AMD kills ATI brand
Aug 30th
Alas, the day has come when the world of computer graphics cards will no longer be a race between red (ATI) and green (Nvidia). Instead it’ll be green all over, as AMD just announced that it will be shuttering the ATI brand. ATI’s product brands — Radeon, FirePro, Eyefinity, and the like — will still remain and will be colored red, but they’ll all now be AMD-branded.
The decision is based on the company’s upcoming Fusion hybrid APUs, which will combine an AMD CPU and ATI graphics chip into one core. Branding everything as AMD makes things simpler, but we have to question the company’s judgement in the graphics space. Whereas AMD is still largely seen as a value-oriented second-choice to Intel in the processor space, ATI has a market-leading brand image in graphics.
Only time will tell whether AMD will end up diluting its strength in graphics by associating Radeon with Phenom. Interestingly, the change would mean that Intel-powered computers with ATI graphics would now have both Intel and AMD stickers on them, so AMD will be offering stickers that say just “Radeon graphics,” without AMD — which seemingly defeats the purpose of killing the ATI brand.
Read on for more about AMD’s decision.
Sphere: Related ContentBrowser Shootout: Windows Phone 7 vs. iPhone, Android
Aug 25th
A new video from Pocketnow compares browsing speed on a Windows Phone 7 prototype from LG, the iPhone 4, and Google’s Nexus One on Android. Even though the software’s not finalized yet, Internet Explorer on Windows Phone 7 is surprisingly competitive with the WebKit-based browsers on the iPhone and Android, beating or matching them in most tests. No Flash, Silverlight, or HTML5 A/V support yet, but the browsing experience is at least on par with the competition and at least won’t be a hindrance to the platform’s success.
While the rendering engine is a mix of IE 7 and 8, Microsoft has clearly put a lot of effort into the user experience, with silky-smooth scrolling, multi-touch zoom, and tab management. It’s a completely different animal from IE Mobile 6 on Windows Mobile 6.x (though most WinMo owners use Opera Mobile or other browsers in any case).
Video after the break.
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Leaked: 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS
Aug 17th
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS is scheduled to debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, but several photos of the car’s interior and exterior have already leaked. The second-generation model, codenamed C218, has a tough act to follow– its swoopy predecessor single-handedly created the market for “four-door coupes.” The new car inherits much of its styling from the Concept Shooting Brake, including a prominent grille, aggressively styled front bumper, daytime LED running lights, and a long hood.
The new CLS sports two gasoline engine options– the the CLS 350 CGI with a new direct-injected 3.5L V6 putting out 301 HP and 272 lb-ft of torque and the CLS 550 CGI, with a new 4.6L twin-turbo V8 delivering 429 HP and 516 lb-ft of torque. The company’s 4Matic four-wheel-drive system will likely be available on the 550 CGI. Mercedes will offer two diesel options (outside America), the CLS 350 CDI with a 3.0L V6 producing 248 HP and the CLS 250 CDI with an inline-4 putting out 201 HP.
AMG will join the party with the 2011 CLS63 AMG, sporting the tuner’s new 5.5L twin-turbo V8 putting out 544 HP and 590 lb-ft of torque. An optional Performance Pack will be available, boosting power to about 570 HP and 663 lb-ft of torque.
Full photo gallery after the jump. No word on pricing yet.
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Microsoft reveals Windows Phone 7 games: Xbox Live in your pocket
Aug 17th
Microsoft has finally launched a portable Xbox. It’s neither a dedicated gaming device like Sony’s PSP or Nintendo’s DS nor just a casual gaming platform like the iPhone/iPod Touch. The software maker has fully integrated its Xbox Live experience into its upcoming Windows Phone 7 operating system– every WP7 phone will be able to play Xbox Live Arcade-style games with graphics reportedly exceeding anything seen in mobile gaming so far. The platform includes avatars, achievements, and more, though head-to-head multiplayer is not on the cards for the initial version.
Microsoft revealed over 60 launch titles, including Assassin’s Creed, Crackdown 2, Castlevania, Earthworm Jim, Guitar Hero, Halo: Waypoint, Splinter Cell, Star Wars, and more. Let’s just say it’s a pretty solid lineup.
Head over to Engadget for a full preview of what Windows Phone 7 gaming will have to offer.
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HTC Schubert: Windows Phone 7, aluminum unibody
Aug 13th
247WindowsPhone has obtained a prototype of a Windows Phone 7 handset built by HTC. The HTC Schubert will be a Windows Phone 7 launch device, and while we have no confirmed details, it is an aluminum unibody design and appears to have around a 3.7″ screen, likely with WVGA (800×480) resolution.
Photo and video after the break.
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HTC Desire HD leaked: 4.3″, Android 2.2, 1 GHz Snapdragon
Aug 6th
A new HTC smartphone has spotted in Hong Kong running Google’s Android 2.2 (Froyo) OS. Like its older siblings, the HTC HD2 (Windows Mobile) and EVO 4G (Android), the Desire HD sports a 4.3″ WVGA capacitive touch screen and a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.
The phone seems to lack a front-facing camera, so this is basically an HD2 with Android and the EVO’s 8 MP camera tossed on. Full specs below:
4.3-inch WVGA touch screen
8 million pixel camera lens
1 GHz Qualcomm processor
Android 2.2
720p HD video capture
Support the Xvid format video playback
SRS Audio Technology
Face tracking
Support for Adobe Flash 10.1
Built-in 4GB SD card (up to expand to 32GB)
E-book reader
Integrated aluminum body
Via: Android-HK, Uwants
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Apple’s mystery 1.2″ touchscreen device
Jul 10th
Taiwanese site Apple.pro has unearthed a tiny touchscreen with Apple markings. The panel measures a minuscule 3 cm (1.18″) diagonally- the fact that it’s touch sensitive is interesting given how tiny any touchable items would be on screen. This could be anything, but if we had to guess, it might be the next-generation iPod Nano, with touch gestures to switch songs and the like. Or maybe it’s a new device altogether.
One more photo after the break.
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Spied: 2011 Mercedes C-Class Coupe
Jul 10th
Mercedes looks to be putting the final touches on a new coupe version of its C-Class sedan. The company recently discontinued the CLC, a version of the last-generation C-Class hatchback facelifted to look like the current C-Class, and is only now making a proper coupe from the current sedan.
Interestingly, the E-Class Coupe actually rides on the C-Class platform (despite styling cues, features, and engines from the E sedan), so it looks like Mercedes shortened the C Coupe a bit to differentiate it. Pricing is unconfirmed, but we suspect it’ll be set slightly higher than the C sedan. Cabriolet and AMG variants are also on the way.
More photos after the break.
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Bigfoot monster truck defects to Chevy after 35 years
Jul 8th
In a shocking move, Bigfoot – the most famous monster truck – has switched from Ford to Chevy. After 35 years in the blue oval camp, the big truck now wears a Chevy Silverado-style skin and has a new GM engine. Apparently Ford stopped sponsoring the team in 2007, leaving Firestone as the primary sponsor. Firestone’s investing heavily in marketing for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game, and since GM is too, it must’ve been a convenient time to switch and gain some sponsorship funds.
One more photo and full press release after the break.
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Eye telescope implant gains FDA approval
Jul 8th
The FDA just approved a tiny implantable telescope meant to assist patients over 75 years old who suffer from end-stage macular degeneration. In a clinical trial with over 200 patients, seventy-five percent of patients with the implant “had their vision improve from severe or profound impairment to moderate impairment.” The manufacturer, VisionCare Opthalmic Technologies, is planning a follow-up study with these patients, along with another one involving 770 new patients.
The device replaces the eye’s natural lens and provides a magnified image (the two available versions offer 2.2x or 2.7x zoom), which is then projected onto a healthy part of the patient’s retina. The implant can only be used in one eye, as the other eye is needed for peripheral vision. Since the brain has to adjust to the implant’s image, patients must go through rehabilitation for the telescope to work. The FDA warns the treatment is still risky and could even necessitate a corneal transplant.
VisionCare says each implant will cost $15,000, so start saving up.
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