Over at fudzilla they received an answer from Intel regarding the matter if Intel’s GN40 Atom chipset can do 1080p HD video playbck. The answer seems to be … ‘some HD support’.

“GN40 is designed to do 1080P HD playback for typical broadband internet content; it is not designed to enable full Blu-ray capability where the bitrates and demands of multi-layer content are significantly higher than that of internet HD content.”

The way we understand this statement is that some 1080P content from the internet might have a chance, but not as extensive as the one you find on Blu-ray discs. We are quite sure that Microsoft’s 1080P WMV file format should work, while 1080P decoding of H.264 and VC1 might not.

With the expansion of the existing Z5xx series of its Atom processor platform, Intel plans to address the growing segment of embedded computing, such as in-vehicle infotainment, medical, retail and transaction solutions (kiosks, point-of-service terminals), gaming and industrial control and automation. Apparently, they added four new single-core processors to the current line-up, about which not much information was released, so far.

The Z520PT, for example, is a 1.3 Ghz CPU, has 512 KB of L2 cache, uses only 2.2 Watts, and works in a temperature range of -40 to +85° C. These new CPUs will be available in the second quarter of 2009.

QNAP is on a roll lately, yet another model of theit NAS devices is palced into the market, this time a 4-bay Intel Atom-based NAS TS-439 Pro.

TS-439 Pro is designed for SMB/Business featuring low power Intel 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB DDRII memory, and stylish industrial design.  The TS-439 Pro supports dual Giga LAN, five USB 2.0 ports and two eSATA ports, RAID 0/1/5/6/5+spare configurations, Online RAID Capacity Expansion and Online RAID Level Migration, and offers advanced functions such as iSCSI target service with Thin Provisioning, AES 256-bit volume-based encryption, automatic policy-based IP blocking, instant SMS and email alert, and SSL secure certificate etc.

Powered by Intel 1.6 GHz CPU, 1GB DDRII memory, the TS-439 Pro delivers superior performance for multiple business applications. Advanced RAID configurations, including RAID 0/ 1/ 5/ 6/ 5+Spare, JBOD, Online RAID Capacity Expansion, and Online RAID Level Migration are all supported.

The TS-439 Pro supports file sharing across Linux, UNIX, Mac, and Windows platforms. Different applications are supported, e.g. file server, FTP server, printer server, web server, and encrypted remote replication. Also, windows AD (Active Directory) is supported to help create an easy-to-access environment and lower the maintenance cost. SSH login and web page SSL login enable users to transfer, store, and share data securely.

Twintech announced their TwinBox HL-N Series ION™ Mini PC today, which is powered by Intel Atom Processor D525 CPU with Next Generation NVIDIA ION graphics technology.

TwinBox HL-N Series ION Mini PC enables you to immerse in a qualified game and 1080P HD movie content. Linking to the TV to play 1080P HD movie is one of the important uses of a full function PC.

TwinBox HL-N Series ION™ Mini PC provides 6 x USB2.0 interfaces,1 x E-SATA interfaces,1x 6in1 interface for card reader (SD/SDHC/MS/MSPRO/XD/MMC) and 1x HDMI, 1x VGA, 1 x SPDIF-out interface. It is with on-board 802.11 Wi-Fi, Gigabit 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN Cards and supports Bluetooth® function as well. Included 2GB of DDR2 memory and optional 250GB/320GB/ 500GB HDD at suggested MSRP US$339 ~US$365.

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There is good news for netbooks; well it is good news for people that would like HD on their netbooks. It looks like Intel may have decided to increase the allowable screen resolution to 1366×768 this will include the coveted (by some) 720p range.

This move allows for netbook makers to use the N series Atom instead of having to go with the Z series. The size of the display is still limited to 10.2-inches. So if you do get 720p HD resolution you are still getting a very small display to watch it on.

Intel has been trying to establish a clear distinction between the low powered netbook and more mainstream notebooks. However many manufacturers would prefer to keep this line blurry as it enables them to market the netbook as a low cost notebook alternative.

After denying the rumors for the better part of a year Google has finally come clean on its attempt to enter the operating system world.

The new Google OS (???) will be based on their fast and (in many security experts opinions) insecure Chrome Browser.

The core design is Google Chrome running with a windowing system on a Linux Kernel. The developer’s blog for the new OS sounds very much like a Mac add. Including making the comment “we are going back to the basics and completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don’t have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates. It should just work”.

The new Chrome OS is also not meant to interfere with Android as the two are separate projects. Android was meant to be multi platform (netbooks to smart boxes) while Chrome OS is for Web Centric use and will be on netbooks to desktops. The Developer’s Blog made an interesting statement that choice drives innovation. (a very true statement) I guess this even goes for competing with yourself.

Read more here

Sony has entered the netbook market in the US. This is really not shocking news as just about everyone has a netbook these days. It is just the thing to do.

The new offering will still fall under the Vaio name (Vaio W). This confusingly named product will run similar to most other netbooks. The Vaio W will have an Atom N270, 160GB HDD, 1GB RAM, Windows XP and the rest of the usual trimmings.

What is different is the price, Sony is asking for $500 for this 10.1-inch book. I am not really sure if this is going to be worth it for most as you can get a similarly speced netbook from a couple of different vendors for much less.

Read more here

MSI’s WindBox DE200 has undergone some serious changes in the last couple of months. According to the gang over at TechConnect Magazine the new box has shed the Celeron CPU and nVidia graphics and gone for the more traditional “net” hardware of a single core Atom, and 945GC board.

No word on why this has happened but the changes should be the final version and what well will see at its Computex 2009 launch.

In addition to the hardware changes the physical design seems to have been adjusted and is not as sleek as the previous version shown at CeBit.

Seen below in its new form, the nettop seems less sleek than the first iteration but is still quite compact and it no longer uses a Celeron CPU, or an Nvidia GeForce 9400 motherboard, but an Atom 230 (single-core, 1.6GHz) and a 945GC board.

The DE200 also boasts less RAM than the CeBIT version – 1GB, and has an 160GB hard drive, WiFi, Ethernet, D-Sub and HDMI outputs and one of four funky colors – black, white, blue and red. Expect more details, like the release date, next week at Computex.

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nVidia is jumping on the AMD bandwagon, well sort of. As of right now nVidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang is saying that Intel is using anti-competitive pricing to prevent ION from entering the market.

Speaking at the Reuters Technology Summit Huang said that nVidia was not planning any legal action yet but that they “have to do whatever we have to do when the time comes”. It seems pretty clear that this is a direct threat and not a simple statement.

Make no mistake the timing of this is not a coincidence either, this coming on the heels of the $1.45 Billion fine that Intel just receive shows that Huang feels this threat will motivate Intel to act differently towards ION.

But once again all this skates over the fact that rebates and incentives are part of doing business. How many of you have been offered a couple months free HBO if you stay with your current cable company after all…

According to NVIDIA, Intel sells an Atom processor typically for US $45 a piece, while in a bundle with Intel’s own chipset consisting of an i945-class northbridge and ICH7-class southbridge for just $25, that’s $25 for the processor and Intel chipset. This is driving away motherboard manufacturers from opting for Intel Atom paired with NVIDIA’s single-package Ion chipset, which NVIDIA claims, (and reviews have shown,) to offer superior performance and features at almost half the board footprint. “That seems pretty unfair,” Huang said. “We ought to be able to compete and serve that market.”

Good news for Acer Netbook fans in the US, the new Acer Aspire One D250 and 751h are available for purchase in North Amercia.

Available Configurations Pricing and Availability

The new Acer Aspire One AO751h and AOD250 are available in several configurations. Sample configurations follow:

Acer Aspire One AO751h-1192 Specifications

* Intel® Atom™ Processor Z520 (1.22GHz, 490MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache)
* Genuine Microsoft Windows XP® Home (Service Pack 3)
* 11.6-inch WXGA 16:9 ratio Acer CrystalBrite™ High Definition LED back-lit TFT LCD (1364 x 768 resolution)
* Mobile Intel® US15W Express Chipset
* 1024MB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM Single Channel Memory
* Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
* 160GB SATA 5400RPM Hard Drive
* Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader and Dedicated SD Card
* Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED®
* Acer Crystal Eye Web Camera
* Two Built-in Stereo Speakers
* Three USB 2.0 Ports
* 6-cell Li-ion Battery (5200mAh)
* 11.18″ (W) x 7.79″ (D) x 1″ (H)
* Sapphire Blue
* One-Year Standard Warranty
* Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $379.99

Acer Aspire One AOD250-1042 Specifications

* Intel® Atom™ Processor N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache)
* Genuine Microsoft Windows XP® Home (Service Pack 3)
* 10.1-inch WSVGA 16:9 ratio Acer CrystalBrite™ LED back-lit TFT LCD (1024×600 resolution)
* Mobile Intel® 945GSE Express Chipset
* 1024MB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM Single Channel Memory
* Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
* 160GB SATA 5400RPM Hard Drive
* Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
* Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED®
* Acer Crystal Eye Web Camera
* Two Built-in Stereo Speakers
* Three USB 2.0 Ports
* 3-cell Li-ion Battery (2600 mAh)
* 10.17″ (W) x 7.24″ (D) x 1″ (H)
* Ruby Red
* One-Year Standard Warranty
* Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $298.00

The Acer Aspire One AO751h 11.6-inch netbook line has a starting manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) of $349.99. Several models are avaialble with an extended 6-cell battery at an MSRP starting at $379.99. The Acer Aspire One D250 10.1-inch netbook line has a starting MSRP of $298. Models in these lines are available now.

The Acer Aspire One comes with additional preinstalled software includes Microsoft Works with Office Home and Student 2007 Trial, Microsoft Office Personal 2007, Acer eRecovery Management, Acer Launch Manager, Adobe® Reader®, McAfee® Internet Security Suite, Microsoft® Office Trial 2007.

The new Acer Aspire One models come with a standard one-year parts and labor warranty, which can be extended to three years with the Acer Advantage service. Additionally, some models have longer warranties offered through specific channel partners. All Acer netbooks are backed by toll-free service and support.