AdminSpy Latest Gadgets and Gizmos

Dell Lunches Three Systems Featuring Ubuntu 7.04

Thu, 24 May 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Dell today launched three consumer systems preinstalled with the Ubuntu 7.04 Linux distribution.

XPS 410n
Dimension E520n
Inspiron E1505n notebook

The systems target the Linux enthusiast community and are a direct result of extensive customer feedback. About 30,000 IdeaStorm community members advocated that Dell offer systems with Linux pre-installed, and more than 100,000 participated in a follow-up survey to help determine customer preferences, including which Linux distribution to offer initially.

With no software licensing costs associated with Ubuntu, the base price for each system is competitively priced and fully configured. Hardware support is available through normal Dell support channels, along with the Basic software support on a variety of dedicated Web sites and Linux forums.

Dell is offering hardware options on each system that have the most mature and stable Linux driver support. These hardware options have been thoroughly tested and certified by Canonical. For hardware options not offered with this release, Dell is working with the vendors of those devices to improve the maturity and stability of their associated Linux drivers, and expects to have a broader range of hardware support with Linux over time.

In response to customer feedback, Dell created a robust Dell Linux Forum.
The forum provides an easily accessible resource and collaborative environment that enables customers to interact with other Linux enthusiasts, ask questions, share experiences and learn.

Article Source Dell Lunches Three Systems Featuring Ubuntu 7.04

AMD launches the AMD Phenom Processor

Tue, 15 May 2007 00:00:00 +0100

AMD has launched the Phenom processor family name and publicly demonstrated the first all-AMD gaming platform, codenamed FASN8.

Phenom processor are the only true quad-core client processors and are expected to deliver the ultimate visual experience, especially when paired with AMD’s new DirectX 10 ATI Radeon HD 2000 series. AMD true quad-core and dual-core AMD Phenom-based desktop systems will ship in the second half of 2007.

In a demonstration in San Francisco, AMD previewed an eight-core platform, codenamed FASN8 pronounced “fascinate” to show the first AMD silicon-based next-generation eight-core platform. The demonstration platform includes two true quad-core AMD Phenom processors, the new DirectX 10 ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT, as well as an AMD next-generation, high-performance chipset, due in the second half of 2007.

AMD Phenom processors will be uniquely designed to facilitate intelligent uses of energy and system resources that are reliable, virtualization-ready and energy efficient, driving optimum performance-per-watt. All AMD Phenom processors will feature resources like an integrated DDR2 memory controller, HyperTransport technology links, and 128-bit Floating Point Units, for improved speed and performance in floating point calculations.

With the true quad-core design offered by the upcoming AMD Phenom processors, cores communicate on the die rather than through a front side bus external to the processor – a bottleneck inherent in other products that are packaging two dual-core chips to form quad-core processors.

Additionally, AMD’s Direct Connect Architecture on-chip ensures that all four cores have optimum access to the integrated memory controller and integrated HyperTransport links, so that performance scales well with the number of cores. This design is also highlighted by a unique shared L3 cache for quicker data access and Socket AM2 and Socket AM2+ infrastructure compatibility to enable a seamless upgrade path.

Article Source AMD launches the AMD Phenom Processor

Dell offers personal computers loaded with Ubuntu Linux

Wed, 02 May 2007 01:00:00 +0100

Dell has long offered business Linux-based computers. But the announcement marks the first time that a major computer manufacturer has offered the technology on laptops and desktops designed for consumer use.

The computers will use a version of Linux called Ubuntu and will be available by the end of the month.

With companies like Google offering web-based applications that compete with Microsoft's most popular programmes, the move by Dell offers consumers an unprecedented opportunity to run a full-featured laptop without using any products from the world's largest software maker.

Microsoft's Windows operating system runs over 90 per cent of the world's personal computers.

Article Source Dell offers personal computers loaded with Ubuntu Linux

Samsung to Launch Duo HD Optical Disc Player

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Samsung will launch a dual format High-Definition (HD) optical disc player in time for the holidays.

Samsung’s Duo HD player (BD-UP5000) will fully support both HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats and their interactive technologies, HDi and BD-Java. With the Duo HD consumers can enjoy additional studio content such as trailers, director’s comments, more elaborate interactive menus and behind the scene footage.

The new Duo HD joins Samsung’s next generation DVD line-up which includes Samsung’s second generation Blu-ray player available at retail this month. Together, these two models offer the consumer a strong line of High-Definition players to match Samsung’s line of HDTVs.

"We welcome Samsung's Duo HD player as another solution in the marketplace that will help reduce consumer confusion and buyer hesitancy towards HD media," said Ron Sanders, President of Warner Home Video. "This is an innovative product that can move us closer to mainstream consumer adoption of HD technologies."

“We are very pleased to announce the upcoming release of our Duo HD player. Consumers are hungry for more HD content but are currently confused about competing formats. Samsung’s Duo HD player will allow consumers access to every HD movie title available regardless of the authoring format. Samsung is committed to making life simpler through technology and will market next generation DVD products which will satisfy the consumer and market requirement. This is a big win for the consumer.

Article Source Samsung to Launch Duo HD Optical Disc Player

Apple iTunes to Offer MGM Movies

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0100

The iTunes store Wednesday began selling online movie titles from MGM, the Hollywood studio boasting the biggest catalog of modern movie titles.

As per the deal announced yesterday, MGM will intially offer classics such as 'Dances with Wolves,' 'Mad Max,' and 'Rocky,' with other titles to follow suit in the coming weeks.

Beginning with movies from Walt Disney Studios, Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate Entertainment, and now MGM, iTunes sports a catalog of well over 500 titles.

Marked by their absence on iTunes are Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, and Warner Bros, which have already started offering movie downloads through rivals, Amazon.com and Wal Mart Stores.

Titles from MGM's collection of blockbusters and classics that will be available on iTunes will include "The Thomas Crown Affair", "Ronin", and the acclaimed musical "Lilies of the Field."

Movies downloaded from the iTunes Store are downloaded in near-DVD quality at a resolution of 640x480 (up to 480, depending on the aspect ratio) and can be viewed on a computer, fifth generation iPod or widescreen TV with Apple TV.

Article Source Apple iTunes to Offer MGM Movies

100 Million Apple iPods Sold

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Apple today announced that the 100 millionth iPod has been sold, making the iPod the fastest selling music player in history.

The first iPod was sold five and a half years ago, in November 2001, and since then Apple has introduced more than 10 new iPod models, including five generations of iPod, two generations of iPod mini, two generations of iPod nano and two generations of iPod shuffle. Along with iTunes and the iTunes online music store, the iPod has transformed how tens of millions of music lovers acquire, manage and listen to their music.

The iPod has also sparked an unprecedented ecosystem of over 4,000 accessories made specifically for the iPod that range from fashionable cases to speaker systems, and more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles currently offer iPod connectivity.

“I take my running shoes and my iPod with me everywhere,” said Lance Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France champion. “I listen to music when I run. Having my music with me is really motivating.”

Every iPod features seamless integration with iTunes 7. The iTunes Store features the world’s largest catalog with over five million songs, 350 television shows and over 400 movies. The iTunes Store has sold over 2.5 billion songs, 50 million TV shows and over 1.3 million movies, making it the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and will enter the mobile phone market this year with its revolutionary iPhone.

Article Source 100 Million Apple iPods Sold

Panasonic makes the Most Reliable Cameras

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Panasonic has been voted as the most reliable camera manufacturer by Which readers.

Which?, the UK's consumer magazine, asked readers to rate the reliability of cameras as part of a comprehensive report on digital cameras. Against fierce competition, Panasonic was voted the clear winner, with a remarkable 99% overall reliability.

Reliability is a critical element in photography - the assurance that those special, spontaneous moments can be captured. Says Mark Robinson, Product Manager Lumix, Panasonic Consumer Electronics UK Ltd, "We are delighted with the results of the Which report, and are proud to produce reliable, award winning Lumix models that extend photographic opportunities."

Panasonic Lumix first entered into the digital camera market in 2002 and within a year was producing 'world first technologies' and establishing the new brand. With 10 new models launched last month, Panasonic offers a complete camera line-up from the entry-level DMC-LS60 to the award winning DMC-L1 Digital SLR.

Article Source Panasonic makes the Most Reliable Cameras

Wikia to build a search engine

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, has announced big plans to build a search engine to take on heavyweights like Google and Yahoo!, says a Reuters report.

At a conference in Tokyo this week, Wales declared that Wikipedia's commercial counterpart, Wikia, plans to grab around 5 percent of the lucrative Internet search market.

Using the term 'black boxes' to describe search giants, Google and Yahoo! - as they rarely ever disclose their ranking algorithms, Wales argued that collaborative search technology can indeed change the power structure of the Internet.

Citing Wikipedia's example, Wales said users can actually work together to improve search engines, and that constant improvement would make search technology less susceptible to spam.

Founded in 2004, Wikia hosts group publishing sites on wide ranging topics. While it offers its tools for free to users, sites that are built using its resources are required to be linked to Wikia, which makes its money mainly through advertising.

And unlike Wikipedia, Wikia is typically geared towards niche audiences.

At the conference, Wales exuded confidence that using the same root software as Wikipedia, Wikia might eventually end up carrying more content than its popular counterpart.

Article Source Wikia to build a search engine

Microsoft hits out at Google over copyright

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Microsoft, which is increasingly competing with Google in business software and other areas, accused the Silicon Valley giant of a "cavalier" attitude to copyright, media reported on Wednesday.

Thomas Rubin, Microsoft's associate general counsel, told an audience of book publishers on Tuesday that Google "systematically violates copyright" law.

Rubin singled out Google Book Search and YouTube for specific criticism, saying the services take a "cavalier approach to copyright."

"Google takes the position that everything may be freely copied unless the copyright owner notifies Google and tells it to stop."

"Anyone who visits YouTube, which Google purchased in 2006, will immediately recognise that it follows a similar cavalier approach to copyright," he said.

The audience was an unusually receptive one: the Association of American Publishers, which filed a lawsuit against Google in October 2005 claiming that the search giant violated copyright law by scanning and distributing books protected under copyright law. A trial will not take place before next year.

The accusations come as Google faces legal pressure from a slew of media companies over the way in which it uses books, video and news on its website.

Many argue that providing snippets of information in these areas supports Google's advertising business without giving a fair portion of profit to the content creators.

A recent ruling in the Belgian courts found that Google was unfairly reproducing stories from newspapers on its news aggregation service, and it is also embroiled in lawsuits brought by the Authors Guild and other publishers for digitising books for the internet without permission.

The accusations are the strongest salvo in an increasingly bitter war between Google and the Seattle-based giant, founded by Bill Gates 32 years ago.

Now that Google is offering office applications on the web; Google becomes the main competitor to Microsoft’s highly priced “office suite” and that will obviously take a big chunk out of Microsoft's profits. And after all what's Microsoft got to do with Google books?? It’s just slaying their main competitor for no reason other than jealousy.

Article Source Microsoft hits out at Google over copyright

Lenovo recalls 100 000 laptop batteries

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Lenovo recalled about 100,000 laptop computer batteries yesterday, warning that they could overheat and cause a fire.

The battery recall was the second for the company in the past six months and comes as Lenovo, the world's No. 3 computer maker, tries to gain ground on its better-known competitors.

The latest recall involves batteries made by Japan's Sanyo Electric and follows four reports of overheating. In one case, a user suffered minor eye irritation, the company said.

Lenovo, which has its world headquarters in Research Triangle Park, said consumers should stop using the recalled products immediately. It said the batteries can overheat if the laptop is dropped a certain way, striking the battery on a corner edge.

In September, IBM and Lenovo said they were seeking the recall of 526,000 rechargeable, lithium-ion Sony batteries purchased with ThinkPad computers after one of them caught fire at Los Angeles International Airport. Lenovo bought IBM's personal computer division in May 2005.

The earlier recall was part of a global recall of more than 10 million Sony-built batteries that were used in notebooks from Apple Inc., Dell Inc., Lenovo and others.

Article Source Lenovo recalls 100 000 laptop batteries