AMD debuts first embedded GPU with support for OpenCL and six displays

Disappointed by the lack of support for multiple displays and OpenCL in embedded GPUs these days? Then AMD may have just made your day. It’s just debuted its new “desktop level” Radeon E6760 discrete GPU, which packs both OpenCL support and Eyefinity-enhanced support for no less than six independent displays. AMD also notes that the GPU can be paired with its upcoming Llano APU for some additional graphics and parallel computing power and, while it might not wind up in many consumer devices, the company says it’s ideal for everything from casino games to medical imaging. Head on past the break for the complete press release.

Continue reading AMD debuts first embedded GPU with support for OpenCL and six displays

AMD debuts first embedded GPU with support for OpenCL and six displays originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 17:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry Messenger now has 43 million active users

Back in February RIM announced that BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) has 35 million worldwide subscribers and 2 thousand new users were being added every hour. Today at BlackBerry World 2011 RIM shouted out a bigger number with 43 million active users with 2 million new users per month. RIM also showed that BBM saw a 110% […]

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Carriers crack down on Android tethering apps, rain on our mobile hotspot parade

Android Tethering Apps

Well everybody, it looks like the free ride is over: carriers in the US have started to seriously crack down on Android tethering apps. Head on over to the Android Market site and try to install an app that turns your smartphone into a WiFi hotspot — there's a pretty good chance you'll be told, "this item is not available on your carrier." We checked out a number of different tethering options and they were all blocked by T-Mobile and AT&T, which isn’t entirely new. Verizon has also joined the party and, while it missed at least one that we spotted, we’re sure they’ll all be gone in short order. Only Sprint has decided against banning such apps… for now. It looks like you might have to finally cough up for that tethering plan you’ve been desperately trying to avoid.

Carriers crack down on Android tethering apps, rain on our mobile hotspot parade originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI trots out 20-inch Wind Top AE2070 with USB 3.0, Wind Touch 4 UI

MSI sure is keeping itself busy with all-in-ones these days. The inexpensive Wind Top AE2050 arrived stateside a month ago, and now the company is back with the Wind Top AE2070, a more tricked-out 20-incher. This iteration also has a 1600 x 900 display, but steps up to USB 3.0 and can be upgraded to a 3.1GHz Core i3 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT540M graphics. Other specs include a 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive, two three-watt speakers, a DVD burner, and a 6-in-1 memory card reader. Software-wise, it runs Windows 7 along with the latest version of MSI’s Wind Touch UI, which includes Facebook and Twitter buttons in the browser, a dedicated window for viewing photos and video, sticky notes, and weather and time widgets for the desktop. No word yet on pricing or availability, though we assume it’ll be more wallet-friendly than this.

Continue reading MSI trots out 20-inch Wind Top AE2070 with USB 3.0, Wind Touch 4 UI

MSI trots out 20-inch Wind Top AE2070 with USB 3.0, Wind Touch 4 UI originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry OS 7 Features Announced–But It Won’t Run On Older Devices

This morning, RIM finally unveiled its next generation mobile operating system, BlackBerry OS 7. It’s not a giant leap forward, but RIM is detailing a faster and easier-to-use OS that comes with an integrated, voice-enabled Universal Search system.

BlackBerry fans that have been frustrated by the operating system’s chronically sluggish Web experience will be pleased to know that OS 7 offers a “significantly enhanced” browser with HTML5 video support and speed updates.

Interestingly, OS 7 won’t have any legacy support, meaning that even the current generation Bold or Touch that you bought last year will be left behind — you’ll need to have one of RIM’s brand new 9900 or 9930 devices to run it. SlashGear writes that according to RIM, “the reasoning behind the absent upgrades is that the new OS is so dependent on the hardware graphics capabilities of its new handsets.”

RIM’s new BlackBerry Balance application, though, will work on any device running OS 6.0 or later. First detailed in January, Balance is RIM’s solution for combining both your personal and corporate accounts — and all the security requirements that those require — on a single device. For example, you can wipe all of the enterprise data from your phone, while still leaving the personal accounts intact. Or, social networking apps like Facebook and Twitter can be given limited access to anything from your corporate accounts.

BlackBerry OS 7 Features Announced–But It Won’t Run On Older Devices originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 May 2011 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inside Osama's "Kill Site" [Nsfw]

It’s grainy and looks like it might have been shot on a cell phone, but ABC’s got their hands on video from inside the house where Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden. It’s about what you’d expect, destroyed and blood-soaked. More »







BlackBerry PlayBook to get Video Chat and Facebook apps in May (updated)

Who’s going to get the very first “tablet-optimized” Facebook app? Why, it’s RIM and the PlayBook! The Canadian company has today revealed it’s bringing a native Facebook app to its 7-inch, QNX-based slate, which will also be joined by a new Video Chat application. The latter will be available to download on May 3rd, with an over-the-air update dishing it out to current PlayBook owners. Its functionality will be no different from what we’ve come to expect from such clients — both voice and video calls will be available anywhere you can find a WiFi connection. As to the Facebook app, it’s coming some time later in the month, and will let you view and add your friends, share photos and videos “seamlessly,” access Facebook Chat, and view and interact with the news Feed. Both should be getting extensive demos at BlackBerry World, which is taking place this week, and we’ll be sure to have a gander and report our findings. Skip past the break for the full press releases.

Update: Well, that was quick — looks like Facebook for PlayBook is already up for grabs, and Canadian Reviewer has posted several screenshots for your amusement.

Continue reading BlackBerry PlayBook to get Video Chat and Facebook apps in May (updated)

BlackBerry PlayBook to get Video Chat and Facebook apps in May (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 08:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIM announces BlackBerry 7 OS with better browser and BlackBerry Balance, but no legacy support

The BB OS 6.1 update that grew too big for its name has just been made official by RIM as BlackBerry 7. Its ambassador into the wide world of smartphones will be the newly minted BlackBerry Bold Touch, which is expected to arrive “this summer.” What can you look forward to? The user experience is promised to be both easier and faster, voice-activated searches are available for content both on your phone and the web, and the browser has been “significantly enhanced” with new features like a JIT (just-in-time) JavaScript compiler and HTML5 Video support. BlackBerry Balance is also part of the new OS, allowing you to compartmentalize your personal and professional lives into neat and separate piles of content. Full PR can be found after the break.

Update: RIM has just noted that there will be “no legacy support” with BB 7, meaning that older devices, even those running version 6 of the OS, won’t be getting any (official) updates to the latest stuff. This has been justified by how tightly integrated the software build is with the underlying graphics hardware in the touch-capable Bold handsets. Basically, the old phones won’t be able to run the new OS. Oh, and in case you were wondering, there’s no trace of QNX in BB 7.

Continue reading RIM announces BlackBerry 7 OS with better browser and BlackBerry Balance, but no legacy support

RIM announces BlackBerry 7 OS with better browser and BlackBerry Balance, but no legacy support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 (Bold Touch) official

We’ve seen it photographed, videotaped, and even, briefly, up on RIM’s own website. Now it’s up there to stay, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 (aka the Bold Touch) have been made official as RIM kicks off BlackBerry World in Orlando. As expected, the phone packs a 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor that has only a 2.8-inch VGA touchscreen with a 287dpi pixel density to worry about. On the back is a five megapixel camera and inside is 8GB of internal storage (with microSD expansion) and NFC circuitry. At 10.5mm it’s RIM’s thinnest handset yet, featuring a stainless steel circumference and a fiberglass back, while up front of course it makes room for a full QWERTY keyboard. The 9900 supports HSPA+ connectivity to get its 4G on, while the 9930 is the world variant, adding dual-band CDMA and quad-band GSM to the mix, and both do 802.11a/b/g/n along with Bluetooth 2.1. Both, quite naturally, include the new BlackBerry 7 OS, including a faster browser and voice-activated search. Another picture and full specs are listed after the break, which will have to do you until this handset releases sometime in the summer, meaning this could be your next great beach accessory for those working vacations.

Update: Full press release and more images after the break.

Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 (Bold Touch) official

BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 (Bold Touch) official originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama's bin Laden Speech Triggers 4,000 Tweets Per Second

osama.jpg

Even though it happened at around 11:30 on a Sunday night, Barack Obama’s speech on the death of Osama bin Laden has become one of the most active Tweeting sprees of all time.

“Twitter reached more than 4000 Tweets per second tonight at the beginning and end of President Obama’s speech,” Twitter wrote in an official company Tweet.

In a matter of hours, a search for “Osama” on YouTube brought up more than 2,000 new videos. Flash mobs also appeared at major landmarks throughout the country, including the White House, Ground Zero, and Times Square (where Gearlog captured the photo above).

Samsung’s Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 now rolling out to countries far away from you

While Samsung has yet to announce an actual date for its new Galaxy Players in the US, their international counterparts are already heading towards other parts of the world for a head start. The Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 is said to be debuting in Russia followed by other countries, whereas its 5.0 sibling will be launched in Switzerland. In terms of specs, not much has changed since we last saw these 1GHz, DivX-friendly Android PMPs, and yes, they’ll still be shipped with Froyo “with a possibility to upgrade to 2.3 Gingerbread.” As always, we’ll let you folks know when we eventually find out about the US launch (if ever), though to be frank, we’d rather just go for the beefier Galaxy S II instead.

Continue reading Samsung’s Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 now rolling out to countries far away from you

Samsung’s Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 now rolling out to countries far away from you originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 May 2011 23:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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