PR: COMMODORE USA RELEASES FIRST NEW COMMODORE AMIGA IN 20 YEARS, FINALLY REUNITING TWO ICONIC COMPUTER BRANDS.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. March 21, 2012 – Commodore USA, LLC announced today the historic re-unification of the legendary Commodore and AMIGA brands with the launch of the new Commodore AMIGA mini, as well as other new models such as the new C64x Supreme, the new VIC mini and a more powerful VIC-Slim keyboard computer (now with HDMI output). These new products are now in production and available for purchase at www.CommodoreUSA.net.

The new Commodore AMIGA mini is a trail blazing power-house featuring Intel’s i7-2700k 3.5 Ghz Quad-Core (3.9Ghz Turboboost) processor, 16Gb RAM DDR3 1333MHz and an NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 430 GPU with 1GB DDR3. This machine is fully loaded with a 1 TB SATA drive (optional 300 GB or 600 GB SSD), two WiFi antennae and bluetooth. The new Commodore AMIGA mini case is ultra small and features a solid, all aluminum seamless housing, micro-sandblasted with an anodic oxidation finish. It also includes a slot load Blu-Ray drive and internal space for two 2.5″ hard drives. It measures 7.5 inches square with a height of only 3 inches. The AMIGA mini’s appearance is enhanced with the inclusion of the classic embedded AMIGA logo engraved in the front.

The C64x, highly regarded by Commodore fans for its retro styling, now features Intel’s new D2700 dual core 2.13 Ghz CPU and nVidia GeForce GT 520 (512Mb) graphics for enhanced gaming capability over previous models. It also features 4Gb Memory (DDR3 1066), a 1 or 3 GB SATA drive (300 or 600 Gb SSD optional), a mechanical keyboard, a built in multi-card reader, WiFI, Bluetooth, VGA, DVI and HDMI output, 7.1 channel high definition sound, 2 USB 3.0 and 4 USB 2.0 ports for exceptional external data access, a slot loading Blu-ray drive that can also write DVDs and 2 WiFi antennae for outstanding signal reception.

The VIC mini has specifications identical to the C64x Supreme, wrapped in the elegant aluminum enclosure of the AMIGA mini.

The VIC-Slim is an upgraded unit replacing the previous 1.8 Ghz dual core Atom with the new Intel 2.13Ghz Dual Core D2700 processor and includes 2Gb RAM (DDR3 1066MHz), a 1Tb SATA Hard Disk Drive and HDMI output.

Mr. Barry Altman, CEO, states “This is an historic day. The team here has been working around the clock to fulfill the vision of a reunited Commodore and AMIGA branded computer with the launch of our new Commodore AMIGA mini.”

Mr. Leo Nigro, CTO, states “We built Commodore USA to take advantage of the rapid rate of technological change in the computer hardware market. The introduction of Intel’s new Atom processor for compact devices such as the C64x Supreme, VIC-Slim and VIC mini proves that Commodore USA is setting the pace for the computer industry. The Commodore AMIGA mini with its 16 GB of RAM, powerful i7-2700k 3.5 Ghz Quad-Core processor and built-in nVidia graphics chipset is truly worthy of the AMIGA name. Also, with the inclusion of Commodore OS Vision, our own Linux distribution showcasing our product’s advanced hardware features, we can also provide a unique and compelling experience for customers seeking an alternative to Apple and Microsoft products. First and foremost I’m a Commodore and AMIGA fan, and like millions of other fans around the world, I am excited by the return of the famous Commodore and AMIGA brands we grew up with and loved.”

Barry Altman adds, “Leo and I and the entire team, started on this journey to prove that we could take these historic computer brands and produce products that are relevant to both the historical consumer base and new customers. These computers are breathtaking in appearance, incredibly powerful and exciting to use.”

This is fascinating considering the benchmark wars that raged between Nvidia and AMD for so numerous years in the graphics card business. Both sides of that war have a history of handpicking benchmarks to manufacture their video cards see better than the competition. I presume some of that is going on here with Apple as well.

Nvidia’s Ken Brown is calling for Apple to offer up data to back up their claims of four times the performance. I seriously doubt Apple ever offer that kind of detail. However, with the hornet’s nest kicked, we will right on be running some comparative benchmarks when we acquaint our own narrate of the unused iPad.

Ken Brown, a spokesman for Nvidia, said that it was “certainly flattering” to be called out by Apple, but the performance claims are sketchy without more data. “We don’t have the benchmark information,” said Brown. “We have to understand what the application was that was used. Was it one or a variety of applications? What drivers were used? There are so many issues to get into with benchmark.”

Intel and Micron have long partnered on NAND flash production, under the joint company Intel Micron Flash Technologies (IMFT.) Previously, the companies had enjoyed a half-and-half split, but the announcement of Intel’s withdrawal from manufacturing leaves Micron holding a far bigger slice of the pie.

Under the terms of the revised agreement, Intel is to peddle its shares in twain wafer factories to Micron for $600 million. Half of that will be provided to Intel in the compose of bloodless tough cash, while the remaining $300 million is to be left in Micron’s hands as an proceed deposit on Intel’s future NAND flash purchases.

It’s clear to see where Intel is going here: it’s looking to decrease its exposure in the NAND flash market while still ensuring it has an adequate supply of cutting-edge chips for its undertaking and consumer grade solid-state hobble (SSD) products.

Micron, meanwhile, gets a near-guarantee of $300 million of future commerce as well as sole control of the Intel Micron Flash Singapore and Intel Micron Flash Technologies US assets. The jointly-owned manufacturing plant in Utah, meanwhile, will remain as-is with minimal changes to its ongoing production of 20nm-based NAND flash products.

‘Micron’s joint venture NAND development efforts with Intel are a mannequin of innovation, productivity and effectiveness,’ claimed Micron’s chief executive Mark Durcan. ‘With IM Flash and its associated programs, our companies have become leaders in the NAND flash arena. These modern agreements construct on that success.’

‘The Intel-Micron partnership has created industry-leading NAND flash memory technology and developed a robust global manufacturing network. The modern NAND flash supply accord with Micron gives Intel better flexibility to meet growing beseech for SSDs and other products,’ claimed Robert Crooke, general manager of the Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group at Intel.

AMD to Acquire SeaMicro: Accelerates Disruptive Server Strategy

SeaMicro Low-Power, High-Bandwidth Microserver Solutions Set the Stage for AMD’s Disruptive Approach To Lead Fast-Growing Cloud Data Center Market

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -2/29/2012
AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SeaMicro, a pioneer in energy-efficient, high-bandwidth microservers, for approximately $334 million, of which approximately $281 million will be paid in cash. Through the acquisition of SeaMicro, AMD will be accelerating its strategy to deliver disruptive server technology to its OEM customers serving cloud-centric data centers. With SeaMicro’s fabric technology and system-level design capabilities, AMD will be uniquely positioned to offer industry-leading server building blocks tuned for the fastest-growing workloads such as dynamic web content, social networking, search and video.

AMD’s server technology combined with SeaMicro technology provides customers with a range of processor choices and platforms that can help significantly reduce data center complexity, cost and energy consumption while improving performance. AMD plans to offer the first AMD Opteronâ„¢ processor-based solutions that combine AMD and SeaMicro technology in the second half of 2012. The company remains firmly committed to its traditional server business, and will continue to focus and invest in this area.

“By acquiring SeaMicro, we are accelerating AMD’s transformation into an agile, disruptive innovator capable of staking a data center leadership position,” said Rory Read, president and CEO, AMD. “SeaMicro is a pioneer in low-power server technology. The unmatched combination of AMD’s processing capabilities, SeaMicro’s system and fabric technology, and our ambidextrous technology approach uniquely positions AMD with a compelling, differentiated position to attack the fastest growing segment of the server market.”

SeaMicro technologies offer substantial advantages in large data center and cloud environments. Cloud data centers are projected to be the fastest growing segment of the server market through 2015, according to IDC1.

Current systems featuring SeaMicro technology typically use one quarter the power and take one sixth the space of traditional servers with the same compute performance, yet deliver up to 12 times the bandwidth per core2.

Foremost among SeaMicro’s innovations is their supercompute fabric, which connects thousands of processor cores, memory, storage and input/output traffic. SeaMicro’s fabric supports multiple processor instruction sets. SeaMicro solutions are currently deployed in multiple sites across the world. AMD will continue to support all current SeaMicro customers while accelerating plans to deliver new platforms that combine AMD and SeaMicro technology and enable AMD’s OEM partners to bring differentiated solutions to market.

“Cloud computing has brought a sea change to the data center–dramatically altering the economics of compute by changing the workload and optimal characteristics of a server,” said Andrew Feldman, SeaMicro CEO, who will become general manager of AMD’s newly created Data Center Server Solutions business. “SeaMicro was founded to dramatically reduce the power consumed by servers, while increasing compute density and bandwidth. By becoming a part of AMD, we will have access to new markets, resources, technology, and scale that will provide us with the opportunity to work tightly with our OEM partners as we fundamentally change the server market.”

The acquisition does not change AMD’s 2012 financial guidance and the transaction is expected to be accretive to earnings after 2012. AMD will fund the cash portion of the acquisition with existing cash reserves.

Go back to the months and years before January 1, 2000, and it seemed two equally strong, equally dogmatic and dramatically opposed viewpoints were trumpeted everywhere as loyalists vied for the time, attention and dollars of IT managers.

In one camp, the entire world was going to plunge into darkness at the stroke of midnight because programmers years ago decided to save only two digits in the date field. Technology as we knew it would stop, planes would fall from the sky, and the very infrastructure of our world would fall apart. In short: Everybody panic!

In the other camp, loyalists calmly looked at the situation and said, “Nah, it’s cool.” According to them, nothing would ever come of it: Go about business as usual and don’t bother with it.

Death of ipv4The same kind of shouting match is now going on in the IPv4 vs. IPv6 debate. Essentially, the argument is over whether or not the Internet as it’s been designed using IPv4 is running out of IP addresses to assign. Clearly, if so, it’s a bad thing, as the number of network-connected devices is expected to keep expanding wildly for the foreseeable future–unless, of course, they can’t even get on the network because the fundamental underpinning of the technology, the IP address, has run its course.

The first camp argues that the Internet is already out of IP addresses, and if we don’t move everything to the new IPv6, which supports a nearly infinite number of IP addresses, the Internet-connected world will grind to a halt.

On the other hand, you’ve got a camp that argues that thanks to Network Address Translation (NAT), there’s still a tremendous number of IP addresses available, so everything will be fine, potentially forever.

That brings us to today, World IPv6 Day, where many major Internet companies will flip the switch on their network to run on IPv6 for 24 hours, just to see what happens.

Regardless of how the tests work out today, there’s still a lot of conflicting information out there for IT managers. What’s a technology professional to think when it comes to whether their Internet-reliant systems are at risk if they, their suppliers and everyone up the chain to the backbone of the Internet isn’t ready for the IPv4 address crunch?

ipv4 address scare is like Y2KJust like Y2K and most other things in life the truth lies somewhere between the two extremes. Are there millions of addresses left, or are we already out?

“Both statements are true, but they’re not particularly helpful,” Keith Stewart, a product manager at networking vendor Brocade recently said. “We believe that exhaustion is real, but there’s still time to plan. There’s a pragmatic view for the transition to IPv6.”

Such a pragmatic view is of benefit to Brocade, which makes a network device that acts as a gateway between IPv4 and IPv6 users. But such self-interest doesn’t mean the advice is incorrect.

Leading up to Y2K, it wasn’t the extremists screaming the end is nigh from the top of the hill who saved the day. It was the moderates, who knew there was the potential for problems and got to work testing, identifying, solving, poking, prodding and torture-testing to bring things up to date .

So, too, with the IPv6 debate: The moderates recognize that there is a challenge, and are testing to find out its parameters for the Internet in general–but especially within the needs of their businesses. They will steer successfully through the process without having to rip and replace every bit of networking gear their company has ever purchased.

ipv6Illustration: Jack GallagherIn short, don’t worry about IPv4 address exhaustion too much. There are still options out there. But you should be cognizant of the change. Particularly if you’re relying on some of the massive cloud-based services that are today testing IPv6, you should follow events closely. If you’re using the Internet for commerce, it’s a good time to know what your Internet-based suppliers and partners are doing around IPv6, to make sure as some organizations move more fully to IPv4, you’re not going to be inaccessible for them.

“The reality is a two-protocol world will be around for the next decade,” Brocade’s Stewart argues.

Planes aren’t going to fall out of the sky. But it is time for you to start thinking about what IPv6 is going to mean for your business, and building your plans with future-proofing in mind.

Mozilla Labs has introduced its concept of a desktop replacement called Webian Shell. The Webian Shell basically consists of a browser which will replace the traditional desktop, and where the web applications are given more importance than the native applications. Right now, the prototype of the Webian Shell is nothing more than a full screen browser with a dock which holds the tabs and the clock.

The Webian Shell is developed using another Mozilla Labs project – Mozilla Chromeless. Mozilla Chromeless is a project which is looking to replace the traditional user interface of the browser with a more flexible platform based on HTML, CSS and JavaScript. The Webian Shell is just a shell that will run on top on an existing operating system – Windows, Linux or Mac OS X.
Webian Shell vs Chrome OS

It might not be wrong to say that Webian Shell could have been inspired by Google’s Chrome OS. However, the two are quite different right now.

Yes, there are similarities between the two in that both gives more priorities to the web by having a web browser for a desktop. But while Chrome OS is a complete operating system, Webian Shell is not. The Webian Shell runs on top of an existing operating system. Webian Shell cannot even control the hardware right now – it cannot control the system volume, network connections, show the battery indicator etc. Although hardware control is planned for a future release of Webian Shell, there is no plan of it becoming a full-blown operating system right now.

What makes this mini-PC impressive is its size, a palm-sized chassis measuring 12 x 12 x 4cm, and its VIA Nano X2 dual-core CPU. These mini-PCs will be the ideal size for a home entertainment system, more so than most nettops, and are also great for small workspaces.

The dual-core CPUs in the new ZBOX is available at either 1.2 and 1.6GHz, plus it has native 64-bit software support, VT CPU virtualization technology, and VIA PadLock hardware security features. It’s also pin-to-pin compatible with VIA Nano, VIA C7, VIA C7-M and VIA Eden processors, facilitating easy upgrades of existing designs.

If this is just the mini-PC you’re been waiting for, keep on the lookout for these from the Taiwanese company because unfortunately, no information was given yet regarding pricing or availability.

VIA to Demo ZOTAC® ZBOX Mini-PC Featuring the VIA Nano X2 Dual-Core Processor at Computex
The ZOTAC ZBOX mini-PC offers high performance computing in an ultra compact chassis.

Taipei, Taiwan, 30 May, 2011 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced that it will demo the ultra compact ZOTAC ZBOX mini-PC featuring the VIA Nano X2 dual-core processor at the VIA Computex booth, TICC, room 201D.

Powered by the VIA Nano X2 dual-core processor, the ZOTAC ZBOX features a palm-sized chassis measuring just 12 x 12 x 4cm, making it an ideal solution for integration into a home entertainment system as well as space constrained workspaces.

“The ZOTAC ZBOX is a great example of the kinds of innovations in form factor design that are possible on our low power VIA Nano X2 dual-core processor platform,” said Richard Brown, Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. “It provides an excellent solution for home and officer users seeking a premium computing experience in an ultra compact size.”
VIA Nano X2 Dual-Core Processor

VIA Nano X2 dual-core processors are available at speeds of 1.2 and 1.6GHz and are built using the latest 40nm fabrication process.

VIA Nano X2 processors come with native 64-bit software support, VT CPU virtualization technology, and VIA PadLockâ„¢ hardware security features and are also pin-to-pin compatible with VIA Nano, VIA C7, VIA C7-M and VIA Eden processors, facilitating easy upgrades of existing designs.

For images of the ZOTAC® ZBOX mini-PC, please click here.

For more details about the VIA Nano X2 Processor, please click here.

Come join VIA at Computex in TICC, room 201D, May 31st to June 4th, 2011.

About VIA Technologies, Inc.

VIA Technologies, Inc is the foremost fabless supplier of power efficient x86 processor platforms that are driving system innovation in the PC, client, ultra mobile and embedded markets. Combining energy-saving processors with digital media chipsets and advanced connectivity, multimedia and networking silicon enables a broad spectrum of computing and communication platforms, including its widely acclaimed ultra compact mainboards. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, VIA’s global network links the high tech centers of the US, Europe and Asia, and its customer base includes the world’s top OEMs and system integrators. www.via.com.tw
About ZOTAC International (MCO), Ltd.

ZOTAC® International is a part of PC Partner Ltd. Group. ZOTAC® is also one of the world’s largest channel manufacturers of graphics cards, motherboard and mini-PCs with over 10 years of quality manufacturing experience. The ZOTAC® philosophy is to deliver the latest products at competitive prices without sacrificing quality.

The malware is part of the popular BlackHole Exploit Kit and infects computers through vulnerabilities in Java and Adobe Reader, two third-party programs that basically everybody has on their computer. Kapersky reports that once Rootkit.Win64.Necurs.a gets its foot in the door, it starts downloading those annoying fake antivirus programs – you know, the “OMG! Your computer has umpteen million infected files! Click here to buy a fix!” type. The downloader gets around the Windows 64-bit protection by activating a driver test command that keeps PatchGuard from slamming on the brakes.

An interesting tidbit: one of the fake antiviruses the program tries to download is Hoax.OSX.Defma.f, a fake antivirus for Mac OS X. Obviously, it won’t work, being downloaded to a 64-bit Windows computer and all, but it points to an not-quite-so-obsure, post-Mac Defender future for Mac users.

The screen uses LED backlighting for power efficiency and it supports multitouch capability. The machine comes loaded with some interesting multitouch apps. The processor under the hood is a dual-core Intel D510 at 1.66GHz. The computer has 3GB of DDRII RAM and a 320GB HDD. An integrated optical drive is included along with a memory card reader, four USB ports, and the OS is Windows Home Premium Standard.

The machine also has WiFi and Bluetooth for connectivity and an integrated 1.3MP webcam. The stand the screen has is very slim and can be tilted for comfort from 10-degrees to 55-degrees. The AIO supports full 1080p resolution and has both HDMI and VGA inputs. The email Hanspree sent around shows the price of the machine to be £349.99 with VAT, but the Hanspree website lists the machine at £399.99 including VAT.