Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Chip Shot: Intel Invests in Connected Car Research and Product Development
Intel announced several initiatives and investments to spur product development and research for new connected car experiences. The investments include the new global Automotive Innovation and Product Development Center, the expansion of Intel Labs Interaction and Experience Research (IXR), an academic outreach program for automotive projects, and the newly-established $100 million Intel Capital Connected Car Investment Fund. Located in Karlsruhe, Germany, the Automotive Innovation and Product Development Center aims to accelerate innovations for in-vehicle infotainment and telematics solutions based on Intel technology. And with the expansion of Intel Labs IXR, Intel will gain valuable insights into the relationships between humans, cars and technology.
Standing Out on Sustainability
Lexmark’s sustainability leadership continues to win accolades. The latest award comes from the Manufacturing Leadership Council, which has named Lexmark a recipient of the 2012 Manufacturing Leadership 100 Award for Sustainability.
The awards program honors the top 100 companies and individuals that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. This is the first time Lexmark has received the award.
“We’re really excited about this particular award because it reflects the hard work of many Lexmark employees over a number of years,” said John Gagel, manager of sustainability. “The award is focused on the Lexmark Cartridge Collection Program and how we’ve been able to improve the sustainable features of our supplies through closed loop recycling.”
“The Manufacturing Leadership Award puts us in great company with many of our customers,” said Rob Burkholder, program manager, global annuities marketing. “It’s great recognition for Lexmark’s innovations and leadership position in sustainability.”
Lexmark and the other Manufacturing Leadership Award winners will be honored during a summit in Florida in May.
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Zoom in closer with this season’s new Cyber-shot™ cameras from Sony
HX20V, WX100 and W690 feature advanced AA lens for powerful zoom in super-slim body
DSC-HX20V: compact, powerful and perfect for travel with 20x optical zoom and effective 18.2 megapixel Exmor R® CMOS Sensor
DSC-WX100: world’s smallest and lightest camera*1 with 10x optical zoom and effective 18.2 megapixel Exmor R® CMOS Sensor
DSC-HX200V: ultra 30x optical zoom with effective 18.2 megapixel Exmor R® CMOS Sensor and manual controls
DSC-TX20: water/freeze/dust/shock-proof with effective 16.2 megapixel Exmor R® CMOS Sensor
DSC-W690: slim and easy to use with 10x optical zoom and 16.1 megapixels
DSC-HX10V: 16x optical zoom and effective 18.2 megapixel Exmor R® CMOS Sensor
DSC-H90: 16x optical zoom and effective 16.1 megapixels
Big, bold close-ups don't have to mean carrying a big, bulky camera. With this season’s latest Cyber-shot™ digital cameras from Sony, you can enjoy super-zoom performance and detail-packed images with less to carry.
Clearer, steadier high-zoom images from a compact camera
Making its debut in the Cyber-shot™ HX20, WX100 and W690, an Advanced Aspherical (AA) lens boosts zoom range while allowing a far smaller lens body. The precision optical design adds an extremely thin lens element, increasing maximum magnification without compromising image quality or optical performance. With the WX100, this results in an impressive 10x optical zoom range in a compact camera that’s just 17.5mm thin at its slimmest part.
By Pixel Super Resolution technology (except W690, H90) doubles optical zoom range without sacrificing image quality or resolution. You’ll enjoy detail-packed close-ups – with up to 60x Clear Image Zoom on the HX200V – without the artificial blockiness that mars conventional digital zoom.
Complementing the new cameras’ exceptional zoom performance, Optical SteadyShot now offers enhanced image stabilisation when zoomed-in, both for still and movies. A refined gyro is teamed with optimised processing, adding the right amount of shake compensation for each scene. You’ll enjoy clearer, blur-free stills and videos, even at long focal lengths where camera shake is greatest.
Powerful features to widen creative shooting options
Extra High Sensitivity technology*2 (except W690, H90) expands your photo opportunities, especially in dimly-lit conditions. Maximum sensitivity is now boosted to ISO 12800, giving more opportunities for spontaneous handheld shooting without flash. Thanks to the Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor and high-speed BIONZ processor, noise levels are significantly reduced compared with previous Cyber-shot™ models*3. You’ll see the difference with crisper low-light shots, from atmospheric portraits to interiors.
Spontaneous shooting options are widened further with high-speed autofocus that locks onto your subject in as little as 0.13 seconds in daylight (except W690, H90 and TX20). AF performance is also significantly quicker at 0.20 seconds in dim conditions (for WX100 at 3EV; actual AF speed depends on model and shooting conditions). You’ll be able grab even more of those special moments when other cameras struggle to focus accurately.
Superior Auto Mode (except W690, H90) takes the guesswork out of achieving professional results in virtually any situation. Detecting the current scene and shooting conditions, Cyber-shot™ automatically adjusts exposure and other camera settings for superb images with low noise and high dynamic range.
DSC-HX20V
The new Cyber-shot™ line-up is headed by the compact, powerful HX20V featuring the AA lens and packed with advanced shooting features in a stylish, easy to carry body, making it an ideal travel partner. The highly-efficient Exmor R™ CMOS sensor with 18.2 effective megapixels is teamed with the latest BIONZ processor that assures flawless, low-noise images, even in low light. By processing each area of an image to achieve the optimal balance between noise and details, the adaptive noise reduction technology achieves a natural look with reduced noise. Ideal for action-packed scenes, fleeting portraits and close-ups, speedy shooting responses and quick autofocus (approximately 0.13 second in daylight and 0.21seconds in low-light at 3 EV) help you capture more split-second moments.
Other HX20V highlights include 20x optical zoom, AVCHD Full HD 50p video recording for super-smooth footage, artistic Picture Effect modes, 3D shooting and GPS. Advanced manual functions give exceptional creative control over producing beautiful Full HD video and stills.
Also available, the Cyber-shot™ HX10V is an even more accessibly-priced choice for versatile shooting with 18.2 effective megapixels and a 16x optical zoom range.
DSC-WX100
Just 17.5mm slim (at thinnest point), the beautifully styled Cyber-shot™ WX100 is the world’s smallest, lightest camera*1 to offer a powerful 10x optical zoom range. It’s an ideal travel partner, covering a huge range of shooting possibilities from wide-angle shots to detail-packed close-ups.
DSC-HX200V
With an ultra-powerful 30x optical zoom range and easy DSLR-style manual controls, the HX200V offers big-camera performance with the portability of a compact. It’s a showcase for latest Cyber-shot™ technologies like Full HD 50p video, Superior Auto, high-speed autofocus, Picture Effect, 3D shooting and quick AF speed (approximately 0.13 seconds in daylight and 0.21 seconds in low-light at 3 EV).
DSC-TX20
Ultra-slim and stylish, the TX20 is your perfect partner for everyday adventures, from skiing to trips to the beach or pool. Resisting water (to 5m), dust, freeze and drops from a height of 1.5m, it’s packed with advanced Cyber-shot™ technologies in a beautifully slim body.
DSC-W690
Slim and refreshingly easy to use, the W690 brings distant subjects closer with its impressive 10x optical zoom lens. Enhanced Optical SteadyShot now offers improved image stabilisation that’s effective with both stills and movies. 360 Sweep Panorama lets you grab exciting all-round images at the touch of a button, while iAUTO takes care of adjusting camera settings for great results without fuss.
DSC-H90
With a powerful 16x optical zoom range and 24mm wide angle, the Cyber-shot™ H90 handles a wide range of shooting situations, from landscapes to frame-filling close-ups. Your creative options are broadened further with enhanced Optical SteadyShot, iAUTO, 360 Sweep Panorama for exciting all-round views and Picture Effect for impressive in-camera image treatments.
Shoot faster, transfer quicker with the new Experience UHS-I 30MB/s & Expert UHS-I 94MB/s SDHC Cards
The rugged new range of SDHC cards by Sony are ideal for sustained burst shooting, Full HD video and 3D imaging. Resistant to water, x-rays, sweltering summer heat and freezing conditions, they’re perfect partners for the most gruelling photo or video assignment.
The range-topping Expert series can now achieve blazing transfer speeds up to 94MB/s*4 with the growing range of compatible UHS-I hardware, including the SLT-A77 Translucent Mirror camera. Also available for latest Cyber-shot™ models, the mid-range Experience series supports data rates up to 30MB/s*4. Both series come with free download of File Rescue software that allows recovery of accidentally-deleted photo/video files, even in 3D and Full HD.
Constructed with ‘SoRPlas’ Sony Recycled Plastic
The new Cyber-shot™ HX20V is partially constructed using ‘SoRPlas’ (Sony Recycled Plastic), a flame-retardant polycarbonate plastic that contains 99% recycled materials. SoRPlas exhibits excellent strength plus world-leading heat resistance and durability.
Friday, 24 February 2012
The New Liquid Glow Smartphone - A handful of friendship and fun
Acer presents its Liquid Glow smartphone at the 2012 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Based on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, this smartphone brings the ultimate balance between style, performance and affordability — ideal for today's fun-seeking, social-networking youth.
The Liquid Glow sports a 3.7-inch screen and portrays Acer's signature look with nice curves, chrome details, and a soft-touch casing combined to deliver the perfect size, grip and feel. This new smartphone will be available in a series of trendy colors: Sakura Pink, Alpine White, and Cat's-eye Black. Going a step further, the onscreen display style varies with the external color, making each smartphone a unique fashion statement.
The Liquid Glow brings together the power and the convenience of Ice Cream Sandwich, providing a user-friendly interface along with widgets to easily stay connected, entertained and updated. It also works with the latest voice-input engine from Google, which guarantees a continuous "open microphone" experience and streaming voice recognition.
The smartphone's 5 MP rear camera features an LED flash for low light, as well as panoramic image capture and touch focus. With Android Beam, photos can be shared by a single tap with another NFC powered Android device, without the hassle of launching application or pairing. What’s more, Android Beam can also share anything like contacts, favorite apps, music or videos instantaneously through NFC.
Please come and see the new Liquid Glow smartphone at Acer Pod, located inside the Google Android Booth, Hall 8 - 8C25.
The Acer Liquid Glow will be available in early summer 2012.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition, Somerset House, London
The vast showcase of winning images from the Sony World Photography Awards 2012 come to London’s Somerset House from 27 April – 20 May 2012 as part of the photography festival, World Photo, London. The recently revealed 2012 shortlist is a sure indication that this year’s exhibition is set to be as remarkable as ever, bringing together a fantastic collection of colours and scenes, skilfully captured by some of the world’s most talented photographers.
The Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition presents the best of over 112,000 entries into the 2012 competition, from professionals to students from 171 countries across the globe. Set in the stunning Embankment Galleries, the exhibition offers visitors an extraordinary range of contemporary photography covering a wide range of subjects from photojournalism and documentary to fashion, nature, architecture and sport.
A particular highlight of the show includes the winning images of L’Iris d’Or the Sony World Photography Awards Professional Photographer of the Year. This coveted prize will be announced at the Sony World Photography Awards Gala Ceremony, taking place at London’s Park Lane Hilton Hotel, which this year is hosted by the esteemed photographic consultant and 2012 chair of judges W.M. Hunt.
The wonderful Sony World Photography Awards exhibition is only one part of the World Photo London festival, billed as the global photographic event of the year. World Photo London will include a wide-ranging programme of events, talks, seminars, exhibitions, workshops in book design, street photography and other hands on practices. Highlights include tours of the exhibition with the awards winners, a special presentation by the Honorary Judges, a Business of Photography Seminar and networking cocktail and portfolio reviews. There is an event for anyone who enjoys photography, whether a culture buff or a practicing enthusiast and many events are completely free to attend.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Latest AMD combined graphics and processor technology gives Mini-PC the EDGE in the Home, Office and even Gaming
Building on the success of its first Mini PC, hailed as the smallest PC in the world, SAPPHIRE Technology – a world leading manufacturer and supplier of PC graphics cards, mainboards and multimedia solutions has just introduced a new model – the SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 based on industry leading APU technology from AMD.
The SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 shares the same slim, stylish outline as the earlier models but delivers increased graphical capability and higher core performance as a result of incorporating the latest E450 APU technology from AMD. At less than half a litre in volume, it is slimmer and smaller than most wireless access points – in fact around the size of a paperback book! Its stylish design and simple pedestal mount make it equally at home next to a TV or a business monitor whilst occupying the minimum of desk or shelf space.
Despite its small size, the SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 is a fully featured PC for home, education or business use. In the home, its compact size is a welcome replacement for a bulky traditional PC whether for browsing the internet, children’s homework or home office tasks, with many applications accelerated by its state-of-the-art technology. Its HD video capability enables the smooth streaming of video content over HDMI to a TV or monitor and its stylish design is just as at home in the living room as in the study.
For business, the stream processing technology in the SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 accelerates Office tasks and many business applications, whilst occupying a fraction of the desk space of a regular PC - and consuming many times less power. In education, it is more than capable of running the multiple applications required, and its small size allows easy transfer to different locations as needed. In both cases the built in networking by cable or wireless is easily configured, and inclusion of the socket for a Kensington lock ensures security against unauthorized removal.
The casual gamer will find delight in the SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3, which takes most mainstream games in its stride, as well as internet and more serious applications. It is easily carried to share experiences with friends and can be quickly set up with TV or monitor. Even the more hardcore LAN party visitors will find the easily portable EDGE-HD3 a useful weapon in their armoury.
Specifications of the SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 include an AMD E450 APU, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 320GB hard drive and built in wireless connectivity as well as high speed LAN port, two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports. It provides high resolution graphics output with a full HD (1920x1080) HDMI interface (with an HDMI cable and HDMI-DVI adapter also supplied) as well as a VGA monitor output and it has built-in audio with mic-in and line-out sockets.
The SAPPHIRE Mini PC family is a top scorer in power efficiency. Consuming less than 30W even under load, the members of the SAPPHIRE Mini PC family use around 10 times less power than a typical desktop PC – and less than most notebooks – making it one of the Greenest PC solutions available. Power and space savings alone can justify switching to the Mini PC for many businesses.
The SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 Mini PC is ideal for integration into an office or education environment. The end user or system integrator has a free choice of keyboard or mouse, which can be either wireless or USB connected.
The new SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 is compatible with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista or Windows XP. All appropriate drivers are supplied on CD.
The SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 shares the same slim, stylish outline as the earlier models but delivers increased graphical capability and higher core performance as a result of incorporating the latest E450 APU technology from AMD. At less than half a litre in volume, it is slimmer and smaller than most wireless access points – in fact around the size of a paperback book! Its stylish design and simple pedestal mount make it equally at home next to a TV or a business monitor whilst occupying the minimum of desk or shelf space.
Despite its small size, the SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 is a fully featured PC for home, education or business use. In the home, its compact size is a welcome replacement for a bulky traditional PC whether for browsing the internet, children’s homework or home office tasks, with many applications accelerated by its state-of-the-art technology. Its HD video capability enables the smooth streaming of video content over HDMI to a TV or monitor and its stylish design is just as at home in the living room as in the study.
For business, the stream processing technology in the SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 accelerates Office tasks and many business applications, whilst occupying a fraction of the desk space of a regular PC - and consuming many times less power. In education, it is more than capable of running the multiple applications required, and its small size allows easy transfer to different locations as needed. In both cases the built in networking by cable or wireless is easily configured, and inclusion of the socket for a Kensington lock ensures security against unauthorized removal.
The casual gamer will find delight in the SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3, which takes most mainstream games in its stride, as well as internet and more serious applications. It is easily carried to share experiences with friends and can be quickly set up with TV or monitor. Even the more hardcore LAN party visitors will find the easily portable EDGE-HD3 a useful weapon in their armoury.
Specifications of the SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 include an AMD E450 APU, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 320GB hard drive and built in wireless connectivity as well as high speed LAN port, two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports. It provides high resolution graphics output with a full HD (1920x1080) HDMI interface (with an HDMI cable and HDMI-DVI adapter also supplied) as well as a VGA monitor output and it has built-in audio with mic-in and line-out sockets.
The SAPPHIRE Mini PC family is a top scorer in power efficiency. Consuming less than 30W even under load, the members of the SAPPHIRE Mini PC family use around 10 times less power than a typical desktop PC – and less than most notebooks – making it one of the Greenest PC solutions available. Power and space savings alone can justify switching to the Mini PC for many businesses.
The SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 Mini PC is ideal for integration into an office or education environment. The end user or system integrator has a free choice of keyboard or mouse, which can be either wireless or USB connected.
The new SAPPHIRE EDGE-HD3 is compatible with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista or Windows XP. All appropriate drivers are supplied on CD.
Monday, 20 February 2012
Lexmark Mobile Workflows App
Imagine being able to use your mobile device to take pictures of travel receipts and submit them for expense processing, just like you would using the scanner and touch screen of a Lexmark MFP? You can with Lexmark’s new mobile workflows app.
Lexmark’s solution allows business users to easily create custom workflows – such as clinical photo capture, incident reporting or travel and expense processing – and rapidly share them with their workforce via the mobile workflows app for smartphones and tablets.
The app will be available next quarter. A Lexmark team is offering a preview of it this wee at the HIMSS healthcare conference in Las Vegas.
Want to see how it works?
Click on the video below to watch a quick demonstration by Mark Vance, Lexmark solutions marketing manager:
Watch on YouTube
Lexmark’s solution allows business users to easily create custom workflows – such as clinical photo capture, incident reporting or travel and expense processing – and rapidly share them with their workforce via the mobile workflows app for smartphones and tablets.
The app will be available next quarter. A Lexmark team is offering a preview of it this wee at the HIMSS healthcare conference in Las Vegas.
Want to see how it works?
Click on the video below to watch a quick demonstration by Mark Vance, Lexmark solutions marketing manager:
Watch on YouTube
Belkin Announces Strategic Partnership with Peerless Industries, Inc.
(Playa Vista, CA) - February 20, 2011 - Belkin today announced a strategic partnership with Peerless Industries, Inc., a designer, manufacturer and distributor of audio-visual solutions. The partnership will initially yield the PeerCare Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Hybrid Cart, fitted with a unique modular battery power system. Optimized for iPad® and Android® tablet platforms, the PeerCare EMR Hybrid Cart will assist healthcare professionals using tablet devices for charting by providing exceptional battery life and ease of battery management.
As the healthcare industry continues to evolve and find ways to utilize mobile technologies, it is evident that there is a natural correlation with Belkin's product roadmap.
"As we look to the future, we are excited to bring our customer-first approach to the healthcare market," said Luis Artiz, director of product management at Belkin. "This partnership with Peerless and the resulting solution, the PeerCare EMRHybrid Cart, show our commitment to designing thoughtful products that solve real end-user pain points.
The PeerCare EMR Hybrid Cart is the industry's lightest weight, user-configurable powered cart. When deployed with its optional modular battery system, which is small enough to fit into a nurse's palm, and external charging station, it delivers more than 24 hours of multi-shift use on a single charge.
"We found many synergies in partnering with Belkin as we expand our presence into the healthcare vertical and look forward to jointly announcing other PeerCare products that encompass Belkin technology," said Will Townsend, Managing Director of Healthcare Solutions, Peerless Industries. "As a first product of this partnership, the PeerCare EMR Hybrid Cart gives healthcare workers a portable and flexible EMR cart based solution with a long-lasting, light-weight, easily-swappable battery system."
Unveiled today at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference, The PeerCare EMR Hybrid Cart is expected to be available in late Q1 to Q2 2012. For more information, visit booth #7015 at the Venetian Sands Expo Center.
As the healthcare industry continues to evolve and find ways to utilize mobile technologies, it is evident that there is a natural correlation with Belkin's product roadmap.
"As we look to the future, we are excited to bring our customer-first approach to the healthcare market," said Luis Artiz, director of product management at Belkin. "This partnership with Peerless and the resulting solution, the PeerCare EMRHybrid Cart, show our commitment to designing thoughtful products that solve real end-user pain points.
The PeerCare EMR Hybrid Cart is the industry's lightest weight, user-configurable powered cart. When deployed with its optional modular battery system, which is small enough to fit into a nurse's palm, and external charging station, it delivers more than 24 hours of multi-shift use on a single charge.
"We found many synergies in partnering with Belkin as we expand our presence into the healthcare vertical and look forward to jointly announcing other PeerCare products that encompass Belkin technology," said Will Townsend, Managing Director of Healthcare Solutions, Peerless Industries. "As a first product of this partnership, the PeerCare EMR Hybrid Cart gives healthcare workers a portable and flexible EMR cart based solution with a long-lasting, light-weight, easily-swappable battery system."
Unveiled today at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference, The PeerCare EMR Hybrid Cart is expected to be available in late Q1 to Q2 2012. For more information, visit booth #7015 at the Venetian Sands Expo Center.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Apple Releases OS X Mountain Lion Developer Preview with Over 100 New Features
CUPERTINO, California—February 16, 2012—Apple® today released a developer preview of OS X® Mountain Lion, the ninth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system, which brings popular apps and features from iPad® to the Mac® and accelerates the pace of OS X innovation. Mountain Lion introduces Messages, Notes, Reminders and Game Center to the Mac, as well as Notification Center, Share Sheets, Twitter integration and AirPlay® Mirroring. Mountain Lion is the first OS X release built with iCloud® in mind for easy setup and integration with apps. The developer preview of Mountain Lion also introduces Gatekeeper, a revolutionary security feature that helps keep you safe from malicious software by giving you complete control over what apps are installed on your Mac. The preview release of Mountain Lion is available to Mac Developer Program members starting today. Mac users will be able to upgrade to Mountain Lion from the Mac App Store™ in late summer 2012.
“The Mac is on a roll, growing faster than the PC for 23 straight quarters, and with Mountain Lion things get even better,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The developer preview of Mountain Lion comes just seven months after the incredibly successful release of Lion and sets a rapid pace of development for the world’s most advanced personal computer operating system.”
The developer preview of Mountain Lion features the all new Messages app which replaces iChat® and allows you to send unlimited messages, high-quality photos and videos directly from your Mac to another Mac or iOS device. Messages will continue to support AIM, Jabber, Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk. Starting today Lion users can download a beta of Messages from www.apple.com, and the final version will be available with Mountain Lion. Reminders and Notes help you create and track your to-dos across all your devices. Game Center lets you personalize your Mac gaming experience, find new games and challenge friends to play live multiplayer games, whether they’re on a Mac, iPhone®, iPad or iPod touch®.
Mountain Lion presents notifications in an elegant new way, and Notification Center provides easy access to alerts from Mail, Calendar, Messages, Reminders, system updates and third party apps. System-wide Share Sheets make it easy to share links, photos and videos directly from Apple and third party apps. Twitter is integrated throughout Mountain Lion so you can sign on once and tweet directly from Safari®, Quick Look, Photo Booth®, Preview and third party apps. Mountain Lion also introduces AirPlay Mirroring, an easy way to wirelessly send a secure 720p video stream of what's on your Mac to an HDTV using Apple TV®.
More than 100 million users have iCloud accounts, and Mountain Lion makes it easier than ever to set up iCloud and access documents across your devices. Mountain Lion uses your Apple ID to automatically set up Contacts, Mail, Calendar, Messages, FaceTime® and Find My Mac. The new iCloud Documents pushes any changes to all your devices so documents are always up to date, and a new API helps developers make document-based apps work with iCloud.
Gatekeeper is a revolutionary new security feature that gives you control over which apps can be downloaded and installed on your Mac. You can choose to install apps from any source, just as you do on a Mac today, or you can use the safer default setting to install apps from the Mac App Store, along with apps from developers that have a unique Developer ID from Apple. For maximum security, you can set Gatekeeper to only allow apps from the Mac App Store to be downloaded and installed.
Mountain Lion also has features specifically designed to support Chinese users, including significant enhancements to the Chinese input method and the option to select Baidu search in Safari. Mountain Lion makes it easy to set up Contacts, Mail and Calendar with top email service providers QQ, 126 and 163. Chinese users can also upload video via Share Sheets directly to leading video websites Youku and Tudou, and system-wide support for Sina weibo makes microblogging easy.
Hundreds of new APIs give developers access to new core technologies and enhanced features within OS X. The Game Kit APIs tap into the same services as Game Center on iOS, making it possible to create multiplayer games that work across Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. A new graphics infrastructure underpins OpenGL and OpenCL and implements GLKit, first introduced in iOS 5, to make it easier to create OpenGL apps. Using Core Animation in Cocoa apps is easier than ever, and new video APIs deliver modern 64-bit replacements for low-level QuickTime APIs. Enhanced Multi-Touch™ APIs give developers double-tap zoom support and access to the system-wide lookup gesture. Kernel ASLR improves security through enhanced mitigation against buffer overflow attacks.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.
“The Mac is on a roll, growing faster than the PC for 23 straight quarters, and with Mountain Lion things get even better,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The developer preview of Mountain Lion comes just seven months after the incredibly successful release of Lion and sets a rapid pace of development for the world’s most advanced personal computer operating system.”
The developer preview of Mountain Lion features the all new Messages app which replaces iChat® and allows you to send unlimited messages, high-quality photos and videos directly from your Mac to another Mac or iOS device. Messages will continue to support AIM, Jabber, Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk. Starting today Lion users can download a beta of Messages from www.apple.com, and the final version will be available with Mountain Lion. Reminders and Notes help you create and track your to-dos across all your devices. Game Center lets you personalize your Mac gaming experience, find new games and challenge friends to play live multiplayer games, whether they’re on a Mac, iPhone®, iPad or iPod touch®.
Mountain Lion presents notifications in an elegant new way, and Notification Center provides easy access to alerts from Mail, Calendar, Messages, Reminders, system updates and third party apps. System-wide Share Sheets make it easy to share links, photos and videos directly from Apple and third party apps. Twitter is integrated throughout Mountain Lion so you can sign on once and tweet directly from Safari®, Quick Look, Photo Booth®, Preview and third party apps. Mountain Lion also introduces AirPlay Mirroring, an easy way to wirelessly send a secure 720p video stream of what's on your Mac to an HDTV using Apple TV®.
More than 100 million users have iCloud accounts, and Mountain Lion makes it easier than ever to set up iCloud and access documents across your devices. Mountain Lion uses your Apple ID to automatically set up Contacts, Mail, Calendar, Messages, FaceTime® and Find My Mac. The new iCloud Documents pushes any changes to all your devices so documents are always up to date, and a new API helps developers make document-based apps work with iCloud.
Gatekeeper is a revolutionary new security feature that gives you control over which apps can be downloaded and installed on your Mac. You can choose to install apps from any source, just as you do on a Mac today, or you can use the safer default setting to install apps from the Mac App Store, along with apps from developers that have a unique Developer ID from Apple. For maximum security, you can set Gatekeeper to only allow apps from the Mac App Store to be downloaded and installed.
Mountain Lion also has features specifically designed to support Chinese users, including significant enhancements to the Chinese input method and the option to select Baidu search in Safari. Mountain Lion makes it easy to set up Contacts, Mail and Calendar with top email service providers QQ, 126 and 163. Chinese users can also upload video via Share Sheets directly to leading video websites Youku and Tudou, and system-wide support for Sina weibo makes microblogging easy.
Hundreds of new APIs give developers access to new core technologies and enhanced features within OS X. The Game Kit APIs tap into the same services as Game Center on iOS, making it possible to create multiplayer games that work across Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. A new graphics infrastructure underpins OpenGL and OpenCL and implements GLKit, first introduced in iOS 5, to make it easier to create OpenGL apps. Using Core Animation in Cocoa apps is easier than ever, and new video APIs deliver modern 64-bit replacements for low-level QuickTime APIs. Enhanced Multi-Touch™ APIs give developers double-tap zoom support and access to the system-wide lookup gesture. Kernel ASLR improves security through enhanced mitigation against buffer overflow attacks.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.
Acer S271HL Ultra slim, Big Picture
Modern design, large screen and mercury free for eco-friendly users
London, February 16th 2012 - The Acer S271HL S1 series monitor, is an energy efficient and earth friendly LED Monitor, equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as striking contrast ratio (100M: 1), blazing response time (2 ms), HDMI and DVI ports with HDCP support.
Whether for work or for fun, the Acer S271HL helps to enhance productivity thanks to the 27" large screen making it easy to view multiple applications in parallel. The ultra-slim 24 mm profile characterized with rounded glossy porcelain-like foot stand is the perfect solution for the style conscious and space-saving home users.
The S271HL integrates white LED technology which eliminates hazardous substances such as mercury or halogen gases. Plus, compared to the traditional CCFL displays the S273HL can reduce power consumption by up to 68%. This translates to substantial cost savings, while preserving nature's energy resources. The LED lamp not only ensures exceptional reliability and great savings but delivers a better performance. In fact, it allows the reproduction of a larger colour range with better saturation: the result is extraordinary realism, unobtainable with standard technologies.
The smart 27" Monitor is equipped with an array of ports ensuring easy connectivity to a wide range of devices: VGA; HDMI, DVI with HDCP protection, ensuring full enjoyment of DRM-protected content; HDMI, providing advanced digital connectivity enabling outstanding high-definition viewing and best quality uncompressed video currently available
Featuring outstanding dynamic contrast ratio of 100,000,000:1 optimized by Acer Adaptive Contrast Management, the S271HL renders razor-sharp images with rich colours through the enhancement of detail and gradation in bright or dim scenes. This allows users to view heavy data files or CAD applications with exceptional precision and sharp defined lines. The ultra-fast response time helps avoiding the blurring effect in fast paced videos or games.
London, February 16th 2012 - The Acer S271HL S1 series monitor, is an energy efficient and earth friendly LED Monitor, equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as striking contrast ratio (100M: 1), blazing response time (2 ms), HDMI and DVI ports with HDCP support.
Whether for work or for fun, the Acer S271HL helps to enhance productivity thanks to the 27" large screen making it easy to view multiple applications in parallel. The ultra-slim 24 mm profile characterized with rounded glossy porcelain-like foot stand is the perfect solution for the style conscious and space-saving home users.
The S271HL integrates white LED technology which eliminates hazardous substances such as mercury or halogen gases. Plus, compared to the traditional CCFL displays the S273HL can reduce power consumption by up to 68%. This translates to substantial cost savings, while preserving nature's energy resources. The LED lamp not only ensures exceptional reliability and great savings but delivers a better performance. In fact, it allows the reproduction of a larger colour range with better saturation: the result is extraordinary realism, unobtainable with standard technologies.
The smart 27" Monitor is equipped with an array of ports ensuring easy connectivity to a wide range of devices: VGA; HDMI, DVI with HDCP protection, ensuring full enjoyment of DRM-protected content; HDMI, providing advanced digital connectivity enabling outstanding high-definition viewing and best quality uncompressed video currently available
Featuring outstanding dynamic contrast ratio of 100,000,000:1 optimized by Acer Adaptive Contrast Management, the S271HL renders razor-sharp images with rich colours through the enhancement of detail and gradation in bright or dim scenes. This allows users to view heavy data files or CAD applications with exceptional precision and sharp defined lines. The ultra-fast response time helps avoiding the blurring effect in fast paced videos or games.
Sony Completes Full Acquisition of Sony Ericsson
Sony to Rename the Company Sony Mobile Communications and Accelerate Business Integration
Tokyo, Japan - Sony Corporation (“Sony”) today announced that the transaction to acquire Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson’s (“Ericsson”) 50% stake in Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”) has been completed as of February 15, 2012 (Central European time). This marks the completion of the transaction jointly announced by Sony and Ericsson on October 27, 2011, and makes Sony Ericsson a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony.
Sony will rename Sony Ericsson “Sony Mobile Communications”, and further integrate the mobile phone business as a vital element of its electronics business, with the aim of accelerating convergence between Sony’s lineup of network enabled consumer electronics products, including smart phones, tablets, TVs and PCs.
Company Overview
New company name: Sony Mobile Communications AB
Date of name change: February 2012 (planned)
Representative: Bert Nordberg, President and CEO
Corporate Headquarters: London, UK
R&D sites: Beijing, Lund, Silicon Valley and Tokyo
Headcount: Approximately 8,000 (as of February 1, 2012)
Principal business: Design, development, manufacture and sale of mobile phone products
Stated capital: EUR 100 million
Tokyo, Japan - Sony Corporation (“Sony”) today announced that the transaction to acquire Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson’s (“Ericsson”) 50% stake in Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (“Sony Ericsson”) has been completed as of February 15, 2012 (Central European time). This marks the completion of the transaction jointly announced by Sony and Ericsson on October 27, 2011, and makes Sony Ericsson a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony.
Sony will rename Sony Ericsson “Sony Mobile Communications”, and further integrate the mobile phone business as a vital element of its electronics business, with the aim of accelerating convergence between Sony’s lineup of network enabled consumer electronics products, including smart phones, tablets, TVs and PCs.
Company Overview
New company name: Sony Mobile Communications AB
Date of name change: February 2012 (planned)
Representative: Bert Nordberg, President and CEO
Corporate Headquarters: London, UK
R&D sites: Beijing, Lund, Silicon Valley and Tokyo
Headcount: Approximately 8,000 (as of February 1, 2012)
Principal business: Design, development, manufacture and sale of mobile phone products
Stated capital: EUR 100 million
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
ASUS Showcases New HD 7770 DirectCU TOP and HD 7750
Based on AMD "Cape Verde" GPUs, the cards deliver 28nm fabrication, DirectX® 11.1 compatibility, and PCI Express 3.0, coupled with ASUS cooling and overclocking
Taipei, Taiwan (February 15, 2012) - the ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU TOP and HD 7750 bring 28nm GPU advancements to a very cost effective segment that combines great gaming and overclocking performance with the value sought by general home computing consumers. Both arrive factory-overclocked, and use PCI Express 3.0 as well as 1GB of GDDR5. The HD 7770 DirectCU TOP ships boosted to 1120MHz and runs 20% cooler than reference for improved stability, longevity, and overclocking. The two cards are bundled with ASUS GPU Tweak to make tuning easier and deeper than before.
More efficient and quieter graphics for every PC user
Thanks to the availability of 28nm production technology, new HD 7700 cards pack greater performance into a more energy efficient, quieter, and overall more compact platform. The ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU TOP runs at a factory-overclock of 1120MHz, a significant 120MHz over reference. The HD 7750 operates at 820MHz core clock, 20MHz faster than its reference design. Both use a 128-bit memory interface and 1GB of GDDR5 video RAM to enable high resolution gaming, multimedia, and productivity, with full DirectX® 11.1 compatibility for the latest PC graphics developments. With ASUS quality and assurance, the cards present a reinforced 28nm product lineup consumers can tap when looking for parts that are highly capable and at the same time very cost effective.
DirectCU cooling for more intense gaming and overclocking
The HD 7770 arrives in a special DirectCU TOP edition, giving it an ASUS-designed thermal architecture that relies on all-copper heatpipes in direct contact with the GPU. It also uses a more heat-conductive shroud, and a better-performing, quieter fan. Proven on multiple ASUS graphics cards in the past, DirectCU consistently outperforms reference and competing coolers in terms of heat mitigation and removal. It operates at 20% lower temperatures than reference on average while being quieter than stock, contributing to a longer lasting product that can handle more intense applications and overclocking. For the HD 7750, ASUS has implemented a double-sealed dust-resistant fan design to repel debris and minimize the harm caused by particle accumulation. This feature aids in prolonging card life cycle, makes maintenance easier, and promotes reduced fan spin to lower sound levels.
GPU Tweak puts 28nm flexibility and performance at hand
Bundled with HD 7700 cards, the ASUS GPU Tweak utility has been redesigned and improved to make graphics card tuning and overclocking easier and more accessible. Users can quickly adjust clock speeds, voltages, and fan settings with greater accuracy and range than those offered by reference drivers. GPU Tweak now has auto clock and voltage syncing to ensure more stable and safer overclocked performance, as well as convenient 2D/3D mode locking to keep benchmark scores more true to form. An onscreen widget allows for fast card tracking at any time, while live BIOS version and driver updates make certain cards remain fully updated and at peak performance.
New generation PCI Express 3.0 and multi-screen displays
Having debuted on the HD 7000 Series, PCI Express 3.0 represents a major step forward in data interfacing, as it doubles the bandwidth of PCI Express 2.0, allowing new graphics cards a better foundation upon which to utilize their greater power. PCI Express 3.0 maintains full backward compatibility with all PCI Express 2.0 devices, and the slot uses the same physical dimensions to guarantee an easy fit with existing parts. Thanks to the augmented power of 28nm technology, HD 7700 cards offer users the added attraction of AMD EyefinityTM displays to allow for much bigger resolutions and more impressive views that are well-suited to graphics professionals, designers, and artists.
Taipei, Taiwan (February 15, 2012) - the ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU TOP and HD 7750 bring 28nm GPU advancements to a very cost effective segment that combines great gaming and overclocking performance with the value sought by general home computing consumers. Both arrive factory-overclocked, and use PCI Express 3.0 as well as 1GB of GDDR5. The HD 7770 DirectCU TOP ships boosted to 1120MHz and runs 20% cooler than reference for improved stability, longevity, and overclocking. The two cards are bundled with ASUS GPU Tweak to make tuning easier and deeper than before.
More efficient and quieter graphics for every PC user
Thanks to the availability of 28nm production technology, new HD 7700 cards pack greater performance into a more energy efficient, quieter, and overall more compact platform. The ASUS HD 7770 DirectCU TOP runs at a factory-overclock of 1120MHz, a significant 120MHz over reference. The HD 7750 operates at 820MHz core clock, 20MHz faster than its reference design. Both use a 128-bit memory interface and 1GB of GDDR5 video RAM to enable high resolution gaming, multimedia, and productivity, with full DirectX® 11.1 compatibility for the latest PC graphics developments. With ASUS quality and assurance, the cards present a reinforced 28nm product lineup consumers can tap when looking for parts that are highly capable and at the same time very cost effective.
DirectCU cooling for more intense gaming and overclocking
The HD 7770 arrives in a special DirectCU TOP edition, giving it an ASUS-designed thermal architecture that relies on all-copper heatpipes in direct contact with the GPU. It also uses a more heat-conductive shroud, and a better-performing, quieter fan. Proven on multiple ASUS graphics cards in the past, DirectCU consistently outperforms reference and competing coolers in terms of heat mitigation and removal. It operates at 20% lower temperatures than reference on average while being quieter than stock, contributing to a longer lasting product that can handle more intense applications and overclocking. For the HD 7750, ASUS has implemented a double-sealed dust-resistant fan design to repel debris and minimize the harm caused by particle accumulation. This feature aids in prolonging card life cycle, makes maintenance easier, and promotes reduced fan spin to lower sound levels.
GPU Tweak puts 28nm flexibility and performance at hand
Bundled with HD 7700 cards, the ASUS GPU Tweak utility has been redesigned and improved to make graphics card tuning and overclocking easier and more accessible. Users can quickly adjust clock speeds, voltages, and fan settings with greater accuracy and range than those offered by reference drivers. GPU Tweak now has auto clock and voltage syncing to ensure more stable and safer overclocked performance, as well as convenient 2D/3D mode locking to keep benchmark scores more true to form. An onscreen widget allows for fast card tracking at any time, while live BIOS version and driver updates make certain cards remain fully updated and at peak performance.
New generation PCI Express 3.0 and multi-screen displays
Having debuted on the HD 7000 Series, PCI Express 3.0 represents a major step forward in data interfacing, as it doubles the bandwidth of PCI Express 2.0, allowing new graphics cards a better foundation upon which to utilize their greater power. PCI Express 3.0 maintains full backward compatibility with all PCI Express 2.0 devices, and the slot uses the same physical dimensions to guarantee an easy fit with existing parts. Thanks to the augmented power of 28nm technology, HD 7700 cards offer users the added attraction of AMD EyefinityTM displays to allow for much bigger resolutions and more impressive views that are well-suited to graphics professionals, designers, and artists.
GIGABYTE Launches AIRE M1 Retractable Mouse - The Ultimate
AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse Eliminates Tangled Cord Mess!
Taipei, Taiwan, 15th February, 2012 - Having trouble finding a mouse that goes with your notebook and can be neatly put into your suitcase after a meeting? GIGABYTE, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, is pleased to present AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse to you. As convenient as a wireless mouse, this smart retractable mouse is ready to go by only a simple pull away. Just lightly pull the cord, it can then be collected instantly and hidden in the mouse. You can travel with this compact mouse and free from tangled-cord problem from now on!
To welcome the year of 2012, GIGABYTE is proud to introduce the whole new series of peripheral products - "AIRE" series. In addition to pursuit of high-quality peripheral products, excellent hand-feeling, and the commitment to develop green products, GIGABYTE puts more efforts on design and taste of "AIRE" series. The first product in 2012 is AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse. In order to satisfy the needs of office people who always rush from meetings to meetings, GIGABYTE presents this retractable mouse which is particularly ideal for notebook users. With AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse, wired mouse users can start to enjoy the convenience of wireless mouse! GIGABYTE devoted much resource to developing and improving the quality and durability of retractable cord, as well as strengthening the intensity of USB connector. Moreover, GIGABYTE also strictly testified all functions, especially in pulling and swinging part.
The high quality and modern design of AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse makes it perfect for urban people. Its compact size is ideal for people who move around a lot, and the rubber grip on both sides and ergonomic design are great for long-time users. AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse is definitely the ultimate choice for notebook users!
Taipei, Taiwan, 15th February, 2012 - Having trouble finding a mouse that goes with your notebook and can be neatly put into your suitcase after a meeting? GIGABYTE, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, is pleased to present AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse to you. As convenient as a wireless mouse, this smart retractable mouse is ready to go by only a simple pull away. Just lightly pull the cord, it can then be collected instantly and hidden in the mouse. You can travel with this compact mouse and free from tangled-cord problem from now on!
To welcome the year of 2012, GIGABYTE is proud to introduce the whole new series of peripheral products - "AIRE" series. In addition to pursuit of high-quality peripheral products, excellent hand-feeling, and the commitment to develop green products, GIGABYTE puts more efforts on design and taste of "AIRE" series. The first product in 2012 is AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse. In order to satisfy the needs of office people who always rush from meetings to meetings, GIGABYTE presents this retractable mouse which is particularly ideal for notebook users. With AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse, wired mouse users can start to enjoy the convenience of wireless mouse! GIGABYTE devoted much resource to developing and improving the quality and durability of retractable cord, as well as strengthening the intensity of USB connector. Moreover, GIGABYTE also strictly testified all functions, especially in pulling and swinging part.
The high quality and modern design of AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse makes it perfect for urban people. Its compact size is ideal for people who move around a lot, and the rubber grip on both sides and ergonomic design are great for long-time users. AIRE M1 Retractable Optical Mouse is definitely the ultimate choice for notebook users!
AMD Radeon™ Breaks GHz Barrier
AMD further extends its dominance by launching the AMD RadeonTM HD 7700 Series Graphics Cards; delivers its fourth revolutionary 28nm graphics card in under three months
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - February 15, 2012 - AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the arrival of its AMD RadeonTM HD 7770 GHz Edition and HD 7750 graphics cards. The AMD Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition is the first graphics card equipped with a reference engine clock that breaks the one gigahertz barrier - making it the world's first 1GHz GPU. When coupled with AMD's Graphics Core Next (GCN) Architecture, the AMD Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition offers incredible, best-in-class entertainment experiences that every gamer deserves. The AMD Radeon HD 7750 is a superior performance-level graphics card that doesn't require its own separate power connector and provides exceptional gaming experiences under 75 watts.
"We were first to 40nm, first to 28nm and now we offer the world's first GPU at 1GHz; this is a milestone for the graphics industry," said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU Division, AMD. "AMD continues to deliver superior performance, rich features and world-class power efficiency - we never stop innovating."
Like the award winning AMD RadeonTM HD 7900 Series, the AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series is armed and ready to follow its 28nm predecessors by capturing the hearts of gamers. It features AMD's new Graphics Core Next (GCN) Architecture for spectacular performance and efficiency, and comes equipped with leading-edge technology like PCI Express® 3.0, incredibly efficient AMD ZeroCore Power, PowerTune, AMD Eyefinity 2.0 and AMD App technologies.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - February 15, 2012 - AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the arrival of its AMD RadeonTM HD 7770 GHz Edition and HD 7750 graphics cards. The AMD Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition is the first graphics card equipped with a reference engine clock that breaks the one gigahertz barrier - making it the world's first 1GHz GPU. When coupled with AMD's Graphics Core Next (GCN) Architecture, the AMD Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition offers incredible, best-in-class entertainment experiences that every gamer deserves. The AMD Radeon HD 7750 is a superior performance-level graphics card that doesn't require its own separate power connector and provides exceptional gaming experiences under 75 watts.
"We were first to 40nm, first to 28nm and now we offer the world's first GPU at 1GHz; this is a milestone for the graphics industry," said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU Division, AMD. "AMD continues to deliver superior performance, rich features and world-class power efficiency - we never stop innovating."
Like the award winning AMD RadeonTM HD 7900 Series, the AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series is armed and ready to follow its 28nm predecessors by capturing the hearts of gamers. It features AMD's new Graphics Core Next (GCN) Architecture for spectacular performance and efficiency, and comes equipped with leading-edge technology like PCI Express® 3.0, incredibly efficient AMD ZeroCore Power, PowerTune, AMD Eyefinity 2.0 and AMD App technologies.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Monday, 13 February 2012
Sony Scores Top Marks at iF Design Awards
Creating and sharing content proves key as Sony receives six iF Gold Awards for its tablet, digital cameras and Internet TV
Friday night's prestigious International Forum Design Awards (iF) ceremony in Munich saw Sony walk away with Six Gold Awards, our most outstanding achievement to date from iF. Awarded for outstanding design to just 60 products from over 4,000 entries, it's clear to see Sony's mark upon the design world. As well as Gold Awards for the BRAVIA™ NX720 TV, Sony Tablet S, Cyber-shot™ DSC-TX55, “α” NEX-C3, “α” NEX-7 and NXCAM NEX-FS100EK professional camera, a further 16 awards were presented for achievements in 'product' and 'communication' design.
In a world where we are engaging with and enjoying an increasing amount of entertainment content in many different ways, it is fitting that iF recognised Sony for its "stunning design with a focus on the users interaction with content" for the new Sony Tablet S. The large screen, use of ergonomic design which creates a feeling of lightness and stability and the gentle diagonal positioning of the screen for a more natural angle for use when placed onto a flat surface, produces a beautiful looking tablet that enables users to fully focus on content.
To create images to share and enjoy on the Sony Tablet S, users can do so with not one but three Gold Award winning Sony digital cameras for all levels of ability. Chosen by iF for their blend of intuitive operation and straightforward design, the Cyber-shot DSC-TX55, “α” NEX-C3 and “α” NEX-7 take into account how users interact with the cameras whether they are beginners, budding amateur photographers or professionals.
"Sony is proud to have received six gold awards-one more than last year- at the highly esteemed International Forum Design Award. In such a competitive forum, where a total of only 60 awards are presented to companies from across all industries, this recognition is testament to Sony’s ongoing design efforts and expertise.
From Sony Tablet S, whose design was born from the pursuit for ultimate usability to “BRAVIA” TV NX720, which hones last year’s award winning monolithic design, and the NEX-7 and NEX-C3, which embody the evolution of last year’s award winning and iconic E-mount series, Sony is constantly striving to offer ease of use through beautiful design to people around the world.
We consider this honour a result of Sony’s unwillingness to compromise on design, that will inspire us to continue challenging new frontiers in generating value through design.” said Masayoshi Tsuchiya, Head of Sony Design, Sony Corporation.
"Sony Design looks to create a truly seamless integration between a product's form and function, we feel this is epitomised by our NX720 LCD TV which veils the high quality functionality with its black lustrous frame and stand-out aluminium stand. We're honoured that iF have recognised our endeavour across all product categories to focus on the pursuit of timeless design allowing our customers to create, share and view content with ease of use and beautiful design," said Tak Kawagoi, director, Sony Design Centre Europe.
Friday night's prestigious International Forum Design Awards (iF) ceremony in Munich saw Sony walk away with Six Gold Awards, our most outstanding achievement to date from iF. Awarded for outstanding design to just 60 products from over 4,000 entries, it's clear to see Sony's mark upon the design world. As well as Gold Awards for the BRAVIA™ NX720 TV, Sony Tablet S, Cyber-shot™ DSC-TX55, “α” NEX-C3, “α” NEX-7 and NXCAM NEX-FS100EK professional camera, a further 16 awards were presented for achievements in 'product' and 'communication' design.
In a world where we are engaging with and enjoying an increasing amount of entertainment content in many different ways, it is fitting that iF recognised Sony for its "stunning design with a focus on the users interaction with content" for the new Sony Tablet S. The large screen, use of ergonomic design which creates a feeling of lightness and stability and the gentle diagonal positioning of the screen for a more natural angle for use when placed onto a flat surface, produces a beautiful looking tablet that enables users to fully focus on content.
To create images to share and enjoy on the Sony Tablet S, users can do so with not one but three Gold Award winning Sony digital cameras for all levels of ability. Chosen by iF for their blend of intuitive operation and straightforward design, the Cyber-shot DSC-TX55, “α” NEX-C3 and “α” NEX-7 take into account how users interact with the cameras whether they are beginners, budding amateur photographers or professionals.
"Sony is proud to have received six gold awards-one more than last year- at the highly esteemed International Forum Design Award. In such a competitive forum, where a total of only 60 awards are presented to companies from across all industries, this recognition is testament to Sony’s ongoing design efforts and expertise.
From Sony Tablet S, whose design was born from the pursuit for ultimate usability to “BRAVIA” TV NX720, which hones last year’s award winning monolithic design, and the NEX-7 and NEX-C3, which embody the evolution of last year’s award winning and iconic E-mount series, Sony is constantly striving to offer ease of use through beautiful design to people around the world.
We consider this honour a result of Sony’s unwillingness to compromise on design, that will inspire us to continue challenging new frontiers in generating value through design.” said Masayoshi Tsuchiya, Head of Sony Design, Sony Corporation.
"Sony Design looks to create a truly seamless integration between a product's form and function, we feel this is epitomised by our NX720 LCD TV which veils the high quality functionality with its black lustrous frame and stand-out aluminium stand. We're honoured that iF have recognised our endeavour across all product categories to focus on the pursuit of timeless design allowing our customers to create, share and view content with ease of use and beautiful design," said Tak Kawagoi, director, Sony Design Centre Europe.
Friday, 10 February 2012
Acer S235HL Monitor Wins iF Product design Award
Taipei, Taiwan (February 10, 2012) - The Acer S235HL LCD monitor has been selected as a winner of the 2012 iF product design award. Its exceptional design has indeed impressed the jury, consisting of experts and renowned designers from all over the world.
The Acer S235HL LCD monitor sports an ultra-slim profile with a depth of less than one inch, delivering a minimalist, modern look. It is encased in a glossy black bezel and features a sleek asymmetrical design. The silver stand provides elegance, while the embedded ice-blue LED buttons embedded in the stand offer a contemporary feel. To top it off, all the I/O ports are located on the base, further enhancing the clean and simple appearance.
This monitor also features Full HD resolution, a contrast ratio up to 100 million:1, and incorporates mercury-free LED technology for up to 68% eco-friendly power conservation. The S235HL is a true blend of aesthetic appeal, premium performance, and earth-friendly functionality.
Organized by the International Forum Design of Germany, the iF awards have been held since 1953 and are regarded as an indicator of outstanding quality in design.
An international panel of experts judged on numerous criteria including design workmanship, choice of material, environmental compatibility and functionality. According to iF, participation in the iF design awards demonstrates the will to innovate and the courage to be compared next to others in competition.
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Microsoft releases OneNote for Android
Today Microsoft announces the release of OneNote for Android on the Android Market app store.
With this release, the OneNote mobile apps are available across a variety of platforms - including Windows Phone 7, iPhone, iPad, and now Android . The release allows users to effortlessly collect, share, and find all of the information they want to keep track of, using a variety of features from simple lists and pages to full-fledged notebooks that can be shared with friends, family, co-workers, or classmates.
OneNote 1.0 for Android supports the following features:
Text formatting, images, and bulleted lists in any note
Checklists and To-Do lists
Quick photo capture with a phone's camera
Quick access to recent notes
Store and access multiple OneNote notebooks
Sync to your free SkyDrive account for access anywhere
Offline access to notes
Option to sync notebooks only over a WiFi connection
Built-in spell checker
Support for external hyperlinks
Table editing
Free technical support
With this release, the OneNote mobile apps are available across a variety of platforms - including Windows Phone 7, iPhone, iPad, and now Android . The release allows users to effortlessly collect, share, and find all of the information they want to keep track of, using a variety of features from simple lists and pages to full-fledged notebooks that can be shared with friends, family, co-workers, or classmates.
OneNote 1.0 for Android supports the following features:
Text formatting, images, and bulleted lists in any note
Checklists and To-Do lists
Quick photo capture with a phone's camera
Quick access to recent notes
Store and access multiple OneNote notebooks
Sync to your free SkyDrive account for access anywhere
Offline access to notes
Option to sync notebooks only over a WiFi connection
Built-in spell checker
Support for external hyperlinks
Table editing
Free technical support
Logitech Creates a More Touchable World with Logitech
New Mouse Lets You Swipe, Scroll and Surf Like Second Nature
LONDON - Feb. 08, 2012 -Logitech (SWX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today unveiled the Logitech Touch Mouse M600, a mouse featuring a touch surface that lets you navigate intuitively with your fingers.
"People are growing accustomed to using fingertip gestures to navigate on their smartphones and tablets," said Todd Walker, brand manager for Logitech. "In fact, for many people these gestures have become second nature. The Logitech Touch Mouse M600 reflects this evolution in how we interact with the digital world and extends to the computer what have become natural, intuitive motions."
With the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 you can scroll, swipe and surf wherever your fingertips rest on the mouse. With its modern design, smooth edges and designed-for-comfort curves, this touch mouse feels comfortable in your hand and looks good wherever you use your laptop.
Logitech Flow Scroll software gives you scrolling that is fluid, much like scrolling on your favorite touchscreen smartphone. Slide your finger along the touch surface to experience immediate, continuous and free-flowing Web page scrolling. The mouse's unique shape is designed so that it feels great doing exactly the tasks you do most - pointing, clicking and scrolling. And it's a perfect choice for right- and left-handers alike, with click areas that can easily be reassigned with Logitech SetPoint software. Additionally, the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 includes the tiny Logitech Unifying receiver, which can connect up to six compatible mice and keyboards through one USB port. Add a keyboard, switch between mice, mix and match to fit your lifestyle, without having to change receivers or sacrifice another USB port. With smooth feet, advanced optical tracking and supreme ease of use, this sleek mouse is everything you'd expect from Logitech, and more.
The Logitech Touch Mouse M600 has been named an International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree in the Computer Peripherals product category.
LONDON - Feb. 08, 2012 -Logitech (SWX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today unveiled the Logitech Touch Mouse M600, a mouse featuring a touch surface that lets you navigate intuitively with your fingers.
"People are growing accustomed to using fingertip gestures to navigate on their smartphones and tablets," said Todd Walker, brand manager for Logitech. "In fact, for many people these gestures have become second nature. The Logitech Touch Mouse M600 reflects this evolution in how we interact with the digital world and extends to the computer what have become natural, intuitive motions."
With the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 you can scroll, swipe and surf wherever your fingertips rest on the mouse. With its modern design, smooth edges and designed-for-comfort curves, this touch mouse feels comfortable in your hand and looks good wherever you use your laptop.
Logitech Flow Scroll software gives you scrolling that is fluid, much like scrolling on your favorite touchscreen smartphone. Slide your finger along the touch surface to experience immediate, continuous and free-flowing Web page scrolling. The mouse's unique shape is designed so that it feels great doing exactly the tasks you do most - pointing, clicking and scrolling. And it's a perfect choice for right- and left-handers alike, with click areas that can easily be reassigned with Logitech SetPoint software. Additionally, the Logitech Touch Mouse M600 includes the tiny Logitech Unifying receiver, which can connect up to six compatible mice and keyboards through one USB port. Add a keyboard, switch between mice, mix and match to fit your lifestyle, without having to change receivers or sacrifice another USB port. With smooth feet, advanced optical tracking and supreme ease of use, this sleek mouse is everything you'd expect from Logitech, and more.
The Logitech Touch Mouse M600 has been named an International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree in the Computer Peripherals product category.
Antec announces the One enclosure
The newest addition to Gaming Series offers cooling and convenience features at an affordable price.
Fremont, California [February 8, 2012] - Antec, Inc., the global leader in high-performance computer components, announces the One, the latest addition to their Gaming Series. The One is an excellent option for mainstream gamers, new PC builders and seasoned system integrators alike, as it provides user-friendly cooling and convenient features at an affordable price.
Performance Cooling Advantages - The One's cooling system includes top & rear 120 mm exhaust fans with four additional 120 mm fan mounts. Perforated mesh construction yields additional airflow through the front of the chassis.
Extensive Compatibility and Expandability - The One is equipped with three 5.25" and five 3.5" tool-less drive bays, a bottom-mounted PSU intake with a removable air filter and a large CPU cutout. The enclosure makes it easy for users to install all the necessary parts and upgrade their PC component by component.
"The One is for anyone who has thought about building a PC or for anyone looking for a wallet-friendly, long-lasting case," said Mafalda Cogliani, Global Marketing Director at Antec. "It's a great option for system integrators because it has tool-less drive bays and blends well in a home."
Fremont, California [February 8, 2012] - Antec, Inc., the global leader in high-performance computer components, announces the One, the latest addition to their Gaming Series. The One is an excellent option for mainstream gamers, new PC builders and seasoned system integrators alike, as it provides user-friendly cooling and convenient features at an affordable price.
Performance Cooling Advantages - The One's cooling system includes top & rear 120 mm exhaust fans with four additional 120 mm fan mounts. Perforated mesh construction yields additional airflow through the front of the chassis.
Extensive Compatibility and Expandability - The One is equipped with three 5.25" and five 3.5" tool-less drive bays, a bottom-mounted PSU intake with a removable air filter and a large CPU cutout. The enclosure makes it easy for users to install all the necessary parts and upgrade their PC component by component.
"The One is for anyone who has thought about building a PC or for anyone looking for a wallet-friendly, long-lasting case," said Mafalda Cogliani, Global Marketing Director at Antec. "It's a great option for system integrators because it has tool-less drive bays and blends well in a home."
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
AMD FirePro™ V3900 Brings Unbeaten Workstation-Class Design Experiences to Entry-Level Professional Graphics
AMD FireProTM V3900 enables high-end experience through AMD Eyefinity technology and 1GB of Memory
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Feb. 7, 2012 - AMD (NYSE: AMD) today launched the AMD FireProTM V3900, which enables best-in-class workstation experiences at an entry-level price point. By leveraging AMD's latest graphics features, including AMD Eyefinity technology, the AMD FireProTM V3900 provides up to 95% better application performance than the competition. The AMD FirePro V3900 will be available in select workstation systems today and will be sold for USD$119 MSRP at select online resellers.
"The AMD FireProTM V3900 is the most powerful entry-level professional graphics card on the market today," says Sandeep Gupte, general manager of Professional Graphics, AMD. "Armed with advanced multi-display capability of AMD Eyefinity technology, extensive certifications for professional applications and blazing fast performance, it offers best-in-class value for our technical and business customers."
Engineered for professionals looking for optimised graphics performance at entry-level pricing, the AMD FireProTM V3900's 1GB of DDR3 RAM drives memory bandwidth of almost 29 GB/s, maximising GPU performance for the highest level of user experience.3 And through AMD's productive relationship with workstation solution providers, graphics professionals will have access to the AMD FirePro V3900 in a range of industry-leading systems from HP and others.
"HP makes workstations that meet the needs of the world's most demanding customers and feature the latest technologies," says Jeff Wood, vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Commercial Solutions Business Unit, HP. "The AMD FireProTM V3900, in combination with our HP Z Workstations, offers robust performance for professional workstation applications, providing HP customers with a seamless user experience at an affordable price."
AMD FireProTM products are tested and certified with many leading software applications to ensure compatibility, stability, and optimal performance. OpenGL® 4.2 and OpenCLTM support means users can render and manipulate models using the broadest range of tools and applications and know the graphics card is compatible with current and future software applications.
"The AMD FireProTM V3900 certainly delivers the performance, reliability and compatibility that CAD professionals are looking for when undertaking the latest design projects," said Nick Iwaskow, Senior Alliances & Partnership Manager, DS SolidWorks Corp. "Coupled with the best 3D CAD solutions from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. it can enhance the design process for professionals everywhere."
The AMD FireProTM V3900 has received certification for a variety of applications including AutoCAD®, UGS NX, PTC CreoTM, SolidWorks® and Autodesk® 3Ds Max®.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Feb. 7, 2012 - AMD (NYSE: AMD) today launched the AMD FireProTM V3900, which enables best-in-class workstation experiences at an entry-level price point. By leveraging AMD's latest graphics features, including AMD Eyefinity technology, the AMD FireProTM V3900 provides up to 95% better application performance than the competition. The AMD FirePro V3900 will be available in select workstation systems today and will be sold for USD$119 MSRP at select online resellers.
"The AMD FireProTM V3900 is the most powerful entry-level professional graphics card on the market today," says Sandeep Gupte, general manager of Professional Graphics, AMD. "Armed with advanced multi-display capability of AMD Eyefinity technology, extensive certifications for professional applications and blazing fast performance, it offers best-in-class value for our technical and business customers."
Engineered for professionals looking for optimised graphics performance at entry-level pricing, the AMD FireProTM V3900's 1GB of DDR3 RAM drives memory bandwidth of almost 29 GB/s, maximising GPU performance for the highest level of user experience.3 And through AMD's productive relationship with workstation solution providers, graphics professionals will have access to the AMD FirePro V3900 in a range of industry-leading systems from HP and others.
"HP makes workstations that meet the needs of the world's most demanding customers and feature the latest technologies," says Jeff Wood, vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Commercial Solutions Business Unit, HP. "The AMD FireProTM V3900, in combination with our HP Z Workstations, offers robust performance for professional workstation applications, providing HP customers with a seamless user experience at an affordable price."
AMD FireProTM products are tested and certified with many leading software applications to ensure compatibility, stability, and optimal performance. OpenGL® 4.2 and OpenCLTM support means users can render and manipulate models using the broadest range of tools and applications and know the graphics card is compatible with current and future software applications.
"The AMD FireProTM V3900 certainly delivers the performance, reliability and compatibility that CAD professionals are looking for when undertaking the latest design projects," said Nick Iwaskow, Senior Alliances & Partnership Manager, DS SolidWorks Corp. "Coupled with the best 3D CAD solutions from Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. it can enhance the design process for professionals everywhere."
The AMD FireProTM V3900 has received certification for a variety of applications including AutoCAD®, UGS NX, PTC CreoTM, SolidWorks® and Autodesk® 3Ds Max®.
Monday, 6 February 2012
Antec Announces the High Current Gamer M PSU Series
400W, 520W, and 620W PSUs feature hybrid modularity and quiet cooling technology at affordable prices
Fremont, California - February 6, 2012 - Antec, Inc., the global leader in high-performance computer components, announces High Current Gamer M series, a mid-range wattage class of Hybrid Modular power supplies. The High Current Gamer M series is an extension of the HCG PSU line issued in late 2010 but features hybrid modularity, allowing for cleaner systems by reducing cable clutter behind the motherboard.
Antec‘s new desktop PSU series provides quiet, efficient power in 400W, 520W, and 620W models accommodating casual gamers, home office and corporate consumers. The High Current Gamer M Series is the perfect combination of power and cabling that supply extreme levels of power and superb efficiency.
Maximum Efficiency - As one of industry's mainstream 80 PLUS® Bronze certified PSU , the High Current Gamer M series offers an ideal combination of industry-leading reliability, guaranteed continuous power and up to 87% energy efficiency compared to prior models to help reduce electric bills.
Whisper Quiet - Simple 135mm two ball-bearing fan controlled by Antec's renowned Thermal Manager and CircuitShield operates with minimal noise even at full load.
Premium Components - High Current Gamer M employs 4 fully-protected High Current +12V rails with high load capabilities to ensure maximum CPU and GPU compatibility. It's designed with 100% Japanese capacitors, ensuring maximum DC stability and regulation. It also offers stealth wires for minimal visibility inside the chassis and a 10-pin modular socket for High Current Flexibility.
Black mesh cable sleeves - All wires darkened for minimal visibility in chassis
Safety Precautions - Patented CircuitShield includes voltage, current, power, under voltage, and short circuit protection which automatically shuts down the PSU to prevent further system damage.
All HCG-M power supplies are covered by an Antec five-year parts & labour warranty.
"Antec has succeeded with providing consumers with quiet and efficient power supplies to choose from," said Mafalda Cogliani, Global Marketing Director at Antec. "And now we want to provide the same type of power and convenience via hybrid modularity power supply that will help with energy reduction."
Fremont, California - February 6, 2012 - Antec, Inc., the global leader in high-performance computer components, announces High Current Gamer M series, a mid-range wattage class of Hybrid Modular power supplies. The High Current Gamer M series is an extension of the HCG PSU line issued in late 2010 but features hybrid modularity, allowing for cleaner systems by reducing cable clutter behind the motherboard.
Antec‘s new desktop PSU series provides quiet, efficient power in 400W, 520W, and 620W models accommodating casual gamers, home office and corporate consumers. The High Current Gamer M Series is the perfect combination of power and cabling that supply extreme levels of power and superb efficiency.
Maximum Efficiency - As one of industry's mainstream 80 PLUS® Bronze certified PSU , the High Current Gamer M series offers an ideal combination of industry-leading reliability, guaranteed continuous power and up to 87% energy efficiency compared to prior models to help reduce electric bills.
Whisper Quiet - Simple 135mm two ball-bearing fan controlled by Antec's renowned Thermal Manager and CircuitShield operates with minimal noise even at full load.
Premium Components - High Current Gamer M employs 4 fully-protected High Current +12V rails with high load capabilities to ensure maximum CPU and GPU compatibility. It's designed with 100% Japanese capacitors, ensuring maximum DC stability and regulation. It also offers stealth wires for minimal visibility inside the chassis and a 10-pin modular socket for High Current Flexibility.
Black mesh cable sleeves - All wires darkened for minimal visibility in chassis
Safety Precautions - Patented CircuitShield includes voltage, current, power, under voltage, and short circuit protection which automatically shuts down the PSU to prevent further system damage.
All HCG-M power supplies are covered by an Antec five-year parts & labour warranty.
"Antec has succeeded with providing consumers with quiet and efficient power supplies to choose from," said Mafalda Cogliani, Global Marketing Director at Antec. "And now we want to provide the same type of power and convenience via hybrid modularity power supply that will help with energy reduction."
Friday, 3 February 2012
Gadget Gifts for that Special Someone this Valentine's Day! at Okobe.co.uk
Gadget Gifts for that Special Someone this Valentine's Day! at Okobe.co.uk
AMD Strategy Transformation Brings Agile Delivery of Industry-
Product Roadmap Enhancements Illustrate Plans to Accelerate Growth in Low Power, Emerging Markets and Cloud Computing -
First System-on-a-Chip (SoC) Solutions Expected to Arrive in 2013
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Feb. 2, 2012 - At its annual Financial Analyst Day, AMD (NYSE: AMD) detailed a new "ambidextrous" strategy that builds on the company's long history of x86 and graphics innovation while embracing other technologies and intellectual property to deliver differentiated products.
AMD is adopting an SoC-centric roadmap designed to speed time-to-market, drive sustained execution, and enable the development of more tailored customer solutions. SoC design methodology is advantageous because it is a modular approach to processor design, leveraging best practice tools and microprocessor design flows with the ability to easily re-use IP and design blocks across a range of products.
"AMD's strategy capitalises on the convergence of technologies and devices that will define the next era of the industry," said Rory Read, president and CEO, AMD. "The trends around consumerisation, the cloud and convergence will only grow stronger in the coming years. AMD has a unique opportunity to take advantage of this key industry inflection point. We remain focused on continuing the work we began last year to re-position AMD. Our new strategy will help AMD embrace the shifts occurring in the industry, marrying market needs with innovative technologies and become a consistent growth engine."
Roadmap Updates Focus on Customer Needs
Additionally, AMD today announced updates to its product roadmaps for AMD Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) products it plans to introduce in 2012 and 2013. The roadmap modifications address key customer priorities across form factors including ultrathin notebooks, tablets, all-in-ones, desktops and servers with a clear focus on low power, emerging markets and the Cloud.
AMD's updated product roadmap features second generation mainstream ("Trinity") and low-power ("Brazos 2.0") APUs for notebooks and desktops; "Hondo," an APU specifically designed for tablets; new CPU cores in 2012 and 2013 with "Piledriver" and its successor, "Steamroller," as well as "Jaguar," which is the successor to AMD's popular "Bobcat" core. In 2012, AMD plans to introduce four new AMD OpteronTM processors.
Next-generation Architecture Standardises and Facilitates Software Development
AMD also provided further details on its Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA), which enables software developers to easily program APUs by combining scalar processing on the CPU with parallel processing on the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), all while providing high bandwidth access to memory at low power. AMD is proactively working to make HSA an open industry standard for the developer community. The company plans to hold its 2nd annual AMD Fusion Developer Summit in June, 2012.
New Company Structure Strengthens Execution
In conjunction with announcing its restructuring plan in November 2011, AMD has strengthened its leadership team with the additions of Mark Papermaster as senior vice president and chief technology officer, Rajan Naik as senior vice president and chief strategy officer, and Lisa Su as senior vice president and general manager, global business units. These executives will help ensure that sustainable, dependable execution becomes a hallmark of AMD.
First System-on-a-Chip (SoC) Solutions Expected to Arrive in 2013
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Feb. 2, 2012 - At its annual Financial Analyst Day, AMD (NYSE: AMD) detailed a new "ambidextrous" strategy that builds on the company's long history of x86 and graphics innovation while embracing other technologies and intellectual property to deliver differentiated products.
AMD is adopting an SoC-centric roadmap designed to speed time-to-market, drive sustained execution, and enable the development of more tailored customer solutions. SoC design methodology is advantageous because it is a modular approach to processor design, leveraging best practice tools and microprocessor design flows with the ability to easily re-use IP and design blocks across a range of products.
"AMD's strategy capitalises on the convergence of technologies and devices that will define the next era of the industry," said Rory Read, president and CEO, AMD. "The trends around consumerisation, the cloud and convergence will only grow stronger in the coming years. AMD has a unique opportunity to take advantage of this key industry inflection point. We remain focused on continuing the work we began last year to re-position AMD. Our new strategy will help AMD embrace the shifts occurring in the industry, marrying market needs with innovative technologies and become a consistent growth engine."
Roadmap Updates Focus on Customer Needs
Additionally, AMD today announced updates to its product roadmaps for AMD Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) products it plans to introduce in 2012 and 2013. The roadmap modifications address key customer priorities across form factors including ultrathin notebooks, tablets, all-in-ones, desktops and servers with a clear focus on low power, emerging markets and the Cloud.
AMD's updated product roadmap features second generation mainstream ("Trinity") and low-power ("Brazos 2.0") APUs for notebooks and desktops; "Hondo," an APU specifically designed for tablets; new CPU cores in 2012 and 2013 with "Piledriver" and its successor, "Steamroller," as well as "Jaguar," which is the successor to AMD's popular "Bobcat" core. In 2012, AMD plans to introduce four new AMD OpteronTM processors.
Next-generation Architecture Standardises and Facilitates Software Development
AMD also provided further details on its Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA), which enables software developers to easily program APUs by combining scalar processing on the CPU with parallel processing on the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), all while providing high bandwidth access to memory at low power. AMD is proactively working to make HSA an open industry standard for the developer community. The company plans to hold its 2nd annual AMD Fusion Developer Summit in June, 2012.
New Company Structure Strengthens Execution
In conjunction with announcing its restructuring plan in November 2011, AMD has strengthened its leadership team with the additions of Mark Papermaster as senior vice president and chief technology officer, Rajan Naik as senior vice president and chief strategy officer, and Lisa Su as senior vice president and general manager, global business units. These executives will help ensure that sustainable, dependable execution becomes a hallmark of AMD.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Sony World Photography Awards 2012: Shortlist announced
Today, Thursday 2 February, the World Photography Organisation announces the shortlist for the 2012 Sony World Photography Awards. Billed as the global photographic event of the year, the Sony World Photography Awards celebrate the very best in photography from around the world, from the next generation of emerging photographers through to the established masters of the art.
The 2012 competition has garnered increased worldwide interest with over 112,000 entries from 171 countries, with the shortlisted images depicting the stories of extraordinary lives from around the world. The Professional competition reflects a turbulent year of global events with the war in Libya; the Greek and European economic crisis; the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan and the fall of Gaddafi, in the Photojournalism & Documentary categories. The shortlist for the Fine Art and Commercial categories gets to the very heart of daily life - a small sheep-farming community in Iceland; the rice harvest in South China; a religious pilgrimage in Poland and gold diggers in Chile.
This year the honorary jury found the quality of work exceptionally strong across all categories, discovering many photographers new to the Sony World Photography Awards roster. Manuel Geerinck (Belgium); Lee Chee Wai (Malaysia); Alejandro Cartagena (Mexico), Irina Werning (Argentina); Gwenn Dubourthoumieu (Republic of the Congo) and Simon Norfolk (UK), are but a few of the new names to place as finalists and shortlisted photographers.
Returning photographers from previous years, include 2010 Professional Landscape winner, Peter Franck (Germany); who this year is a finalist in three categories; 2011 Professional Contemporary Issues and Current Affairs winner, Javier Arcenillas (Spain); and Chan Kwok Hung (Hong Kong) whose stunningly dramatic image ‘Buffalo Race’ won the Overall Open Competition in 2011.
W M Hunt, Chair of the Honorary Judging Committee, commented: ‘As a judge, you bring an open mind and a passion for photography - its presence and its present, its past and its legacy. You are hopeful and hungry to see great work that is fresh and full, expecting the exceptional. The rewards are rich and delightful. It is a pleasure to present this year's selections.’
Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation added: ‘Looking at the vast collection of shortlisted work across the categories, is truly gratifying this year. Within the Professional awards, the bodies of work are beautifully presented and distinctive, whilst in the Open categories, the single snapshots are diverse and demonstrate excellent skill within the amateur market. The new Youth competition also delighted us, as we were thrilled to find some exceptional budding talent.’
In being shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards, photographers can now look forward to the invaluable support of the World Photography Organisation, which includes having their work exhibited at a major exhibition at London’s Somerset House, to coincide with the award ceremony in April 2012.
The shortlist for the Professional Competition was selected by the Honorary Judging committee which was chaired by esteemed photographic consultant W.M. Hunt. This year the Open entries were judged by a pre-selection committee of inspectors from Shutterstock, WPO and representatives from Sony. The Youth Competition was judged by a WPO and Sony selection committee.
The annual Sony World Photography Awards ceremony and gala dinner will take place on 26 April at the Hilton Hotel in London’s Park Lane. The awards celebration will once again take place alongside World Photo, London, a month-long event which brings an eclectic mix of photographic events for all to enjoy. The opening weekend of World Photo London will be held at Somerset House from 27 - 30 April with selected events including portfolio reviews, workshops, symposiums and the Sony World Photography Awards winners’ exhibitions, which continue through to 20 May 2012. Honorary Judges for the 2012 Awards and other international industry experts will be leading many of the festival events.
ViewSonic 23” LED Monitor VX2336s-LED
London, 2nd February 2012 - ViewSonic, a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communication solutions introduces a new generation of LED monitor, the VX2336s-LED. Featured with full ergonomic adjustability, the light and thin LED monitor has a seductively curved frame with piano-black mirrored surface which complements the fantastic viewing experience.
Using ViewSonic's exclusive SuperClearTM IPS technology, both vertical and horizontal view angles of VX2336s-LED can reach as wide as 178 degrees. You'll experience brilliant image quality and accurate colour performance whether looking at the screen from above, below, the front or the side. ViewSonic's new SuperClearTM IPS technology also effectively enhances grey levels when displaying dark colours, resulting in a high contrast ratio capable of displaying "true black" and distinct colour depth. SuperClearTM IPS is the perfect solution for graphic designers, print professionals, video editors and more. ViewSonic VX2336s-LED features Full HD 1080p resolution for incredible, pixel-by-pixel image performance. You'll experience amazing clarity and detail whether working, gaming or enjoying the latest movie entertainment.
All ViewSonic's new generation of displays are LED-backlit. Using LEDs as the illuminating source, displays perform even better, with a wider colour gamut and amazing dynamic contrast ratios that deliver detailed, high-quality images. LED-backlit displays consume 25% less power compared with conventional displays, and their slim profiles save space on your desktop. LED backlighting delivers an incredible entertainment experience.
The dynamic contrast ratio detects the brightness and darkness of an image, and automatically adjusts the LED backlight to maximize the display's colour range and contrast ratio up to 20,000,000:1. Dynamic contrast ratio technology enables the accurate reproduction of images, producing vibrant, rich visual effects.
ViewSonic's proprietary Eco-mode function offers three modes from the Standard（100%）, "Optimize (75%)" to "Conserve (60%)" to support the brightness adjustment in different scenarios. Under low ambient light conditions the user can adjust the brightness to improve visibility, reducing eye fatigue and prolong the display's LED lamp life.
Buy it Today from Okobe.co.uk... Click Here...
Synology® introduce the new UK Managing Director, Mike Chen
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom - 2nd February, 2012 - Synology® today announce the arrival of the new UK Managing Director, Mike Chen.
Mike joins the UK office from Taiwan where he has been working for Synology since 2007 as European Sales Manager. The UK team manage the UK, Ireland and Scandinavian business. Chen joins the team following the move of the current UK MD, Alex Wang, who is relocating to manage the Synology office in Germany.
Chen says "I have multiple goals, to explore new, value-added customers in the UK, Ireland and Scandinavian countries, to drive the sales of existing customers while keeping the market clean and most importantly, to keep everyone excited about Synology and our future. I have a lot of respect for the UK, for its culture and the market. I am ready to drive with my team to reach greater goals and I am confident to say that the coming years will show steady growth. I am really looking forward to experiencing the adventure in the UK office."
Mike joins the UK office from Taiwan where he has been working for Synology since 2007 as European Sales Manager. The UK team manage the UK, Ireland and Scandinavian business. Chen joins the team following the move of the current UK MD, Alex Wang, who is relocating to manage the Synology office in Germany.
Chen says "I have multiple goals, to explore new, value-added customers in the UK, Ireland and Scandinavian countries, to drive the sales of existing customers while keeping the market clean and most importantly, to keep everyone excited about Synology and our future. I have a lot of respect for the UK, for its culture and the market. I am ready to drive with my team to reach greater goals and I am confident to say that the coming years will show steady growth. I am really looking forward to experiencing the adventure in the UK office."
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Sony Experiments with Bringing Imagery to Life through 3D Sound
We all know about 3D films, but ever thought about 3D sound? It can bring an image or video to life, making you feel part of the action. How? By using binaural '3-Dimensional' sound overlaid onto imagery. That's exactly what Sony has done with the help of acclaimed sound designer Nick Ryan and Sony World Photography Award winner Andrew Scriven to produce a multi-dimensional journey where you, the viewer, can watch and hear what it’s like to be a rock star preparing to go on stage at O2 Academy Brixton, London.
Sony has great heritage and expertise in the worlds of audio and photography. With this latest project, Sony has brought together these two elements in a unique way by combining the vivid photography of a Sony World Photography Award winner, Andrew Scriven, and using the technique of binaural '3-Dimensional' sound. And it's not just for the experts :- During the project Sony is inviting people with all levels of technical capability to create their own soundscapes with a step-by-step guide produced in conjunction with Nick Ryan. There are also 'behind the scenes' videos from the set of O2 Academy Brixton to help ignite people's imaginations and creativity!
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