That my rights as a canadian aren't going to be goverened by some puppet of the US Industry for once:)
Also on orders of precendence could this carry over into British Law (and other british based common law countries), as the two share many cases that set up law precendence (ie: Plessy v Ferguson, for contact law, or I cant remeber the other but for tort law where a lady found a slug in her soda and was able to sue the soda maker on a basis of duty of care...)
February 16, 2004 (TOKYO) -- Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT) announced on Feb 12 that it has developed a prototype of a new high-capacity memory storage device, designed with a multi-layered waveguide structure and based on thin-film holography.
(photo 1) Info-MICA memory media prototype The company has produced a 100-layer postage stamp-sized media prototype with a 1GB memory capacity constructed from plastic material, and a small prototype drive for reading data.
The new memory is named Info-MICA (Information-Multilayered Imprinted CArd) because it has a layered structure similar to that of a mica stone, according to NTT.
Info-MICA comprises a technology that stores and retrieves digital information based on the principle of thin-film holography.
Information is pre-recorded as follows: first, digital data is encoded into a 2D image, then the 2D image is translated into a hologram by CGH (Computer Generated Hologram) technology. Finally, the hologram is recorded as a sub-micron concave-convex pattern in each waveguide layer of the media. For data retrieval, a laser beam is focused at the end of a waveguide layer, then the light propagates in the waveguide and is scattered by the concave-convex pattern. The scattered light generates the 2D image on the plane parallel to the waveguide. This 2D image is captured by an image sensor and decoded into the original digital data.
Compared with existing memory devices, Info-MICA offers data storage on plastic media with the following characteristics: 1) The media has extremely high memory density; 2) The drive is small and its power consumption is very low; 3) The media can be mass produced at low cost; 4) Copying of the media is very difficult; 5) The media is totally recyclable.
Based on these characteristics, the following three major applications are being considered for Info-MICA:
The first application is use as a replacement of semiconductor ROM (Read Only Memory) because Info-MICA is small in size and considerably cheaper for the equivalent ROM capacity. Widespread adoption of Info-MICA is expected by the electronic dictionary sector, where higher data storage capacity is required to accommodate large volumes of dictionaries. Similar applications include the "pachinko" slot machine industry, in which high data storage capacity is required to support the display of detailed graphics, as well as navigation systems in motor vehicles.
(photo 2) Prototype drive for reading data from Info-MICA The second application is the introduction of Info-MICA as a replacement of paper products that are used for distributing information. Info-MICA is suited to the mass distribution of information as it is easily disposable and it can be recycled. Info-MICA media can be attached as cover-mounted media to magazines and other merchandise, or it can be distributed alone as a ticket or coupon.
The third application is for releasing multimedia content such as games, music, movies and electronic publications. This application will benefit from Info-MICA's high storage capacity and the difficulty for reproducing illegal Info-MICA copies. Info-MICA drives will be installed in cellular phones and portable game machines, where it will satisfy their demanding requirements for low power consumption and limitations in size. The use of an Info-MICA drive in portable devices will enable users to enjoy rich multimedia content at any time and any place. In particular, key organizations in the music industry (which continues to be challenged by the problem of content piracy) are examining Info-MICA as a promising next-generation standard media for minimizing the illegal copying of content.
NTT is planning to bring the first commercial Info-MICA products to market in 2005 with a postage stamp-size ROM and a memory capacity of 1GB.
The estimated cost of a mass-produced Info-MICA product will depend on
NTT Develops Stamp-Size 1GB Hologram Memory
February 16, 2004 (TOKYO) -- Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT) announced on Feb 12 that it has developed a prototype of a new high-capacity memory storage device, designed with a multi-layered waveguide structure and based on thin-film holography.
(photo 1) Info-MICA memory media prototype
The company has produced a 100-layer postage stamp-sized media prototype with a 1GB memory capacity constructed from plastic material, and a small prototype drive for reading data.
The new memory is named Info-MICA (Information-Multilayered Imprinted CArd) because it has a layered structure similar to that of a mica stone, according to NTT.
Info-MICA comprises a technology that stores and retrieves digital information based on the principle of thin-film holography.
Information is pre-recorded as follows: first, digital data is encoded into a 2D image, then the 2D image is translated into a hologram by CGH (Computer Generated Hologram) technology. Finally, the hologram is recorded as a sub-micron concave-convex pattern in each waveguide layer of the media. For data retrieval, a laser beam is focused at the end of a waveguide layer, then the light propagates in the waveguide and is scattered by the concave-convex pattern. The scattered light generates the 2D image on the plane parallel to the waveguide. This 2D image is captured by an image sensor and decoded into the original digital data.
Compared with existing memory devices, Info-MICA offers data storage on plastic media with the following characteristics:
1) The media has extremely high memory density;
2) The drive is small and its power consumption is very low;
3) The media can be mass produced at low cost;
4) Copying of the media is very difficult;
5) The media is totally recyclable.
Based on these characteristics, the following three major applications are being considered for Info-MICA:
The first application is use as a replacement of semiconductor ROM (Read Only Memory) because Info-MICA is small in size and considerably cheaper for the equivalent ROM capacity. Widespread adoption of Info-MICA is expected by the electronic dictionary sector, where higher data storage capacity is required to accommodate large volumes of dictionaries. Similar applications include the "pachinko" slot machine industry, in which high data storage capacity is required to support the display of detailed graphics, as well as navigation systems in motor vehicles.
(photo 2) Prototype drive for reading data from Info-MICA
The second application is the introduction of Info-MICA as a replacement of paper products that are used for distributing information. Info-MICA is suited to the mass distribution of information as it is easily disposable and it can be recycled. Info-MICA media can be attached as cover-mounted media to magazines and other merchandise, or it can be distributed alone as a ticket or coupon.
The third application is for releasing multimedia content such as games, music, movies and electronic publications. This application will benefit from Info-MICA's high storage capacity and the difficulty for reproducing illegal Info-MICA copies. Info-MICA drives will be installed in cellular phones and portable game machines, where it will satisfy their demanding requirements for low power consumption and limitations in size. The use of an Info-MICA drive in portable devices will enable users to enjoy rich multimedia content at any time and any place. In particular, key organizations in the music industry (which continues to be challenged by the problem of content piracy) are examining Info-MICA as a promising next-generation standard media for minimizing the illegal copying of content.
NTT is planning to bring the first commercial Info-MICA products to market in 2005 with a postage stamp-size ROM and a memory capacity of 1GB.
The estimated cost of a mass-produced Info-MICA product will depend on the volumes that are manufactured, but initial estimates suggest it to be several thousand yen for the drive technology, and 100 to 200 yen for t
If you want a cheaper ($5/month) virtual they offer cpanel which is close enough to what you want. Otherwise if your are thinking in the mid range 5-50$ host, personally I havnt seen alot of difference between the hosts... As for more then 50$/month I would actually suggest thinking going all dedicated for the bit more it would cost, and you can get pretty much anything you want.
"The client system used for both operating system deployments was a Compaq Evo D510 SFF system with a 2.266 GHz Pentium 4 processor and 512MB of RAM running Windows XP Professional SP1."
Another words the linux folks probably had to remove Windows, 1st before installing a fresh copy of red hat, which I think probably negated that extra "hour" it took for step 1 (installing OS)
Sun Microsystems has selected AMD Opteron(TM) processors for a new line of x86 systems that the company plans to rollout in the first half of 2004. Scott McNealy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Sun, announced the plans during his keynote at COMDEX on November 17, 2003. Sun plans to rely on the AMD Opteron processors in support of its strategy to help customers "scale out" with high-performance horizontal computing solutions. With future plans to unveil a comprehensive set of products -- including servers, workstations, Solaris optimized for 64-bit x86, and other products and services -- Sun plans to offer its customers ultimate choice in high performing systems for their network computing needs. Read the press release.
The Business Benefits to Customers
Choice and flexibility. With the addition of this new line of AMD Opteron processor-based servers to Sun's line of entry systems, Sun offers customers a choice of architectures and platforms for their "scale out" needs.
Enterprise-class operating system. Sun also plans to bring the added value of its upcoming Solaris 64 to customers, delivering a proven and trusted 64-bit operating system that delivers enterprise-class reliability, security, availability and manageability on x86 systems.
Investment protection as you transition to 64-bit. Systems featuring the AMD Opteron processor can simultaneously run 32-bit and 64-bit applications, with leading performance for both. As the need for memory-intensive 64-bit applications becomes greater, customers can seamlessly move to 64-bit applications that benefit their business while continuing to leverage their investment in 32-bit software and personnel.
Exceptional price performance. By leveraging the industry economics of x86 computing, AMD and Sun pass on outstanding price performance benefits to its customers.
About AMD Opteron processors
The AMD Opteron(TM) processor, enabling simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing, represents the landmark introduction of the AMD64 architecture. The AMD Opteron processor is designed to run existing 32-bit applications with outstanding performance and offers customers a simplified migration path to 64-bit computing. This evolutionary processor provides a dramatic leap forward in compatibility, performance, investment protection, and reduced total cost of ownership (TCO).
* AMD Opteron processor-based servers provide the performance and security benefits of 64-bit computing, while insuring the best 32-bit performance available. More...
* AMD Opteron processor-based workstations provide features that boost performance and provide a stable architecture for demanding workstation applications. More...
Chipmaker Broadcom accuses rival Atheros of being a 'bad neighbor' in wireless nets.
Glenn Fleishman and Nancy Gohring, special to PCWorld.com Friday, November 14, 2003
Broadcom, the leading supplier of 802.11g chips for consumer Wi-Fi devices, is claiming equipment made by trailing rival Atheros Communications causes an enormous degradation in the speed of nearby 802.11b and 802.11g networks.
Advertisement
The culprit: the 108 megabit-per-second Turbo mode in Atheros' Super G feature set, according to Broadcom. Super G is built into Wi-Fi adapters and gateways from D-Link and NetGear. Only devices from each of the companies can work at the higher speed with similar devices from the same companies; they are currently not interoperable. Also, the standards group Wi-Fi Alliance has not certified Atheros' Super G.
Claim Disputed
"We've done the testing with both the NetGear product and the D-Link product, and proved that it is bad neighbor technology," says Jeff Abramowitz, Broadcom vice president of marketing. Instead of the standard 54-Mbps throughput, nearby 802.11g networks even on different frequencies may deliver as little as 1 Mbps, he says.
Atheros dismisses Broadcom's claims. In its tests, the Turbo mode causes no more performance problems with other devices on the same or non-overlapping channels than a comparable 802.11g device, says Craig Barratt, Atheros president and chief executive officer.
Because Broadcom's claim should be testable and reproducible, Broadcom representatives say the company will release its methodology and results for verification. They plan to demonstrate the claimed performance problem at the Comdex trade show in Las Vegas next week.
As a market leader without a proprietary double-speed mode, Broadcom's public airing of their concern and their tests could raise eyebrows. Atheros has gained on Broadcom in market share, especially in dual-band hardware that supports both 802.11a and 802.11g in the same adapter or access point.
Conversely, Broadcom supplies 802.11g chips to the leading consumer manufacturers, including Cisco's Linksys and Apple Computer, and its customers have the most to lose if Atheros's technology does interfere with plain 802.11g. Broadcom's customers might also face eroding customer market share faced with a 108-Mbps alternative to standard 802.11g at 54 Mbps.
Mixed Results
D-Link spokespeople say internal tests of the company's XtremeG products, which use the Atheros chip, show only the same amount of degradation on neighboring networks that any nearby Wi-Fi network would cause. NetGear declined to comment for this story.
The Wi-Fi Alliance has certified D-Link's XtremeG PC card as an 802.11g product, and the access point is still working through the certification process.
NetGear does not list Wi-Fi certification on its site for this equipment, but displays its own seal for the device.
The Wi-Fi Alliance, while unwilling to directly address Broadcom's claims, plays a role in ensuring that certified products interoperate and don't cause harmful effects on other Wi-Fi certified products.
"If a product did not interoperate because in proprietary mode it broke the interoperability, that product shouldn't pass the certification program," says Frank Hanzlik, managing director for the Wi-Fi Alliance. "We could do an investigation and call for a repeal."
Repeated attempts to contact the IEEE 802.11g task group and the 802.11 public affairs group requesting comment were not returned.
However, Gartner analysts had cautioned about potential incompatibilities between emerging wireless technologies, shortly after 802.11g's debut. The research firm said products that are not certified by standards organizations may prove to have interoperability problems with other 802.11g devices, as well as with older 802.11b wireless LAN technology.
Sandy Montag doesn't worry now when he takes his young children on a long drive in his SUV. He has a new toy that most parents will understand -- an in-car digital satellite television system.
With hundreds of channels of entertainment, from the Disney Channel to HBO, to keep them occupied, they're silent. "It's like you don't even have them. You can baby-sit and drive at the same time,'' Montag said.
Montag, a New York sports agent, was one of the first customers to get his hands on the TracVision A5, a product designed to bring the clear, digital satellite TV signals into passenger vehicles anywhere in the country, even while they are in motion.
Mobile satellite TV technology has been around for years, but it has been useful only on boats, buses and RVs with enough space to mount a big, bulky satellite dish.
Now, TracVision-maker KVH Industries Inc. of Middletown, R.I., has built a low-profile, saucer-shaped antenna designed to mount unobtrusively to the roof rack of a regular van, sport utility vehicle or car.
The TracVision A5 system, which began shipping in September, will probably appeal for now to the limited audience of tech enthusiasts with the money and interest to buy the latest trendy gadgets. The company makes it clear that the system works best on the open road where there are few obstructions, and not in a major city where buildings can block the satellite signal.
The system, including a rooftop antenna, floor-mounted receiver and remote control, is priced at $3,500. In-car video screens, which can cost $300 to $2,500, and the monthly satellite service fee, are extra.
TracVision supports DirecTV, whose subscriptions range from $34 to $88 per month, depending on the level of service. Add an additional $200 to $400 for professional installation costs, which vary depending upon the complexity of the installation and the hourly labor rate.
For now, KVH is hoping to catch the eye of a growing number of people who are already spending $1,000 or more to outfit their new family vans and SUVs with surround-sound speakers, DVD players, LCD monitors mounted to the roof or inside seat headrests, and wireless headphones.
KVH hopes to sell 12,000 units during the first year. Much further down the road, KVH has set its sights on a broader audience of consumers and hopes to lower the retail price to around $200, said James LeBelle, KVH national sales manager.
"Our goal is the soccer mom,'' LeBelle said during a recent trip to San Francisco to demonstrate the TracVision A5 system in a specially outfitted Lincoln Navigator luxury SUV.
That would reach the growing market of motorists who have gone from drive- in theaters to driving theaters.
The Consumer Electronics Association, the Washington trade group that represents about 1,200 companies involved in the consumer electronics industry,
projects sales of in-car mobile video entertainment and navigation units sold in the United States by the end of 2003 will reach 386,000 units and generate about $542 million in revenue. That's an increase from 316,000 units and $452 million last year.
DVD players go into dashes
The rapid rise of the DVD player, the fastest-selling home consumer electronics device in history, is also fueling the in-car entertainment craze, with the trade group projecting sales of 176,000 in-dash DVD players by the end of 2003, compared with 120,000 last year. The group also estimates about 159,000 flip-down screens will be installed this year.
Operating on the assumption that motorists will be looking for more than just prerecorded DVD movies to display on those video screens, KVH designed the TracVision A5 to plug into existing car video systems.
The publicly traded KVH, founded in 1978, sells mobile satellite communications equipment to the RV and marine markets as well as the military. The company made its first mobile TracVision antenna in 1995.
One of the company's most high-profile customers is one of Montag's
It might sound like im repeating but the above, but from personal experience for just black&white printing a laser will give you the best bang for your buck. But for color... with a 500$ start-up limit I think you will do better going for a modded inkjet, but just make sure you get a good one, or in the end your not going to save the money that makes these worth it.
Slashdot Mirror
For those who have no clue what Quark is or does (like me before reading this...)
Quark
--> QuarkXPress (their biggest product
That my rights as a canadian aren't going to be goverened by some puppet of the US Industry for once :)
Also on orders of precendence could this carry over into British Law (and other british based common law countries), as the two share many cases that set up law precendence (ie: Plessy v Ferguson, for contact law, or I cant remeber the other but for tort law where a lady found a slug in her soda and was able to sue the soda maker on a basis of duty of care...)
Oops sorry... forgot about that...
NTT Develops Stamp-Size 1GB Hologram Memory
February 16, 2004 (TOKYO) -- Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT) announced on Feb 12 that it has developed a prototype of a new high-capacity memory storage device, designed with a multi-layered waveguide structure and based on thin-film holography.
(photo 1) Info-MICA memory media prototype
The company has produced a 100-layer postage stamp-sized media prototype with a 1GB memory capacity constructed from plastic material, and a small prototype drive for reading data.
The new memory is named Info-MICA (Information-Multilayered Imprinted CArd) because it has a layered structure similar to that of a mica stone, according to NTT.
Info-MICA comprises a technology that stores and retrieves digital information based on the principle of thin-film holography.
Information is pre-recorded as follows: first, digital data is encoded into a 2D image, then the 2D image is translated into a hologram by CGH (Computer Generated Hologram) technology. Finally, the hologram is recorded as a sub-micron concave-convex pattern in each waveguide layer of the media. For data retrieval, a laser beam is focused at the end of a waveguide layer, then the light propagates in the waveguide and is scattered by the concave-convex pattern. The scattered light generates the 2D image on the plane parallel to the waveguide. This 2D image is captured by an image sensor and decoded into the original digital data.
Compared with existing memory devices, Info-MICA offers data storage on plastic media with the following characteristics:
1) The media has extremely high memory density;
2) The drive is small and its power consumption is very low;
3) The media can be mass produced at low cost;
4) Copying of the media is very difficult;
5) The media is totally recyclable.
Based on these characteristics, the following three major applications are being considered for Info-MICA:
The first application is use as a replacement of semiconductor ROM (Read Only Memory) because Info-MICA is small in size and considerably cheaper for the equivalent ROM capacity. Widespread adoption of Info-MICA is expected by the electronic dictionary sector, where higher data storage capacity is required to accommodate large volumes of dictionaries. Similar applications include the "pachinko" slot machine industry, in which high data storage capacity is required to support the display of detailed graphics, as well as navigation systems in motor vehicles.
(photo 2) Prototype drive for reading data from Info-MICA
The second application is the introduction of Info-MICA as a replacement of paper products that are used for distributing information. Info-MICA is suited to the mass distribution of information as it is easily disposable and it can be recycled. Info-MICA media can be attached as cover-mounted media to magazines and other merchandise, or it can be distributed alone as a ticket or coupon.
The third application is for releasing multimedia content such as games, music, movies and electronic publications. This application will benefit from Info-MICA's high storage capacity and the difficulty for reproducing illegal Info-MICA copies. Info-MICA drives will be installed in cellular phones and portable game machines, where it will satisfy their demanding requirements for low power consumption and limitations in size. The use of an Info-MICA drive in portable devices will enable users to enjoy rich multimedia content at any time and any place. In particular, key organizations in the music industry (which continues to be challenged by the problem of content piracy) are examining Info-MICA as a promising next-generation standard media for minimizing the illegal copying of content.
NTT is planning to bring the first commercial Info-MICA products to market in 2005 with a postage stamp-size ROM and a memory capacity of 1GB.
The estimated cost of a mass-produced Info-MICA product will depend on
NTT Develops Stamp-Size 1GB Hologram Memory February 16, 2004 (TOKYO) -- Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp (NTT) announced on Feb 12 that it has developed a prototype of a new high-capacity memory storage device, designed with a multi-layered waveguide structure and based on thin-film holography. (photo 1) Info-MICA memory media prototype The company has produced a 100-layer postage stamp-sized media prototype with a 1GB memory capacity constructed from plastic material, and a small prototype drive for reading data. The new memory is named Info-MICA (Information-Multilayered Imprinted CArd) because it has a layered structure similar to that of a mica stone, according to NTT. Info-MICA comprises a technology that stores and retrieves digital information based on the principle of thin-film holography. Information is pre-recorded as follows: first, digital data is encoded into a 2D image, then the 2D image is translated into a hologram by CGH (Computer Generated Hologram) technology. Finally, the hologram is recorded as a sub-micron concave-convex pattern in each waveguide layer of the media. For data retrieval, a laser beam is focused at the end of a waveguide layer, then the light propagates in the waveguide and is scattered by the concave-convex pattern. The scattered light generates the 2D image on the plane parallel to the waveguide. This 2D image is captured by an image sensor and decoded into the original digital data. Compared with existing memory devices, Info-MICA offers data storage on plastic media with the following characteristics: 1) The media has extremely high memory density; 2) The drive is small and its power consumption is very low; 3) The media can be mass produced at low cost; 4) Copying of the media is very difficult; 5) The media is totally recyclable. Based on these characteristics, the following three major applications are being considered for Info-MICA: The first application is use as a replacement of semiconductor ROM (Read Only Memory) because Info-MICA is small in size and considerably cheaper for the equivalent ROM capacity. Widespread adoption of Info-MICA is expected by the electronic dictionary sector, where higher data storage capacity is required to accommodate large volumes of dictionaries. Similar applications include the "pachinko" slot machine industry, in which high data storage capacity is required to support the display of detailed graphics, as well as navigation systems in motor vehicles. (photo 2) Prototype drive for reading data from Info-MICA The second application is the introduction of Info-MICA as a replacement of paper products that are used for distributing information. Info-MICA is suited to the mass distribution of information as it is easily disposable and it can be recycled. Info-MICA media can be attached as cover-mounted media to magazines and other merchandise, or it can be distributed alone as a ticket or coupon. The third application is for releasing multimedia content such as games, music, movies and electronic publications. This application will benefit from Info-MICA's high storage capacity and the difficulty for reproducing illegal Info-MICA copies. Info-MICA drives will be installed in cellular phones and portable game machines, where it will satisfy their demanding requirements for low power consumption and limitations in size. The use of an Info-MICA drive in portable devices will enable users to enjoy rich multimedia content at any time and any place. In particular, key organizations in the music industry (which continues to be challenged by the problem of content piracy) are examining Info-MICA as a promising next-generation standard media for minimizing the illegal copying of content. NTT is planning to bring the first commercial Info-MICA products to market in 2005 with a postage stamp-size ROM and a memory capacity of 1GB. The estimated cost of a mass-produced Info-MICA product will depend on the volumes that are manufactured, but initial estimates suggest it to be several thousand yen for the drive technology, and 100 to 200 yen for t
Anyways does this mean that satelitte users will lose the disney channel then?
If you want a cheaper ($5/month) virtual they offer cpanel which is close enough to what you want. Otherwise if your are thinking in the mid range 5-50$ host, personally I havnt seen alot of difference between the hosts... As for more then 50$/month I would actually suggest thinking going all dedicated for the bit more it would cost, and you can get pretty much anything you want.
"The client system used for both operating system deployments was a Compaq Evo D510 SFF system with a 2.266 GHz Pentium 4 processor and 512MB of RAM running Windows XP Professional SP1."
Another words the linux folks probably had to remove Windows, 1st before installing a fresh copy of red hat, which I think probably negated that extra "hour" it took for step 1 (installing OS)
AMD and Sun Announce a Landmark Alliance
Sun Microsystems has selected AMD Opteron(TM) processors for a new line of x86 systems that the company plans to rollout in the first half of 2004. Scott McNealy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Sun, announced the plans during his keynote at COMDEX on November 17, 2003. Sun plans to rely on the AMD Opteron processors in support of its strategy to help customers "scale out" with high-performance horizontal computing solutions. With future plans to unveil a comprehensive set of products -- including servers, workstations, Solaris optimized for 64-bit x86, and other products and services -- Sun plans to offer its customers ultimate choice in high performing systems for their network computing needs. Read the press release.
The Business Benefits to Customers
Choice and flexibility. With the addition of this new line of AMD Opteron processor-based servers to Sun's line of entry systems, Sun offers customers a choice of architectures and platforms for their "scale out" needs.
Enterprise-class operating system. Sun also plans to bring the added value of its upcoming Solaris 64 to customers, delivering a proven and trusted 64-bit operating system that delivers enterprise-class reliability, security, availability and manageability on x86 systems.
Investment protection as you transition to 64-bit. Systems featuring the AMD Opteron processor can simultaneously run 32-bit and 64-bit applications, with leading performance for both. As the need for memory-intensive 64-bit applications becomes greater, customers can seamlessly move to 64-bit applications that benefit their business while continuing to leverage their investment in 32-bit software and personnel.
Exceptional price performance. By leveraging the industry economics of x86 computing, AMD and Sun pass on outstanding price performance benefits to its customers.
About AMD Opteron processors
The AMD Opteron(TM) processor, enabling simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing, represents the landmark introduction of the AMD64 architecture. The AMD Opteron processor is designed to run existing 32-bit applications with outstanding performance and offers customers a simplified migration path to 64-bit computing. This evolutionary processor provides a dramatic leap forward in compatibility, performance, investment protection, and reduced total cost of ownership (TCO).
* AMD Opteron processor-based servers provide the performance and security benefits of 64-bit computing, while insuring the best 32-bit performance available. More...
* AMD Opteron processor-based workstations provide features that boost performance and provide a stable architecture for demanding workstation applications. More...
Wireless Incompatibilities Alleged
Chipmaker Broadcom accuses rival Atheros of being a 'bad neighbor' in wireless nets.
Glenn Fleishman and Nancy Gohring, special to PCWorld.com
Friday, November 14, 2003
Broadcom, the leading supplier of 802.11g chips for consumer Wi-Fi devices, is claiming equipment made by trailing rival Atheros Communications causes an enormous degradation in the speed of nearby 802.11b and 802.11g networks.
Advertisement
The culprit: the 108 megabit-per-second Turbo mode in Atheros' Super G feature set, according to Broadcom. Super G is built into Wi-Fi adapters and gateways from D-Link and NetGear. Only devices from each of the companies can work at the higher speed with similar devices from the same companies; they are currently not interoperable. Also, the standards group Wi-Fi Alliance has not certified Atheros' Super G.
Claim Disputed
"We've done the testing with both the NetGear product and the D-Link product, and proved that it is bad neighbor technology," says Jeff Abramowitz, Broadcom vice president of marketing. Instead of the standard 54-Mbps throughput, nearby 802.11g networks even on different frequencies may deliver as little as 1 Mbps, he says.
Atheros dismisses Broadcom's claims. In its tests, the Turbo mode causes no more performance problems with other devices on the same or non-overlapping channels than a comparable 802.11g device, says Craig Barratt, Atheros president and chief executive officer.
Because Broadcom's claim should be testable and reproducible, Broadcom representatives say the company will release its methodology and results for verification. They plan to demonstrate the claimed performance problem at the Comdex trade show in Las Vegas next week.
As a market leader without a proprietary double-speed mode, Broadcom's public airing of their concern and their tests could raise eyebrows. Atheros has gained on Broadcom in market share, especially in dual-band hardware that supports both 802.11a and 802.11g in the same adapter or access point.
Conversely, Broadcom supplies 802.11g chips to the leading consumer manufacturers, including Cisco's Linksys and Apple Computer, and its customers have the most to lose if Atheros's technology does interfere with plain 802.11g. Broadcom's customers might also face eroding customer market share faced with a 108-Mbps alternative to standard 802.11g at 54 Mbps.
Mixed Results
D-Link spokespeople say internal tests of the company's XtremeG products, which use the Atheros chip, show only the same amount of degradation on neighboring networks that any nearby Wi-Fi network would cause. NetGear declined to comment for this story.
The Wi-Fi Alliance has certified D-Link's XtremeG PC card as an 802.11g product, and the access point is still working through the certification process.
NetGear does not list Wi-Fi certification on its site for this equipment, but displays its own seal for the device.
The Wi-Fi Alliance, while unwilling to directly address Broadcom's claims, plays a role in ensuring that certified products interoperate and don't cause harmful effects on other Wi-Fi certified products.
"If a product did not interoperate because in proprietary mode it broke the interoperability, that product shouldn't pass the certification program," says Frank Hanzlik, managing director for the Wi-Fi Alliance. "We could do an investigation and call for a repeal."
Repeated attempts to contact the IEEE 802.11g task group and the 802.11 public affairs group requesting comment were not returned.
However, Gartner analysts had cautioned about potential incompatibilities between emerging wireless technologies, shortly after 802.11g's debut. The research firm said products that are not certified by standards organizations may prove to have interoperability problems with other 802.11g devices, as well as with older 802.11b wireless LAN technology.
Wireless Technique
Atheros's Super G tec
Sandy Montag doesn't worry now when he takes his young children on a long drive in his SUV. He has a new toy that most parents will understand -- an in-car digital satellite television system.
With hundreds of channels of entertainment, from the Disney Channel to HBO, to keep them occupied, they're silent. "It's like you don't even have them. You can baby-sit and drive at the same time,'' Montag said.
Montag, a New York sports agent, was one of the first customers to get his hands on the TracVision A5, a product designed to bring the clear, digital satellite TV signals into passenger vehicles anywhere in the country, even while they are in motion.
Mobile satellite TV technology has been around for years, but it has been useful only on boats, buses and RVs with enough space to mount a big, bulky satellite dish.
Now, TracVision-maker KVH Industries Inc. of Middletown, R.I., has built a low-profile, saucer-shaped antenna designed to mount unobtrusively to the roof rack of a regular van, sport utility vehicle or car.
The TracVision A5 system, which began shipping in September, will probably appeal for now to the limited audience of tech enthusiasts with the money and interest to buy the latest trendy gadgets. The company makes it clear that the system works best on the open road where there are few obstructions, and not in a major city where buildings can block the satellite signal.
The system, including a rooftop antenna, floor-mounted receiver and remote control, is priced at $3,500. In-car video screens, which can cost $300 to $2,500, and the monthly satellite service fee, are extra.
TracVision supports DirecTV, whose subscriptions range from $34 to $88 per month, depending on the level of service. Add an additional $200 to $400 for professional installation costs, which vary depending upon the complexity of the installation and the hourly labor rate.
For now, KVH is hoping to catch the eye of a growing number of people who are already spending $1,000 or more to outfit their new family vans and SUVs with surround-sound speakers, DVD players, LCD monitors mounted to the roof or inside seat headrests, and wireless headphones.
KVH hopes to sell 12,000 units during the first year. Much further down the road, KVH has set its sights on a broader audience of consumers and hopes to lower the retail price to around $200, said James LeBelle, KVH national sales manager.
"Our goal is the soccer mom,'' LeBelle said during a recent trip to San Francisco to demonstrate the TracVision A5 system in a specially outfitted Lincoln Navigator luxury SUV.
That would reach the growing market of motorists who have gone from drive- in theaters to driving theaters.
The Consumer Electronics Association, the Washington trade group that represents about 1,200 companies involved in the consumer electronics industry,
projects sales of in-car mobile video entertainment and navigation units sold in the United States by the end of 2003 will reach 386,000 units and generate about $542 million in revenue. That's an increase from 316,000 units and $452 million last year.
DVD players go into dashes
The rapid rise of the DVD player, the fastest-selling home consumer electronics device in history, is also fueling the in-car entertainment craze, with the trade group projecting sales of 176,000 in-dash DVD players by the end of 2003, compared with 120,000 last year. The group also estimates about 159,000 flip-down screens will be installed this year.
Operating on the assumption that motorists will be looking for more than just prerecorded DVD movies to display on those video screens, KVH designed the TracVision A5 to plug into existing car video systems.
The publicly traded KVH, founded in 1978, sells mobile satellite communications equipment to the RV and marine markets as well as the military. The company made its first mobile TracVision antenna in 1995.
One of the company's most high-profile customers is one of Montag's
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Ten Year Counter:
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