February 12, 2010

AMD has expanded its AMD Phenom II and AMD Athlon II processor families for desktop with several new processors designed to give mainstream consumers advanced performance capabilities from their desktop PCs at increasingly attractive price points. As desktop PCs continue trending toward smaller form factors, AMD remains committed to maximizing the user experience by bringing platform technology integration, efficiency and performance benefits to consumers. Examples of the new processor offerings from AMD include:

• The new AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition processor, AMD’s fastest dual-core desktop processor to date at 3.2GHz, is an ideal choice for the budget-conscious consumer’s Microsoft Windows 7 system platform at an affordable $99 Suggested System Builder Price (SSBP).

• The new AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor is designed to provide exceptional quad-core performance to handle the demands of multitasking and multi-threaded applications.

Continuing its commitment to providing high performance at affordable prices, AMD meets the computing needs of mainstream consumers with these new processors — from gamers to social media devotees. This variety and value enables OEMs and system builders to develop compelling PC solutions optimized for Windows 7.

The new additions to the AMD Phenom II and AMD Athlon II processor lines are great choices for consumers interested in HD entertainment, casual gaming, digital file editing and social-media networking.

When combined with the latest generation of ATI Radeon 5800 Series graphics cards and AMD 7-series chipsets, these new AMD Phenom II and AMD Athlon II processors can provide consumers with optimal user experience and capabilities such as:

• Brilliant HD entertainment experience
• Support for DirectX 11 gaming feature
• Exceptional energy efficiency with dynamic power management
• Socket AM3 compatibility for flexibility and compatibility with motherboards based on the upcoming AMD 800-series chipset
• Advanced multitasking performance
• Optimized for Windows 7and the latest sleek desktop designs

By Sarah Jacobsson
February 10, 2010

Apple could cut iPad prices if the device isn’t selling well, the Wall Street Journal reports.

According to Credit Suisse analyst Bill Shope, who met with Apple executives Sunday night, Apple indicated that it would slash iPad prices if the device didn’t sell enough units. “While it remains to be seen how much traction the iPad gets initially, management noted that it will remain nimble (pricing could change if the company is not attracting as many customers as anticipated),” Shope wrote in a post-meeting note.

The iPad is already priced aggressively, at just $499 for the starting model (16GB, no 3G) — much less than initially expected. Apple is perhaps bolstering itself against the potentially lackluster iPad market — since the announcement of Apple’s wonder-tablet, the iPad has been under constant fire with regard to its name, its lack of a camera and multitasking, and the argument that the iPad is just a giant iPod touch.

Online consumer marketplace Retrevo reports that the number of people who have heard about the tablet but are uninterested in buying one, has doubled from 26% (before the tablet’s unveiling) to 52%.

The flexibility in pricing is reminiscent of the iPhone’s release in 2007 — when Apple slashed the price of the iPhone by $200 just two months after the phone’s debut.

Also in Shope’s post-meeting note: Despite what some believe, Apple officials don’t think that the iPad is in danger of “cannibalizing” other Apple lines. According to the execs, there is a clear “segmentation of capabilities” that suggests “cannibalization may be less of a concern than most currently believe.”

By remaining flexible on pricing, it might seem as though Apple is prematurely predicting a failure of sorts in its iPad. Of course, we must remember that the iPad is a tablet in a (mostly) tablet-less world. Apple has a history of changing the world with its technologies (think about the MP3 market before the iPod), and perhaps erring on the cautious side is the way Apple does it.

By Remedios V. Lucio
Contributor
February 9, 2010

The Philippine business-process outsourcing (BPO) industry has definitely grown over the last couple of years. Recently, during the 10th e-Services Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition held at SMX, the revenues were reported to have significantly increased by 19% to $7.2 billion since 2008.

“It’s been a good year, especially in the second half of 2009, when the recovery started to kick in,” elaborated Gillian Virata, Business Processing Association of the Philippines executive director for information and research.   BPAP reported that the continuously growing sector provided more than 70,000 jobs for Filipinos last year. Meanwhile, the knowledge-process outsourcing industry also earned $1.19 billion.  It had increased by 35% in its revenues since 2008.  However, the IT sourcing sector lowered by 5.5%.  Experts foresee a possibility of attracting newer markets in animation, ESO and transcription this year.

According to the Global Services/Tholons Top 50 Emerging Outsourcing Cities report last October 2009, Philippines is considered as the second offshore nation following India.  Makati is the top location for HR outsourcing and Cebu is the number one emerging global outsourcing city.

Moreover, chairman Charlie Villasenor of the Procurement and Sourcing Institute of Asia said that “outsourcing and offshoring is all about supply management.”  He believed this was considerably one of the best years of e-services because there were more suppliers and buyers who attended the event.

He also said he believed in the talent, guts and resources of Filipinos thus leading to a possibly successful leadership in the BPO sector.  “We are getting a lot of global attention…and what I keep thinking about is that [the world] has finally found that the Filipinos have something more to offer than call centers.  And procurement BPO is a big part of it.”

Data privacy law was also discussed during the press conference.  Monchito Ibrahim, commissioner of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, explained the importance of creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology to ensure the protection of important company data. He said it will be a way for the Philippines to measure up with other countries around the world.  “[BPO] can expect more support from the government especially in developing new markets,” Ibrahim said.

Last February, Salmat opened its BPO Solutions Center in Manila.  Dr. Philip Hadcroft, general manager of strategy at Salmat, said it will represent their strong commitment to the country’s BPO industry.  The company’s services will include “call centers, computer programming, web content management, data entry” and “IT-enabled services.”

Currently, there are 100 employees in their Mckinley Hill office.  They are expecting to grow to 800 employees in three years time.  He further noted that the facility was bigger than what they had expected.

February 8, 2010

WD Caviar Black and WD RE4 2TB
www.wdc.com

Western Digital announced that it is now shipping desktop 7200 RPM 2TB hard drives and is qualifying with OEMs enterprise-class hard drives based on WD’s 500 gigabytes-per-platter technology. The popular family of WD Caviar Black drives, now led by the new 2TB capacity, is perfect for gaming, high-performance desktop systems and workstations; while the WD RE4 2TB is suited for servers, network attached storage and storage networks.

High-performance hard drives by an industry leader in performance, WD Caviar Black and WD RE4 2TB drives combine 7200 RPM spin speed, 64MB cache, dual stage actuator technology, SATA 3 gigabits per second (Gb/s) interface, and an integrated dual processor to deliver ultimate performance in a maximum-capacity drive.

“WD Caviar Black 2TB hard drives maximize the features and functionality of power computing applications such as gaming, photo editing, user generated multimedia and video,” said Jim Morris, senior vice president and general manager of WD’s client storage systems. “With the selection of WD Caviar Black hard drives, WD desktop customers receive the best possible mix of capacity, performance and reliability that is required for intense desktop computing.”

“Specifically designed for enterprise-class applications, WD’s RE4 2TB drives incorporate the best combination of features, optimum performance, and superior reliability that customers have come to expect from WD,” said Tom McDorman, vice president and general manager of enterprise storage solutions for WD. “Our enterprise products are directly aimed at customers who require additional features and extensive testing that are necessary for high-end enterprise environments.”

WD Caviar Black 2 TB and WD RE4 2TB hard drives feature the following:

Dual processor- Twice the processing power to maximize performance.

Dual actuator technology- A head positioning system with two actuators that improves positional accuracy over the data track(s). The primary actuator provides coarse displacement using conventional electromagnetic actuator principles. The secondary actuator uses piezoelectric motion to fine tune the head positioning to a higher degree of accuracy.

IntelliSeek- Calculates optimum seek speeds to lower power consumption, noise, and vibration.

StableTrac- The motor shaft is secured at both ends to reduce system-induced vibration and stabilize platters for accurate tracking, during read and write operations.

NoTouch ramp load technology- The recording head never touches the disk media ensuring significantly less wear to the recording head and media as well as better drive protection in transit.

Additional Features for WD RE4 2TB Enterprise Hard Drives
WD RE4 drives feature 1.2 million hours MTBF, Active Power Save, enhanced RAFF technology, multi-axis shock sensor, native command queuing (NCQ), pressure sensors, third generation dynamic fly height, time limited error recovery (TLER), and an extensive and enhanced testing process to ensure long-term reliability for demanding enterprise applications.

Price and Availability
The WD Caviar Black 2TB (model WD2001FASS) hard drives and WD RE4 2TB (model WD2003FYYS) hard drives are distributed by Axis Global Technologies and ATP Peripherals (Phils) and are available through select resellers. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the WD Caviar Black 2TB drive are P 15,650 for WD2001FASS model and P20,800 for WD2003FYYS. Both drives are covered by a five-year limited warranty.

February 9, 2010

Canon EOS Rebel T2i
www.canon.com

As the new flagship in Canon’s Digital Rebel line, the Canon EOS Rebel T2i complements the Canon EOS Rebel XS and the Canon EOS Rebel T1i. The existing Canon Rebel XSi will be retired to make room for the new model, which has a variety of new features that will appeal to photo enthusiasts already using a digital SLR, and to those looking to move from a point-and-shoot digicam to a more advanced model that will enable greater creativity.

What’s notable here is that Canon has taken features from its recent Canon EOS 7D and brought those features downstream to a model half that price. The Rebel T2i uses the same 18 megapixel sensor as the 7D, but its channel reader is lower (four-channel for T2i, versus eight for 7D). Both models use the Digic 4 engine, and both have a 63 zone, dual-layer metering system. However, the T2i makes some concessions-it can shoot at 3.7 frames per second, with a burst rate of 34 large fine jpegs, and 6 RAW images; and it has a 9-point autofocus system that’s on a par with the T1i (the 7D, by contrast, has 19 focus points).

ISO handling is similar to the 7D: It supports ISO 100-6400, and you can expand that to 12,800 in the settings.

The T2i comes in a similarly designed, fairly compact chassis, much like the T1i in weight and size. The T2i uses a new, slightly smaller but more efficient battery to handle movie mode and improve battery life over the T1i. Canon says the battery should last for 550 shots, 50 more than on the T1i.

Video has very quickly become a must-have feature on the SLR circuit. And one of the other big improvements here is to video handling: Video resolution has been amped up to be more l like the 7D, with up to 1080p at 24, 25, and 30fps (you can capture up to 12 minutes at a time at 1080p, 24 minutes in standard definition). You also get manual exposure capability in video, and there’s a jack for an external microphone-handy for amplifying audio during your recordings. A new movie crop mode uses central portion of the sensor, and magnifies view seven times if you’re capturing video in standard definition. Also new: a dedicated movie/live view on/off switch, as found on the 7D.

The T2i supports SDHC and SDXC memory card formats, for up to 64GB of storage per card. It’s the first SLR with SDXC support; Canon was first to announce an SDXC-capable camcorder, the HF S21, in January as well (that model will ship in April, just after the T2i’s expected late-March availability).

One other new and interesting development is HDMI-CEC support. By supporting this HDMI feature, Canon underscores its expectation that consumers will attach the camera to an HDTV to view images directly from a card. HDMI-CEC lets an HDTV remote control the camera’s playback features.

At $899 (in a kit with an 18-55mm IS EF-S lens; $799 body only), the T2i carries an attractive price that positions this model well against the competition-and opens up new avenues to creativity for SLR shooters.

February 9, 2010

Social networking giant, Multiply, now makes upgrading accounts much easier for its over five million Filipino users.

To get a premium account, Multiply subscribers can opt for Globe GCASH, an internationally-acclaimed mobile commerce service, which is one of the preferred modes of payment for online shopping. The partnership between Globe GCASH and Multiply for secure and convenient online payment settlement is the first in the industry.

Globe GCASH mobile wallet is available to all Globe and TM subscribers nationwide. It allows subscribers to conveniently send and receive cash electronically, make payments, as well as buy good and services.

“Filipinos love content and combined with their desire to connect with family and friends, they often share personal documentation of their lives online.  That is why Globe GCASH and Multiply decided to work on this collaborative effort to give more value-added services to our subscribers,” said Rizza-Maniego Eala, President of G-Xchange Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom which operates GCASH.

Since Multiply’s unlimited photosharing facility is very attractive to Filipino Internet users, Multiply has introduced a permanent backup solution for all photos and videos uploaded to the site for just Php 799 a year or Php 99 per month.

February 6, 2010

Gigabyte has unveiled the new Gigabyte Booktop M1305, a 13.3-inch ultra-thin notebook PC running the newly-released Windows 7 operating system and featuring an innovative docking station, which provides high-performance desktop-like graphics performance via its embedded nVidia GT220 graphics processor and HDMI support.

Its Booktop Docking System seamlessly converts from a laptop into a desktop, and allows you to enjoy the convenience of being mobile with the ability to convert to a desktop for use at home with computer peripherals that connect directly to the docking station, providing more functionality.

Besides a host of innovative features on the netbook itself, it incorporates an nVidia GeForce GT220 graphics processor and a desktop GPU catering for a rich multimedia experience. These provide enough graphics muscle to support playback of any hi-def movie in ultra-smooth quality and allows you to play the latest 3D games that demand the highest levels of graphics performance.

The available multi-I/O ports, which include an HDMI port directly on the docking station to connect up to two large screen displays for a more immersive experience.


Ultra-slim．Ultra-light．Ultra-long battery life
The M1305 Booktop packs leading-edge functionality into an ultra-slim, stylish and light package, with features that include an LCD screen with LED lighting for enhanced brightness, at a 1366×768 resolution. Combine these with Intel’s latest ultra low voltage processors, and the M1305 provides for the maximum levels of power efficiency.

The body itself is only two centimeters thin at its thickest point, while its “Flexibay” caters for an interchangeable optical drive or second three-cell battery, which can extend the battery life for up to 10 hours, or an entire workday of mobility.

Gigabyte’s design focus is on products that are “thinking of you,” so to speak. To this end, the M1305 is equipped with multiple design features that are thoughtful and functional. These include fingerprint and facial recognition biometric technology for instant log-on- with twice the security. It also has a unique, modularized-design for quick and easy hard drive and memory upgrades.

The Booktop also features Gigabyte’s Smart Manager software which combines a number of different system tools into one single intuitive user interface, making the control of personal settings very easy and just a click away. Another Gigabyte development is the Battery Check feature, which will allow you to check the battery status of the notebook, simply by holding down the right mouse button on the mouse pad when the notebook is switched off.

In addition, this notebook PC features optional 3G/HSDPA support for high-speed Internet that can be accessed anytime and anywhere.

Specifications

By Tony Bradley
February 5, 2010

Microsoft is investigating reported issues with Windows 7 and notebook battery life. The issue seems sporadic, but fairly widespread. It is unclear whether affected systems are simply misreporting the battery life, or if the battery capacity is actually being permanently affected.

Long before Windows 7 was released for general availability in October of 2009, users were reporting suspicious behavior with battery life, or at least reported battery life, when running the Windows 7 RC (release candidate) version. The Microsoft TechNet Forums thread on the matter dates back to June of 2009.

While some issues seem to be a simple matter of Windows 7 not reporting the remaining battery life correctly, or prematurely warning that the battery is nearly dead, there are users who have reported switching operating systems back to Windows Vista, or even a non-Windows operating system, and still experiencing drastically reduced battery life.

Brian Ehlert, a Microsoft MVP, reported in November of 2009:
“Now, Win7 does include the ability to use Vista drivers – that is built on purpose so hardware manufacturers would not have to turn around and immediately write new drivers.

I am using all stock Win7 drivers. So that tells me that it is a core deficiency / bug – not a driver specific bug. Rather a software interacting with hardware bug.

My battery life went from 8 hours to 15 minutes, with only an fdisk, format, and install in between. Yes, totally unacceptable.”

I have been using Windows 7 since before it was available for public beta testing and I have never experienced any battery issues. Granted, my notebook is plugged in at my desk 90 percent of the time. However, I occasionally do roam about and have taken it on road trips and I have been impressed with the power management features of Windows 7, and more than satisfied with the battery life on my Dell XPS notebook.

I asked my colleague, veteran Microsoft guru Mark Minasi, about his experience. Minasi replied “I’ve been running Windows 7 on my Lenovo since May and haven’t noticed any difference in battery consumption.”

Microsoft released an official statement on the matter, saying “We are investigating this issue in conjunction with our hardware partners. The warning received in Windows 7 uses firmware information to determine if battery replacement is needed. We are working with our partners to determine the root cause and will update with information and guidance as it becomes available.”
The implication is that the issue is related to an error between Windows 7 and certain hardware firmware versions. That theory may or may not support the fact that some users claim the battery itself is being permanently affected.

Do business users need to be concerned? The jury is still out. It all depends on what the actual root cause of the issue is, and whether it is simply a miscommunication between the firmware and Windows 7 resulting in misreporting the remaining battery life, or if there is something more insidious going on that actually causing the battery capacity to dwindle permanently.

Obviously, if notebook battery life is being permanently impacted so that it lasts a meager 15 or 30 minutes rather than the six to eight hours you might expect, there is reason to be concerned. Once the dust settles on Microsoft’s investigation into the issue, business users may need to look to Microsoft or notebook vendors to replace batteries if it is determined that the issue is more than simple mis-reporting.

August 12, 2009

Lenovo ThinkPad X100e
Starts at P28,990
www.lenovo.com

Lenovo announced the ThinkPad X100e, the company’s first professional-grade ultraportable laptop starting at PhP28,990. The introduction pioneers a new category of PCs for today’s business users that blends professional performance, usability and design with new color options at an extremely affordable price. The X100e also represents the first time Lenovo and AMD have collaborated to offer AMD processors on ThinkPad laptops and to leverage AMD’s VisionPro branding.

“By listening to our customers and observing market trends, we identified an opportunity to create a new type of ultraportable laptop for business users,” said Vicky Agorrilla, country general manager, Lenovo Philippines. “Customers asked us for low cost and extreme portability without sacrificing usability or the manageability needed to run a business. By expanding the ultraportable ThinkPad X Series to reach prices of about PhP28,990, the X100e delivers on all counts.”

The ThinkPad X100e excels in the areas important to business users with professional-grade features, exceptional usability and outstanding mobility.

Professional-Grade Features
Equipped with choices of AMD Athlon Neo single and dual core processors and Turion dual core processors1, the X100e provides strong performance needed for multitasking and running typical office applications. It also has the performance needed to support corporate operating systems like Microsoft Windows 7 Professional. The X100e comes with Lenovo’s ThinkVantage Technologies, hardware-software tools that help customers deploy, manage and maintain their PCs. The laptop features global availability and technical support along with a variety of warranty options.

Exceptional Usability and Design
Lenovo designed the small and compact X100e to be incredibly comfortable to use. An 11.6 inch high definition display provides ample screen real estate, and an ISO full-size keyboard with a multitouch touchpad and Trackpoint make navigation easy. The new contemporary keyboard design features

enlarged keys, removal of rarely used keys like System Request and the embedded number pad. The X100e also brings color to ThinkPad with a new choice of heatwave red in addition to midnight black models.

Outstanding Mobility
The X100e maximizes mobility with models starting under three pounds. For wireless connectivity on the go, the laptop comes with 802.11n WiFi and optional Bluetooth and 3G.

Based on VISION Pro Technology from AMD, the X100e delivers outstanding value and performance on visual productivity applications vital to today’s business.

“The X100e delivers the full promise of VISION Pro Technology from AMD,” said Leslie Sobon, vice president, Product Marketing, AMD. “It delivers the visual experience necessary to leverage most of today’s collaboration tools, strong battery life and unbeatable value, all in a sleek, durable ultrathin laptop. With out-of-the-box support for dual monitors to enable greater productivity, the ThinkPad X100e defines what a commercial ultrathin laptop should be and sets the bar for future products based on VISION Pro Technology from AMD.”

Business-Class Service and Support
Lenovo offers a full portfolio of service and support offerings to protect the ThinkPad X100e and the data on it and also to give IT departments the technical support they need. To keep business productivity high and to protect from unexpected repair costs, ThinkPad Protection cover repairs resulting from accidents, drops and spills. ThinkPlus Priority Support provides 24×7 business-class technical support for IT professionals responsible for maintaining these PCs. Lenovo Hard Disk Drive Retention lets customers keep their hard drive in case of damage or failure, ensuring that their data remains safely in their hands.

February 3, 2010

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge Series
Starts at P36,990
www.lenovo.com

Lenovo announced a new ThinkPad laptop Series, simply called “ThinkPad Edge,” with 13, 14 and 15 inch models designed specifically for the small to medium sized business (SMB). The 13-inch model represents the first ThinkPad laptop to offer AMD dual core processor technology and to be offered on AMD’s VISION Pro Technology. In addition to performance, the new laptops are designed with style and affordability in mind for today’s budget-conscious customers. For example, they include new rich and vibrant color choices and a new contemporary keyboard. Lenovo is also expanding its retail sales channel to offer select ThinkPad Edge models in Best Buy stores.

“Small to medium business customers tell us they want PCs with bold yet professional designs, uncompromising durability and reliability with the latest technologies that meets their budgets,” said Vicky Agorrilla, country general manager, Lenovo Philippines. “Our answer is the new ThinkPad Edge family of laptops. They deliver stunning technology and powerful performance at an unprecedented value.”

Sophisticated and Simple Design
The ThinkPad Edge Series laptops reflect a new progressive and strikingly clean appearance while retaining ThinkPad durability and reliability. For example, the laptops include spill resistant keyboards and value-added ThinkVantage Technologies like the Active Protection System and Rescue and Recovery.

However, the new laptops blend expressive design and ease of use in several new ways:

Contemporary keyboard
A new contemporary keyboard gives the laptop a clean and inviting look. Uniform black keys and removal of the embedded number pad also help create a modern design. The Function keys have even been re-designed so that users only need to use one finger to access multimedia functions and more. Other rarely used keys like System Request have been removed. Additionally, select models of the ThinkPad Edge 14 and 15 inch versions will come with illuminated keyboards for visibility in low light conditions while adding a touch of elegance to the keyboard.

Expanded touchpad
A large multitouch touchpad provides an oversized landing pad for fingers to pinch, zoom and scroll.

Expressive, colorful palette
Midnight glossy or midnight soft black remain the traditional color for business, but for those who want to make a statement, ThinkPad Edge laptops come in heatwave red too. Additionally, a sleek silver band frames the exterior of the laptop.

SMB Performance Gets New Edge
SMBs “are a 24×7 business,” and their PC technology reflects their personal brand. Lenovo designed the ThinkPad Edge Series specifically to give these customers stylish and eye catching designs with high performance, reliability and the latest technologies including:

• Great performance with choices of AMD Turion and Athlon Neo dual core processors or Intel Core 2 Duo ultra low voltage and standard dual core processors
• Optimized for Windows 7 under Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience program
• Long battery life of over eight hours
• Wireless connectivity technologies including WiFi and optional Bluetooth, 3G and WiMAX3
• Crisp and clear voice over Internet protocol with Skype software, high definition speakers, high resolution, low light sensitivity cameras and microphone and camera mute keys
• Commitment to green technology. The laptops carry a Gold rating from the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool and meet Energy Star 5.0. The Edge laptops contain no foam and use many materials which are derived from 100% recycled content, such as thermoplastic, sugarcane or sorghum

“Expanding our relationship with Lenovo to include ThinkPad laptops represents a turning point for AMD’s commercial client business and creates enormous opportunity for both companies,” said Leslie Sobon, VP-Product Marketing, AMD. “By basing these laptops on VISION Pro Technology, Lenovo is enabling customers to gain a competitive advantage with performance you can see on today’s collaboration and visual productivity applications, unbeatable value at every price point and a means of eliminating IT headaches through open standards manageability and security features.”

Total Service and Support
Lenovo also offers a full suite of flexible service and support solutions for the new ThinkPad Edge Series. Lenovo-branded services give customers and business partners a single source solution that helps minimize risks and increases protection and productivity.

These services include:

• ThinkPad Protection to protect from unexpected repair costs in case of accidents or spills
• Priority Support for 24/7 tech-to-tech support
• Hard Disk Drive Retention that lets customer keep their failed or damaged hard drive to ensure data remains safely in their hands

Pricing and Availability
The ThinkPad Edge 13-inch version is now available with models starting at approximately PhP36,990 through Lenovo Business Partners and www.lenovo.com.