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News for Thursday December 14th 2006.
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New IBM Software Will Help The Blind Use
Computers
Source:
Information Week
Always good to hear news where companies develop technologies to help people
who are not as fortunate as most of us. This opens a whole new world for the
blind and gives them access to the internet. Kudos to IBM.
IBM on Thursday unveiled software that the company says will allow computers
to more efficiently convert on-screen text to audio for visually impaired
users.
The software, IAccessible2, is an application programming interface that
applications such as Web browsers and document programs can use to
communicate with other programs that convert text to speech. IBM says the
API is standards based and has been accepted by a wide range of key industry
players, including Oracle, SAP, and Mozilla Project.
The API is designed to help so-called assistive technologies work even with
complex Web sites that have been designed with state-of-the-art tools like
Ajax, which enables bursts of information that can cause errors in automated
screen readers such as Jaws and Windows Eyes.
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2 GB Compact Flash for $47 at Costco
Source:
TG Daily
Unbelievable how fast flash memory prices have dropped during 2006. Costco
is selling 2GB compact flash memory storage cards for less than $50.
Excellent storage for every backup of critical documents and a general tool
for transporting your favorite utilities. Last but not least a must have for
those new digital cameras that are approaching 10 MP in detail.
Digital camera fanatics will like this deal that we spied at our local
Marina Del Rey, California Costco. The warehouse chain is now selling
SanDisk Ultra II 2 GB Compact Flash cards for $48. The actual price is about
$80, but you get an instant rebate of $32 at the register.
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Security Now Podcast: Achieving Internet
Anonymity
Source:
GRC/Security Now
Indisputably one of the most important Podcasts to bookmark for all IT
experts. I've not listened to this Podcast yet but the topic looks very
interesting. Privacy and anonymity on the internet are - IMHO - two of the
least understood areas on the Internet. Leave it to Leo Steve Gibson and Leo
Laporte to help explain.
Last week Leo and I discussed the social implications and the social
power of Internet Anonymity. This week we discuss the technology of Freenet
and TOR (Onion Router) networks, and I describe the detailed technical
operation of both systems.
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Windows Weekly 8 Podcast released.
Source:
TWiT
Paul Thurrott of Windows Weekly has released his latest Podcast where he
talks about Windows Vista and highlights some of the future plans by
Microsoft for their Zune player.
Paul says Vista is changing the way he uses his computer, talks about
Data Execution Protection, Vista FUD, and Microsoft's long range Zune
plans...
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AMD 2007 Server Roadmap
Source:
Dailytech
I'm pleased to see AMD is planning to release new CPU's that are not just
adding more cores. Intel is the first to announce the QUAD core solution but
all that is very similar to the MHZ race/hype we recently survived. How many
apps take advantage of even two cores - let alone four? Granted 2007
will show more applications that are multi-threaded and more support for 64
bit operating systems but for today running QUAD CPU core's is mostly
overkill.
Over the last few months much as been revealed about AMD's
next-generation quad-core architecture. This architecture, previously dubbed
K8L by Henri Richard, is scheduled to be the first monolithic quad-core
design.
On a related note - AMD is doing very well this year:
As a whole, the company has seen its
overall PC market share rise from 15.9% in Q3 2004 to 23.3% in Q3 2006. AMD
has also seen steady, gradual increases in market share in its mobile and
desktop business in the past two years.
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Alan Shugart (1930 - 2006)
Source:
Betanews
Another great pioneer in computing has sadly passed on. Betanews has posted
an article highlighting some of Alan's very important contributions to the
early computing years. Looks like Alan was a unique character to say the
least.
The man who led the team at IBM that engineered the first storage devices
for portable disks a half-century ago, and who later founded the corporation
that secured the future of hard disk technology into the coming decades,
died yesterday from complications after an earlier heart surgery. Alan
Shugart was probably wearing one of his Hawaiian shirts at the time.
Taking a look at the man, you come to realize how "Seagate" got its name -
not just that it emerged from Shugart Technology, which is how it was
christened in 1979. He was a man of the sea - or, more accurately, the shore
near the sea. San Jose was the man's home, in all respects. When asked what
his great accomplishments had been, he would list at or near the top his
co-founding not of the first great floppy disk manufacturer (Shugart
Associates) in 1973, nor the founding of Seagate, but of the co-founding of
a five-star restaurant on the Monterey Peninsula. He wrote a book about this
venture in 1993, which graced his shelves along the story of his quite
genuine 1996 attempt to place his own dog Ernest on the ballot for
Congressman.
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Microsoft security updates for December
2006
Source:
Microsoft
As part of Microsoft's release cycle, the company has released the following
security updates on December 12, 2006:
• MS06-072 - addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Internet
Explorer (KB925454)
• MS06-073 - addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio (KB925674)
• MS06-074 - addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows (KB926247)
• MS06-075 - addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows (KB926255)
• MS06-076 - addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows (KB923694)
• MS06-077 - addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows (KB926121)
• MS06-078 - addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Media Player
(KB923689 and KB925398)
• MS06-059 (re-release) - addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Office
(KB924164)
Since we are on the topic of patches - Microsoft has released the 2007
Daylight Savings time patches for Windows XP SP-2 and Windows 2003. Windows
Vista is already patched for the 2007 DST patch but be aware if you are
using Windows 2000 then Microsoft will not supply the patch unless you have
a hot fix support agreement in place. Details can be viewed
here.
Daylight saving time changes for 2007 are as follows:
Starting in the spring of 2007, daylight saving time
(DST) start and end dates for the United States will transition to comply
with the Energy Policy Act of 2005. DST dates in the United States will
start three weeks earlier (2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March) and will
end one week later (2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday in November).
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Microsoft Handheld Specs.
Source:
GameSpot
Interesting rumor just showed up on the GameSpot forums - I would hold off
on the excitement until we hear/see something more official. If indeed
true/accurate then this would be a very capable handheld.
Modified Version of Intel XScale 533Mhz IXC1100
ATI Developed GPU codenamed Xious, with a RV530 Core
Toshiba 4200RPM HDD 15GB and 30GB packages
Q4 07 release
rechargable 4.0 VOlt 900mAH Li-Ion ranging from 10 - 12 hours battery life
Standard ABXY, Dual Thumbstick
Clamshell Design, Metal and Plastic Frame
Size closed: 150 mm × 70.3 mm × 22.5 mm
wieght 240g
16:9 widescreen 4.5" TFT LCD 480 × 272 Resolution
Price and Name Not Final, names concidered: XBP, Xbox 180
In game soundtracks on all games
Connectivity to the xbox 360 through Memory Unit ports, Wifi connectivity
for online play,
and USB Compatable Vista PC's for transfering Music, WMV Video, and XBLA
games
Xbox Live Anywhere
Plays XBLA games downloadable from your 360 and available for purchase from
instore 360 Displays and an Online Store
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News for Wednesday November 22nd 2006.
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Review of Windows Mobile 6.0 for PPC
Source:
Mobile-Review
Mobile Review takes Microsoft's new Windows Mobile 6.0 operating system for
a test drive and leave unimpressed. Expect the new OS to be available
sometime Q2 2007. Take a look for yourself
here .
Today we are getting our readers to know the new mobile operating system
by Microsoft codenamed “Windows Mobile Crossbow”. The most probable title
for the commercial edition, though, is “Windows Mobile 6.0”, but it is the
thing to remain veiled until an official announcement is made. Beginning
from the previous version of Windows Mobile, the company has put into
practice a new approach to indexing, so that now codenames are replaced by
numbers, like “5.0”, “6.0” etc. Interestingly, the second digit in the index
hasn’t been called for up until now, in other words, we haven’t seen Windows
Mobile 5.2 or 5.3 yet, since all intermediate updates and patch-works have
been introduced within various versions of AKU (Adaptation Kit Update)
update packs.
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Xbox 360 vs. PlayStation 3 vs. Nintendo
Wii: A Technical Comparison.
Source:
Winsupersite
Paul Thurrott who runs Winsupersite has posted a definitive technical guide
comparing all the current generation gaming consoles. Looking at purely
technical statistics the PS3 wins the race but my bets are still on the XBOX
360 with the Nintendo Wii in second place. The XBOX 360 online features and
various media player extensions are difficult to ignore and the Nintendo II
is going to be a strong contender simply due to the lower price point.
The PS3 may begin to show potential in 2007 but for now the system appears
to be a major "work in progress" which is underscored by the fact you cannot
even use the PS3 out of the box unless you complete an hour worth of
firmware updates. What do families do with no Internet access for the PS3
firmware updates simply to use the unit out of the box?
It's the battle of the ages, played out with a new generation of hardware
that, for the first time, appears to leave even high-end gaming PCs in the
dust. Opinions about Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 vary, but
it's pretty clear that both devices kick serious butt from a technical
perspective. Looking over the specifications, and listening to
representatives of both companies, however, I've come away with a few
general thoughts.
From a pure processing standpoint, the PS3 appears to beat the Xbox 360, but
the first generation PS3 games are not graphically superior to anything
that's available on the Xbox 360. The PS3 has a few other advantages as
well. For example, it's mostly compatible with the millions of existing
PlayStation (PS1) and PlayStation 2 (PS2) titles, which is a huge plus.
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World's Fastest RAM - OCZ Technology
1150MHz DDR2.
Source:
OCZ Technology
No word on the price at this time but you can expect this impressive RAM
module not to be cheap and it does require a liquid cooling solution.
OCZ DDR2 PC2-9200 / 1150 MHz / FlexXLC Edition / Dual Channel
As the World’s fastest DDR2, the PC2-9200, in combination with the
innovative FlexXLC technology, is considerably the most ground-breaking and
unique memory product existing today.
These new modules feature the new OCZ FlexXLC (Xtreme Liquid Convention)
heatsink that delivers superior heat dissipation via a hybrid copper and
aluminum design alterable between passive air or water cooling.
Among these thermal management advantages, the PC2-9200 FlexXLC also
implements a new 8-layer PCB. This facilitates less “crosstalk,”
consequently enhancing the module’s total signal integrity.
The PC2-9200 FlexXLC modules are optimized for the latest cutting edge
platforms and will be available in 2GB (2x1024MB) dual channel kits. As part
of OCZ’s line-up of premium memory, the PC2-9200 series is backed by a
Lifetime Warranty and industry-leading technical support. Harnessing the
achievement of leading-edge speed, high performance heat dissipation, and
enhanced signal integrity, the unparalleled design of the OCZ PC2-9200
FlexXLC is a complete, all-encompassing solution certain to set a new
benchmark in enthusiast memory.
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News for Tuesday November 21st 2006.
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AMD 4x4 Motherboard Details Unveiled
Source:
DailyTech
Let's wait until we see Intel Kentfield 4x run head to
head with AMD's 4x. Looking at the motherboard pictures it's difficult (from
a IT geek point of view) not to get excited over the independent DDR2 RAM
module per 2x AMD CPU core. 2007 is certainly shaping up to be exciting but
keep in mind 4x CPU's are mostly useless when using today's
application/games. Let's see what the fall 2007 with VIsta 64 bit reveals.
Another prediction here - I'm betting on a tighter integration between
GPU and CPU where GPU will be utilized for more than 3D gaming for the Fall
of 2007.
Keep in mind all the 4x (and even 2x) benchmarks look amazing on "paper" but
VERY few real world applications take advantages of today's much hyped 2x
cores. 2007 aims to change that. Stay tuned!
ASUS L1N64-SLI WS to be the first 4x4 motherboard
DailyTech has obtained a couple of images of an upcoming motherboard for
AMD’s 4x4 enthusiast platform. The motherboard is an ASUS L1N64-SLI WS
powered by two NVIDIA nForce 680a MCPs. Two socket-1207 processors are
supported with four memory slots—two slots per processor. With two nForce
680a MCPs the ASUS L1N64-SLI WS features 12 SATA 3.0 Gbps ports and one PATA
for storage connectivity. There’s also an additional e.SATA port on the back
I/O as well.
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Anticipating the Apple IPhone.
Source:
Reuteers
Ok - this isn't rocket science: IT Professionals are looking for a
all-in-one device with cellular, MP3 and calendar all in one! If Apple wants
to take another step - this is it!
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The long-rumored arrival of a hybrid mobile
phone and iPod music player from Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL.O: Quote,
Profile, Research) has morphed from a question of "If" to "When" among fans
and analysts.
Since Apple's introduction of the iPod five years ago, the company has sold
more than 67 million of the devices and more than 1.5 billion songs from its
iTunes online music store.
Now, Chief Executive Steve Jobs and Apple are poised to roll out what has
been dubbed the "iPhone," perhaps as soon as January next year at the
Macworld conference that kicks off every new year, analysts say.
"From a technical standpoint, the phone is pretty much done," said American
Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu. "It's a big endeavor and we believe
it's beyond speculation."
Speculation has simmered since even before the introduction of the ROKR
phone from Motorola Inc. (MOT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) that uses a
slimmed-down version of the iTunes digital music jukebox to play 100 songs.
But sales were lackluster as users complained the phone did not hold more
songs.
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Front-wear vibration headset released.
Source:
Endgadget
Interesting concept we have here where sound is pulsed through the bones in
your skull. Very curious how these sound and as mentioned by Endgadget these
earphones may reduce the damage to the auditory nerves by indirect audio
which is not uncommon to current generation ear-phones.
The idea is that sound vibrates into the skull and then straight on to
the auditory nerve; though if someone is blasting their iPod next to you on
the train ride home, it would seem your auditory nerve is going to be
getting a lot more noise than signal.
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Windows Vista DVD to Ship with Over 19,000
Drivers
Source:
Dailytech
A good idea regardless to check the various hardware vendors before feeling
rest assured that the transition to Windows Vista will be relatively
"flawless". Nowhere is it mentioned that these drivers are 64 or 32 bit OS
specific - it would be safe to assume 32 bit OS specific.
19,500 drivers to be available on the DVD with another 11,000
being available on Windows Update
When new operating systems are released, there are invariably issues with
driver support (or lack thereof). Microsoft is working around the clock to
ensure that its Vista operating system has ample peripheral support built in
from the start along with accompanying support from Windows Update.
According to iTWire, Windows Vista has over 19,500 drivers included on the
install DVD. In comparison, when Windows XP first shipped over five years
ago, there were only 10,000 drivers included on the install CD with another
2,000 being available on Windows Update. In the case of Vista, there will be
an additional 11,700 drivers and counting will be available through Windows
Update.
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Security Now 66: Vista Security.
Source:
Security Now
Security now episode 66 delves into Windows Vista's new security
features and the bottom line is that only Windows Vista 64 bit edition
offers a significant security enhancement. The OS kernel under Windows Vista
64 bit is locked and only signed drivers are permitted to be installed which
makes it more difficult for malware programs to take control of your system.
Of course the downside of Vista 64 bit is lack of driver support and the
strict kernel policy will certainly break a hand full of third party
products - namely personal firewall and antivirus software.
Prediction for 2007: a strong push to 64 bit operating systems which
will provide more addressable memory space (32 bit OS allows only about 4GB
of addressable memory space) and significant security improvements. If you
are in the market for a new computer then a 64 bit processor is highly
recommended to prepare for this eventual transition to 64 bit operating
systems. You can of course still run a 32 bit OS on a 64 bit CPU until the
market provides a more user friendly environment for 64 bit operating
systems but at least you will be ready to migrate.
The big question is if you are planning to purchase Windows Vista in
2007 do you purchase the 64 bit version or the 32 bit version?
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