This platform has come about through technology collaboration between the following 5 industry giants: ARM, IBM, Samsung, GLOBAL FOUNDRIES and Synopsys. The new platform builds upon a manufacturing collaboration that was already in place between IBM, Samsung and GLOBAL FOUNDRIES, and they called it the “Common Platform”. The Common Platform model features 28nm, 32nm, 45nm, 65nm and 90nm process technologies in domains of high-k metal gating, 193nm immersion lithography and ultra-low-k dielectrics.

The idea behind the Common Platform model was to enable customers of chips to source their designs to multiple 300mm foundries without having to make major changes in their design work. To the same Common Platform, the other companies have contributed with their unique expertise.

ARM has contributed low-power processor architecture and optimized suite of physical IP, including standard cells, power management kit, memory compilers and interface IP. Synopsys has contributed Lynx Design System and DesignWare portfolio of interface IP, which reduce risk and overall design costs.

The collaboration has already come out with 10 test chips in 32 and 28nm HKMG process technology, validating the platform in all its dimensions.

The new platform is expected to be a standard for manufacturing 28nm low-powered HKMG semiconductors for the next generation of mobile devices and embedded machines.

Read more about the latest disruptive technology developed through collaboration, here.

The VideoCore family is geared to playback WebM video content at full resolution, and it can support myriad variety of smart-feature and smartphone displays. For this purpose, the VideoCore processor deploys a hybrid architecture whose hardware accelerators are programmable. The reasoning behind this programmability is to develop and support new audio and video codecs. The BCM2763 VideoCore IV processor has the capability to support WebM video up to WVGA (800X640) resolution, working at 30fps. Smartphones with BCM2763 processor can playback WebM videos for up to 8 hours, while HDTVs connected through an HDMI interface with a BCM2763 chip installed in it can playback WebM videos for up to 14 hours.

The WebM multimedia format is in the final stages of being released to the market. IT biggies such as Broadcom and Google are working on the specifications.

Read more about how Broadcom is moving quickly to maintain its leadership position in emerging markets, here.

The new platform, codenamed “Moorestown”, comprises the company’s Atom processor Z6xx Series family, the controller hub MP20 and a dedicated mixed signal IC (MSIC). Each of these components have a history: the Z6xx used to be called “Lincroft”, the MP20 used to be called “Langwell”, and the MSIC was better known as “Briertown”.

The Z6xx is built from the basic 45nm processor core, and includes functionalities of 3-D graphics, video encode/decode, and memory and display controllers on a single chip – the classical System-on-chip (SoC) design. Together with the MP20 and the MSIC, the platform is capable of operating on power that is several times less than its predecessors. What this means to the end user is that when a smartphone runs on its batteries and not external power-supply, the processor will be able to run for more than 10 days, the audio playback can play for 2 days non-stop, and the browsing and video can work for 4 to 5 hours without let.

Read more about the latest technological breakthrough from Intel, here.

These transceivers support data rates ranging from 8.5 Gbps to 11.352 Gbps. The two models are fully integrated MSA-compliant, multi-rate SONET/SDH, 10GbE, 10FC and OTU-2 optical transport network devices that operate at 8.5 GFC, OC-192, 10GbE, 10FC or FEC data rates. The two devices support NRZ (Non Return to Zero) and DB modulation.

According to the company release, the transceivers are capable of providing low jitter generation of less than 200 femtoseconds (or 2mUI RMS) and provide ample margin for designs required to meet the ITU and Telcordia maximum specs limit of 10mUI RMS for jitter generation.

The BCM8157 is aimed at metro applications where it can be deployed in line cards in order to interface to XFP modules.

The BCM8155 has very advanced features such as the capability of RZ modulation, duo-binary encoder, dispersion compensation, 10GHz clock output, 10G transmit pre-emphasis and pseudo random binary sequence (PRBS) pattern generation and detection capabilities. This makes the transceiver especially suitable for OTN equipment that uses 300-pin MSA-compliant modules for long haul transmission.

Read more about the new technology brought to the market by Broadcom, here.

The hard drives that have received this special treatment are Seagate’s 500GB FreeAgent Go ultra-portable hard drives. The movie that can be unlocked for viewing without any additional cost is “Star Trek”, the 2009 version. The other 20 movie titles require online purchase of the license keys, whose cost ranges from USD 9.99 to USD 14.99. This amounts to over 38 hours of movie viewing on a small, packet-sized hard drive.

The movies range from the classic “The Manchurian Candidate” (2004) to science fiction “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”, from “The Italian Job” (2003) to “The Love Guru”, and from “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” to “Enemy at the Gates”.

Paramount has now shifted its business model from the traditional cinema hall / DVD to distribution of its products on online, mobile and portable devices, videogames and emerging technologies.

Read more about this interesting arrangement between Seagate and Paramount, here.

Savvio 10K.4 measures 14.8mm (H) X 70.0mm (W) X 100.2mm (L), and weighs 208g. It has a spindle speed of 10,000 RPM, and a sustained data transfer rate of 141 Mb/s. The average latency time is 3.0 ms. Savvio requires a random seek time of 3.89 ms and a random write time of 4.54 ms, to operate an overall I/O data transfer rate of 600 MB/s.

Savvio 10K.4 has an interface of 6 Gbps SAS, and a cache of 16MB. With a reliability of 2 million hours of MTBF, the annual failure rate is estimated to be about 0.44%. Savvio requires a 12V start max current of 1.65A and 5V start max current of 0.86A. The average idle power requirement is 4.6W.

The device’s firmware comes with enhanced data protection features such as a self-encrypting drive (SED) option.

Read more about a new height achieved by Seagate in the arena of storage media, here.

The My Passport SE drives are available in two capacities: 1 terabyte and 750 gigabyte. The product is compatible with Apple Time Machine software, and is formatted for the Mac. While the 1TB version is available for USD 199.99, the 750 GB model comes at a tag of USD 179.99. Both the products are available at WD’s online store.

The drives work on USB 2.0, and afford a serial bus transfer rate of 480 Mbps. Operating it is simply plug and play. The devices measure 0.70 inch (H) X 4.30 inch (L) X 3.20 inch (W), and weigh 0.42 pounds. According to the company press release, the devices being USB-powered, do not require any external power adapter to function. The firmware of the device comes with 256-bit hardware encryption with password protection feature, which prevents unauthorized access to the data lying within.

Founded in 1970, the company is a market leader in storage media solutions.

Read more about the latest introduction of storage media for Macintosh users, here.

A fourth-generation enterprise-centric device, the drive is touted as the industry’s first such drive by the company. Constellation is best suited for enterprise apps where data demand is extremely high. The 6 Gbps SAS helps in very high data integrity thanks to its error detection and correction (IOEDC/IOECC).

Measuring 26.1 mm(H) X 101.6 mm (W) X 146.99 mm (L), the device weighs 710 gm. The cache has a capacity of 16MB. The drive spins at 7,200 RPM, and can sustain data transfer at a rate of 150 Mbps. With an average latency of 4.16 ms, random read seek time of less than 8.5 ms and random write seek time of less than 9.5 ms, the product has one of the best performances for its particular category.

Constellation requires an average idle power of 8.0 W, runs on an average operating power of 12.2 W, and requires 11.2 W for seek.

Read more about an industry-first achievement by Seagate, here.

With mobile services now moving towards high throughput-demand apps such as mobile TV, live video sharing and high-resolution 3D gaming, a high-tech backend solution was needed that can provide multi-megabit per second (Mbps) backhauling links that can support 3G and 4G base stations (also called Node Bs or BTSs or Base transceiver stations).

The BCM96519 solution has the capability to feed IP service routers and remote DSL access concentrators at a high data rate and with low complexity. This enables this solution to complement the existing product portfolios of vendors. The BCM96519 is compatible with co-located ADSL and VDSL2 loops, and does a better job, according to a company press release, than legacy E1/T1 and G.SHDSL technologies.

Read more about the latest launch of a new solution that boosts connectivity throughput, here.

The new line-up includes the following configurations:

- x3650 M3 and x3550 M3: these are rack servers.
- x3500 M3 and x3400 M3: these are enterprise tower servers.
- HS22 and HS22V: these are BladeCenter systems. The HS22V is a virtualization-optimized machine, and runs Java applications up to 43% faster than the earlier-generation machines.
- dx360 M3: this is an iDataPlex server. The dx360 M3 is the first two-socket server to touch 3,000 operations per watt. This yields to a 36% improvement from the previous generation of iDataPlex servers.

The new configurations offer a range of systems management tools, such as:

- IBM’s system director software: this tool can be used to pre-configure servers, remotely repurpose systems and set up automatic updates and recoveries.

- UEFI: or unified extensible firmware interface, this is a next-gen BIOS firmware.

- IMM: Integrated Management Module, which enables remote management, remote monitoring, as well as remote troubleshooting and repairing.

- ToolsCenter: this tool is ideal for small and medium businesses, and it simplifies acquisition and usage of system management tools.

Read more about new entries in the server market, here.

The new device is available for USD 125. Its capacity is 40 GB, and employs 34nm NAND flash memory technology. The target market for this drive is netbooks and dual-drive / boot drive desktop set-ups.

Salient features of solid state drives are that there are no mechanical, moving parts or spinning platters inside their body. This makes the drives especially useful in rugged environments such as netbooks that are portable and therefore liable to be used more roughly than are the traditional desktops. Further, the lack of any mechanical motion implies that responsiveness to system’s demands for read and write is faster than the traditional hard disk drive (HDD).

On a desktop, the SSD can be installed with the OS and favorite applications and fitted into the system. When booted, the desktop can then take advantage of the superior speed of the SSD to function, while data and files can be stored on the HDD. The SSD speeds operations at the time of boot-up, opening of apps and resumption from hibernation / stand-by.

Read more about the latest solid state drive launched by Intel, here.

The new chip is called BCM2049, and is the first in a series of new-wave chips that will be built on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology and specifications. Mobile phone and other device manufacturers can incorporate this chip in their handsets and sell as value-add to customers. The chip allows mobile phones to be conveniently connected to sensors and monitors to aggregate and display data such as tracking the progress of their workouts, monitoring their heart rate, etc. This information can be displayed on the handset screens.

The Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology has been ratified by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which means that soon, the market is expected to see a new wave of devices which require very little power which can be drawn from coin-sized batteries. And since consumers are already familiar with Bluetooth, the acceptance of these new devices shouldn’t be difficult, according to analysts.

Read about the latest technology that can enable people to monitor their health while on the move, here.

The new HSUPA solution targets the 3G mobile and cellular market, and is touted as a “3G phone-on-a-chip” and RF solution. It utilizes an integrated ARM11 processor which can run operating systems such as Windows Mobile and Android. This implies that the need for an external apps processor is eliminated altogether, thereby reducing costs, size, system complexity and battery drainage.

The underlying technology supports 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) releases 6 and 7. These releases define specs for up to 5.8 Mbps upstream connectivity, 7.2 Mbps downstream connectivity and also support CS (circuit switches) over HSPA services. Another technology built into the solution is PRISM, which handles interference from radio signals coming from neighboring cells. A 3D graphics core has been incorporated into the solution to enhance user interfaces, and to support encoding and decoding of H.264 video at 30 fps.

The Radio Frequency transceiver is called BCM2091. This provides RF connectivity for the BCM21553 processor.

Read more about the revolutionary new processor for mobile devices, brought out by Broadcom, here.

The new processor ranges in price from USD 946 to USD 3,838 in quantities of 1,000. The family comprises 9310 with 2 cores and 4 threads, and 9320, 9330, 9340 and 9350, all with 4 cores and 8 threads.

The Itanium 9300 processor operates at 1.73 GHz base frequency and up to 1.86 GHz at peak workloads. The processor includes various platform ingredients such as QuickPath Interconnect, which has a bandwidth of 4.8 GT/s, and Scalable Memory Interconnect. In addition, the processor also has 7500 Scalable Memory Buffer which exploits the capabilities of DDR3 memories. The processor can address up to 1,024 terabytes of memory. The i/o hub is the standard 7500 chipset, which allows i/o devices to be assigned to virtual machines.

The processor comprises 2 billion transistors, four cores, more cache and 800% more interconnect bandwidth than the predecessors. The second generation of virtualization technology has been incorporated into its innards to increase performance and robustness, according to the company release.

Read about the latest mission-critical processor launched by Intel, here.

Called 2010 Intel Core vPro, the family comprises the following processors: Core i7 vPro processor, Core i5 vPro processor, i7 processor, i5 processor and i3 processor. The platform that is based on this family includes the new Intel Q57 Express chipset. For network connection, in case of notebooks the platform includes 82577LM Gigabit Network Connection, and in case of desktop PCs the platform includes 82578DM Network Connection.

The company has obtained commitments from computer OEM manufacturers such as Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba for lifting the processors in bulk. Software solutions developers too have evinced keen interest in exploiting the features of the new processors, and such companies include Microsoft, Symantec, WinZip, LANDesk, Bomgar, Aternity and the like.

According to the company press release, a notebook built upon the Intel Core i5 vPro processor is capable of handling applications at 180% the present notebook speed. The processor can also multi-task applications upto 200% faster. Further, there is inbuilt facility to protect confidential data.

Read about the latest launch of an entire family of processors from Intel, here.