News for Jan 5th-Jan 9th

Tomorrow's News Today

Please visit our Sponsor

RSS Feeds

Tech News for Tuesday January 9th 2001

The changing PC consumer market.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: N/A Added by: Kim Heise

I hope to complete a short article by the end of the week on what we could be expecting this year in the PC consumer market. The market is not what it used to be and there will be some major changes showing up this year.

Keep checking back and I will hopefully complete it before the end of the week.

TDK To Kick Off Multilevel Recording Technology.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: TechWeb Added by: Kim Heise

Keep in mind that many new technologies that are being demonstrated at CES sometimes do not show up in the consumer market. Often companies use CES (Consumer Electronics Show) to gauge the reaction from the media in order to decided the readiness of a particular product.

Hopefully TDK will launch their new recording technology into the public sector.

TDK Electronics plans to launch later this year a new generation of CD-ROM rewritable (CD-RW) drives that will use MultiLevel Recording technology to achieve a threefold improvement in storage capacity as well as recording speed over conventional CD-RW drives.
The announcement, which took place Friday, at the annual Consumer Electronics Show here, comes amid a concerted effort to promote the benefitsof MultiLevel Recording (ML) technology, which today culminated in an announcement that Sanyo Semiconductor has also joined the ML alliance. To date the alliance includes TDK, Garden City, N.Y., Mitsubishi, Plextor and Calimetrics Inc., the prime developer of ML technology.
According to TDK, ML technology will allow up to 2 Gbytes of data to be recorded at rates of up to 36X on specially formulated $2 ML blank discs, with up to 700 Mbytes of data on standard CD-RW discs at 12X rates. This is at least three times the capacity of current technology. TDK plans to scale this quickly to 2.6, then 3.2 Gbytes.

Corel Washes Hands of Linux.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: Wired Added by: Kim Heise

This is rather unfortunate for Linux users and hopefully another company will pickup the slack. Linux is a very powerful UNIX operating system but it simply does not have the "public clout" that Microsoft presents with Windows.

OTTAWA -- Corel Corp. is expected to announce the sale of its fledgling Linux business as part of a corporate strategy it will unveil later this month, analysts said Monday.
The plan, which will be presented to staff and media Jan. 23, is designed to return the struggling company to profit and long-term growth.

IBM server translates instantly.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: ZDNET Added by: Kim Heise

It would be difficult not to see how well the Internet has bridged the gap for nations of various languages and cultures. Take note as Big Blue unveils a new computer to allow you to translate emails, web pages and online chat sessions into multiple languages.

This all accomplished in real-time.

Big Blue is making the world even smaller with new software that takes Web pages, e-mail, and chat from English into a host of languages in real time.

The IBM (NYSE: IBM) WebSphere Translation Server will allow Internet service providers, corporations, and other entities running their own servers to translate real-time English communications into Spanish, German, French, and Italian and from those languages back to English. It also can translate English into traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean but does not have the reverse capability.

OCA's best and worst PC products of 2000.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: OCA Added by: Kim Heise

OCA has posted a list of last years best and worst PC products. My only disagreement is with the computer game of the year because Unreal Tournament most definitely deserves the crown for innovation and quality.

The Year 2000 is finally behind us and OCA would like to take this time to provide our take on some things that rocked, and a few items that, well, didn't rock. You may agree and you may not, but we call 'em like we see 'em. Lets get it on.

Three major Internet firms plan layoffs.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: Newsbytes Added by: Kim Heise

In the end when all these hyped up "dotcom" companies do not show any profits investors depart like rats on a dying ship. The result is massive lay-offs and hopefully a reality dose for the average individual that just because it is a Internet company does not translate into massive dollars.

According to WSJ.com, Internet delivery service Kozmo.com Inc. said it will lay off about 120 employees, some 6 percent of its 2,000-strong staff, and has shut down operations in Houston and San Diego. The New York City based Kozmo delivers snacks, videos, music and books, as well as other products, to customers who order through its Web site at http://www.kosmo.com . With regard to the Houston and San Diego operational shutdowns, which happened last Friday, the company reportedly said that, "Demand did not match our staffing and inventory requirements to maintain service."
Meanwhile, sporting goods retailer MVP.com made its second round of layoffs in a month, said WSJ.com, shedding nearly half of its employees, some 36 staffers. In December, the closely held Chicago based company reportedly laid off 79 employees and closed offices in Austin, Texas, and Boulder, Colo. The company now employs 43 people and, according to Media Metrix, its site drew 750,000 unique visitors, said to be 13th among all sports sites.
Advertising.com Inc. said it will lay off 25 percent of its staff, some 72 employees, in a move that the company said would insulate it from the increasingly harsh climate for Internet advertising. The company apparently sells services and technology designed to help firms develop and target online advertising campaigns. The company has now cut its work force from 287 workers to 215. WSJ.com reports that the company's last round of financing, in August, raised some $57 million from America Online Inc., and Reuters Group PLC, among other investors, and that the company had revenue of $45 million last year.

Hitachi Unveils Prototype Wearable Internet Appliance.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: Internet News Added by: Kim Heise

Here's another interesting product announced at this years CES that you will most likely not see on the market any time soon. At least not this year.

Japanese electronics giant Hitachi Ltd. Friday announced it has joined forces with three other firms to develop a compact, lightweight Wearable Internet Appliance (WIA) and explore related business opportunities.
A prototype of Hitachi's hands-free WIA, powered by Microsoft's Windows CE 3.0 operating system, was demonstrated by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates during his Jan. 6 keynote address at the 2001 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

<SNIP>

The PC-compatible, SVGA (800x600) monocular display supports 18-bit color images (256,000 colors), including streaming video. It is usable with eyeglasses and is said by Hitachi to be easily visible even in sunlight.
"The displayed image is as large as a 13-inch screen located 60 cm (two feet) in front of the eye," said Yutaka Nakamura, an R&D general manager with Shimadzu Corp.
The 230-gram (8.2 oz.) control unit, which provides wireless Internet access and supplies images (including streaming video) to the display via a USB interface, is built around a Hitachi 32-bit SH4 RISC processor.
The "instant power-on" control unit features a Type II CompactFlash slot.

Intel PRO Wireless 2011 Networking Review.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: Hardware Unlimited Added by: Kim Heise

Wireless networks are undeniably the future but for today they are far too expensive and offer less than par network performance. Expect several new wireless networking products this year as prices will drop significantly and performance will increase drastically.

Wireless networking is the very latest concept in networking and it is wonderful. We got the chance to test out the Intel Wireless 2011 LAN Solution wireless hardware and we will be taking you through the features and our thoughts on the hardware. Sit back and relax, this review is a long one...

AMD plans to open third processor factory in 2004.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: CNET Added by: Kim Heise

AMD is not about to make the same mistake it made less than two years ago about not being able to meet consumer demands for processors. AMD will be opening a new factory in 2004 sometime to help meet consumer demand and produce the new smaller wafer chips.

Advanced Micro Devices plans to open a third microprocessor fabrication facility by 2004, but will likely share the space with another chipmaker to cut costs.
The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based chipmaker is laying the groundwork for a Fab 35, which will be used for PC processors such as the Athlon chip, according to John Greenagle, a company spokesman. Unlike AMD's current microprocessor fabs in Austin, Texas, and Dresden, Germany, the plant will be used to process chips out of 300-millimeter in diameter wafers.

Samsung 750s 17" Monitor Review.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: PCStats Added by: Kim Heise

Samsung's new 17" monitor has finally broken the $200 barrier. I remember purchasing my 17" monitor for $799 less than two years ago.

"The 17" monitor is the workhorse of the display industry. Despite the recent advancements in flat screen technology, 19" monitors becoming more affordable, and the like, the dollar reins supreme with the 17". And why not? Some 17" monitors can be had for as little as $200! Image quality may be a little suspect, but still, it's better then any 15" screen!

Microsoft Hardware Compatibility Lists Updated.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: Microsoft Added by: Kim Heise

What does the "Hardware Compatibility" list mean for you? If you plan on building your own PC and are concerned over the compatibility of the components you choose then these lists may help you decide how well it will be supported by Microsoft's operating systems.

nVidia GeForce Buying Guide.
Posted: 01/09/2001 Source: G256.COM Added by: Kim Heise

The GeForce2 MX is by far the best video card on the market for the price if you are looking for something affordable and powerful enough to drive most 3D applications.

G256 has posted some notes regarding GeForce products.

We've updated our GeForce Buying Guide again. There haven't been any updates during the holidays as I didn't see any big price drops...
Changes since last time

Very few price changes on low-end cards.
Most GeForce 2 GTS cards stayed the same except for Creative Labs which broke the $200 mark with a $16 price drop.

GeForce 2 Ultras have dropped big time, you can now grab a Gainward Ultra for $363! (including shipping )

I made a mistake a few days ago, I applied a geforce 2 Pro price of $331 to a geforce 2 Ultra. Thanks to all of you who "showed me the light!"
I still believe the continuing drop in GeForce 2 Ultra prices mean that the NV20 is close.

Tech News for Monday January 8th 2001

Site News Update.
Posted: 01/08/2001 Source: N/A Added by: Kim Heise

Finally starting to get back on my feet while fighting the urge to take a long nap during strange hours. Anybody who has traveled across major timelines know what I'm talking about. Oddly enough when I return to the USA it is much worse than when I arrive at any foreign destination. Now I'm back and ready for some updates to the web site.

Nothing overly exciting has happened during my three week absence but you might see posts showing up here with 2-3 week old news posts - if it is noteworthy.

Hope you had a safe New Year and make sure to visit often as this year is going to be very interesting in the IT (Information Technologies) market. Hopefully the media will calm down from all the "dotcom" hype and we will seeing some solid new/existing IT companies on the market producing worthwhile products.

Microsoft announces UltimateTV
Posted: 01/08/2001 Source: WinInfo Added by: Kim Heise

No wonder we have less and less time to spend doing something other than absorbing huge (often useless) amounts of information. Watching two television programs simultaneously is bound to create serious head-aches.

Microsoft on Saturday announced the availability of the UltimateTV service, which combines satellite-based DirecTV programming with digital video recording, live TV controls, interactive TV features, and Internet access, all in a single package. Microsoft UltimateTV features two TV tuners, allowing users to view two television programs simultaneously, watch one live show while recording another, or even record two live shows simultaneously; Microsoft says that this feature is a first. The service will cost about $10 or $15, depending on the services requested, but this cost is in addition to the normal DirecTV fees.

US Robotics Launches First New Products At CES .
Posted: 01/08/2001 Source: Newsbytes Added by: Kim Heise

I can imagine that with the rapid growth of broadband services that modem sales are taking a major hit. Modems will never disappear completely anytime shortly due to the limited availability of broadband services such as DSL or cable modems.

US Robotics is not sitting around and waiting for modems to become extinct but has rather smartly decided to produce broadband hardware.

"We're pleased to announce the first of many products beyond the analog and ISDN (integrated services digital network) space, and a significant relationship with Broadcom," he said.
Plans call for the first US Robotics cable and DSL modems to ship by the beginning of the second quarter of 2001, alongside the existing 56Kbps dialup modems and a new generation of wireless products.
Landi said that, while the company's research and development is carried out at the firm's Schaumburg location, the bulk of production is being carried out in Asia.
Broadband Internet access, he said, is the next logical step for US Robotics, as the company has knowledge and expertise necessary to connect users to the Internet with the same reliability and quality it has previously brought to the ISDN and analog marketplace.

Device to link home phones directly to Net2Phone.
Posted: 01/08/2001 Source: CNET Added by: Kim Heise

This year is going to be a year in which the phone companies would prefer to forget.

Internet voice services or voice over IP products are going to become more and more popular and soon any person can start their own phone company.

You can be rest assured that the FCC will be having a tough time trying to regulate all these services. Especially since some of these phone services could be run in private with no possible regulation from any governmental ruling.

Network equipment maker Linksys will soon sell a new device that allows consumers to make low-cost, long-distance phone calls using Net2Phone's Internet-based voice network.
The small device, basically an add-on to a cable or digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, includes a phone jack that allows people to plug in a regular phone to make Net-based phone calls. The device, to be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, also allows consumers to link their computers throughout the home, so they can communicate and share the high-speed Net connection.

To make a call, Net2Phone subscribers previously had to dial a number over the company's software on a PC and speak through a PC microphone. With Linksys' new device, customers can simply dial directly on their phone as long as the phone is connected to the cable or DSL modem, representatives from the companies said.
Net2Phone is an Internet phone company that offers cheaper phone rates than traditional phone companies. While domestic phone calls through PCs are free, Net2Phone charges about 3.9 cents per minute to consumers who make domestic calls using regular phones. International rates start at 7.9 cents. All calls are routed through Net2Phone's private Internet-based network.

Transmeta to help AMD push into servers.
Posted: 01/08/2001 Source: CNET Added by: Kim Heise

AMD has locked horns with Intel on the consumer and low-budget PC market for processors. The company is about to make inroads in to the server market because until now Intel has very little (if any at all) competition in the x86 server market. AMD and Transmeta's joint alliance could prove to be very effective. Only time will tell.

Advanced Micro Devices plans to take on Intel in the server market, enlisting one of its own competitors to help out.

Under a complex deal yet to be announced, sources say AMD is sending to software developers computers that run on competitor Transmeta's Crusoe processor and contain a special version of Transmeta's "code-morphing" software. The computers are designed to run a program that simulates AMD's upcoming server chip, called Sledgehammer, the sources said.

AMD Duron 850MHz Press Release
Posted: 01/08/2001 Source: AMD Zone Added by: Kim Heise

This is simply amazing: You can soon purchase a 850mhz Duron CPU from AMD for around $150 USD. AMD just released the 850mhz Duron on the heals of Intel's recent release of the 800mhz Celeron processor. Both the Celeron and the Duron are aimed at the low cost PC market.

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2000--AMD (NYSE:AMD) today introduced the 850 MHz AMD Duron(TM) processor, again delivering innovative technology and a rewarding computing experience at an affordable price. With today's launch, and with the advent of UMA integrated graphics chipsets, AMD continues to enhance its reputation for delivering ideal solutions to value conscious PC shoppers.

Leading computer manufacturers including Compaq and Hewlett-Packard Company plan to offer systems based on the 850MHz AMD Duron processor. Compaq systems also were available for sale from Home Shopping Network this past weekend.

In total, more than 100 computer manufacturers worldwide are delivering technology that lasts with AMD Duron processor-based systems.

New Firewire To SCSI Adapter.
Posted: 01/08/2001 Source: Initio Corporation Added by: Kim Heise

What does all this techno talk mean? This simply means that both SCSI devices (hard-drives, scanners..etc) and firewire products (video capture devices) can be used on the same adaptor on a Windows or Macintosh system.

Initio Corp. announced the newest entry in its line of I/O solutions that bring FireWire performance and connectivity to storage peripherals. The new Initio® iConn(TM) FireWire-to-SCSI adapter enables an array of UltraSCSI and FireWire peripherals to connect simultaneously to FireWire-equipped Microsoft® Windows®-based and Apple® Macintosh® computers, at data speeds nearly 10 times faster than USB-to-SCSI converters deliver. The Initio iConn FireWire-to-SCSI adapter will be available at a suggested retail price of $99.99.

AMD's Duron: Low price, high speed.
Posted: 01/08/2001 Source: ZDNET Added by: Kim Heise

ZDNET has posted an article taking a closer look at AMD's new Duron processor. Very well worth the read if you are considering a new PC purchase. My biggest concern is the availability of motherboards that support the new Duron processor but you can be rest assured that motherboard vendors are working overtime.

The low-cost chip for desktop PCs will be officially announced on Monday. But the shopping network will begin taking orders for 850-MHz Presario desktops from Compaq Computer during a live broadcast from the Consumer Electronics Show floor on Saturday, according to AMD (NYSE: AMD).
Analysts say the faster clock speed and Duron's faster front-side bus, which is a data pipeline between the processor and memory, mean that the new Duron systems will outperform even Intel's latest offering, a new 800-MHz Celeron announced earlier this week.
Performance, however, is only half of the equation. AMD is also working hard to keep the cost of Duron-based computers down.

SDRAM Prices Hit New Low
Posted: 01/08/2001 Source: SemiBizNews Added by: Kim Heise

This is the longest period I've ever witnessed on low SDRAM memory prices. Prices are slowly starting to edge their way up so it would be good time to purchase any memory. Even if you plan to purchase a DDRAM (next generation memory type) in the future the current price of SDRAM is too cheap to ignore.

Prices for synchronous DRAMs continued to plunge to new lows this week, with the added wrinkle that Micron Technology Inc.'s Crucial.com Web site offering PC-1600 double data rate (DDR) SDRAM modules at the same price as single data rate PC133 modules.
Spot market prices for workhorse 64-megabit (8x8) PC133 chips dropped to $2.70-to-$2.75. Even next generation 128-Mbit (16x8) PC133 memories fell to $6.20 -- the same price range that 64-Mbit chips sold for only last fall. Ironically, trailing edge 64-Mbit (4x16) EDO DRAMs were selling at nearly four times the price of similar density SDRAMs.

New 'Whistler' build adds anti-piracy lock.
Posted: 01/08/2001 Source: ZDNET Added by: Kim Heise

Microsoft is going to have a very tough time keeping this "anti-piracy" feature out of the media spotlight. Once the privacy advocates get hold of this new information the company will be taking on some serious flak.

The most potentially controversial addition to Whistler 2410, however, is anti-piracy code that Microsoft is calling "Microsoft Product Activation for Windows," (WPA) according to testers. The technology is similar to the Office Activation Wizard that's part of Office 2000.

WPA will tie a Windows product key to one specific PC in order to reduce casual copying. In order to "activate" it, a customer will send data about the installation, such as product ID number and hardware identifier, to a Microsoft-run license clearinghouse. The clearinghouse won't allow the use of the customer's product key on a PC different from the one originally activated.

Tech News for Friday January 5th 2001

Site News Update.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: N/A Added by: Kim Heise

I'm back from a much needed three week vacation and I will resume posting more news updates as soon as my jet lag decides to move on.

A cursory glance on various news sites shows very little major news revelations while I was out of town but I will take a closer look at some of the busier news sites to dig up some tech news.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Rev. 2.0 of the Disk Cache Optimization Guide Posted.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: RojakPot Added by: Kim Heise

Adrian's Rojak Pot (http://www.rojakpot.com/) has just posted rev. 2.0
of the Disk Cache Optimization Guide! This old ARP favorite is now
back with completely new charts! Check out this snip of the guide :-

"Naturally, this degrades performance as the program now has to use the
much slower swapfile, instead of the RAM. Also, it was found that
increasing disk cache had diminishing gains. That means that increasing
your disk cache from 32MB to 64MB of RAM won't boost overall hard disk
performance as much as an increase from 4MB to 8MB of RAM. On the other
hand, many programs' performance are degraded when deprived of RAM by
the disk cache and forced to run using the swap file. Hence, it is now
important for us to control how much RAM is allocated to the disk cache
so that there is a balance between hard disk and program performance."

Seagate lands PS2 hard drive deal.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: ZDNET Added by: Kim Heise

Seagate gets the nod to supply two types of hard drives for Sony's Playstation 2. It's already making hard drives for the Microsoft Xbox.

Seagate Technology has landed the contract to become the primary provider of hard drives for Sony's PlayStation 2 game console, which is looking more and more like a computer every day.

Sony readies parade of new gadgets.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: CNET Added by: Kim Heise

The products announced by Sony are as diverse as the consumer electronics market itself:
Sony said preorders for its Vaio Slimtop Pen Tablet will start Jan. 6 on the company's Web site and appear in stores in February.
The tablet, priced at $3,000, comes with a LCD screen that folds down to a nearly horizontal position so it can be read flat, like a book.

The eVilla Network Entertainment Center is Sony's Net appliance that places a special emphasis on audio and video entertainment, including links to Net radio stations. The device, which comes with a 15-inch monitor, is expected to hit shelves in April and cost $500, with a $21.95 monthly fee for Internet access.

Sony's new satellite-radio receiver is aimed for use while driving as well as at home. The device can grab up to 100 channels of digital satellite broadcasting, according to the company. Available this summer, the device will cost $400 for the car receiver and $300 for the home receiver.
Further ahead, Sony has plans for a wireless gateway that can aggregate Net access, TV broadcasts, video and still images at home. The device comes with an infrared transmitter that will allow consumers to control their other electronic gadgets from a single source. The device is expected to arrive later this year.

At Least 210 Dot-Com Bombs Dropped In 2000 - Report.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: eFront Added by: Kim Heise

The fourth quarter of 2000 was a time of heavy casualties among dot-com companies, as some 210 such firms were shuttered, wasting about $1.5 billion in investments, according to a report released today.
Webmergers.com, a company that provides research and assistance to dot-com firms trying to get to market, arrived at its latest estimates based on ongoing reviews of about 50 publications and other private sources, according to company President Tim Miller.
The numbers as related in the report are dismal: In the fourth quarter of 2000, 121 major online companies of all stripes - from online publishers to infrastructure companies - closed down. Those represent 60 percent of all dot-com failures for the year among companies with at least $1 million in formal funding.
Altogether, dot-com closures meant the loss of between 12,000 and 15,000 jobs for the year, the report says.

Giant security hole Found in Macromedia Flash Player.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: eFront Added by: Kim Heise

Fox News has the story concerning an independent computer expert reporting he has found a gaping security hole in your browser's Macromedia Flash Player plug-in. Being that particular plug-in, it puts a massive number of computers at risk, since most computers these days do in fact have the plug-in installed.
The plug-in is apparently susceptible to "buffer overruns", a problem Microsoft has had with its software in the past. When the software is sent too large a chunk of data, it could crash the program, unless a malicious user has other plans. A potential hacker could send a flash file that could execute a program when the overrun occurs, potentially causing serious damage to the computer in question.
Also, because of the nature of Flash, the single virus would be able to infect computers running a multitude of platforms, rather than a single target like most virii on the net.
For more information read the Fox News article.

Intel Pentium 4 1.5GHz -- Review.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: ActiveWin Added by: Kim Heise

On November 20th Intel Corporation (the world most famous CPU maker based in Santa-Clara, California) has turned a new page of its computing history by introducing its long awaited new CPU that was previously known under the code name: ‘Willamette’. Due to the fact Intel has spent millions on the Pentium brand name, this new processor is simply dubbed “Pentium 4”. Don’t let the name trick you, however. Pentium 4 has only the name and a few parts from its predecessor. This processor is the first to have a newly designed architecture since the Pentium Pro in 1995. Starting at 1.3 GHz, Intel sent us the fastest processor, the 1.5 GHz, for review purposes along with their D850GB motherboard we’ll review in detail.

Microsoft Whistler build 2410 details.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: ActiveWin Added by: Kim Heise

Well we have a few more details on last nights new release of Whistler build 2410 to testers (Although it was removed due to CD Key problems). Here are the basics of what is new:

Intergrated Internet Explorer 6.0 Build 2411
Various new icons
More Drivers
More Visual Styles
Desktop Cleanup
New "Agent" Characters In Search
Improved System Information In Help

Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: Guru3D Added by: Kim Heise

The Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 is the newest and greatest edition to the excellent line of sound cards Creative Labs produces. The SB Live! Platinum 5.1 has all the features you could ever need. Whether you download and listen to music, play games, make midis, or plug in keyboards and microphones to sing this sound card has it all. Sound Blaster Live! Platinum provides the combination of digital-quality audio, a full-featured software bundle, and connectivity to external devices from the front of your PC instead of the back! The featured Live! Drive offers front panel connection to home stereo receivers, MIDI instruments, digital devices, headphones, and more.

XBOX Pics Revealed.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: Mellenger Added by: Kim Heise

Mellenger has posted some newly released pictures of Microsoft's much hyped X-Box gaming console. Visit the link above to see the new pictures.

Palm Pilots Go Robotic.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: TechWeb Added by: Kim Heise

Ambitious owners of the personal organizer can now move beyond such passe uses as making phone calls, ordering movie tickets, or snapping photos. Their Palm can now be turned into a robot.
With a $299 kit available over the Web, everyday people can turn their Palm Pilots into the brains of a small, six-sided robot with three red wheels, equipped with infrared sensors and rechargeable batteries.
The device, developed at Carnegie Mellon University and licensed to robotics company Acroname has few, if any, practical uses today. But it could help inspire a new passion for robotics among the general public, its seller said.

Linux Fans: Meet Version 2.4.0.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: TechWeb Added by: Kim Heise

The long-awaited next version of the Linux kernel was released Thursday by Linus Torvalds, Linux creator and keeper of the open-source operating system kernel.
In a short e-mail sent at 4:01 PST, Torvalds said version 2.4.0 of the system is "out there."
The new version is considered by many to be a major milestone for the Linux movement.

AMD Announces 850-MHz Duron, Trims Prices.
Posted: 01/05/2001 Source: TechWeb Added by: Kim Heise

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. will announce an 850-MHz Duron on Monday, executives said, keeping the chip maker one up on Intel Corp. in the low-end PC space.

The new 850-MHz Duron costs $149. As a result, the prices on slower Durons have been trimmed. The 800-MHz Duron costs $112, down from $170; the 750-MHz chip is priced at $88, down from $112.
While the 700-MHz chip also costs $88, Bode said it will be phased out from the roadmap, as will be the 700-MHz Duron.

Last modified: Friday, April 04, 2008