As I understand it's not a real dual core. Second core is DSP.
iPhone Samsung S3C6400 vs Nokia N95 OMAP 2040 CPUs
on
Apple iPhone Dissected
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· Score: 1
Interesting, that iPhone CPU approach is very different from Nokia flagship smartphone.
Apple went for general-purpose powerhouse 533/667MHz CPU with 100Mb integrated RAM.
Nokia N95 is OMAP 2420 330Mhz with minuscule 20Mb RAM.
However S3C6400 have not many bell and whistles - only noticable thing is 2D/video accelerator.
OMAP 2420 have whole can of multimedia goods: 3D accelerator, 2D/image/video accelerator, digital signal processor, floating point unit(!).
I don't see how iPhone with twice as fast CPU and five time more RAM can have more battery life than N95, and twice at that. Very tricky power management?
Seems for gaming CPU-wise N95 should beat iPhone hands down: FPU+3D accelerator would make it viable gaming platform, if not for other reasons like price, small screen, digital signing and general lack of interest in mobile gaming. However by the choice of the CPU it seems to me iPhone is not intended for gaming at all.
There are some reasons:
Sadly d3d drivers usually more mature - more stable, less bugs. Therefore less problem with support for different graphics cards.
DirectX is an integrated SDK, which include not only 3d pipeline, but also sound, video and extensive support for 3d modeling (X file format)
video memory management was better in d3d up until latest OpenGL version, which was quite important for big seamless 3d worlds with run-time block load.
There is a generation of coders who don't know OpenGL - it's easier to learn one API instead of two.
Vista (surprise) introduce new problems: OpenGL in window with Aero enabled run 10-15% slower (turning Aero off mitigate the problem).Possible compatibility problems: OpenGL app for old windows version is less likely to run on Vista than D3D.
Those are the main reason why most of windows devs prefer d3d . I will not go into discussion why OpenGL actually better, that is quite obvious.
While only sort of relating to Linux, I'd be interested to hear any comments about unlocking the potential of hardware via OpenGL.
You can check the OpenGL pipeline newsletters.
Unified shader support is part of OpenGL "Mt. Evans" ARB extensions, which is targeted for the october 2007 release. "Mt. Evans" will support geometric (unified) shaders and improvement of buffer objects. Geometric shaders supported even now as NVIDIA extension (GL_EXT_gpu_shader4, GL_EXT_geometry_shader4, GL_NV_gpu_program4, GL_NV_geometry_program4 etc) . So it seems all the functionality is available through the OpenGL.
OpenMP provide almost transparent implementation of automatic threads parallelization in many practical cases. It easy to learn and use. It work perfectly for
embarrassingly parallel task, especially loop parallelization. The rule of the thumb for multithreading - if task couldn't be paralellized with OpenMP it's often is not worth the effort to paralellize at all.
Are they trying to patent modified (adaptive) lasso tool ?
That would be obvious if the patent application would have been written in human language...
Also general loss of interest in the mobile Java
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Pro Java ME MMAPI
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· Score: 1
If to trust Google trends interest in J2ME is falling slowly.
Seems even Windows mobile with it's miniscule market share doing better than J2ME.
Google trends for J2ME vs WinMobile
Windows users, who are intimidated by Linux, but willing to try some alternative, professionals who have to use win-only applications may welcome such kind of cross-platform desktop. It would make transition to Linux more accessible. I'm also waiting for KDE 4 for windows. Especially interesting question - will KDE 4 work on Vista ? Would it make Vista really usable ?
So EA want PhD for entry level software engineer position? Do they want Grigory Perelman as a janitor too? PhD generally are less interested in games than kids out of collage, and if they are they tend to join/organize independent studios. And with Bubble 2.0 on the rise they could find better salaries and working condition than EA suggest too.
32 bit windows can't have even 4GB RAM
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Laptops with Big RAM?
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· Score: 3, Interesting
Max addressable memory on 32bit XP pro (and probably Vista too) is 4GB, but that is with together videomemory. So actual useful RAM from 3 to 3.6 GB, depending on the board. Some system even only report 2 GB from 4. To have complete 4GB you have to use 64bit Windows. There exist 16 GB laptops, but they run Solaris IIRC.
The government can't bypass the rules of evidence by employing private citizens as proxies. If I enter your house, without your consent, and see a kilo of heroin on your kitchen table, I can report that to the police. The police can use that information to obtain a search warrant, even though I was a trespasser. If Detective Smith asks me to check your house for contraband, the situation is different. It's an illegal search and any evidence that resulted from the search would be inadmissible in court.
But what if someone contact Detective Smith anonymously and tell him he'll send him photo of you packing heroin on your kitchen table if he transfer small sum of money to numbered account in Kazahstan?
Several governments already "outsourced" some of their prisons into private hands. Can they outsource investigations too ?
That way the evidence could be obtained illegaly without explicit order from the state and will be admissible in the court. And while at it private investigators can make use of little torture too. By "inviting" suspect in Syria for example. There is no big step from private prisons or mercenary working for government to private investigator working for government.
Nice FUD job though. Gotta get those ad impressions going.
Not according to the russian sources. All of them are mentioning Microsoft employee Alexandr Potapov involved in the case. For example:
http://lenta.ru/news/2007/02/13/noexcuse/
"Microsoft representative Alexandr Potapov suggested settlement if the defendant apologized"
Of casue it's possible Alexandr Potapov doing it by his own initiative. In that case it's possible Microsoft will disown him.
I'm not the best programmer in the world, but how the heck would you utilize 80 cores?
OpenMP hide multithreading from developer and make parallelization completly transparent. Couple of OpenMP instructions can parallelize complex loop, witn no effort form developer at all. That is especially easy in physical simulation and AI.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenMP
Gabor wavelets, newral networks, hierarchical classifiers in some semi-new combination - there are dozens image recognition papers like this every month. Why this exact paper is special ?
If a country wants to get out of poverty, they have to do it the same way every developed country in the world did, lift themselves up by their bootstraps. Anything else does more harm than good.
No country can bootstrap itself out of poverty if it has civil war or guerilla in the jungles. The main reason of poverty in the Africa is political instability and infighting. That also the reason why economical/humanitarian help is not reaching its destination. Political instability means corruption, no investment, inflation, outflow of profit and escape of qualified workers from the country. No way any economic development could occurs in such conditions. If you want get rid of poverty the only fast way to do it is to drop overwhelming military force into country, clean it's government and law enforcment and keep the force couple of dozen of years until civil peace settle. But that cost blood, not money. And works only half of the times.
I have only 2 domains with GoDaddy, but if they will not provide explanation, I'll pull out too and will help spread the word. Just wouldn't be able trust them. What if they transfer ownership of my domain if someone ask them ? What if they charge my credit card for some insane amount of money just because they feel like it?
Well, first your fears are not founded. I have seen a lot of aged programmers in non-senior position. But that doesn't mean you should be among them. It's never too later learn some new staff. Chose some relatively new technology or area which you think will be in high demand, which is interesting for you and which is not crowded for now. Self-teach yourself. Do some staff for free, put it on the net or otherwise - whatever, but get experience in that area. Put it into your CV. Then the time is right it's you who will be sought after.
I myself downloaded IE7 because I just missed checkbox in the custom download options while getting security updates. That doesn't mean I'm actually using it.
There are several augmented reality projects in development now (my own including). The biggest problem is the platform. For augmented reality you need camera with direct API and decent CPU. I'm using Nokia 6600 with 109 mhz CPU and getting around 8 frames per second overall for (multimarker) image recognition + OpenGL. It's ok for demo, but little too slow for actual gaming. Latest Nokia phones out of the question - "Symbian Signed" prevent direct access to camera, unless you have phone manufacturer approval. So that left Windows Mobile and Linux phones. However seems most of Linux phones closed platform (correct me if I'm wrong), Trolltech Greenphone still too unstable. That leave Windows Mobile - not quite widespread platform. Again, ok for demo, but probably not big enough to have substantial gaming community. iPhone would be a perfec platform, but alas...
The iPhone does away with all of that. It will appeal to a large group of people that are carrying both a cell phone and an iPod, if you add PDA and/or pocket PC to that, you'll just add to the attraction.
iPhone is neither smartphone, nor PDA/pocket PC. The difference is third party software. Seems iPhone will not have third party software, but only that which Apple install for you. So iPhone actually not a smartphone, but just a high-end feature-phone. It's not competing with smartphones, but with expensive "normal" phones. Those who use smartphones will continue to use them, they will not switch to iPhone, because iPhone probably will not have that specific appliction specific user need.
Can users install their own software? Rumor is that you cannot - you have to buy it from Apple or Cingular.
Legally most probably no. Consider how paranoid apple about iPod games - developers had to send their sources to apple and can't even run binaries on the real device, not speaking about on-device debugging.
About underground hacking - hassle with versions, danger of bricking the device, voiding warranty - most users probably wouldn't bother.
Will it require signed apps like Nokia's S60v3? Let's hope not.
Hope too. I hope Symbian OS will die horrible death now, and while tortured in the hell it will think "I shouldn't had to screw developers with Symbian Signed"
Slashdot Mirror
As I understand it's not a real dual core. Second core is DSP.
Interesting, that iPhone CPU approach is very different from Nokia flagship smartphone.
Apple went for general-purpose powerhouse 533/667MHz CPU with 100Mb integrated RAM.
Nokia N95 is OMAP 2420 330Mhz with minuscule 20Mb RAM.
However S3C6400 have not many bell and whistles - only noticable thing is 2D/video accelerator.
OMAP 2420 have whole can of multimedia goods: 3D accelerator, 2D/image/video accelerator, digital signal processor, floating point unit(!).
I don't see how iPhone with twice as fast CPU and five time more RAM can have more battery life than N95, and twice at that. Very tricky power management?
Seems for gaming CPU-wise N95 should beat iPhone hands down: FPU+3D accelerator would make it viable gaming platform, if not for other reasons like price, small screen, digital signing and general lack of interest in mobile gaming. However by the choice of the CPU it seems to me iPhone is not intended for gaming at all.
There are some reasons: Sadly d3d drivers usually more mature - more stable, less bugs. Therefore less problem with support for different graphics cards. DirectX is an integrated SDK, which include not only 3d pipeline, but also sound, video and extensive support for 3d modeling (X file format) video memory management was better in d3d up until latest OpenGL version, which was quite important for big seamless 3d worlds with run-time block load. There is a generation of coders who don't know OpenGL - it's easier to learn one API instead of two. Vista (surprise) introduce new problems: OpenGL in window with Aero enabled run 10-15% slower (turning Aero off mitigate the problem).Possible compatibility problems: OpenGL app for old windows version is less likely to run on Vista than D3D. Those are the main reason why most of windows devs prefer d3d . I will not go into discussion why OpenGL actually better, that is quite obvious.
What is next ? Ask viagra trader about most promising penny stocks ?
Somebody will go on spree shooting in the school claiming to protest against school bullying. Or wait...
OpenMP provide almost transparent implementation of automatic threads parallelization in many practical cases. It easy to learn and use. It work perfectly for embarrassingly parallel task, especially loop parallelization. The rule of the thumb for multithreading - if task couldn't be paralellized with OpenMP it's often is not worth the effort to paralellize at all.
Are they trying to patent modified (adaptive) lasso tool ? That would be obvious if the patent application would have been written in human language...
If to trust Google trends interest in J2ME is falling slowly. Seems even Windows mobile with it's miniscule market share doing better than J2ME. Google trends for J2ME vs WinMobile
Windows users, who are intimidated by Linux, but willing to try some alternative, professionals who have to use win-only applications may welcome such kind of cross-platform desktop. It would make transition to Linux more accessible. I'm also waiting for KDE 4 for windows. Especially interesting question - will KDE 4 work on Vista ? Would it make Vista really usable ?
So EA want PhD for entry level software engineer position? Do they want Grigory Perelman as a janitor too? PhD generally are less interested in games than kids out of collage, and if they are they tend to join/organize independent studios. And with Bubble 2.0 on the rise they could find better salaries and working condition than EA suggest too.
Max addressable memory on 32bit XP pro (and probably Vista too) is 4GB, but that is with together videomemory. So actual useful RAM from 3 to 3.6 GB, depending on the board. Some system even only report 2 GB from 4. To have complete 4GB you have to use 64bit Windows. There exist 16 GB laptops, but they run Solaris IIRC.
But what if someone contact Detective Smith anonymously and tell him he'll send him photo of you packing heroin on your kitchen table if he transfer small sum of money to numbered account in Kazahstan?
Several governments already "outsourced" some of their prisons into private hands. Can they outsource investigations too ? That way the evidence could be obtained illegaly without explicit order from the state and will be admissible in the court. And while at it private investigators can make use of little torture too. By "inviting" suspect in Syria for example. There is no big step from private prisons or mercenary working for government to private investigator working for government.
Not according to the russian sources. All of them are mentioning Microsoft employee Alexandr Potapov involved in the case. For example:
http://lenta.ru/news/2007/02/13/noexcuse/
"Microsoft representative Alexandr Potapov suggested settlement if the defendant apologized"
Of casue it's possible Alexandr Potapov doing it by his own initiative. In that case it's possible Microsoft will disown him.
OpenMP hide multithreading from developer and make parallelization completly transparent. Couple of OpenMP instructions can parallelize complex loop, witn no effort form developer at all. That is especially easy in physical simulation and AI. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenMP
Gabor wavelets, newral networks, hierarchical classifiers in some semi-new combination - there are dozens image recognition papers like this every month. Why this exact paper is special ?
No country can bootstrap itself out of poverty if it has civil war or guerilla in the jungles. The main reason of poverty in the Africa is political instability and infighting. That also the reason why economical/humanitarian help is not reaching its destination. Political instability means corruption, no investment, inflation, outflow of profit and escape of qualified workers from the country. No way any economic development could occurs in such conditions. If you want get rid of poverty the only fast way to do it is to drop overwhelming military force into country, clean it's government and law enforcment and keep the force couple of dozen of years until civil peace settle. But that cost blood, not money. And works only half of the times.
I have only 2 domains with GoDaddy, but if they will not provide explanation, I'll pull out too and will help spread the word. Just wouldn't be able trust them. What if they transfer ownership of my domain if someone ask them ? What if they charge my credit card for some insane amount of money just because they feel like it?
Well, first your fears are not founded. I have seen a lot of aged programmers in non-senior position. But that doesn't mean you should be among them. It's never too later learn some new staff. Chose some relatively new technology or area which you think will be in high demand, which is interesting for you and which is not crowded for now. Self-teach yourself. Do some staff for free, put it on the net or otherwise - whatever, but get experience in that area. Put it into your CV. Then the time is right it's you who will be sought after.
I myself downloaded IE7 because I just missed checkbox in the custom download options while getting security updates. That doesn't mean I'm actually using it.
There are several augmented reality projects in development now (my own including). The biggest problem is the platform. For augmented reality you need camera with direct API and decent CPU. I'm using Nokia 6600 with 109 mhz CPU and getting around 8 frames per second overall for (multimarker) image recognition + OpenGL. It's ok for demo, but little too slow for actual gaming. Latest Nokia phones out of the question - "Symbian Signed" prevent direct access to camera, unless you have phone manufacturer approval. So that left Windows Mobile and Linux phones. However seems most of Linux phones closed platform (correct me if I'm wrong), Trolltech Greenphone still too unstable. That leave Windows Mobile - not quite widespread platform. Again, ok for demo, but probably not big enough to have substantial gaming community. iPhone would be a perfec platform, but alas...
iPhone is neither smartphone, nor PDA/pocket PC. The difference is third party software. Seems iPhone will not have third party software, but only that which Apple install for you. So iPhone actually not a smartphone, but just a high-end feature-phone. It's not competing with smartphones, but with expensive "normal" phones. Those who use smartphones will continue to use them, they will not switch to iPhone, because iPhone probably will not have that specific appliction specific user need.