NVIDIA has launched a new SLI chipset for Intel, the XE. It's set to bring SLI performance to mid-range Intel motherboards. XE is an updated version of the original SLI chipset, and is designed to occupy the mid-range of Intel SLI systems. You don't get dual 16x slots, just dual 8x. Primarily, the XE is designed to replace the i945 and i955 chipsets as the mid-range performance mainboard of choice, and supports all Intel dual core processors. This combination will make for a pretty awesome gaming system at a fairly low price. The XE will launch into the market within the next couple of weeks. Retail motherboards are expected to cost around US$99
Hasselblad H2D-39, the 39 megapixel digital camera
High-end Swedish camera manufacturer, Hasselblad have announced a 39 megapixel digital camera, the H2D-39. That's right: thirty nine million pixels. It is, of course, a dSLR camera but it features a new CCD sensor that is more than twice the size of a regular 35mm camera's sensor at 36.7mm x 49mm. Consider for a second that the 12.8MP Canon EOS 5D has a 35.8mm x 23.9mm CCD and you begin to appreciate how insane the H2D-39 really is. Hasselblad don't list a specific resolution on their website, but the H2D-39 is good for something in the order of 8000x5000 in round figures in order to produce 39 megapixel images. The basic camera starts at some US$32,000.
According to ATI's John Swiminer, the GPU (codenamed Hollywood) will not be based on any current PC architecture. There's even musings it may be a totally new design in comparison to it's cousin driving the Gamecube.
"It is designed the same as the Flipper was - from the ground up for a specific console. [It's a] totally different sort of architecture from what you might find on the PC. Certainly, there are some underlying values - you know, how you get graphics on the screen - that's there. It's not, for example, like we took a PC design and said 'oh, you know what? If we tweak this and test this, it will work in a console'."
The question still remains as to just how powerful the Revolution will be - and Swiminer didn't shed any more light on the issue, reiterating only that the focus of the design and the manufacturing of the Revolution is centred around gameplay and innovation rather than technical prowess and flash graphical functionality.
Valve has released a screenshot of their forthcoming new Counter-Strike: Source level, titled Militia. Here is the update in full:
With the release of the map Militia looming for Counter-Strike: Source, we wanted to give the community a sneak peek at what the conversion will look like. As you can see, this new version of Militia is visually a dramatic departure from the previous version. There have also been a few changes to the way the map plays, which should make for some interesting matches.
Autoweek reports that the Imperial rides on a 123-inch wheelbase, which is three ticks longer than the 300C’s wheelbase. Overall the concept is 17-inches longer at 214 inches and six inches taller. Those wheels are twenty-twos, so it’s a good thing Chrysler is using the monster 5.7L Hemi with 340 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque to rotate them.
Entrance into the large sedan is achieved through b-pillar-less doors that welcome occupants into an interior orgy of leather, California burl wood and satin-finished aluminum. Many of the components inside are handcrafted, as well, and set off by a bath of warm interior accent lights.
21st Century 3D's latest piece of gear, the 3DVX3 uses a Panasonic AG-DVX100A as its base, with Frankenstein-style add-ons that include 6CCDs, binocular LCOS EVF, and a built-in Mac OS X dual-CPU computer (modded from two Mac minis) with two 7200 RPM 100GB hard drives (one for each eye).
Xbox-scene's got a connection close to XLink Kai -- the group behind the Xbox network-tunneling software that enables online gameplay outside Xbox Live -- who's laid claim that the group is hard at work on a system to do the very same with the PSP. That is, it sounds like XLink Kai may be out to enable a complete "pirate" online PSP gaming network.
Renee Davide is a line of artistic bags made of European linen and Italian leather. The bags are unique in that the feature embroidered works of art. The three designs shown are Walter, Lily, Catsanova, and are available on a variety of bag shapes from wristlets to totes. They also sell colorful leather wallets and clutches and satchel which bear a signature swan print. The totes shown here sell for $525.
If you're a Mac user and the Finder just doesn't do it for you, check out Path Finder, a great replacement for the file manager, which has just been updated to Version 4. This is a major upgrade, with a raft of new features, including full integration with OSX 10.4 features such as Spotlight and 256x256 icons, along with lots of features you won't find in the Finder. These include a built-in search engine (in case you really don't like spotlight), tabbed windows, and tons of modules, including a file previewer, text editor, PDF viewer, and terminal tool. Path Finder is $34.95; if you purchased Path Finder 3 after September 29, 2004, you're eligible for a free upgrade.
The Suunto line of watches specialize in watches that are mini computers to help athletes reach peak performance. Their latest dive watch the D6 Dive Computer has a digital compass that shows divers the direction in which they are heading both graphically and numerically. The watch can also tell the water temperature and water depth. It has three modes, Air, Nixtrox and Gauge, a stopwatch, dual time and alarm clock. The dive profile can be downloaded to a PC to enable repetitive dive planning.
The latest product in a big mobile push from Google is Google Personalized Home for Mobile, which is exactly what it sounds like: a version of Google Personalized Home for cell phones and PDAs. It includes access to your Gmail inbox, news headlines, weather, stock quotes, movie showtimes, and "a variety of popular RSS and Atom feeds," all from within your phone or PDA's web browser. According to the Google Mobile web site, you can log in with the same Gmail account as you use on the PC version of Google Personalized Home and get all of your customized content modules.
Does Core Duo sacrifice battery life for performance?
Core Duo-powered computers, apparently, suffer from relatively short battery lives, at least according to tests conducted by Tom's Hardware. According to Tom's, the battery on a typical Core Duo tester laptop will run down after about two hours, barely enough time to watch a film on its DVD drive. However, after extensive testing and analysis, Tom's found that the fault doesn't lie in the Core Duo processor itself, which the site says "is definitely one of the most efficient and energy saving (mobile) processors we've ever seen." So, where's the power going? Tom's hypothesizes that it could be the graphics engine (and its 512MB of video RAM) or Intel's 945GM chipset, but finding out will require further testing. So, in the meantime until we get more conclusive results, rejoice in the fact that you've got a powerful and potentially energy efficient computer.
MMORPG.com has posted the results of their Reader's Choice Awards—more than 30,000 voters participated. The categories and winners include:
* Favorite Company: CCP Games (EVE Online) * Best Graphics: EVE Online * Best PvE: World of WarCraft * Best PvP: EVE Online * Best Story: The Saga of Ryzom * Most Anticipated: Dungeons & Dragons Online * Favorite Game: EVE Online
The fuzzy image above appeared recently on the Chinese digicam fan site DCHome.net, raising suspicions that it could be Canon's EOS 30D, the successor to the 20D. While some Canon enthusiasts think it looks real enough, others are pointing out the fact that everything after the "3" is covered in the photo, and that the camera bears at least a passing resemblance to the 350D (which is a little confusing consider the 350D's dial is on the right side of the body, not the left). This isn't the first time alleged 30D pics have shown up online.
A new Final Fantasy XII trailer has been included as a bonus on a recent DVD release (in Japan) of Angela Aki's single, "Kokoro no Senshi." Aki's "Kiss Me Good-Bye," a sappy, over-produced tune, is the official theme song for FFXII and dominates the mood of the CGI-heavy trailer.
On the DVD, you'll also be treated to Aki's rendition of the FFVIII theme, "Eyes on Me" (not to be confused with Tupac's 1996 joint, "All Eyez On Me").
Korea to introduce household bots to watch the kids, clean and order pizza
South Korea's Ministry of Information and Communications hopes to introduce a series of internet-connected household robots this October. The bots, according to the Ministry, will be able to perform such household tasks as cleaning, monitoring homes, reading to children, and ordering pizza via the Internet. The Korean government also plans to roll out robocops that can pursue suspects, and multi-legged or wheeled combat bots within the next five years. The bots will receive most of their commands via a wireless Internet connection, keeping costs down to as little as $1,000.
The SmartPill pH.p Capsule can transmit gastric data to a wireless receiver, avoiding the need for gastric emptying Scintigraphy, a procedure that exposes the patient to radiation. The pill, makes it a viable alternative to that other quaint tool used to check gastric problems, is expected to be available later this year.
since this is Ubisoft's week to cajole you into buying Tales of Eternia RPG, humor them by downloading their free wallpaper and taking a gander at their trailer for the game. Caution direct link.
-Lytir1
