Slashdot Mirror

I would rather be stuck in stereo with two very high quality speakers, than surround sound with 7 crappy ones.

that is exactly what i have and most people who come over (except for the audiophile who helped me pick out and set up my equipment) say that dvd's and music sound better on my system than anywhere else they've been. multiple people have said that dvd's sound like the theatre (even though they are listening in stereo, not surround!), and that they would rather watch a movie at my place any day.

i have 2 B&W floor speakers, B&W sub, rotel preamp/processor, and rotel amplifier. total cost was just over $5,000 for everything (that's not including the 50 inch samsung dlp). trust me when i say this setup sounds unbe-freakin-lievable. much better than an inexpensive 5.1 or 7.1 surround setup with preamp/amp in one unit, and cheap speakers.

I would imagine samsung have considered that , well i hope they had.
But i think the numbers are for complete write /erase (which i should of written above as opposed to write /read) of every block , so each block will last up to that amount of read write cycles so when one is spent i imagine it would take a few years for that to occur and hopefully the hardware/software can account for it and mark it as dead and move the data for future writes. so the drive would reduce in size over time giving you ample opportunity to replace it
http://www.samsung.com/Products/Semiconductor/Flas h
which has a lot of the tech info ,I'm just going through it myself right now.
Hopefully if apple or other companies adopt this, then a file system will be developed for the purpose to avoid the situation.
Pure vapourware right now any so all we can really do is speculate , but i would certainly hope they have the fore-sight to account for all of this

Samsung has also teamed with Microsoft to create a hybrid Flash/Platter device that uses less power, is quieter, and more shock resistant. You'll have to wait for Shorthorn, though.

Samsung teams with Microsoft

Here's a flash camcorder that is allegedly waterproof: http://product.samsung.com/cgi-bin/nabc/product/b2 c_product_detail.jsp?eUser=&prod_id=SC-X105L%2FXAA

How would the iRiver iFP-799 and iFP-899 compare to the:
- iAudio 5 and U2
- Samsung YP-MT6Z and YP-T6Z
- MPIO FY 400

Using a single device as both a USB key an an MP3 player is convenient.

How would the iRiver iFP-799 and iFP-899 compare to the:
- iAudio 5 and U2
- Samsung YP-MT6Z and YP-T6Z
- MPIO FY 400

Using a single device as both a USB key an an MP3 player is convenient.

I'll give a second for Samsung! I bought this lil' gem for around $120 at Circuit City a few weeks ago:

http://product.samsung.com/cgi-bin/nabc/product/b2 c_product_detail.jsp?prod_id=YP-MT6X%252fXAA

512M flash (1G available), cd -> mp3 encoding through (included) line-in jack, FM radio -> mp3, voice -> mp3, and best of all, excellent OGG support!

I encode everything using oggenc in '-b 192' and everything has played fine.

40 hours of continous play on a single AA (LR6) battery! Very slim: 25x60x24 mm. 36 grams without battery. It can encode directly to MP3 (max 128kbps) via its line-in or built-in mic that support AutoSync!
Interface is USB 2.0

The sound is incredible with SRS or WOW effects turned on.

I bought it online from www.fnac.com (french site) for 149 EURO (179 US Dollars) More info here

This entry from the FAQ shows it is not directly comparable:

Question: What type of music files does Yepp support?

Answer: Samsung's Yepp player downloads and plays audio that is in the MP3 file format, which is the most popular music format on the Internet. Other music formats are not supported.

My 1Gb Samsung Yepp has all that, plus line-in MP3 recording and WAV voice notes from the microphone. One AAA battery for 20 hours playback, and it's as big as my thumb. Firmware upgradeable, it's a standard USB mass storage device and has a standard mini-usb socket. The joystck makes for a surprisingly easy to navigate the comprehensive UI.

YP-T6

It also costs a whole lot less - $169 Australian for the 1Gb model, which should be about $115 US.

This device is the best designed personal audio device I've ever seen. The marketing department was obviously boarded up in their offices until the last minute. ;-)

battery life is also 4 times better than the Sandisk. Get a Samsung Yepp instead, it's cheaper and better and plays Ogg without choking. Exempli gratia.

It's a Samsung YP-MT6V:

http://product.samsung.com/cgi-bin/nabc/product/b2 c_product_detail.jsp?eUser=&prod_id=YP-MT6V%2FXAA

I got it because it does ogg in addition to mp3.

But does a $200 19" CRT have enough "dots" to display all the pixels in a 1920x1080p picture? (I'm not sure. I really want to know.) My knowledge of display technologies is limited, but I think 19" CRTs in this price range don't have enough "dots" (calculated from dot pitch) to display all of the pixels and will not give a "true" 1920x1080p picture.

Example: I've been thinking about getting a Samsung 997DF, which has a max resolution of 1920x1440 (a resolution I'd only use for 1080p video). However, it also has a horizontal dot pitch of 0.20mm and a viewable width of about 14.4" (about 365.76mm). That's about 1829 viewable dots across the screen, which is less than the number of horizontal pixels in a 1920x1080p picture.

The ability to display 1920x1080p is the biggest reason I'd choose a $200 19" CRT over a $230 17" LCD. However, if the 1080p video is "messed up," then I'd rather get a 17" LCD and just convert everything to 720p.

here are some links i just found that illustrates my point.

5 megapixel camera phone
http://www.samsung.com/PressCenter/PressRelease/Pr essRelease.asp?seq=20041020_0000074352

7 megapixel camera phone
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05030901samsung_ schv770.asp

I know about Linux PDAs and such but is there a Linux-based mp3 player.

I suggest you take a look at Samsung's SpinPoint drives. They're all the rage with Quiet PC enthusiasts (such as those at Silent PC Review). Barracuda's are quiet (I've got two V's right now), but they're certainly still audible, especially as they get older and the bearings wear. Apparently SpinPoints are quieter than Barracudas (at least initially).

Samsung released a phone with a 1.5GB HDD last year (Info) and it's nothing short of awful. It's fat, heavy, only supports some silly proprietary format and has to check drive consistency when you copy any file onto it. If you want to copy numerous files, like say a collection of music, it checks after every single file not after all of them have been copied. They also recalled it before re-releasing it due to reliability issues. Fortunately, only Koreans will ever have to deal with it.

I certainly hope Samsung has learned a few important lessons since its last foray into this field.

and would cost over $1000 if they did sell it in America. Proven wrong. Not sold in America because Americans are too poor to afford something so nice. Don't worry though! By the time this phone is a year old, Motorola will have a pitiful 1.3 megapixel iTunes phone for Americans to buy and enjoy, along with America's pitiful excuse for broadband.

Does it come with the two Asian women to help hold it up?

Here is the press release striaght from Samsung along with a picture of the beast. Wonder how much power this thing soaks up and how much heat it puts out?

Download the free FireWire SDK from Apple, and you get a virtual DVHS application that makes your Mac's 1394 interface look like a digital VHS. Combine this with a HD tuner that has FireWire out, like the Motorola 6200 series used by Comcast and others, or the Samsung T165 ATSC tuner, and you're most of the way to a PVR.

The support page for the 1740 only lists Linux and Windows. Same thing with the 1750, which says it supports:

"Win 9x/NT 4.0/Me/2000/XP
Various Linux OS"

The support page for the 1740 only lists Linux and Windows. Same thing with the 1750, which says it supports:

"Win 9x/NT 4.0/Me/2000/XP
Various Linux OS"

Samsung Laser printers rock.

I have the ML-2552W, and I love it.

It does 1200x1200 dpi, built in Wifi and Ethernet, supports PCL6 and Postscript 3, 32MB of RAM standard, supports up to 160, sports a 266Mhz PPC CPU, and has built in duplexing.

I picked it up for $350.

According to the printer's status report, I've printed off 17334 pages so far. I've basically had no problems at all. I had it up and running on the LAN within an hour or so, with all of my computers (Linux, Windows, and an old UltraSparc) printing to it beautifuly.

Based on my good experience, a friend of mine picked up the same printer, and he's also raved about it. I don't remember what he paid for it, but I think it was a hair under $400.

If I were buying a new Laser printer, I would buy another one of these in a second. Depending on the features you need, the ML-2550 and ML-2551N may also be good options. The former is identical to the description above, but without the Wifi/Ethernet, the latter is identical except for without the Wifi. The prices for all three tend to fluctuate up and down. The ML-2551N seems to currently be the cheapest, found on PriceGrabber.com for $335 right now.

Well, if two mouse clicks is too much, how about one?

http://opensrc.sec.samsung.com/

And no, they don't have to publish their diffs for everybody, only for those who has bought the camera if they ask for them.

Name one. I have a recent NEC 21" Diamondtron. Sure, it'll sync up to whatever the video card can churn out, but I'm quite confident there's only about 1600 physical 'dots' from left to right.

2048x1536 CRTs from my two favorite CRT manufacturers:

1. NEC MultiSync FP1355
2. NEC MultiSync FP1370
3. NEC MultiSync FP1375X
4. Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 2060u
5. Samsung SyncMaster 1100DF

Heck, even a Newegg.com search got twelve results for 2048x1536 CRTs.

That's disappointing. So much for "Everyone's Invited"...

A a matter of fact, I have used a DVI->HDMI converter cable to hook my Samsung HD841 DVD player (DVI output) up to my Mitsubishi DLP TV (HDMI input). I went for one of the higher-end Monster HDMI/DVI cables to ensure the best possible signal to the TV. I think it was about $180, but the guy at BestBuy gave it to me for the price of the lesser cable (~$120). I had talked to the guy a while before choosing the DVD player and told him that for what the TV had cost, I wasn't interested in skimping out on the components (nor cables) if it cost picture quality. I'm sure I could have done even better online, but I am all about instant gratification! I have been very happy w/the picture (the DVD player up-converts the signal to 480p, 720p, or 1080i).

From the research I've done, and what I've seen, its like most other (electronic) things... you'll generally get the best results if you stick w/high quality stuff from end-to-end. It would have been nice to have all of the audio in the same cable, rather than having to buy another fiber cable for the sound.
Good luck!

Virtual Surround Sound USB Audio Adapter for your PC or Laptop

...which for $29.95 gives you an optical out from USB. Combined with the Mac Mini, I think this makes for a killer system, since it'll interface nicely to my 46" LCD television.

I can't wait to get it all wired up and on to my network!

My friend asked me for advice on upgrading his 17" CRT monitor (1024x768). He just bought a 6 megapixel camera and uses his computer for photos, word processing, and internet. I figure an upgrade would at least be a 19" CRT (running at 1280x960 most of the time) or a 17" LCD (running at 1280x1024 all of the time).

I'm thinking about recommending a 19" CRT because for about $200 he can get a decent Samsung or ViewSonic that can display 1920x1440. I know this is an unusable resolution for most tasks, but I think it would be nice to have this option when viewing/editing large photos or eventually watching 1920x1080i HDTV from his computer's HDTV tuner card (which I'll probably buy for his birthday).

Am I overvaluing the CRT's ability to display 1920x1400 (for photos and HDTV) for only $200?

These will also be less likely to crush you while setting it up....

Thin CRTs to Challenge LCDs in 2005

Slimmer tube TVs to challenge flat panels

Samsung SDI Develops the Ultra-slim and Flat CRT

The Samsung LT-P468W 46" LCD has a native 1920 x 1080 resolution, so it will display 1080p

http://product.samsung.com/cgi-bin/nabc/product/b2 c_product_detail.jsp?prod_id=LTP468WX%252fXAA

The link you provide (CDMA site) while a useful list of CDMA-2000 operators, it is not at all the same as the list of 2G CDMA operators (which is less extensive).

And while you find GSM networks in almost all countries which have CDMA or CDMA2000 (e.g. in the US it is now about 50%-50%), the opposite is by far not true. Both by coverage, by countries and by number of users, GSM is the standard (e.g. over 1000M GSM vs. 226M CDMA)

Even where CDMA operators exist, you can't bring your phone to one of those countries and swap a SIM, because there is no SIM... you need a new phone anyway to use their service at local rates (while any unlocked GSM phone can accept a SIM from any GSM operator in the world).

Finally, GSM is vendor-independent - not tied to a single company like CDMA with Qualcomm...

Samsung is adding Ready Link to its line. If I remember correctly, the SPH-a760 will be the first device to include the feature.

Nothing to see here, Samsung already has a 5-megapixel digital camera available.

And it has a sliding cover ala the Matrix phone to boot.

Well, Samsung's recent 17" CRT consumes 80W, whereas LG's latest consumes 103W. I'd say the info isn't that dated, w.r.t. the companies involved. It's still twice an LCD.

.. that with LCD's the viewable range is larger then the equivilant CRT. I just picked up a Samsung 172X screen which about equal to an 18'.

I game a decent amount and I must say for my LCD which is 12ms I don't have any problems with ghosting. Also, I find it's significatly easier on my eyes when I'm looking at it. I'll never be able to go back to a CRT now.

Also, most LCD's only support up to 1280x1024. You'll have to spend big bucks to get higher resolutions.

Here is a link to the Samsung website about the technology: http://www.samsung.com/Products/TFTLCD/Technology/ 4colorrandering.htm

I wouldn't complain too hard about the confusion in the details. They couldn't even spell 'rendering' right on their own site (4 color randering???).

It also discusses 'physicail' pixels. I dunno about that.

They seem to have created smaller pixels, which are spatially located across a different area than normal.

They then need fewer wires to connect the given number of pixels. Meaning a higher resolution with fewer interconnects. Maybe I'm completely wrong in this 1 minutes evaluation.

The neat thing is the overlap of their 'logical' pixel arrangements. It would seem they are using traditional dithering with a complicated arrangement of pixels. This should do exactly what they state. Ther weird thing is that their sub-pixel seems to have the wrong number of color sub-elements.

One would expect a ratio of 2:1:1 for green:red:blue emitters. They have 4:2:1. Maybe their red emitters are much brighter than the blue, which would make sense.

They mention replacing some rows with white pixels, but their diagrams don't show anything. Maybe the media-relations people just don't know how the technology works, and are making stuff up until someone corrects them.

Also, of course, MTBFs for hard drives are tested and calculated in laboratory conditions, and real-world usage data may paint a different picture. More interesting info from http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/whit epapers/WhitePaper_05.htm:

SAMSUNG's MTBF for HDDs is 500,000 hours. That means that if you use your PC for 9 hours every day, your HDD should operate for 152 years. In imperfect, non-test conditions, however, please note that the real life span of an HDD varies because of fluctuating operating environments. Now, let us show you have the MTBF value is calculated.

MTBF Values are Derived From Arithmetic Calculation MTBF valuation by arithmetic calculation is used in the early stages of product development-it is the sum of all of an HDD's components. After the initial test phase, the MTBF value is reconfigured to account for the following factors: design faults, manufacturing faults, software bugs, and other environmental problems.

According to Honeywell's release, Samsung licensed their technology.

According to Samsung, Sony and Samsung have a joint partnership in lcds: SAMSUNG and Sony Signed a MOU for TFT LCD Joint Venture

So, Sony buys its lcd panels as OEMs from Samsung. So, Sony is purchasing its lcds from a licensee of the technology.

If you look at some lists of lcd manufacturers and LCD/LED Driver IC Manufacturers, you'll notice that very few of the listed defendents actually manufacture panels. There's Fujitsu, Kyocera, Sanyo, and Toshiba/Matsushita.

Sorry but you are not correct. The 19" Flat Screens do about 100-140W. My Sony G400 19" does about 140W and <1 W in standby.

Samsung Syncmaster 957 MB 19" CRT: 110 W
ViewSonic E90 19" CRT: 100 W
Benq Professional P992 19" CRT: 110W

8 Gigabyte

Meanwhile Samsung is readying 8ms 19" LCDs for production in Q4 , 2004. 12ms LCDs produce almost no noticeble ghosting, 8ms should be even better at closing the gap to CRTs.

My Samsung SPH-A460 cell phone only shows the time when it can get a cellular signal. There's also a host of additional phone book software design flaws that make it less useful than my previous, archaic green-and-black phone. Here's to hoping this makes it easier for developers to easily integrate essential functionality into their products.

Not only does my Sony DL DVD burner happily burn the only DL media I've been able to source, my mother's Samsung DVD/VCR combo player happily plays XVID, MPG and MP4 straight off the discs, no transcoding or special formats needed.

"Single-level cell" flash memories can manage over 100,000 writes per sector. "Multi-level cell" flash memories, which slightly lead single-level on the density/time curve, can manage only roughly 10,000 writes per sector. Learn more about the difference between single- and multi-level cell flash memory.

With this thing rated at up to 25,000 IOPS, is would seem that they might not last all that long (4 seconds?).

Yeah, with tens of thousands of writes to the same sector. CF flash memories already perform some sort of wear leveling to spread repeated writes over multiple sectors. Yeah, it's more difficult for swap files, but I expect that rather than use a swap file on flash memory, PCs with solid-state storage will use more volatile memory.

This entire article should be modded -1, redundant. Several Portable Media Center devices were shown months ago, e.g. Creative and Samsung.

Best Buy isn't the first joint venture that Napster has undertaken. Samsung and Napster teamed up to design an mp3 player around the Napster download service.

It seems as though Napster doesn't have much faith in their ability to survive. These corporate sponsorships provide companies such as Best Buy and Samsung an interest in Napster's well-being. It's definitely a far cry from the heyday of Napster, when it couldn't keep users away.

I've been researching chipsets for digital TV. Here are my links to current hardware products:

STMicroelectronics System on Chip (2) Get Linux here
ATI Xilleon 220 (Products)
Sigma Designs Digital Media Processors (Products)
IBM PowerPC405 STBxx (Zarlink [2], Araneo)
Texas Instruments DM642 DSP (i3 Mood Box , X-Designs Flikit + Softier MediaLinux)
NEC EMMArchitecture2 (Galaxis + LinuxTV , PRISMIQ + Linux)
Equator Technologies BSP-15 boards
Via CN400 (Mini-ITX Board), PM800 and PM880 (w/ HDTV for Pentium 4) , ShowShifter HMN, Soyo Multimedia Ready Motherboard (with TV Tuner, $129.99)
Toshiba TX System RISC (MontaVista Linux)
Windows chipsets:
Intel 815 VisionPlus terrestrial box (Korean OEM)
AMD Geode (CoCom)
ARM (Samsung, etc.)
Digeo X-Stream (Paul Allen company)

Aren't there a set number of accesses that a flash memory device can handle before they're toast?

Isn't there a set number of revolutions that a hard drive's bearings can take before it's toast?

An individual sector on a quality flash card will last for 100,000 writes. The competing "multi-level" flash technology, while slightly leading binary flash in capacity, lasts only about 10,000 writes. If you're curious, here's the difference. Don't worry too much: CompactFlash cards perform wear leveling, which uses some spare sectors to make sure that no single sector gets overwritten overly often.