Feeling insecure? There’s now an easy button for total data annihilation

Oh, the joys of personal data destruction! Hackers may love to try and poke around and grab at your data (and often do), but you may be able to have the last laugh, after all.

Like an “Easy Button” from one of those forever-annoying Staples’ commercials, RunCore’s InVincible SSD promises you the ability to destroy all your data with a single click.

Your peronally-identifiable information or insanely confidential company date was devilishly fiended away? Don’t worry; Be happy, says Chinese-based RunCore. An easy click will do one of two very sneaky things: It will either turn all your data in to meaningless, garbled code (the “intelligent destruction” option using the green button), or a different click will zap that SATA SSD in to oblivion by overcurrent rendering it dead, man (the “physical destruction” red button option).

Don’t believe it? Check out the video, where you will quickly notice one of the key target audiences for RunCore are armed forces all over the world (though given RunCore’s red, white, and blue flag-like logo, perhaps only one major military with a huge budget comes to mind).

It is particularly fun to watch the host of the video explain how she needs to step back a little right before she engages the red button or as she calls it “the dangerous part.” See the smoke.

“It must be really hot,” says our under-excited host. “Wow. This is really the ultimate destruction… You can see all components including the chips are burned and cracked and I don’t think it’s gonna work again. Not to mention if anyone can get any information from it.”

Other key features of this SATA II solid state drive: It boasts “Superb Ultimate” temperature ranges from -45 degrees Celsius to +95 degrees Celsius, that is, if you decide not to wipe it out by shock treatment.

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Vizibility ends private beta, readies NFC business cards for all

There are two types of people when it comes to business cards: you see them either as a useful way to quickly exchange your contact information or they are a just more clutter in your desk. For the people that really use business cards, you know that you can either have a basic white card with your phone number and email address on it, or you try to stand out and have some fun with it. There’s no shortage of companies out there ready to push your contact information through their printer to make you an ordinary paper business card, but why not make your cards work a little harder for you? The team at Vizibility have put together a solution that gathers all of the information about you on the web and curates it into an NFC and QR code-ready business card.

Back at SXSW, the team at Vizibility were showing off their fresh design for their business cards pre-loaded with NFC. It meant you could quickly transfer a larger volume of contact information without even giving away the business card.

The Vizibility NFC cards held all of your contact information, plus a whole lot more if you chose. The real power behind Vizibility comes with their website, which offers you the ability to fill your business card with everything from your social networks to a video bio about you, and offers tracking information for anyone who actually scans your card. During their detailed account creation process, Vizibility allows you to go through everything about you and pick and choose what goes on your account. Right down to individual search results, you can really put your best foot forward to whoever sees your card and decides to either scan your QR code or grab your NFC tag.

Vizibility’s website offers most of these features for free, including tracking metrics for how many times your card or code was used. You can have the results delivered to you via email, SMS, or just by traveling to the site. Additionally, you can download a copy of the QR code to embed wherever you like.

After you have created an account, if you would like to buy some of ordinary QR business cards, you can get 250 of them for about $20 or just QR stickers for about $15. Vizibility also offers more advanced features, such as geo-tracking on the QR scans or a personal AdWords campaign for a monthly fee. The Premier and Premier Pro packages are $3 and $9 respectively, with the Pro account including a Personal NFC ID Card.

Vizibility has put together an impressive personal management tool for tracking how effective your business card transactions really are, and the free account alone is worth giving them a shot. Plus, right now you can get a Premier subscription free for 45 days.

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Qualcomm Tagg offer peace of mind for dog owners

I never worry about losing my phone anymore. If I have misplaced it, I hop on my computer and go to a website that will tell me exactly where my phone it. It’s effortless, and I find that the majority of the time it is exactly where I left it. When I lose my car in the parking lot, my phone tells me right where I parked, and gives me walking directions to it.

Cellular and GPS tracking has become so advanced that there’s no need to worry about losing these kinds of things anymore. That gives me more time to worry about things that don’t stay still when they get lost, like my dog. The guys at Qualcomm have come up with an inexpensive yet sophisticated method to track your dog if they ever get away from you.

The Qualcomm Tagg is, for all intents and purposes, a cell phone for your dog. The device clips into the collar mount, and lives on your pet. While it is attached to your pet, the Tagg base station will occasionally ping the collar to make sure all is well. If the collar responds within an acceptable time, everything is great. If, for whatever reason, Tagg does not respond within an acceptable amount of time, or the response identifies the pet as being outside of the perimeter you have defined, Tagg lets you know that something is wrong. From the Tagg app for iOS and Android, or from the Tagg website, you will be able to locate your pet, and even get directions to the last recorded location of the pet.

The Tagg system is really designed for larger pets, most commonly dogs that are above 10 lbs. The monitor isn’t much wider than your average collar, and snaps into place so your pet can’t pry it off. On either side of the plastic casing for Tagg are two flexible rubber tags. These tags have the antennae to the Verizon Wireless cellular and GPS radios inside, and feel quite durable. The casing is also water resistant, in case your pet likes to jump in the pool occasionally or play in puddles.

Just about once a month, Tagg will need to be taken off the pet and charged in the base station that comes with the kit. The more your pet spends outside the range of the base station, where it is using GPS more, the less battery life you will see out of the unit on a single charge.

When you set Tagg up in your house, you are given some basic control over the range of the Tagg base station. You can choose to let it stretch out as far as it will go, or you can isolate the base station to a specific room or building. If you live in an area where your pet likes to get out and mess around in the neighbors yard, you can limit the Tagg base station to just your house, and get an alert any time your pet leaves the premises.

The Tagg service works with all iOS and Android 2.2+ devices, but also via SMS on non-smartphone devices. Just send a text to a pre-determined number to check in on your pet. When you consider all of the technology inside the Tagg system, the $99 price tag is pretty small for that kind of piece of mind. Purchasing the Tagg isn’t all there is to it though, there’s also a $7.95 monthly fee for the cellular and GPS data that Tagg uses to communicate.

Tagg is currently available in the Apple Store, as well as on Tagg.com and Amazon.

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$74 MK802 Android micro-PC beats Cotton Candy to the punch

A pair of inexpensive micro-PCs have generated quite a bit of buzz this year. The dirt-cheap Raspberry Pi started shipping in mid-April, but the FXI Cotton Candy has yet to make it out the door. The $200 Android PC-on-a-stick will also have some competition once it finally arrives: a very similar $74 AllWinner A10-based system has already popped up on online shopping sites.

Meet the MK802, which (like the Cotton Candy) features an ARM processor, Android 4.0, and WiFi connectivity. It’s not quite as powerful, with a single-core 1.5GHz AllWinner A10 processor and 512MB memory compared to a dual-core 1.2GHz Exynos chip and 1GB. The MK802 does 0ffer two USB ports — one full-sized and one micro — and it utilizes the same Mali 400 GPU as the Cotton Candy.

One other difference is that the MK802 sports an HDMI port, not an HDMI plug. That means, of course, that you’ll still need a cable or a male-to-male plug to hook up to your HDTV or monitor. Really, though, that’s a reasonable trade-off when you consider that you can buy almost three MK802s for the same price as a single Cotton Candy.

If you do decide to pick up the MK802, remember that you’ll have to rely on your own stash of APKs or a third-party marketplace like the Amazon Appstore, at least initially. With the ridiculously low price tag on this device, it’s a good bet that the Android developer community will jump on this solid little stick computer and hack in support for Google Play in the very near future.

CNX Software, via Liliputing

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Hitachi’s new CinemaStar 7mm drive offers 500GB on one platter

SSDs are starting to invade small form-factor PCs and media devices as prices fall, but Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, now a part of Western Digital, is fighting back with a new range of 2.5-inch hard drives for the consumer electronics category. Three new CinemaStar drives have been announced to offer up cheap, quiet storage for a range of devices.

The top of the line drive is the new CinemaStar Z7K500. It combines a 7mm drive height with a 6Gb/s SATA connection, 32MB cache, and spins at 7200RPM. Even so, it manages to keep audible sound below 2.4 Bels and power use is typically 1.7W. Storage capacities available include 250GB, 320GB, and 500GB. That may not be a lot of storage space today, but it’s still impressive when you consider Hitachi is only using a single platter inside the drive.

Next is the CinemaStar Z5K500, which offers the same 7mm drive height, up to 500GB capacity and an 8MB cache, but only spins at 5400RPM. The advantage of that being it’s a quieter drive (2.0 Bels) with lower power use (1.5W), making it perfect for a DVR solution where you really don’t want any noise coming from the device.

HGST has also catered for those devices that need more storage, but can also cope with larger drive dimensions. The CinemaStar C5K1000 is a 9.5mm drive offering between 640GB and 1TB of storage with an 8MB cache and spinning at 5400RPM. It’s not as quiet as the Z5K500 or Z7K500 (2.5 Bels), but still offers up a decent solution if a 3.5-inch drive is just too big to consider.

Typically the CinemaStar range is for use in consumer electronics products, but there’s nothing to stop you sourcing one for an upgrade. For example, the C5K1000 would probably work well as a PS3 hard drive replacement.

via HGST

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Geek deals: 32% off Dell S2230MX 21.5-inch Ultra-slim 1080p LCD Monitor

Monitors these days run the gamut, from a washed-out, low-resolution bargain basement 17-inch relic to 30-inch beasts that cost more than your computer (or several computers for that matter). Having been on the user-side of some real pieces of…work, I can’t stress enough the importance of a quality display for anyone who spends a lot of time on their PC. That’s not to say that everyone needs a 30-inch WQHD display, but a quality display (or two) can make a huge difference in your work and play.

This ultra-slim LCD from Dell has all the right specs at an even better price. It starts off with lots of pixels, serving up Full HD 1080p (1920×1080) resolution to ensure you have plenty of screen real estate to get your multi-tasking on. All those pixels are lit-up by an energy-efficient LED backlight, which also helps keep the profile down to a slim 2.34-inch thickness. You can hook up most any device to the S2230MX with its included VGA and DVI-D cables. An HDMI adapter is included for those newer computers and game consoles.

While it may not matter much to your average office worker, the S2230MX is one of relatively few monitors that can boast an arsenic and mercury-free design. That combined with the LED backlight and power saving features earns this monitor “green” stamps of approval from Energy Star and EPEAT.

The best thing about this deal, though, is its price. At only $149.99 shipped, the S2230MX is cheap enough to upgrade that dusty first-gen LCD on your desk, or even make the step to two (or three!) monitors. Once you go multi-monitor, you never go back!

Visit LogicBuy for the Dell S2230MX 21.5-inch Ultra-Slim Monitor deal

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Ivy Bridge chips run hot due to Intel’s thermal paste choice

Last month Intel launched the 22nm Ivy Bridge processors as a successor to the Sandy Bridge Core chips. It didn’t take long for enthusiasts to get their hands on the new processors and start overclocking them. It was then discovered Ivy Bridge chips run hotter than Sandy Bridge–as much as 20 degrees Celsius higher when overclocked.

At the time, it was suggested that the heat difference was due to Intel changing from the fluxless solder used between the CPU and heat spreader for Sandy Bridge to a thermal paste solution for Ivy Bridge. And now that has been confirmed by Japanese website PC Watch.

Intel’s reason for the switch is clearly to save on the cost of production, and for the typical user who won’t be overclocking their machine it won’t make much difference. However, if you build your own systems you can solve the problem with one additional purchase: a good quality thermal paste.

PC Watch purchased a high quality paste and used it instead of what Intel ships the Ivy Bridge chips with. The result was an 18-23% drop in temperature, which also means there’s potential to clock the chip higher without having to make the switch to a more expensive cooling solution.

As the thermal paste is used underneath the heat spreader the chips ship with, it’s a little bit more involved to replace it when compared to the paste used between the chip and a heatsink. However, if you intend to overclock then it’s going to be worth the effort.

Read more at PC Watch (translated), via Engadget

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Ultra-thin 15-inch MacBook Pro to have Retina Display, USB 3.0

Anyone expecting the rumors of Apple dumping the MacBook Pro and introducing larger MacBook Airs is going to be disappointed if 9To5Mac’s sources are correct. Apple is planning to revamp the Pro range of laptops, but the design is remaining in line with what has gone before.

Apparently, Apple has managed to redesign the 15-inch MacBook Pro to be an ultra-thin version of the 2008 design, suggesting there will continue to be a very clear distinction between the Air and Pro hardware.

So how do you slim the Pro down to class as “ultra-thin”? You first of all remove the optical drive and the Ethernet port. Instead you offer a USB Superdrive for those that need it and an adaptor for plugging in an Ethernet cable. Both are going to be acceptable compromises to make for the majority of users wanting a new Pro.

What will definitely get MacBook fans reaching for their credit cards is the line-up of features this new MacBook Pro will sport. Top of the billing is a Retina Display that is being described as “stunning.” The resolution is high enough that Apple has decided it no longer needs to offer resolution options to the user in the form of numbers. Instead, you’ll be choosing between small, big, and optimal sizes.

The new Pro is also expected to include multiple Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 ports. The inclusion of USB 3.0 is thought to be because Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge chips have support for it built-in, plus it allows anyone upgrading to continue to use any USB 2.0 peripherals they have with the new machine.

We’ve already covered the Geekbench benchmarks for a supposed Ivy Bridge MacBook Pro earlier today. What we didn’t know was what GPU Apple has decided to pair the processor with. Apparently, it is going to be the Nvidia GT 650M GPU, meaning this Core-i7 machine is going to offer up some serious performance regardless of what task you are asking it to perform.

Read more at 9To5Mac

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AMD launches Trinity A-Series APU

Before AMD launched its first-generation Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) last year the only real option you had for a small, low power PC was an Intel Atom solution. Unless you combined the Atom chip with Nvidia’s ION chipset (or a discrete card) it was rather lacking in the graphics department. That’s where the APU shone due to its inclusion of a Radeon GPU.

Today, AMD launched its second generation 32nm A-Series APU named Trinity, and it promises to give a major performance boost to HTPCs, nettops, desktop machines, and laptops.

AMD is claiming that the new Trinity APUs offer up double the performance of the previous generation while retaining the same power use. The new Piledriver CPU means higher clock speeds and performance gains of up to 29%. As for graphics, you should be able to enjoy smooth gaming and media playback due to the inclusion of a Radeon 7000 series GPU offering a 56% performance gain over Llano.

Although there are performance gains across the entire range of APUs, it looks as though laptops using Trinity will see the most gains. AMD has cut power use down to 17 watts for the dual core and 25 watts for quad-core chips. Llano used 35 watts and 45 watts respectively. AMD is claiming up to 12 hours of battery life in the equivalent of an Ultrabook running the new APU, but that’s clearly going to vary depending on the hardware.

In total, five Trinity APUs have been unveiled today, which are detailed in the tables below (click to view full size):

As well as updating the hardware, AMD has also introduced some new technology to the mix. The new APUs will support an Eyefinity multi-display setup without requiring a discrete graphics card. Another clever move is AMD Radeon dual graphics, meaning you can add a discrete graphics card to an APU system and benefit from enhanced performance through CrossFire using both GPUs.

We can expect to see both Trinity laptops and desktop machines appearing later this year. Hopefully we’ll also see a number of mini-ITX boards appearing allowing us to build our own nettops and HTPCs.

Read more at AMD, with further coverage over at ExtremeTech

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Ivy Bridge MacBook Pro and iMac spotted in Geekbench database

With Intel rolling out the new 22nm Ivy Bridge processors late last month it’s inevitable that Apple’s next hardware refresh will include the chips. And signs that Apple is already using Core-i7 Ivy Bridge processors in pre-production machines has now started to appear.

Geekbench, which provides a range of benchmarks for processor and memory performance, also keeps a database of results for different systems. Two new entries have been spotted in this database that point to a new MacBook Pro and iMac.

The first is listed as a MacBookPro9,1, which fits seeing as the existing MacBook Pro laptops are the MacBookPro8,x series. This new model apparently runs an unreleased build of Mac OS X Lion (Build 12A211) and a quad-core Core i7-3820QM clocked at 2.7GHz coupled with 8GB of DDR3 RAM.

The result of using that new Ivy Bridge chip is a Geekbench Score of 12,252. To put that in context, the existing line of MacBook Pros max out around 10,500.

The other entry is a model listed as an iMac13,2 and uses a quad-core Core i7-3770 running at 3.4GHz coupled with 4GB DDR3. The Geekbench Score is 12,183, which is not as impressive a gain as the MacBook Pro shows, but is still higher than the existing iMacs that typically post scores around 11,500.

Both entries point to a MacBook Pro and iMac refresh in the near future. So if you are considering an upgrade to your existing Apple hardware it’s probably worth waiting for the Ivy Bridge update. You will be getting a faster processor, even if it does run hotter than the Sandy Bridge part it replaces.

More at MacRumors and Geekbench [1] [2]

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Lenovo announces the X1 Carbon ultrabook and 2012 ThinkPads

You know the drill by now: Intel releases a new generation of processors and a few weeks afterwards all the computer manufacturers have new products on the shelves. This cycle brings along with it deals on last generation’s gear, including products that are otherwise never discounted, as well as shortages of products that are always widely available. For 2012 Intel’s Ivy Bridge has been released, and the company’s second generation Core architecture, Sandy Bridge, will fade away, quietly shuffling to the department stores and discount bins that are home to 12+ month old processors.

Lenovo is getting an early jump on the Ivy Bridge update with a refresh of their entire ThinkPad lineup. This update includes a new model, albeit one with an old-sounding name, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon.

The ThinkPad X1 has been Lenovo’s flagship ultraportable for about a year now, though it failed to capture our hearts and minds the way that the X300 did in 2008. The X1 Carbon is an 14-inch ultrabook that weighs 3 pounds and uses a roll cage made of carbon fiber, as opposed to the ThinkPad’s standard magnesium. It will be the lightest 14-inch ultrabook on the market when released and is slated to have a number of useful features, including the ThinkPad’s top-notch keyboard, rapid charging (up to 80% in 30 minutes), Dolby audio, integrated 3G with Lenovo’s contract-free mobile access, a backlit keyboard, and a 1600×900 display. On those of those it will have all the business features that IT managers want to see, like vPro.

Lenovo isn’t just releasing one computer though, they have new T (workstation), L (value), X (ultraportable), and W (performance workstation) series systems too. In this 2012 ThinkPad Cheat Sheet you can review the updates. For each model you can assume it’s getting Ivy Bridge, which means a better CPU and improved graphics.

• X230 – starting at $1179 – up to 24 hours of battery life. It’s getting 4G radio for the first time. Also mini DisplayPort, USB 3.0, backlit keyboard option
• X230T – $1479 – 12-inch convertible tablet with also mini DisplayPort, USB 3.0, and the backlit keyboard option
• T430 – $879 – 14-inch workhorse, will be lighter then the previous generation
• T530 – 15-inch, with the option for an full HD display with 95% color gamut
• T430s – $1379 – light version of the T430 gets Thunderbolt with Core i7 processor option
• W530 – not listed – Gets the newest Nvidia graphics, a smaller color calibrator (it’s in the palm rest), and DisplayPort 1.2
• L430 and L530 – $879 – Gets a 180-degree metal hinge, switchable discrete graphics option, EPEAT Gold

In addition to the new processors, the ThinkPads for 2012 will be getting USB 3.0, optional 4G, Dolby sound, and the “Precision keyboard. That’s right, the ThinkPad line (even the T series) is moving to an island-style keyboard, as we saw happen with the Edge line not so long ago. Welcome to a brave new world of typing ThinkPad users!

While this looks to be just another release cycle for Lenovo, there were some bigger-than-normal changes. Lenovo clearly wants the headline to be the X1 Carbon ultrabook — it’s the type of computer Intel thought of when they funded the ultrabook initiative and it looks to be a solid flagship for Lenovo, unlike the disappointing X1. Like the X300 before it, many of its cool feature should trickle down to the rest of the lineup. The big news for ThinkPad diehards will be the shift over to the “Precision” keyboard, which mark san inflection point for the ThinkPad almost as significant as the death of the 4:3 display. Lenovo has complete faith in their new keyboard design and most of us acknowledge them as being very good, but it’s still a step away from something people know and love. The vast majority of people will be won over.

The new X, T, L, and W ThinkPads will be available in early June. The X1 Carbon ultrabook will be available “this summer”. No pricing information has been released yet for it.

Check out the full gallery below…

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Geek deals: $175 off Ivy Bridge-powered HP Pavilion Elite h8xt desktop

The HP Direct online store is no stranger to deals. Like Dell’s SOHO and Consumer stores, there’s are always excellent sales on HP PCs, and you can find them and buy them, so long as you know where to dig. They might be just barely past the point of freshness, but often these buried deals are more than worth their (significantly discounted) price tags.

This HP Pavilion desktop is a great example. This particular configuration of the Pavilion Elite h8xt sports a quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB RAM, and a 1TB, 7200RPM hard drive. There’s also HP’s custom Beats audio, a valet tray for easily connecting to peripherals, and loads of other goodies that are left off of laptops, mainly because of space.  These include a 15-in-1 card reader, a Blu-ray reader/writer, and tons of ports, you know, like HDMI, USB, and more. Plus there are all those extra bays where you can cram more storage, another optical drive, or whatever else you need.

But the real draw is the Ivy Bridge processor the system runs. The updated platform is an excellent excuse to splurge on a new PC in addition to the other completely sensible reasons to splurge on this desktop. Namely, all the great upgrades you can purchase and save on, including an additional 8GB of memory, a TV tuner, and Bluetooth.

Check out this deal for 18% off from LogicBuy.

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Micron develops 30nm DDR4 module

If the launch of Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors has spurred you on to build a new system, then you can certainly build a beast of a machine pairing a 3770K chip with Nvidia’s new GTX 690 and a fast SSD. But what about RAM?

The fastest you can get today is quad channel DDR3 modules running at speeds of up to 2133MT/s (megatransfers per second). Of course, that’s set to become redundant as soon as DDR4 modules appear on the market, and that day is drawing ever closer.

Micron announced this week it has a working DDR4 module, and it promises to help push your system performance that little bit further while saving on that all important battery life for laptops. The memory module uses Micron’s 30nm manufacturing process and will ship at speeds no less than 2400MT/s. To put that in context, a typical DDR3 module runs at anywhere between 800-2133MT/s, with only performance modules getting you near the top end of that limit. 2400MT/s is the bottom ends for DDR4, with the JEDEC spec allowing for 3200MT/s.

The other benefit DDR4 brings is a lower voltage (1.05-1.2V instead of the 1.2-1.5V of DDR3) and lower overall power use (40% saving) due to the move to a 30nm process. Multiple channels (dual, triple, quad) have also been dropped in favor of point-to-point, which connects each memory controller channel to a single module.

There’s still a while to go before DDR4 memory ships, though. Micron is hoping to send out samples in the fourth quarter of 2012 and then start shipping the modules at some point next year. It will also require motherboard manufacturers to start supporting the new memory, which in turns means enthusiasts having to pay out for a new board and memory.

Micron isn’t the first to announce a working DDR4 module. Samsung beat them by over a year, and is now working with JEDEC to help standardize the tech.

Read more at Micron, via Engadget

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Geek deals: Ivy Bridge-powered Lenovo IdeaPad for $700 off

The IdeaPad Y480 was a solid laptop before it underwent the upgrade to Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processors. Outfitted with premium JBL speakers and a dedicated graphics card, Lenovo touted this PC as a high-end laptop that worked great for gamers and demanding Windows users. And it’s portable, too — it’s an impressively light and nimble gaming machine at only 4.9lbs and with 14-inch LCD panel. Even so, running on a Sandy Bridge processor and with a retail price of $1,649 it’s a hard purchase to justify.

Luckily, the architecture upgrade to Ivy Bridge coincides with a huge discount on this Lenovo laptop. This PC comes with a quad-core Core i7 processor, 8GB RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT640M graphics. Those are some solid gaming specs right there. There’s also a free 32GB SSD upgrade included when you buy. Several new goodies included in the Y480 update, including Bluetooth 4.0, a Blu-ray Rambo Drive (player and writer), 720p webcam, and HDMI output. The icing on the cake would be a 1080p screen to get the most out of that burly 2GB GPU, but 1366×768 is the maximum resolution. No matter, with the money you save on this deal you’ll be able to pick up an external monitor (or two).

This configuration packs an incredible number of features on a brand new Ivy Bridge laptop that originally retailed for $1,649, now available at a $700 discount. However, keep in mind that it won’t ship for at least four weeks, so if you’re looking for something immediately, you’re out of luck. However, the free shipping is a pretty nice incentive for waiting.

Check out this deal at LogicBuy.

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TSMC clocks a 28nm Cortex-A9 processor at 3.1GHz

It seems like only yesterday the world marveled as HTC and Google created the Nexus One, powered by the first single core 1GHz mobile processor. Since then, the processor arms race has exploded to dual and even quad-core processors in mobile devices. The technology that powers our tiny handheld computers seems to double every time we blink. TSMC, the Taiwanese processor foundry, has revealed to the work their latest processor tests. In these tests, their dual core Cortex-A9 processor was able to exceed 3GHz in a “high performance” situation.

Most of the processors we see in smartphones today stay under 1.5GHz in their stock configuration. The 28nm processor from TSMC claims to have a base speed range of 1.5GHz, and can go up as high as 2GHz while in a mobile device. The 3.1GHz configuration is for high performance environments where some form of cooling system would be implemented, perhaps like an Ultrabook or a Smart TV where there’s a little more room for basic cooling systems. TSMC notes that this new 28nm processor performs twice as fast as their 40nm processor when tested under the same conditions.

The biggest question when it comes to putting that much power into a device is the power consumption. The tests performed here were purely to see how much power the processor is capable of, there’s no mention anywhere of how much energy was required to maintain something like 3.1GHz. While TSMC is clearly aiming for these powerful processors to be put in tablets and other mobile devices, it will be interesting to see if those processors are still capable of this kind of performance when put into a battery powered device.

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Dell to ship XPS 13 Ultrabook with Ubuntu

Maybe you love the sleek, sexy lines of those Intel-powered Ultrabooks. And maybe you want the long-running battery and lightweight build that comes with that sexiness, but you just don’t like Windows that way. Well it’s your lucky day; Dell has announced that it will soon be selling a version of its XPS13 Ultrabook that runs Ubuntu Linux out of the box.

The project to get Ubuntu on the XPS 13 is called Project Sputnik, and it is geared mostly toward developers that need to work with Linux, but want a more portable device. Perhaps the coolest part is that if you have a XPS 13 now, or you order the Windows version, the Ubuntu install image is available for download.

The XPS 13 currently starts at $999.99 and comes with a Core i5-2467M CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive, and USB 3.0. It’s a fine little machine as long as you can get by with integrated video and a 13-inch screen. If you can buy the computer without a Windows license at some point in the future, the price might be more reasonable.

The version of Ubuntu being built for the XPS 13 will have full support for the hardware, but will ship with very little installed. Developers will be encouraged to use a specially developed tool to reach out and get a “profile” from a github repository. Each profile would be designed to support a different development environment. Maybe you want to work with Android, or Ruby, or perhaps JavaScript. The idea is that you would get a bundle of tools that fits your needs.

The announcement happened at the Ubuntu Developers Summit, in front of many, many Linux nerds. It’s going to be hard for Dell to slink away from its commitment to Linux like it did last time. Back in 2007 Dell started shipping PCs with Ubuntu installed, much to the delight of the hardcore nerd demographic. Then in 2010, Dell quietly pulled the Linux models from its website, and the grand experiment was over — until now.

Dell hasn’t decided when the XPS 13 will start shipping with Ubuntu as an option. If you’re itching for an Ultrabook that is fully compatible with Linux, chances are that you’re comfortable installing from a disc image anyway. The folks behind Ubuntu are pleased as punch, and are going to be working with Dell to make Project Sputnik a success.

via Devopsangle

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Overclocked Ivy Bridge chips run much hotter than Sandy Bridge

Whenever a new processor line gets released by Intel or AMD, the enthusiasts are usually the first to pick them up. As well as enjoying the increased stock performance, many also decide to overclock their chip to see how much extra performance can be squeezed out.

However, anyone who has overclocked a Sandy Bridge processor successfully may be in for a shock when they pick up an Ivy Bridge part. It has been discovered through testing that Ivy Bridge runs significantly hotter when overclocked. By significantly, I mean as much as 20 degrees Celsius more at the same clock speed.

The Tech Report did a real-world test where they pitted a Sandy Bridge Core i7-2600K against an Ivy Bridge Core i7-3770K. Both chips were pushed to 4.9GHz using air cooling and the results logged.

The power use was slightly higher for the 3770K (236w vs. 231w), voltages were almost the same, but again Ivy Bridge was a little higher (1.368V vs. 1.381V). Heat is where the two chips really differed, though. At 4.9GHz the Sandy Bridge chip held a steady 80 degrees Celsius, but Ivy Bridge was at 100 degrees Celsius. That may still be within operational limits, but suggests anyone wanting to run an overclocked Ivy Bridge is going to have to invest in some better cooling.

As for why there is such a big difference in temperatures, the culprit is most likely going to be the change Intel has made to the thermal interface. Sandy Bridge chips use a fluxless solder for the link between the CPU and the heat spreader. Ivy Bridge has switched to thermal paste, which is less efficient at dissipating heat.

Intel has confirmed the additional temperature is down to “different package thermal technology” and a “higher thermal density” for the Ivy Bridge chips. Neither of which are going to change, so if you intend to overclock one of these new chips, be sure to invest in rock solid cooling.

More at The Tech Report

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Geek deals: Ivy Bridge-powered HP laptop for $849

The Ivy Bridge floodgates have opened, and now you can stop waiting for its release to buy a new computer. (That’s why you were waiting, right? Right.) HP has finally re-released their Pavilion dv line with the upgraded platform, and it’s time to treat yourself so some serious horsepower. Additionally, these models are being offered at the same prices as their Sandy Bridge counterparts a few weeks ago. Go figure…

What comes in this particular build? This version for $849 features a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, a 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics, and a 750GB hard drive. There are options to improve your chosen build as well, but free upgrade options from HP include 8GB RAM and Blu-ray player/burner. The 30% discount on a 9-cell battery might be a wise investment if you plan on making this laptop your primary PC, and the same goes for the mammoth 16GB RAM option. After all, the first 8GB were free.

As for the Ivy Bridge CPU, make sure you buy something that says “3rd generation Intel Core”. This phrase will ensure that you’re outfitted with the latest gear — Sandy Bridge was the second generation Core line. The specific part in the $899 build of the dv6 is the Core i7-3610QM processor which runs at 2.3 GHz. It’s a very solid way to get going with a new system.

Although it’s not the lightest or slimmest laptop on the market, 5.66 pounds is still pretty darn good for a 15.6-inch laptop that houses everything, including HDMI, USB 3.0, a fingerprint reader, tons of hard drive space, optical drive, Blu-ray, and a backlit keyboard.

Check out this deal on LogicBuy.

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Theoretical physicist explains why Moore’s Law will collapse

Moore’s Law has been around since 1965 when Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore described it in a paper. Since that day, the law has been in full effect, and the number of transistors placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit has roughly doubled every two years. It’s also a commonly held belief that chip performance doubles every 18 months.

But Moore’s Law won’t be true forever, and in the video above theoretical physicist Michio Kaku explains how it will collapse. And that collapse isn’t going to happen in some distant future, it is going to happen within the next decade.

The problem is one of finding a replacement for silicon coupled with the exponential nature of Moore’s Law. Quite simply, computing power cannot go on doubling every two years indefinitely.

The other issue is we are about to reach the limits of silicon. According to Kaku, once we get done to 5nm processes for chip production, silicon is finished. Any smaller and processors will just overheat.

Manufacturers such as Intel are continuing to find ways of pushing the boundaries of performance and maintaining Moore’s Law through innovation. That’s why we have multi-core chips, and most recently 3D transistors, but even they can only help so much.

Within the coming years a replacement for silicon chips will be required, with molecular, optical and quantum computers being potential successors, but also posing some very difficult problems to overcome if they succeed.

For now, just know that Moore’s Law is apparently coming to an end, and furthering computing power beyond silicon and that 5nm threshold has many scientists scratching their heads right now.

via big think

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Nine Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts everyone should know

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There’s nothing wrong with a mouse cursor, but for many tasks keyboard shortcuts are far more efficient than picking your hands up off the keyboard and pointing then clicking. Most users can name at least a few combinations off the top of their heads, and almost everyone knows the infamous Ctrl+Alt+Delete, but many of the best shortcuts are tragically overlooked.

So to round out your keyboard navigating skills, here are nine combos that every Windows 7 user should know.

Windows key+L

If you only memorize one Windows keyboard shortcut, this should be it. Pressing Windows key+L locks a Windows workstation so that no one can use it without a password, yet it won’t log out the current user or close any open programs. Locking your workstation prevents spying eyes from looking through your personal data and communications, plus it keeps out that one friend who still thinks it’s hilarious to hijack someone else’s Facebook account.

Don’t just memorize this combo, make it a habit. If you’re getting up from a machine and won’t be able to keep it in view, Windows key+L should be a reflex.

Alt+Tab

Multiple-monitor setups make it easy to keep track of different windows, but when you’ve only got one screen to work with Alt+Tab is your best friend. Hold down Alt, then press Tab to bring up the Windows 7 Peek of everything you have open (even the stuff that’s minimized). With Alt held, keep pressing Tab to cycle through the different windows, and once you find what you’re looking for just release Alt to make it the focus.

The best thing about Alt+Tab is that tapping it quickly will switch you back and forth between the two most recently used windows — perfect for bouncing between research and a document you’re writing.

Windows key+left/right arrows

If you have plenty of horizontal screen space to work with, the half-screen “Snap” feature in Windows 7 is also a nice way to manage two items at once. Most people Snap their windows into place using a mouse, dragging each one all the way to the edge of the screen to lock it in. But there’s a quicker way: Windows key+the left or right arrows. It might seem silly to bother with a keyboard shortcut for something so simple, but once you start using it you’ll never go back to the mouse method. By mixing this combo with the one above, you can even put two windows into half-screen mode without taking your hands off the keyboard: Windows key+left arrow, Alt+Tab, Windows key+right arrow. As you might expect, Windows key+up arrow is the shortcut for a top-of-the-screen Snap, which maximizes the current window.

Windows key+shift+left/right arrows

“But I don’t need Snap,” you might be saying, “because I’ve got dual monitors!” If that’s the case, the shortcut for you is Windows key+shift+left/right arrows — just a slight modification of the Snap method. Using this combination will full-screen the current window into the left or right monitor. It’s a nice way to to push an item out of the way, but still have it visible when you need to refer to it.

Windows key+r

By default, Windows 7 hides the Run option that was once a Start menu fixture. But that power tool isn’t gone, and the same Windows key+r shortcut that brought it up in past Windows versions still works. There’s a long list of commands that you can use once the Run dialog box is up, but here are a few of the basics:

• cmd – opens a command prompt window
• control – opens the control panel
• control userpasswords2 – opens the classic Users and Passwords config screen
• dxdiag – opens DirectX diagnostics, if installed

Ctrl+Shift+Escape

Any list of Windows shortcuts would be incomplete without a mention of Ctrl+Alt+Delete, the go-to key combination when things go wrong. But the problem with Ctrl+Alt+Delete is that it doesn’t take you directly to the Task Manager, the section that you actually want when a program needs to be forced-closed. Fortunately, Task Manager has its own dedicated shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+Escape. If you can break your Ctrl+Alt+Delete habit, this combination will save you a click.

Next page: More Windows key wizardry!

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