Intel® Software Network

Toshiba develops new 3D NAND flash technology

- DigiTimes

Kodak lets light shine in with fourth-pixel advance

- EE Times

Interesting that it looks like this technology (earlier Kodak's PIXELUX technology) complements PenTile RGBW display technology I wrote about two months ago in this thread. Real progress in all fields. Further, the next example of a laconic and reliable design:

Test Drive a Porsche Cell Phone

"The device features a large swivel screen made with an organic, light-emitting diode display"

- BusinessWeek

And, in addition to the universal remote controls:

Windows Vista SideShow Devices

- TEXYT

Michael

Some tech rag in a style of Valleywag:

IBM - spades, Intel - clubs, Microsoft - diamonds, Apple - hearts.

Michael

To the point, the new system of typing:

The keys of the top and middle rows of the standard QWERTY keyboard are designated for the middle finger, the bottom row and Space key - for the index finger. Thumb typing with one hand is used as an additional method.

Michael

Michael,

The Sideshow PDA seems interesting, I guess that it is running on Windows CE OS instead of Vista, but capable to connect to Vista PC for synchronizing the data (email, calendar, address book) between PC and PDA.

I wonder there is anything special on slideshow PDA, many other devices can do, smart-phone like RIM's Blackberry, UMPC like Samsung's Q1 Ultra, MID likes HTC Shift and Nokia N800.

Jason

Jason,

Why do you need these devices? I think that for a PC platform the displays less than 11-12 inches are downgrading user experience. I started to work with computers in the middle of eighties and then 14-inch display was standard. Now even webpages are developed for 17 and 19-inch widescreen displays. And software too.

Michael

Yahoo Signs Deal With Carriers in Asia, Launches Mobile Software

http://www.wirelessweek.com/article.aspx?id=149518

"With the tremendous consumer response to date we believe that Yahoo! Go will be a catalyst for broader adoption of the mobile Internet," said Marco Boerries, executive vice president of the Connected Life Division at Yahoo!, in a company statement.

Very reasonable strategy. For a comfortable access to the information anytime anywhere on the go. Not just to one column of the New York Times which width casually coincides with the screen's width as in iPhone's video. Mobile Web means mobile advertising when everyone has a personal ad screen in addition to full access to the private information on the main display. And the ads are displayed before a site's menu for seamless browsing the sections of a Mobile Web site.

Cell phone is an outdated category - even the No.1 maker of cell phones Nokia admits it naming the new models as multimedia computers. Yes, in order to work with the mobile Internet everyone needs a computer - a cell PC. This hardware platform is also the most important catalyst for its broader adoption in addition to Yahoo's initiative.

Also, join the discussion:

Does technology have a role in community development? by Perry Gruber

MWI: Leading Mobile Web Access to Its Full Potential by Philipp Hoschka

Michael

Hello everyone,

Just a scientific question:

IBM Says Supercomputer Is Three Times Faster Than Prior Model

I can't understand how computer can beat a human in chess (remember, 1997, Gary Kasparov). It can only defend in order not to lose the game. Otherwise, it uses someone else's tactics.

To the point:

Why to downgrade the PC user experience by shrinking display size when you can improve cell phones (don't mix up with a PDA phone - iPhone) users' experience?

Noone cancelled ergonomics - in order to hold a device with comfort it has to be utmost 53 mm wide - I trust Motorola absolutely. In order to touch type - the three fingers starting from the index one have to be placed on the keys freely so the three keys have to be 54 mm wide - 1868, Christopher Sholes.

Michael

How wonderful!

Apple IPhone Reviewers Say It Lives Up to Hype, Inspires Lust

May God bless them. I found the links to these reviews:

The iPhone Is a Breakthrough Handheld Computer - Wall Street Journal

Apple's iPhone isn't perfect, but it's worthy of the hype - USA Today

The iPhone Matches Most of Its Hype - The New York Times

I'd like just to say: iPhone is a transition to the world of cell PCs. Everyone on Earth will want an iPhone with a MotoRAZR design. Just by combining 100 million numbers.

"It's an Apple's chance to win the market." - my comments on Steve Jobs's interview at D conference in this thread.

Microsoft also has this chance. In order to make a mobile version of Office 2007 for "all the technology in your life and business comes together" as Ray Ozzie said.

I trust Intel as a hardware platform provider for Microsoft and Apple.

Michael

Hello,

Just a synchronization of the posts on Intel Software Network - Poll: Your ideas for Intel SL Events! by Gina B. on "Intel® and Second Life" forum, ISN blog's post If you haven’t already, check out Intel’s presence in Second Life! by Maryann Iannitti and my suggestion for the themes of SL discussions:

Software Development for an iPhone as a Mobile Internet Device.

I think this is a very important for the Mobile Web development, first of all. With its launch, iPhone is a renewed PDA platform (which is an Apple's concept initially) for mobile versions of web sites allowing to create applications with dynamic interfaces for running in Safari browser environment.

I know that Intel provides processors for Apple TV so I think that there is a possibility that new Intel's mobile platforms planned for launching next year could also be provided for future versions of iPhone. And, in addition, it's a very popular theme now.

Recent news: Ajax SDK for Apple iPhone

And I agree with Gael Holmes: "why go to Linux when you can have the real "unix" based OS, which is MAC OS?>- in the discussion of "Is Mobile Linux really ready for Prime Time?" post.

I always consider Linux as a system developed for developers not ordinary people where there is not caring about a user interface and the development is focused on working in network environment as easily deployed low-cost servers - that's what IBM and Oracle demonstrate successfully.

As for mobile devices - not so good experience of cell phone users has the same roots - the kind of attitude like "it works so why to work more on UI details". People need a good interface and Apple brings it to them.

Apple's success is just explained by the fact that professional graphic artists choose Mac OS as a working platform. And the only company also working on this level - Microsoft.

And, in addition, are the Apple's PDA, Microsoft's Pocket PC and Intel's MID (video from Jason's post - also, an extended version) concepts actually having the same goals, aren't they?

Michael

Hello everyone,

Sometimes it's amazing when you find the hidden possibilities in what you've created. This time, I would like to talk about the external controls of the cell PC platform.

In most cases, we're using the cell phone just to answer calls and make them by using the Recent Contacts list. So, for this, the case of the cell PC is closed and the main display is turned around. The external controls are used - the hinge and the bottom strip under the second display have three sensor buttons (like small ribbons for the buttons in the corners and like circles for the middle buttons) on each side. When you answering, you are holding the device in one hand and pressing the bottom left button to start speaking (there are titles of the buttons on the display above), the bottom right button - to end a call, the bottom middle button - Recent Contacts that are scrolled down using the bottom left and right buttons (PgUp, PgDown for the top left and right buttons), the second pressing of the bottom middle button is used to start dialing.

The same six buttons perform the functions of control for using the cell PC as a game console - the main display is in a landscape mode. The bottom left and right buttons - arrows left and right; the top left and right buttons - arrows down and up; the middle left button - Menu; the middle right button - the Enter key. When the Menu button is selected - the top and bottom right buttons are for scrolling it down. The top and bottom left buttons in this mode are used for extra settings. Also, these six buttons are used in AV playing and recording modes and for taking photos - there are titles or icons for the buttons on the main display overlapped on the image in a control mode.

Another everyday life's situation when using a virtual keyboard may not be preferred - it's raining, for example. Then, you can use the control panel - you press, say, F7 and now the F1-F8 - 1-8; arrows up and down - 9,0; arrows left and right - *,#. The Enter key works as a Send key as usual. Also, speed dialing - you press and hold one of the F1-F8 keys more than 2 seconds.

So, when the device is set in these modes, the touch sensitivity of the displays is turned off and it's proof against the errors of random touches while operating the device - the flexibility and reliability of the plarform for using in all standard modes of a modern cell phone or game console. The touch sensitivity of the displays is turned on in a cell PC mode.

And, in addition, some ideas about using of light indication for a virtual keyboard. Each time when you touch the key, it's highlighted over the surface for one second and then gradually dims. Also, the control keys as Ctrl, Alt, Shift are highlighted when being activated and then, in three seconds, they are disactivated automatically if the key combination has not been continued.

So, you don't need to look at the main display every time - you can check only sentences or paragraphs of text. You're just typing. Moreover, if you wish, you can control which letters have been pressed in a word just by the setting that's making them in bold font (highlighted - the background is dark, by default, dark green for letters, dark blue for numbers and symbols) until the Space key is pressed after the word has been entered.

Michael

Michael,

 

thanks for the sharing. Here is the comment on your post on July 2.

 

I think the industries (IT, telecommunications, and Internet services) all share the same vision for the new era of Mobile Internet. However, different companies embrace different trends depending on their area of expertise. Mobile telecom vendors are focusing their 3G efforts on wireless broadband for anywhere/anytime connection. Phone makers are developing smart phones or mobile handhelds to allow a mobile terminal to access the Internet, while silicon vendors like Intel want to deliver efficient Power Performance chips and platforms for a new generation of converged portable devices. OSVs and ISVs are creating new optimized software stacks to support end-to-end mobile Internet services. So we are all going for the same goal, and to make it happen we need more collaboration across the entire ecosystem of multiple industries.

Who will win? Considering the opportunities as well as the risks, definitely more than 1 device maker, more than 1 chip maker, and more than 1 service provider will gain big slices of a growing market.

Yes, Jason, we need a new generation of converged portable devices. A unified platform for delivering mobile content and advertisements to users. And I remember the name of the winner in the industry previous time:

"IBM PC Compatible" becomes "Wintel"

"Software and compatibility amongst different PCs and hardware compatibility is no longer a major issue. There are other platforms in existence today (mostly the Apple Macintosh, which is now known as Mac), but they are a minority.

Thanks to intuitive user interfaces and the information-gathering and communications capabilities of the Internet, the computer has finally escaped from the domain of computer professionals and computer hobbyists, and has become mainstream."

Now we have a new standard - Apple iPhone. But do you know that the cell PC has the screen area that is one and half bigger than iPhone's while a cell PC is significantly more compact - 53x103 and 61x115 mm correspondingly.

That's the reason for the industry to make that move ahead. Games and Internet need it as before.

Michael

Though, this is the theme of the other ISN forum, it's main Intel's research for multi-cores and my major scientific project for AI. Join the discussion:

What would you do with 80 cores? by Sean Koehl

And new review and announcement:

Multi-core research update: the intimate coupling of software & hardware

Michael

A new discussion on IT@Intel blog:

Why can't a mobile phone just be a phone? by Heath Buckmaster

Michael

I love this game. Do you really believe that anyone would replace a half drunken bottle of beer or something at a party with any device except a cell phone?

Compact size and comfortable interface. Plus PC functionality using new mobile processors.

Michael

Samsung May Partner With Armani to Manufacture Mobile Phones

A new level? A Cell PC instead of the Q1?

Michael

I think Samsung wants to develop the cool phones for fashion users. iPhone is one good example of cool phone. The joint design work with Armani may be mainly focusing on ID design, but not software stack and UI applications, which is not the strength of Armani.

I am interested to see what 'Coool" stuff that they will bring to the market, and how will it compete with iPhone.

I like that Samsung is making a real progress in many directions. Samsung is a No.1 innovator in the world - together with the Japanese electronics manufacturers (Sony Clie *NX70V*, NX80, TG50 and NZ90 and Sharp Zaurus SL-6000L and SL-C3000 are still just dream devices) which mostly work for their own market.

Now, Samsung is implementing new technology projects increasingly better with each model and what's the most important for all the world. It is a real leader in the industry. The most recent examples - Samsung SGH-P520 and F700 (compare it with HTC Touch). They really one-up HTC as a affiliated smartphone manufacturer for Microsoft exactly in this relation using the same Windows Mobile platform. And my hope for the future is Windows Mobile for Cell PC (like Windows XP for Tablet PC).

Michael

BTW, about my major project - AI-based expert translation.

One small step for IT projects

Also, some links about iPhone development:

Joe Hewitt presentation on iUI (Video)

Joe Hewitt's blog: Introducing iUI

Aptana IDE: iPhone Development Plugin

Actually, all those iPhone's limitations for users - "There are no gestures to perform cut, copy, paste, drag-and-drop, and text selection operations," could be easily overcome by using the combination of the keyboard and control panel of the Cell PC Platform.

For example, drag-and-drop operation for toolbars customization - the Enter key resembles a trackball for cursor navigation and by double-clicking it you can grab an icon, move it independently (even between the main and second displays - e.g. F6 key is used for toggling) and then put it at the right place by the next click.

This also enables working even with 2D and 3D graphic elements in the document window of the main display - by one click, the element can be selected and then scaled; the image of the element can be zoomed with two different scales using the arrow keys - by 100% (up and down) and by 10% (right and left); by double-clicking, the graphic object can be rotated or transformed using the arrow keys in combination with the control keys, and these editing operations could also be transferred to the external TV screen.

Michael

Join the contest. My bid is Immanuel Kant.

Did Bradbury or Asimov Predict Multi-Core?

Actually, the multi-core computing as a really working model of the human brain is like landing of an expedition on the Moon in 2020 according to NASA plans. No one wants to live in Pripyat' near the Chernobyl' nuclear plant - the shield of magnetic field of the Earth protects any living and thinking creatures not to go out of it. The human brain uses perception (trasferring of original data that are saved in neural networks - memory) during the multithreading of sensory signals not computation (processing of original data). And the processing or combining them as a thinking or moving-ahead process is performed in one center for balancing body - cerebellum (for a description, read the article of Henrietta C. Leiner and Alan L. Leiner - link). Exactly, the cerebellum has turned our ancestors into people by balancing on two feet. And then, that's those exact movements learnt from the experience - a handy work that made a man in the process of evolution.

A cell has one core (PC platform) and many sensory mechanisms (attached processors of the Cell processor). This is the Cell processor model.

Computing is a sequential process as an ordinary program even when these processes are running on multiple processors or cores. In this relation, I'm remembering the article of Bernard Cole:

Virtual Machines, Cell's "apulets" and the future of connected computing

"If the application being sent or requested requires more processing than is available locally, additional compute resources are on the network, and, depending on timing constraints, are made available locally. Since all computing resources have the same basic structure and employ the same ISA, the particular resource performing this processing can be located anywhere on the network and can be dynamically assigned."

Also, the discussion on Research@Intel blog:

What Makes Parallel Programming Hard?

BTW, subscribe to CNET's podcast for every workday - Buzz Out Loud. I really like it. They are truly amazing and working on the level of the radio stars I have listened to - Laura Schlesinger (psychology) and Stephanie Miller (politics).

Michael

Ballmer: Innovation Takes Time

That's the current politics of the party. Three to seven years. Too many contracts in the industry in order to change anything (e.g. Apple and AT&T for iPhone).

"When I arrived at Microsoft 27 years ago, there was a company that owned 70 percent of the IT industry."

"That company is still a fine company, but it is not that company that it was 27 years ago, in part because it lacked the patience to stay with their investments. It's ironic that IBM invented the personal computer business but is no longer a participant."

Now, the king and queen - Intel and Microsoft. But why to hold back the progress for longer term? Anyway, it can't be that way. When a really working light bulb was invented by Edison it has changed people's lives immediately. I would think about the other 27 years of Microsoft (Google is nigh). There is no other chance in the industry - "A Cell PC and Mobile Web 2.0 For Everyone". That's the politics.

World Ahead.

At WinHEC 2007, Craig Mundie, Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Microsoft said in his keynote:

"So, let me leave the developed world behind a little bit and go on now to a demonstration of what is going to happen in the emerging markets, and how the use of computing and other types of communications technologies is going to allow us to change that environment.

So, here we might expect that a lot of these people are going to live in an environment, maybe a rural village. The one thing that we do know today is that those people, they're buying computers. They happen to call them cell phones. Cell phones today and in the next few years will have microprocessors that rival the performance capabilities of the things that we all designed for and used as desktops not that many years ago. And the ability to use these not just for the traditional telephony activity but for other applications is going to become increasingly important."

That's really actual and concerns the developed world too. My goal - a personal compact-as-a-cell-phone computing device allowing to work with information on the go and at home using a TV screen. MID - 53x103 mm.

It is the real deal for developers and users due to a unique geometry of the two touch-screen UIs (full-screen document window (widescreen - 3.2") and 53 keys (8 mm wide) of the keyboard) and control panel (13 keys and a trackball).

Michael