March 09, 2006, 4:06 PM PST
I have fondled the Ultramobile PC
Posted by: Justin Jaffe

Yeah, that's right. I got my hands on Founder's version of the Ultramobile PC when I stopped by the Intel Developer Forum earlier this week. Many of its shortcomings have already been reported around the Internet, but I thought it was kind of neat--in a first-generation-of-a-new-kind-of-product way. Anyway, we shot video and snapped photos, so go ahead and judge for yourself.

• Watch the video here.
• See the photos here.
• Read more about the Ultramobile PCs here.
• Read more about the happenings at IDF and CeBIT.

 

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• See product information for Samsung Q1 Ultramobile PC
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March 09, 2006, 1:59 PM PST
Look out, Microsoft: Google's got word
Posted by: Molly Wood

Hm, if the people at Google just want to organize the world's information, then what are they doing buying a Web-based word processor? Oh, that's right: building a Web-based office suite that's the cornerstone of their Web-based OS, which will persuade you to give them all your data, which they'll then...you guessed it...organize. It all makes sense now.

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March 09, 2006, 1:53 PM PST
Nvidia's partners confirm HDCP compliance
Posted by: Rich Brown

A furor erupted last month when the enthusiast Web sites FiringSquad and Ars Technica detailed the confusion surrounding HDCP and ATI's and Nvidia's graphics cards. HDCP stands for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection. It's an emerging standard that is supposed to secure every component of the digital video food chain, and it will apply specifically to Blu-ray and HD-DVD movies and drives. If your monitor, your disc player, or your graphics card aren't HDCP compliant, that high-quality video output you spent so much money on will down-res, ostensibly to hinder piracy by allowing it access to only low-quality content.

The problem emerged when it came out that despite the fact that both ATI's and Nvidia's graphics chips have been HDCP capable for more than a year, neither manufacturer nor their board partners have been selling HDCP-capable graphics cards. To do that, you'd need to add a flashable CryptoROM chip to the card that can be updated to support the to-be-determined AACS (Advanced Access Content System) standard when it's finalized. So while many people may have purchased a new graphics card for a home-theater PC, none of the cards on the market have had the flash ROM chip to receive the AACS information. It's not a feature you can add post-purchase, and you can't fix it with a software patch.

We asked Nvidia about it, and while the company wasn't shy about trumpeting its cards' HDCP compliance, it said it was leaving it up to the board partners to determine whether to sell the cards with the CryptoROM chip. A round of calls to Nvidia's partners garnered a handful of confirmations that while the first batch of GeForce 7900 and 7600 cards will not have the CryptoROM chip, future shipments will. None of Nvidia's partners have specified timing yet, but it's nice to know that you'll soon be able to find both Nvidia and ATI-based graphics cards that really are ready for the future of home theater. Just don't rub it in to the guys that bought supposed HDCP-ready cards last week.

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• Read also: Desktops, components, home video
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March 09, 2006, 1:36 PM PST
Maniccum poses minor threat to IM users
Posted by: Robert Vamosi

Maniccum (W32.maniccum.worm) poses a very minor threat to users of AOL and MSN Instant Messengers. The worm, if activated, will attempt to disable firewalls, antivirus software, and will attempt to open a backdoor to connect to an IRC server for updated commands, such as a denial-of-service (DoS) attack. A few antivirus software companies have updated their signature files to include this worm. This will stop the infection upon contact and in some cases will remove an active infection from your system. For more information, see McAfee and Symantec.

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March 09, 2006, 12:58 PM PST
Quad SLI systems on sale--most of them, anyway
Posted by: Rich Brown

You may have heard that Nvidia announced more details of its Quad SLI 3D graphics technology today, specifically that you can now purchase Quad SLI PCs from various vendors (Velocity Micro's new Raptor Signature Edition started at $5,995 for a Quad SLI rig). We got the first glimpse of the four-GPU future at CES when Dell previewed its limited-edition XPS 600 Renegade desktop with four Nvidia graphics cards in a Quad SLI configuration inside it. We find it noteworthy, though, that Dell's beast is nowhere to be seen today.

When Nvidia briefed us on Quad SLI last week, we found some of Nvidia's accompanying press material interesting. Among the reviewer's guides, presentations, and other documents was a list of Quad SLI launch partners. The companies on that list were, in order: Alienware, ABS, Biohazard, Cyberpower, Falcon Northwest, Hypersonic PC, iBuyPower, Maingear, Overdrive PC, Velocity Micro, Vicious PC, and Voodoo. No Dell. When we asked Nvidia's representatives about it, they referred us to Dell. One of Dell's reps told us that we would have some news soon, but she referred us to another contact more in-touch with the XPS 600 Renegade. Follow-up calls to that contact went unreturned.

Many industry insiders thought that Dell's CES announcement was merely a publicity stunt to get the company back in people's minds as a gaming innovator. Voodoo CEO Rahul Sood perhaps summed up the initial reaction of many to the XPS 600 Renegade when he said, "Throwing Quad SLI at an Intel-based gaming system is much like putting lipstick on a pig" in an interview with the Inquirer, a U.K. tech site. We won't know for sure until Dell submits one for us to review.

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• See product information for Dell XPS 600 Renegade
• Read also: Desktops, components, gaming
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March 09, 2006, 11:20 AM PST
AtomFilms releases mobile content for iPod and PSP
Posted by: Jasmine France

AtomFilms, a San Francisco-based company that was a pioneer in online video content, today announced that it would make its most popular films available for download in formats tailored for the PC, the Apple iPod, and the Sony PSP. For the launch of the new service, which remains free, AtomFilms has made 10 shorts available. The test video I downloaded saved swiftly to my hard drive as a ZIP file, and I'm pleased to note that there was no advertisement to sit through, as there is when you watch the films online; instead, you get a brief still shot announcing that the service is sponsored by the Sony PSP.

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• Read also: MP3, Gaming, Digital video
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March 09, 2006, 11:11 AM PST
New Palm Treo coming this summer?
Posted by: Bonnie Cha

It's no secret that Palm has plans to produce several new Treos, but since the release of the Palm Treo 700w, we haven't heard anything about the so-called Hollywood, Lowrider, or the new Palm OS-based Treo. However, rumors are now starting to perculate about the Treo. The latest comes from PalmInfocenter, which has a story about a reader, a loose-lipped Sprint store rep, and a possible May/June release date for the Treo 700p. Other sources say that the 700p will feature a 1.3-megapixel camera, 62.8MB of user-accessible RAM, a 320x320-pixel display, Palm OS 5.4.9, and EV-DO support. I'm sure this isn't the end of the gossip session (Palm's a bit notorious for not being able to keep its news under wraps), so we'll keep you updated with any juicy tidbits we hear. In the meantime, tell me, what features would you like to see on the new Treo?

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March 09, 2006, 8:06 AM PST
TiVo announces new pricing structure
Posted by: John P. Falcone

TiVo yesterday announced a new pricing plan for its Series2 DVR that essentially adopts a cell phone model: You can get the hardware for free if you commit to a monthly service plan for one, two, or three years. Starting next week, TiVo will begin offering its 80-hour Series box to customers who sign up for one of the following three subscription plans:

One-year service: $19.95 per month or $224 prepaid

Two-year service: $18.95 per month or $269 prepaid

Three-year service: $16.95 per month or $469 prepaid

Those rates are in comparison to TiVo's current subscription pricing: $12.95 per month or $299 for the life of the box. (It's important to note that the new pricing structure will not affect current TiVo subscribers, who remain locked in to their current rates.) TiVo had been experimenting with deep discounts on its hardware and varying subscription models for the past several months, and the move to the free hardware model had been rumored for weeks.

Initially, the revised subscription plan will be available only for units purchased from TiVo.com or via the company's toll-free number. Again borrowing from the cell phone model, customers will have to pay a hefty kill fee to opt out of the subscription early.

In recent days, TiVo has announced the creation of a family-friendly KidZone function and a deal with Verizon Wireless to allow subscribers to program their DVRs from their cell phones. The company remained mum on details regarding its as-yet-unannounced Series 3 box, indicating only that it would be coming out in the second half of the year. Rumored to be CableCard-ready and tricked out with dual HD tuners, that's the one we're waiting for.

Related CNET stories:

TiVo Home Media feature/TiVo To Go

Editors' top DVRs

Quick guide to choosing the right DVR

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• See product information for TiVo Series2 DVR (80 hours)
• Read also: home video, televisions
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March 09, 2006, 7:38 AM PST
Origami unfolds at CeBit
Posted by: Matthew Elliott

Intel and Microsoft took the stage at CeBit earlier today and shared more details on the shape and form that upcoming Origami devices may take. Microsoft's contribution is Touch Pack, an overlay that optimizes Windows XP Tablet navigation on UltraMobile PCs. Check out the CeBit News daily that shows one feature of Touch Pack: an onscreen circular keyboard for your thumbs. Microsoft used the Samsung Q1 in the demo to illustrate Touch Pack; Asus and Founder also had Intel-based models on hand, which Engadget stood in front of. News.com's Ina Fried reports that other companies will build UltraMobile PCs with Via processors. Pricing and release dates are still unknown.

Quick specs on the Samsung Q1: 7-inch touch screen display, ultra-low-voltage Pentium or Celeron chip, 40GB hard drive, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and support for GPS and digital TV.

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• Read also: Computers, Emerging tech, Notebooks, PDAs
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March 09, 2006, 5:59 AM PST
Windows Live OneCare beta update
Posted by: Robert Vamosi

Microsoft today added new functionality to Windows OneCare Live beta and renamed the service to align with its Windows Live online product line. Antispyware scanning had been a part of the package previously, but users of OneCare had to download the app separately. As of today, Windows Defender beta is included in the OneCare install. Astute users will note the absence of the word beta from the OneCare interface. The service remains in beta; today's interface change, along with renaming the service, is merely a cosmetic tweak. When OneCare becomes available in June 2006, pricing will be $49.95 for one year of service, covering up to three PCs. Beta testers who sign up by April 2006 will be eligible to purchase the first year of coverage for a mere $19.95 as a thank-you for testing the service.

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• See product information for Microsoft OneCare Live beta 2
• Read also: security, software
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