Mar 21 - Sunday Shopping Watch.
Best Sunday Deals - See our Best
Sunday Ad Deals Table below for specific system prices.
Weekly Comparison. A good weekend to find
a low price laptop.
This Sunday's Special Discounts and Financing.
In addition to sales on specific items, the following store-wide
sales are advertised this week. (Note
that these ads are for the Dayton, Ohio area. Prices or offerings
may be different where you live.)
Best Buy is offering 12 month no-interest financing on all
desktop packages and laptops, and $150 mail-in rebate on advertised
laptops and desktop packages.
Circuit City is offering
12 months no interest financing, and up to $150 mail-in rebates
on advertised desktop packages and notebooks.
Office
Depot
is offering rebates on advertised systems.
CompUSA has no store-wide
promotions this Sunday.
Staples has no store-wide promotions
this Sunday.
Compare
to Online Prices - Compare the Sunday ad prices
to those being offered at DealTime, it searches over 160 online
computer stores.
InfoHQ Related Shopping Pages
Shopping
Alerts - Our latest shopping advisories on buying digital
cameras and camcorders, desktop computers, laptops, and other
computer items.
Windows
XP Upgrade Guide - All about upgrading to Windows XP.
What You Need to
Know About Dial-up Internet Service Rebates - The pros and
cons of 'free' Internet service deals. Also see our latest InfoHQ
Tech Watch Newsletter; Free
PC and Free Internet Deals.
Definitions. A complete desktop system/package/complete
package is defined as a computer with monitor and printer
or scanner.
A build-to-order system is customized at the retailer
and then ordered from a computer manufacturer. In addition to
the computer's stated price, you still pay sales tax and shipping
charges (if you order direct from the vendor without going through
the chain store, you may not have to pay sales tax and you could
get a better warranty).
Caution about advertised
prices. When reading advertisements, read the fine
print of the ad to make sure you know what is being advertised
and what it cost. For example, many advertisers will show a complete
system with computer, monitor, and printer but advertise a price
for the computer only.
* Prices discussed in this article. We report
prices after rebates and discounts are subtracted.
Items highlighted in Black are good deals.
Items highlighted in Red means prices
have gone up and the system is not a good buy this week.
Items in normal text means prices are about the same as the previous
weeks.
|
Best Sunday Ad Deals
|
|
Category
|
Product Description
|
Price* (see above)
|
Prices up or Down this Week
|
Store
|
|
1. Best Celeron Deal
|
eMachines 2.6 GHz complete system
with 17" monitor
|
$389
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
2. Best Celeron Deal
|
HP 2.7 GHz complete system with 17"
monitor
|
$596
|
-
|
Office Depot
|
|
1. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Gateway 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 system
with HT Technology, 15 inch flat panel, and DVD-RW
|
$1099
|
-
|
Office Depot
|
|
2. Best Pentium 4 System
|
HP 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 complete system
with HT Technology, 15 inch flat panel, and DVD-RW
|
$1199
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
3. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 complete system
with HT Technology, 17 inch flat panel, and DVD-RW
|
$1679
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
4. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 3.2 GHz Pentium 4 Media Center
complete system with HT Technology, 17 inch flat panel,
and DVD-RW
|
$1999
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best AMD Athlon XP System
|
HP Athlon 3200+ complete system with
17 inch monitor and DVD-RW drive
|
$849
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best AMD Athlon 64 System
|
None Advertised
|
|
|
|
|
1. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
HP Athlon 2500+ with DVD/CD-RW
|
$699
|
-
|
Office Depot
|
|
2. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Compaq 2.6 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$699
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
3. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Toshiba 2.6 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$799
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
4. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
HP 2.8 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$849
|
-
|
Office Depot
|
|
5. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Toshiba Pentium 4 2.4 GHz with DVD/CD-RW
|
$999
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
1. Best High-end Notebook
|
Sony Pentium 4 2.8 GHz with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1249
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
2. Best High-end Notebook
|
Gateway widescreen Centrino 1.4
GHz with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1399
|
-
|
Office Depot
|
|
|
|
Peripherals and Software
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Seagate 80 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
with 8 MB buffer
|
$59
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Western Digital 160 GB 7200 RPM
Hard Drive with 8 MB buffer
|
$59
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Seagate 160 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
with 8 MB buffer
|
$89
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Sony 52X CD-RW
|
$39
(after rebates)
|
-$10
|
Office Depot
|
|
|
Additional Information. For additional technical
information, advice on how to buy a laptop or desktop, and vendor
and manufacturer links, please see our Computer
Buying Advice page.
About Sunday Shopping Watch. Sunday Shopping
Watch appears every Sunday (except some holidays like Easter and
Christmas) in our News and Rumors column. It is a review of local
(Dayton, Ohio) computer chain store advertisements. While we can
not guarantee your local chain store has the same items, this
article can help you make informed buying decisions.
Mar 19 - AMD Packs Performance With
Mobility in New Processor for Thin and Light Notebooks. AMD
(NYSE:AMD) today introduced the new low-power mobile AMD Athlon(tm)
XP-M processor 2100+ for thin and light notebooks in mainstream
and value markets. Like existing AMD mobile processors, this new
low-power offering is designed to provide excellent computing
performance on the go, extended system battery life enabled by
AMD PowerNow!(tm) technology and the benefit of full wireless
compatibility with many of today's most popular wireless solutions.
"AMD continues to shake up the industry by putting cutting-edge
technology in the hands of real people who want to work and play
on the go," said Marty Seyer, vice president and general
manager, Microprocessor Business Unit, AMD. "With our low-power
processors, PC manufacturers can pack heavyweight performance
into lightweight notebooks."
In the North American market, Fujitsu Computer Systems announced
it will upgrade its LifeBook(R) S2000 notebook with a full-featured,
thin and light model based on the new low-power mobile AMD Athlon
XP-M processor 2100+.
"Our customers will experience leading performance coupled
with excellent portability with this addition to our popular LifeBook
S2000 notebook family," said Richard McCormack, vice president
of product marketing, Fujitsu Computer Systems Corporation.
Thin and light notebooks are available from Fujitsu now. Computer
manufacturers in China and Taiwan planning to offer systems during
the second half of this year include BOE, Twinhead and Thunis
(Tsing-Hua Unisplendor).
Availability
The new low-power mobile AMD Athlon XP-M processor 2100+ is available
immediately worldwide for thin and light mobile PCs.
Pricing
The new low-power mobile AMD Athlon XP-M processor 2100+ is priced
at $97 in 1,000-unit quantities. For details please visit: www.amd.com.
Mar 19 - Toshiba Readies Diverse,
Cutting-Edge Mobile Technologies for CeBIT 2004. Toshiba Corporation
today announced that it will feature a special "Innovation
Corner" to demonstrate a diverse range of its cutting-edge
mobile terminals and display technologies at the Toshiba Booth
at CeBIT 2004, the leading IT technology trade show that will
be held in Hannover, Germany, from March 18 to 24.
The technologies and systems on display draw on Toshiba's latest
advances and capabilities in information processing, image processing,
and electronic devices and components, and demonstrate how Toshiba's
commitment to innovation and excellence will bring consumers new
levels of comfort and convenience, and a better quality of life,
through future generations of consumer electronics.
Major Exhibits
1) SD-BOOK
Toshiba delivers the perfect medium for reading digital content,
the SD-BOOK. From Toshiba's SD-Card-based digital rights management
system (DRM) to a familiar folding two-page (dual-panel) design,
the SD-BOOK combines security with reading pleasure. As easy to
hold as a paperback, whether standing, sitting or lying down,
the SD-BOOK incorporates two high-resolution, 7.7-inch low temperature
polysilicon LCDs that offer the fine detail necessary for image
reproduction and comfortable reading of text. High level security
suits the SD-BOOK for both B2C and B2B applications, including
mobile e-learning, security control and content distribution.
2) Mobile Viewer
A highly-portable "Mobile Viewer" allows anytime viewing
of high-quality moving and still images with sound on a 3.5-inch
LCD. The built-in 1.8-inch, 20GB HDD can store up to 80 hours
of QVGA-quality video at 15 frames per second (fps), equivalent
to 512kbps of video data with audio, or 40 hours of QVGA video
at 30fps, equivalent to 1Mbps of video data with audio -- much
more capacity than any digital video camera.
An optional one million-pixel digital camera can record still
pictures and video, and a dedicated cradle adds stereo sound speakers
for video, and even listening to music files.
3) SD Card Viewer with 3.45-inch Organic LED
The SD Card-based video and digital image viewer not only confirms
the increasing capabilities of flash memory, it also showcases
the superb performance of the Organic LED (Light Emitting Diode),
a next-generation flat panel that provides much brighter, sharper,
higher contrast pictures and a wider viewing angle than any of
today's LCD panels. This concept model integrates the latest prototype
3.45-inch QVGA OLED display developed by Toshiba Matsushita Display
Technology, Co., Ltd., a leader in flat panel technology.
The OLED panel has the high-speed refresh essential for displaying
motion pictures and its light weight and low power consumption
are ideal for mobile devices. In addition to the application featured
at CeBIT, the new display is the perfect display for mobile TV
terminals.
4) 3D Display
Toshiba's 3D display says goodbye to the twentieth century. No
longer does viewing 3D mean special glasses and eye fatigue, thanks
to the company's integral-imaging-based 3D display technology.
Vivid images and much reduced eye strain are complemented by smooth
motion parallax and a wide viewing angle.
Advances in integral imaging realize seamless viewing angles
of up to 14 degrees on each side of prototype 15.4-inch displays
with 300 horizontal pixels and 400 vertical pixels. Natural 3D
images can be reconstructed by increasing parallax to 18. Toshiba
has also developed 3D content development software that transforms
3D CG content into 3D images with parallax, and the displays at
CeBIT feature both 3D moving pictures and real-time 3D CG scenes.
Potential applications of the new 3D technology include advertising
and arcade games, and future applications may well include auto-stereoscopic
televisions for the home.
5) Screen Viewing Angle Control System to protect privacy
While mobile technology brings go-anywhere freedom, the downside
is visibility -- displays that can be read by the curious, and
even the dishonest. Toshiba restores personal privacy with an
innovative technology that gives the user complete control of
a display's viewing angle. Once it is activated, anyone looking
at a display from the side sees a reticulate pattern -- not the
clear image enjoyed by the user. And the user can adjust the viewing
angle, narrowing it or widening it to decrease or increase the
number of people who can read the screen. All thanks to a Toshiba-developed
screen filter and small control circuit built into the hardware.
Depending on the alignment of their liquid crystal molecules,
LCDs are either darker or brighter when viewed from an angle.
Toshiba's new technology uses this characteristic to order pixels
in different directions and to create the reticulate pattern when
the display is viewed from sideways on. Applications include cellular
phones, PDAs, portable PCs and ATMs. Toshiba's subsidiary, Toshiba
Electronic Engineering Corporation, will market the control screen
on a global basis from the fourth quarter of 2004.
6) Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) for notebook PCs
Toshiba's global leadership in fuel cells is embodied in the
exhibition of a prototype direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) powering
a PORTEGE M100, B5-sized sub-notebook PC. The DMFC runs on a methanol-oxygen
fuel mix, and generates and supplies power directly to the PC.
With an energy density up to five times that of a typical lithium-ion
battery, the DMFC delivers much longer continuous operation.
Methanol in a fuel cell delivers power most efficiently when
mixed with water in a 3 to 6% methanol concentration -- a concentration
requiring a fuel tank that is much too large for use with portable
equipment. Toshiba's system allows methanol at a higher concentration
to be diluted by the water produced as a by-product of the power
generation process. The allows the methanol to be stored at a
much higher concentration, in a fuel tank less than one-tenth
the size of that required for storing the same volume of methanol
in a 3 to 6% concentration.
7) 0.85-inch HDD
Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's
smallest hard disk drive (HDD), Toshiba's super-miniature 0.85-inch
diameter drive takes mobile storage to the next level. Only a
quarter the size of a 1.8-inch HDD, the new drive is a smaller,
lighter, high capacity storage medium in which low power consumption
is complemented by high performance. With an initial capacity
of 2 to 4GB, the drive is expected to add to the functionality
and versatility of a wide range of devices, including mobile phones,
digital camcorders and external storage devices.
Sample shipment is planned for summer 2004, with mass production
to follow in autumn.
Mar 19 - Recent Surge in Broadband
Demand May Be Short-Lived. Less than one-third of U.S. households
with dial-up Internet service are interested in upgrading in the
next 12 months, indicating a significant decline in potential
broadband subscribers over the past year.
According to Parks Associates' Trends in U.S. Broadband Adoption,
almost one-half of dial-up subscribers were inclined to upgrade
to broadband at year-end 2002. But given the declining interest
in broadband, 2004 may fall short of the 50% gain in broadband
households experienced in 2003, unless service providers offer
more enticing benefits such as dramatic price decreases or novel
bundled service offerings.
"Continued growth in residential broadband requires an ever-increasing
number of dial-up households jumping ship to higher-priced, higher-bandwidth
offerings," said Michael Greeson, vice president of research
and strategy for Parks Associates. "But interest in upgrading
to broadband seems to have peaked in Q4 2002 at around 50%, a
level of interest that translated into hefty subscriber additions
during 2003. As interest in upgrading declines, broadband service
providers must reinvent the broadband market message, significantly
lower what they charge for service, or offer some unique combination
of these two strategies."
Parks Associates' most recent broadband report, Trends in U.S.
Broadband Adoption, features consumer data collected in Q4 2003,
as well as a summary and analysis of residential broadband service
offerings and strategies in the U.S. For more information, visit
www.parksassociates.com.
Mar 19 - Next Generation Satellite
Vital to U.S. Broadband Economy. Frost & Sullivan, a global
leader in strategic growth consulting announced today the release
of a forward-looking white paper that examines broadband requirements
and coverage in the United States. This study describes the key
role of satellite in providing high-speed connectivity in a manner
that is cost-effective for service providers and end users.
The evolution of broadband applications will require that virtually
all U.S. business sites be enabled with a common level of data
communication in order to maintain productivity. As broadband
applications mature, sites that are not sufficiently connected
will suffer disadvantages akin to the much-discussed "Digital
Divide," being unable to participate on an equal basis. A
considerable percentage of businesses will not be adequately covered
by terrestrial broadband.
While it is generally assumed that 80 percent of businesses can
get data access at speeds faster than dial-up, in actuality, more
than 40 percent of business sites in the United States cannot
be economically addressed by terrestrial business-grade broadband
(defined as 512 kbps or better), according to the Frost &
Sullivan study, "Broadband and the Role of Satellite Services"
by G. Fong and K. Nour. Succinctly, this "supply gap"
can be explained by the following:
-- Cable-based Internet not deployed in business districts
-- DSL performance is limited by distance and contention
-- High cost and unavailability of dedicated lines preclude market
participation
For more information, visit the following Web address:
www.frost.com.
Mar 19 - Gartner Says By End of 2004
Fewer than 10 Enterprise Spam-Filtering Vendors Will Remain.
The enterprise spam-filtering industry will experience a dramatic
vendor consolidation through the first quarter of 2005, according
to Gartner, Inc., the technology and consulting firm. Gartner
estimates that of the approximately 40 vendors currently offering
spam-filtering products or services for enterprise customers,
fewer than 10 will be operating by the end of this year.
In the next nine months, most vendor competitive positions will
change significantly in this immature industry because of rapid
changes in market dynamics. In part, Gartner analysts concluded,
this is because many vendors have been unable to deliver best-of-breed
functionality that is needed to fight spam. Those that do typically
are small, new companies with a limited track record. Meanwhile,
established vendors in markets such as antivirus, Web filtering
or firewall are investing in spam-filtering, but so far have not
met enterprise requirements.
"Enterprises require sophisticated detection engines that
are constantly updated," said Arabella Hallawell, research
director at Gartner. "If a solution blocks legitimate business
e-mail, or is too restrictive or inflexible for an enterprise
culture, it's not viable. If the spam-filtering solution requires
a team of administrators or heavy end-user involvement to administer
and update, then it's not practical either. The strength of a
spam-filtering vendor's solutions detection and management functionalities
is the most important factor to consider when choosing a vendor."
Gartner clients report that 60 percent to 75 percent of incoming
e-mail is spam. Once a nuisance and storage-cost drain, spam is
now a major transmitter of malicious code and fraud.
"While many enterprise spam-filtering vendors will be gone
or will refocus their technologies elsewhere by the end of this
year, enterprises can't afford to delay decisions until the market
shakes out," said Maurene Caplan Grey, research director
at Gartner. "Their problems with spam have become too enormous."
While there are questions over any vendor's future viability
in this market, Hallawell said enterprises can take some steps
to protect themselves before making selection decisions and signing
contracts. For example, companies should request protection clauses
in the event a vendor is acquired. Shorter-term contracts also
are preferable. "Companies must consider a vendor's core
business fundamentals," Hallawell said. "A quality installed
base also indicates sufficient strength to mitigate short-term
vendor risks."
Gartner analysts have identified vendors best positioned to lead
the enterprise spam-filtering industry. Vendors offering software,
appliances and managed services providing boundary (Internet-SMTP
level) solutions were evaluated.
The results from this spam filtering evaluation are available
in the Gartner Research Note "Magic Quadrant for Enterprise
Spam Filtering, 1Q04." The Research Note lists vendors in
categories such as Leaders, Challengers, Visionaries and Niche
Players, based on their ability to execute and their completeness
of vision. The document is available on Gartner's Web site at
http://www3.gartner.com/mq/index.jsp?qid=119903.
Mar 18 - AMD Opteron Processors Power
New Line of IBM Workstations. AMD (NYSE:AMD) today announced
the AMD Opteron(tm) processor will power a new line of workstations
from IBM, the IntelliStation A Pro. Once again joining AMD in
leading the charge for simultaneous 32-bit/64-bit computing, IBM
now offers customers the power to choose the dependable, industry-leading
performance of AMD Opteron processors in a range of systems from
supercomputers to workstations.
IBM's newest family of workstations parlays the high-performance
features of the AMD Opteron processor into an ideal solution for
the demanding applications of the workstation market, including
financial modeling, digital-content creation and computer-aided
engineering and design.
"With the AMD Opteron processor, the IBM IntelliStation
A Pro gives workstation users the power to handle demanding applications
such as computer aided design (CAD), computer aided engineering
(CAE), petroleum exploration and production, drug discovery, digital-content
creation and financial analysis," said Bob Lenard, director,
IBM IntelliStation products. "Additionally, with AMD64 technology,
our customers are getting the scalability of 64-bit computing
without sacrificing compatibility and performance for existing
32-bit applications."
"AMD continues to unify the industry around pervasive 64-bit
computing," said Marty Seyer, vice president and general
manager of AMD's Microprocessor Business Unit. "IBM has been
a part of this transformation from the beginning. Today, they
are extending the reach of 64-bit performance into their workstation
portfolio with the AMD Opteron processor-based IBM IntelliStation
A Pro. This system gives digital-content creators the artistic
freedom to capture and create audio, video and multimedia files
along with the control to edit and distribute those same files."
Designed to deliver high-performance server and workstation solutions
for today's most demanding enterprise applications, the AMD Opteron
processor has been adopted by top OEMs in the server and workstation
market, including IBM for both servers and workstations. The AMD
Opteron processor is the ideal solution for workstation software
such as CAD, CAE, mechanical design, simulations, visualizations,
digital-content creation, software development and financial modeling.
These applications can also benefit from the fast floating-point
performance and large 64-bit memory capabilities supported by
the AMD Opteron processor.
For more AMD product information, please visit our virtual pressroom
at www.amd.com.
Mar 18 - SMC's New Barricade VPN Broadband
Routers Secure Connections. SMC(R) Networks, leading provider
of networking solutions for the SMB/e and all the way home, today
announced three new additions to its Barricade(TM) line of secure
Broadband routers: the Barricade VPN 4-Port Broadband Router (SMCBR14VPN),
the Barricade VPN 8-port Broadband Router (SMCBR18VPN), and the
Barricade g VPN 4-port Broadband Router/802.11g access point (SMCBR14VPN-G).
Available in mid-April, these new Barricade VPN Broadband Routers
carry MSRPs of $99.99, $129.99 and $179.99, respectively.
Perfect for telecommuters, SMB and home users alike, the new
Barricade VPN Broadband routers allow users to create secure Virtual
Private Networking tunnels to share files, Internet connections
and even play multicomputer games. Built-in VPN functionality
allows users to create secure VPN connections over the Internet
and share them with multiple computers. Ideal as the centerpiece
for a small business network the Barricade VPN allows users to
create secure VPN tunnel connections to a corporate network from
a home or remote office location. Barricade VPN routers have both
an integrated VPN Server and VPN client to support multiple VPN
connections using IPSec, PPTP and L2TP protocols.
Each Barricade VPN has a 10/100Mbps WAN port for use with high-speed
Internet connections as well as a COM port for use with an external
dial-up or ISDN modem, to employ either as the main Internet connection
or as a fail-over if the broadband cable or DSL service goes down.
For network protection, the routers come with an Advanced SPI
Firewall to protect computers from DoS (Denial of Service) and
other malicious attacks like Ping of Death, SYN Flood, Land Attacks
and IP Spoofing. To complement this advanced firewall, the Barricade
VPN also supports SNMP, static routing, DMZ hosting, port forwarding,
system logging, e-mail alerts, and two user accounts to make management
easy and flexible.
The SMCBR14VPN Barricade VPN Router incorporates a 4-Port 10/100Mbps
Auto-Sensing Switch to connect wired computers or additional switches,
so the network grows easily; the SMCBR18VPN has an integrated
8-port 10/100 Auto-sensing switch. To incorporate wireless connectivity
to the network, the SMCBR14VPN-G has 4 10/100 ports, and also
802.11g wireless access point capability, so can connect any 802.11b
or g wireless device as well.
For more information about SMC Networks or its products, visit
www.smc.com.
Mar 18 - Future Cell Phones to Pack
Plenty of Power. Future cell phones might not be radically
different in how they look in coming years, but what they will
enable users to do will change significantly, reports In-Stat/MDR
(www.instat.com). The high-tech
market research firm reports that high-speed data access, Wi-Fi
functionality, high-quality video cameras, or viewing broadcast
TV are just some of the future functionalities that are on the
horizon for cell phone users.
"Service providers and manufacturers are paying attention
to the latest trends because they can take off quickly in the
fast-changing global cellular business," said Neil Strother,
a senior analyst with In-Stat/MDR. "No one wants to be caught
short when the next camera-phone phenomenon crops up." Some
of this technology already exists; it just hasn't been widely
deployed or accepted. Other technologies, such as fuel cells,
are just a year or so away from commercial viability. Still other
developments won't arrive in serious volumes until the latter
part of this decade.
In an attempt to gauge end-user expectations for future cell
phones, In-Stat/MDR conducted a survey that found the following:
-- Many respondents want useful location-based applications for
finding friends or family, which is available on some phones today,
though not yet widely utilized.
-- Most respondents had knowledge about the latest technologies,
but they were interested in sensible benefits to their own usage.
For instance, along with location-based services, access to e-mail
ranked highest in a couple of the questions.
-- Respondents are also interested in practical mapping services
and easier hands-free capabilities.
Mar 18 - Wireless Phone Service Coming
to Cruise Ships. In a first for the U.S. wireless industry,
AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE) and Maritime Telecommunications
Network (MTN) announced today that cruise ship passengers may
soon enjoy the convenience of using their wireless phones while
at sea.
The companies have formed a joint venture, Wireless Maritime
Services, to develop and launch an innovative and affordable communications
offering that will rely on a combination of satellite and wireless
services to provide the cruise line industry and its passengers
with on-board wireless service. The joint venture will combine
MTN's expertise in providing satellite services to the cruise
industry with AT&T Wireless' expertise in delivering wireless
services to consumer and business travelers. Financial terms were
not disclosed.
"We look forward to our joint venture with AT&T Wireless
delivering truly global mobile service to ships in international
waters," said David Kagan, Chief Executive Officer of MTN.
"Using this service, staying in touch will be as convenient
for cruise ship passengers as pressing the send key on their own
mobile phone."
"We will make it possible for cruise passengers to place
and receive calls, use short message service, and access the Internet
using their own wireless phones, just as they do at home,"
added Jordan Roderick, President of AT&T Wireless International.
"We offer our customers the largest global voice and data
coverage area of any North American carrier, and through this
agreement we hope to extend service to the high seas."
Today's announcement is in keeping with MTN's goal of offering
only the most innovative and versatile communications capabilities
to its clients. By entering into this joint venture, MTN -- known
for such industry firsts as its Internet Cafes, WiFi, and newspaper
service at sea -- will bring wireless communications to passengers'
own phones. This will enable MTN to offer its clients, including
virtually all of the premier passenger cruise corporations, new
and exciting ways to communicate instantly and reliably on board
vessels from all corners of the world.
The companies are currently working with several cruise lines
and expect to introduce the service later this year. More information
on MTN is available at www.mtnsat.com.
More information on AWS is available at www.attwireless.com.
Mar 18 - Atari Ships Unreal Tournament
2004. Atari and Epic Games have shipped Unreal(R) Tournament
2004, the highly anticipated follow-up to last year's Unreal Tournament
2003 and the third installment in the mega-selling Unreal Tournament
franchise, to retail stores worldwide this week. The game has
already received a 5 out of 5 stars on GameSpy.com and a 9.4 out
of 10 on IGN.com, two of the premiere video game news and reviews
Web sites. Both sites gave the game their Editor's Choice Award.
"With Unreal Tournament 2004, Epic, Atari, Digital Extremes
and Co. have done more than return the series to its former glory
-- they've unleashed a monster that could dominate multiplayer
gaming for the rest of 2004," according to GameSpy.com's
review. IGN.com agreed, saying "Unreal Tournament 2004 is
set to make a thunderous impact as big as (or bigger) than the
one caused by the original Unreal Tournament."
Unreal Tournament 2004 was developed by Epic Games in conjunction
with Digital Extremes. The game builds on the success of past
installments, taking the franchise to the next level with the
introduction of the hyper-charged Onslaught mode, the return of
the fan-favorite Assault mode, which last appeared in the original
Unreal Tournament, and the introduction of land-, air- and space-based
vehicles.
Gamers worldwide made the free, downloadable demo of Unreal Tournament
2004 one of the most popular game demo downloads of all time,
with more than 1.5 million downloads in the first week of availability.
The official demo first hit the Internet on Wednesday, February
11, and was distributed on a worldwide scale.
In Unreal Tournament 2004, players suit up as the ultimate techno-gladiator
of the future, taking their fates into their own hands as they
battle up to 32 other players in action-packed, frag-filled arenas.
Unreal Tournament 2004 contains new maps for all established game
modes, including Capture the Flag, Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch,
Bombing Run and Double Domination, as well as all new arenas for
the two additional styles of play - Onslaught and Assault. In
addition, Unreal Tournament 2004 contains all of the maps, mutators
and game types -- such as Mutant, Last Man Standing and Invasion
-- from Unreal Tournament 2003 and the free downloadable bonus
packs for that game.
Features in Unreal Tournament 2004 include:
-- Onslaught Mode: Onslaught is an epic-in-scope team-based challenge
that pits two teams in bitter warfare across massive terrain maps
in a frag-filled battle to destroy, capture and hold key power
nodes. Vehicles play a major role as war-hardened flying and driving
machines transport combatants to the "front" and serve
as mobile platforms to launch devastating attacks on the enemy.
-- Assault Mode: In the completely redesigned Assault mode, gamers
are challenged to complete a variety of mission objectives to
attack or defend bases in a bigger and badder version of the Unreal
Tournament classic; many Assault maps require the use of vehicles
as a critical gameplay element.
-- Vehicles: Unreal Tournament 2004 features a variety of land-,
space- and air-based vehicles, including buggies, tanks, hovercraft,
aircraft and more.
-- Voice Technology: Integrated voice communications, including
voice-over-IP technology to allow real-time chat with teammates
and opponents during gameplay; voice recognition, allowing players
to issue orders to computer controlled bots; and, text-to-voice
conversion of typed chat. Voice chat includes 3D audio on supported
sound cards, so players can sense where voices emanate from.
-- New and Revised Weapons: The devastating arsenal of bone-crunching
weaponry that Unreal has become famous for returns, with several
enhancements, including model and texture updates as well as sound
improvements. The game also includes all new weaponry for the
massive Onslaught and Assault battles, including the armor-shredding
AVRiL (Anti-Vehicle Rocket Launcher) to take down incoming vehicles,
the Grenade Launcher, which discharges sticky explosives on enemy
emplacements, vehicles and personnel, the Spider Mines, which
are brutal arachnid bombs that scuttle the landscape searching
for unsuspecting adversaries, and a completely redesigned and
reintroduced Sniper Rifle, not seen since the original Unreal
Tournament.
-- Characters: New and classic fan-favorite Unreal characters
join The Tournament to challenge players, including the vicious
Skaarj and the infamous Xan Kriegor.
-- New Maps: More than 100 levels are included in the game for
all new and existing gametypes, featuring tons of new textures,
static meshes and music. In total, Unreal Tournament 2004 ships
with more never-before-seen maps than the entire number of maps
that shipped with Unreal Tournament 2003!
-- UnrealTV: A match broadcast system that allows for hundreds
of people to view an Unreal Tournament 2004 match with minimal
performance impact on a game server, creating a television sports
like viewing environment for fans to watch professional and other
matches.
-- Voting: Complete end-user voting system allows users to choose
game type, maps, mutators, rules and settings and enables players
to remove troublesome competitors from the game. Custom clan-match
voting system allows clans to negotiate acceptable game settings
prior to a competitive match.
-- New User Interface: A completely redesigned user interface
(UI) is easier to navigate and supports context-sensitive menus,
an in-game login menu (to improve team balancing) and an improved
server browser with enhanced server filtering options. The underlying
user interface system has been reengineered to be easier for Mod
authors to build menus and implement their own UI designs.
-- Other Improvements: Tons of cool gameplay tweaks and refinements
including unique crosshairs for each weapon, the ability to carry
dual Assault Rifles, improved computer-controlled "Bot"
team coordination and movement, network bandwidth usage optimizations
and more!
-- Unreal Editor: Unreal Tournament 2004 will ship with the most
powerful game creation toolsets ever released to the public -
the same software the developers used to make the game. Amateur
level designers and mod makers can use the Unreal Editor, including
the Unreal Editor's "Matinee" tool, to make their own
maps, new game modes and animated movies using the Unreal Technology.
Unreal Tournament 2004 is available worldwide this week, in both
a standard and a "Special Edition" format. Unreal Tournament
2004 DVD Special Edition is a double-DVD set - disk one includes
all of the game content while disk two includes hours of Video
Training Modules (VTMs) from 3D Buzz that teach fans and amateur
mod makers how to use the Unreal Editor to create custom game
content. Unreal Tournament 2004 DVD Special Edition comes in a
limited edition metal box and contains a Logitech Internet Chat
Headset for use with the game's exclusive voice-over-IP (voice
chat) technology.
For more information on Unreal Tournament 2004 or to download
the free demo, please visit the game's official Web site at www.unrealtournament.com.
Mar 17 - Toshiba's New Satellite Notebook
Boasts Entertainment Features and the Industry's Fastest Graphics.
Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD) today introduced the
latest in entertainment notebooks, the Satellite P25-S670. By
combining the functionality of the latest consumer electronic
devices and computing power, the Satellite P25-S670 provides consumers,
families and video gaming enthusiasts with the right mix of TV,
stereo and PC capabilities in one notebook.
The Satellite P25-S670 is fully loaded with NVIDIA(R)'s GeForce
FX Go5700 graphics with 128MB VRAM that deliver the highest caliber
video and performance available on a notebook PC today. With the
enhanced graphics and multimedia features, Satellite P25-S670
users can experience video game or movie-viewing entertainment
with theater-quality images. The Satellite P25-S670 also includes
S-video and component video out, so consumers can view their favorite
programs or movies on a regular or digital TV in the standard
or high-definition format.
Additionally, the built in harman/kardon(R) speakers and DVD-Super
multi-format drive, provide Satellite P25-S670 customers with
a complete entertainment package that delivers bass-thumping audio
and reduces worry of DVD compatibility issues. The Satellite P25-S670
also comes with an S/P DIF Dolby digital optical out port, together
with progressive scan, so users can enjoy their multimedia experience
in 5.1 Digital Surround Sound with the smoothest, sharpest images
possible.
"People want more functionality from their notebooks. Whether
they are on the road watching a DVD or in the office developing
a presentation, the notebook has to be able to take on any task,"
said Taro Hiyama, vice president of marketing for the Digital
Products Division of Toshiba America Information Systems. "We
developed the Satellite P25-S670 to deliver the multimedia functionality
and features that are ready to work hard and play hard, bringing
the best of mobile computing and digital entertainment together."
From the hardcore gamer to the affluent movie watcher, the Satellite
P25-S670 provides the multimedia features needed to enhance any
entertainment experience, while maintaining the computing power
to get through any administrative task. With its spectacular 17.0-inch
diagonal wide-screen display and high-quality graphics, the Satellite
P25-S670 is perfect for watching movies, playing video games or
multitasking in several windows at once. Toshiba's new notebook
PC is also loaded with Microsoft(R)'s Windows XP Media Center
Edition, so users can watch and record their favorite television
programs directly on the notebook for later viewing, store and
access digital images, video files, and play DVD movies anytime,
anywhere.
The Satellite P25-S670 also features an Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4
processor with Hyper-Threading Technology. The Hyper-Threading
Technology enables better system responsiveness and performance
when running two or more applications simultaneously, so users
can multitask without having to worry about slowing down the computer.
Availability
The Satellite P25-S670 notebook computer is available now at
www.toshibadirect.com
and in retail stores including computer superstores and consumer
electronics stores.
Mar 17 - Toshiba Enters Guinness
World Records Book With the World's Smallest Hard Disk Drive.
Toshiba Corporation today announced that Guinness World Records
has certified Toshiba's 0.85-inch hard disk drive (HDD) as the
smallest HDD in the world and will feature it in the 2005 edition,
scheduled to be on sale in September 2004. The Guinness World
Records Book is one of the world's most popular publications,
the book most people reach for when they want to confirm outstanding
achievements in all walks of life.
Toshiba's 0.85-inch HDD, announced in January 2004, is the first
hard disk drive to deliver multi-gigabyte data storage in a sub-one-inch
form factor. The 0.85-inch measurement refers to the diameter
of the magnetic disk to which data is recorded. With initial capacities
of 2 to 4 gigabytes (GB) the drive delivers enhanced storage to
smaller, lighter, more efficient products, such as mobile phones,
digital camcorders and portable storage devices. Toshiba expects
to start sampling the drive in summer 2004 and to start mass production
in autumn 2004.
"We are very proud that Guinness World Records, one of the
world's most famous organisations, has recognised our 0.85-inch
HDD as the world's smallest," said Kazuyoshi Yamamori, Vice
President of Storage Device Division at Toshiba Corporation's
Digital Media Network Company. "Toshiba is the global leader
in small form factor hard disk drives. Our 1.8-inch HDD opened
up exciting new applications and markets, including powerful digital
audio players, and we expect the 0.85-inch disk to contribute
even more. I look forward to seeing the 0.85-inch drive alongside
all the other record breakers and winners in the book."
David Hawksett, Science & Technology editor at Guinness World
Records, said: "Hard drive technology has come a long way
since the introduction of the very first model in the U.S. in
1956. That model needed 50 two-foot disks to store just 4.4 MB
and the cost was astronomical. Data storage is rarely a topic
that excites the public. However, Toshiba's innovation means that
I could soon hold more information in my watch than I could on
my desktop computer, just a few years ago."
Selection for the best-selling book is the latest recognition
of Toshiba's achievements as a global leader in small form factor
HDDs. Toshiba has consistently led innovation of the 1.8-inch
HDD market, including being the first to commercialise a 40GB
version, and recording a cumulative production of 3-million units
in October 2003. In the 2.5-inch HDD segment, the company's cumulative
production now surpasses 60 million units. Toshiba expects its
development of the 0.85-inch HDD to expand the market for miniature
drives and will continue to promote innovations that assure its
continued leadership in that market.
Toshiba will feature the 0.85-inch drive at CeBIT in Hannover,
Germany, from March 18 to 24.
Note: Currently the 1.0-inch HDD is the smallest device commercially
available.
For more details see Toshiba's
0.85-inch HDD.
Mar 17 - Envision Unveils Expansive
19'' LCD Monitor. Envision Monitors has expanded its line
of award-winning displays with the launch of the EN9250. The 19"
ultra-thin monitor features top-quality audio and visual technologies,
adjustability functions and organizational accessories, suitable
for home and SOHO users.
Value-priced at $649, the EN9250 is a flat-panel LCD display
designed in collaboration with Lunar, an industrial design firm
that has won three BusinessWeek Industrial Design Excellence awards.
The monitor comes equipped with two 3W speakers, allowing users
to listen to music, movies and other audio without the need for
separate accessories. In addition, the EN9250 features DVI-D digital
input for superior picture quality. The display measures 17.2"W
x 9.6"D x 17.4" - 21.7"H, depending on the height-adjustment.
The EN9250 helps maximize desktop space with its slim design
and organizational add-ons. These include picture clips that mount
to the side or top of the monitor and removable accessory holders
that can store pens, pencils and other items that normally clutter
the desktop. The monitor has a viewing angle of up to 170-degrees
horizontally and vertically and the screen can pivot 90-degrees,
making it easy to switch between landscape and portrait mode.
Other adjustability functions include 25-degree tilt, 70-degree
swivel and 110mm height-adjustment.
"As LCD monitors become increasingly popular, consumers
expect more from their displays than just a clear picture. They
want adjustability features, digital input, built-in speakers
-- and they want to get a great deal on the whole package,"
said Gary Bale, vice president and divisional merchandise manager
at CompUSA. "Envision's EN9250 is designed to deliver cutting-edge
technology at an affordable price, and we're pleased to offer
it to our customers."
"Users in the home and SOHO market need a monitor that is
versatile and can fit their professional and personal needs without
costing them an arm and a leg," said Michael Lien, general
manager, consumer products division for Envision. "The EN9250
is a sleek monitor that offers all the advanced features and functionalities
consumers demand, furthering our dedication to providing customers
with high-quality, value-priced monitors."
Envision's EN9250 is now available at major retailers including
all CompUSA locations. The estimated street price is $649 and
the monitor is backed by a three year warranty.
Mar 17 - Turbolinux to Ship With HP
Commercial Desktop PC Systems in Asia. Turbolinux, a global
provider of Linux solutions, today announced the Turbolinux operating
system will be distributed on HP Compaq business desktop PCs in
12 countries throughout Asia.
"The adoption of Linux on the desktop across Asia is booming,"
said Koichi Yano, president and COO of Turbolinux, Inc. "We're
pleased to partner with HP to give customers an integrated desktop
solution tailored to meet business requirements in many different
markets."
Turbolinux will also provide HP customers with OpenOffice.org
1.1, the integrated open source application suite that offers
desktop productivity software with similar functionality and the
look and feel of Microsoft's Office product. Customers can easily
exchange files created and edited in OpenOffice with Microsoft
Office.
"HP offers a portfolio of Linux solutions on industry-standard
hardware and software to enhance customer productivity,"
said Tad Bodeman, director of software product marketing, Personal
Systems Group at HP. "HP's offering of Turbolinux in Asia
demonstrates our commitment to serving our customers' needs around
the globe."
The Turbolinux OEM software bundle is built around Turbolinux
10 Desktop (10D), one of the first distributions to ship with
the new Linux 2.6 kernel. It is designed to capture the intuitive
look and feel of popular desktop user interfaces, including those
for viewing and sharing local files and browsing networks.
In addition, 10D offers applications for advanced technologies
such as 802.11b, FireWire, CD-ROM burning, Bluetooth and digital
camera image loading software. Customers can easily update the
desktop software with the latest Linux kernel, packages and security
patches -- usually without a system reboot -- by using a graphical
update tool.
Today's announcement builds on recent news that Turbolinux will
offer Linux on HP systems in the People's Republic of China. The
new agreement adds 11 new countries, including Hong Kong, India,
Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan,
Thailand and Vietnam.
Turbolinux will provide technical support to HP's engineers to
assist in resolving any complex support issues. Turbolinux and
HP have pre-certified all hardware to be shipped under the OEM
agreement for Linux compatibility and smooth operation. In addition,
customers can download from the Turbolinux Web site all GPL source
code shipped with the HP Compaq business desktop PCs.
For more information, visit www.turbolinux.com.
Mar 17 - Philips Unveils Nexperia
Personal Media Player Reference Design. Royal Philips Electronics
(NYSE:PHG)(AEX:PHI) today announced its Nexperia(TM) Personal
Media Player reference design based on Philips Nexperia PNX1500
media processor.
The Nexperia Personal Media Player is an ideal reference design
for mobile device manufacturers, offering high-resolution video
recording and playback as well as connectivity to PCs and home
entertainment systems. Personal media devices based on the Philips
reference design will allow consumers to connect, wired or wirelessly,
to their PCs and home entertainment appliances to record and store
high-quality digital audio and video and then watch movies, listen
to music and view photos on the move.
"As evidenced by the growth of portable digital music (MP3)
players, consumers are seeking access to entertainment and media
wherever they go," said Tim Bajarin, president of Creative
Strategies. "The possibilities are endless and the next trend
will take us beyond audio as consumers are increasingly demanding
access to their digital content, such as photos, movies and TV
shows on a mobile platform." The Philips Nexperia Portable
Media Player, powered by the PNX1500 media processor, is designed
specifically to deliver to manufacturers a ready-made solution
to address this growing market opportunity.
Philips Nexperia Personal Media Player reference design offers
compatibility with a variety of leading audio and video standards,
including MP3, AAC, Dolby(R) Digital, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and DivX(R).
The PNX1500-based Personal Media Player can also encode full-resolution
video into numerous formats, such as DivX and MPEG-4 for recording
onto its internal hard disk drive or flash memory cards.
The reference design features wireless connectivity using Philips'
high-performance IEEE 802.11a/b/g chipset. Lastly, for the very
highest video quality on LCD screens, the Personal Media Player
leverages the PNX1500's advanced LCD controller, motion-adaptive
de-interlacing and high-definition video up-scaling.
"We're pleased to work with Philips, as a leading technology
provider for connected consumer devices, to bring DivX support
to the Philips Nexperia Personal Media Player reference design,
and we look forward to supporting Philips' customers to achieve
DivX Certification," said Jordan Greenhall, CEO and co-founder
of DivXNetworks, Inc.
"Over 100 million consumers have downloaded DivX onto their
systems and videos encoded with DivX technology are among the
highest quality digital videos available anywhere. With a relatively
small file size, DivX is an ideal fit for recording and playback
on a portable media jukebox."
"Philips Nexperia Personal Media Player reference design,
with its unique combination of media processing, network connectivity
and display enhancement, is offering CE manufacturers a high-quality
and reliable platform for next-generation Personal media devices,"
said Chris Day, senior marketing director, media processing, Philips
Semiconductors. "Ultimately, consumers will be able to listen
to thousands of hours of music, watch hours of movies and store
hundreds of digital photo albums -- all on the go."
Philips is located at www.semiconductors.philips.com.
Mar 16 - Sharp Introduces First Efficeon
Notebook to U.S Market. Sharp Systems of America today introduced
a new notebook to their Award-winning Actius notebook line. Following
the success of the Actius MM10, Sharp is introducing the Actius
MM20, hailing the introduction of Transmeta's Efficeon processor
to the U.S. market. The ultrathin, 2 pound Actius MM20 offers
an array of upgrades and improvements from the previous Actius
MM10, offering all-day computing capability, ideal for knowledge
workers or students on their corporate or college campus.
"Building on the success of the Actius MM10 and listening
to the feedback that we received on its ground breaking design,
Sharp has built the cutting-edge and full featured Actius MM20,"
said Greg Nakagawa, senior vice president and general manager
for Sharp Systems of America. "Fans of the Actius MM10 will
find enhancements in the Actius MM20 in performance and function,
while new users will be treated to a satisfyingly powerful and
portable computing experience. The Actius MM20 is ideal for the
highly mobile business user or student who needs maximum portability
and productivity in a notebook computer as they travel from appointment
to appointment both in and out of the office."
"Sharp's strong commitment to innovation is clearly visible
in the new MM20," said Arthur L. Swift, senior vice president
of marketing. "The ultrathin and light MM20 represents an
ideal showcase for the outstanding performance and energy efficiency
inherent in Efficeon."
Shipping in April 2004, the Actius MM20 will offer improvements
in processing power, memory, battery life, hard drive size, and
wireless networking speed. The Actius MM20 will also include improvements
in graphics performance, keyboard layout, and will include a new
'mobile mode switch' which allows users to extend battery life
when it is needed the most. The Actius MM20 will also feature
Sharp's DirectHD technology and SharpSync(TM) software, allowing
Actius MM20 users to easily transfer files and seamlessly maintain
data consistency between multiple computers.
The Actius MM20 - Redefining Mobile Computing
Combining Sharp's high-density technology and the exceptional
performance and responsiveness of the Transmeta Efficeon(TM) TM8600
(1.0 GHz) processor, the Actius MM20 provides users with a high
performance and efficient notebook computer that enhances battery
life while offering substantial computing power in a thin and
light design.
Because of the improvements that the Transmeta Efficeon processor
provides, the Actius MM20 is able to process up to twice the number
of instructions per clock cycle than the Actius MM10 was capable,
enabling users to run their applications faster and providing
built in added value. The Transmeta Efficeon TM8600 processor
also provides the Actius MM20 a substantial improvement in battery
life. The Actius MM20 can run for 3 hours using the standard battery,
and an unprecedented 9 hours using the extended life battery(1)
for all day computing.
"The Transmeta Efficeon TM8600 processor provides exceptional
computing performance, coupled with efficiency in battery life
and a quiet, fanless design, making it an ideal processor for
the ultraportable Sharp Actius MM20 form factor," said Terry
Hanly, product marketing manager at Sharp Systems of America.
"Actius MM20 users will be delighted with the amount of computing
power that they have in a unit so incredibly thin and light, and
will be satisfied with the amount of time that the battery life
will allow them to use it."
Weighing in at only 2 lbs and just 0.62 inches thick(2), the
quiet, fan-less Sharp Actius MM20 notebook computer is designed
for users who need fast and reliable computing in a highly mobile
environment. Equipped for wireless connectivity via integrated
802.11g Wi-Fi, the Actius MM20 notebook provides users with a
lightweight, wirelessly enabled notebook that serves as the perfect
adjunct to a desktop machine through the functionality of DirectHD
technology and SharpSync(TM) Powered by Iomega(R) Sync.
"By connecting the Sharp Connection Cradle to another computer
(for instance, a user's desktop PC) via USB 2.0, users are able
to take advantage of DirectHD technology, which allows the Actius
MM20 to be accessed as though it were another drive on the connected
computer," explains Hanly. "Users are able to then transfer
files back and forth at will, making the Actius MM20 an ideal
'satellite' notebook that can be carried from appointment to appointment,
while maintaining data consistency with a user's main work station."
To make data consistency even easier, Sharp has partnered with
Iomega Corporation to develop SharpSync(TM). Powered by Iomega(R)
Sync software, SharpSync allows users to pre-select folders that
they would like to keep in sync between the Actius MM20 and another
computer. Once these folders are assigned, the Actius MM20 automatically
syncs the selected folders between machines when connected to
the provided Sharp Connection Cradle or through a DirectHD connection
cable (sold separately). This enables a multi-PC usage model in
which users are able to maintain data consistency seamlessly with
other computers.
Another performance enhancement to the Actius MM20 includes the
addition of twice the amount of memory of its Actius MM10 predecessor.
Now including 512 MB DDR SDRAM(24MB shared with system memory),
the Actius MM20 is able to take advantage of the increased processing
power of the Transmeta Efficeon processor and allow users to multi-task
more effectively and efficiently.
The Actius MM20 also provides a substantial improvement with
the addition of the ATI MOBILITY(TM) RADEON(TM) video controller
with 16MB of dedicated video memory. The addition of dedicated
memory means that the Actius MM20 will not have to siphon memory
from system memory in order to display graphics, and users will
be able to run 3D and other graphics intensive applications on
the MM20.
As an added enhancement to the long battery life that the Actius
MM20 boasts, Sharp has included a 'Mobile Mode Switch,' which
provides users with an energy saving option. When in use, 'Mobile
Mode' decreases the brightness of the display and the frequency
of the processor to extend the life of the battery for when a
user might need it most.
Shipping with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, the ultraportable
Actius MM20 comes with a 20 GB(3) hard drive, and a 10.4 inch
XGA LCD (1024 x 768).
The Sharp Actius MM20 is competitively priced with an estimated
street price of $1499.00
Availability
Sharp Actius notebook computers are available for order immediately
through Sharp directly (http://store.sharpsystems.com),
or through Sharp's network of retail partners and reseller channels.
To learn more about Transmeta visit www.transmeta.com.
Mar 16 - Symantec Internet Security
Threat Report Tracks Rise in Blended Threats. Symantec Corporation
(Nasdaq:SYMC), the world leader in Internet security, today released
its newest Internet Security Threat Report, one of the most comprehensive
analyses of trends in Internet threat activity.
The report examines how and why attacks have affected some organizations
more severely than others and how current trends are expected
to shape future Internet security threats. In addition, the report
outlines information security best practices for corporations
and consumers. This is the fifth issue of Symantec's Internet
Security Threat Report.
"The Symantec Internet Security Threat Report is based on
expert analysis of real data gathered from hundreds of enterprises,
tens of thousands of security devices, and millions of desktops
around the world," said Gail Hamilton, executive vice president
and general manager, Symantec Global Services and Support. "Consequently,
it is one of the most accurate, comprehensive, and timely sources
of security information available for helping companies assess
and mitigate risk of cyber attacks now and in the future."
Internet Security Threat Report: Key Highlights
The rise in blended threats, increased vulnerabilities targeting
Windows components, and escalating discovery of severe information
systems vulnerabilities pose a significant security issue for
companies in the coming year.
Blended threats made up 54 percent of the top 10 malicious code
submissions over the last six months of 2003. These threats have
caused widespread damage more quickly than ever before due to
increased propagation speed, aided in part by improved bandwidth
and decreased latency.
One of the most "successful" worms, Blaster, targeted
a vulnerability in core Windows components. Threats targeting
these components are more widespread than the server software
targeted by previous network-based worms, resulting in a much
higher density of vulnerable systems.
The number of new vulnerabilities discovered has leveled off,
but newly discovered vulnerabilities are more severe, rated as
such based on their impact, remote exploitability, authentication
and availability. In addition, the period of time between the
announcement of a vulnerability and the release of an associated
exploit is shrinking. These trends suggest that "zero-day"
threats may be imminent. Such threats target vulnerabilities before
they are announced and patches are made available, making prevention
and containment extremely challenging.
Internet Security Threat Report: Attack Trends
-- In the first half of 2003, only one sixth of the companies
analyzed reported a serious security breach. In the second half
of the year, half of the companies reported a serious breach.
This rise is largely the result of increasingly "successful"
worms, which remain the most common source of attack activity.
Moreover, almost one third of all attacking systems targeted the
vulnerability exploited by the Blaster worm.
-- Financial services, healthcare, and power and energy were
among the industries hardest hit by severe security events. However,
in 2003 as in 2002, the rate of severe events decreased as client
tenure with Symantec Managed Security Services increased. More
than 70 percent of clients with a tenure of more than six months
successfully avoided experiencing a severe attack.
-- Attackers increasingly targeted backdoors left by other attackers
and worms. By leveraging existing backdoors to gain control of
a target system, attackers can install their own backdoor or use
the compromised system to participate in a distributed denial
of service (DDoS).
This trend is also evident today. In January 2004, MyDoom began
spreading at rates similar to Sobig.F, exposing infected systems
through a backdoor and carrying out a targeted attack. Two new
worms, Doomjuice and Deadhat, followed MyDoom, both propagating
via the backdoor left by MyDoom.
Internet Security Threat Report: Vulnerability Trends
-- In 2003, slightly more vulnerabilities were discovered than
in 2002, with 2,636 vulnerabilities documented compared with 2,587
in 2002, averaging seven per day.
-- The number of moderately severe vulnerabilities increased
from an average of 98 per month in 2002 to an average of 115 per
month in 2003. In addition, 70 percent of the vulnerabilities
found in 2003 were classified as easy to exploit compared with
60 percent in 2002.
-- The majority of vulnerabilities with associated exploit code
in 2002 and 2003 were classified as high-severity, with 175 in
2002 and 231 in 2003. The percentage of vulnerabilities for which
exploit code was publicly available increased by 5 percent in
2003. The percentage of vulnerabilities that did not require specialized
tools to exploit them increased by 6 percent in 2003.
-- Client-side vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer
are on the rise, from 20 in the first half of 2003 to 34 in the
second half of the year -- an increase of 70 percent. Many of
these vulnerabilities allow attackers to compromise the systems
of client users who visit Web sites hosting malicious content,
intentionally or not. The primary reason for concern over this
trend is the massive market dominance of Internet Explorer.
Internet Security Threat Report: Malicious Code Trends
-- Blended threats were responsible for some of the most significant
security events of the year, which occurred in August when the
Internet experienced three new Category 4 worms in only 12 days.
These worms -- Blaster, Welchia, and Sobig.F -- infected millions
of computers worldwide and, according to estimates by Computer
Economics, may have resulted in up to $2 billion in damages.
-- Two and a half times the number of Win32 virus and worm submissions
were observed in the second half of 2003 than over the same period
in 2002, from 687 in the second half of 2002 to 1,702 in the second
half of 2003. Included in these submissions were Blaster, Welchia,
Sobig.F, and Dumaru. With these new threats, we have seen some
associated trends. First, the time between the announcement and
widespread exploitation of a vulnerability is decreasing. Second,
hackers are increasingly using packers to conceal malicious code.
Packers compress and encrypt Windows executable files, making
it more difficult to detect malicious code in these files.
-- Within the top 10 malicious code submissions, the number of
mass-mailer worms with their own mail engine increased by 61 percent
in the second half of 2003 over the first half of the year. Because
emails generated by the self-contained engine of malicious code
do not interact with the user's email system, there are few signs
of an active infection. Antivirus programs with heuristics-based
detection can resist these types of threats.
-- During the second half of 2003, threats to privacy and confidentiality
were the fastest growing threat. There was a 519 percent growth
in volume of submissions within the top 10 malicious code submissions
compared to the first half of the year. While older threats compromised
confidentiality by exporting random documents, more recent viruses
and blended threats also extract passwords, decryption keys, and
logged keystrokes.
Recommended Best Practices
Symantec encourages users and administrators to adhere to the
following best security practices to better protect their information
assets:
-- Turn off and remove unneeded services.
-- Always keep patch levels up-to-date, especially on computers
that host public services and are accessible through the firewall,
such as HTTP, FTP, mail, and DNS services.
-- Keep virus definitions updated. By deploying the latest virus
definitions, corporations and consumers are protected against
the latest viruses known to be spreading "in the wild."
-- Enforce a password policy.
-- Configure email servers to block or remove email that contains
file attachments that are commonly used to spread viruses, such
as .vbs, .bat, .exe, .pif, and .scr files.
-- Isolate infected computers quickly to prevent further compromise.
Perform a forensic analysis and restore the computers using trusted
media.
-- Train employees to open only attachments they expect and to
not execute software downloaded from the Internet unless it has
been scanned for viruses.
-- Ensure that emergency response procedures are in place.
-- Educate management on security budgeting needs.
-- Test security to ensure adequate controls are in place.
For more information, please visit http://www.symantec
Read
Our Latest Tech Watch Newsletter