Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[IBM celebrates the 15th anniversary of Deep Blue beating Garry Kasparov (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/ibm-deep-blue-anniversary/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/ibm-deep-blue-anniversary/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/ibm-deep-blue-anniversary/#comments Image

It's been 15 years since IBM's Deep Blue recorded its famous May 11th 1997 victory over world champion chess player Garry Kasparov -- a landmark in artificial intelligence. Designed by Big Blue as a way of understanding high-power parallel processing, the "brute force" system could examine 200 million chess positions every second, beating the grandmaster 3.5-2.5 after losing 4-2 the previous year. It went on to help develop drug treatments, analyze risk and aid data miners before being replaced with Blue Gene and, more recently, Watson -- which recorded a famous series of victories on Jeopardy! in 2011. If you'd like to know more, we've got a video with one of the computer's fathers: Dr. Murray Campbell and a comparison on how the three supercomputers stack up after the break.

As for Garry Kasparov? The loss didn't ruin his career, he went on to win every single Chess trophy conceived, retired, wrote some books and went into politics. As you do.

Continue reading IBM celebrates the 15th anniversary of Deep Blue beating Garry Kasparov (video)

IBM celebrates the 15th anniversary of Deep Blue beating Garry Kasparov (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15th Anniversary15thAnniversaryAIAnniversaryArtificial IntelligenceArtificialIntelligenceBirthdayChessChess ComputerChessComputerDeep BlueDeepBlueDr. Murray CampbellDr.MurrayCampbellGarry KasparovGarryKasparovIBMIntelligenceKasparovKasparov v Deep BlueKasparovVDeepBlueMurray CampbellMurrayCampbellTuringTuring TestTuringTestVictoryFri, 11 May 2012 13:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Bizarre internal Apple video shows Steve Jobs rallying the troops against IBM]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/bizarre-internal-apple-video-shows-steve-jobs-rallying-the-troop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/bizarre-internal-apple-video-shows-steve-jobs-rallying-the-troop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/bizarre-internal-apple-video-shows-steve-jobs-rallying-the-troop/#comments Image

We're going to warn you up front: what you're about to see is eccentric, puzzling, and perhaps even disturbing. And undoubtedly, it's the fanboy film to end all fanboy films. According to Network World, who managed to get ahold of an internal 'rally the troops' video, the referenced clip was produced with a $50,000 budget and shown to an international sales force at a 1984 meeting in Hawaii. The film, entitled "1944," was purportedly provided by one-time Apple employee Craig Elliott, now CEO of Pertino Networks. The vintage footage shows then-CEO Steve Jobs as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the nine minute film drags on to show Apple-clad soldiers lining up to do battle with IBM -- a massive, massive rival in the space during that era. The full watch can be found in the source link below (embedding was disabled), and again, this will absolutely freak you out. Fair warning.

Bizarre internal Apple video shows Steve Jobs rallying the troops against IBM originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisingappleCraig ElliottCraigElliottibmmacmicrosoftpertinoPertino NetworksPertinoNetworksretrosteve jobsSteveJobsvideovintageWed, 02 May 2012 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM's building an air-breathing EV battery that goes 500 miles on a single charge]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/ibm-battery-500/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/ibm-battery-500/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/20/ibm-battery-500/#comments Image

IBM's planning an end to range anxiety with an EV power pack that runs on air and travels 500 miles on a single charge. "Lithium Air" batteries draw oxygen into a nano-structured carbon cathode, where it is stored and reacts with lithium ions and electrons to generate electricity. When you plug the vehicle in, the unmolested oxygen is released back into the air as if it was breathing. The technology's significantly lighter than what's found inside a Chevy Volt and IBM has enlisted the help of chemical giants Asahi Kasei and Central Glass to turn it from successful experiment to fully-fledged product by 2030. If you'd like to learn more, we've got a gallery of candid pics from inside the testing lab, explanatory video and, yes, even a press release full of information for you to steep your brains in.

Gallery: IBM Battery 500 Project Lab Gallery

Continue reading IBM's building an air-breathing EV battery that goes 500 miles on a single charge

IBM's building an air-breathing EV battery that goes 500 miles on a single charge originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Asahi KaseiAsahiKaseiCentral GlassCentralGlassIBMIBM Battery 500IbmBattery500videoFri, 20 Apr 2012 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: HP's South Korean offices raided over alleged price fixing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/hp-korea-raid/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/hp-korea-raid/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/hp-korea-raid/#comments Image

Korea Times is a publication that isn't shy of the odd bold statement and today it's claiming that HP's South Korean offices were raided on suspicion of price-fixing deals made with IBM and Oracle. The country's Fair Trade Commission seized documents, computer records and questioned employees over alleged price-rigging on public-sector contracts. A company spokesperson said that the visit was routine, while FTC officers refused to comment about ongoing matters, but what is clear is that if any wrong-doing is found, the case will be turned over to prosecutors with the aim of commencing criminal proceedings for those responsible.

Report: HP's South Korean offices raided over alleged price fixing originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AllegationAntitrustBusinessCartelFair Trade CommissionFairTradeCommissionFTCHPIBMKoreaKorea Office RaidKorea TimesKoreaOfficeRaidKoreaTimesOffice RaidOfficeRaidOraclePoliticsPricePrice FixingPriceFixingRaidRaidsSouth KoreaSouthKoreaMon, 16 Apr 2012 11:52:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM: 'We must build an Exascale computer before 2024' (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/ibm-we-must-build-an-exascale-computer-before-2024-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/ibm-we-must-build-an-exascale-computer-before-2024-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/ibm-we-must-build-an-exascale-computer-before-2024-video/#comments Image
ASTRON has enlisted the help of IBM to lead a five-year, $43 million project to develop and build a supercomputer for the new Square Kilometer Array. The SKA is a $2.1 billion initiative to construct the world's largest radio telescope across a 3,000km strip of Australia or South Africa. It's hoped to be around 50 times as powerful as the dishes we currently point heavenward and will be used to examine the deepest reaches of space to learn more about the formation of the universe. When it goes live in 2024, it'll produce an Exabyte of data each day: twice as much information as there is traffic on the internet in the same period. Of course, no existing computer could handle the job, so Big Blue has a slim 12 years in which to turn nascent technologies like Nanophotonics, 3D chip stacking and phase change memory amongst others into a practical, workable Exascale computer. Its either that, or somehow daisy-chain 100 million PCs with enough power and cooling fans to keep it all working and hope for the best. If you'd like to know more, then head on past the break, although unfortunately it won't count as college credit.

Continue reading IBM: 'We must build an Exascale computer before 2024' (video)

IBM: 'We must build an Exascale computer before 2024' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 05:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D Chip Stacking3dChipStackingalienaliensASTRONDrentheExabyteExascaleIBMIBM Center for Exascale TechnologyIbmCenterForExascaleTechnologyNanophotonicsNetherlands Institute for Radio AstronomyNetherlandsInstituteForRadioAstronomyouter spaceOuterSpacePhase Change MemoryPhaseChangeMemoryRadio TelescopeRadioTelescopeSKAska radio telescopeSkaRadioTelescopespacespace explorationSpaceExplorationSquare Kilometer Arraysquare kilometer array telescopeSquareKilometerArraySquareKilometerArrayTelescopevideoMon, 02 Apr 2012 05:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Watson lends a helping hand to cancer research, partners with Memorial Sloan-Kettering]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/watson-aids-in-cancer-research/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/watson-aids-in-cancer-research/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/watson-aids-in-cancer-research/#comments ImageSupercomputers at the forefront of medical practice? The notion is by no means a stretch of the imagination. Yet, research of this kind mostly goes unnoticed -- that is, unless the computational wizardry handholding these advancements belongs to Jeopardy!'s AI king. That's right, Watson, IBM's bold-face named powerhouse of silicon wizardry, will be made available as a development tool for oncologists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering to deliver "individualized cancer diagnostic and treatment recommendations" derived from the center's case note database. Drawing upon that raw processing power, field practitioners will purportedly have access to a wealth of the latest therapeutic advances which would, normally, take too long to spread outside of specialized facilities. The agreement is not the first of its kind, as this time last year IBM had announced a similar partnership with Columbia University, although no further news has come from that union. MSKCC, for its part, does have concrete plans to move its small pilot program forward, with a target launch set for later this year and plans to expand the project's reach by end of 2013. Jump past the break for the official presser.

Continue reading Watson lends a helping hand to cancer research, partners with Memorial Sloan-Kettering

Watson lends a helping hand to cancer research, partners with Memorial Sloan-Kettering originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancer preventionCancerPreventionIBMMemorial Sloan KetteringMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterMemorialSloanKetteringMemorialSloanKetteringCancerCenterpilot programPilotProgramresearchsupercomputersvideoWatsonThu, 22 Mar 2012 20:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook reportedly acquires 750 IBM patents, beefs up its IP profile]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/facebook-reportedly-acquires-750-ibm-patents-beefs-up-its-ip-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/facebook-reportedly-acquires-750-ibm-patents-beefs-up-its-ip-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/22/facebook-reportedly-acquires-750-ibm-patents-beefs-up-its-ip-pr/#comments ImageYou don't take a few shots in the patent wars without gearing up for the next battle. According to a Reuters source, Facebook just armed itself with 750 IBM patents. The library of intellectual property is said to cover a wide spectrum of technology, including semiconductor and search patents. So what's the beef? Well, Facebook could be prepping for a classic countersuit, the promised "vigorous defense" of its News Feed, user profiles and advertising methods versus a handful of Yahoo patents -- although it's just as likely to be bolstering its portfolio for investors. We'll let you know how it turns out.

Facebook reportedly acquires 750 IBM patents, beefs up its IP profile originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Facebookfacebook ipoFacebookIpoFinanceibmIBM Corppatent warspatentsPatentWarsReutersSci/Techsocial networksocial networkingSocialNetworkSocialNetworkingThu, 22 Mar 2012 18:08:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM's Holey Optochip transmits 1Tbps of data, is named awesomely]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/ibms-holey-optochip-transmits-1tbps-of-data-is-named-awesomely/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/ibms-holey-optochip-transmits-1tbps-of-data-is-named-awesomely/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/12/ibms-holey-optochip-transmits-1tbps-of-data-is-named-awesomely/#commentsBe honest: was there any doubt whatsoever that something called a "Holey Optochip" would be anything short of mind-blowing? No. None. The whiz-kids over at IBM have somehow managed to transmit a staggering 1Tbps of data over a new optical chip, with the fresh prototype showing promise for ultra-high interconnect bandwidth to power future supercomputer and data center applications. For those who'd rather not deal with esoteric descriptions, that's around 500 HD movies being transferred each second, and it's enough to transfer the entire U.S. Library of Congress web archive in just 60 minutes. Needless to say, it's light pulses taking charge here, and researchers are currently hunting for ways to make use of optical signals within standard low-cost, high-volume chip manufacturing techniques. Getting the feeling that your own personal supercomputer is just a year or two away? Hate to burst your bubble, but IBM's been touting similar achievements since at least 2008. Actually, scratch that -- where there's hope, there's Holey.

IBM's Holey Optochip transmits 1Tbps of data, is named awesomely originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1tbpschipcpudatadata centerDataCenterHoley OptochipHoleyOptochipibmlightOptical ChipOpticalChipprocessorprototypeResearcherResearcherssciencesupercomputertransceivertransmissionMon, 12 Mar 2012 00:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Cha-ching! IBM's Watson heads to Citigroup to meddle in human finances]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/cha-ching-ibms-watson-heads-to-citigroup-to-meddle-in-human-fi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/cha-ching-ibms-watson-heads-to-citigroup-to-meddle-in-human-fi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/cha-ching-ibms-watson-heads-to-citigroup-to-meddle-in-human-fi/#comments Cha-ching! IBM's Watson heads to Citigroup to meddle in human financesWatson's been a busy supercomputer since it took a couple of humans to school on Jeopardy last year -- what with its stint at Columbia and a recent foray into hunting patent trolls -- and now it's taking on the financial industry. IBM and Citigroup recently announced plans to explore how America's favorite supercomputer fits into the realm of digital banking. Under the agreement, Citi will examine Watson's ability to "help analyze customer needs and process vast amounts of up-to-the-minute financial, economic, product and client data," in the hopes of providing rapid, personalized banking solutions. According to Bloomberg, Watson's financial assistance will be provided as a "cloud-based service" and will earn IBM a portion of the revenue and savings it helps generate. The full press release (which makes no mention of a vacation for the overworked machine) can be found after the break.

Continue reading Cha-ching! IBM's Watson heads to Citigroup to meddle in human finances

Cha-ching! IBM's Watson heads to Citigroup to meddle in human finances originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bankbankingciticitibankcitigroupibmibm watsonIbmWatsonsuper computersupercomputerwatsonTue, 06 Mar 2012 21:23:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM: We're on the cusp of the Quantum Computing revolution (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/ibm-quantum-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/ibm-quantum-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/ibm-quantum-computing/#comments Technology's holy grail is the development of a "perfect" Quantum Computer. Traditional computers recognize information as bits: binary information representing "On" or "Off" states. A quantum computer uses qubits: operating in superposition, a qubit exists in all states simultaneously -- not just "On" or "Off," but every possible state in-between. It would theoretically be able to instantly access every piece of information at the same time, meaning that a 250 qubit computer would contain more data than there are particles in the universe. IBM thinks it's closer than ever to realizing this dream and if you want to know more, we have the full details after the break.

Gallery: IBM Superconducting QBit Setup

Continue reading IBM: We're on the cusp of the Quantum Computing revolution (video)

IBM: We're on the cusp of the Quantum Computing revolution (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>American Physical SocietyAmericanPhysicalSocietyComplete universal quantum gate set approaching fault-tolerant tCompleteUniversalQuantumGateSetApproachingFault-tolerantThresholCopenhagen Interpretation of Quantum PhysicsCopenhagenInterpretationOfQuantumPhysicsDavid DiVincenzoDavidDivincenzoHard ScienceHardScienceIBMIBM ResearchIbmResearchMark KetchenMarkKetchenMatthias SteffenMatthiasSteffenPhysicsQuantum Computingquantum decoherenceQuantum PhysicsQuantumComputingQuantumDecoherenceQuantumPhysicsQubitSuperconducting qubit in waveguide cavity with coherence time apSuperconductingQubitInWaveguideCavityWithCoherenceTimeApproachinSuperpositionvideoYale UniversityYaleUniversityTue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: Think form factors, not PCs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/switched-on-think-form-factors-not-pcs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/switched-on-think-form-factors-not-pcs/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/19/switched-on-think-form-factors-not-pcs/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


The iPad, launched in 2010, kicked off the post-PC era. The combination of a multitouch display and keyboard-less design enabled mobile computing in a way not done before. On the other hand, maybe the IBM Simon, launched in 1992, kicked off the post-PC era. Widely considered to be the first smartphone, it enabled mobile computing in a way that was not done before. Then again, maybe the Osborne I, launched in 1981, marked the beginning of the post-PC era. After all, it was widely considered to be the first portable computer, enabling mobile computing in a way that was not done before.

Continue reading Switched On: Think form factors, not PCs

Switched On: Think form factors, not PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columndesignIBMinput technologiesInputTechnologiesinterfaceipadMac OSMacOsmobile OSMobileOsOSOsborne IOsborneIpost PC eraPostPcEraproductivityslatesswitched onSwitchedOntabletsToshibatouchWindows 8Windows8Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NASA pulls the plug on the mainframe computer era]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/nasa-pulls-the-plug-on-the-mainframe-computer-era/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/nasa-pulls-the-plug-on-the-mainframe-computer-era/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/nasa-pulls-the-plug-on-the-mainframe-computer-era/#comments
It's the end of another era at NASA, although this one was perhaps more inevitable than others. Chief Information Officer Linda Cureton announced in a blog post over the weekend that the agency's last mainframe computer was shut down this month, marking an end to decades of room-filling computers. Of course, that last mainframe was considerably more recent than that pictured above. It was an IBM Z9 (pictured at the source link below), still quite a behemoth and useful for certain applications, but deemed unnecessary by NASA in the face of other more flexible alternatives. Feeling nostalgic or curious about those days gone by? You can find a bit of mainframe history at the links below.

NASA pulls the plug on the mainframe computer era originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>computer historyComputerHistoryhistoryibmibm z9IbmZ9mainframemainframe computerMainframeComputernasaTue, 14 Feb 2012 01:12:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM builds 9 nanometer carbon nanotube transistor, puts silicon on notice]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/ibm-builds-9-nanometer-carbon-nanotube-transistor-puts-silicon/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/ibm-builds-9-nanometer-carbon-nanotube-transistor-puts-silicon/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/ibm-builds-9-nanometer-carbon-nanotube-transistor-puts-silicon/#comments IBM makes a 9 nanometer carbon nanotube transistor, puts silicon on noticeIt's not the smallest transistor out there, but the boffins at IBM have constructed the tiniest carbon nanotube transistor to date. It's nine nanometers in size, making it one nanometer smaller than the presumed physical limit of silicon transistors. Plus, it consumes less power and is able to carry more current than present-day technology. The researchers accomplished the trick by laying a nanotube on a thin layer of insulation, and using a two-step process -- involving some sort of black magic, no doubt -- to add the electrical gates inside. The catch? (There's always a catch) Manufacturing pure batches of semiconducting nanotubes is difficult, as is aligning them in such a way that the transistors can function. So, it'll be some time before the technology can compete with Intel's 3D silicon, but at least we're one step closer to carbon-based computing.

IBM builds 9 nanometer carbon nanotube transistor, puts silicon on notice originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9 nanometers9Nanometers9nmcarboncarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesibmmoores lawMooresLawresearchsciencesilicontransistorSat, 28 Jan 2012 00:34:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC and IBM hooking up to charm commercial clients]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/htc-ibm-commercial-partnership/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/htc-ibm-commercial-partnership/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/htc-ibm-commercial-partnership/#comments
HTC is looking to turn green to blue: it's banking that its hardware expertise will meet the needs of IBM's long list of commercial clients to become a big enterprise player. At the start of IBM Lotusphere, the former PC maker showed off "smart business" applications that ran on the smartphone maker's gear. HTC's David Jaeger has set a sales target of 100 million devices, hoping that whenever big blue is "talking about Android or tablets, HTC is in the conversation." The 'lil green phone company has reportedly taken great pains to ensure its gear is secure and that the Scribe software used in the HTC Flyer and Jetstream plays nice with all of IBM's business-kit. Our tip? It might think about lowering the price on those $80 styluses before it goes schmoozing cash-strapped IT Buyers.

HTC and IBM hooking up to charm commercial clients originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100 Million100Million80 stylus80StylusBusinessDavid JaegerDavidJaegerEnterpriseHTCHTC PhonesHTC ScribeHtcPhonesHtcScribeIBMScribeStylusSat, 21 Jan 2012 16:34:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM stores bits on arrays of atoms, shrinks magnetic storage to the scientific limit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/ibm-stores-bits-on-arrays-of-atoms-shrinks-magnetic-storage-to/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/ibm-stores-bits-on-arrays-of-atoms-shrinks-magnetic-storage-to/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/ibm-stores-bits-on-arrays-of-atoms-shrinks-magnetic-storage-to/#comments IBM's Almaden Research Center is filled with some of the best and brightest minds in the world, and its researchers just released new findings that detail how just how far IBM has come in the realm of magnetic storage. Andreas Heinrich is leading the team at Big Blue that figured out how to create atomic storage based on the fact that atoms of ferromagnetic material align their spins in one direction -- so the ability to control the spin direction is what's needed to make such minature memory possible. Heinrich and his crew were able to accomplish the trick by supercooling 12 atoms to four degrees kelvin (-452 fahrenheit), and arranging them using an electron microscope in such a away that nonvolatile storage became possible. As this is only a proof of concept, we won't be seeing atomic memory at, say, CES any time soon, but you can dig into the deep science behind the breakthrough at the source link below.

IBM stores bits on arrays of atoms, shrinks magnetic storage to the scientific limit originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Almaden Research Centeralmaden research labAlmadenResearchCenterAlmadenResearchLabandreas heinrichAndreasHeinrichatomic storageAtomicStoragebitbitsibmresearchsciencestorageSat, 14 Jan 2012 13:44:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM maintains top spot in global patent rankings, Canon overtakes Microsoft]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/ibm-maintains-top-spot-in-global-patent-rankings-canon-overtake/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/ibm-maintains-top-spot-in-global-patent-rankings-canon-overtake/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/ibm-maintains-top-spot-in-global-patent-rankings-canon-overtake/#comments IBM has been selling off a sizable number of its patents these past few months, but according to a new research report, the company still ended 2011 with the world's largest artillery. For the 19th straight year, IBM has come out on top of IFI Claims Patent Services' annual rankings of the world's top 50 US utility patent holders, with a record 6,180 patents. That's up five percent from 2010, though there are several contenders hot on its heels. Second-place Samsung saw an eight percent spike in its holdings, while Canon overtook Microsoft for third place, on the strength of an eleven percent year-on surge. Qualcomm, meanwhile, was among the biggest gainers, with a full 40 percent increase, along with RIM, which enjoyed 38 percent growth. Perhaps the biggest winner? The continent of Asia, where a full 25 of the top 50 companies are based. More numbers for your enjoyment after the break.

Continue reading IBM maintains top spot in global patent rankings, Canon overtakes Microsoft

IBM maintains top spot in global patent rankings, Canon overtakes Microsoft originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscanonibmIFI claims patent servicesIfiClaimsPatentServicesindustrylegalmicrosoftpatentpatent portfolioPatentPortfolioqualcommrankingsresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimsamsungUS patentUsPatentutility patentUtilityPatentWed, 11 Jan 2012 11:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Google buoys its patent portfolio with 217 more filings acquired from IBM]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/google-buoys-its-patent-portfolio-with-217-more-filings-acquired/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/google-buoys-its-patent-portfolio-with-217-more-filings-acquired/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/google-buoys-its-patent-portfolio-with-217-more-filings-acquired/#comments It's not quite as big as some previous patent transactions between the two companies, but it looks like Google did a fair bit more shopping from IBM's vast portfolio at the tail-end of 2011. As noted by the SEO by the Sea blog, IBM transferred 188 granted patents and 28 published patent applications to Google during the last week of the year, including a number of patents related to phones and web browsers. Unfortunately, other key details like an acquisition price remain a mystery, but you can peruse some of the patents themselves at the source link below.

Google buoys its patent portfolio with 217 more filings acquired from IBM originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitiongoogleibmminipostpatentpatent applicationpatent applicationspatent portfolioPatentApplicationPatentApplicationsPatentPortfoliopatentsTue, 03 Jan 2012 15:57:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM's Samuel J. Palmisano: we sold PC business due to lack of innovative opportunities]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/ibm-samuel-j-palmisano-we-sold-pc-business-innovation-china/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/ibm-samuel-j-palmisano-we-sold-pc-business-innovation-china/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/02/ibm-samuel-j-palmisano-we-sold-pc-business-innovation-china/#commentsDeparting IBM head honcho Samuel J. Palmisano has been known to say some outlandish things, but there's nothing comical about the information divulged in a new piece surrounding his legacy in The New York Times. Outside of looking into the details of how IBM become one of the world's most boring, highly profitable outfits, there's plenty of fascinating nuggets to be had. For one, he focused intently on getting out of "low-margin businesses that were fading," and not surprisingly, the outfit's personal computer business was first on the chopping block.

Reportedly, he saw a lack of opportunity for innovation (at least "in the corporate market"), and felt that the "hub of innovation would shift to services and software." As if a prophet, just about everything he expected has come to pass. The article explains that the jarring sale of its PC business was no easy thing to decide upon, and he even affirms that he "deflected overtures from Dell and private equity firms, preferring the sale to a company in China for strategic reasons." As the story goes, China wants its corporations to have global reach, and by helping with that, IBM "enhanced its stature in the lucrative Chinese market, where the government still steers business." Trust us -- there's far more where this came from in the source link below.

[Thanks, Theo]

IBM's Samuel J. Palmisano: we sold PC business due to lack of innovative opportunities originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionbusinessceochinachinesedesktopgovernmentibmideapadindustrylenovomergernotebookpoliticalpoliticssaleSamuel J. PalmisanoSamuel PalmisanoSamuelJ.PalmisanoSamuelPalmisanostrategythinkpadMon, 02 Jan 2012 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM wins diet monitoring and reward patent, celebrates with sip of Spirulina]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/30/ibm-wins-diet-monitoring-and-reward-patent-celebrates-with-sip/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/30/ibm-wins-diet-monitoring-and-reward-patent-celebrates-with-sip/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/30/ibm-wins-diet-monitoring-and-reward-patent-celebrates-with-sip/#comments Does your employer offer a "wellness rebate program?" No? Then you can't be working for IBM, which has been bribing its staff to eat healthier since 2004. It's a Watson-worthy idea, because what the company pays out in incentives it recoups in lower healthcare costs. Now, after a decade of toing and froing with the USPTO, IBM has finally patented a web-based system that makes the whole process automatic. For it to work, a person must use a micro-payment network to buy food, which allows their purchases to be monitored and compared against their health records. If they've made the right choices, the system then communicates with their employer's payroll server to issue a reward. Completing the Orwellian circle, the proposed system also interacts with servers in the FDA and health insurance companies to gain information about specific food products or policy changes. You can duck the radar, of course, and buy a Double Whopper with cash, but it'll bring you no reward except swollen ankles. This is IBM we're talking about; they've thought of everything.

[Photo via Shutterstock]

IBM wins diet monitoring and reward patent, celebrates with sip of Spirulina originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1984big brotherBigBrotherbonusdietemployeremploymentfoodgeorge orwellGeorgeOrwellhealthhealth insuranceHealthInsurancehealthyhealthy eatinghealthy livingHealthyEatingHealthyLivingIBMincentivemicropaymentsmonitoringorwellianrewardreward schemeRewardSchemeUSPTOFri, 30 Dec 2011 02:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: IBM's 1956 HDD packs 5MB of storage, requires forklift for installation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/visualized-ibms-1956-hdd-packs-5mb-of-storage-requires-forkli/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/visualized-ibms-1956-hdd-packs-5mb-of-storage-requires-forkli/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/visualized-ibms-1956-hdd-packs-5mb-of-storage-requires-forkli/#comments

Check out IBM's 305 RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control) hard disk and those gripes about dragging around that USB thumb drive soon evaporate. This 1956 HDD was composed of 50 24-inch discs, stacked together and taking up 16 sq ft of real estate. The once-cutting-edge monstrosity was capable of commanding an annual fee of $35,000 and stored up to 5MB of data. Sure, by modern standards it's a pretty modest capacity, but the RAMAC still weighed in at just shy of a ton. Our technological forefathers could have done with that exoskeleton prototype.

Visualized: IBM's 1956 HDD packs 5MB of storage, requires forklift for installation originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1956 HDD1956Hdd5MBhard diskhard disk driveHardDiskHardDiskDriveHDDIBMIBM 305 RAMACIbm305RamacRAMACRandom Access Method of Accounting and ControlRandomAccessMethodOfAccountingAndControlretrovisualizedTue, 27 Dec 2011 10:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Watson now hunting down patent trolls, plans Ken Jennings' elaborate demise]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/watson-now-hunting-down-patent-trolls-plans-ken-jennings-elabo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/watson-now-hunting-down-patent-trolls-plans-ken-jennings-elabo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/watson-now-hunting-down-patent-trolls-plans-ken-jennings-elabo/#comments The Watson supercomputer used its speech recognition, natural language processing, machine learning and data mining abilities to crush puny human Ken Jennings' dreams of winning at "Jeopardy!", but now Big Blue has it chasing down medical patent trolls for fun. Incorporating the Strategic IP Insight Platform, IBM has now programmed Watson to scan millions of pharmaceutical patents and biomedical journals to discover, analyze, and record any info pertaining to drug discovery. SIIP can then look for the names of chemical compounds, related diagrams, the company and scientist who invented and works with the compounds and related words to determine a patent's rightful owner. The SIIP function can also highlight which patents could be targeted for acquisition by trolls looking to control a property via a lawsuit or licensing agreement. Click past the break for a video outlining the project, along with Watson's announcement of its engagement to "Skynet".

Continue reading Watson now hunting down patent trolls, plans Ken Jennings' elaborate demise

Watson now hunting down patent trolls, plans Ken Jennings' elaborate demise originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Big BlueBigBluebiochemicalchemicalcompoundsdiagramsIBMintellectual propertyIntellectualPropertyipip lawIpLawjournaljournalslawsuitlicensingownerpatentpatent trollpatent trollspatentsPatentTrollPatentTrollspharmaceuticalSIIPStrategic IP Insight PlatformStrategicIpInsightPlatformsupercomputertrolltrollsvideoWatsonFri, 09 Dec 2011 05:20:00 EST<![CDATA[The big memory cube gamble: IBM and Micron stack their chips]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/06/the-big-memory-cube-gamble-ibm-and-micron-stack-their-chips/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/06/the-big-memory-cube-gamble-ibm-and-micron-stack-their-chips/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/06/the-big-memory-cube-gamble-ibm-and-micron-stack-their-chips/#comments 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]

The big memory cube gamble: IBM and Micron stack their chips originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>128Gbs3d chip3d memory3dChip3dMemorybandwidthDRAMefficiencyferamferroelectricFeTRAMHMChybrid memory cubeHybridMemoryCubeIBMmemoryMicronspeedthrough silicon viaThroughSiliconViaTSVTue, 06 Dec 2011 08:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Charles Walton, father of RFID technology, dies at 89]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/charles-walton-father-of-rfid-technology-dies-at-89/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/charles-walton-father-of-rfid-technology-dies-at-89/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/charles-walton-father-of-rfid-technology-dies-at-89/#comments
We have some somber news to bring you today: Charles Walton, the man who pioneered the rise of RFID technology, has died at the age of 89. The Cornell-educated entrepreneur garnered more than 50 patents over the course of his career, but it only took one to cement his legacy -- a 1973 patent for a "Portable radio frequency emitting identifier." It may not have been the first RFID-related invention, but Walton's breakthrough would prove to be foundational, spawning many similar patents, including ten from the creator himself. It all began at the Army Signal Corps, where Walton worked after studying electrical engineering at Cornell and earning a Master's degrees in electrical engineering and economics of engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology. In 1960, he accepted a position at IBM, where he conducted research on disc drives before founding his own company, Proximity Devices, in 1970.

It was at Proximity where many of Walton's patents came to life, including his initial design, which he developed alongside the Schlage lock company and eventually licensed to other firms, as well. He would go on to earn millions from his technology, though as Venture Beat points out, he may have been a bit too far ahead of the curve. Many of Walton's patents expired by the time RFID devices caught on with big spenders like the Department of Defense and Wal-Mart, thereby excluding him from any subsequent windfall. But that didn't seem to bother him too much, as evidenced in a 2004 interview with Venture Beat: "I feel good about it and gratified I could make a contribution."

Charles Walton, father of RFID technology, dies at 89 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Army Signal CorpsArmySignalCorpscharles waltonCharlesWaltoncharlie waltonCharlieWaltondeathdepartment of defenseDepartmentOfDefenseentrepreneurIBMinnovationinventorobitobituarypatentproximityproximity devicesProximityDevicesRFIDschlagewal martwalmartwirelessTue, 29 Nov 2011 16:49:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM sees stacked silicon sitting in fluid as the way to power future PCs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/ibm-sees-stacked-silicon-sitting-in-fluid-as-the-way-to-power-fu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/ibm-sees-stacked-silicon-sitting-in-fluid-as-the-way-to-power-fu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/ibm-sees-stacked-silicon-sitting-in-fluid-as-the-way-to-power-fu/#commentsGenerally, the combination of microchips, electricity and fluids is usually considered an incredibly bad thing. IBM, however, thinks it can combine those three to make super small and super powerful computers in the future. The idea is to stack hundreds of silicon wafers and utilize dual fluidic networks between them to create 3D processors. In such a setup, one network carries in charged fluid to power the chip, while the second carries away the same fluid after it has picked up heat from the active transistors. Of course, 3D chips are already on the way, and liquid cooled components are nothing new, but powering a PC by fluids instead of wires has never been done before. Bruno Michel, who's leading Big Blue's research team, has high hopes for the technology, because future processors will need the extra cooling and reduced power consumption it can provide. Michel says he and his colleagues have demonstrated that it's possible to use a liquid to transfer power via a network of fluidic channels, and they to plan build a working prototype chip by 2014. If successful, your smartphone could eventually contain the power of the Watson supercomputer. Chop, chop, fellas, those futuristic fluidic networks aren't going to build themselves.

IBM sees stacked silicon sitting in fluid as the way to power future PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>201220142D3D3d processor3dProcessorblockBruno MichelBrunoMichelcoolingelectricityflowfluidicfluidic networkFluidicNetworkIBMIntelIvy BridgeIvyBridgeLaboratorylayeredliquidliquid coolingliquid poweredLiquidCoolingLiquidPoweredmicrochipsmicroscopicMoores LawMooresLawnetworkprocessorprocessorsprototypeResearchsmartphonesmartphonesSwitzerlandwaferZurichThu, 17 Nov 2011 18:26:00 EST<![CDATA[John Opel, IBM CEO during onset of the PC era, dies at 86]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/john-opel-ibm-ceo-during-onset-of-the-pc-era-dies-at-86/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/john-opel-ibm-ceo-during-onset-of-the-pc-era-dies-at-86/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/john-opel-ibm-ceo-during-onset-of-the-pc-era-dies-at-86/#comments John Roberts Opel, the former IBM CEO who helped usher in the PC era, died last week at the age of 86. A native of Kansas City, MO, Opel received his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1949, after fighting in the Philippines and Okinawa during World War II. Upon graduating, he was presented with two job offers -- he could either re-write economics textbooks, or assume control of his father's hardware business in Missouri. Not particularly enthralled with either opportunity, Opel decided to think things over during a fishing trip with his father and a family friend. As fate would have it, that friend turned out to be Harry Strait, an IBM sales manager. Strait offered Opel a sales position at the company, fortuitously setting the young grad on a career path that would span 36 years. Opel's career, in fact, began and peaked at two inflection points that would come to define not only IBM, but the computing industry as a whole. When he came aboard, IBM was still producing typewriters and other accounting devices; but that would soon change, with the dawn of the computing era.

In 1959, he became assistant to then-chief executive Thomas J. Watson Jr. Just five years later, he oversaw the introduction of IBM's System 360 mainframe computer. He was appointed vice president in 1966, president in 1974 and, on January 1st, 1981, took over as IBM's fifth CEO, replacing Frank T. Cary. During his four-year tenure, Opel led IBM's push into the burgeoning PC market, overseeing the launch of IBM's first PC, the 5150, just seven months after taking the reins. He was also at the helm in 1982, when the Department of Justice dropped its 13-year antitrust suit against IBM, allowing the firm to expand its operations. Opel took full advantage. Under his stewardship, IBM's revenue nearly doubled and its corporate stature grew accordingly. In 1983, Opel made the cover of Time magazine, under a headline that read, "The Colossus That Works." He stepped down as CEO in 1985, served as chairman until 1986 and would remain on IBM's board until 1993. On Thursday, he passed away in Ft. Myers, FL, due to undisclosed causes. John Roberts Opel is survived by his wife of 56 years, five children, 15 grandchildren and a legacy that extends far beyond these 400 words.

John Opel, IBM CEO during onset of the PC era, dies at 86 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antitrustbusinessCEOcomputingdeathdepartment of justiceDepartmentOfJusticeFrank T. CaryFrankT.CaryIBMIBM 5150ibm system 360Ibm5150IbmSystem360John OpelJohnOpellegacymainframemoneyobitobituaryPCpresidentrevenuesystem 360System360Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:25:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM's Watson takes Harvard, MIT business students to school, drops the mic]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/ibms-watson-takes-harvard-mit-business-students-to-school-dro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/ibms-watson-takes-harvard-mit-business-students-to-school-dro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/ibms-watson-takes-harvard-mit-business-students-to-school-dro/#comments There was a massacre in Boston the other night, and Watson had blood all over his hands. The IBM supercomputer and undisputed Jeopardy champ made a virtual appearance in Beantown this week, ostensibly as part of a symposium on the ways in which advanced analytics could reshape business. In reality, though, he only showed up to remind everyone that he's really smart. During the event, Watson squared off in a Jeopardy scrimmage against two groups of students from some of the most prestigious business schools in the world -- Harvard Business School, and MIT's Sloan School of Management. The brainiac b-schoolers (including two former Jeopardy contestants) did remarkably well for the first two rounds; Harvard managed to get within $1,800 of the machine going into Final Jeopardy, and even held the lead at one point, following a gutsy Daily Double (MIT didn't fare so well, but hey, we're all human, right?). The wheels came off, however, once the battle entered Act III, when Watson pulled away for the win. Both the computer and Team Harvard answered the final question correctly, but Watson wisely bet just enough to keep the Ivy Leaguers at bay. When the smoke cleared, Watson was left standing with $53,601, Harvard finished with $42,399 and MIT came in a distant third, with $100.

Adding insult to injury is the fact that Watson wasn't even in the same building as his muggle competitors -- nor, for that matter, was he in the same state. IBM kept all of the machine's processors and memory chips at its Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York. Watson had already come up with answers to the questions prior to this week's showdown, but placed wages, chose categories and buzzed in responses in real-time. According to IBM, Watson's presence wouldn't have changed the outcome of the game, which was followed by a discussion on the effects that similar technologies could have on the financial world. The most immediate impact? Bruised egos. Re-live the event at IBM's liveblog below, or find more information in the PR after the break.

Continue reading IBM's Watson takes Harvard, MIT business students to school, drops the mic

IBM's Watson takes Harvard, MIT business students to school, drops the mic originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bostoncomputergameharvardHarvard Business SchoolHarvardBusinessSchoolibmjeopardyman versus machineManVersusMachineMITmit sloan school of managementMitSloanSchoolOfManagementmoneyremotesloansmartsupercomputertriviawatsonFri, 04 Nov 2011 17:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Primed: SSDs and you]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/engadget-primed-ssds-and-you/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/engadget-primed-ssds-and-you/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/engadget-primed-ssds-and-you/#commentsPrimed goes in-depth on the technobabble you hear on Engadget every day -- we dig deep into each topic's history and how it benefits our lives. You can follow the series here. Looking to suggest a piece of technology for us to break down? Drop us a line at primed *at* engadget *dawt* com.

If you're a storage aficionado -- and who here isn't? -- you've probably heard a lot about SSDs, those friendly solid-state disks promising dramatically improved performance over their magnetically inclined brethren. No doubt you've heard about the advantages, thanks to NAND storage that makes them silent, shock resistant, energy efficient and lightning quick. Yet you've also heard the horror stories: drive slowdowns, controller failures and manufacturer recalls. And adding to all those anxiety-producing headlines, there's the price premium. While most magnetic drives average around a nickel or dime per gigabyte, even consumer-grade SSDs still run $1-2 per gigabyte, often for drastically smaller-capacity drives.

Three years ago, Intel launched its X25-M and X18-M: the "M" stood for "mainstream," and the pair of drives were designed to reintroduce solid-state storage to a cost-conscious consumer market. (Perhaps more importantly, they were also meant to solidify Intel's standing in the nascent SSD realm, up to that point a chaotic, Wild West-style domain. But we'll get to that.) For most users magnetic drives still remain king, with solid states appealing primarily to a niche of enterprise IT professionals and modding enthusiasts. How did that happen -- and should it be different? After the break we'll look at how and why SSDs haven't (yet) conquered the storage world, and examine whether they're poised to do just that.

Continue reading Engadget Primed: SSDs and you

Engadget Primed: SSDs and you originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CompaqConnor PeripheralsConnorPeripheralsduraclassenergy efficientEnergyEfficientengadget primedEngadgetPrimedHDDHPIBMintelMaxtormicronMIPSmlcnandprimedQuantumRAMRAMACRPMRPMsSandForceScorpioseagateSeagate TechnologySeagateTechnologyslcsolid state driveSolidStateDriveSPESSDssd controllerSsdControllerSsdDriveSSDsstorageVelociRaptorvideoWestern DigitalWesternDigitalMon, 31 Oct 2011 16:46:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM announces Virginia Rometty as new CEO]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/25/ibm-announces-virginia-rometty-as-new-ceo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/25/ibm-announces-virginia-rometty-as-new-ceo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/25/ibm-announces-virginia-rometty-as-new-ceo/#comments Virginia Rometty and Samuel Palmisano IBM's board of directors have announced that Virginia M. Rometty will be taking over as CEO of the company in 2012, succeeding current chief Samuel Palmisano. Palmisano will stay on as chairman of the board, but at the end of the year will hand over the reins to Rometty who will become one of a few, but growing number of female chief executives (alongside Meg Whitman) in the tech industry. During her roughly decade long tenure with the company she has spearheaded the push into the services industry and in 2009 became senior vice president of sales, marketing and strategy, leading the charge into markets like China and India. The 54-year-old Rometty will look to continue Palmisano's success, which has seen IBM become the second most valuable tech company in the world, just ahead of Microsoft and right behind Apple. Check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading IBM announces Virginia Rometty as new CEO

IBM announces Virginia Rometty as new CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CEOchairman of the boardChairmanOfTheBoardChief ExecutiveChiefExecutiveexecutiveIBMsamuel j. palmisanosamuel palmisanoSamuelJ.PalmisanoSamuelPalmisanoVirginia M. RomettyVirginia RomettyVirginiaM.RomettyVirginiaRomettyTue, 25 Oct 2011 17:18:00 EST<![CDATA[NC State researchers team with IBM to keep cloud-stored data away from prying eyes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/07/nc-state-researchers-team-with-ibm-to-keep-cloud-stored-data-awa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/07/nc-state-researchers-team-with-ibm-to-keep-cloud-stored-data-awa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/07/nc-state-researchers-team-with-ibm-to-keep-cloud-stored-data-awa/#commentsThe man on your left is Dr. Peng Ning -- a computer science professor at NC State whose team, along with researchers from IBM, has developed an experimental new method for safely securing cloud-stored data. Their approach, known as a "Strongly Isolated Computing Environment" (SICE), would essentially allow engineers to isolate, store and process sensitive information away from a computing system's hypervisors -- programs that allow networked operating systems to operate independently of one another, but are also vulnerable to hackers. With the Trusted Computing Base (TCB) as its software foundation, Ping's technique also allows programmers to devote specific CPU cores to handling sensitive data, thereby freeing up the other cores to execute normal functions. And, because TCB consists of just 300 lines of code, it leaves a smaller "surface" for cybercriminals to attack. When put to the test, the SICE architecture used only three percent of overhead performance for workloads that didn't require direct network access -- an amount that Ping describes as a "fairly modest price to pay for the enhanced security." He acknowledges, however, that he and his team still need to find a way to speed up processes for workloads that do depend on network access, and it remains to be seen whether or not their technique will make it to the mainstream anytime soon. For now, though, you can float past the break for more details in the full PR.

Continue reading NC State researchers team with IBM to keep cloud-stored data away from prying eyes

NC State researchers team with IBM to keep cloud-stored data away from prying eyes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudcloud computingcloud storageCloudComputingCloudStoragecomputer scienceComputerSciencecoreCPUcybercrimedataexperimentalhackerhypervisorIBMminipostNC StateNcStatenetworkNorth Carolina State UniversityNorthCarolinaStateUniversityprocessorprogramprogrammingresearchsecuritySICEsoftwarestrongly isolated computing environmentStronglyIsolatedComputingEnvironmentTCBtechniquetrusted computer baseTrustedComputerBaseFri, 07 Oct 2011 09:24:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM's THINK Exhibit invades NYC, aims to inspire (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/30/ibms-think-exhibit-invades-nyc-aims-to-inspire-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/30/ibms-think-exhibit-invades-nyc-aims-to-inspire-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/30/ibms-think-exhibit-invades-nyc-aims-to-inspire-video/#comments Leaving the confines of a Manhattan apartment, Lincoln Center has the uncanny ability to make one feel dwarfed. Home to the performing arts and haunt to New York City's glitterati, the landmark received the IBM makeover as part of the company's THINK exhibit -- an interactive installation designed to weave the story of technology as it applies to the fabric of life, achievement and change.

The first thing that catches the eye is IBM's sparkling 123-foot long, 12-foot high LCD wall lining a tunnel leading into the bowels of the NYC landmark. The "living" wall thrives off the surrounding environment, visualizing traffic patterns and analyzing corresponding air quality from nearby Broadway. It also shows the solar potential of every rooftop in the city, financial transactions and the amount of water leaking from the main aqueduct. As the event's producer Lee Green simply put it, the idea behind the set up is to "delegate understanding" to "intrigue and inspire" even the least technologically-inclined.

Gallery: IBM THINK Exhibit NYC September 2011

Continue reading IBM's THINK Exhibit invades NYC, aims to inspire (video)

IBM's THINK Exhibit invades NYC, aims to inspire (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artexhibitexhibitsIBMIBM ThinkIBM WatsonIbmThinkIbmWatsonimpressionsLCDLCDsNew York CityNewYorkCityNYCpreviewSmarter PlanetSmarterPlanettechnologyThinkvideoFri, 30 Sep 2011 14:47:00 EST<![CDATA['Monster Cat' 30,472-core supercomputer can be yours for $1,279 an hour]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/monster-cat-30-472-core-supercomputer-can-be-yours-for-1-279/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/monster-cat-30-472-core-supercomputer-can-be-yours-for-1-279/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/monster-cat-30-472-core-supercomputer-can-be-yours-for-1-279/#comments Nicknamed after the magical "Nekomata" cat of Japanese nightmares, Cycle Computing's monstrous new supercomputer can now be yours to rent for the low price of $1,279 an hour. By fusing together the face-melting power of 3,809 eight-core Amazon AWS Elastic Computer 2s, the company was able to create the world's 30th fastest computer with 30,472 processor cores and 27TB of memory -- primarily used for complex modeling rather than Facebooking. Components of the beast hide out in three of Amazon's EC2 data center lairs located in California, Virginia and Ireland, and communicate using HTTPS and SSH encrypted with AES-256 to keep its secrets safe and secure. Compared to the company's previous 10,000-core offering ($1,060 / hour), the new version is far more powerful and minimally more expensive, mostly because it uses spot instances (where customers bid on unused EC2 capacity) rather than pricier reserved instances. Good on you Cycle Computing, not everyone has access to a Jeopardy champ.

'Monster Cat' 30,472-core supercomputer can be yours for $1,279 an hour originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aes-256AmazonAmazon AWS Elastic Computer 2samazon ec2AmazonAwsElasticComputer2sAmazonEc2cycle computingCycleComputingec2HTTPSIBMmodelingnekomataSSHSSH encryptionSshEncryptionsupercomputersupercomputerswatsonWed, 21 Sep 2011 19:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Google loads up on IP again, buys 1,000 more patents from IBM]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/google-loads-up-on-ip-again-buys-1000-more-patents-from-ibm/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/google-loads-up-on-ip-again-buys-1000-more-patents-from-ibm/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/15/google-loads-up-on-ip-again-buys-1000-more-patents-from-ibm/#comments Seems like we've heard this story before -- Google buys a bunch of patents to protect its cute little green baby from all the big, bad patent lawsuits. Only this time, instead of buying a hardware manufacturer to expand its patent warchest, team Mountain View merely purchased 1,023 bits of IP from IBM. Covering everything from a method for filling holes in printed wiring boards to a method for file system management, Google seems to have grabbed quite the eclectic collection -- one we're sure Big G will put to work for itself and its buddies in no time. Those looking to see the full results of this latest patent shopping spree can hit the source link below.

Google loads up on IP again, buys 1,000 more patents from IBM originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googleibmintellectual propertyIntellectualPropertyiplegalpatentpatent purchasePatentPurchasepatentsusptoThu, 15 Sep 2011 03:28:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM's Watson set to tackle health insurance, takes 'Diagnosis for $1,000']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/12/ibms-watson-set-to-tackle-health-insurance-takes-diagnosis-fo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/12/ibms-watson-set-to-tackle-health-insurance-takes-diagnosis-fo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/12/ibms-watson-set-to-tackle-health-insurance-takes-diagnosis-fo/#commentsAfter tackling your tech support woes, the famed Watson is moving on to mop up the health insurance industry. That's right, the IBM showstopper we all know and love for trouncing trivia kings on Jeopardy has been hired by one of the largest health insurance company's in the US. WellPoint Inc. will make use of the system's breakneck speed and healthcare database alongside patient records -- allowing the supercomputer to guide treatment options and prescribe medicines. Once implemented, data will be combined from three sources in a matter of seconds: a patient's chart / records from a doctor, the insurance company's patient history and the medical knowledge that Watson already possesses. A pilot program will roll out next year to a number of cancer facilities, academic medical centers and oncology practices. No word yet on when The Watson School of Medicine will start accepting applications.

IBM's Watson set to tackle health insurance, takes 'Diagnosis for $1,000' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academicAIartificial intelligenceArtificialIntelligencecancerhealthhealthcareibminsurancemedicalmedicinepilotrobotSuperComputertrialwatsonWellpointMon, 12 Sep 2011 17:24:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM and 3M join forces to fab 3D microchips, create mini-silicon skyscraper valley]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/07/ibm-and-3m-join-forces-to-fab-3d-microchips-create-mini-silicon/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/07/ibm-and-3m-join-forces-to-fab-3d-microchips-create-mini-silicon/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/07/ibm-and-3m-join-forces-to-fab-3d-microchips-create-mini-silicon/#comments 3D hype is fast wearing out its welcome, but there's at least one area of industry where the buzzed about term could usher in true innovation. Announced today as a joint research project, IBM and 3M will work towards the creation of a new breed of microprocessors. Unlike similar three-dimensional semiconductor efforts by Intel, the two newly partnered outfits plan to stack up to 100 layers of chips atop one another resulting in a microchip "brick." Under the agreement, IBM will contribute its expertise on packaging the new processors, while 3M will get to work developing an adhesive that can not only be applied in batches, but'll also allow for heat transfer without crippling logic circuitry. If the companies' boasts are to be believed, these powerhouse computing towers would cram memory and networking into a "computer chip 1,000 times faster than today's fastest microprocessor enabling more powerful smartphones, tablets, computers and gaming devices." That's a heady claim for a tech that doesn't yet exist, but is already taking swings at current faux 3D transistors. Official presser and video await you after the break.

Continue reading IBM and 3M join forces to fab 3D microchips, create mini-silicon skyscraper valley

IBM and 3M join forces to fab 3D microchips, create mini-silicon skyscraper valley originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d chips3D packaging3d transistor3D transistors3dChips3dPackaging3dTransistor3dTransistors3MadhesivechipsfabricationIBMIntelmicrochipmicrochipsmicroprocessormicroprocessorspartnershipSemiconductorsemiconductorsvideoWed, 07 Sep 2011 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM developing largest data drive ever, with 120 petabytes of bliss]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/ibm-developing-largest-data-drive-ever-with-120-petabytes-of-bl/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/ibm-developing-largest-data-drive-ever-with-120-petabytes-of-bl/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/ibm-developing-largest-data-drive-ever-with-120-petabytes-of-bl/#comments So, this is pretty... big. At this very moment, researchers at IBM are building the largest data drive ever -- a 120 petabyte beast comprised of some 200,000 normal HDDs working in concert. To put that into perspective, 120 petabytes is the equivalent of 120 million gigabytes, (or enough space to hold about 24 billion, average-sized MP3's), and significantly more spacious than the 15 petabyte capacity found in the biggest arrays currently in use. To achieve this, IBM aligned individual drives in horizontal drawers, as in most data centers, but made these spaces even wider, in order to accommodate more disks within smaller confines. Engineers also implemented a new data backup mechanism, whereby information from dying disks is slowly reproduced on a replacement drive, allowing the system to continue running without any slowdown. A system called GPFS, meanwhile, spreads stored files over multiple disks, allowing the machine to read or write different parts of a given file at once, while indexing its entire collection at breakneck speeds. The company developed this particular system for an unnamed client looking to conduct complex simulations, but Bruce Hillsberg, IBM's director of storage research, says it may be only a matter of time before all cloud computing systems sport similar architectures. For the moment, however, he admits that his creation is still "on the lunatic fringe."

IBM developing largest data drive ever, with 120 petabytes of bliss originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>120 petabyte120Petabytebackupbruce hillsbergBruceHillsbergcomputer scienceComputerSciencecomputingdatadata backupdata driveDataBackupDataDrivedrivegigabyteGPFShard disk driveHardDiskDriveHDDibmindexpetabyteprocessingresearchsciencespacespeedsupercomputersupercomputingFri, 26 Aug 2011 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM's cognitive computing chip functions like a human brain, heralds our demise (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/ibms-cognitive-computing-chip-functions-like-a-human-brain-her/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/ibms-cognitive-computing-chip-functions-like-a-human-brain-her/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/18/ibms-cognitive-computing-chip-functions-like-a-human-brain-her/#comments
After having created a supercomputer capable of hanging with Jeopardy's finest, IBM has now taken another step toward human-like artificial intelligence, with an experimental chip designed to function like a real brain. Developed as part of a DARPA project called SyNAPSE (Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics), IBM's so-called "neurosynaptic computing chip" features a silicon core capable of digitally replicating the brain's neurons, synapses and axons. To achieve this, researchers took a dramatic departure from the conventional von Neumann computer architecture, which links internal memory and a processor with a single data channel. This structure allows for data to be transmitted at high, but limited rates, and isn't especially power efficient -- especially for more sophisticated, scaled-up systems. Instead, IBM integrated memory directly within its processors, wedding hardware with software in a design that more closely resembles the brain's cognitive structure. This severely limits data transfer speeds, but allows the system to execute multiple processes in parallel (much like humans do), while minimizing power usage. IBM's two prototypes have already demonstrated the ability to navigate, recognize patterns and classify objects, though the long-term goal is to create a smaller, low-power chip that can analyze more complex data and, yes, learn. Scurry past the break for some videos from IBM's researchers, along with the full press release.

Continue reading IBM's cognitive computing chip functions like a human brain, heralds our demise (video)

IBM's cognitive computing chip functions like a human brain, heralds our demise (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architectureaxonbrainchipcognitivecognitive computing chipCognitiveComputingChipcomputingCPUDARPAdesignibmibm researchIbmResearchlearningmemoryneuronneuroscienceneurosynaptic computing chipNeurosynapticComputingChipparallelpowerprocessorprototyperesearchsupercomputersynapsesynapsesthinkingvideovon neumannVonNeumannwatsonThu, 18 Aug 2011 10:06:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM exec says PC is 'going the way of the typewriter,' kills our birthday buzz]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/ibm-exec-says-pc-is-going-the-way-of-the-typewriter-kills-our/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/ibm-exec-says-pc-is-going-the-way-of-the-typewriter-kills-our/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/ibm-exec-says-pc-is-going-the-way-of-the-typewriter-kills-our/#comments Well, this is awkward. As the IBM PC celebrates its 30th birthday today, one of its original designers is already mulling the end of its reign. In a blog post penned this week, Mark Dean, IBM's CTO for the Middle East and Africa, reflected on the dawn of the desktop era and looked forward to its seemingly inevitable demise.

"When I helped design the PC, I didn't think I'd live long enough to witness its decline. But, while PCs will continue to be much-used devices, they're no longer at the leading edge of computing. They're going the way of the vacuum tube, typewriter, vinyl records, CRT and incandescent light bulbs."

Dean added that he's glad his company sold its PC business to Lenovo in 2005, as part of a move that, according to him, allowed IBM to position itself at the forefront of the "post-PC" era. No word yet on when the funeral rites will be held, but you can read the full post at the source link, below.

IBM exec says PC is 'going the way of the typewriter,' kills our birthday buzz originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversaryarchaicbirthdaycomputercomputingdesktopibmibm pcIbmPcincandescent light bulbIncandescentLightBulblenovomark deanMarkDeanmarketpcpc eraPcErapersonal computerPersonalComputerpost-pcquotetablettypewriterFri, 12 Aug 2011 13:31:00 EST<![CDATA[The IBM PC turns 30, we hurt our hands giving it birthday punches]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/the-ibm-pc-turns-30-we-hurt-our-hands-giving-it-birthday-punche/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/the-ibm-pc-turns-30-we-hurt-our-hands-giving-it-birthday-punche/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/12/the-ibm-pc-turns-30-we-hurt-our-hands-giving-it-birthday-punche/#comments IBM PC turns 30
Thirty years ago today IBM officially ushered in what many consider to be the modern computing era with the 5150. What ultimately became known simply as the IBM PC was the first machine to run a Microsoft operating system (the recently acquired PC-DOS) on an Intel processor (the 4.77MHz 8088) and inspired countless clones. The bare-bones model, which cost $1,565, was cheap enough to become a serious commercial success, and spawned an entire cottage industry of machines that touted their IBM-PC compatibility. We won't spend too much time recounting the story of how IBM's decision to build a computer with off the shelf components and commercially available software forged a standard whose descent survives to this day in the form of Wintel. But, if you're feeling a little nostalgic, you can read the original PR from August 12, 1981 just after the break.

Continue reading The IBM PC turns 30, we hurt our hands giving it birthday punches

The IBM PC turns 30, we hurt our hands giving it birthday punches originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8088dosIBMIBM 5150ibm 5150 pcIBM PCibm personal computerIbm5150Ibm5150PcIbmPcIbmPersonalComputerintelintel 8088Intel8088microsoftmicrosoft dosMicrosoftDosms-dospc-dosFri, 12 Aug 2011 11:37:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM and Portland team up to see into city's future]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/ibm-and-portland-team-up-to-see-into-citys-future/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/ibm-and-portland-team-up-to-see-into-citys-future/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/ibm-and-portland-team-up-to-see-into-citys-future/#comments
Is it possible to see into a city's future? Perhaps, if you're backed by a company like IBM. The computing giant has teamed up with Portland, Oregon for its Systems Dynamics for Smarter Cities program, creating a simulation of the city (a veritable "Sim City," as it were), so governmental leaders can see the ways in which public policies might affect its future. IBM approached the northwestern cultural mecca back in 2009, working with representatives from a number of professions, including teachers, economists, city planners, and business leaders in the interim. The information collected was combined with governmental data to create a computer-based model of the city. Among other things, city leaders have used the model to work out a plan to reduce the city's carbon emissions 80 percent by the year 2050. Add in a guide to those famous Portland food carts and we'll be 100 percent behind the project.

Continue reading IBM and Portland team up to see into city's future

IBM and Portland team up to see into city's future originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon emissionsCarbonEmissionsibmoregonportlandsmart citiesSmartCitiessystem dynamics for smarter citiesSystemDynamicsForSmarterCitiesTue, 09 Aug 2011 22:22:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM and NCSA end their Blue Waters affair, go back to just being supercomputing friends]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/ibm-and-ncsa-end-their-blue-waters-affair-go-back-to-just-being/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/ibm-and-ncsa-end-their-blue-waters-affair-go-back-to-just-being/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/ibm-and-ncsa-end-their-blue-waters-affair-go-back-to-just-being/#comments It seems that IBM and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois have hit a snag in their once fruitful relationship. After nearly four years of partnering for the Blue Waters petascale supercomputer, the NCSA's recently released a joint statement explaining that IBM's "terminated" its involvement with the project. If you'll recall, IBM was supplying its latest Power7 rigs to get all that data flowing, but the company's now decided that Ol' Blue will require more resources than initially anticipated. Apparently, there were talks to try and keep the spark alive, but since those fell through both have decided to return each others CDs and hoodies assets involved with the project (per contract terms): IBM gives back the money, while the NCSA returns any hardware supplied. The two plan on remaining in touch for future endeavours, and the NCSA doesn't appear to be too down either as it'll be consulting with the National Science Foundation to keep Blue Waters afloat. You'll find the official statement in the source link below, but we've included a video rendition of how we'd like to imagine it past the break.

[Photo credit: kosheahan]

Continue reading IBM and NCSA end their Blue Waters affair, go back to just being supercomputing friends

IBM and NCSA end their Blue Waters affair, go back to just being supercomputing friends originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>45nmblue watersBlueWatersCPUeDRAMHot ChipsHotChipsIbmibm power 780IbmPower780microprocessormultithreadingncsapercspetafloppower 780 serverPower7Power780ServerpowervmprocessorRISCserverssimultaneous multithreadingSimultaneousMultithreadingSMTsuper computersuper computingSuperComputerSuperComputinguniversity of illinoisUniversityOfIllinoisuscaTue, 09 Aug 2011 12:45:00 EST