Micron Planning DDR4 RAM for Late 2012

By zackduncan | Published: May 7, 2012

DDR4 RAMMicron Technologies Incorporated has just announced the development of its first fully functional DDR4 DRAM module. Not only has Micron officially announced it, but the company has also started sampling the product and has already received feedback from major customers to support quick implementation for applications in 2013.

The new features and specifications that have been designed into DDR4 are expected to be heavily utilized by the enterprise and micro-server markets. It is also said that this will accelerate early adoption of the new technology. The ultrathin computer and tablet markets, which are growing at a fast rate, will also benefit from the new opportunities that arise from the power-saving and performance features of the DDR4.

The 4Gb DDR4x8, which was co-developed by Nanya and is based on Micron’s 30nm technology, is the first part of what is believed to be the most complete portfolio of DDR4-based modules in the industry. This includes RDIMMs, LRDIMMs, 3DS, SODIMMs and UDIMMs. Aside from that, x8, x16 and x32 components will also be available with initial speeds of 2,400 MT/s increasing to the JEDEC-defined 3,200 MT/s.

According to Vice President for Micron’s DRAM Solutions Group Brian Shirley, “With the JEDEC definition for DDR4 very near finalization, we’ve put significant effort into ensuring that our first DDR4 product is as JEDEC-compatible as it can be at this final stage of its development. We’ve provided samples to key partners in the marketplace with confidence that the die we give them now is the same die we will take into mass production.”

Micron is in a good position to quickly become fully compliant with its 30nm 4GB DDR4 part as JEDEC finalizes the DDR4 specifications. Full sampling to key partners started earlier this year with volume production planned for the fourth quarter of 2012, according to Micron.

Source: Engadget – Micron teases working DDR4 RAM module, aims for late 2012 production

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Windows 8 Confirmed, Coming in 4 Flavors

By zackduncan | Published: April 21, 2012

Windows 8 logoMicrosoft has officially announced that Windows 8 will come in four different versions, not the multiple versions that have been confusing consumers for years. The four versions will be a home version, a business version, a version for devices using ARM chips and a version for larger enterprises that buy in bulk.

If you are planning to buy Windows 8 for your laptop or desktop, you will really only have to choose between two versions. The version that just goes by Windows 8 is specifically designed for home users. Windows 8 Pro is designed for business users and will include features for encrypting a file system, virtualization and domain management.

Windows RT is the name given to the version designed for devices using ARM chips. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to purchase Windows RT on your own. This version will come pre-installed on PCs and tablets running ARM processors. In addition to that, this version won’t be able to run traditional X86/64 desktop software. Instead, the OS will run touch-oriented apps based on Windows RT.

Brandon LeBlanc from Microsoft announced the new versions in a recent blog post but failed to announce how much each version would cost or when they would be available. However, LeBlanc did make it official that the new operating system would indeed be called Windows 8, something everybody had assumed anyway.

According to LeBlanc, “As with previous versions of Windows, we will also have an edition of Windows 8 specifically for those enterprise customers with Software Assurance agreements. Windows 8 Enterprise includes all the features of Windows 8 Pro plus features for IT organization that enable PC management and deployment, advanced security, virtualization, new mobility scenarios, and much more.”

Releasing only four versions of Windows 8 means that Microsoft is listening to customers and showing a lot of self-control. Windows 7 came in six different versions with many home users picking between Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate. Windows 8 should make the choice much easier with most users choosing the standard Windows 8 version.

Source: PC World – Windows 8 Will Come in Four Versions

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Nokia Lumia 900 Launch Hindered by Data Loss Bug

By zackduncan | Published: April 9, 2012

Nokia Lumia 900A lot of people were excited for the release of the Nokia Lumia 900. However, nothing ever releases perfectly and that was definitely the case with Nokia’s newest mobile device. Early adopters of the device have had their initial expectations for the phone rained upon by a bug that has been reported by users on Nokia’s forums, as well as the forums of WPCentral. In addition to that, an AT&T source for Phone Area also complained about the bug.

The reported bug has users of the Windows Phone losing all data connections if their cellular link is restarted at any time. This means that any time a user does anything that restarts their cellular link, like going into Airplane Mode for example, all of their data connections are lost.

A temporary fix to the problem is available. All you have to do is boot the phone without a SIM card, then shut down and reinsert the SIM card. However, the problem eventually resurfaces and I can see this process getting just as frustrating as the bug itself.

AT&T has yet to publicly confirm the existence of the bug, though a tip has surfaced suggesting that the phone’s IEMIs (unique phone identifiers) were not registering properly on the data network. AT&T was supposedly aware of this problem and began taking defective models of the Lumia off of store shelves.

It is also unclear as to how widespread the problem actually is. A lot of problems like this only affect a very small number of users, which means that most devices are unaffected. However, if the bug becomes consistent, it could damage what was initally thought to be Microsoft’s largest Windows Phone launch ever, as well as Nokia’s return to the U.S. mobile phone market.

Source: Electronista – Nokia Lumia 900 hit by bug that disables data

Engadget – Some Nokia Lumia 900 handsets having trouble connecting to data networks

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Apple’s iPad 3 More Expensive to Make, Lowers Profit Margins

By zackduncan | Published: March 9, 2012

4G iPad 3The new iPad, or the iPad 3 if you want to be technical, has apparently been more expensive to make, requiring Apple to sacrifice some of its excruciatingly high margins to bring it onto the market. At least that’s how it seems after preliminary estimates from UBM TechInsights showed that the bill of materials for the third installment to the iPad franchise was about $310 for the 16GB 4G model.

Compare that to the $629 retail price of the tablet and you get a profit margin of 51%, slightly less than the 56% profit margin of the company’s equivalent 3G iPad 2. This extra cost in production likely comes from the new 9.7″ screen that has a native 2,048 x 1,536 resolution. Estimates place the cost of the new screen at $70 per device, significantly higher than the $49.50 price of the iPad 2′s 1,024 x 768 display.

The increase in price was also due  to the new radio chip that Apple has included in the iPad 3. The chip has bands covering pretty much every mobile carrier’s frequencies, including AT&T and Verizon’s 4G LTE networks. This chip was estimated to cost around $21 per device, over twice as much as the $10 3G chip in the iPad 2.

The new A5X chip with a quad-core graphical processor, which powers the whole thing, came in at nearly $28, $6 more than $22 pricetag of the iPad and iPad 2′s A5 chip. However, this is just an estimate from UMB TechInsights, not an actual number, though estimates like these usually aren’t far off the mark.

What isn’t quoted is the cost of assembly, shipping, marketing and research & development, which would be much harder to include. What is clear, though, is that Apple is definitely profiting big on the iPad 3 regardless. The only question is exactly how big. Though if it’s anything like the iPad 2, I don’t think Apple should be worried.

Source: Phone Arena – New iPad bill of materials is around $320, profit margins drop slightly; Electronista – New 4G iPad seen costing $310 to make, lowering margins; The Wall Street Journal – Firm Estimates New iPad Costs Apple More; Engadget – Early estimates say new iPad cuts Apple’s profit margins

Short-throw projectors only require half the projection distance of traditional projectors. The projector can be placed just a foot or so from the screen. This is nice because it keeps the projector and screen near each other instead of having a long throw projector that people can accidentally block.
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Japanese Construction Company Planning 2050 Elevator to Space

By zackduncan | Published: February 24, 2012

Obayashi Space ElevatorObayashi, a construction company out of Japan, has come up with one heck of an idea that probably looks better on paper than it does in reality. According to reports, Obayashi wants to build an elevator…to space! That’s right, an elevator that goes all the way into space capable of transporting passengers to a space station about a tenth of the distance to the moon.

The design of the elevator is a structure using super-strong carbon nanotubes in its cables and could, according to the company, be ready as early as 2050. The cables themselves would stretch a mere 60,000 miles, which is roughly a quarter of the distance to the moon, and would be attached to Earth at a spaceport anchored to the ocean floor. The other end of the cables would dangle a counterweight in space.

The elevator would travel at approximately 125 miles per hour and possibly be powered by magnetic linear motors. However, it would take nearly an entire seven day week to get to the station. The space station the elevator would travel to would contain living quarters and lab facilities while solar panels connected to to the station would generate electricity that would be transmitted to the ground.

Obayashi isn’t the only company contemplating space elevators, however. NASA has also entertained the idea and awarded $900,000 in 2009 to LaserMotive for developing a laser-powered robotic climber. If the extreme technological obstacles weren’t enough to dissuade people from trying this, the infrastructure could cost billions of dollars to construct, despite what it would save on rocket launches into space.

According to a quote from Obayashi in the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, “At this moment, we cannot estimate the cost for the project. However, we’ll try to make steady progress so that it won’t just end up as simply a dream.” The elevator would carry people 30 at a time into space, though I wonder how 30 people would get along together for a week straight?

Source: CNET – Japan plans snail-paced space elevator for 2050 ; Picture Courtesy of Obayashi

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Google Allowed to Acquire Motorola Mobility

By zackduncan | Published: February 13, 2012

Google Motorola

Regulators from the United States, as well as Europe, approved the $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility by Google on Monday and stated that they would continue to keep a close watch on Google to ensure that patents critical to the telecom industry would continue to be licensed at fair prices.

The United States Department of Justice also approved an Apple Inc-led consortium’s purchase of multiple patents from Nortel Networks, a recently bankrupt company out of Canada. Both the European Antitrust Authorities and United States Department of Justice stated that they would continue to monitor how patents will be used to ensure that they continue to comply with antitrust laws.

In both the United States and Europe, antitrust enforcers are worried that patents that are essential to ensuring communications devices sold by different companies work together are licensed for a reasonable cost. The Department of Justice said in a statement, “The division will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action to stop any anti-competitive use of SEP rights.”

Android, which is a part of Google, is currently the top operating system for smartphones, and Google stated back in August that it would buy Motorola for its 17,000 patents and 7,500 patent applications. This was obviously a strategic move as Google tries to compete against Apple and its iOS-enabled devices.

This new deal will give Google one of the largest patent libraries in the entire mobile phone industry along with hardware manufacturing operations that will allow the search engine giant to develop its very own line of smartphones. Google is already being sued by Oracle Corporation for patent infringement with the company seeking up to $6 billion.

However, Google isn’t alone on this front as the European Commission has opened investigations into legal tactics used by Samsung Electronics against Apple and whether or not these tactics breached European Antitrust laws. This move by Google to buy Motorola Mobility came right as the company tried, and subsequently failed, to buy Nortel’s patents.

Source: Reuters – Google gets approval to buy Motorola Mobility

Engadget – US gives its blessing to Google’s Moto purchase

The United States Department of Justice - Statement of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division on Its Decision to Close Its Investigations of Google Inc.’s Acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. and the Acquisitions of Certain Patents by Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Research in Motion Ltd

Power Point Projectors
Most business class projectors will do a good job displaying your PowerPoint presentation. If you have a small presentation group, a 2000 lumen LCD projector will be able to produce a nice and clear picture. For larger audiences you should consider a 5000 lumen LCD projector.
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T-Mobile to Start Domestic Data Roaming Limits in April

By zackduncan | Published: January 31, 2012

T-Mobile girlAs if you needed another reason to not use T-Mobile, the company has gone and given you one anyway. According to recent reports, T-Mobile will be changing up its domestic data roaming starting on April 5. That is, of course, if a leaked document circulating the internet proves to be accurate.

Instead of capping off customers’ data speeds for domestic data roaming, T-Mobile will instead completely cut off your data if you exceed your plan’s data limits for that billing cycle. What this basically means is that you will be unable to connect to the internet via 3G or 4G unless you use WiFi or return to an area within your T-Mobile network.

According to a statement released by the company, the change is supposed to help reduce data roaming costs so that T-Mobile can continue to provide competitive pricing options. T-Mobile customers should begin receiving notifications about the change in February via bill inserts, emails and SMS messages.

The plan is supposed to take effect on April 5 when T-Mobile will send text messages to alert customers that their domestic data roaming is approaching 80% and 100% of their plan. What’s more is that this new plan will not only go into effect for new customers but also customers that already have plans or have been grandfathered in.

A select few plans will be exempt from the change. These lucky accounts include business and government accounts, small business accounts, T-Mobile employee accounts, mobile broadband rate plans, voice domestic roaming, text and picture messaging during domestic roaming and international voice and data roaming.

This could deter many new customers from choosing T-Mobile and could also see the provider lose existing customers due to the fact that current customers will not be grandfathered into the plan. Verizon did something similar when it announced that it was doing away with its unlimited data plans in lieu of tiered data, though Verizon grandfathered in customers who already had unlimited data plans.

Source: Slash Gear – T-Mobile domestic data roaming limits start April 5

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MicroVision and WOWee ONE Collaborate on Mobile Pico Projector Technology

By zackduncan | Published: January 13, 2012

pico projectorAs a result of consumer demand, WOWee ONE and MicroVision unveiled their collaboration to bring enhanced mobile visual and audio experiences to smartphone and tablet users in over 120 countries at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Both companies are teaming up to create a portable, immersive digital consumption experience by combining WOWee ONE’s Gel-Audio portable speakers with MicroVision’s Pico Projector products.

Both companies are working in tandem to expand the boundaries of mobile viewing by combining sight and sound to create an immersive viewing experience anywhere you want it. By combining WOWee ONE’s speakers and MicroVision’s Pico Projectors, users anywhere can produce a 200″ picture with bright, crisp images and booming sound via their laptops, tablets or smartphones.

According to WOWee ONE’s Managing Director Magnus Hammick, “We’ve seen an overwhelming response from our customers and are excited to bring this combination of technology to even more users worldwide. The marriage of sight and sound is a natural progression for customers, and we’re excited about the possibilities that lay before us. Seeing the response we’ve had with our speakers, we’re thrilled to be taking it a step further with MicroVision and offering our customers a full immersive experience that can travel with them anywhere.”

This collaboration will be available in over 120 countries starting in the first quarter of 2012 with both companies collaborating with major brand content providers like MTV UK, which allows WOWee ONE to gain national online and TV advertising exposure.

MicroVision Vice President of Business Development, Strategic Marketing and Sales Paul Patterson added, “We’re excited to be teaming up with WOWee ONE, a leading, globally recognized brand that can help propel top-end portable pico projection solutions to the next level. We share a common vision and are thrilled at the possibilities ahead. As we embark on this venture, we look forward to building a long -standing relationship with WOWee ONE that will help shape the future of mobile technology for everyday users.”

Source: Engadget – WOWee ONE and MicroVision offer 200-inch viewing and ‘booming sound’ on your mobile ; BusinessWire – WOWee ONE and MicroVision Join Forces to Bring Users an Immersive Mobile Content Consumption Experience

Rack-Mount Server rentalsare ideal if your company needs an extra storage unit for company information while you are testing various types of storage solutions.Whether you need a short-term rental or a long-term lease, we have the right kind of server for your needs.

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Computer Rental is a Tech Leading Indicator

By johnbeagle | Published: January 11, 2012

One thing the troops have seen is a relationship between computer rental orders from Rentacomputer.com and the overall US economy. When orders for computer rental equipment are slow and quantities are low as they have been in 2009 and 2010, the economy was either in recession or just coming out of recession. But today orders for training, marketing and testing are coming in at a record pace.

“I believe we are coming out of a recession.” said Rentacomputer.com Director of Rentals, Darcy Mann. “The economy must be picking up because we sure are. Orders for 100 or more laptops or iPads are becoming a daily occurrence since the 4th quarter of 2011. Companies are planning market research, training and product demonstrations with the computer rentals. Desktops with multiple displays are also being rented more frequently this year.”

Business is so good, that the supply of laptops and iPads are likely to become constrained this year. Which means that prices will go up later this year on desktop, laptop, tablet and iPad rentals.  If you are planning to need computer rental technology this year, your best get your order in sooner rather than later.

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Verizon Announces $2 “Convenience Fee”, Cancels it After Customers Light Torches

By zackduncan | Published: December 30, 2011

Verizon Wireless storeWhen Verizon Wireless announced a $2 “convenience fee” for paying bills certain ways, customers were outraged so much so that the whole thing got the attention of the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates telecommunications in the United States. The FCC released a statement that said it would look into the new fee.

Verizon announced on Thursday that it would soon be imposing a $2 charge on customers who make one-time payments using credit or debit cards over the phone or online. This sparked massive protests from Verizon customers all over the internet and if there is one thing you never want to do, it’s piss off people on the internet.

Executive Director of the Connected Intelligence unit at the NPD Group Ross Rubin stated that the FCC has a history of looking into charges on cell phone bills. Rubin added that Verizon’s fee was likely designed to encourage customers to enroll in a free automatic payment plan, which would help ensure that bills were paid on time. This could potentially help reduce Verizon’s overhead due to carriers incurring hefty costs in trying to collect money from customers.

Unfortunately, that would completely alienate customers who have unsteady incomes and could be seen as a strategy that focuses on helping Verizon’s customers that are better off. Recent information has suggested that Verizon is focusing less on the lower tier of the market with recent phones from the carrier, like the Droid Razr and the Galaxy Nexus, being rather expensive.

But, as quickly as the announcement came, so did another one from Verizon stating that the company was completely dropping the fee. You see, kids, taking things to the internet and getting angry does accomplish things. The outcry that spread like wildfire, along with the forthcoming investigation by the FCC, no doubt played a big role in Verizon canceling the fee before it had even begun.

Source: The New York Times – F.C.C to Look at Verizon’s $2 ‘Convenience Fee’

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