Jan 25

Gizmo Board is an AMD-powered embedded system for developers and tinkerers

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Gizmo Board is an AMDpowered embedded system for developers and tinkerers

GizmoSphere and AMD are targeting independent developers, embedded system makers and tinkerers with the Gizmo Board — a four-inch square powered by a dual-core 1GHz G-T40E. The x86 CPU and Radeon 6250 GPU put a lot of power and flexibility in your hands, though, the 1GB of soldered on RAM does limit it somewhat. In addition to being able to run Android, Linux or Windows, there’s also a host of connectivity options packed in. There’s a VGA connector and two USB 2.0 ports, along with an Ethernet jack and a pair of custom I/O connectors — one of which can be hooked up to GizmoSphere’s Explorer board, which has a keypad, LCD and an area for prototyping. You can pick up the Gizmo Board direct from the company’s site (at the source) for $199 which certainly makes it more expensive than options like the Raspberry Pi, but there’s also a lot more horsepower under its passively cooled hood. Check out the PR after the break for more.

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GizmoSphere Launches an AMD APU-based Gizmo Board for Embedded Systems Inventors and Hobbyists
AMD is a Founding Member of GizmoSphere Embedded Developer Community

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -1/24/2013
AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced that the newly launched Gizmo board, a low-cost board geared toward x86-based embedded system development available from GizmoSphere, is powered by an AMD Embedded G-Series Accelerated Processing Unit (APU). Gizmo is a 4-inch by 4-inch x86 development board that can run a variety of operating systems including Android, Linux(R), RTOSes and Windows(R). AMD is a founding member of GizmoSphere, a not-for-profit organization whose collective goal is to drive and enable technology projects of interest to independent developers, with a focus on stimulating and encouraging innovation around multicore heterogeneous computing using APUs.

The Gizmo board includes the G-T40E dual-core processor running at 1.0 GHz, combined on a single die with AMD Radeon[TM] HD 6250 discrete-class graphics. The board provides a performance capacity of 52 gigaFLOPS (GFLOPS) at less than 10 watts. Custom high- and low-speed edge connectors enable a full range of functions. This unprecedented level of integration between serial and parallel processing offers a power-efficient foundation for high-performance multimedia content delivery across a broad range of embedded designs such as digital signage, x86 set-top box (xSTB), IP-TV, thin client, information kiosk, point-of-sale, casino gaming, media servers and industrial control systems.

“Gizmo is an excellent board for the next generation of embedded systems development,” said Kamal Khouri, director of Embedded Products, AMD. “The new board will serve the diverse and growing embedded development community and is especially useful for those wanting to incorporate the advanced capabilities possible by harnessing a heterogeneous architecture. Developers ready to take advantage of a high-performance, full I/O-featured x86 development board will find tremendous value in Gizmo.”

Packaged as part of a development kit, the Gizmo board is available now through GizmoSphere.org for $199. GizmoSphere’s founding members include AMD, Sage Electronic Engineering, Texas Multicore Technologies and Viosoft.

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Via: SemiAccurate

Source: GizmoSphere

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Jan 25

Apple drops supplier over underage labor violations, hails ‘high compliance’ with reducing excessive work hours

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Apple severs relationship with supplier over underage labor violations

Apple’s latest Supplier Responsibility Report has just been published, detailing 393 audits focused on the plants and suppliers that help make all that hardware. The audit number is a 72 percent increase in what it covered in its last annual report, while Apple was also quick to highlight its contracting companies’ high compliance (92 percent) with a maximum 60-hour work week. Senior vice president of operations Jeff Williams told Reuters that underage workers and limiting working hours were two of the most challenging issues it faced in its supplier audits. Apple decided to end business relations with component maker Guangdong Real Faith Pingzhou Electronics over underage labour issues. “We go deep in the supply chain to find it,” said Williams. “And when we do find it, we ensure that the underage workers are taken care of, the suppliers are dealt with.”

Update: As 9 to 5 Mac noticed, the supplier report also contains another notable detail: it lists Freemont, California-based Quanta Computer as one of Apple’s final assembly facilities.

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Via: AllThingsD, Reuters

Source: Apple

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Jan 24

Korg announces MS-20 mini, we go hands and ears-on (video)

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Korg announces MS-20 mini, we go hands and ears-on (video)

Korg has a string of classic sound-making machines that bear its name. One of the most well regarded would be the MS-20 analog synth that first landed in 1978. But that’s no good to you right here in 2013 is it? Well, funnily enough, the kind folk at Korg realised this, and decided to relaunch it, updated for the modern musician. The MS-20 mini is, as you might surmise, a smaller version of the classic, measuring in at 86 percent the size of the original. It also looks like as much of the character that made the MS-20 sing to people’s hearts has been carried over as possible. The mini was developed by the same engineers, has the same synthesis set up (two oscillators, ring modulation, VCA design etc) complete with manual cable-patching system (which is now 3.5mm rather than 1/4-inch). There is one modern addition, and that is a USB-MIDI jack around the back, letting you plug in to your favorite DAW / sequencing software through the more contemporary connection — should you prefer that over the good old 5-pin MIDI (which is still an option). As we’re right here at NAMM, we took a stroll over to the Korg booth to take a look for ourselves. Head past the break to see / hear more.

Undoubtedly, the MS-20 mini looks like the real deal. Although smaller second time around, it’s still a good size, and big enough for competent keyboard players to do their thing. The knobs and pots felt surprisingly plasticky, but the rest of the machine seems robust and well made. It’s hard not to get sucked in to the whole vintage detail, especially the patch bay on the right hand side. The action on the keys feels good and responsive, and those dials should be able to take some vigorous use — ideal for live performances. The sound it generates will definitely please fans of analog synths, and we even caught Deadmau5 making an appearance at the booth to check it out. So, if you’d like to upgrade from that iPad app version, to the real deal, you should be able to do so in spring, for an expected $599. Want to hear how it sounds? Jump on the video below for the quick demo. Full press release comes after that.

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Korg USA Announces MS-20 mini – Korg’s classic MS-20 is recreated in mini size –

WINTER NAMM, ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, January 24th, 2013 – Korg’s MS-20 monophonic synthesizer, first introduced in 1978, is still coveted to this day for its thick, robust sound, powerful, iconic analog filter, and versatile patching options. It has now been reborn in hardware, as the new MS-20 mini. The same engineers who developed the original MS-20 have perfectly reproduced it in a body that’s been shrunk to 86% of the original size, yet retains the distinctive look of the original.

The MS-20 Mini offers the same distinctive synthesis that made the original MS-20 popular: two oscillators with ring modulation, and envelope generators with delay and hold. The VCA (Voltage Controlled Amp) maintains the original basic design, but it’s been modified to produce less noise. Particular attention has also been paid to delivering smooth parameter adjustments, which are a distinctive feature of analog synthesizers. Special care was also taken to completely reproduce the original specifications of the MS-20, to deliver the same powerful sound, from deep, growling basses to crisp, rounded leads.

One of the most well-known – and still most sought after – characteristics of the original MS-20 was its powerful filters, which provided both high-pass and low-pass with peak/resonance. Maximizing the peak/resonance would cause the filter to self-oscillate; producing a distinctive and dramatic tonal change that was acclaimed as inimitable, and was used many years later on Korg’s monotron and monotribe. The filter circuit was changed mid-way through the production lifecycle of the MS-20; the MS-20 mini uses the earlier filter, which was felt to be superior due to its more radical sound.
The ESP (External Signal Processor) functionality carries on the experimental spirit of MS-20, allowing users to utilize the pitch or volume of an external audio source to control the synthesizer. For example, an electric guitar can be used as an input signal, and the MS-20 mini can be used as a guitar synthesizer, or the mic input can allow it to be used it as a vocal synthesizer.

The patching system enables the creation of complex sounds by allowing the rerouting of both modulation and audio (both the internal oscillators and external audio). Different combinations of the modulation input/output and trigger, sample and hold, and noise generator can produce an incredible variety of sounds. By patching according to the MS-20 flow chart printed on the panel, musicians of all levels can take advantage of these possibilities right away.

To make it even more approachable, the MS-20 mini has been shrunk to 86% of the size of the original, with meticulous care taken to accurately reproduce the knob design and the printing. The patch cables have been changed from 1/4″ phone plugs to mini-plugs, and the newly- designed keyboard is also 86% of the original size.

The MS-20 mini is equipped with a MIDI IN jack for receiving note messages, and a USB-MIDI connector that can transmit and receive note messages. Users can also connect the MS20 mini to a computer and play it from an external sequencer.

For added authenticity, the MS-20 mini packaging replicates much of the original. Also included are the original MS-20 owner’s manual and settings chart.

Billy Steele contributed to this report.

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Jan 24

PBS profiles Martin Goetz, recipient of the first software patent

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PBS profiles Martin Goetz, recipient of the first software patent

PBS has been exploring a fair bit technology history with its digital shorts lately — examining the likes of animated GIFs, indie games and coding as art in its Off Book series — and it’s now tackled one issue that’s making more headlines than ever: software patents. It hasn’t provided a distilled history of the topic this time, though, instead offering a brief profile of the man who received the first software patent in 1968, Martin Goetz, as part of its Inventors series. Not surprisingly, he still sees a place for software patents, but admits that the current situation is “a little bit of a mess.” Head on past the break for the video.

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Source: PBS Inventors Series (YouTube)

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Jan 24

Numark iDJ Live II DJ controller hands-on (video)

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Numark iDJ Live II DJ controller hands-on

If there’s one company that comprehensively caters to the entry-level and intermediate DJ, there’s a good chance it’s Numark. While the firm has released a whole bunch of stuff at NAMM this year, perhaps its most mainstream offering is the iDJ Live II. If you remember the original, it was a lightweight controller (both physically, and metaphorically) designed for use with Djay on iOS. This time around the little fella gets a redesign, and a few functionality tweaks. Most notable, is that while the first iteration only gave you the option of iOS connectivity — via the 30-pin adaptor — this time you have the choice of Lightning, 30-pin, or straight up USB. Thus, you can now bring the iDJ Live II out to work with your Mac or PC, too. Once again, it’s built with Algoriddim’s Djay in mind, be it the desktop or iOS version, and we got our hands on it to take it for a spin. Head past the break for the lowdown.

Gallery: Numark iDJ Live II hands-on

First things first. This is very much a fun, consumer product. It would be unfair to call it an accessory, but it’s definitely meant for casual use at parties etc. The unit itself is very light, made entirely of plastic, and feels very different to the heavier DJ controllers you might be used to. The iDJ Live II, however, does look much better than the first iteration, with the slightly squared design and the lower-profile platters at least making it look a little less toy-like than before. The plastic finish still feels the same, as does the action and resistance of the platters, knobs and faders (which is serviceable). The controls available give you everything you need to perform all the mixing basics, with high and low-frequency EQ, channel volume control, a crossfader, and even rudimentary scratching (though it really is more of a novelty). If you’ve ever used Djay for any amount of time though, you’ll know that this is plenty enough to get a set going, and having the physical controller there just makes it all that more enjoyable / easy. While purists and old hands might see products such as these as over simplified, the ease of use, and broad appeal makes them ideal for the curious, and that can only be a good thing. Sadly there is no word on price or availability at this time, but we’d be surprised if it wasn’t comfortably under $100 when it does finally make its way onto shelves. Check the video below for the hardware tour.

Billy Steele contributed to this report.

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Jan 24

Moog Sub Phatty analog synthesizer hands-on (video)

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Moog Sub Phatty handson video

A few days back, Moog teased a new synthesizer that we would come to meet properly as the Sub Phatty. Once we hit the show floor here in California, we made sure to drop by for live look. The analog unit features every bit of the fine craftsmanship that we’ve come to know Moog for crankin’ out of its factory in the mountains of North Carolina despite the affordable $1,100 price tag. Sub Phatty keeps with the classic snyth aesthetic and Moog design trademarks including soft-touch coated side panels — a staple of the Phatty line — and knobs that look and feel prime for extreme mileage. Aside from a dapper exterior, the big draw here is the new Multidrive tech that graces the control panel and inner workings of the device. We could give a detailed textual explanation of said feature, but we’ll let Amos Gaynes, product development specialist at Moog, do all of the chatting in the video that follows after the break. Speaking of the jump, you’ll find an audio sample taken straight off of the Sub Phatty’s frontside here at NAMM 2013.

Gallery: Moog Sub Phatty analog synthesizer hands-on

James Trew contributed to this report.

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Jan 24

Pioneer Platinum Edition CDJ2000nexus, DJM-900nexus and RMX-1000 eyes-on

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Pioneer Platinum Edition CDJ2000nexus, DJM-900nexus and RMX-1000 eyes-on

What do Magpies and DJs have in common? Well, if Pioneer’s latest special edition hardware is anything to go by, it’s a love of shiny things. Announced this week, the limited-run of it’s flagship CDJ2000nexus, DJM-900nexus and RMX-1000 remix station DJ gear is all about the looks. We managed to get there the minute the show floor opened, and found the lustrous kit getting the final spit and polish before the eager hoards could get their curious hands on it. As anyone who has used Pioneer DJ kit will know, the build quality is generally high, and this is still the case here. The metallic finish really makes them something to look at, and we can see this being the set-up of choice for those who like to show off a little. With that in mind, you might be thinking what we were: what about fingerprints? Well, having got there first, meant that they had yet to endure the proper real-world challenge, but we were kind enough to apply a few firm presses to the gear in the name of science. The result? Well, let’s just say that you might want to keep a lint-free cloth close to hand. But then if you’re the kind to lay down the suggested $8,499 for the whole set, we imagine you might have thought that far ahead already. Check the gallery below to see the whole set, up close and personal.

Gallery: Pioneer Pioneer Platinum Edition CDJ-2000nexus, mixer and remixer eyes-on

Billy Steele contributed to this report.

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Jan 24

Microsoft reports Q2 2013 earnings: posts record revenue of $21.5 billion, $6.38 billion profit (update)

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Microsoft reports Q2 2013 earnings posts record revenue of $215 billion, $638 billion profit

This isn’t the end of earnings season, but this is the final member of the unholy trinity. Microsoft is reporting that during the second quarter of its 2013 financial year it set a revenue record by raking in $21.5 billion. Of that $6.38 billion was pure profit, lining shareholder’s pockets to the tune of $0.76 per share. While EPS was down year-over-year, net income was up dramatically from $5.87 billion a year ago and $5.31 billion last quarter. The Windows division accounted for roughly $5.9 billion of Redmond’s revenues, up 24 percent from a year ago, largely thanks to the release of Windows 8. That division is also home to the Surface, which still hasn’t seemed to gain much traction with consumers. Interestingly, while Windows was surging, its business division was suffering a not inconsequential drop off — seeing revenues fall 10 percent to $5.7 billion year-over-year. But the Server & Tools department also helped offset some of those declines, with revenue jumping up 9 percent to $5.19 billion.

In a sign that it might be time for a bit of a console refresh, the Entertainment and Devices division saw revenues continue to sink, despite the strong holiday sales. While the $3.77 billion in revenue was a stark increase over Q1’s paltry $1.95 billion, it’s still a 7 percent fall from the same time period last year. Thankfully, its Online Services continued to grow, reaching $869 million in revenue — an 11 percent growth year-over-year, and a sign that it’s various web services aren’t sinking ships. Most notably ad revenue was up 15 percent thanks largely to an increase in revenue-per-search.

Revenue growth over Q2 2012 wasn’t huge, but it was certainly notable and net income didn’t drop dramatically. And, perhaps most importantly for investors, results were pretty much inline with Wall Street expectations. It’s also worth noting that some revenue has been deferred, $1.3 billion to be exact, thanks to various upgrade offers and video game deals — though, the company did report previously deferred revenues due to pre-sales of Windows 8. There’s PR after the break but, if you want to dig through all the detailed tables of financial data you’ll have to hit up the source link. And check back in for updates when the earnings call gets under way at 5:30PM ET.

Updates:

5:36PM CFO, Peter Klein says that 60 percent of computers worldwide are running Windows 7 while the company has managed to push out 60 million Windows 8 licenses.

5:40 Microsoft doesn’t seem particularly worried about the declining PC market as Windows revenues outpaced sales of x86 machines by a significant margin.

5:45 Windows Phone sales were four times what they were last year.

5:53 Microsoft stands by its story that Surface is “just one part of the Windows 8 story.” Though, it did say that it will “expand retail distribution and availability” so don’t expect the in-house slate to go quietly into that good night.

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Microsoft Reports Record Revenue of $21.5 Billion in Second Quarter
Strong business demand and key product launches drive record revenue.

REDMOND, Wash. – Jan. 24, 2013 – Microsoft Corp. today announced quarterly revenue of $21.46 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2012. Operating income, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $7.77 billion, $6.38 billion, and $0.76 per share.

These financial results reflect the net deferral of revenue for the Windows Upgrade Offer, Office Upgrade Offer and Pre-sales, and the Entertainment and Devices Division Video Game Deferral, partially offset by the recognition of previously deferred revenue for Windows 8 Pre-sales. The following table reconciles these financial results reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to non-GAAP financial results. We have provided this non-GAAP financial information to aid investors in better understanding the company’s performance.

“Our big, bold ambition to reimagine Windows as well as launch Surface and Windows Phone 8 has sparked growing enthusiasm with our customers and unprecedented opportunity and creativity with our partners and developers,” said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. “With new Windows devices, including Surface Pro, and the new Office on the horizon, we’ll continue to drive excitement for the Windows ecosystem and deliver our software through devices and services people love and businesses need.”

The Windows Division posted revenue of $5.88 billion, a 24% increase from the prior year period. Adjusting for the net deferral of revenue for the Windows Upgrade Offer and the recognition of the previously deferred revenue from Windows 8 Pre-sales, Windows Division non-GAAP revenue increased 11% for the second quarter. Microsoft has sold over 60 million Windows 8 licenses to date.

“We saw strong growth in our enterprise business driven by multi-year commitments to the Microsoft platform, which positions us well for long-term growth,” said Peter Klein, chief financial officer at Microsoft. “Multi-year licensing revenue grew double-digits across Windows, Server & Tools, and the Microsoft Business Division.”

The Server & Tools business reported $5.19 billion of revenue, a 9% increase from the prior year period, driven by double-digit percentage revenue growth in SQL Server and System Center.

“We see strong momentum in our enterprise business. With the launch of SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012, we continue to see healthy growth in our data platform and infrastructure businesses and win share from our competitors,” said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. “With the coming launch of the new Office, we will provide a cloud-enabled suite of products that will deliver unparalleled productivity and flexibility.”

The Microsoft Business Division posted $5.69 billion of revenue, a 10% decrease from the prior year period. Adjusting for the impact of the Office Upgrade Offer and Pre-sales, Microsoft Business Division non-GAAP revenue increased 3% for the second quarter. Revenue from Microsoft’s productivity server offerings – collectively including Lync, SharePoint, and Exchange – continued double-digit percentage growth.

The Online Services Division reported revenue of $869 million, an 11% increase from the prior year period. Online advertising revenue grew 15% driven by an increase in revenue per search.

The Entertainment and Devices Division posted revenue of $3.77 billion, a decrease of 11% from the prior year period. Adjusting for the Video Game Deferral, the division’s non-GAAP revenue decreased 2% for the second quarter. Xbox continues to be the top-selling console in the United States. During the quarter, Microsoft launched Windows Phone 8 with a broad array of carriers and devices.

Business Outlook

Microsoft reaffirms fiscal year 2013 operating expense guidance of $30.3 billion to $30.9 billion.

Webcast Details

Peter Klein, chief financial officer, Frank Brod, chief accounting officer, and Chris Suh, general manager of Investor Relations, will host a conference call and webcast at 2:30 p.m. PST (5:30 p.m. EST) today to discuss details of the company’s performance for the quarter and certain forward-looking information. The session may be accessed at http://www.microsoft.com/investor. The webcast will be available for replay through the close of business on Jan. 24, 2014.

Adjusted Financial Results and Non-GAAP Measures

For second quarter fiscal year 2013 GAAP revenue, operating income, and earnings per share growth included the net deferral of revenue for the Windows Upgrade Offer, the Office Upgrade Offer and Pre-sales, and the Entertainment and Devices Division Video Game Deferral, and the recognition of previously deferred revenue for Windows 8 Pre-sales. These items are defined in our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2012. In addition to these financial results reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we have provided certain non-GAAP financial information to aid investors in better understanding the company’s performance. Presenting these measures without the impact of these items gives additional insight into operational performance and helps clarify trends affecting the company’s business. For comparability of reporting, management considers this information in conjunction with GAAP amounts in evaluating business performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, the measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

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Source: Microsoft

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Jan 24

Moog shows off one-of-a-kind Aluminum Voyager and 10th Anniversary Minimoog Voyager at NAMM (eyes-on)

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Moog shows off oneofakind Aluminum Voyager and 10th Anniversary Minimoog Voyager at NAMM eyeson

A couple of months back, Moog announced its limited edition 24-karat gold clad Minimoog Voyager to celebrate the 10th anniversary of said analog synth. But here at NAMM 2013, the outfit is showing of the latest bit of unannounced handiwork from its in-house machine shop. Feast your eyes on the Aluminum Voyager: a one-of-a-kind unit that is housed in the rugged silver material and features all blue panel lighting to complete the look — right down to the rivets. We also took a bit of time to lay our peepers on that golden model, too. Our snaps don’t really do it justice, but the combination of the shiny finish with translucent control knobs and accents of Japanese Awabi pearl make for one of the most dapper instruments we’ve seen. But don’t take our word for it, dive in to the gallery below to take a closer look at the pair.

Gallery: Moog Aluminum Voyager and 10th Anniversary Minimoog Voyager eyes-on

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Jan 24

Cambridge University opening Graphene Centre to take material ‘to the next level’

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Cambridge University opening Graphene Centre, seeks to take material 'to the next level'

As a quick glimpse of research in recent years will show you, there’s seemingly no limit to what graphene can do. The carbon-based substance has largely remained the realm of the laboratory, but Cambridge is amongst those universities looking to help the amazing substance play a bigger role in industry. As part of its efforts, the school is set to start work on the Graphene Center at the beginning of next month, a facility that’s set to “take graphene to the next level” when it opens shop by year’s end, with the help of a £12 million ($19 million) grant. Scientists at the center will seek to harness the material to help create things like flexible, transparent electronics, networked devices and energy storage for electric cars. More information on the forthcoming recearch center can be found in the source link below.

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Cambridge University

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