This week, Intel launched its latest chip in a move that some analysts say
could spell a new era in technology.
The Penryn CPU is the first chip to use a 45 nanometer (nm)manufacturing
process; in layman's terms it squeezes more transistors into the processor.
Current 65nm and 90nm chips have fewer transistors which are essentially
building blocks for the processor.
Intel has successfully changed essential materials in the manufacturing process
while reducing heat output and energy
consumption, without inducing major energy leakage in this pioneering
development.
The 820 million transistors in the new quad core Penryn chips translates to
more horsepower for the end user. Moore's Law, which was first outlined by
Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, states, "The number of transistors it is
possible to squeeze into a chip for a fixed cost doubles every two years."
The law has effectively been extended for another 10 years by the new processor
development. The 16 new microprocessors launched this week will be aimed at
servers and high-end users who need the extra power for gaming or video
editing.
Competitors Advanced Micro Devices are not expected to launch their 45nm
processors until next year, but currently do offer dual and quad core CPUs.
Two companies already embracing this development are Hewlett Packard, which has
launched its new Penryn business workstation, the XW8600, dubbed "the mother of
all workstations" and YouTube, which has increased the video upload file size
limit for its users in anticipation of more powerful server and video
compression technology.
The new processors are expected to bring about the introduction of higher
definition online video to replace the current low quality and blocky
compressed format that is used.
Telecommunications
Google has finally announced its plans on moving into mobile territory. Those
plans include a new software package for mobile manufacturers to offer users
more accessibility to Google search, maps and products. The free open-source
"software stack" is likely to first appear on HTC, LG Electronics, Motorola and
Samsung handsets.
The search giant is also offering US$10 million in prizes to developers who
build the best software to enhance its platform. The Android Developer
Challenge will include a panel of judges to pick 50 winners from entries
received from January 2 through March 3 next year.
Google stated that the winning entries should "provide consumers with the most
compelling experiences". Android is set to compete with mobile operating
systems made by Microsoft Corp, Palm Inc, Research In Motion Ltd and Symbian
owned by Nokia Corp.
Microsoft
is looking to increase its consumer mobile offerings by planning to buy mobile
music service provider Musicwave. The software giant said it has already signed
an exclusive deal for an undisclosed sum to acquire the mobile music operator.
Musicwave allows users access to self-branded music applications, music
downloads, ringtones and ring-back tones. Its clients include O2, Vodafone,
T-Mobile, Orange, Telus, Telefonica and Virgin Mobile. With the move Microsoft
would be competing with other mobile music services, predominantly Apple Inc's
iPhone and iTunes.
Microsoft is also planning to launch three new Zune portable media players this
week. The new units will have redesigned software, online services and come in
three sizes 80GB, 8GB and 4GB starting at $150.
Gaming
Following a huge marketing campaign and media hype, the game of the year was
finally released this week. The debut of Crytek's first person shooter, Crysis,
has been long awaited by gamers across the globe.
The game has a lot of ground to cover if it is to live up to its predecessor,
Far Cry, which was released in 2004 by Ubisoft. Publishers Electronic Arts
(EA)promises to deliver "the next generation first person shooter" with
stunning DirectX 9 and 10 visuals. Crytek is constantly striving to push the
boundaries of both game design and technology, while maintaining quality at the
highest bar," said Cevat Yerli, chief executive officer and president of
Crytek.
According to EA, the new game will feature open-ended gameplay and dress the
player in a "revolutionary nanosuit and an arsenal of fully customizable
weapons". The game environment will include "tropical jungles, flash-frozen
landscapes and a zero gravity environment".
Microsoft
announced it will begin adding original Xbox titles to the Xbox 360's Live
Marketplace for users to download to their hard drive, a move which is timed to
correspond with the five-year anniversary of Xbox Live.
However, a day after the announcement, Microsoft said "there are some known
issues" with the games, including choppy visuals, lack of additional content
and even system crashing.
On December 4, Microsoft will release a firmware update for the Xbox 360, which
will include in part the ability to download selected Xbox games. Xbox Live has
surpassed the 8-million member mark, the highest of any online console
community.
Sony's
recent price cut of the PlayStation 3 enabled it to double weekly sales of the
console in the US. The boost in sales was also combined with shortages of
Nintendo's Wii, the competing console.
Sony boss Howard Stringer said, "It's a little fortuitous that the Wii is
running out of hardware." Sony sold 100,000 PS3s in a week following the cut.
Nintendo has become a victim of its own success, with many shops in the US and
Britain struggling to meet demand, the company has denied it is withholding
supply to heighten interest. Despite the recent drop, the Wii is still seeing
great successes in sales figures, boosted last month by Guitar Hero III and
286,300 sales.
Marvel
comics has announced the launch of a digital archive in which subscribers will
have access to online comic books and graphic novels for $4.99 a month.
The service will provide users with access to classics such as the first issues
of The Amazing Spider-Man, The X-Men, Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four and
others. Marvel will launch Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited with 2,500 online
editions and add a further 20 titles per week. Unlike music downloads, this
service is all online, all the user needs is a browser, Adobe Reader and Flash
Player.
Software
Apple Inc patched 41 vulnerabilities in Mac OS X, released an update for Tiger,
fixed 10 bugs in the Windows version of Safari and upgraded a number of other
applications in one of its biggest update days ever, this week.
Both Security Update 2007-008 and the update to Mac OSX 10.4.11 include the 41
fixes, 15 of which could be considered critical as they allow "arbitrary code
execution", Apple's terminology for an attack that could result in a
compromised Mac. Apple has patched over 150 vulnerabilities in the eight
security updates it has issued so far during 2007, only one update to iPhoto
was relevant to users running its latest OS, Leopard.
Also patching this week was Microsoft, which released its monthly security
bulletin. The primary "critical" rated bug is a security flaw in Internet
Explorer 7 that allows hackers to access the computer remotely by running
malicious code. Other bugs in Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 were also
updated.
Martin J Young is an Asia Times Online correspondent based in Thailand.
Head
Office: Unit B, 16/F, Li Dong Building, No. 9 Li Yuen Street East,
Central, Hong Kong Thailand Bureau:
11/13 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin, Prachuab Kirikhan, Thailand 77110
Telecommunications
