AMD releases its first DX10.1 tech demo

Cameron Wilmot | | Mar 4, 2008 7:19 AM CST

AMD's first DirectX 10.1 technology demo has found itself out in the wild wild Web over in China.

Ping Pong demo is said to be the world's first DirectX 10.1 demo with the intention of demonstrating DX10.1 Cube Map Array technology derived from the real-time global illumination technology. It teams up with the work of dynamic environment blocking technology to correct reflection of space technology and delay rendering technology. Did you get all that?

Continue reading: AMD releases its first DX10.1 tech demo (full post)

Meizu's M8 mini One iPhone-like video

Cameron Wilmot | Mobile Devices | Mar 4, 2008 3:48 AM CST

While Chinese phone maker Meizu was absent from CES in Las Vegas earlier this year, they promised to many a working demo at CeBIT in Germany and managed to deliver.

Thomas over at Engadget managed to spend some time with one of the company reps in the booth for a short video preview of the Apple iPhone-like M8 mini One phone. The phone which is on display is a very early prototype but it gives you an idea at what can be done when you have passion and the ability to copy others ideas.

They probably should have went along with a translator but take a look at the video that they uploaded to YouTube just below.

Continue reading: Meizu's M8 mini One iPhone-like video (full post)

MSI enterting Memory Module market

Cameron Wilmot | RAM | Mar 4, 2008 3:08 AM CST

We are totally shocked to hear that MSI have plans to enter the memory module market under the "Star Memory" brand. We visited MSI in Taiwan for their pre-CeBIT bash but heard nothing about this.

On display in Germany at the MSI booth is the first set of Star Memory modules red or blue heat spreader. The modules on display are DDR2-800 with timings of CL5 - nothing overly exciting but you have got to start somewhere in the RAM business and this is a very interesting move by MSI.

Continue reading: MSI enterting Memory Module market (full post)

Marketing shots of GeForce 9800 GX2

Cameron Wilmot | Video Cards & GPUs | Mar 4, 2008 2:24 AM CST

Yesterday photos of Albatron's upcoming GeForce 9800 GX2 surfaced in their booth at CeBIT and today we were emailed official product marketing snaps of the upcoming dual-GPU single PCB graphics card which is due to go on sale March 18 or thereabouts.

Apparently Nvidia board partners are allowed to display GX2 products but are not allowed to discuss performance numbers and specifications.

So, without further ado...

Continue reading: Marketing shots of GeForce 9800 GX2 (full post)

"Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto"

John Freeman | | Mar 3, 2008 7:54 AM CST

Styx fans will have to excuse my use of the famous quote from one of their more popular songs, but seemingly they are prophets of a future that is slowly being noticed.

It is widely believed Japan is leading the race to domesticate robots, and in this latest news stemming from Tokyo, a robot has been designed to simulate six basic human expressions: Anger, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise and disgust. The expressions are then linked to a complex grouping of words that lend strengths of association, so if someone were to mention a word, the robotic face could respond appropriately. The example given was "War" and the robot was able to quiver in a combination of fear and disgust. Similarly, the word "Love" brings a softened smile to its lips.

According to the article from Yahoo news, Robots are assuming many roles in modern Japanese society, with examples of them being welcomed on the first day of a job with Shinto religious ceremonies, or where they are used to cut sushi and other jobs for various levels of responsibility. The majority of current robots are not humanoid, and as a result are hardly associated to the typical "Terminator" robot class. According to the article Western cultures are less likely to embrace a robotic helper, but then Shinto religion, part of Japanese culture, doesn't differentiate clearly between animate and inanimate beings. This has led to the robot-being becoming more easily accepted into homes.

Continue reading: "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto" (full post)

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