EMC Introduces Connectrix MDS-9020 Switch

TI Samples New OMAP2 Processor

Agilent Announces Image Pipe For Camera Phones

NEC To Unveil New Molecular Dynamics Computational Server

Don't You Touch My Blue Suede... Notebook

EMC Introduces Connectrix MDS-9020 Switch

EMC today announced availability of the new EMC Connectrix MDS-9020 Fabric Switch. Based on technology from Cisco Systems, the Connectrix MDS-9020 is said to simplify the deployment and management of storage area networks (SANs) and enable mid-size enterprises to cost-effectively build the foundation of an infrastructure for information lifecycle management.

As the newest member of the EMC Connectrix family of switches and directors, the 20-port Connectrix MDS-9020 offers full non-blocking 4Gbps Fibre Channel performance and built-in management capabilities.

The Connectrix MDS-9020 is available immediately from EMC and its Velocity Channel Partners with list prices starting at $10,800.

Source: EMC

TI Samples New OMAP2 Processor

TI announced it is sampling a new OMAP2430 OMAP2-based processor for 3G mobile phones that is claimed to boost video performance by up to 4X and imaging performance by up to 1.5X.

Additionally, TI announced the TWL4030, an all-in-one audio/power management device designed specifically for mobile phones. It combines TI's SmartReflex-compliant voltage regulators and converters, an audio/voice codec, class-AB/D audio amplifiers, high-speed USB2.0 OTG transceiver, and battery charger circuitry.

The OMAP2430 includes TI's latest imaging, video and audio accelerator, the IVA2, a power-optimized version of the signal processing technology used in TI's recently announced DaVinci technology. IVA2 enables integration of new codec standards, codec enhancements, and stabilization algorithms for flexibility and differentiation. The IVA2 engine is software compatible with the DaVinci technology.

Based on TI's low leakage 90nm CMOS technology, the OMAP2430 integrates an ARM1136 RISC processor core and dedicated 2D/3D graphics hardware acceleration, in addition to the IVA2 engine. System hardware support includes a high-speed USB2.0 On-the-Go (OTG) interface. The imaging subsystem supports both parallel and serial cameras and LCDs for design flexibility.

The OMAP2430 manages secure downloadable media streaming and playback, digital video recording, still image capture, video teleconferencing and 3D gaming; supports DVD resolution decode up to 30fps for MPEG4 and Windows Media Video 9 formats, and up to 30fps VGA resolution decode for H.264 and RealVideo 10. Support for Windows Media Video 9 and H.264.

OMAP2430 is available in sample quantities now, with production scheduled for the third quarter of 2006. The TWL4030 will sample by end of 2005 with production scheduled for third quarter 2006.

Source: TI

Agilent Announces Image Pipe For Camera Phones

Agilent announced an image pipe processor that allows mobile phone and computing devices to take better color photos "in all lighting conditions" (a daring assertion, I'd say). The image pipe is integrated in Agilent's new family of system-on-chip (SOC) sensors, which feature the enhanced-performance (EP) pixel architecture.

The Agilent image pipe is said to contain more than 10 new design enhancements, including proprietary Agilent innovations such as automatic illuminant detection and advanced exposure control, pixel correction and contrast control. The image pipe is also specifically tuned to Agilent's enhanced performance (EP) pixel architecture, and is part of the company's EP-based SOC product line. The EP pixel architecture is also claimed to reduce dark current and noise, provide low image lag and remove the lens shading effect.

Agilent's image pipe is coupled with the CMOS sensor, also to improve image quality. It can be delivered with seventh-generation JPEG compression and enables prints up to 4" x 6" format.

Features:

• Plausible illuminant (adapts to the ambient light)
• Adaptive tone mapping
• Advanced exposure control
• Enhanced automatic pixel correction
• Adaptive JPEG compression
• Programmable dual LED and Xenon flash strobe support
• Locally adaptive color noise suppression
• Smooth digital zoom
• Special-effects generator with "blue people," black and white, sepia, solarization and 20 other special effects
• Anti-vignetting correction for lens shading effects
• Picture sharpening and auto-flicker correction

The image pipe will be included in Agilent's new EP megapixel and multi-mega-pixel SOC sensors in the first half of 2006.

Source: Agilent

NEC To Unveil New Molecular Dynamics Computational Server

NEC today announced the launch of a molecular dynamics computational server, NEC Express5800/MD Server, in Japan. This new machine reduces processing time of molecular dynamics simulation with a dedicated computation board "MD Engine" that processes time-consuming computation, nonbonded interactions at high speed.

Features of the new products are:

1. Dedicated computation board "MD Engine" for high-speed computations of nonbonded interactions
2. Highly accurate calculation without cutoff (a method of omitting a calculation of nonbonded interactions between long distance atoms, which is normally applied to reduce the computation time.)
3. Supporting de-facto standard MD program (AMBER) with an integrated operation environment (enables users to execute programs on the MD Server from a client PC.)
4. Reliable support system

The new product's hardware price starts at ¥3,400,000 (~US$28,460; tax exclusive) for the smallest configuration, and the shipping starts on November 30, 2005. NEC expects 1,500 system sales in next three years.

And the specs:

Don't You Touch My Blue Suede... Notebook

Intel and Toray Ultrasuede today unveiled an "ultrafashionable" concept laptop PC. It features ultra micro-fiber Ultrasuede fabric integrated directly into the casing of an Intel Centrino based machine.

The novelty is an answer to the results of a recent Intel/Ultrasuede Laptop Style Study that found that 73% of U.S. adult computer users would like to buy products that reflect their personal style, and 76 percent of those computer users who admit to glancing at someone else's laptop PC are checking out its style or design.

They have also found out that 40% of U.S. adult computer users find their laptop to be generic, boring, dull, sterile or lackluster, and 60 percent would like to be able to customize their laptop with options such as color, patterns and fabric.

Well, that's certainly not my opinion, since the performance is the only thing I crave. But anyway, the notebook looks good enough to use in every day life.

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