market share and 3Com's Palm OS has about 70% of the
market share. We will see if the new Windows CE operating system will make a
dent in the Palm computing market. Never say "never" because people
once said that Internet Explorer will never challenge Netscape and the last
statistics I had seen was that Netscape barely holds around 18%
Microsoft chief executive Bill Gates will unveil his firm's newest software for
handhelds during a keynote at a trade show tomorrow night, sources said, in one
of the most visible attempts at repositioning the faltering operating system.
Gates will demonstrate the long-awaited
update to Windows CE in his speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las
Vegas. Code-named Rapier, sources close to the company said the newest version
of the scaled-down operating system will be launched under a new name: Pocket
PC.
Tech News for Saturday January 1st
2000.
Happy New Year.
Posted: 01/01/2000 Source: N/A
Added by: Kim Heise
Happy New Year to you and I hope you had a safe
evening. I'm busy sitting at work waiting for all the Y2K tests to complete and
thought I would post a quick "Happy New Year".
For those of you that purchased a years worth of canned Sardines: "Don't
invite me over for dinner any time soon".
| 
