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Microsoft joins Hybrid Memory Cube Consortium to develop new DRAM standard
Intel unveiled its Hybrid Memory Cube at IDF late last year, and there's already an alliance dedicated to standardizing and implementing the technology. Now Microsoft wants in on the action: the outfit just announced that it will lend its clout to the Hybrid Memory Cube Consortium. To jog your memory, HMC technology promises seven times the efficiency of current DRR3 memory modules and is being vaunted by Intel et al. as the solution for monster systems requiring lower power usage and higher bandwidth. Redmond's joining a well-attended party; IBM, Micron, Samsung and many others are already members of the consortium.
The big memory cube gamble: IBM and Micron stack their chips
Manufacturers have been murmuring about 3D memory chips for years, but an escalation in recent radio chatter suggests the technology is on the cusp of becoming commercial. Intel unveiled a Hybrid Memory Cube (HMC) at IDF, which promises seven times the energy efficiency of today's DDR3, and now IBM and Micron have shown their hand too. The pair just struck up a partnership to produce cubes using layers of DRAM connected by vertical conduits known as through-silicon vias (TSVs). These pillars allow a 90 percent reduction in a memory chip's physical footprint, a 70 percent cut in its appetite for energy, and -- best of all -- a radical increase in bandwidth: HMC prototypes have already scored 128Gb/s 128GB/s, which makes 6Gb/s SATA III look like a bottleneck. It certainly sounds like a game-changer, unless of course some rival technology like ferroelectric memory gets there first. Update: Doh, sorry for the wrong caps, which were shrunken by a factor of eight. For comparison, current high-level DRAM delivers around 12.8GB/s. [Thanks, Maximilian]
Head-mounted AR trainer is another Star Trek prop come to life (video)
Those of you familiar with the Dominion headsets from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine will probably guess exactly what this wearable AR system does from the picture alone. Japan's institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology is putting the finishing touches on a device to help newbies through complex and dangerous jobs. A head-mounted GoPro Hero 2 HD relays a picture back to an expert, who directs the action while wearing colored gloves. Using color separation, just the hand movements are sent back to the user, processed by a Toughbook in a backpack and overlaid onto the Shimadzu Data Glass HUD. There's nothing special about the tech, but that's what makes it so likely we'll see this making the leap to reality -- more so, because all of the components are off-the-shelf. The only issue is with the unit's software calibration, which takes far too long, but AIST hopes to remedy this over time. Just be careful if you see a backseat driver with blue gloves -- they could make your life miserable.
Swann releases Freestyle HD, begs you to capture 1080p underwater via LCD viewer
Looking to step your game up when capturing surfing footage from atop your longboard? Swann is aiming to lend a helping hand with its newfangled Freestyle HD wearable video camera. This offering is the company's first that sports a detachable 1.5-inch LCD viewer for taking a peek at your 1080p video capture in real-time -- which you can capture at up to 30 fps. You'll also be able to snap eight megapixel JPEGs should you so choose with 3x digital zoom at your disposal. Waterproof at depths up to 65 feet, the Freestyle HD can be helmet-mounted, attached to your favorite fixed-gear or the roof of your rally car via the three included mounting brackets. The camera will connect directly to an HDTV for viewing, or you can hop over to a PC via a microSD card or USB transfer. You can expect 2.5-hour battery life and a $279 price tag to boot -- too bad that flight to the southern hemisphere isn't nearly as affordable.%Gallery-138657%
Swann's shockproof, waterproof Sportscam straps on your cranium, captures momentous occasions
It's been a hot minute since we've seen any new tools from the security-minded folks at Swann, but it's hitting back with a new head-mounted camera at CES. The Sportscam is a familiar device -- similar to Contour and Go Pro units we've toyed with in the past -- but rather than seeking optimal image quality at a premium price, this guy sticks to the basics. The VGA camera can only log clips at a resolution of 640 x 480, so HD junkies best look elsewhere. But it's still encased in a rugged plastic shell, one that's both shockproof and waterproof, and it's capable of holding up to five hours of footage on a single 16GB microSD card. There's a rechargeable Li-ion battery that'll last 2.5 hours, and it ships with a variety of mounting options (though we'd suggest around your head, obviously). As we alluded to earlier, this one's a lower-end product, and that $99 price may entice those who would otherwise never consider such a thing. The full release is after the break, and it'll start shipping in the US of A next month.
Duke Nukem fan film trailer to satisfy fans starved for Duke content
Okay, what are the odds this Duke Nukem fan film, by Finnish studio HMC, is actually going to be released? Sure, this movie may not actually be developed by 3D Realms -- but neither are those DS and PSP games, and those aren't out yet either. It seems that Duke Nukem may just be cursed. Which is a shame, because this trailer (after the break) is entertaining in the same way a real Duke game is. It's got a girl and a monster and a cigar-chomping jerk who shoots the monster whilst spouting one-liners. We hope this thing continues production -- and we hope the producers find a voice actor for the title character. [Thanks, Topi]
Hallmark Movie Channel HD lands network playback partner
Now that Hallmark Movie Channel HD has found a sufficient amount of carriers to air on, parent company Crown Media has inked a deal with Broadcast Facilities to "to provide full HD network playback" for the aforesaid channel. BFI owns and operates Andrita Media Center, the "largest independent High Definition (HD) digital media facility on the West Coast," and the deal requires that Andrita expand its HD network playback center "to support the origination of the Hallmark Movie Channel's extensive original and library movie content in HD on a 24 / 7 basis." Unfortunately, we haven't a clue if this is the puzzle piece we've been waiting for to swap out stretch-o-vision content with authentic high-def material, but surely it can't hurt matters.
