ARM Computer Is Credit Card-Sized, Plays 1,080p Video and Runs Linux

It might not exactly be quite as small as the idea originally intended, but the Raspberry Pi will probably make jaws drop regardless.

The idea used to be for a flash drive-sized computer, but the concept has since evolved, somewhat grown in size, but not by much.

Besides, when someone sees something this small, the first assumption will definitely not be that the critter is capable of playing full HD media.

It turns out that the Raspberry Pi can definitely accomplish that, thanks to its hardware and the Linux operating system.

The target price mostly dictated how many features were possible to cram into the device.

Still, for something that will ship for $25 (18.77 Euro), the Raspberry Pi delivers a lot.

A Broadcom BCM2835 media processor, based on an ARM11 core, will handle things, along with a Broadcom GPU core, DSP core and support for Package-on-Package (PoP) RAM.

Previous Raspberry Pi ARM PC
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Speaking of RAM, 128 MB SDRAM are present so, ultimately, when plugged into a television set, the small gadget can play H.264 1080p30 videos.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation is going to launch a slightly stronger model as well, with 256 RAM and a price of $35 (26.28 Euro).

We actually spotted this Raspberry project way back in May, when it was still at the size of a USB stick.

Originally, the plan was to have it distributed for free, which may still happen if schools and such buy them out of their own budget and then place them at the disposal of students.

On that note, even with the small physical size, the ARM computer has a memory card slot (SD/MMC/SDIO support), one USB 2.0 port, Composite and HDMI video outputs, OpenGL ES 2.0 support and various other interfaces via the 1.27 mm pin-stip.

Finally, the Iceweasel, Koffice and Python open software products will be available on it, along with support for various expansion boards.

Android 2.3.4 Available for Xperia arc at Vodafone Australia

The owners of a Sony Ericsson Xperia arc smartphone on the airwaves of wireless carrier Vodafone Australia can now download and install a new Android OS version on their devices.

This is none other than the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread operating system version that Sony Ericsson started to push out to 2011’s Xperia phones a few weeks ago.

Weighing in at around 180MB, the new software update comes with Baseband Version 4.0.2.A.0.42 and is available to all users both over-the-air, as well as through desktop PCs.

“The update will feature the Gingerbread security fixes, Sony Entertainment Network which gives you access to music and video content for monthly payments, general software improvements and a new keyboard input application that’s similar to Swype,” Vodafone explains in a recent blog post.

For those out of the loop, we should note that there are some appealing new features available for Xperia users as soon as they bring the handsets up to date with the new software.

Sony Ericsson announced not too long ago that the main enhancements the new OS upgrade for such devices would include:

- Google Talk with Video Chat for smartphones with front-facing cameras
- Updated Facebook inside Xperia functionality for enhanced like, share and discover abilities.
- Xperia smartphones introducing world’s first 3D Sweep Panorama functionality powered by Sony.
- 16x video zoom
- The software upgrade will enable consumers to turn their Xperia smartphone into a mini-mobile PC by connecting USB peripherals (mouse, keyboard or game controller) to Sony - Ericsson LiveDock multimedia station. Connect the smartphone to a TV via HDMI to get a big screen experience.
- Gesture input – text input by swiping the finger from one letter to the next
- WiFi DLNA
- Screen capture – allows the user to share a screen grab from anywhere in the phone.

As stated above, Vodafone customers interested in applying the new software update can do so through their handsets, heading to Settings > About phone, and then checking for available updates, or via a computer, on which the PC Sync software was installed.

Before proceeding with the update, users should make sure that the handset has a fully charged battery inside, and that all personal files on the device have been backed up

Nokia Lumia 800 Out of Stock in the UK

Sales of Nokia Lumia 800 have been great so far, Nokia says, and the fact that the new mobile phone is now listed as out of stock in the UK at wireless carrier Orange seems to confirm that.

Apparently, more than just one Orange store lists the smartphone as temporarily unavailable, which is a good sign for the Finnish mobile phone maker, that's for sure.

More units should arrive on shelves soon, as the vendor has placed large orders with Compal for the remaining of the year.


Apparently, the company might be able to sell over one million Nokia Lumia 800 handsets before 2011 is over, although some suggest that it will not be able to pull that off.

Nokia Lumia 800 handsets have made a good impression on users ever since day one, and more of them are expected to find it a great device and make a purchase.

Earlier today, Nokia told us that they are pleased with the way Lumia 800 took off in the UK, and that many of the early adopters are likely to recommend the device to other people, which is highly encouraging.

This means that we should expect high volume sales next year, when the company kicks off mass production of its Windows Phone devices.

Not to mention that there will be more devices from the company launched in 2012, just as Nokia Taiwan confirmed recently.

Michael Hus, general manager of Nokia Taiwan, reportedly said that new devices are planned for the first half of 2012, but he did not offer specific info on them.

However, previous reports on the matter suggested that the company planned the launch of higher-end Windows Phones for 2012, and that it also intended to expand its lineup at the lower market level.

For the time being, Nokia Lumia 800 and Lumia 710 are the only official handsets from the company, and they seem to play their pioneering role well. After all, they are the very first devices Nokia launches with Microsoft's platform on board.

Origin PC Overclocks Sandy Bridge-E to 5.2GHz in the Genesis Desktop

As most other computer builders out there, Origin PC has also announced that it has made available Intel's new Sandy Bridge-E processors in its high-performance Genesis desktop which is also available factory overclocked for reaching speeds beyond 5GHz.

The Genesis is the company's most advanced desktop (outside of the monstrous Big O that is) and this can now be configured with the Core i7-3960X and Core i7-3930K CPUs launched today as well as with the quad-core Core i7 3820 which will arrive in retail in Q1 2012.

Both of the former chips are targeting the enthusiast crowd and as a result are running no less than six computing cores with Hyper-Threading support.

The Core i7-3960X is the faster option of the two and it sports 15MB of Level 3 cache and a 3.3GHz base clock speed with 3.9GHz maximum Turbo, while its smaller brother is limited at supporting “only” 12MB of L3 cache and a 3.2GHz base frequency (3.8GHz Turbo).

Users have the option of choosing between various air and liquid cooling solutions when configuring their Genesis and Origin PC also gives them the possibility of getting their system factory overclocked.

An overclock between 4.0GHz and 4.4GHz adds $50 (36.5 EUR) to the overall price of the system, while a 4.5GHz to 5.2GHz OC takes out an extra $100 (72.7 EUR) out of your pocket.

"As Intel and ASUS launch partners, no one offers the latest technology before ORIGIN PC does," said Kevin Wasielewski ORIGIN PC CEO and co-founder.

"The Intel Core i7 Sandybridge E processors with their amazing performance and Origin PC's expert overclocking creates one of the most powerful personal computers ever built," concluded the company's rep.

The base version of the Sandy Bridge-E powered Origin PC Genesis starts at $1570.00 (roughly 1,141 EUR) and includes the quad-core Core i7-3820, 8GB of system memory, a GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card and a 320GB hard drive.

Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Suite SP3 Trial Available

Microsoft has made available for download the evaluation release of Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Suite with Service Pack 3.

Offered through the Microsoft Download Center, Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Suite SP3 is designed to let customers test the latest upgrade to the Redmond company’s platform for the high performance computing market.

According to the software giant, the trial allows testers to use Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 SP3 for no less than 180 days, during which, the operating system will be fully-functional.

Of course, as is the case for additional trial releases from Microsoft, the evaluation version of Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 SP3 is free to download and try, but will expire after 180 days of use.

“Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Suite provides enterprise-class tools, performance, & scalability for a highly productive HPC environment,” Microsoft notes.

“The Suite provides a complete & integrated cluster environment including the OS, HPC Job Scheduler, Message Passing Interface v2 (MPI2) and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) interactive application support, cluster management & monitoring, the ability to distribute Excel calculations, and the ability to harness idle Windows 7 workstations.”

Customers already familiar with Microsoft’s offerings for the HPC market are undoubtedly already familiar with the two components of the Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Suite.

The evaluation edition allows them to test Windows Server 2008 R2 HPC Edition operating system which integrates Widows Server 2008 R2 SP1, as well as the HPC Pack 2008 R2 Enterprise application, which has been upgraded to SP3.

The HPC Pack 2008 R2 with SP3 DVD image and the Windows Server 2008 R2 HPC Edition with SP1 DVD image are both required for the Suite to be evaluated.

Testers will also need a product key in order to install and use Windows Server 2008 R2 HPC Edition, and Microsoft recommends that they leverage this one: Q7PRR-M2WBM-RJJ99-FG393-MGY3B.

Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Suite Service Pack 3 (SP3) Trial is available for download here.

iPhone 4S Arrives in India via Aircel and Airtel on November 25

It looks like Apple's iPhone 4S will arrive in India by the end of the month through Aircel and Airtel carriers.

The folks over at The Times of India have learned from trusted sources close to the matter that Airtel plans to launch the iPhone 4S on November 25.

Furthermore, Aircel already announced that it will carry the iPhone 4S beginning November 25 on its official Facebook page. There's also a countdown on the carrier's Facebook account that confirms the information.

Customers who want to purchase the iPhone 4S from Airtel should now that the smartphone will be available at starting 00:01 hour on November 25 from major select stores across the country, The Times of India reports.

None of the carriers revealed any information regarding the iPhone 4S prices, but they will surely offer the smartphone subsidized and cheaper than the suggested retail price.

On related news, Aircel subscribers will be able to reserve their iPhone 4S units starting November 18 and pick it up from the nearest store as soon as it becomes available.

India has become one of the most important markets for handset manufacturer who are looking to expand in other regions.

Given the fact that other handset makers already launched its flagship devices in the country, Apple's iPhone 4S will have a hard time conquering the India market.

Indian users will have a hard time choosing from the latest devices launched by Motorola, Samsung, Nokia and Apple, just to name a few of the brands that are introducing their high-end devices in the country by the end of the year.

However, while Motorola RAZR is already available for purchase, Samsung Galaxy Note is expected to arrive in stores in the fourth week of November, while the Nokia Lumia 800 and 710 won't hit shelves until mid-December.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Indian launch of the iPhone 4S at Aircel and Airtel carriers.

LG Nitro HD, AT&T's Optimus LTE, in New Spy Shot

AT&T's customers will soon be able to enjoy the benefits of a new Android-based mobile phone on their carrier's airwaves, none other than the LG Nitro HD, a special flavor of the Optimus LTE.

Nothing is officially announced on this device for the time being, but rumor has it that the wireless carrier will soon make it official.

Moreover, a leaked photo with the mobile phone is now available online, further suggesting not only that the handset is real, but also that it should be launched at the wireless carrier in the near future.

The new photo with the LG Nitro HD comes from phoneArena, and does not show specific branding for the device.

However, when compared to other previously leaked renderings of the handset, the new photos appear to be legit.

Unfortunately, no new details on the mobile phone have emerged until now, though the previously leaked info on it is all we have to move on with.

The LG Nitro HD is expected to arrive on the market with a 1.5GHz dual-core application processor inside, along with 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of ROM.

Moreover, the new device features a micro SD memory card slot for expanding the available internal memory, as well as a WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity options.

The new device is packed with a 4.5-inch touchscreen display that can deliver a 720p resolution, as well as with a 1830mAh battery.

The new mobile phone will also be released with support for the wireless carrier's LTE network (HSPA+ connectivity is also expected to have been included into the mix), as well as with an 8-megapixel photo snapper on the back, with support for HD video recording.

Since nothing was announced on the new device, there's no telling on when it might be released on AT&T's shelves, though some suggest that this would happen very soon

Acer A511 Tablet Has NVIDIA's Tegra 3 Kal-El

One would think Acer would be more eager to up and speak about whatever Tegra 3 tablet it has in the works, but it took some leaked documents and really close peering at some code to spot the Kal-El being mentioned.

Somehow, the lines were spotted, and it looks like Acer A511 really is a tablet powered by the quad-core (well, five-core really) ARM platform.

Some other details made it to light too, like the screen resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels and the existence of WiFi and 3G wireless support.

Acer will have another tablet out either at the same time or earlier, dubbed A510 and lacking 3G.

The OS wasn't specifically mentioned, but it doesn't take a genius to assume Ice Cream Sandwich (Google Android 4.0) will be it.

No clue when some real leaks or announcements might come, but CES 2011 is likely.

Chair Made Out of 111 Coca Cola Recycled Bottles Wins Green Award

Ten products received the Editors’ Choice Awards during the 96th edition of the prestigious International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show (IHMRS) and the second Boutique Design New York (BDNY), which took place yesterday.


The judges selected the most innovative, useful and eco-friendly items which make holidays even more enjoyable, while minimizing the guests' impact upon the environment.


The prize for the best green design went to Emeco for designing and developing the 111 Navy Chair, an item manufactured out of at least 111 recycled PET plastic Coke bottles. In order to launch this creative product, the company has worked in partnership with Cola Cola, a company keen on displaying its earth-friendly values.


Their collaboration started in 2006, when Coca Cola officials have first contacted the team from Emeco.


They revealed that their brand new recycling plant from Spartanburg South Carolina started recycling thousands of plastic bottles and that they think about reusing the obtained material in a very creative manner, while conquering the US market where Coke's eco-conscious strategies weren't very successful at that point in time.


While in Europe the company managed to recycle up to 80% of their products, in America the percentage was much lower, reaching only about 20%.


Therefore, both companies joined efforts, creativity and financial resources and came up with a smart, eco-friendly mix of combination of pigment, blended with glass fiber for extra strength.


While some would question the utility, sustainability and comfort offered by a chair made out of recycled plastic bottles, clients may not feel the same way about the wonder-gadget that succeeded in taking home the Green Equipment & Supplies award.


The prize went to CookTek Induction Systems, LLC for developing the OmeletBuster, which represents a “double burner induction cooktop” which has the ability to change the way we prepare our standard breakfast.


Its manufacturers brag about the fact that their innovative device can make a three-egg omelet in only 90 seconds, saving a lot of power and efficiently replacing the skills of the most experienced cook.


The Green Guest Amenities distinction was offered to Cintas Corporation, which impressed the audience with its latest Eco Cobra Jacket, an essential item from the EcoGeneration collection. The product is an eco-conscious garment option available for the hotel staff, mostly for front door professionals.


Bugambilia International was another lucky winner. The Green Tabletop prize went to recognize their efforts for manufacturing a green table, the Bamboo Leaf Plate, made entirely out of bamboo fibers, with no artificial or toxic plastic compounds, formaldehyde or melamine.


Verve Living Systems' green strategy of implementing the Verve Key Card Switch have paid off, since the company took the prize for Green Technology home, after displaying their latest cost-efficient findings. The enterprise has designed one of the easiest ways of preserving energy, while relying on an occupancy-based control of lighting which can trigger significant savings for hotel owners.