Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, has overhauled the basic building block of the information age, paving the way for a new generation of faster and more energy-efficient processors.

 Mark Bohr, an Intel physicist who led the research, holds a 45-nanometer wafer using new metal alloys that led the insulation advance.

Related Intel 45-Nanometer Transistor Technology (intel.com)

Company researchers said the advance represented the most significant change in the materials used to manufacture silicon chips since Intel pioneered the modern integrated-circuit transistor more than four decades ago.

The microprocessor chips, which Intel plans to begin making in the second half of this year, are designed for computers but they could also have applications in consumer devices. Their combination of processing power and energy efficiency could make it possible, for example, for cellphones to play video at length — a demanding digital task — with less battery drain.

The work by Intel overcomes a potentially crippling technical obstacle that has arisen as a transistor’s tiny switches are made ever smaller: their tendency to leak current as the insulating material gets thinner. The Intel advance uses new metallic alloys in the insulation itself and in adjacent components.

Word of the announcement, which is planned for Monday, touched off a war of dueling statements as I.B.M. rushed to announce that it was on the verge of a similar advance.

I.B.M. executives said their company was planning to introduce a comparable type of transistor in the first quarter of 2008.

Many industry analysts say that Intel retains a six-month to nine-month lead over the rest of the industry, but I.B.M. executives disputed the claim and said the two companies were focused on different markets in the computing industry.

The I.B.M. technology has been developed in partnership with Advanced Micro Devices, Intel’s main rival. Modern microprocessor and memory chips are created from an interconnected fabric of hundreds of millions and even billions of the tiny switches that process the ones and zeros that are the foundation of digital computing.

They are made using a manufacturing process that has been constantly improving for more than four decades. Today transistors, for example, are made with systems that can create wires and other features that are finer than the resolving power of a single wavelength of light.

The Intel announcement is new evidence that the chip maker is maintaining the pace of Moore’s Law, the technology axiom that states that the number of transistors on a chip doubles roughly every two years, giving rise to a constant escalation of computing power at lower costs.

“This is evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary, but it will generate a big sigh of relief,” said Vivek Subramanian, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences at the University of California, Berkeley.

Read the rest of the story at The New York Times (Free Registration Required)

What Content Will Be Crippled When Output in Vista?

There are tons of people out there not understanding all of this “Vista DRM”, mainly because of less than accurate media reporting.  That’s completely understandable, but lets run down a quick list here of some of the popular content out there.

DVD Rip (DivX, XivD, etc) downloaded from Bit Torrent/IRC/etc:  Output at whatever resolution you want.  No restrictions.  Works the same as Windows XP. Don’t pirate stuff!

DVD Rip (VIDEO_TS, ISO) download from Bit Torrent/IRC/etc:  Output at whatever resolution you want.  No restrictions. Works the same as Windows XP.  Don’t pirate stuff!

WMV HD Downloads (MariposaHD, etc): Output at whatever resolution you want. No restrictions. Works the same as Windows XP.

Apple/Quicktime HD Downloads: Output at whatever resolution you want.  No restrictions.  Works the same as Windows XP.

Videocasts/blogcasts/Internet TV/IPTV: Output at whatever resolution you want.  No restrictions.  Works the same as Windows XP.

DVR-MS (SD) Recordings: Output at whatever resolution you want.  You can still edit recordings, convert recordings, etc unless they are CGMS-A protected. Works the same as Windows XP.

DVR-MS (HD) Recordings: Output at whatever resolution you want.  You can still edit recordings, convert recordings, etc. Works the same as Windows XP.

MPEG-2/DivX/etc Recordings from 3^rd Party PVRs: Output at whatever resolution you want.  You can still edit recordings, convert recordings, etc. Works the same as Windows XP.

CableCARD: Content recorded from CableCARDs will follow the same sort of output regulations as HD DVD and Blu-ray.  Not available in Windows XP.

DVD: Output at whatever resolution you want.  If using Component, output is limited because of Macrovision.  Use AnyDVD or like to output at whatever you want.  Works the same as Windows XP.

HD DVD: If is ICT* set; output at 540p if you are not using HDCP.  If using a digital connection (DVI, HDMI) with HDCP, output will be whatever you want always (ICT set or not).  If ICT is not set, you can output at 1080p with VGA and 1080i with Component.  Works the same as Windows XP.** CE (consumer electronics) HD DVD players (regular set-top boxes) must follow the same rules, not specific to Microsoft or Windows.

Blu-ray Disc (BD): If is ICT* set; output at 540p if you are not using HDCP.  If using a digital connection (DVI, HDMI) with HDCP, output will be whatever you want always (ICT set or not).  If ICT is not set, you can output at 1080p with VGA and 1080i with Component.  Works the same as Windows XP.**  CE (consumer electronics) BD players (regular set-top boxes) must follow the same rules, not specific to Microsoft or Windows.

Additions:

DVD Ripping:  No restrictions.  Works the same as Windows XP

Tools like BackupHDDVD/BackupBluray:  No restrictions.  Works the same as Windows XP***

*AACS requires titles with ICT set be marked, so check the package before you purchase the movie.  Currently, no titles have ICT set.

** The content protection framework in Vista will also allow for a more traditional DirectShow filter model of playback.  Right now, playback is limited to within PowerDVD or WinDVD. 

***Though, I have not tested them under Vista, there is nothing to stop or prevent them from specifically working.

via Chris Lanier’s Blog

Windows Vista is almost here. To anyone who has been sitting on the fence over whether to upgrade to Microsoft’s new operating system, I’ll say it loud and clear: It’s time to make the jump. There are plenty of reasons to leave Windows XP and install Vista, and below are my top 15 favorites.

Not everyone agrees with me, however. For the opposing point of view, check out PCW columnist Steve Bass’s take in “Are You Sure About Upgrading to Vista?” and “Vista Upgrade: The Not-So-Rosy Picture.”

To make up your own mind, read our Windows Vista FAQ. We also have our Vista review and our article on how to install Vista to assist you.

But I’m sold on upgrading to Vista. Why? Well…

1. It’s the Interface, Stupid

Perhaps the best thing about Windows Vista is the most obvious: its new interface. With transparent animated windows that swoosh into place, subtle and elegant colors, a new Start menu, and plenty of other changes, this is the most beautiful version of Windows you’ve seen. If you’ve ever had Mac envy, this is the Windows you want–it’s the most Mac-like interface yet.

2. Flip Over Windows Flip 3D

Switching between open windows using Alt-Tab in previous versions of Windows was always a shot in the dark, as you never quite knew to which window you’d switch, or even which ones were open. That has all changed in Windows Vista. Press Alt-Tab, and Windows Flip 3D springs into action, displaying thumbnails of all your open windows in a gorgeous, 3D stack. You can then flip through them until you find the one you want.

3. Live Thumbnails

Do you run a lot of programs and visit a lot of Web sites simultaneously? If so, you’ll appreciate Live Thumbnails. Hover your mouse over any window on the Taskbar, and a thumbnail of the window pops up, with the program and document name, or the Web site name, just above it. The thumbnails are truly “live,” so if a video is playing in a window, you’ll see the video playing in the thumbnail too.

4. Boost Performance With ReadyBoost

Windows Vista includes a quick way to enhance system performance: ReadyBoost. It preloads files and programs you often use into RAM so that they’re there when you want them, and you don’t have to wait for them to load from the hard disk. You can buy an inexpensive USB flash drive and use up to 4GB of cheap RAM to boost your system performance.

5. Cool Performance Tools

If you’re the kind of person who tends to peek under the hood and tinker, you’ll find a lot to like in Windows Vista, which contains plenty of applets and utilities. Probably the best of them all is the Reliability and Performance Monitor. It keeps tabs on every aspect of your PC in exquisite detail, including the CPU, hard disk, network usage, and RAM use, and it includes plenty of charts, reports, and logs for your inner geek. The Reliability Monitor module is particularly noteworthy, as it charts the reliability of your PC over time and shows you every single problem or failure in a calendar format.

6. Better Security

At every level of Windows Vista, you’ll find improved security. The firewall is now two-way, including inbound as well as outbound protection. Windows Defender offers spyware protection, and Internet Explorer has an antiphishing filter to protect against Web scams. A slew of security holes have been plugged in Internet Explorer, and the browser now operates in what’s called Protected Mode, which guards system files against external attacks. There’s plenty more under the hood as well, including Windows Service Hardening, which protects vital files and settings. (Note: BitLocker’s automatic drive encryption and other advanced Vista security options are available only in the Business and Ultimate versions.)

7. Find Anything Fast With Search

Can’t remember where you put an important file? It’s no longer a problem. Windows Vista integrates a new search technology throughout the operating system–on the Start menu, within Windows Explorer, and just about everywhere else you look. It uses indexing and is lightning fast, and it literally searches as you type. A powerful advanced search tool lets you narrow your search by date, file size, author, tags, and location. It also accepts Boolean searching. You can even save your searches for future reference.

8. Nifty Software Gadgets

If you’re a software gadget fan, you’ll love Vista. It includes a variety of software gadgets that live on the desktop and do little tasks such as delivering stock quotes, showing weather forecasts, displaying RSS feeds, monitoring the state of your computer, checking your e-mail inbox, and more. Vista ships with a gaggle of them, but you can find dozens more online–and they’re all free.

9. Better Wireless Networking

Anyone who uses a wireless network at home, at work, or on the road will appreciate the way Windows Vista handles wireless networking. You can more easily find new wireless networks, and save them and manage them as permanent connections. Wireless security has also been improved: When you connect at a public hotspot, security precautions (such as the shutting off of file sharing) automatically lock into place.

10. Map Your Network

Want to see every single computer and device connected to your network–and get instant information about each, such as their IP addresses? The Network Map does that for you. It also lets you make instant connections to any device; double-click a PC, for example, and you’ll connect to its shared folders.

11. Better Graphics With Windows Photo Gallery

Finally, with Windows Photo Gallery Microsoft has shipped a graphics utility that’s worth using. It’s a kind of jack-of-all-trades–you can view graphics and create slide shows, for example. But it also includes a surprisingly good set of simple-to-use image editing tools, including one for eliminating red-eye and another that cleans up photos with a single click.

12. Become a Director With Windows Movie Maker

Windows Vista comes with a new version of the much-maligned moviemaking tool Windows Movie Maker, and it’s a big surprise–you’ll actually want to use it. Importing video and music, creating transitions between scenes, and syncing music with video are easy. When you’re done, you can burn your creation to DVD with Windows DVD Maker.

13. Better Notebook Support

In previous versions of Windows, the mobile-computing features seemed bolted on after the fact. That’s not true with Windows Vista, as the Windows Mobility Center puts all the tools you need in one place.

You can turn your wireless adapter on or off, change your battery settings, and connect to an external display from a single location. And the new Presentation Settings feature is a big leap forward for anyone who often gives presentations with a notebook. You can customize settings–such as the resolution, mute, background, and so on–and then save them. Afterward you can switch from normal mode to presentation mode in a snap.

14. File Sharing and Syncing

With Windows XP it was possible to share files among PCs on your network–possible but often impossibly hard, it seemed. That changes with Windows Vista. The Network and Sharing Center lets you turn on and configure file sharing with single clicks. And the Synch Center lets you automatically synchronize files and folders among separate PCs. You won’t have to do anything to keep them in sync; Windows Vista will do it for you.

15. Protect Your Kids With Parental Controls

Worried that your children may be exposed to inappropriate content online? Want to make sure they’re not playing violent games? Parental Controls put you in the driver seat. Not only can you determine the kinds of sites they visit and games they play, but you can also enforce rules about when they’ll be able to use the computer at all.

Vista goes on sale Tuesday, January 30; tech superstores across the United States will open at midnight to let you get a jump.

via PC World

 ORDER WINDOWS VISTA FROM AMAZON.COM Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate UPGRADE [DVD]

May you have a blessed and joyous 2007.

We have developed a site devoted to Music Education.

Go to music.technoreality.com and check it out.

Merry Christmas

Happy Festivus

Feliz Navidad

However you say it… All the best to you and yours from me and mine…

CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a world leader in digital home solutions, today launched the HD DVD and Blu-ray version of its industry-defining movie player software, PowerDVD. Featuring optimized hardware acceleration for graphics processors, and compatibility with leading HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc drives, PowerDVD Ultra delivers the ultimate high-definition movie experience on both desktop and notebook computers.

New features for PowerDVD Ultra include:

• Support for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc playback on leading drives, including the Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD external drive
• Playback of high-definition Hollywood movie content
• Optimized performance for playback of high-definition video content on graphics cards featuring NVIDIA PureVideo, ATI Avivo, and Intel Clear Video technology
• Support for new next-generation disc features, like Picture-in-Picture movie mode, networking, interactive BD-J and iHD features, bookmarks, and advanced disc navigation
• High-definition audio with support for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD technologies
• 6.1-channel surround sound, ensuring compatibility with home theater audio systems, and audio expansion of up to 8 channels
• Support for double-layer HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs
• Conformance to the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) specifications for the playback of premium content through DVI and HDMI connectors
• Support for BUS Protection ensures premium content protection via VGA systems.

PowerDVD Ultra also offers leading player features:

• Say-it-Again – one-click DVD dialog looping
• Read-it-Clearly – moveable DVD subtitles
• See-it-All – automatically activated DVD time stretching for when mobile PCs run low on power
• Power-saving settings for notebooks and an onscreen battery meter
• Five control modes, a choice of skins and interface colors
• UPnP media player support.

“CyberLink PowerDVD Ultra prepares consumers for the huge next wave of PC-based entertainment: high-definition content delivered on HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs,” said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. “In doing so CyberLink is offering a totally new experience, with even more ways to access and interact with movie content, as well as new support for audio technologies that help users maximize use of their home theater audio hardware.”

Product Availability
CyberLink PowerDVD Ultra English version is available online, and the following languages: Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), German, French, Italian, Korean, and Spanish, will be launched next week.

• CyberLink PowerDVD Ultra USD 99.95/Euro 99,95

For more information, please visit: http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/products/main_112_ENU.html

 Are you accumulating flash drives in a bottom drawer somewhere? Don’t throw  them away just yet because you can use them with Microsoft Windows Vista. Plug any USB 2.0 flash memory drive that holds at least 256MB but no more than 4GB into your PC and Autoplay gives you a choice to invoke ReadyBoost, where Vista will use the drive’s memory as an additional disk cache to speed things up. Just click Speed up My System and you’re off and running.
 If you’re skipping Vista or you’re a Mac user, why not just donate your old thumb drive to charity? But hey, what the f#ck do kids in Africa need with thumbdrives? How about food, education, computers, stable government…

Faster Vista [Shiny Shiny]
Thumb Drive Drive [Inveneo, via boingboing]  via Gizmodo