Commodore on Friday said it had nearly finished its first wave of production for the remadeC64. The now dual-core Atom PC is due to ship this coming week. Its launch coincides with the company opening an office in Fort Lauderdale that will handle custom orders beyond the pre-configured models on tap.
Xtreamer, maker of home theater devices such as an iPad dock with room for hard drives, has now introduced a portable budget home theater PC, the Xtreamer Ultra. Highlights of the small device include a dual-core, 1.8GHz Atom paired with NVIDIA's Ion 2 graphics processor and 4GB of DDR3 RAM. There are six USB ports, an HDMI and DVI output, eSATA port, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, gigabit Ethernet and an IR eye for the included remote control.
Acer's Revo 2 nettop, introduced at the IFA in late summer, is now arriving in Europe. The multimedia nettop supports Acer's Clear.fi home networking system and is renamed the Revo 100 instead of the Revo RL100 for Euro duty. Processing power comes from a dual-core AMD Athlon II Neo CPU paired with NVIDIA's Ion for 1080p HD playback.
Intel and NVIDIA are in discussions to try and settle their dispute over system chipsets in a move that could give a major boost to Apple, leaks revealed Wednesday. Most of the details are still secret, but NVIDIA is most likely pressing to get back rights to make system chipsets for Intel processors with integrated memory controllers. The talks were private, Bloomberg said.
Fusion Garage chief Chandrashekar Rathakrishnan said on Thursday that the existing JooJoo tablet was being phased out. The one-time iPad rival was marked as "end of life" and would mark an end to the original platform, the CEO told e27. The switch to Android was going to lead to a "completely different" set of hardware.
Zotac has just revealed its latest Zbox nettop in the HD-ID40 series. Comprised of the HD-ID40-U and HD-ID40-PLUS-U. Both supersede the Zbox HD-ID11-U that shipped in May of this year and the more recent ID33 and ID34.
After showing up on Amazon for pre-order earlier this month, the Eee PC 1015PN from ASUS has now been made official. The 10.1-inch, 1024x600 display is offset by NVIDIA's new 512MB Ion graphics processor along with Optimus technology that will switch between energy-saving onboard graphics and the Ion's 1080p-capable video. The Ion is matched with a dual-core, 1.5GHz Atom N550, 1GB of DDR3 RAM and an HDMI output.
The ASUS Eee PC 1015PN netbook introduced at Computex back in June is now listed on Amazon's website, revealing its pricing, but no ship date as of yet. It lists for $430, and sports the 1.5GHz dual-core Atom N550 chip that's tied to the second-generation NVIDIA Ion GPU that have been shown in preliminary tests to outperform some of Intel's CULV chips.
Acer has now shipped its AspireRevo AR3700 nettop introduced at the start of the month. The 1.8GHz dual-core Atom-powered small form factor desktop computer can be had for $350 and is available only in a dark blue chassis. It displaces just one liter of space on a desk and can be mounted onto the back of a VESA-compatible monitor to stay totally out of the way.
Zotac today staked out new ground in nettops today by launching a pair of nettops with Blu-ray out of the box. Both the ZBOX HD-ID33 and HD-ID34 are highly stylized and designed to be in place at a home theatre. To match the optical drive, both have the performance needed to handle 1080p video without a hitch, including the more recent 1.8GHz Atom D525 dual-core processor and an NVIDIA Ion that takes care of most video decoding work.
Acer has taken the wraps off its latest nettop PC, the Aspire Revo 3700. Like its predecessor, it can be mounted on the back of a monitor thanks to its VESA mount and small, one liter body, or tucked away in a corner of a desk. The nettop now contains a dual-core 1.8GHz Intel Atom D525 and NVIDIA's next-generation Ion GPU, allowing it 1080p videos.
A source today hinted that NVIDIA might be developing a chipset that would work around Intel's current ban on what it can build. The design would combine a graphics core with the equivalent functions of a southbridge chip, which controls peripherals, audio and other features. DigiTimes understands it would still manage to take up less space than dedicated graphics and could shave $10 to $15 off the price of using one of Intel's southbridge chips.
PC maker Acer will bring a newly redesigned Aspire Revo nettop PC to the IFA show that begins on Friday. The first in the series will be the Revo RL100 that is even thinner than the original. It's powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core AMD Athlon II Neo CPU along with NVIDIA's Ion graphics processor and gets 2GB of RAM.
Pioneer Computers Australia is showing off its debut tablet, the 11.6-inch DreamBook ePad L11 HD. It uses Intel's 1.66GHz Atom CPU, up to 2GB of RAM and either integrated graphics or a 512MB NVIDIA Ion 2 chipset. The 16, 32 or 64GB solid state drive contains Windows 7, and a three-axis G-sensor and an ambient light sensor give it support for tilt and low light.
ASUS will ship the Eee Box EB1501P home theater nettop in the UK later this summer or early in the fall, according to a Friday confirmation. The computer will sport a dual-core 1.8GHz Atom and Windows 7 Home Premium, and likely get USB 3.0 ports and Bluetooth 3.0, mirroring the specs of the upcoming Eee PC 1215N netbook. There will otherwise be 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive.
As promised, Intel and the Federal Trade Commission today detailed the settlement (PDF) made to avoid a full penalty for Intel in its antitrust case. Under the new terms, Intel is barred from offering incentives to carry its chips exclusively or from retaliating if a PC builder uses chips from AMD or another rival. The semiconductor pioneer would be prevented from deliberately price dumping or threatening a lack of marketing or discounts.
Intel may settle the FTC antitrust lawsuit in a way that favors NVIDIA, sources said Monday. The strategy would follow some of the elements of the truce with AMD extend these to graphics chipsets. These could include preventing Intel from intimidating companies into avoiding NVIDIA graphics or knowingly designing code or hardware to perform poorly.
The ASUS Eee PC 1215N has been unofficially confirmed for the US market, with a ship date set for sometime around August 23, says a Friday report. The price tag, while not confirmed, will be less than $500, Engadget said. The Eee PC will be the fastest in the range, as it will feature the latest 1.8GHz dual-core Atom D525 processor.
Taiwanese PC maker MSI announced a partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. Aside from outfitting the Dodgers' team management office with the all-in-one Wind Top AE2220 PCs, MSI will also make limited-edition versions of the all-in-one and the Wind U135DX netbook to the public. Each will sport LA Dodgers logos and a special color scheme.
Asus has formally introduced its Eee 1215N netbook, which will feature slightly better specs than earlier reports had anticipated. The device will be based on Intel's dual-core D525 paired with NVIDIA's current-generation Ion discrete graphicss. Battery life is said to be improved through automatic switching between discrete and integrated graphics.
Acer late Friday said it had canceled the Aspire One 532g. The netbook was to have been the first with NVIDIA's second-generation Ion graphics but has been canceled worldwide. A direct explanation isn't known, but Blogeee suspects graphics driver issues; the 532g would have used Optimus graphics switching to flip to either Ion or Intel graphics for either speed or 10 hours of battery life.
In tune with a larger PC rollout tonight, Lenovo has overhauled its IdeaCentre desktops and has made its first truly high-end all-in-one. The A700 jumps from a Core 2 Duo to as much as a quad-core, 1.73GHz mobile Core i7. Its 23-inch, 1080p display is a touchscreen and is the first PC anywhere to use a Surface Acoustic Wave panel, which Lenovo claims is extra-responsive compared to most touch displays.
Zotac is now shipping its Zbox HD-ID11-U all-in-one PC. The computer features the next-generation Ion graphics processor from NVIDIA and a 1.66GHz dual-core Intel Atom D510. The device has the capability to play back 1080p HD videos and has an HDMI output dedicated for this purpose. Users will need to buy their own RAM and place it in the single available slot, which can take up to 4GB of memory.
An update from Taiwan today indicated that ASUS' new Eee PC 1218 has the option of NVIDIA's Ion graphics as well as detailing more of what's happening with the PC builder's lineup. Now reportedly available on the southeast Asian island, the aluminum-clad netbook is now known to be a high-end model capable of playing 1080p video and some 3D games. Its exact price wasn't mentioned by DigiTimes but should steer closer to the equivalent of $605 in the region.
Fusion Garage, makers of the JooJoo tablet admitted on Tuesday that it had made a few mistakes in bringing its first and only product to market. The company acknowledged its product is far from an iPad killer, as some bloggers have stated. The company also blamed itself for its missed delivery dates and revised user interface that wasn't satisfactory.
New information has surfaced from Italy regarding two upcoming ASUS Eee PC series netbooks, the 1201PN and 1215N. The 1201PN uses a 12.1-inch, 720p display but rumors if it bringing NVIDIA's Optimus tech in its second-generation Ion platform have now been dispelled. According to NVIDIA, the 1201PN will launch without Optimus, but a later iteration of the model will get the technology along with a dual-core CPU.
Lenovo tonight added a pair of Atom-based PCs to its mix that add relatively new technology for the company. The IdeaPad S10-3s is one of the thinnest netbooks yet at about 0.63 inches thick and also makes use of the same design techniques borrowed from the ThinkPad Edge. It carries the same rounded chiclet keys and a trackpad that runs to the lip, in this case using a MacBook-style "buttonless" design that clicks the pad itself.
Samsung and Lenovo is said to release VIA VX900-based notebooks or netbooks as early as June, according to a Monday DNAIndia report. The portable computers should be able to compete with netbooks that have Intel's Atom and NVIDIA's Ion processors in them, as the VIA chipset can play back 1080p videos. Both Samsung and Lenovo were mentioned in the report, and the two had previously released VIA-powered notebooks, with the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 and Samsung NC20.
ASUS on Wednesday brought out five new desktop Eee Top PCs in the ET2010 series. The all-in-one computers house all hardware components in their 20-inch screens that are less than one inch thick. The screens output at 1600x900, and all systems sport HDMI outputs, with SRS virtual 5.1 surround sound for audio. There are three Intel 1.66GHz Atom powered models; the EeeTop 2010P gets integrated Intel graphics, while the EeeTop 2010PN and 2010PNT get NVIDIA Ion graphics.
An unknown Chinese company has made a knock-off MacBook Pro notebook that is powered by an Intel Atom processor. Besides sharing the unibody-style design, the lookalike includes a 14.1-inch screen with a 1366x768 resolution, a touchpad with 'hidden' buttons and the second-generation of NVIDIA's Ion graphics chipset working in conjunction with a 1.6GHz or 1.66GHz Atom. This combination allows users to watch 1080p videos on external monitors thanks to an HDMI output absent on the Apple-made original.
Fusion Garage sent word today that the JooJoo tablet has started shipping more than four months after it was first unveiled. Pre-orders have been given first priority and should receive their units on March 29th. Others will get their devices depending on when they ordered.
Chipmaker AMD will soon release a Fusion-branded CPU for netbooks meant to compete with Intel's Atom range of CPUs. The Fusion name stems from the integrated graphics processors from ATI, which AMD acquired in 2006. While specs for the chip haven't yet been finalized, it will consume between 10 and 15 watts of power, while its graphics performance will be good enough not to require a separate NVIDIA Ion GPU, according to AMD chief marketing officer Nigel Dessau.
The FCC in a filing published Thursday has revealed a number of longstanding mysteries about the JooJoo tablet. Despite Fusion Garage being reluctant to explain the hardware in detail before launch, its pre-release manual shows the device using an NVIDIA Ion chipset. The faster graphics are key to its ability to play 1080p video and will give it hardware-accelerated Flash 10.1 when ready.
The recently revealed Aspire One 532g from Acer, which carries the distinction of being the first netbook with NVIDIA's Ion 2 platform, has been priced for the European market. An Acer slide reveals that price to be 379 euros, or the equivalent of nearly $520. Once the netbook comes stateside, however, it is expected to cost much less, or about $379.
As expected, ASUS officially introduced its new Eee PC models at CeBIT in Germany. The Eee PC 1201PN uses Intel's 1.66GHz Atom CPU along with NVIDIA's second-generation Ion chipset and 1GB of RAM. It also gets a 12.1-inch LED-backlit display with a 1366x768 resolution. The 160GB hard drive is preloaded with Windows XP and supplemented by 500GB of cloud storage from ASUS.
NVIDIA today finally confirmed details of its next-generation Ion platform, known informally as Ion 2. Unlike the previous platform, Ion 2 is a dedicated graphics core and not a full chipset. Based on the GeForce G 210M, however, it provides much more speed than the original and without necessarily sacrificing battery life. In basic DirectX 9-level (OpenGL 2) graphics, the new Ion is about 50 percent faster than the original and 15X faster than Intel; in DirectX 10 (OpenGL 3), it doubles its predecessor's performance while Intel never runs at all.
ASUS at CeBIT is due to reveal a successor to the Eee Box EB1501 along with a new home theater PC. The EB1501U most notably has two USB 3.0 ports in the front of the small form factor PC, becoming one of the first systems available for sale with the high-speed interface. It will otherwise use the NVIDIA Ion platform in tandem with a dual-core 1.6GHz Atom.
Four new generation EeePC Seashell netbooks from ASUS were spotted ahead of the official opening of the CeBIT show, including the 1001PQ, 1201PN, 1015P, 1016P and 1018P, the latter two of which were leaked last week. The 1018P replaces the 1008P as the flagship EeePC netbook, and most notably has a USB 3.0 connection. Processing power comes from an Intel N455 or N475 Atom chip, which has not been seen before and likely involves an increased clock speed.
Shuttle Computer has announced a nettop computer using the new NVIDIA Ion 2 graphics platform, the Shuttle XS35. The company says the 1.3-inch thick ultra-compact PC pairs an Intel dual core, 1.66GHz Atom processor with the as yet unofficial GT 218 graphics. The PC is equipped with HDMI output for HD and streaming 3D video and is meant as much for digital signs as it is computing. The XS35 also includes five USB ports, VGA, LAN and Audio connectons, a multi-format card reader and a DVD burner.
The open-source version of Chrome OS, Chromium, has received its first GPU acceleration today through the custom variant Flow. It now supports hardware acceleration through an NVIDIA Ion chipset and should get both basic support as well as added performance in those areas that can use the faster-than-usual graphics. Battery life has also increased and is matched by proper support for automatic updates.
In spite of the phone focus today, Acer saw fit to break its own ground by launching the first netbook using NVIDIA's Ion 2. The Aspire One 532g upgrades the 532h with a GeForce G 310M that provides full 1080p video and hardware-accelerated 3D but while saving power. It overcomes Intel's building graphics into the processor by making use of Optimus: the 532g can switch to Intel's slower but more efficient graphics to save energy but the Ion 2 chipset when performance is more important.
ASUS is planning a major redesign of the Eee Top that will make it one of the first systems to use NVIDIA's Ion 2 chipset. A leak of the Eee Top ET2010PNT shows that the new all-in-one will use the new graphics, which will also go under the GeForce G310 name. Like some rumors suggest, it would actually be a dedicated part with its own 512MB of memory and 16 visual processing cores.
Electronics retailer Best Buy on Tuesday announced it would offer end-of-season sales on computers. The two-day sale will begin online on Christmas Day, December 25th, with the same deals extending to stores on December 26th. The most significant deal involved the 10.1-inch Lenovo IdeaPad S10 netbook, at $197 versus the regular price of $300. The netbook gets the 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, 1GB of memory and a 160GB hard drive.
NVIDIA on Wednesday confirmed the development of a sequel to its Ion chipset but set expectations for its release. Calling it only the "next-generation Ion," representatives explained during a conference call that the hardware is in progress but won't be formally unveiled at CES next month. While some partners will likely show systems based on the new chipset at the Las Vegas expo, a formal unveiling isn't slated until sometime later in the first quarter of the year.
The Federal Trade Commission today sued Intel for alleged anti-competitive practices. The complaint accuses Intel of conducting a "systematic campaign" of blocking access to competing processors that primarily centered on a system of rewards and threats to computer manufacturers. Intel has regularly either given incentives or threatened a lack of support to Dell, HP and other companies if too many (or any) of their systems ran processors from challengers like AMD, the US agency claims.
PC maker MSI on Wednesday introduced its new Wind Top AE2220 along with the Windows 7-equipped X-Slim X600 Pro 15.6-inch notebook. The desktop PC is purportedly the first all-in-one to bring premium audio with it, including MSI's own Premium Sound Technology and a pair of full-range, 5W speakers with magnesium-aluminum alloy cones. SRS virtual surround is also a factor in the design.
Computer maker MSI has began shipping its Wind Top AE2020 all-in-one PC to the UK. The PC has a 20-inch, multi-input touchscreen and is the first from MSI to combine this feature with Windows 7 Home Premium. A 2.1GHz Pentium dual-core forms the heart of its performance, but it also uses NVIDIA's Ion graphics to smoothly play back HD videos on the 1600x900 display.
Acer will be one of the first to use NVIDIA's Ion 2 if PC builders' leaks are authentic. To complement a number of new nettops and netbooks based on Intel's new Pine Trail Atom platform, Acer has supposedly ordered the new NVIDIA chipset. The DigiTimes tipsters don't say which systems will get the faster video, but the AspireRevo and higher end Aspire Ones are the most likely candidates.
The first Eee PC from ASUS to include the NVIDIA Ion platform, the 1201N, is now available for pre-order at online retailer Amazon. The 12.1-inch netbook sports a dual-core, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, and has 2GB of RAM. Thanks to the Ion platform, the netbook can play HD videos.
ASUS' Eee PC 1201N today received more definitive release details for the US. The American version will have both the 1.6GHz dual-core Atom 330 and NVIDIA Ion chipset that should give it both faster overall performance and the option of 1080p video, including in Flash 10.1. The netbook will be one of the first to come with Windows 7 Home Premium and accordingly come with 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive.
