AMD Socket M2 CPU Processor Running!

AMD Socket M2:Here are two pictures of AMD's working Socket M2 processor. This particular unit is running at 2.4GHz. You will notice the "extra" M2 pin bringing the total pin count up to 940 (from the current 939). Just to note that we are not showing you a current 940-pin Opteron, you will notice that the areas that are void of pins are in spaces other than what you would find on a Opteron processor. This processor is also lacking the usual ceramic Opteron substrate. The second picture shows the POST screen where we have highlighted "AMD Engineering Sample" along with the noted DDR2-667 memory bus speed.

Asustek co-brands Nexus 7 to increase value of their own brand

Asustek and Google are partners in the development and distribution of the Google Nexus 7, and, according to an analyst, Asustek is utilizing the co-branding opportunity to enhance their brand rather than to make money.

The price tag of a Nexus 7 will be $199.99, and that’s the same price as the production cost. Now, why would an OEM produce a co-branded device for no profit, and hoping just to break even? An analyst, Thompson Wu of Credit Suisse, from Taiwan suggests that Asustek is not aiming to net any profit from the Nexus 7. Contrary to traditional OEM business methodology, they are seeking to build their brand in a system where OEMs “have limited opportunities to differentiate” from the brands which Asustek is making hardware for.

“We believe Asustek realizes that in a market where OEMs have limited opportunity to differentiate without content and operating systems, its demonstrating its edge via research and development and innovation, while building upon its brand value,” Wu says.

Asustek has already cemented itself as a high quality OEM, but perhaps they are aiming for something more. Perhaps they want to totally dominate the Android tablet market, and the recent flood of Asus-branded Android tablets is testimonies to how “valuable” the Asus brand is.

Source: focustaiwan.tw

Asetek New Versatile Socket Kit For VapoChill

Asetek is proud to present the NEW VapoChill SOCKET KIT whicheasily fits both Intel S478 & AMD S754/940 CPUs. Now you will not only be ableto obtain the greatest CPU cooling system in the world, but you will also beequipped with a system that is easy to assemble & has a flexibility never seenbefore! The NEW VapoChill Socket kit will be available as a Socket kit that fitsall existing VapoChill models and sold in combination respectively withVapoChill XE systems and VapoChill XE stand-alone units.

Easy mounting alike WaterChill - no tools needed - assemblywith finger screws Best possible contact between evaporator and CPU forefficient heat removal [Fixed evaporator] Flexible mounting system - easy to change between Intel &AMD CPUs No more sticking foam on the backside of the motherboardAt least same high performance & overclocking possibilities

Prices in EU

Socket kit, AMD S754/940 & P4 S478
Note: Release date January 5th MSRP ex. VAT € 99,00

VapoChill XE, Titan. w. case win., S754/940 & S478
Note: Release date January 19th MSRP ex. VAT € 704,00

VapoChill Stand-alone unit, XE, S754/940 & S478
Note: Release date January 19th MSRP ex. VAT € 567,00

Prices in US

Socket kit, AMD S754/940 & P4 S478
Note: Release date January 5th MSRP ex. VAT $ 109,00

VapoChill XE, Titan. w. case win., S754/940 & S478
Note: Release date January 19th MSRP ex. VAT $ 879,00

VapoChill Stand-alone unit, XE, S754/940 & S478
Note: Release date January 19th MSRP ex. VAT $ 679,00

Apple New iPods

Apple introduced its fourth-generation iPod portable music players Monday with lower prices and longer battery life. The new models have up to 12 hours of rechargeable battery life, compared to about 8 hours with the current crop. The prices are $ 299 for a 20-gigabyte model and $ 399 for a 40-gigabyte model -- each $ 100 less than their earlier counterparts. The new iPod versions are also thinner and have improved software features, including a quicker way to shuffle songs and a variable playback speed of audio books.

Apple Launched MacBook Air in Singapore

Earlier today, Apple today unveiled MacBook® Air, the world’s thinnest notebook. MacBook Air has a stunning 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, a full-size and backlit keyboard, a built-in iSight® video camera for video conferencing, and a spacious trackpad with multi-touch gesture support so users can pinch, rotate and swipe. The new MacBook Air will be available in February for a suggested retail price of S$ 2988. Apple also introduced Time Capsule, a backup appliance that automatically and wirelessly backs up everything on one or more Macs running Leopard™, the latest release of Apple’s Mac OS® X operating system including the amazing Time Machine™ automatic backup software. Time Capsule will be available in February for a suggested retail price of S$ 489 for a 500GB hard drive and S$ 788 for a 1TB hard drive.

Apple Launches iPad touchscreen tablet

SAN FRANCISCO—January 27, 2010— Apple today introduced iPad, a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just12.7mm thick and weighsjust 680g — thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. iPad will be available in late March starting at the breakthrough price of just US$499.

iPad features 12 Multi-Touch applications withevery app working in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction. The precise Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web on iPad an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. Reading and sending email is fun and easy on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard. Import photos from a Mac, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. Watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD or flip through pages of an e-book you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.

iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone® or iPod touch®. Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers. Apple also introduced a new version of iWork® for iPad, the first desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages®, Keynote® and Numbers® you can create beautifully formatted documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store for US$9.99 each.

iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable, so you can sync all of your contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications and more from your Mac or PC. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.

iPad’s brilliant 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with an ultra-wide 178-degree viewing angle. The highly precise, capacitive Multi-Touch display is amazingly accurate and responsive whether scrolling web pages or playing games. The intelligent soft keyboard pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard. iPad also connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard.

iPad is powered by A4, Apple’s next-generation system-on-a-chip. Designed by Apple, the new A4 chip provides exceptional processor and graphics performance along with long battery life of up to 10 hours.

iPad comes in two versions—one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. Apple and AT&T announced breakthrough 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad with easy, on-device activation and management.

Pricing & Availability
iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of US$499 for the 16GB model, US$599 for the 32GB model, US$699 for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of US$629 for the 16GB model, US$729 for the 32GB model and US$829 for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (http://www.apple.com/), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date.

Here's a video of Steve Jobs doing a demo on the iPad (BNETvideo)

Apple bringing $19 Lightning to Micro USB adapter to the U.S

The United States is something of an anarchy when it comes to mobile device chargers, adapters, etc. That is why Apple, an American corporation, was able to invent yet another charging and syncing protocol with the release of the iPhone 5, known as Lightning.

This new release was met with a good deal of criticism, since it forced some consumers to purchase adapters or Lightning cords for their new Apple devices. Additionally, a special security technology inside of Lightning cables make them a very difficult target for imitation, therefore wiping out a good deal of cheaper alternatives which might otherwise have been available from Chinese imitators on the internet.

Apple is not known for cheap anything, and their cables are no exceptions.

The problem of needing to purchase an adapter still existed in Europe, but nobody with a Micro USB cable had to worry about getting a new cable. The European Commissions guidelines require all mobile devices to be compatible with the Micro USB standard.

In order to meet this standard, Apple released a Lightning to Micro USB adapter in Europe. For a long time, this convenient device has been unavailable in America, except through 3rd party resellers.

Image from Apple

Those Americans that do not simply follow along with Apples comparatively Draconian methods will be elated to learn that the adapter is now available to purchase, directly through Apples website.

Although the adapter costs $19.00, the experience of being able to use an already purchased cord with a new Apple product in the U.S should be like a splash of cool, clear water on the face of a man trapped in a sweltering desert*.

The adapter is compatible with all current iOS devices, including the iPad mini, and with the seventh generation iPod nano.

It is capable of charging, and syncing devices in the same manner of a standard Lightning cord.

Source: AppleInsider

*Please note that the author of this article is an American.