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Intel swings 25nm factory doors open for a tour de fab
Intel and Micron's recent announcement that their collective superhero body, appropriately named IM Flash, is sampling 25nm flash chips has been accompanied with a whirlwind tour of their Utah production facilities for a few lucky journalists. PC Perspective bring us the atmospheric photo above, along with some videos, as they prance about one of the most hallowed (and cleanest) environments known to gadget lovers. Apart from the die shrink, the lads also discuss Intel's reputed plans for a G3 SSD refresh some time "later this year" with snappier controllers onboard, which apparently was echoed by Micron who also intend to pump out faster processors with their SSD products. While you wait for all that to happen, hit the source link to find out how and where the stuff that gets put inside SSDs is made.
Flash beta update, Perian gets a refresh
There were two minor video plug-in related updates last night. First Adobe released a new beta of their Flash Player 10.1 beta 2 (this on the heels of a set of security patches for the stable release version last week). Flash 10.1 is introducing a host of new features, but is primarily aimed at the mobile market. Among the biggest new features in 10.1 will be the ability for developers to create multi-touch aware Flash content for a wide range of devices. Looks like Adobe is still hoping to prove Flash worthy for Apple for use on the iPhone. Along with this beta release Adobe has reminded us that they are abandoning the G3 processor after this upcoming version of Flash. In the release notes [PDF] and in last week's security announcement, Adobe says: Note: The Adobe Flash Player 10.1 release, expected in the first half of 2010, will be the last version to support Macintosh PowerPC-based G3 computers. Adobe will be discontinuing support of PowerPC- based G3 computers and will no longer provide security updates after the Flash Player 10.1 release. This unavailability is due to performance enhancements that cannot be supported on the older PowerPC architecture. I'm all for moving forward with tech, and G3 are ancient by today's standards anyway. Besides, how many people will this decision actually affect? In other plugin news, Perian, which we've mentioned several times here on TUAW, has been updated to version 1.2. Perian enables QuickTime support for additional media types, including: AVI, FLV, and MKV file formats MS-MPEG4 v1 & v2, DivX, 3ivx, H.264, FLV/Sorenson Spark, FSV1, VP6, H263i, VP3, HuffYUV, FFVHuff, MPEG1 & MPEG2 Video, Fraps, Windows Media Audio v1 & v2, Flash ADPCM, Xiph Vorbis (in Matroska), and MPEG Layer II Audio AVI support for: AAC, AC3 Audio, H.264, MPEG4, and VBR MP3 Subtitle support for SSA/ASS and SRT This is Perian's first major update since Snow Leopard has arrived. While there are no big new features, it's always nice to see an update after a big OS upgrade just to know that everything works on the new system.
Etsy creator turns old Macs into new clocks
Here's one really cool way to recycle an old Mac. Etsy seller pixelthis has turned the panels of retired Macs into clocks. pixelthis has already sold one clock made from the side of a G3. The seller currently has a clock made from the side panel of a G4 for $59USD and from the front cover of a G4 for $57USD. There are other unique clocks including those made from hard drives, circuitboards, bicycle wheels and old records. [Via Macgasm thanks to Josh for the tip!]
Safa rolls out accelerometer-equipped G3 PMP
Safa's PMPs haven't always done that much to distinguish themselves from the masses of nondescript players out there, but it looks to have stepped up its game slightly with its new G3 model, which not only looks decent enough, but packs a still-not-all-that-common accelerometer to boot. Apart from that somewhat notable feature, you can expect to get a 3-inch touchscreen, 4GB or 8GB of storage, a built-in microphone, an FM tuner, support for all the usual audio / video formats, and a promised 15 hours of battery life for audio and four hours for video. No word on a price or release date just yet, but if Safa's past PMPs are any indication, you can expect this one to remain a Korean-exclusive.[Via Le Journal du Geek]
Huawei U8230 Android phone officially launched at CommunicAsia
Remember that mysterious Huawei Android number from MWC? It's all grown up and officially launched as the U8230 now. Specs are still maddeningly ambiguous, however -- the only hard info we've got is a 3.5-inch touchscreen and a 1500mAH battery, which is said to be the largest battery "among Android-powered handsets currently available." Considering the only set that's really out there is the notoriously battery-poor G1, that's not such a radical claim, but we'd sure love to test this one out in person when this launches (perhaps on T-Mobile?) alongside the 2.8-inch Windows Mobile-powered C8000 later this year.
HTC Hero caught flashing some Android in the wild?
Remember that shockingly pink (false color, we presume) Hero that was allegedly part of HTC's planned Android lineup for 2009? CodeAndroid appears to have nabbed the first in-the-wild shots of the very phone, and it's got every bit as much "chin" in real life as it did in those fuchsia renders. That could be good or bad news depending on just how strongly you feel about the G1's unforgettable cosmetics, but also notable here is that we appear to have an honest-to-goodness 3.5mm headphone jack up top -- a first for an HTC Android device -- and an utter lack of any d-pad. The trackball is certainly gone, so unless there's some wild touch-sensitive area below the screen, it seems like the touchscreen might be the only way to navigate. How this phone ultimately stacks up against its stablemates when it hits the market later this year remains to be seen, but at a quick glance, we'd say the Magic's looking more like a beauty queen than ever.
T-Mobile market testing terrible names for the HTC Magic / Sapphire
We're not sure why T-Mobile would be market-testing names other than "G2" for its upcoming HTC Sapphire, but it apparently is -- and if these leaked slides are to be believed, it's not doing so well on the ideas front. Seriously: "T-Mobile Genius 3G with Google" and "Prism 3G with Google" both trade in the well-known G-series branding for banal anonymity, and "myTouch 3G with Google" just sounds like a skin disease that's gone from bad to worse. Interestingly, "T-Mobile G3" is also on the list, which makes us wonder if there's a less-drastic G2 model in the works, but that's pure speculation on our part -- what we do know is that we'd take Vodafone's Magic branding over any of these other sad options in a heartbeat.
Huawei to release T-mobile Android G3 in late 2009... probably
This is all starting to sound semi-official, but still a little vague. Huawei's mysterious Android device -- first spotted at MWC -- is apparently headed out on T-Mobile in late 2009, as reportedly confirmed by a Huawei spokesperson. The same details we've previously heard, including the 5 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headphone jack and WiFi -- are still on the list, though nothing new is emerging thus far. It also seems to be called the G3, but again, it's hard to say if that name is official or not. We'll let you know when we hear something more concrete, but until then... just keep marvelling at the buttonless wonder you see above.
Dell to offer laptops with Qualcomm's Gobi EV-DO / HSPA chipset
HP's already jumped on board, and it looks like Qualcomm's now also managed to convince Dell of the merits of its Gobi dual-3G chipset, which will soon be finding its way into a variety of Latitude, Precision, and other unspecified consumer laptops. For those not up to speed, that welcome addition will let you connect to both EV-DO and HSPA networks the world over without having to carry two different mobile broadband cards with you, with switching between the two as easy as flipping a software switch. Unfortunately, there's no word on the exact models that'll be getting the upgrade, nor is there any word on how much extra it'll cost or exactly when it'll be available, with Dell only going so far as to say that they'll be available "later this year."
GE unveils the geotagging 10 megapixel E1050, eight other new cams
We've harshed on GE's cameras before, but the company showed up at PMA with a new model called the E1050 (pictured) that's actually pretty slick. The 10 megapixel shooter features a 5x optical zoom, HD-res video mode, HDMI out, a 3-inch touchscreen, and an integrated GPS radio that syncs up with your computer to automatically geotag your shots. All for just $249 -- even if thing takes just average pictures, that's quite a bargain. We'll have a hands-on soon, and read on for specs on the rest of GE's 2008 lineup, all of which include face and blink detection.
G3 video game charity event involves ... shooting
"Welcome to G3 -- the biggest thing in the videogames industry" claims their website. The three Gs are guns, games, and giving. On May 4th in the UK, charitable shooters can pay £1250 for a team of five to enter, and be treated to a schedule filled with activities like: 0900 -- Arrive Gosterwood Manor shooting grounds – consume bacon butties / tea / coffee 1020 -- Start shooting the 10 stands 1200 -- Break for lunch at The Parrot 1400 -- Return to shooting grounds, complete the 10 stands 1615 -- Tea, prizes, boasting, exaggeration Thankfully the money is going to the Entertainment Software Charity, so if you're in the UK, you want to hobnob with some game executives, shoot a few rounds, and explore your philanthropic side all at the same time, then you're pretty much covered. Pull!
Macintosh G3 vs. a 45-foot cliff
Have you ever gotten to the point where you just wanted to take your out-of-date Macintosh and toss it over a cliff? Bill Detwiler over at TechRepublic decided to just that. In a series of pictures that he calls "G3 versus the cliff", Detweiler reveals how the G3 stood up to a 45-foot fall. Unfortunately, the G3 didn't sustain nearly as much damage as one might have hoped. A 45-foot cliff isn't in the same league as, say, a steam roller or a blender.[Via Digg.]
Weekend Review: This week's rigs
Each week, we recap the Rigs of the Day that have graced our pages over the past seven days, and crown a "Rig of the Week." Here is the current entry. It's a rather short list this time around, folks.GeoffMyers showed the Blue and White G3 that he painted black this week, and Brendan Lynch posted a shot of the wall-mounted a display he connected to his MacBook. Both are great, but we're going with Brendan's set up for Rig of the Week. Well done.If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. We select one image to highlight each day, and crown a Rig of the Week on Sundays.
Rig of the Day: The black Blue and White G3
While perusing our Flickr pool this morning, we decided, "It's time for a mod post." Behold the Blue and White G3 that's been painted black. It looks pretty good, Geoff."Power Mac G3 Black Mod" posted by GeoffMyers. If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. We select one image to highlight each day, and crown a Rig of the Week on Sundays.
Rig of the Day: Hand me that screwdriver
How do you ensure that your kids will grow up to be Mac addicts? Start them early. This kid is well on his way (though his work methods still seem a bit crude)."Kid exploring BW G3" posted by OndraSoukup.If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. We select one image to highlight each day, and crown a Rig of the Week on Sundays.
Logitech launches steering wheels and G-series inputs
Logitech showed up at E3 with a steering wheel of their own, the G25 system. And let us say, this thing is probably nicer than the wheel on our own automobile -- well, when we still had it. Their $299.99 rig features a leather-wrapped 11-inch wheel with 900° rotation, paddle shifters, dual-motor force feedback, and a very nice external clicky six-speed shifter. This'll be ready to roll in early October, long before the July launches of the force-feedback equipped DriveFX Wheel (shown after the break) for the Xbox 360, which will go for $99, and more entry level G-series devices Logitech's rolling out, such as the G3 laser mouse and G11 keyboard (which is basically the G15 with no display).
Rig of the Day: Powerbooks
Today's Rig shot features three vintage PowerBooks: A PowerBook Duo 2300c, a PowerBook G3 (bronze keyboard) and a PowerBook 3400c, all up and running. I've got a 3400c myself that I intend to turn into a picture frame some day (because I have so much free time). I was once given a Powerbook 150 for helping a friend paint a fence, which I used at my desk for Excel and Word back when I was a teacher. "Powerbooks" posted by End User. For the month of April, the theme for our Rig of the Day will be "Vintage Macs" in honor of Apple's anniversary. If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. Let's see your vintage Macs (Apples and Newtons, too)! We'll select an image every day to highlight.
Rig of the Day: One more headless Powerbook
Ok, I just couldn't resist one posting one more Powerbook minus its display. Open the door, slide out the tray and your media center "flat Mac" is ready. Let this image be a reminder: Whoever says to you, "That old Mac is useless" just isn't a very inventive person."mp3b" posted by Henri Smeets.If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. We'll select an image every day to highlight.
