Apple a4 cpu processor chip

Along with the iPad, the Apple chip has arrived.

Called the A4, (“A” presumably for Apple), the most obvious difference with the chip in the iPhone 3GS is speed. The iPad’s chip runs at 1GHz, compared to the estimated 600MHz (0.6GHz) of the iPhone 3GS. On Wednesday, at the event in San Francisco, the A4 was billed as “the most advanced chip” Apple has done yet. While fast, it’s also frugal with power. “The A4 chip is so power efficient that it helps iPad get up to 10 hours of battery life,” according to Apple’s iPad Web page.

By definition, the A4 is a system-on-a-chip, or SOC, that integrates the main processor, graphics silicon, and other functions like the memory controller on one piece of silicon–not unlike what Intel is trying to achieve with its future “Moorestown” Atom processor. And a similar SOC chip architecture is already used in the iPhone and other smartphones, such as Google’s Nexus One and Motorola’s Droid.

Based on what Apple has achieved with the iPhone 3GS, the chip should deliver a snappy interface. Of course, as in any 3G smartphone or laptop with a 3G connection, the 3G service can often be the weak link in performance, not the processor.

And speaking of 3G, the iPad will offer two AT&T plans. One is 250MB of data every month for $15; the other, an unlimited plan for $30 per month. Note that in the iPhone 3GS, Infineon supplies the 3G chip.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs called it the “best (Web) browsing experience you’ve ever had. A whole Web page right in front of you that you can manipulate with your fingers. Way better than a laptop,” in a video of the event streamed by CNET. That browsing experience, of course, will rely on the chip’s ability to handle the background tasks as users access images and video.

Overclocked AMD Processor Is Cool At 6.5 GHz

The extreme sport of overclocking computer processors has set a new record by pushing the limits to which a processor chip can be cooled and then clocked to pump up its performance.

A group of enthusiasts with some help from liquid nitrogen and liquid helium cooled the AMD Phenom II X4 processor to near absolute zero temperature and overclocked it to a mindboggling 6.5 GHz. That's more than twice the 3 GHz clock speed of the best CPU available currently from AMD and a huge step forward from the default frequency of 1.8 GHz for that chip.

The group brought about 132 gallons of liquid nitrogen and helium and cooled the die to below 385 degrees Fahrenheit (-232 degrees Celsius)

With the chip down to this temperature, they pushed the clock to run at 6.5 GHz, an achievement they call a world record for an quad core processor.

Watch the video for the details:



Photo: (AaronAge/Flickr)

Dell 22-inch UltraSharp 2209WA LCD monitor

Dell Canada is good for being the first to show off new LCDs, and yet again we're getting an early look at a forthcoming monitor courtesy of the Great White North. The 22-inch UltraSharp 2209WA will evidently arrive with a 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, 300 nits of brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 178-degree viewing angles and a 5-millisecond response time. It also features VGA and DVI connectors, four USB 2.0 ports and an undisclosed price tag. It'll supposed ship in one to two weeks, but given that there's not even an image available yet, we're not so sure we'd bet the farm on that estimate being accurate. [Via whirlpool, thanks Ed]

IOGEAR intros first HDMI-compliant KVMs: 1080p, lossless audio supported

We've been waiting for something like this for pretty much ever, and thanks to IOGEAR, we've finally got it. Here at CES, the company has introduced new 2- and 4-Port HDMI KVM switches with USB 2.0 Peripheral Sharing (GCS1792, GCS1794), which are HDMI 1.3b and HDCP compliant. As if that weren't enough, both boxes also support 1080p resolutions, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. In related news, the 4-Port DualView Dual-Link DVI KVMP Switch (GCS1644) also saw the light of day today, and everything mentioned here should be up for sale in Q1. Oh, but don't think these suckers will come cheap -- prices range from $299.95 for the 2-port HDMI KVM to $679.95 for the DualView sibling.

Creative unveils Zii

If, despite our warning, you were still hoping that the Zii was some sort of new form factor media player or maybe even a futuristic computer that could morph and change shape as needed, prepare to be a bit disappointed. Creative has revealed all, and while everything we know has indeed not changed (contrary to earlier promises) we can now confidently tell you that Zii is a system-on-a-chip architecture for high-demand media applications, featuring numerous discrete processing elements that, to our untrained ears, sounds at its core a bit like Sony and IBM's Cell. It's said to offer performance to rival a supercomputer, easy scalability to provide limitless growth (from gigaflops to petaflops), and some sort of integrated throttling to enable higher efficiency by shutting down disused aspects of the system. The first piece of hardware from this platform is called the ZMS-05 Media-Rich System-On-Chip, and companies like MSI and PowerLinux have pledged their support, the latter of the two planning to use the processor for its embedded Linux video conferencing systems. We're definitely eager to see what sort of innovative uses come out of this new architecture, but for some reason we don't quite feel like the hype was warranted.

Update: Philip wrote in to let us know that the ZMS-05 is effectively just an updated and expanded version of 3DLABS's older DMS-02 chip, which, while also impressive, didn't change everything we know either.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Linksys Wireless Home Audio and Media Hub NAS hands-on

We just snuck a quick look at the new Linksys home media gear, the Wireless Home Audio system and Media Hub NAS, and it's pretty much what you'd expect. For all of Cisco's talk of platform and back-end and consumer love, the end product is actually pretty humdrum. We can't speak to the actual setup and content integration -- which will naturally be Cisco's strong suit -- but the actual hardware doesn't seem to scream consumer love. The interface on the Touchscreen Remote is pretty slow and a far cry from the polish of the Sonos system -- the unit's natural competitor -- especially compared to the iPod touch control App, and everything looks and feels bulky and gray. We do have to hand it to Cisco for working in the iPod dock, a CD player, iTunes server and Rhapsody all into one cohesive centrally-controlled system, but we'll see how much traction this gathers in the market... Cisco's talking like a uniter, but right now this just looks like more fragmentation.

Video: CES Preview Includes Dancing Robots, Dual-Screen Notebook, Cheap Thrills

LAS VEGAS -- It's the day before the Consumer Elecronics Show officially opens, and the Wired crew is already hard at work getting a sneak peek at some of the hottest gadgets from the show floor. http://feedproxy.google.com/mobileburn/rss2 In the video below, I take a look at some CES 2009 highlights, from a press preview event called CES Unveiled. Highlights include a laptop with two -- count 'em, two! -- screens; an ultralight, ultra-thin Macbook Air competitor; a wisecracking, breakdancing robot; and some inexpensive and quite distinctive-looking wireless speakers from a reborn Sharper Image. Video: Producer -- Annaliza Savage, Camera -- John Ross, Editor -- Michael Lennon.

LG to produce 15-inch OLED panel this summer

Has your $2,500 XEL-1 display already started to show a case of the dimming blues? If so, and if you can go without seeing Cookie Monster in his natural hue for a few more months, you may have another OLED replacement option after this summer. LG is indicating it will begin producing a 15-inch panel in June of this year. No word on whether it'll match the Sony's 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, but it will offer a higher resolution of 1,366 x 768, and LG is pledging a 30,000 hour shelf life. We'll see about that.

Netgear announces 3G mobile broadband wireless router for 802.11g’s on the go

Netgear didn't go for any fancy-schmancy new form factor with its 3G mobile broadband wireless router, instead opting for the standard shell we know and love. Nine different Sierra and Novatel 3G modems are currently supported, and just plugging one into the USB 2.0 slot will provide you web access via either ethernet LAN or 802.11g. Usual amenities like WEP / WPA encryption are here, and it includes both AC and 12V DC adapters. The router is due out this month for $130. Anyone up for a World of Warcraft campfire LAN party? Read - List of supported 3G USB modems

Clickfree Transformer Cable gives any USB hard drive auto backup functionality

If you're not about to sell off your current stable of external USB hard drives just to experience the wonders of Clickfree backups, you're staring your solution right in the face. Clickfree has just introduced its new Transformer Cable, which is "the first and only USB cable that turns ordinary external hard drives into truly automatic Clickfree backup solutions." Put simply, users just connect their USB HDD to their PC via this here cable, and without any software installations or black magic, the external drive automatically begins to search through, organize and backup your data. The painfully simple cord should be available right now for the mildly reasonable price of $59.99; full release is after the break.

Continue reading Clickfree Transformer Cable gives any USB hard drive auto backup functionality

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