Right above the keyboard

Intel demoed a new prototype notebook they have been working on, code-named Tangent Bay (cool code-name Intel). The most eye catching feature the notebook displayed was four displays: beside your normal everyday display, there are three little OLED screens situated above the keyboard.

The design concept was ballyhooed as the Earth's first multitouch and multiscreen notebook.

The OLED screens are fully functional mini-displays: users can set them up however they see fit. Just by using your fingers -- or whatever else you would like to use, such as your toes for example --- you can drag content around, screen from screen. It is easy to imagine this feature actually being fairly useful.

You might, for example, have some Youtube videos playing on one of the OLED screens for entertainment while you are supposed to be writing an essay; or, you could have some open IRC chat windows going on one of the OLED screens, while you are suppose to be doing tech support for someone.

Featuring dual-core CPU and HD 3200 graphics

A while ago we saw the HP Pavilion DV2 pop up on the market, featuring AMD's ultra-thin platform called "Congo". There are two versions of it; the first one sports the Athlon Neo 1.6GHz processor and an integrated ATI X1250 graphics processor at the heart of the RS690M chipset, whereas in the second one it is paired with a discrete HD 3410.

My everyday laptop is one of those DV2. While the Congo platform is already great in itself, in some cases it left me wanting more. I chose the integrated graphics version to get the better battery life, but in turn I got the decreased video performance which sometimes struggles to play HD content on the Internet. Additionally, the Athlon Neo clearly has some limitations. With its single core, it has some difficulties to keep up in multi-tasking. When I am doing some C++ programmation in my Ubuntu virtual machine, let's just say I must be patient compared to my colleagues who run fully-sized notebooks, despite it already being much more powerful than the Intel netbook platform.

So that's where AMD's second generation ultra-thin notebook platform comes into play. While its Athlon X2 Neo L335 processor can be had for quite some time now at the heart of the Pavilion DV2, it is still paired with either the X1250 or HD 3410. The new Vision platform puts it along the RS780M, sporting an integrated HD 3200 graphics processor; this will bring all the exciting features of the dedicated graphics to the integrated with amazing battery life.

Obviously, the video performance will be up quite a big notch. Since the HD 4200 has the same physical specifications than the HD 3200 but just it being DX10.1, UVD2 and HDMI 1.3 ready (roughly), the gaming performance is approximately the same. Therefore, HD 3200 should be able to provide a performance close to what we have seen in my article about the 785G chipset, except that it will not have a sideport memory.

Apart from that, the HD 3200 will also feature an HDMI out, which the X1250 in the DV2 did not. Another thing that was not pointed out in Pat Moorhead's blog entry is that the it will also be able to benefit from the latest AMD drivers, which unfortunately do not apply to the X1250 anymore since Catalyst version 9.3. And we're now at 9.9.

Also, the added processor core will double the power so that it will be able to churn through any task without any difficulty. It will also help in gaming where the single-core can quickly become a limitation.

However, there is no word on battery life yet. Whereas my Athlon Neo MV-40 and RS690M did almost five hours at the heart of the DV2 while being on power saving mode, 40% screen brightness and WiFi ON, I expect the new Vision platform to be at least the same. It is also great to see a third manufacturer jumping in the ultra-thin AMD-based low-cost laptop market; MSI will join Hewlett-Packard and Gateway with its X-series laptop based on Vision. This is great because it makes for many different available flavors of similar laptops. This one would be named the MSI X430, pictured here.

So who knows, maybe we will soon see an article on Neoseeker in which Vision is thoroughly tested!

Covering GeForce 8M, 9M, 100M, 200M, Quadro NVS and Quadro FX series cards

If you like to do some gaming or movie-watching on your NVIDIA GPU-based notebook, a new set of drivers has been released today which bring a number of application compatibility fixes and should help you out.

The 186.81 set cover most GeForce 8M, 9M, 100M, 200M, Quadro NVS and Quadro FX series cards running under Windows XP, Vista or 7.

Release notes are separated by operating system, so check them at the source below for resolved and remaining issues if you wish. As always, uninstall the old set and use Driver Sweeper or something similar before installing these ones.

Dual mode Bluetooth/wired laser mouse and Kabuto mouse mat

Razer has released two new products targeted at mobile gaming enthusiasts - the Razer Orochi Bluetooth laser mouse and a microfiber gaming mouse mat dubbed the Kabuto.

The Razer Orochi is equipped with a 4000dpi 3G laser sensor and dual mode wire/wireless functionality allowing gamers to gain precision , control and increased accuracy. Additional features like support for Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, its seven programmable buttons, on board memory and ambidextrous design make it an ideal companion for gamers. Mobile users will also appreciate its 1-3 month battery life

The Kabuto gaming surface is the companion product released in conjunction with the Orochi. Made of ultra-thin microfiber, the Kabuto is a soft gaming mouse mat designed to offer a consistent glide and has a high grip rubber base to prevent it from sliding around.

The Orochi mouse will first be available mid-August via the Razer web site with world wide availability in September for $79.99 in the US and in Europe for €79.99. The Kabuto gaming surface is expected to be available worldwide in August for $19.99/€19.99.

Introducing the world's fastest laptop GPU

GeForce GTX 280M World's fastest laptup GPU NVIDIA is touting its GeForce GTX 280M as the world's fastest graphics chip for notebbooks which is a pretty hefty claim.

To back up its claim, NVIDIA took an Alienware M17x notebook running a pair of GTX 280M GPUs in SLI mode and pitted it against a ASUS W90 with a ATI Radeon Mobility 4870x2 in CrossFireX configuration and published some benchmarking results. The GTX geForce 280M prevailed in every test and offers PhysX and CUDA support.

Set to launch shortly

Two European retailers posted the product pages of the Samsung N510 Ion netbook -- a small yet performative device -- on their websites this past weekend, noting the version featuring NVIDIA's GeForce 9400M chipset would launch in the next few days.

(Image source: Legit Reviews)

It features an 11.6" screen with a resolution  of 1366x768, wifi b/g/n, bluetooth and usual 160GB hard drive. It will sport the newer Atom N280, which has a FSB of 667Mhz compared to the 533MHz of the N270, and is clocked 66MHz faster. The netbook will come equipped of a 6-cell battery and is believed to provide approximately the same battery life as the older model the NC10, based on the aging Intel 945GSE chipset, except video performance will simply not be comparable -- the 9400M just owns its Intel rival.

Update: I just found this new picture, and the netbook does not seem quite the same. The borders around the screen are much thinner, and the NVIDIA logo has been replaced by the model name. Let's hope the second picture the design they will be going with! However this source states a release date as far as October.

(Image source: Blogeee)

iPhone 3G / 3GS shouldn't exceed 35º C / 95º F

Apple issued a temperature warning for their 3G and 3GS iPhones this week. Perhaps the summer heat was killing a few of the fancy phones in North America.

"Operate iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in a place where the temperature is between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F). Low- or high-temperature conditions might temporarily shorten battery life or cause the device to temporarily stop working properly.

Store iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in a place where the temperature is between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F). Don’t leave the device in your car, because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range," said Apple's website.

If you are bringing your iPhone to the beach, or over to similiar summery places, like Disneyland, it should not be that hard for your iPhone to exceed 32ºC -- especially in the hotter climates. So watch out! If you exceed this operating themperature, the horrible following problems may befall your so called 'smartphone':

• The device stops charging
• Display dims
• Weak cellular signal
• Temperature warning screen appears with the message "iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it" (see image below)

This somewhat limited operating temperature range might really be a problem this summer for owners in hot places, like South Africa or Bali.

With illustrations!

Funtasticus has a great new post up showing some of the worst cases of unhealty computer use; amused and inspired, we rounded up our own collection of images -- a humourous break from all the serious 'merger this and court case that' news, if you will.

So, if you can't remember the last time you've seen daylight, or what the word "daylight" means anymore, this one's for you (and us).

Lastly, your computer obsession has probably gone too far if "It's All About the Pentiums" is still your favourite Weird Al song:

Offers 10+ hour battery life

ASUS has added another member to its lineup of Eee netbook computers with the 1005HA Seashell that claims to have a runtime of up to 10.5 hours on its 6-cell battery. According to ASUS, the longevity is due to the Intel Atom N280 processor in combination with its Super Hybrid Engine and LED backlit display.

According to the marketing folks at ASUS the 1005HA's "inspired by the graceful curves of a seashell". That design includes a large keyboard which measures 92% of the size of a standard keyboard and weighs only 2.8 pounds. In addition to the 1.66GHz N280 processor, the Seashell includes 1GB of memory (upgradeable) and a 160GB SATA II hard drive spinning at 5400RPM. The 1005HA is equipped with Windows XP Home and Eee Docking software, which provides easy access to utilities and software.

ASUS says the units are available for preorder at $389.99 USD and are being offered in either Crystal Black or Midnight Blue.

8.9" Disney NetPal by ASUS designed for kids 6-12

Disney is nothing if not adept at marketing its brand to kids and their parents and, while few may have heard of ASUS outside of computer enthusiasts, the Disney moniker is readily recognizable world wide. The designers at Disney's Toymorrow team, working with ASUS, have come up with the Disney NetPal, a netbook designed just for kids with a few extras to keep kids safe while on the Internet and give parents extra peace of mind.

The technical details probably matter little to folks that might be in the market for a Disney labeled computer, but some of its ASUS Eee PC heritage shows with a 8.9" LCD, an Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of memory and Windows XP Home. Two models will be offered - the MK90H with a 160GB hard drive and the MK90 that comes with a 16GB solid state drive.

Disney is touting the NetPal's kid friendly features such as a special Disney Desktop and widgets designed to make applications easy to use. Both models also come with kid-safe features such as over 40 parental controls and a reinforced mechanical design and a spill-proof keyboard that should appeal to parents.

The models are being offered through retailers like Amazon and Toys"R"Us for $349.99 and come in Princess Pink and Magic Blue.

Taipei a buzz

The giant International Information Technology Show, Computex, has kicked things off. Here are a few highlights of the new products shown.

AMD has introduced and demonstrated the first DX11 capable video card. Presumably getting a head start on NVIDIA's DX11 card production, AMD was happy to show off some of the new features found in DX11, such as compute shaders, which allow your GPU to run specialized, parallel processing apps (we talked more about this here).

Intel, as always, has been keeping busy as Tweaktown took a moment to check out their new Clarkdale CPU. The code-named Clarkdale chip has a GPU on the CPU -- no need for integrated graphics; you can have it all on one chip. Clarkdale is a Socket 1136 Core i5 processor -- what the final name will be though is still up in the air. Expect Clarkdale to touch down in the Q1 2010.

Smaller and slimmer was the name of the game as Asus unveiled some slick looking portables. Pictured below, we have the EEE PC Seashell, which looks like a thinner and almost Apple-style EEE PC, and we have the UX30 notebook, which is a bit bigger and more powerful but just as slick, and we have a super-slim MS series display.

High performance SPD settings allow memory to boot at optimized settings

Patriot Memory has just announced that two of its 1066MHz DDR3 SODIMM memory kits have been XMP-certified by Intel. The Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) is a set of performance specifications for DDR3 memory serial presence detect settings that act as a sort of automatic overclocking tool that allow memory to automatically run at predefined and certified settings without having to manually tweak the settings in the BIOS.

Patriot new XMP-certified SODIMM memory are compatible with Intel's Core 2 Extreme mobile processor and are available as either a single 2GB stick or a 4GB (2 x 2GB) kit and feature 5-5-5-15 timings at 1.6V. The parts aren't up on Patriot's site yet so we can't give you any information on pricing or availability.

New products include Sentinel gaming mouse and CM Storm Battle Pads

Cooler Master is set to demo a full range of its products at Computex 2009 next week in Taipei. Cooler Master is certainly no stranger to Neoseeker readers as we've reviewed several of the company's cases including the recently released HAF 922 and its bigger brother, the HAF 932. Both will be on display with a live demo of the HAF 932 housing a quad graphic card system.

The CM Storm line of gaming products are slated to be on display including the CM Storm Sniper and CM Storm Scout cases. Cooler Master will also be showing several new additions to its product lineup including the the first gaming mouse from CM Storm, The Sentinel Advance featuring what Cooler Master calls "an ergonomic and muscle-forming shape". The Sentinel Advance has adjustable sensitivity levels and users will be able to create different profiles to be stored in the unit's internal memory. With a new mouse nothing beats a new mouse pad (excuse me, I mean 'tactical surface') to showcase its capabilities and the company will be introducing a full line of CM Storm Battle Pads as well.

The Hyper TX3 and Hyper 212 Plus LGA1156 and LGA1156/1366 compatible coolers are also scheduled to be on display and feature direct contact heat-pipes, dual fan cooling and new PWM fans. For a little fun there's there's the “Freezing a Soda” experiment to demonstrate the cooling power of the CM V10 Hybrid TEC.. Cooler Master is also revealing a few notebook related accessories including the Choiix notebook cooler and the SNA 95 power adapter, which received the COMPUTEX Taipei Design and Innovation Award 2009.

10.2'' the new limmit, VIA Tech ousted

In our Lenovo announces ION graphics-based IdeaPad S12 netbook article yesterday, readers debated whether or not the manufacturer's latest foray into the mini PC world was truly a "mini" PC, what with its 12.1'' screen.

As Microsoft had it, 12.1'' was the maximum limit for a PC to be considered a netbook, meaning anything up to and including that size would receive the discount for a netbook version of a given Windows operating system.

Today we learn Intel and Microsoft have agreed upon a new standard -- 10.2'', according to Taiwan-based ODM, who manufacture notebooks.

Not a terribly significant event in itself, but the effects are. VIA technologies, Intel's only main competitor in the netbook world as far as we can tell, will be cut off from their current price advantage in the 11-12.1'' segment as they no longer qualify for the discounted Windows 7 on netbooks licensing rates from Microsoft; Intel already currently dominates the more common 10'' segment with its Atom CPUs.

The new limitation is part of a set of changes in Microsoft's new netbook standards:

Manufacturer launching NVIDIA graphics mini PC

Though the typically much more expensive (and rare) VIA CPU-based netbooks have provided a little competition in this PC subsector, Intel has long dominated with its efficient yet affordable Atom model, both against other processors and graphics hardware,  though not exactly in fair play.

After the corporation was sued last month for $1.45bn by the European Comission regarding its anticompetitive business practices (i.e. offering manufacturers major rebates if they purchased most or all of their CPUs from them), and then called out by NVIDIA for similar reasons, one of the very manufacturers guilty in the case, Lenovo, has announced the very first netbook to use NVIDIA's ION graphics (pictured below), taking some emphasis off the Atom's duties.

The news follows ASUS' (not included in the list) release of their own ATI graphics-based netbook, a very limited edition just heard of last week.

Here are the specs for what Lenovo is calling the IdeaPad S12:

• Display: 12.1 WXGA (1280 X 800) LED 200 nit, 250g
• Processor: Intel Atom N270
• Graphics: Intel integrated GMA 950, Nvidia ION
• Memory: Up to 1GB DDR2 533 MHz
• Hard Drive: Up to 160 GB SATA (160, 250, 320)
• Battery Life: 3 hours with 3-cell, 6 hours with 6-cell
• Weight: 1.4kg with 3 cell, 1.55kg with 6 cell
• Dimensions: 292 X 216 X 22-28.9mm
• Connectivity: 10/100m Ethernet, Broadcom 578M, Intel WiFi Link 5150 1X2 AGN, Intel WiFi Link 5100 1X2 AGN, Non-Intel wireless b/g, Non-Intel wireless b/g/n, Bluetooth
• Other: 3 USB, 1 Expresscard slot (Intel and VIA platforms), 4-in-1 card reader, VGA, RJA45, HDMI
• Software: XP Home SP3 (32 bit)

The new PC will be available from June through business partners and Lenovo's website, with pricing starting at $449. The ION graphics-based models specifically will be made available from later this summer.

"We've heard from consumers loud and clear about the need for affordable and extremely portable computing devices, and we've responded by introducing our third netbook with a completely new form factor, making mini-computing more usable and redefining value in today's market," said Dion Weisler, vice president, Business Operations, Idea Product Group, Lenovo. "We are pioneering new territory in the developing netbook arena by being the first vendor to give customers high quality video and entertainment capabilities in a netbook with optional NVIDIA ION graphics."

Like ASUS' machine, it still houses the Atom CPU, but at least it's a step in a positive direction, so here's commending both Lenovo for being responsible, and NVIDIA for pushing change instead of just suing the pants off Intel (necessary sometimes, but not always).

Corporation vs. corporation

After being slammed with a $1.45 billion dollar antitrust fine last week by the European Comission, Intel insisted its extensive manufacturer rebates were the result of "a highly competitive marketplace [in which we can pass] along to consumers everywhere the efficiencies of being the world's leading volume manufacturer of microprocessors" -- in other words, "all's fair in processor wars".

The action seemed praised industry-wide in any case, and now AMD isn't the only one opposed to Intel's methodology -- NVIDIA has taken up issue as well. The graphics chip maker's CEO Jen-Hsun Huang told Reuters today its netbook CPU pricing (for the Atom) was "unfair", leaving little room for them to push their graphics hardware to netbook consumers. He tells us they sell the Atom for $45 to manufacturers, or a three-chip set for $25 to decrease competition.

"That seems pretty unfair," he says. "We ought to be able to compete and serve that market."

"I hope it doesn't come down to [legal action]. We have to do whatever we have to do when the time comes. We really hope this company (Intel) will compete on a fair basis."

Meanwhile Intel continues with its usual insistences:

"We compete fairly," says spokesman Bill Calder. "We do not force bundles on any computer makers and customers can purchase Atom individually or as part of the bundle. If you want to purchase the chip set, obviously there is better pricing."

Calder states it as though there are corporations which do force manufacturers to buy their product, and this is the only way by which to be anti-competitive. As NVIDIA do, we hope they come to their senses.

Batteries have been known to explode, in some models

Working with the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission, HP has decided to voluntarily recall certain models of laptops (listed below) over safety issues. The problem lies in the battery found in these laptops: they get pretty hot, and it has been reported, in a few cases, that they have spontaneously exploded or caught fire. No injuries have yet been caused, but HP thought it would be a good idea to recall them just in case.

Exploding batteries unfortunately are not limited to these certain HP computers; over the last two or three years especially, there has been an increase of reports of dangerous batteries across a wide range of products, such as cellphones.

About 70,000 of these affected laptops are thought to be in the U.S, with almost 200,000 found worldwide. The models were sold between August 2007 and March 2008. If you have one of the models listed below, contact HP to figure out how to get your battery replaced:

iUnika GYY

Battery life is invariably a going to be a problem for any sort of portable computer. But what if a computer is capable of collecting its own solar power? 

That's just what Spanish company iUnika did: their new line of GYY netbooks sport a solar panel, saving you the need of recharging your battery (at least in the day time, anyways.) In a sunny country like Spain many GYY owners should be able to go significant stretches of time without having to plug in.

The GYY runs a GNU/Linux OS, a low-power 400 MHz processor, a 8-inch 800x480 display, a slim 128MB of RAM, and up to 64GB of flash memory.

The GYY also has even more green credentials: it is constructed out of bioplastics, and other organic, biodegradable materials.

All this green love doesn't come with a whopping price tag either -- the GYY is expected to sell for a bit under $200 USD. GYY arrives next month.

Ban of broken hardware exports goes public

Quick though we may be to jump on cases of corporate misconduct, those involving doing good on consumers and the environment deserve equal praise, too. Though Dell does appear to have accepted bribes from Intel, they are willing to rectify environmental hazards if they can help it, we learn today.

As it were, the computer corporation has been exporting broken computers, monitors, and hardware to developing countries in response to opposition due to insufficient enforcement of environmental and worker-safety regulations in the regions, resulting in an "often hazardous electronic-waste recycling industry." Turns out many of the people aren't so grateful for the gear and would rather smash and/or burn it instead of putting it to use; the behaviour exposes citizens to mercury, lead and other toxic chemicals.

The revised policy is not necessarily a huge deal in itself, but the fact they're making this news public could go a long way in the bigger picture, say environmental organizations, since US regulations are non-existent and Dell is the world's number two computer manufacturer. According to reports, they're doing a very thorough job, too, auditing each one of its 25 recycling partners and tracking the electronics from the point of collection to their final destinations.

Dell's senior manager for environmental sustainability Mark Newton says they've seen the light, so to speak:

"We have suppliers lining up to work with us. There are plenty of reputable suppliers. It's just a matter of time before companies operating on the margins lose the business of companies that are serious about doing this the right way."

There are exceptions to the new rules, but they seem entirely reasonable. Assuming Dell is true to its word and isn't just greenwashing, we applaud them wholeheartedly.

Apple says, "Thanks a billion!"

It's only been nine months since Apple opened up the App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but they have just passed a major milestone; one billion apps downloaded. While this is of course great news for Apple, it is even better news for one lucky person will soon be receiving a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card, an iPod touch, a Time Capsule, and a MacBook Pro.

The road to a billion hasn't been smooth sailing for Apple. The app store has often met criticism for the delay in approval of new apps, denial of apps for no apparent reason, removal of apps without warning, and even the approval of offensive apps. Just this week, Apple allowed a $0.99 app into the app store called Baby Shaker, which you guessed it, allows you to mimic shaking a baby. The app was removed from the app store on Wednesday.

The official Billion App Countdown page lists the top 20 all-time paid and free apps to date. Now that we know what the most popular apps are, what are your favorite and must have apps?

Beats its own guidance and analysts estimates

While many companies are releasing their first quarter financial information this week, Apple is already closing their second quarter for 2009 and the news is good. In a press release issued earlier today, Apple reported an 8.16% increase in revenue with $8.16 billion, compared to $7.94 billion a year ago. Profits over last year were up by more than 15%.

Despite the economy, which many companies are blaming for financial troubles during their quarterly reports, Apple appears to be trucking along. After seeing AT&T's Q1 report, which gave a lot of praise to Apple's iPhone, we expected to see a strong number of sales in that area.

• Apple iPod saw 11.01 million sales in the quarter, compared to 10.644 last year (same quarter).
• iPhone sales were up 123%, with 3.8 million sales, compared to 1.7 million last year (same quarter).
• Apple's Mac lineup saw a slight decrease, dropping down 3% with 2.22 million sales, compared to 2.289 million last year (same quarter).

Apple also had an increase in cash by 3% over Q1, they now have $29 billion in the bank.

“We are extremely pleased to report the best non-holiday quarter revenue and earnings in our history,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “Apple’s financial condition remains very robust, with almost $29 billion in cash and marketable securities on our balance sheet. Looking ahead to the third fiscal quarter of 2009, we expect revenue in the range of about $7.7 billion to $7.9 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share in the range of about $.95 to $1.00.”

Very portable computer with enough GPU horsepower for 1080p HD

NVIDIA's new ION platform turned up today. The first official product to bear the ION badge will be the Acer AspireRevo.

The AspireRevo is a SFF / 'nettop' computer, meant to perhaps replace consumers' aging desktop system, with a fully funcitonal computer that draws less power, and comes with a smaller price-tag (think below $300). In some ways you can consider the AspireRevo to be NVIDIA and Acer's response to the Asus EEE Box. 

The ION features NVIDIA GPU technology, (very roughly as powerful as a 9400M)  thus will not have much trouble handling the decoding of Blu-Ray and HD 1080p video content. You should be able to play some games on this little number as well. Taking advantage of CUDA, you'll be able to transcode videos from the AspireRevo to a portable device, such as an iPod, fairly quicky.

As for some of the rest of specs, the Intel Atom 230 powers this micro-computer, a 1.6GHz single-core, low-wattage CPU. In a conference call earlier today with Neoseeker, NVIDIA stated that the current volley of lawsuits being traded being the two companies does not affect this current ION product (just perhaps, upcoming chipsets). As for RAM, there will be 2GB and 4GB configurations, using DDR2 800MHz dual channel memory. The system comes pre-loaded with Vista Premium or Basic, and has 4 USB ports, a eSATA port,  a 250GB HD, and a 4-in-1 flash card reader.

"Mobile experience" upgraded

This morning Research In Motion (RIM) launched theBlackBerry App World, their equivalent of Apple's iPhone App Store. To access the App World, you'll need a trackball or touch screen BlackBerry smartphone running the 4.2 software, the App World software, and a PayPal account.

“The BlackBerry platform provides a truly unparalleled mobile experience for millions of people and we are thrilled today to enhance that experience with a new app store that helps connect consumers with developers and carriers,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO. “BlackBerry App World aggregates a wide variety of personal and business apps in a way that makes it very easy for consumers to discover and download the apps that suit them while preserving the appropriate IT architecture and controls required by our enterprise customers.”

“BlackBerry App World provides a fantastic new resource for consumers and an equally exciting progression of business opportunities for our developer and carrier partners,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO. “We are launching BlackBerry App World with a solid selection and we look forward to working with our partners to continue delivering the types of apps that best suit our customers’ personalized needs and interests.”

Do it yourself

OCZ has announced their DIY Neutrino 10.1" Atom-based Netbook, stating the "Neutrino was developed to push the envelope in the growing area of netbooks." Unlike OCZ's DIY Notebooks, the Neutino comes with a processor, but allows the user to pick out their own memory (up to 2GB) and HDD / SSD (up to 250GB).

OCZ's DIY line provides you with extra savings by avoiding the hardware markup and costs for a technician to assemble the product. From the press release:

“There are many consumers that desire the blend of essential functionalities and an ultra compact form factor, and our new Neutrino Do-It-Yourself netbooks based on Intel Atom technology allows users to design and configure their very own solution tailored to their unique needs,” commented Alex Mei, CMO of the OCZ Technology Group. “The Neutrino DIY netbook puts the control back in the hands of consumers by allowing them to configure a feature rich netbook with their own memory, storage, and preferred OS into a reasonably priced go-anywhere computing solution.”

2GHz version coming soon

You will soon find netbooks and entry-level computers equipped of a 2GHz Atom on the market, which is set to launch this month.

Following the Z540 which is currently the fastest Atom, the Z550 will feature the same front side bus of 533MHz along with the same 512KB of L2 cache. This means it will have a x15 multiplier to get to 2GHz.

The good news is that it will keep the same 2.4W thermal envelope so it should not affect battery life.