components
Latest
Foxconn parent company raising prices for Apple, others
This is the downside of being Apple -- just as they get prices and costs to where they want them, those same prices and costs tend to go up again. Foxconn's parent company Hon Hai has reported that it will raise its manufacturing prices in China, directly affecting Apple's and other companies' costs over there. The company is reportedly trying to push profits up for the last quarter of this year, and aims to raise sales by as much as 30% next year. Of course, this probably isn't a surprise for Apple -- given how closely the company researches and follows component costs, this is likely something already baked in to their strategy (and even if it's not, $40 billion in cash tends to help out with unseen charges). But it's a clear reminder that costs aren't fixed for these devices at all -- just because Apple secures pricing on one processor or screen doesn't mean they'll have that same opportunity next year. It shows you a little bit of just how difficult it is to do what Apple has done, and coordinate all of these parts and companies to make a great product at a salable price.
Analyst: Apple has created 'overwhelming' lead for iPad
Now, let's be honest: the burgeoning tablet market is not a race. But if it was, says analyst Chris Whitmore of Deutsche Bank, the iPad would be winning. We're going to see quite a few tablet devices come to market before all is said and done, including the Blackberry PlayBook and products from manufacturers like Dell, Microsoft, and maybe Google. Even after those other tablets come out, Whitmore says the iPad's lead is going to be tough to overcome quickly, if ever. "We expect the slew of upcoming competition to fall flat from a user experience standpoint while struggl[ing] to materially undercut the iPad on price," Whitmore reported. User experience is a no-brainer -- that's something Apple has always done well, and it's arguable that the iPad is its finest hardware from an accessibility standpoint. But price is something else; Apple has made deals and even manufactured its own chip to create the tantalizing mix of performance and cost found in the iPad. Other manufacturers will have trouble doing the same, especially with the lead Apple already has. According to Whitmore, the App Store has also given Apple a head start on applications, deals with media companies have brought big-name content to the platform, and a slew of competition versus Apple's one-device strategy will create problems for anyone attempting to climb the tablet mountain. That's not to say that there can't be another successful tablet, it's just that if anyone wants to have another iPad, they've got a lot of work ahead of them. That's not surprising -- Apple has already reaped the benefits of its early grab at a tablet-style computer, and there are much more earnings where those came from. [via MDN]
Tokyo Hackerspace gives you the insider's guide to Akihabara in a twenty-three part video tour
Remember when we took you on a sweeping video tour of China's gadget markets? Tokyo Hackerspace has done the same for Japan, with a video guide to that electronics mecca called Akihabara -- complete with Google Maps coordinates. Join them as they test out servo-filled creatures at the RT Robot Shop, dig through Akizuki Denshi for chips, and hit up Super Potato (an Engadget favorite) for stacks of retro game consoles and rows upon rows of classic cartridges and discs. Find one video sample after the break, and twenty-two other fantastic destinations at our source link. [Thanks, Dan]
AMD's Bobcat and Bulldozer, 2011 flagship CPU cores, detailed today
One of these days AMD is gonna have to stop talking about its Atom-killing Bobcat and Xeon-ending Bulldozer cores and finally release them. But, until that happy moment arrives in 2011 (fingers crossed), we'll have to content ourselves with more presentation slides. First up, the Bobcat core is AMD's long overdue play for the netbook/ultrathin market. Pitched as having 90 percent of the performance of current-gen, K8-based mainstream chips, AMD's new mobility core will require "less than half the area and a fraction of the power" of its predecessors. That sounds like just the recipe to make the company relevant in laptop purchasing decisions again, while a touted ability for the core to run on less than one watt of power (by lowering operating frequencies and voltages, and therefore performance) could see it appear in even smaller form factors, such as MIDs. The Bobcat's now all set to become the centerpiece of the Ontario APU -- AMD's first Fusion chip, ahead of Llano -- which will be ramping up production late this year, in time for an early 2011 arrival. The Bulldozer also has a future in the Fusion line, but it's earliest role will be as a standalone CPU product for servers and high-end consumer markets. The crafty thing about its architecture is that every one Bulldozer module will be counted as two cores. This is because AMD has split its internal processing pipelines into two (while sharing as many internal components as possible), resulting in a sort of multicore-within-the-core arrangement. The way the company puts it, it's multithreading done right. Interlagos is the codename of the first Opteron chips to sport this new core, showing up at some point next year in a 16-core arrangement (that's 8 Bulldozers, if you're keeping score at home) and promising 50 percent better performance than the current Magny-Cours flagship. Big words, AMD. Now let's see you stick to a schedule for once.%Gallery-100088%
Hardware photography contest unearths a treasure trove of geeky creativity
Who'd have thunk it, setting geeks loose with their cameras can actually produce some outstanding results. A recent photography contest held by the Tech Report fellas has come up with a wideranging selection of ultra-geeky imagery; whether you want humorous compositions like the metallic soap opera above, arty monochromatic mood shots, or intimate closeups of classic chips, it's all in there. Our personal favorite has to be the dramatic interplay between a desperate Ethernet card and a CAT5 cable -- you can see it after the break, but we recommend feasting your eyes on the full set at the source link.
iPhone 4 to have 512MB of RAM, double the 3GS and iPad?
Apple has traditionally been -- how shall we put it -- cagey with revealing memory and CPU specifics of its mobile devices, but MacRumors is today reporting its discovery that the fourth-gen iPhone's RAM apportionment will be a very healthy 512MB. We've heard similar rumblings from reliable sources of our own. What it means is that iPhone 4 users can look forward to not only the same processor (though potentially at a lower speed) as their iPad compatriots, but also double the memory allowance. Of course, this will hardly be the first handset to offer half a gig for the OS to dance inside, but at least Apple's keeping up with the times. Wouldn't wanna disappoint all those pre-orderers now, would we?
Captain's Log: Difficulty settings and the injury system
Ahoy, fellow officers! I trust you all enjoyed your long weekend of shore leave and sightseeing. And I hope those of you not morally opposed to microtransactions took advantage of the C-Store sale -- I'm still waiting for Cryptic Studios to add playable Catullans, complete with space grooviness. So, with spirits and warp cores recharged, it's time again for Captain's Log, Massively's weekly voyage into the far reaches of Star Trek Online. Last week, we learned about selecting your first starship. This week, let's talk about what happens when you get that ship blown to smithereens. Brace yourself, because we're about to explore the exciting world of difficulty sliders and death penalties!
Kingston's 2,400MHz HyperX memory kit offers the world's fastest Intel-certified RAM
For those among us finding it hard to decide what blisteringly fast DDR3 sticks to pair with their Core i7, Intel has decided to do its own compatibility certification list (see link below). And since the happiest memory maker is usually the one atop the pile, we have to imagine Kingston is feeling pretty sunny right now, as its 2.4GHz HyperX memory kit has scooped the top spot away from Corsair's 2.33GHz offering. Running at 1.65 volts and offering 9-11-9-27-2 timings, this is now officially the RAM to own if you're after headline-grabbing stock speeds. We also love the fact Kingston acknowledges "benchmarkers" as a distinct group alongside gamers and enthusiasts -- finally some appreciation for those misunderstood souls. Whatever you describe yourself as, you'll be able to get on the latest speed bandwagon in the second quarter of this year. Full PR after the break.
Component shortages lead analysts to forecast rise in prices of personal electronics
As you might well know, we're not the biggest fans of analyst blather, but this piece of research by Gartner is backed by some substantial numbers. The FT reports that DRAM prices have recently risen by 23 percent, followed closely by LCD prices with a 20 percent jump, both in response to the financial crisis the whole globe seems to be suffering from. Because the effects of recently renewed investment in capacity building won't be felt for a while, we're told to prepare for higher prices throughout this year -- a significant combo breaker from the previous decade's average of around 7.8 percent drops. Oh well, let's just cling to the encouraging signs for the future and ignore this bump on the road to gadget nirvana. [Thanks, Ben W]
Rumor du jour: Apple ordering 10" tablet screens
Another week, another day, another round of tablet rumors for the now all-but-confirmed January event. The latest news bouncing around the Interwebs is that Apple has placed an order with panel supplier Innolux for a bevy of 10" touch panels to stick in the new devices, be they called iSlate or whatever the marketing team eventually hits on the dart board. This vibes with what we'd heard earlier about the screen being either 7 or 10" in the diagonal, and it reveals a little bit more about the process: apparently Apple wanted to go with this release earlier, but they were concerned about the strength of the glass. Now they've got the stronger glass they need, so supposedly the rumors on the wind say they're ready for a January announcement, with a release coming in March or April. They've even got another supplier lined up to crank out even more of these screens if needed. A translated WSJ article also says a Taiwanese company called Chang Uei Precision has been signed up to provide "connectors" for the device, but that sounds quite vague and they say a release isn't planned until Q3 of next year. As always, this all remains hearsay -- Apple hasn't even officially announced an event in January yet, much less hinted that they'll be releasing a revolutionary tablet-style device. So remember what Grandma said about counting chickens before they hatch, and don't. But if any of these rumors prove to be true, it'll be an interesting 2010. [via Engadget]
iSuppli estimates the iPhone 3GS costs $179 to make
Did you know that after it is broken down into all of its composite metals and materials and parts, your human body is really only worth about $4.50? Yup, you're cheap in the broadest sense -- all of that oxygen, magnesium, iron, and sodium isn't actually worth all that much in the rare metals market. In fact, according to iSuppli, you're worth way less than the iPhone 3GS -- they looked at the component parts for Apple's new handset, and calculated its raw value at around $178.96. The most expensive components are the 16gb flash memory (ringing in at around $25 per part) and the display (at $19), all the way down to the audio codec board, which Apple reportedly picked up for a cheap $1.15. Of course, there was lots more cheaper stuff (we assume the screws weren't a buck each), but iSuppli didn't actually go that granular. That also doesn't include any of the non-hardware costs: shipping fees, R&D, distribution, marketing, and so on. But it's way more than you're worth, and it's $40 more than the Palm Pre costs to make, too.Lest you start worrying that your spouse will start valuing their iPhone more than your body, however, there is a silver lining. If you break down to the mineral components of the human body, we're cheap, but the actual components of the body are pretty expensive, it turns out. Expensive to the tune of $45 million, if you count up all the money you could pick up from taking out your bone marrow, extracting your DNA, and selling off a lung or two. Just like the iPhone's parts, when assembled, are worth more than iSuppli's $179, you too pick up some value when assembled the right way.[via Engadget]
Ask Engadget HD: Which in-wall speakers for under $1,000?
No two ways about it, we'd all like to have unlimited space and unlimited funds to get our home theater space together, but that isn't always the case. We've dealt with space constraints before, but it looks like Dan has a slightly different consideration: "I recently moved into a new home and space is limited in my new home theater room so i was wondering if you guys could tell me what you think are the best in-wall speakers for under 1000 bucks for the front three. (all ready have rears) little background i have a Onkyo TX-805, PS3, DirecTV HD-DVR, and a 58" Samsung plasma." We've covered a variety of in-wall audio components that might fit his price range, but we want to know which ones you would choose, let us know in the comments. Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Nintendo increases order with MotionPlus component maker
While the rest of the world is in the middle of a recession, Nintendo's got more money coming in than ever, and it appears that they don't see that changing any time soon. According to Digitimes, Nintendo has increased the quantity of an order with a company called Invensense, who makes the rate gyroscope used in the upcoming MotionPlus peripheral.This suggests that Nintendo is increasing their estimate of MotionPlus demand -- and probably increasing their expectations for the sales of Wii Sports Resort. Either that or they are ramping up production of MotionPlus according to an existing plan. Something (let's call it "history") tells us that even their augmented production won't keep up with demand for 2009's big-big-big Nintendo product.%Gallery-27709%[Via Kotaku]
Making/Money: Newbs at Auction
... And we're not talking about selling accounts on eBay. One of the most frustrating aspects of being a new player in an established game, to my mind, is the cost of start-up crafting materials. Hit up any public market area, auction house, trade square or similar as a newbie and you will see what I mean. Even low-level items of any use (i.e. not vendor trash) are sold for seemingly absurd amounts given the time that would be required at early levels in order to generate the money. It can make the start of a new character infuriating and the game too taxing (pun fully intended) to continue. Why does this happen? What makes these things so costly? Why can't we all just get along...? (Oh wait, that's another column entirely)
Tabula Rasa crafting made easier with disassembly chart
One of the most bewildering aspects of Tabula Rasa (and believe me, there are many) is the almost inexplicably difficult crafting system, which not only turns out weapon modifications that are close to useless in combat, but also requires a style of component micro-management that borders on the insane. Part of the problem is that the only way to get most components is by breaking down other weapons, with no clear guide as to what parts you can expect to get out of the deal. So for most people, you end up with a footlocker full of strange-sounding parts, and somehow still end up without the parts you need to fill those recipes.Alpha Wolf Wonderlus over at Tabula Rasa Vault has done us all an enormous favor by posting a disassembled item chart that shows what sort of components you're liable to get from a weapon with a given modification. It's still only a matter of probability whether you'll get a certain item, but it's good to know where to start looking if you've got a specific modification in mind.This will come in handy if I ever make it to level 50 and make a crafting clone, which is just about the only time that crafting in Tabula Rasa is viable. Since crafting talent points are drawn from the same pool as combat abilities, most people don't bother trying crafting until after level 30, when it becomes possible to make a clone with all the crafting talents maxed out. Still, it's neat!
Wii making parts makers rich, rich we tell you
Not everything inside the Wii, or its motion-sensing controls, is owned by Nintendo. There's a lot of stuff in there that belongs to other companies, and those components are making these other companies very rich. In particular, two companies that have parts in the Wiimote and nunchuk, the US-based Analog Devices and Italian-French company STMicroelectronics. Think about it, Nintendo may have 10 million Wiis out there, but there are far more Wiimotes and nunchuks. Analog Devices had to convert one of its plants into a fully-dedicated Wiimote sensor facility. STMicroelectronics is in the process of increasing sensor production near Milan -- hmm, they're the ones responsible for the sensor in the nunchuk. Wonder if they're to blame for the nunchuk shortage of '06? With Nintendo raising it's Wii shipping estimate to 16.5 million by the end of their fiscal year next March, those parts companies better not stop the flow. It's still hard enough getting the console as is.[Via GameDaily]
Sony lightens PS2 components by almost a third
Unlike Microsoft, which dropped the original Xbox in favor of the Xbox 360 in manner similar to Paris Hilton dropping her old cellphone, Sony has continued to maintain the PlayStation 2. Somehow, Sony has managed to make a new iteration of the PS2 that decreases the console's weight by almost a third: they've trimmed the console itself down to 600 grams from 900 grams, and the power adapter to 250 grams from 350 grams. The external design of the console is unchanged, but the lower weight and the new components should decrease production and shipping costs. Not bad for an old console that continues to sell well (and sell for more than the value of its components, at that).
Teardown reveals iPhone parts cost two bills
Unlike video game consoles, phones are typically profitable to manufacture from day one and it turns out that the iPhone is no exception -- far from it, in fact. Teardown specialists at Portelligent claim that the 4GB iPhone runs Apple just $200 worth of components, while the 8GB adds an extra $20, not far off at all from iSuppli's slightly higher estimates from January. Granted those tallies don't include the actual cost of assembling the device -- but even so, those numbers are very far cries from the $500 and $600 asking prices at the register, leaving a healthy $299 and $379 respectively (of which an overwhelming majority are $379) for profit and miscellaneous costs. Interestingly, Portelligent's unceremonious destruction of an iPhone in the name of research revealed no further proof that Hon Hai / Foxconn is the ODM responsible for assembling the darned thing.
Request for stay on Qualcomm chip import ban refused
The battle between Qualcomm and Broadcom over the former company's status in the states has taken a turn for the worse from Qualcomm's perspective, as a judge here denies a stay on the import ban of Qualcomm chips. The ban is related to a patent dispute with Broadcom, which won a case against Qualcomm a year ago, resulting in an import ban on chips that help conserve power in cellphones. It seems as if the ban will remain in place thanks to this ruling, which reaffirms the earlier enforcement of a ban on top of a nearly $20 million settlement between the two companies. So far it's hard to judge the effects of the ruling -- there certainly hasn't been a shortage of 3G handsets in the country (or has there?) -- since the ban went into effect, but since we're sitting behind a sheen of consumerism, it's not like we're in the best position to notice.
An explanation for random MacBook shutdowns?
Blogger Martin Backschat has more or less translated a German article that takes a stab at trying to figure out what is going on with this random MacBook shutdown issue. One only needs to check out MacBook Random Shutdown.com or comb the archives of digg and Apple discussion forums to grasp how many are plagued by this dark game of workflow Russian roulette, but we have yet to hear even a peep from Apple as to what the problem is, and how they're going to fix it.Martin says the theory centers on a cable that runs between the heat sensor and the CPU's heat sink being too short. The heat sink expands when operating the MacBook, which causes it to contact the heat sensor's cable and melt its insulation - hence, a short circuit and a shutdown. Once the MacBook is no longer running, the heat sink cools down and contracts during the process, breaking the short circuit and allowing the machine to boot again (this expansion and contraction can happen pretty quickly, so it would make sense if your machine can boot almost immediately after shutdown). It's a twisted game these components play with each other for sure, and we're all hoping for some kind of a statement or - ideally - a solution from Apple soon. The more widespread and publicized this issue becomes, the farther away these Macs will get from their 'it just works' reputation. Something tells us 'it just works - until it decides not to and randomly shut down, blowing away all your work' wouldn't roll off Justin Long's tongue nearly as well.[via digg]
