Facts: Apple vs PC

As you walk in to your neighborhood coffee shop, a fast glance around will suffice to sum up the various kinds of people inhabiting the place. The hipster along together along with his scarf & laid back attitude, the businessman along together along with his three-piece suit & tie, the mom together along together with her list of tasks to accomplish. Before seeing the actual people, you can probably make a pleasant guess as to what they may look like based on the kind of computer they are using. Our possessions have come to define us in this age - your computer may define who you are.

From a technical standpoint, Apple is a few steps behind the top PC's. Every release of a used MacBook pro hardware set is preceded by high-end PC laptops with the same expertise. When the i7 processor was released about a year ago, PC's had the latest processing unit several months before Apple integrated it in to their systems. Why then do people prefer Apple to PC on such a large scale? After all, Apple passed up Dell, Hp, & Toshiba long ago & at point this year they were the largest company in the world.

To start with, Apple takes the cake on aesthetics. The unmistakable look of the silver MacBook Pro with its flush liquid crystal video display & backlit keyboard is hard to replicate. This design is not, it is also sturdy. Apple makes its laptops out of all aluminum, making them much more long lasting the mostly plastic-based PC laptops. In a drop check, Apple with outperform PC nine times out of0.

Secondly, Apple has done a great job of ensuring their designs are perfected internally before releasing them. They may not release a used model every month, but when they do release the next generation, it is near flawless at its core. This is due to Apple's meticulous testing strategies that be positive a tiny number of defects. Common issues that do plague both Apple & PC such as overheating, graphics card failure, & hard drive failure, appear to not affect new MacBook Pros as much as new PCs.

Thirdly, Apple has effectively captured the marketplace for "cool" expertise. When IBM was founded in the mid 1900's their aim was to produce computers that were functional & made work flow more productive - not look chilled. When Dell, HP, Toshiba, Sony, & other PC brands joined the race, they took this same approach, each brand generating some kind of niche, all under the larger umbrella of IBM's philosophy of functionality.

When Steve Jobs took over Apple in 1997 after a hiatus from the company, his focus was on being user friendly by using eye sweet. Every detail of an Apple computer, down to the font used in its coding is meticulously reviewed for effective looks. The idea worked, & Apple is confidently the only widely accepted "cool" computer.

Whether you’re a mom, a businessman, or a hipster, them remains true - Apple computers make you chilled. They may not have the latest innovative expertise or be functionally any different from your everyday PC, but the panache they carryover makes them a product sought after by all.

The New Technology Trend for 2012

If technology trends are to be kept in sight, then 2011 was also surely the year that the cloud-based services & their potential were recognized.

So with the year over, the query that is popping up in everyone's mind is, which technology trends will define 2012?

Here are a few top choices for definitive technology trends for 2012:

1. 'Cloud' is here to stay!

Yes, you read that right. With Apple pushing iCloud out in the mid-October, there is much more yet to come from cloud computing. As increasingly IT departments move away from the traditional sharing of resources, over to cloud services they are seeing ever shrinking private knowledge centers which are positive to make their mark on not technology but businesses at every front.

Moving everything over to the net for IT companies is also a simpler choice as it gives them much more freedom to move around their knowledge between multiple centers. Industry analysts predict that in the next couple of years, businesses are likely to 'rent' their servers than maintaining their own. Thereby ensuring that this trend that will stay.

2. Web TV

Google did dabble in to the net TV market in early 2010, but like Google Wave (& recently Google+, which got rave reviews but finally failed to make its' mark) it flopped. Though in all honesty, the reviews for Google TV weren't all that great but coupled with poor service & lack of interest from the public made Google table the deal for a bit.

However, 2012 might show to be the year of Web TV. With Sony's Web HD TV, Logitech's Revue & Apple's foray in to Apple TV, Web TV is definitely poised to make a comeback as of the largest technology trends for 2012.

3. Better, faster & cheaper Smartphones

As increasingly cheap, faster & 'good looking'' devices are coming in to the market, the competition is getting tougher for Smartphones. One thing is positive though; Smartphones define the future of technology.

The iPhones & the Androids have the market much cornered but it is an open field for their competitors who are out there making cheap Smartphones that cater to every need. Mark our words, this is the future & is probably going to stay of the hottest trends for year 2012!

4. A Hybrid between a Laptop, Smartphone, Tablet & a PC

With increasingly users opting for smart rings & tablets like the iPod & the phone the market is ripe for hybrids, thus making it of the most eagerly awaited technologies for the approaching year.

The PC market has taken a hit with its' sales down in the year so far, but all is not wrong as the tech companies acknowledged that the consumer is looking for a cross over tool that comprises all of the technologies that are part of their everyday lives.

With Apple's iPod providing some kind of cross over gadget between the above, Google has its' Chrome book in the works whereas HP has its Omni PCs to thank & improve in the approaching months. They are waiting to see what magic the tech companies have in store for the next year!

NVIDIA Announces 3D Vision 2 Glasses And 3D LightBoost Technology

We’re here on the USS Hornet attending NVIDIA’s GeForce LAN 6 event, where NVIDIA has just finished a kick-off keynote and product announcement between rounds of gaming. While NVIDIA has held LAN parties in the past, they don’t traditionally use them to announce new products. But the reality of the GPU product cycle is that with Kepler due in 2012 NVIDIA won’t be launching any major new consumer GPUs this fall, so instead the fall is being dedicated to their ecosystem products and GeForce LAN 6 is being used as the launch event for those products. So while today’s announcement isn’t a new GPU, it is still quite relevant to gaming.

As you may recall, it’s been nearly 3 years since NVIDIA first announced 3D Vision, their initiative to revitalize the shutter glasses 3D gaming market by adding support to their drivers for running a number of games in 3D, while at the same time taking care of the hardware on their own by producing the glasses and IR transmitter. Since then they have given the glasses a slight upgrade by extending the battery life, having a few monitor/laptop vendors integrate the IR transmitter into their wares, and introduced a separate set of wired glasses, but otherwise the platform has remained the same.

As for the competition NVIDIA is facing some pressure from AMD, whose HD3D initiative had been slow to start off but has finally gained some momentum with the release of monitors such as the Samsung SA750. At the same time NVIDIAs own sales have reached 500,000 glasses, meaning the product line has been deemed successful enough to continue its development. As a result 3D Vision is due for a refresh.
The result of that product refresh is pair of technologies: 3D Vision 2 glasses, and 3D LightBoost. The 3D Vision 2 glasses are the long awaited replacement for NVIDIA’s earlier 3D Vision wireless glasses, and feature a new fit and larger lenses. From NVIDIA’s perspective they wanted to have glasses with larger lenses for use with today’s 27” 120Hz monitors (3D Vision 1 launched with 22” monitors), whereas from our perspective we’ve never been a big fan of the wrap-around fit of the original glasses.

The result is that NVIDIA went with lenses that are 20% larger than with the older glasses, which in turn required making the glasses larger overall. This ends up killing 2 birds with one stone, as not only does NVIDIA get their larger lenses, but the larger frame allows them to promote the glasses as allowing less light to leak in from the side. At the same time the larger frame means that they’ve gone back and reworked the materials and the fit of the frame; the frame is now made out of a softer plastic, which should be more malleable to heads and headphones alike. With that said we haven’t had a chance to try out a set of 3D Vision 2 glasses yet, so we’ll be including our impressions shortly once NVIDIA brings them out for exhibition.

The second 3D Vision announcement of the evening is the announcement of 3D LightBoost, a new NVIDIA technology that is designed to partially mitigate the biggest pitfall of active shutter glasses: the poor visibility that results from the shutters blocking so much light. All 3D systems suffer to this to some extent – at the end of the day you’re blocking an image from reaching any given eye – but as anyone who has used both polarized and shutter systems can tell you, shutter systems have it worse. Thus the idea behind 3D LightBoost is that NVIDIA has a new way to operate their glasses that blocks less light, both from the monitor and from the immediate environment.

Unfortunately NVIDIA is holding their cards close to their chest here when it comes to discussing how the technology operates. What we have managed to get confirmed is that 3D LightBoost is a monitor technology (not a glasses technology), and that NVIDIA is playing with the monitor backlight to achieve this. Specifically they’re shutting off the backlight entirely between frames, and then activating the backlight at over 100% brightness when they want to show a frame. In effect the backlight itself is acting as a shutter.
The significance of this change is that by modulating the backlight the shutters on the glasses themselves no longer need to be closed for as long a period of time. Currently NVIDIA needs to close the shutters relatively early to prevent stereo crosstalk – left and right images being seen in the wrong eyes – from being noticed and breaking the 3D illusion. The need to close the shutters so early is a particular quirk of LCD monitors, as the shutters need to be closed while the LCD crystals are moving to their new alignment and only opened once the crystals are near or at their new alignment, since crosstalk will occur long before the image settles. Or to put another way, by modulating the backlight LCD motion blur can be hidden, which is a second way to reduce stereo crosstalk.

The result of this is that the shutters on the glasses can be kept open longer, which improves the amount of environmental light that gets through the glasses. For the monitor itself, the increase in image brightness is achieved by overdriving the monitor’s backlight, producing an image brighter than the current crop of 3D monitors at full brightness. The amount of overdrive is going to depend on the attributes of the monitor being used, and more immediately NVIDIA still hasn’t fully explained the technical reason for why they can overdrive a backlight but only for short periods of time. In any case the combination of the two effects results in both the image on the monitor and the immediate environment being perceived as being brighter. Presumably this method could also be used to reduce overall stereo crosstalk (which still exists to some extent), but NVIDIA is not promoting it as such.

As you can imagine, 3D LightBoost will require new monitors capable of handling the backlight modulation. NVIDIA’s launch monitor will be the ASUS VG278H, a 27” LED backlit TN monitor with a resolution of 1920x1080. The VG278H will launch this month at $699, and will also include an integrated 3D Vision IR transmitter and a set of 3D Vision 2 glasses (although strictly speaking the integrated IR transmitter isn’t required for 3D LightBoost or 3D Vision 2). The Acer HN274HB and BenQ XL2420T are also 3D LightBoost qualified, and in the laptop market NVIDIA will be launching 3D LightBoost with Toshiba’s Qosmio X770/X775 and Satellite P770/775 laptops, which feature a 17.3” screen and come with a pair of 3D Vision 1 glasses.

Wrapping things up, NVIDIA is telling us that 3D Vision 2 glasses will be available this month at the same price as their existing 3D Vision 1 kits. This means the 3D Vision 2 glasses alone will retail for $99, while the glasses plus an IR hub will retail for $149. All of these new products – the glasses and 3D LightBoost monitors alike – are backwards compatible with existing 3D Vision 1 gear, so 3D Vision 2 glasses will work with existing monitors, and we expect 3D Vision 1 glasses to work with the forthcoming 3D LightBoost monitors.

Meanwhile as this is a gaming event, 3D Vision Pro – NVIDIA’s RF 3D Vision system – hasn’t been mentioned, but given the similarities between the two products we’d expect it’s just a matter of time. So 3D Vision Pro owners have something to look forward to for 2012.
We’ll have more on 3D Vision 2 and 3D LightBoost later tonight once we’ve had a chance to play with the exhibition units, so stay tuned.

Update: We've just returned from the exhibit hall where NVIDIA is showing off the 3DVision 2 glasses and the Asus monitor (in fact the entire LAN tournament area is equipped with them). While we can't take any objective measurements in these conditions, subjectively the 3D LightBoost effect does appear to be doing its job. The environmental lighting getting through the glasses is immediately noticeably brighter; there's still some light being blocked of course, but I'd say it's comparable to passively polarized glasses now. As for the monitor brightness that's also subjectively better, but it's not immediately apparent without a regular monitor to compare it against. At first glance I'd again call it comparable to polarized monitors, but it's something that needs a controlled test.

Interestingly you'd never know that the Asus monitors were using 3D LightBoost just by looking at them. There's no flicker with the monitors, with or without the glasses. Again a controlled test will reveal more, but at first glance we're rather surprised by just how imperceptible the modulation of the monitor's backlight is.

Source: AnandTech

This os How Raid Works

The disks used for data storage are mechanical parts which are susceptible to failures. When any disk fails, all data stored in the disk is lost. This becomes a serious issue when critical data is stored in the disk. RAID stands for redundant array of independent disks. Redundancy is the key behind RAID where data is stored in multiple disks to prevent data loss. RAID is now used to increase the speed & performance of data storage & retrieval method. It is clear that retrieving data sequentially from a single disk is slower than retrieving the same data from parallel disks. To control the operation, host adapter in RAID provides centralized control.

Multiple RAID levels named as RAID0 to RAID5 define the way the storage & retrieval of data is done. Each of these levels concentrates on minimizing data loss & increasing the performance. However, either of these goals dominates RAID levels because both the qualities are mutually exclusive.

In RAID, multiple disks are used for storing data. When a write operation is initiated, the host adapter accesses multiple connected drives to write the data. The data to be written is split into blocks. Odd blocks are written in to disk & even blocks to the other if there is disks. When a read operation is initiated, the host adapter fetches data from multiple disks & stores in the buffer. The RAID levels are used to increase reliability & performance.

RAID 0 strips the data & writes data fragments to multiple disks on the same sector. Even if of the disks fails, the stored data will be lost. RAID 0 is used where speed is the major concern. RAID 1 makes use of mirroring to minimize data loss. The same data is written on multiple disks to be positive that the data is still obtainable even if of the disks fails. The probability of failure of all the disks simultaneously is less & hence, you can expect the data to be present on a regular basis. You ought to buy more number of disks in the event you need to increase the storage capacity with RAID1.

The RAID 0 and 1

RAID 2 makes use of error correction code to minimize data loss. Apart from storage disks, ECC disks are used in this RAID level. The ECC disks are dedicated to store error correction codes. The data to be stored is split across multiple disks & the correction codes are directed to the ECC disk. RAID 3 makes use of byte level stripping with parity in lieu of error correction codes. RAID 4 is similar to RAID 3 but block level stripping of data is done here. The correction code is based on parity.

RAID 2

With levels 2, 3 & 4, failure of a single ECC disk ends in loss of whole data. This issue is eliminated in RAID 5. RAID 5 also makes use of block parity but the parity data are also distributed across multiple disks. The parity can be used for data recovery meaning that the data can be recovered even when a single disk fails.

RAID 3

RAID 4

RAID 5

RAID 6 is fundamentally an extension of RAID level which allows for additional fault tolerance by using a second independent distributed parity process (two-dimensional parity)

Data is striped on a block level across a set of drives, like in RAID, and a second set of parity is calculated & written across all the drives; RAID 6 provides for an high data fault tolerance & can maintain multiple simultaneous drive failures.

FeTRAM: A New Idea to Replace Flash Memory

Researchers at Purdue University are developing a new type of memory that is promised to be faster and less energy intensive than Flash.

Zoom

I cannot quite remember how long we have been discussing a replacement for flash memory, which was first shown by Intel in 1988 in the shape of a shoebox-sized 256 Kb NOR flash board and was followed by a NAND version produced by Toshiba one year later. Back in 2004, I wrote an article for Tom's Hardware that discussed possible successors for flash. The common belief in the industry was that flash economics would be running out of steam sometime in 2007 or 2008.

Seven years later, flash is still going strong, but we are still talking about successors, we just don't know what it will be and when they will be mature enough to compete with the now 22-year old NAND technology. Purdue now suggests that it could be a "ferroelectric" polymer that enables the development of a "new type of ferroelectric transistor"

Called FeTRAM, the memory is said to be in a "very nascent stage" and there is not even a prototype. However, the theory and a test circuit exist and the scientists behind the project claim that the technology will enable memory devices that are faster than flash and consume less power.

"Our present device consumes more power because it is still not properly scaled," said Saptarshi Das, one of the scientists working on the technology.. "For future generations of FeTRAM technologies one of the main objectives will be to reduce the power dissipation. They might also be much faster than another form of computer memory called SRAM."

There was no information when the technology will be shown in a prototype, but Das noted that a patent application has already been filed. According to the researchers, FeTRAMs "are similar to state-of-the-art ferroelectric random access memories, FeRAMs, which are in commercial use but represent a relatively small part of the overall semiconductor market." However, other than FeRAMs, FeTRAMs allow for "nondestructive readout, meaning information can be read without losing it."

Source: Toms Hardware

10 Considerations Before Purchasing a KVM Switch

In the previous article we have learned about KVM switch and what does it do. Now in this article I am going to give some tips regarding choosing the right KVM switch to purchase.

When choosing a KVM Switch, there are plenty of important things to keep in mind. Below you will find 10 things you ought to think about when purchasing your KVM.

1. Digital KVM vs. Front-End IP KVM Switch
2. Support for Audio
3. Integration of Remote Power Management Functionality
4. Security/Authentication
5. Number of Users
6. CAT5 Switches
7. Resolution & Performance
8. Support for Serial Devices
9. Bandwidth
10. Distance Requirements

Digital vs. Front-End IP products - In case you need to implement KVM over IP, you can select between pure digital applications & front-end IP products. A pure digital implementation makes use of digital KVM switches & is a network-based management approach that allows administrators to gain BIOS-level access of the attached servers by communicating with the networked digital KVM switch. Front-End IP products are positioned at the console of existing analog switches & permit remote users to gain secure access to an existing KVM switch.

Supports for Audio - Some KVM switches provide audio support. For example, the Rose Electronics UltraView Pro series will support audio for users & computers. In addition, Avocent AMX devices provide multi-user switches that support audio functionality.

Integration of Remote Power Management Functionality - By integrating a remote reboot device, administrators can cycle power to a server from a user station or through an online browser from any location worldwide. Enterprise-level solutions such as Server Technology's line of remote power management products provide multiple options for 3-phase or 208 power.

Security/Authentication - Most KVM over IP devices permit an administrator to leverage existing authentication schema such as LDAP, Active Listing, RADIUS, or TACACS+.

Number of Users - Multi-User KVM switches range from smaller 4-user KVM switches able to handle dozens of servers, to integrated KVM switching systems able to allowing hundreds of administrators to control thousands of servers.

CAT5 Switches - CAT5 KVM switches dramatically reduce desktop & server rack cable clutter & permit users & computers to be situated farther apart than they could be using standard KVM cables. CAT5 switches also scale much larger on both the user & method sides, providing additional flexibility as your organization grows.

Resolution & Performance - Resolutions vary by device; some KVM over IP switches provide a maximum of up to 1600X1200 at 60Hz over IP. In case you have high resolution requirements, think about analog KVM switches, as they provide a higher resolution than digital KVM switches.

Support for Serial Devices - Some high-end KVM enterprise solutions provide support for serial devices (routers, headless Unix, etc.). Rose Electronics' devices provide serial support at the switch level & can support serial devices through coax cables.

Bandwidth - Bandwidth requirements will vary significantly depending on the graphic intensity of the application you are using. Most compression technologies use differentials, sending only the changes that appear on a screen to update the user screen.

Distance Requirements - The distance between a user & a server with KVM over IP is limitless. The maximum distance between a user & server with a CAT5 KVM switch varies, with some higher-end analog CAT5 KVM switches allowing a user & a server to be up to 1,000 feet apart.

The Future of PC Monitors - Last Part

Curved Monitors

A little-known monitor company called Ostendo has released a 43-inch behemoth of a PC monitor called the CRVD bowed display. The Ostendo CRVD offers a stunning 2880x900 resolution with a 32:10 aspect ratio. Ostendo claims that the screen is an ergonomic & more visually appealing solution to having TFT monitors side-by-side; although the monitor is thick & heavy as well as long. Whilst this may be true, at around $6,500 per CRVD (probably around, 500 pound in the event that they make their way to the United Kingdom), you'd hope so! This monitor is also obtainable to hardcore game fanatics with Alienware branding, & it is a pleasant idea, but the current cost & resolution does present a barrier at the moment. A similar but slightly more affordable idea is that of the Eyefinity display, which is currently being offered by Samsung in the kind of the MD230 series. Unlike the CRVD they do have bezels, but they are narrow bezels & the resolution supported is even more insane- 5760x2160 in the case of the MD230 X6. You can read more about the Samsung MD230 series of eyefinity displays here.

Organic Light Emitting Diodes

OLED (organic light emitting diode) monitors are thin-film LED (light emitting diode) monitors which do not need a backlight to function. In lieu, they depend on electroluminescent materials; that is, a material that glows when an electrical current is applied. Unlike standard LCD monitors, they can be flexible which gives them the obvious advantage of portability & of being literally wearable. They also consume far less power, making them an ideal choice for mobile devices. In terms of color reproduction, contrast ratio & response time (at around 0.01ms), OLEDs are thought about superior to even the best LCD displays. The viewing angle is also superior to that of a TFT PC monitor. 

So how come they are not all using OLED PC monitors if this technology is obtainable today? The main answer to that is manufacturing costs. They are seeing an ever-increasing number of devices using OLED screens from digital cameras, to MP3 players & smartphones. The US military has also expressed interest in soldier-wearable OLED screens to display intelligence knowledge such as maps & UAV output, as well as for improved vehicle HUD data. But all of these technologies use comparatively small screens, & it may be some time before affordable OLED PC monitors & TVs make their way in to our homes & offices. An equally fascinating know-how that ought to bring similar advantages to OLED is also being developed, by a cooperative partnership between LG Display & QD Vision; QLED (Quantum dot Light Emitting Diode) so there is actual commercial interest in advancing things beyond LCD.

The Future

This article has explored some fabulous & some whacky ideas related to PC monitors. I think that they can expect lots of these technologies to be developed further & perhaps combined in the near future. I would expect that LED backlighting know-how of the humble LCD monitor will be refined, as will the 120Hz (or higher) display standard. I also expect these technologies to be combined to give a top quality display indeed. Looking further in to the future, perhaps beyond 2015, I would expect to start seeing the first batch of actual affordable OLED PC monitors hit the market. With Samsung, Sony, LG & some others displaying a keen interest in OLED know-how, it is only a matter of time before the know-how becomes affordable for the mainstream. Perhaps by 2020 we'll even see some actual 3D PC monitors, perhaps even combined with some kind of gesture interaction. The type that gives you jaw-dropping visuals, without any glasses or headaches, & from lots of different angles.

The future of PC monitors is definitely a fascinating, & we'll be there every step of the way.