ARM11 Processor Family

The ARM11™ processor family provides the engine that powers many smartphones in production today; it is also widely used in consumer, home, and embedded applications. It delivers extreme low power and a range of performance from 350 MHz in small area designs up to 1 GHz in speed optimized designs in 45 and 65 nm. ARM11 processor software is compatible with all previous generations of ARM processors, and introduces 32-bit SIMD for media processing, physically tagged caches to improve OS context switch performance, TrustZone for hardware-enforced security, and tightly coupled memories for real-time applications.

http://www.arm.com/products/processors/classic/arm11/index.php

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HTC Adjusts Its Q4 2011 Revenue Forecast

Although smartphone maker HTC claims almost a quarter of the U.S. smartphone market in numbers of handsets shipped, the company announced that it was revising its Q4 2011 revenue projections--downward--primarily due to a depressed global economy and stiff competition.

The news isn’t exactly horrible; HTC now expects its Q4 2011 revenue to match its Q4 2010 revenue. The company issued this statement:

“Despite 2011 Q4 revenue is not what we expected, HTC has strong confidence in its products and operation. We expect that growth will return in 2012 H1.”

 

http://hothardware.com/News/HTC-Adjusts-Its-Q4-2011-Revenue-Forecast/

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Apple iPhone 4S: What's In It For You vs iPhone 4?

Here it is folks, the iPhone 4S from Apple. It's not the iPhone 5 like so many people were expecting, or at least hoping Apple would unveil. You won't find any obvious outwardly design changes, like a bigger screen or a redesigned chassis. Even the back is still covered with glass, ready to dole out instant punishment to the poor sap who carelessly loses his grip and lets his phone fall to the floor. The iPhone 4S doesn't drive a stake in the heart of Android or Windows Phone 7, and it won't change the world in the same fashion that the original iPhone did back in 2007. These are all the things that the iPhone 4S isn't. The obvious question to ask at this point is, what is the iPhone 4S?

The iPhone 4S is first and foremost the last iPhone model to come out of Cupertino under the tutelage of the late, great Steve Jobs. It's as much his product as any previous iPhone device -- his sooner than expected swan song, if you will, even though it was Tim Cook who took center stage at Apple's recent "Let's Talk iPhone" event. This is the flagship phone Jobs felt confident could compete with all those newfangled Android phones boasting big screens and dual-core processors.

Well, the iPhone 4S doesn't have a bigger screen than before, or even one that's particularly large, but it does finally sport a dual-core Apple A5 processor, the exact same CPU Apple stuffed inside the iPad 2 (just clocked a little slower). Apple outfitted the camera in the iPhone 4S with all-new optics, which is now better equipped to capture memories in low light situations and can record 1080p video. It has a built-in "virtual personal assistant" that's fantastically creepy in how well it works, and it's ready to get jiggy with three wireless carriers (AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint). But do these upgrades make the iPhone 4S all that and a bag of apples? Let's find out.

Apple iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4 Specifications & Features

Apple iPhone 4S  Apple iPhone 4 CPU Speed Apple A5 CPU Apple A4 CPU Platform iOS 5 iOS 5 Memory Flash 16GB/32GB/64GB + 512MB RAM Flash 16GB/32GB/64GB + 512MB RAM Dimensions (LxWxT) 4.5 (H) x 2.31 (W) x 0.21 (D) inches 4.5 (H) x 2.31 (W) x 0.27 (D) inches Weight 4.9 ounces (140 grams) 4.8 ounces (137 grams) Display 3.5-inch Retina display with 960x640 resolution; 326pp; Multi-Touch; 800:1 Contrast Ratio; 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical); Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back 3.5-inch Retina display with 960x640 resolution; 326pp; Multi-Touch; 800:1 Contrast Ratio; 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical); Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back Network Quad-band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) + GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) + CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)   Quad-band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) + GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) + CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz) Onscreen Navigation All touchscreen All touchscreen GPS Internal GPS antenna Internal GPS antenna Sensors Three-axis gryro; Accelerometer; Proximity sensor; Ambient light sensor Three-axis gryro; Accelerometer; Proximity sensor; Ambient light sensor Connectivity Bluetooth 4.0; 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi; 3.5mm stereo audio jack; Apple Dock connector Bluetooth 2.1; 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi; 3.5mm stereo audio jack; Apple Dock connector Camera 8-megapixel rear-facing Autofocus Tap to focus Face detection in still images LED flash Video recording, HD (1080p) up to 30 frames per second with audio Video stabilization Front camera with VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 frames per second 5-megapixel rear-facing Autofocus Tap to focus LED flash Video recording, HD (720) up to 30 frames per second with audio Video stabilization Front camera with VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 frames per second Audio Formats AAC (8 to 320 Kbps); Protected AAC (from iTunes Store); HE-AAC; MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps); MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+); Apple Lossless; AIFF; and WAV AAC (8 to 320 Kbps); Protected AAC (from iTunes Store); HE-AAC; MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps); MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+); Apple Lossless; AIFF; and WAV Video Formats H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, High Profile level 4.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format Battery Talk Time: Up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM model only); Standby Time: Up to 200 hours; Internet Use: Up to 6 hours on 3G, up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi; Video Playback: Up to 10 hours; Audio Playback: Up to 40 hours Talk Time: Up to 7 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM model only); Standby Time: Up to 300 hours; Internet Use: Up to 6 hours on 3G, up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi; Video Playback: Up to 10 hours; Audio Playback: Up to 40 hours Expansion Slot None None In-Box Content Main unit; Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic; Dock Connector to USB Cable; USB Power Adapter; Documentation Main unit; Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic; Dock Connector to USB Cable; USB Power Adapter; Documentation

We already covered the main differences, but there are a few other things that separate the iPhone 4S from its predecessor. Apple claims you'll squeeze an extra hour of talk time out of the iPhone 4S on 3G, but standby time has been reduced to 200 hours. Internet use on Wi-Fi is down by an hour (up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi compared to up to 10 hours), and the weight and dimensions are slightly different too, though nothing to lose your shorts over.
Available in both black and white, pricing is unchanged for a flagship iPhone. It costs $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for 32GB, and $399 for 64GB, assuming you sign a contract in blood and agree to pony up for a qualifying data plan. Prices are considerably higher if you're not eligible for an upgrade (or fear the sight of your own blood): $649 for 16GB, $749 for 32GB, and $849 for 64GB. Come November, Apple will sell unlocked and contract-free versions of the iPhone 4S at these prices.

Apple's decision to only upgrade the iPhone and not release an overhauled iPhone 5 hasn't stopped the iPhone 4S from receiving the usual attention that all Apple product launches seem to garner. According to Apple, pre-orders topped one million units in the first 24 hours, besting the previous single-day pre-order record of 600,000 held by the the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4S then went on to reach 4 million units sold in the next two days, making it the most successful smartphone launch of all time, Apple or otherwise. In other words, all the rage directed at Apple over the iPhone 4S launch ultimately amounted to a bunch of rabble rabble and truckloads of units sold.

hothardware.com

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Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition Sandy Bridge-E CPU

We’ve been in this business here at HotHardware for a long time now. For most of that time, we’ve heard from countless so-called "industry experts" that the PC is dead, or at the very least dying. Quite frankly, we’re sick of hearing it. The PC is far from dead. One has to look no further than Intel's most recent finanical results, or even the contents of this website. In fact, we’d argue that the PC is more pervasive than ever. The PC isn’t dead, it just so happens to be one of the most flexible and versatile pieces of technology in existence, and it has simply gone through a number of transformations in its illustrious lifetime. What was once a non-descript, beige box good for little more than word processing and spreadsheets is now the sleek, aesthetically pleasing, hub of our digital world, that can take many different shapes. And despite its impending doom, today the PC is about to become more powerful than ever.

November 14th, 2011 marks the release of Intel’s Sandy Bridge-E microarchitecture and its companion X79 Express chipset. Sandy Bridge-E is the ‘tock’ in Intel’s tick-tock release schedule cadence, that bridges the gap between current Sandy Bridge processors and next year’s Ivy Bridge microarchitecture. The first processor to arrive in the SBE line-up is the Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition, a six-core chip poised to knock Intel’s aging Gulftown-based processors from their position atop the PC food chain, one that they've held for almost two years.

We’ve got a Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition in house, along with a handful of X79 Express-based motherboards, and have pitted them against an assortment of high-end processors in an array of benchmark scenarios. Our results are laid out for you on the pages ahead, but before we get to the juicy performance details, let’s get some of the particulars out of the way first; specifications coming right up...

Intel Core i7-3690X Extreme Edition Processor Specifications & Features

Core Frequency: 3.3GHz (Up To 3.9GHz w/ Turbo) QPI Speed: 6.4GT/s TDP (Thermal Design Power): 130W Number of CPU Cores:  6 (12 Threads w/ HT) Intel SmartCache: 15MB L2 Cache: 1.5MB (256K x 6) Processor input voltage (VID):  .95v .032-micron manufacturing process Shared Smart Cache Technology Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST) Extended HALT State (C1E) Enabled Execute Disable Bit (XD) Enabled Intel 64 Technology AES-NI: Processor instructions Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) Packaging - Flip Chip LGA2011 Total Die Size: Approximately 434.7mm2 Approximately 2.27B Transistors Price - $950

Six Core Processing: Runs 6 independent processor cores in one physical package Base Processor Frequency: 3.30 GHz Massive PCI Express Bandwidth: 40 lanes of PCIe supported through the processor Intel Turbo Boost Technology: Dynamically increases the processor frequency up to 3.90GHz when applications demand more performance. Speed when you need it, energy efficiency when you don’t. Intel Hyper-Threading Technology: 12 threads provide unprecedented processing capability for better multi-tasking and threaded applications. Do more with less wait time. Intel Smart Cache: Up to 15MB of shared cached allows faster access to your data by enabling dynamic and efficient allocation of the cache to match the needs of each core significantly reducing latency to frequently used data and improving performance. Overclocking Enabled: Core (Turbo) and DDR3 ratios are unlocked for ease of overclocking Integrated Memory Controller: Supports 4 channels of DDR3-1600 memory with 1 DIMM per channel. Support for XMP memory. See this site for certified XMP memory.

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Intel LGA 2011Sandy Bridge-E Processor, Top and Bottom

Before we get to the technical details regarding Sandy Bridge-E and the Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition processor, Intel asked us to get the word out regarding a joint promotion they’re working on with NewEgg to usher in their newest products, dubbed 32-in-32.

Our evaluation kit arrived in elaborate packaging that opened up to reveal multiple levels inside. On the first level we found an Intel RTS2011LC thermal solution, a Sony Bloggie video camera, and an Intel 510 Series SSD. On another level was the Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition packaging, and on yet another was the X79 Express-based DX79SI motherboard. Each level was also adorned with a different QR code that pointed to various promotional materials. The goal of the elaborate packaging was to inform us that this is no ordinary product launch and that our readers could win some of this gear. Below is the low-down on the 32-in-32 promotion straight for the horse’s mouth...

  

  

Win an Incredible Intel Unlocked PC & More: 32 in 32 Challenge
Win weekly unlocked prize packages from Intel and Newegg starting November 14. Take home the grand prize and you'll fly to Newegg HQ for a chance to build your own Intel Enthusiast PC valued at over $5,000. Weekly prize bundles include Intel® Core™ i7 Extreme Edition processors, Intel® Desktop Boards, Intel® Solid-State Drives, and other system components.

Each week is a chance to win a different unlocked prize package. To win the grand prize, create and submit a video explaining in about 32 seconds why you deserve to a chance to build your ultimate unlocked PC.

http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Intel-Core-i73960X-Extreme-Edition-Sandy-BridgeE-Review/

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Nokia To Slash 17,000 Jobs In Global Restructuring

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - by Seth Colaner

Buried seven paragraphs deep in a release announcing and outlining its restructuring and refocusing efforts (as companies are wont to do when delivering bad news), Nokia announced that it will cut 17,000 jobs worldwide. That’s about 23% of the company’s total global workforce of 74,000.

Nokia is refocusing its efforts on mobile broadband, customer experience management, and services. It also is trying to cut down on operating expenses and overhead by a staggering EUR 1 billion in just a couple of years--by the end of 2013. A majority of the savings are slated to come from “organizational streamlining” (i.e., job cuts), but Nokia is also looking at saving in the areas of real estate, IT, product and service procurement costs, administrative costs, and a supplier reduction.

Nokia HQ in Espoo

For what it’s worth, Nokia has pledged to “begin the process of engaging with employee representatives in accordance with country-specific legal requirements to find socially responsible means to address these reduction needs” as well as local re-training and re-employment support for affected individuals.

"As we look towards the prospect of an independent future, we need to take action now to improve our profitability and cash generation," said Rajeev Suri, chief executive officer of Nokia Siemens Networks, in a press release. "These planned reductions are regrettable but necessary - and it is our goal to make them in a fair and responsible way, providing the support we can to employees and communities."

 

http://hothardware.com/News/Nokia-To-Slash-17000-Jobs-In-Global-Restructuring/

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