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Ty Pendlebury

Seagate Drives Notebook Growth

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Seagate Technology today announced it is shipping the world’s first 2.5″ hard-drive based on perpendicular recording technology, which promises to overcome the current capacity bottlenecks.

Perpendicular recording stands data bits end on end on the disk, rather than flat across the surface, which means more bits across the surface area making higher capacities. Seagate claims within five years the technology will allow current capacities to grow by 500%.

Other advantages of the technology include higher throughputs, and lower power usage, and Seagate claims the 5400 RPM drive uses the same amount of power as a slower 4200 RPM drive – extending battery life.

The Momentus series will provide capacities up to 160GB, with the Momentus 5400.3 hard drive now shipping to the channel featuring the Ultra ATA 100 Mb/s interface. Seagate says it will begin shipping the drives with a SATA 150/300 interface later in the year.

“It’s a new technology. It’s very reliable, but it’s not even scraping the paint off the surface of its potential”, said Sam Zavaglia, senior field applications engineer at Seagate.

“All new 2.5″ and 3.5″ drives from Seagate will now be perpendicular, from the 7200.10 onwards. All current drives on the market will be the last linear recording drives for Seagate”, Zavaglia said.

Seagate plans to extend perpendicular recording to its other drives over the next two years, he said.

“The trend is clear: the number of notebook PC users is growing, and they demand higher capacity disk drives,” said John Rynding, IDC’s research manager for dard drives. “IDC estimates that notebook PCs with 80GB or more disk drive capacity will grow from less than 10% of notebook shipments in 2004 to nearly 50% in 2006, providing opportunities for high-capacity mobile drives such as Seagate’s new Momentus 5400.3.”

The Momentus 5400.3 160GB is shipping this week and will retail for $599.

Asus Laptop Jams In Goodies

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As far as desktop replacements are concerned, the A7D from Asus is about as jam-packed full of goodness as you can get.

It comes with an inbuilt webcam, a TV tuner with remote control, and a large (for a laptop) 100GB drive. And it also comes at a decent price. And depending on what you’re looking for, it gives Samsung’s M50 a run for its money.

This is a true multimedia monster, with its 17″ ‘Color Shine’ LCD and X700 graphics adaptor. The screen is similar to the one used in Asus’s own 17″ monitor we reviewed last month, and it’s quite nice, but hard to use in a brightly lit environment. And while the analog tuner is a nice addition, it’s probably one of the least intriguing features of this notebook. The pictures it produced were ok, but all the ghosting artifacts of analogue were made all too clear.

The A7D’s webcam is a welcomed feature in any laptop. Here it is well-integrated into the PC, sitting at the top of the screen and will help give IM clients that extra zing – expect to see more manufacturers incorporate webcams in the near future.

Performance-wise, we were torn with this notebook. It turns in a very healthy 4049 PC Marks, but the battery life is one of the poorest we’ve ever seen. This machine sucks some juice! Our default Battery Eater Pro benchmark came up with an extremely paltry 1.05 hours. Even with the screen brightness turned right down, and the more pedestrian reader test it still only managed 1.5 hours. And the weight! It’s a very awkward 4 kgs.

If you’re replacing a desktop, the A7D is a great choice, with all the features you could possibly ask for. But if you’re after a portable multimedia machine, it’s best to look elsewhere.

Asus A7D | From $2999 |

For: Great feature set; great value for money; webcam; analogue tuner.

Against: Heavy; poor battery life; plain jane looks.

Verdict: It doesn’t have the ‘wow’ factor of the Samsung, but this is a solid and economical desk-bound media centre.

 

Vodafone Launches Mobile Broadband

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Vodaphone launched their own mobile broadband solution today based on the 3G network called Vodafone Mobile Connect, which it is targeting at SMBs.

Mark Iles, general manager business markets of Vodafone said: “3G is the catalyst that will make true mobile working a mainstream reality.”

Vodafone Mobile Connect (VMC) is offering three different plans, starting at $29.95 for 100MB, then $49.95 for 300MB, but Iles said he anticipated the Data Unlimited plan at $99.95 would be the most popular.

The decline of desktop sales and the rise of notebook sales should make the VMC quite an attractive option to SOHOs and SMBs looking for an efficient and reliable mobile office, Iles said.

The VMC with 3G network card is compatible with PC and Mac and is available for an RRP of $399, or on a $0 plan for $16.63 a month.

Vodafone’s services currently cover 70 per cent of Sydney, with coverage also available in Melbourne, Canberra, and most international airports. VMC currently offers download speeds of 384kbs with plans of eventually enabling up to 14Mbs.

Vodafone offers 16 international roaming destinations, subject to a charge of one cent per kb, with a minimum 10kb session fee.

Vodafone are also preparing a ‘Passport’ plan, which will enable users to roam for a set fee without additional charges, and will be announced next year.

Mariah Carey In Your Lap

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Grammy Award recipient Mariah Carey has appeared in a new ad for Intel’s Centrino Duo, taking the company’s ‘Entertainment In Your Lap’ slogan to heart.

The ad debuted at tonight’s Grammy Awards ceremony, in which Carey won three awards, and features Carey sitting in a man’s lap as he tries to make a playlist on his laptop for his girlfriend. She then sings to him, and the tagline is “With the new Centrino Duo, your digital entertainment really comes to life.”
The ad will be featured over the next couple of months and will be accompanied by print, banner and online advertising in the US.
It is the latest in a series of ‘Entertainment In Your Lap’ ads which have also included celebrities such as Tony Hawk, John Cleese, Lucy Liu and Seal. No word yet as to whether these spots will be shown in Australia.
Intel’s Centrino Duo was launched two weeks ago, and features dual-core capability and new power-saving features over the original Centrino series.

See the ad here: http://www.intel.com/products/centrino/duo/ad.htm?iid=HMPAGE+HL_060208

 

Nokia Unveils New Clamshells

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Nokia today launched five new phones in new form-factors for Australia, which include three clamshell phones and two of their more traditional ‘candybar’ shapes.

The top-of-the-range ‘hero’ phone is the Nokia 6131, which boasts a 2.2″ display with 16.7 million colours, 1.3 MP camera, MP3 player and Bluetooth.

The phones include: the 3G-enabled business 6233, which includes a Wireless Presenter function for controlling Power Point presentations; the entry-level Bluetooth 6103, with Push-To-Talk; and the 6125, with a 1.3 MP camera and MP3/WMA support.

The last phone on the list is the ‘candybar’ 6070, with ‘basic camera phone capabilities’ stereo FM, and MP3 ringtones.

“One of our strengths is in our form-factors, especially with the new range. We had a lot of success with our ‘candybar monoblock’ phones, such as the 6070, and we feel this range build on our core strengths”, said Shaun Colligan, general manager of Nokia Australia.

Colligan said he welcomed competition from Motorola and Sony Ericsson with their slim form-factor candybars, and added that “it’s about what we do for our customers that makes a difference”.

Nokia currently has over 40 models in Australia and the new phones are part of their ‘classic’ range, which is the next step up from their pre-paid selection.

The phones will be released in Q2 2006, with retail prices ranging between $200 and $500.

Nokia 6131

Nokia rolls out multimedia handsets

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Nokia’s range of multimedia phones is about to hit our shores, with flavours to suit most moods, consisting of a new MP3 phone with 4GB drive, a dedicated camera phone and a new 3G smartphone.

The launch in Sydney today concentrated mainly on the new N90 camera phone, which features a 2MP camera with the world’s first Carl Zeiss lens, and digicam-like twistable viewfinder. It has 31MB of onboard memory and comes with a 128MB MMC card. It will be available in November for $1199.

 

Guests at the launch including professional photographer Brett Odgers, who was exhibiting a gallery of work made using a N90 camera phone, and Dale Brimicombe, financial controller from Carl Zeiss Australia, who showed off some of the technology behind the lens featured in the N90.

 

“As one of the most hotly anticipated products we have ever launched, it’s exciting to announce the arrival of the Nokia N series on the Australian market, with consumers now able to experience the next step in mobile digital convergence,” said Mike Addison, head of multimedia, Nokia Australia. “The N series is about taking the multimedia experience to a new level”.

 

 The N series is also made up of:

 

  • Nokia N70: one of the world’s smallest 3G Symbian handsets with a 2MP camera, stereo FM radio, music player, stainless steel construction and weighing in at 126g. It will be available in November for 979
  • The N91: Nokia’s “music jukebox” with a 4GB hard drive, Symbian OS, support for most music formats including WMA DRM, FM radio, wireless LAN, and a 3.5mm adaptor. It will be available in Q1 2006 with a retail price to be announced.

Flash Memory Shrinks Again

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Intel Corporation has announced production of the world’s first NOR flash memory chips for mobile phones using a 65-nanometer process.

Intel began producing CPUs at 65nm in the second half of 2005, and this is Intel’s first memory part using this technology. By migrating from 90nm to a 65nm technology, components are able to produce less heat and also require less power – essential attributes for battery operated devices like mobile phones.

The chips are rated at 1-gigabit density, which roughly translates to 125MB of storage, and Intel says they will be used to manage critical phone operations, handle Personal Information Management data and to store photos, music and videos.

“With these offerings, Intel continues to lead in providing the industry’s most advanced NOR flash memory for the mainstream handset market segment,” said Brian Harrison, Intel vice president and general manager of the Flash Memory Group. “Our 65nm process technology will improve flash performance to enable the next generation of handsets that deliver new and enhanced capabilities for end-users.”
 
The new parts will be available to customers late in Q2 2006.

Sony’s Business VAIOs

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Following success with its range of consumer notebooks, Sony has introduced a new range of business VAIOs which feature advanced security and communication functions.

The VAIO notebook range will also form an integral part of Sony’s focus on HD products, Sony announced at the launch of its updated models today.

 

Sony announced staff cuts and a resulting focus on High Definition products last week, and according to Gordon Kerr, Group Business Manager for VAIO, “the VAIO plays a leading role in HD”. He said consumers would shoot footage on a Sony HD camera, edit it on a Sony VAIO notebook, and then display home movies on a Sony HD display like the Bravia.

 

Sony introduced eight new models to its VAIO series, including a new range of business laptops, and four consumer laptops. Advanced features like magnesium alloy or carbon fibre construction, white LED displays, and even fingerprint readers were evident amongst the range.

 

“This lineup has been designed for the greatest level of mobility for professionals and highly skilled consumers alike”, said Gordon Kerr. “We have a fresh, targeted direction for VAIO, moving toward the development of two distinct offerings – one catering to the needs of business and one to the personal user. These latest additions exemplify our objective to continue delivering strong personal notebooks, whilst simultaneously supporting the discerning business customer”, Kerr said.

 

The range includes the VGN-BX168GP which features a fingerprint reader which can be configured for use for anything from secure logon, to individual access to websites. As well as that, it includes an inbuilt webcam for videoconferencing and VoIP. Security and communication would be a significant focus for future VAIO notebooks, Kerr said. The BX168 retails for $3,099.

 

Another standout included the ultra-lightweight VGN-TX17 which uses carbon fibre in construction making it incredibly lightweight at 1.24kg. It also features a thin, 11.1″ WXGA white LED screen, and an amazing battery life of nine hours. The TX17is available in black or white for $3,799.

 

The new VAIO products are due from mid-late October, and start at $2,299 for the VGN-FS35GP business notebook and culminate in the VGN-A59GP multimedia laptop at $4,999.

AMD Athlon FX-60 Processor

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AMD’s FX range of processors has been the top of the enthusiasts heap for several years now. The Athlon 64 FX line began in September 2003 with the FX-51, as a variant of the Athlon 64 architecture.

Now, with the company’s introduction of dual-core processing last year, it was only natural that the latest FX CPU would feature it. The FX-60 is set to be the company’s last processor for the existing Socket 939, as they ready a new architecture, named Socket AM2, with 940 pins and support for faster DDR2 RAM.
This is an ‘enthusiast-level’ processor, which is designed to take advantage of the few programs that support multi-threading. Its dual cores are clocked at 2.6GHz, which will also speed up multitasking. So if you’re converting video for your iPod, you’ll be able to continue as normal, rather than making your computer grind to a halt.
We used the FX-60 in our system over the course of a week, and didn’t really notice much difference in day-to-day tasks over the existing 3000+. And by running several benchmarks we also failed to see much difference in performance.
The latest fad in games is for High-Dynamic Range (HDR) lighting, which can really tax your system. And 3DMark06 is a good tester for such effects. The FX-60, coupled with Asus’s 7800GTX graphics card, managed 4223 marks, but while this may sound impressive, changing the processor back to a 3000+ managed a healthy 3775 marks. It’s obvious that the card is doing most of the work here. A 500 point difference is not too bad on such a graphics intensive test, but if games are your thing then a video card upgrade is a better option.
For a more real world test, PC Mark 04 managed a very respectable 4771 marks which is perhaps the highest score we’ve ever seen for this benchmark.
The FX-60 is not what you’d call a value-for-money proposition, as it’s priced at an RRP of $1750. You can get two laptops for that price, and we don’t feel that the performance quite justifies the cost. But then, the FX series has never been about value, only the ultimate in pants-wetting performance. And there is the rub, in some benchmarks, it’s outdone by its predecessor the FX-57, which is only a single core. Nevertheless, as many independent reviewers have suggested, this is still the most powerful processor on the planet for many tasks, and no matter how incremental the benefits, this is the one to get if you must have the best.

AMD FX-60 Processor | $1750 |
For: Most powerful CPU available; dual-core processing aids multi-tasking; great for multimedia tasks.
Against: Expensive; poor bang-for-buck; few supported applications; overkill for office use.
Verdict: If speed is important, there’s no contest, this is the processor to get. But for most tasks, similar performance is available for three quarters of this price in the FX-57.

Logitech Release Mac Cordless Desktop

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Mac users out there – come out, we can hear you breathing – now have more to rejoice about, as Logitech have announced a cordless keyboard and mouse designed specifically for OSX.

The Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac features an ultra-flat keyboard, in white of course, with dedicated one-touch controls for iTunes and iPhoto, as well as programmable launch keys for programs like Safari, Mail, or Spotlight.

Of course, many existing PC desktops will work with OSX as it supports two-button mice, but this is Logitech’s first set guaranteed to work with the operating system.

And tailored to the fact that many Mac users are also designers, the sculpted cordless laser mouse delivers “exceptional comfort and enables pixel-precise photo editing”, accoprding to Logitech. And yes, as the name suggests, it uses “fricken laser beams” for enhanced tracking.

“Apple’s Mac computers consistently deliver premium style and experience – and our new desktop expertly complements those attributes,” said Denis Pavillard, Logitech’s vice president of product marketing for desktops and keyboards. “We’ve applied our award-winning design process to develop a minimalist, slim design to match the Mac. Our keyboard delivers important additional controls that improve the digital media experience and our revolutionary laser mouse technology provides exceptional precision.”

Battery life is rated at six months, and the set will be available in the States in March for US$99 with local availability and pricing not yet available.