Hasta La Gadget!

If you’ve been waiting anxiously for the release of Windows 8 come late October, it might not be as great as you dreamed it would be. Intel CEO Paul Otellini told fellow employees that Windows 8 is being released before it’s ready for the masses. Otellini said that improvements still need to be made before Microsoft officially releases it to consumers.

Intel has been working closely with Microsoft on its development of Windows 8, so Otellini has a little bit of authority when it comes to the subject, but while he said that the new OS is being released before it’s ready, he clarified that it’s a good move for Microsoft to make improvements to Windows 8 after it ships.

We’re not really sure what improvements this entails, nor do we know how these updates will make its way to the OS exactly or even when they’ll arrive. However, they’ll most likely deliver any bug fixes through their Windows Update service, and may even release update packs similar to Service Packs that we saw in Windows XP and Windows 7.

We can’t say we’re surprised at Otellini’s comments. It’s usually common for company’s to release software that technically still has bugs in it, whether they’re known or unknown. However, if you’ve played around with the latest Windows 8 Preview, then you’ll know that Microsoft will most likely be okay to launch Windows 8 in October without any major problems.

[via The Verge]

Intel CEO claims Windows 8 is being released with bugs is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Remember the Mac Mini that was modded into an old Apple ][ Disk Drive a couple of years back? Well, the modder behind the build has now put it up for sale on eBay, to make room for other projects.

It only has a 1.5Ghz Core Solo CPU and 2GB of RAM, so it’s not the latest and greatest in Mac Mini tech, but on the other hand it’s way more powerful than the 1978 floppy drive upon which it is based. My favorite part of the mod has always been the slot-loading DVD drive that’s perfectly aligned with the old floppy disk slot.

Modder Charles Mangin has listed the 5-1/4″ floppy drive cum Mac Mini with a starting bid of $500(USD), but if you absolutely must have it, there’s a Buy-it-Now price of $1000.

I think this is one of the strangest off-the-shelf computer cases I’ve ever seen. Lian Li has announced the launch of a odd little computer case that resembles an old-fashioned train. The case comes in two versions, and one version of the case can even move on its track.

The case is designed to hold mini-ITX motherboards and has three slots for 2.5-inch hard drives. The case also has a pair of USB 3.0 ports on the side and ships with an integrated 300 W 80 Plus certified power supply. The CK101 case measures 185 mm wide by 258 mm high by 515 mm deep and is made from aluminum.

The train case has a single external slim optical drive bay and has a single 120 mm rear fan. The Lian Li CK101 Standard PC case, which doesn’t move, will sell for $229(USD). The CK101 Premium version that does move back and forth in its tracks will sell for $379.

The Lian Li PC-CK101 Train case will be available at the end of September.

X-Rite has been peddling color calibration solutions for a long time in its ColorMunki line of products. The company has announced the addition of a new entry-level color calibration solution called the ColorMunki Smile. The device is aimed at hobbyists, design enthusiasts, gamers, and other users who want accurate and correct colors on their computer displays.

The Smile includes a color measurement device and simple software. The software is wizard-based and uses graphics and video animation so users only have to follow on-screen instructions for quick and easy color calibration. X-Rite says that users don’t need to know anything about color science to get quality results using the Smile.

The device uses the same color profile technology as the company’s professional color calibration products. The Smile will work on LED or LCD displays. The Smile allows users to calibrate multiple monitors accurately and the software automatically detects when multiple monitors are connected to a single Mac or PC to allow for color calibration on each screen.

The Smile connects to a computer via a USB port and supports both Windows and Mac computers. The device also supports multiple languages, including English, French, German, and Spanish. The Smile is available right now for $99.

X-Rite unveils ColorMunki Smile color calibration solution is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The typical consumer may not realize all the individual components that are inside computer or a smartphone. There’s a myriad of little chips inside devices sourced from all around the world for things such as memory and storage. DRAM chips are the key components inside computing devices and smartphones that allow them to operate more quickly.

Since the 1980s, computers have been the main consumer of DRAM chips in the technology industry. However, data released by research firm iSuppli last week showed a major change in DRAM consumption for the first time since the 80s. Computers used 49% of all DRAM chips manufactured in Q2 of this year.

That left other devices such as smartphones and tablets consuming 51% of all DRAM chips manufactured, overtaking the computer industry for the first time in decades. The percentages are expected to continue to tip in favor of tablets and smartphones. By the end of 2013, iSuppli predicts that PCs will use only 42.8% of the DRAM chips produced.

DRAM chips are used inside of computers and other devices to store short-term information to help shorten the time it takes to process information inside the computer. Long-term storage inside smartphones and computers typically use hard drives with magnetic platters or solid-state storage using NAND chips. ISuppli expects that with the market tipping towards mobile devices as the main consumer of DRAM chips, manufacturers will increasingly focus on making better chips for smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.

[via Reuters]

Smartphones and tablets overtake PCs as major consumer of DRAM chips is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.