Windows 8 DirectX Feature Evolution

Windows 8 will not bring to the table an evolution of the underlying graphics platform of the same magnitude as the move from DirectX 10 to DirectX 11, as in fact, the OS still features DirectX 11.  But this doesn’t mean that there aren’t improvements to speak of, because this is not the case.  In fact, according to the software giant, the Windows 8 DirectX 11 feature enhancements will end up benefiting not only developers, but also end users and system manufacturers.  The Redmond company published a whitepaper titled “Windows Display Driver Model Enhancements in Windows Developer Preview” on the Windows Dev Center, the hub set up especially for Windows 8, and launched with the release of Build 8102 Milestone 3 (M3).  Microsoft stresses that even on lower-power hardware,...

Read more »

AMD Could Turn to TSMC for Upcoming Bulldozer CPUs

All the manufacturing issues that have affected Globalfoundries' 32 nm HKMG chip fabrication process seem to have made AMD to reconsider its feature strategy since the company is now rumored to be considering TSMC for the manufacturing of its upcoming Bulldozer processors. This information comes from the Turkish Donanim Haber website, which states that it has found out from some unnamed sources that AMD is seeking to expand its ties with TSMC. The chip maker is reportedly interested on turning to TSMC for manufacturing its upcoming processors based on the Bulldozer architecture, as it has come to be dissatisfied with the performance achieved by Globalfoundries with its 32nm HKMG fabrication process. Right now, the Taiwanese foundry produces...

Read more »

iOS 5 - The Full Feature Set

Apple rolled out iOS 5 this week, the latest major update to its advanced mobile operating system powering iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch players. While most of the details are out regarding iOS 5, we’re yet to post the full set of changes for those who decided to put their update on hold until Apple resolved any server issues or errors that early adopters have encountered. It is all too well known that iOS 5 brings support for iCloud, Apple’s breakthrough cloud service that keeps all your stuff updated on all your devices and computers, and even your Windows PC. iOS 5 also brings Siri, the amazing personal assistant with a voice that understands not only the words you speak, but also context. It allows you to get loads of tasks done only by...

Read more »

ASRock Motherboards Get Support for AMD FX-Series CPUs

ASRock has just released a new series of BIOS updates for the company's AM3 and AM3+ motherboards that enable these solutions to work with the recently released AMD FX-Series processors based on the Bulldozer architecture. The updates cover no less than 19 board models built using various chipsets, ranging from the newly released 990FX controller to some models built using the Nvidia GeForce 7025 chipset. ASRock hasn't mentioned if all of their motherboards are able to work with eight-core AMD Bulldozer CPUs, like the FX-8150 and FX-8120, but it's expected that entry level solutions will be limited at supporting 95W chips. The top of line motherboards for Bulldozer released by ASRock is the Fatal1ty 990FX Professional, which carries support...

Read more »

Nokia 700, 701, 500 and 101 Arrive in Philipinnes

Nokia has just announced the availability of four handset in Philippines, the Symbian Belle-based Nokia 700 and 701, Symbian Anna-powered Nokia 500 and the Nokia 101 feature-phone. The phones are available for purchase starting this week at all Nokia stores across the country for prices ranging from P14,490 to P1,490. The most expensive of the four is Nokia 701, which is priced at P15,990 ($370 or 270 EUR), while the next line is Nokia 700 valued at P14,490 (about $334 or 243 EUR). Nokia 500 will be available for P9,290 ($214 or 156 EUR), whereas the cheapest is the Nokia 101, which will go for P1,490 ($34 or 25 EUR). Nokia 701 and 701 are delivered with Symbian Belle on board, as well as NFC (Near Field Communication) support. Each are equipped...

Read more »

MSI Motherboard Owners Can Upgrade Their BIOS

Advanced Micro Devices just launched the FX series of CPUs, the first members of it anyway, and Micro-Star International wasted no time in directing its customers to the download links of the updated BIOS versions.  It isn't uncommon for motherboards to, physically, be able to support processors that did not exist when they were launched.  After all, if the socket fits, then logic dictates that there should be some way for the chip to work.  Still, though the hardware might have nothing against an advanced chip, the software often doesn't have what it takes to keep up.  The BIOS is the main element of the equation that has to be updated in such a situation, since operating systems can get everything they need from a driver...

Read more »

Ex-AMD Engineer Blames Bulldozer's Low Performance on Lack of Fine Tuning

AMD recently launched FX-Series processors based on the Bulldozer architecture haven't managed to deliver the performance everybody expected them to, and an ex-AMD engineer has recently come out to share its vision regarding the Bulldozer performance issues.  Cliff A. Maier has worked as a member of AMD's technical staff until a few years ago, when it left the company at about the same time as AMD has started to use automated design tools for its chips. According to the engineer, the fact that Bulldozer arrived later than everybody expected it has little to do with its performance problems, as the main issue that affected the architecture was the chip makers adoption of automated design techniques. Compared to the traditional design techniques...

Read more »

iPhone 4S Teardown Confirms 512MB RAM, Upgraded Battery

The tinkerers at iFixit are at it again with their Pentalobe screwdriver and a keen sense of humor in their latest teardown of the latest Apple iPhone. Joking all the way through the teardown in an imaginary dialog with Siri, the iOS 5 personal assistant, iFixit pried open the iPhone 4S to reveal pretty much what had already been confirmed, but with many more technical details. For instance, they reveal that “Apple is again using Pentalobe screws to secure the rear panel and keep people out.” Once the glass plates were off, the team got a clear view of the markings on the new battery: “…there it is: an extra .05 WHrs in the battery over the iPhone 4!” iPhone 4 users won’ be able to upgrade their existing battery to the new one as “it appears...

Read more »

BlackBerry Network Recovering on Day 4 - 10/13/2011

Three days after RIM's network experienced one of the worst outage in the company's history, it appears BlackBerry services are now being restored gradually. BlackBerry users started to experience issues with BlackBerry services on Monday, but RIM was mum on the matter until the next day when it came forward with a short statement saying that the issues only affected users in EMEA and that they had been solved. Unfortunately, the outage moved to Americas the second day, as users in Canada, the United States, South and Latin America started to report that they were unable to use any BlackBerry service. On day three, BlackBerry users all over the world went crazy over the outage, as RIM was still trying to figure out what had really caused its...

Read more »