ServerPronto Survey Reveals Most Popular Operating Systems

As the classic battle for operating system supremacy rages on, ServerPronto's survey reveals surprising installation results from the growing SMB market.


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 30, 2007 -- The classic battle over operating system supremacy is raging on in the fourth quarter. In one corner, Microsoft stands with hands raised in victory as the market leader. In the other corner, various open-source operating systems have joined forces under the Linux banner, threatening to dethrone the software giant.

So which operating system is the best of the best? If you ask 20 different people you may get almost as many answers. If you ask Microsoft, corporate execs will surely give you a compelling spiel on why proprietary systems are tops. If you ask Novell, the company will offer a convincing case for SuSE. Ask Red Hat and, well, you get the picture. But for all the battle cries over what operating system is best - one of the various flavors of Linux or a closed-source version from Microsoft - ServerPronto can tell you this much: Beauty is in the eye of the installer.

In an internal study of its dedicated hosting customers, ServerPronto is shedding new light on operating system favorites. According to company data, ServerPronto customers rely on Fedora, Debian, Red Hat 9, Windows, FreeBSD, CentOS and Gentoo more than all other options on the market. Drilling down a little deeper, the top operating systems ServerPronto customers use break out like this:
Fedora 21%
Debian 17%
Red Hat 15%
Windows 13%
FreeBSD 9%
CentOS 7%
Gentoo 7%

Here's a quick run-down on each contender in the ServerPronto survey. Fedora is a Linux-based operating system that showcases the latest in free and open source software. Debian is a free OS that uses the Linux kernel, but most of the basic OS tools come from the GNU project. Red Hat 9 was the final release the leading Linux OS before the company started offering Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Windows Server 2003 promises to simplify branch server management, improve identity and access management, reduce storage management costs, provide a rich Web platform, and offer cost-effective server virtualization. Centos is a free, enterprise-class Linux distribution. Last but not least, Gentoo is a free Linux-based OS that can be automatically optimized and customized for just about any application or need.

About ServerPronto

ServerPronto is a dedicated-hosting subsidiary of Infolink, which built a profitable Data Center Corporation by serving the "value-oriented" segment of the Internet market with a top-quality, feature-rich product at an incredible price. Following in those footsteps, ServerPronto is breaking the price barrier for dedicated hosting in secured and reinforced Data Centers with redundant power, lightning-fast fiber connections, and 24X7X365 support from a staff with more than 10 years experience building and maintaining servers and computer networks

Tiny Fully-Integrated PWM Controllers to Power Management Portfolio

High-performance devices are first to integrate high-level features and drivers in chip-scale package, with PowerGOOD output, for motherboard applications


GENEVA, Oct. 25 - STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) , a world leader in the supply of semiconductors for power management applications*, today extended its portfolio of power management devices with a new family of flexible and high-performance PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controllers intended for motherboard and POL (Point of Load) markets. Four new products -- L6726A, L6727, L6728 and L6728A -- integrate a voltage reference, control logic, gate drivers, monitoring and protection circuits into standard SO-8 or tiny 3x3mm DFN packages. Two of the chips offer additional features for high-level applications, including a PowerGOOD output to report power status and the output voltage sense for accurate over-voltage and under-voltage protection.


The L6726A and L6727 are low-cost single-phase PWM controllers, with embedded high-current drivers, enabling the easy creation of general purpose DC-DC step-down converters with excellent performance for a broad range of applications -- from desktop PC sub-systems, such as memories and chipsets, to general-purpose power supplies. With their high level of integration, these compact SO-8 devices allow a significant reduction in the cost and size of the power supply.


The L6728 and L6728A add to the simpler devices the characteristics required by the high-end motherboard market, including plus or minus 0.8% voltage accuracy over line and temperature variations, a PowerGOOD output to provide real-time information on output-voltage status, and the chip-scale 10-lead DFN package. They offer a fixed-frequency 300kHz (L6728) or 600kHz (L6728A) oscillator, for simple but flexible application design. It is the first time that all of these high-level features have been integrated into such a small package, and the devices are particularly suited to servers and niPOL (non-isolated Point of Load) applications.


ST's development of the new family has been carried out in co-operation with key customers, to ensure the optimum combination of features to meet the cost and technical requirements of this high-volume market. In addition to use on server and PC motherboards, the controllers are ideal for modems, set-top boxes (STBs), consumer applications and advanced DC-DC down-converters.


With embedded high-current, high-speed N-channel MOSFET drivers, the chips can be used in the design of power applications driving a few Amps to more than 30A. They operate over a wide input voltage range of 1.5V to 18V, while the integrated 0.8V voltage reference ensures 1% (L6726A, L6727) or up to 0.8% (L6728, L6728A) output accuracy. Sensorless current monitoring, through a Low- Side Power MOSFET, avoids the cost of an external current-sensing resistor and saves board space, and the single- or dual-level over-current protection has programmable thresholds. A range of other features are designed to increase efficiency and reduce the external component count.


The L6726A and L6727 are in volume production now, and are available in an SO-8 package priced at $0.50 in quantities of 1000. Samples of the L6728 and L6728A are available, with volume production in Q4 2007. They are supplied in a 3x3mm DFN package.(PRN)

Spreadtrum Announces TD-SCDMA/HSDPA Data Card Chip: SC8800S

SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 22 - Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPRD) , one of China's leading wireless baseband chipset providers, today announced its new SC8800S product - a TD-SCDMA/GSM dual-mode baseband chip designed to support HSDPA/EDGE and dedicated for the data card market. With this new SC8800S offering, Spreadtrum believes that its broad offering of TD-SCDMA solutions will address the various needs of the market and help the commercial adoption of this 3G technology.


The SC8800S marks the latest in Spreadtrum's family of 3G baseband solutions, with this new product designed for the data card market. The SC8800S chip not only includes the same type of high integration as previous Spreadtrum baseband chipsets, but also meets EDGE (EGPRS Class10) standard and offers high-speed HSDPA data transmission rates up to 1.6Mbps. With such high- speed data transmission rates, the data card using SC8800S is able to support enhanced multimedia functions such as wireless access, video on demand (VOD) or video blogging on the computer. Therefore, the SC8800S chip should facilitate the convergence of mobile communication devices with the Internet, making it possible for users to enjoy the efficiencies of wireless networks.


Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Qiang Cao, Spreadtrum's Vice President of Marketing, said, "With the introduction of the SC8800S, Spreadtrum has again demonstrated its efforts in speeding up the development of TD-SCDMA technology. As the commercialization of TD-SCDMA progresses, Spreadtrum will focus on designs to improve high-speed services in the wireless communication market while still meeting the basic demands for quality voice communication via mobile phones. We believe that the SC8800S chip contains features that will enable consumers to experience fast services on TD-SCDMA and EDGE networks."


About SC8800S


SC8800S utilizes ARM926EJ-S(R) core (with core frequency speeds up to 200MHz). Key features include: PS uplink 128kbps/ downlink 384kbps; HSDPA transmission rates up to 1.6Mbps; Firmware supports for GSM/GPRS standards (release V8.2.0 12/1999), GSM900/DCS1800/PCS1900, EGPRS Class10 and TD-SCDMA standards (3GPP release 5), 2010~2025 MHz; Package: 14x14mm2 349-ball LFBGA package.


Shipping Status SC8800S chipsets are currently available for sampling and are expected to be in volume production by the end of 2007.


About Spreadtrum:


Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops, and markets baseband processor solutions for the mobile wireless communications market. Spreadtrum combines its semiconductor design expertise with its software development capabilities to deliver highly- integrated baseband processors with multimedia functionality and power management. Spreadtrum has developed its solutions based on an open development platform, enabling its customers to develop customized wireless products that are feature-rich and meet their cost and time-to-market requirements.

Testing VoIP, IMS Protocols With Enhancements to Spectra2 Platform

Spectra2 XL Extends Tektronix' Leadership with Increased Load Capacity, Speed, Productivity

BEAVERTON, Ore., Oct. 20 - Tektronix, Inc. (NYSE:TEK) , a leading worldwide provider of communications network management and diagnostics solutions, announces the availability of Spectra2 XL, its enhanced Spectra2 VoIP and IMS test platform. Spectra2 XL offers customers a new platform with up to an 800 percent increase in load generation capacity for SIP testing, as well as increased capacity for the testing of other VoIP and IMS protocols.


Spectra2 XL builds on the scalable, easy-to-use and multi-user Spectra2 platform, adding capabilities to address the test challenges of maturing VoIP networks while accommodating the needs of the emerging IMS market. Spectra2 XL leverages the same Spectra2 footprint, software and interfaces with the added ability to generate more test call traffic under real-life scenario conditions with speed and accuracy.


"Spectra2 has been the test platform of choice for VoIP, IMS and converged networks functional and load test. We continue to evolve Spectra2 with customers in mind, creating test environments to meet their changing test needs and goals for introducing new technologies," said Richard Kenedi, General Manager, Network Diagnostics, Tektronix. "With Spectra2 XL, Tektronix raises the bar by providing customers increased performance and productivity with improved processing and faster response times to accommodate testing of next generation VoIP and IMS networks."


In addition, Tektronix announces its continued commitment to IMS, VoIP and converged test with its Spectra2 6.1 software release. The release provides new protocols and the introduction of additional multi-rate codec support in its tester, generator and media Quality of Service applications.


Tektronix will showcase Spectra2 XL at Fall VON in Boston, October 30-31. Learn more about Spectra2 XL by visiting the Tektronix booth # 655 or by visiting http://www.tektronix.com/Spectra2.


About Tektronix' Spectra2


The Spectra2 solution provides comprehensive VoIP, video telephony, IMS and converged network testing features in one system. The solution provides support for passive monitoring, protocol testing and large-scale load generation, delivering versatility and flexibility in an integrated application. Spectra2 is the solution customers turn to for meeting the challenge of converged and next generation networks, whether that includes performing protocol conformance testing, validating interoperability or verifying performance.


About Tektronix


Tektronix is a leading supplier of test, measurement, and monitoring products, solutions and services for the communications, computer, and semiconductor industries -- as well as military/aerospace, consumer electronics, education and a broad range customers to design, build, deploy, and manage next-generation global communications networks, computing of other industries worldwide. With 60 years of experience, Tektronix enables its and advanced technologies. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix has operations in 19 countries worldwide. Tektronix'

Tektronix provides network operators and equipment manufacturers a comprehensive and unparalleled suite of network diagnostics and management solutions for fixed, mobile, IP and converged multi-service networks. These solutions support such architectures and applications as fixed mobile convergence, IMS, broadband wireless access, WiMAX, VoIP and triple play, including IPTV. (PRN)

UM150 USB Modem From Verizon Wireless

Good Things Come in Small Packages: UM150 USB Modem From Verizon Wireless

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Oct. 20 -Verizon Wireless, the company with the most reliable wireless voice and data network, today announced the immediate availability of the UM150 USB wireless modem through business sales channels and online at www.verizonwireless.com. The UM150 USB modem will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, including those in Circuit City, on November 2.


The UM150 USB modem is designed to work with any computing device equipped with a Type A USB port -- including most desktops, notebooks, and tablet PCs -- and provides on-the-go access to BroadbandAccess, which runs on Verizon Wireless' national high-speed wireless broadband network. With out-of-box support for most operating systems, including Windows(R) (Vista, XP, 2000), Mac(R) and OS X 10.3.9 or higher, the UM150 USB modem enables Verizon Wireless customers to stay connected to online resources with speeds and performance similar to those of traditional cable or DSL connections.


The UM150 USB modem is optimized for Verizon Wireless' Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revolution A (Rev. A) network and the company's BroadbandAccess service, which provides average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits and average upload speeds of 500- 800 kbps. Verizon Wireless customers in Rev. A coverage areas using the UM150 USB modem can download a 1 Megabyte e-mail attachment -- the equivalent of a small PowerPoint(R) presentation or a large PDF file -- in about eight seconds and upload the same-sized file in less than 13 seconds.


Designed to be as durable as it is small, the UM150 USB modem combines a variety of innovative features into its tiny form factor, including a high- performance, retractable antenna and a Y-shaped extension cable for added performance and convenience. In addition, the UM150 serves as a mass storage device with its built-in microSD(TM) memory slot which has a minimum capacity of 4 GB. VZAccess Manager Software is included to simplify set-up and navigation through the UM150's features.
(PRN)

Is Your Computer Safe?

Identity Theft Prevention Software - 'Identity Finder' - Launches Version 3.0


NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2007 - Personal information leakage from computers is at an all-time high. Recently the Associated Press covered stories ranging from SSNs being stolen via commonly used consumer file sharing networks to TJX spending tens of millions of dollars to investigate and compensate potential victims after a security breach of over 45 million credit and debit cards. Internet security experts say that one billion searches are conducted daily over peer-to-peer networks and that many involve terms that appear to be attempts by would-be thieves to dig up people's sensitive documents and personal information.

We know that over $100 billion in identity theft has been reported by consumers and businesses over the past two years. We also know that many more thefts go unreported and that someone becomes a victim of identity theft every two seconds in America.

Individuals and corporations have assumed they were protected against electronic identity fraud because they installed anti-virus or anti-spyware software on their computers. They learned a hard lesson when they realized that was not the case. The problem is that personally identifiable information resides unprotected on computers and people don't realize they're not doing enough to protect it. If they're not protecting their most sensitive information, it is left vulnerable to future exposure.

Velosecure has just released a major upgrade of its software to solve these problems and prevent identity theft, Identity Finder 3.0 (Home Edition now $24.95 - was $39.95; Business Edition $39.95). The new version includes all the features of prior releases - such as the ability to automatically search for social security numbers, credit card numbers, and other confidential information inside documents, spreadsheets, e-mails, web browsers, and hidden areas of computers. It then helps individuals securely delete the data or protect the information with encryption. Identity Finder 3.0 adds the ability to:
-- Quarantine files by securely moving them to safe locations
-- Search for worldwide personal information commonly used in
Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom
-- Store passwords safely using an encrypted password manager
-- Search for your own patterns of data using Regular Expressions
-- Connect to computers remotely and automatically search across
your network

PC Magazine reviewed an earlier version and said, " ... [an identity] thief has all the time in the world to sift through your personal Information. Velosecure's Identity Finder heads off this potential disaster by finding all that sensitive information before the bad guys do and either securely deleting it or encrypting it."

PC World said, "Velosecure's well-designed ... software locates sensitive information on your PC and either deletes it or shields it from data-stealing malware and laptop thieves ... the results may surprise you ... it can dig deep into saved browser passwords, which neither Google Desktop nor the native Windows search can."

Todd Feinman, CEO, is available to discuss their unique new software and this growing problem in general. Review copies of Identity Finder are available upon request.

About:

Identity Finder is a division of Velosecure LLC, a leading niche innovator of security and privacy technologies. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in New York City, the company specializes in developing software solutions that meet business and consumer needs. Best known for Identity Finder and Velosecure CAM, the company's technologies have been used by over 3,000 organizations in more than 40 countries. The management team is a thought leader in the industry. They are well-published and have consulted with hundreds of clients to help manage their information technology risks. (ERN)

iSCSI SAN Boot Solution for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 and Microsoft Windows Server 2008

winBoot/i v2.1 Delivers Key New Functionality, Including Windows Crash Dump and Volume Shadow Copy Services (VSS) Support in Its SAN Boot Solution for Standard Network Interface Cards

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Oct. 17, 2007 (medianowonline)- emBoot Inc., an industry pioneer in delivering network boot capabilities, today announced the general availability of winBoot/i v2.1, an important update to its next-generation iSCSI boot solution for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 and the forthcoming Microsoft Windows Server 2008. winBoot/i provides a centrally managed SAN Boot solution using standard Ethernet network adapters that allows customers to accelerate server deployment and repurposing, reduce lifecycle operating costs, reduce power and cooling requirements, improve system resiliency and availability and implement more robust disaster recovery solutions.

New functionality in winBoot/i v2.1 includes:
-- Support for Microsoft's Volume Shadow Copy Services (VSS). Utilizing Microsoft's VSS, issues related to open-files while copying boot images are eliminated.

-- Implementation of support for Windows crash dump diagnostics, providing the ability to write crash dump results directly to iSCSI storage. In addition to providing critical support for problem resolution, support for crash dump is a requirement for qualification under Microsoft's Windows logo certification programs.

-- The ability to directly install Windows Server 2008 from DVD to iSCSI storage. With this capability local storage is not required to generate iSCSI boot images - they can be generated directly on iSCSI storage during the Windows Server 2008 installation process.
"Microsoft is committed to working with industry partners to make enterprise-class storage technologies accessible and cost-effective for customers of all sizes," said Bala Kasiviswanathan, director of branch and storage solutions at Microsoft Corp. "We are pleased to work with emBoot to help drive the adoption of iSCSI and reduce the cost and complexity of storage for our customers."

"The release of winBoot/i v2.1 further demonstrates our commitment to delivering an iSCSI boot solution optimized for the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 and 2008 platforms," said George Kostiuk, CEO of emBoot Inc. "With this release we are delivering important new functionality critical to deploying enterprise-class iSCSI boot solutions for the Microsoft-based platform."

About winBoot/i

winBoot/i utilizes Microsoft's iSCSI software-enabled SAN boot architecture to allow the booting of any Windows Server 2003 R2 or Windows Server 2008 using existing low-cost Ethernet adapters versus substantially more expensive host bus adapters (HBAs). With winBoot/i, customers can quickly and easily create, deploy, and centrally manage a SAN Boot environment to reduce costs, accelerate initial deployments and upgrades, and improve system availability. winBoot/i is available today from a growing worldwide network of partners including Integrators, Distributors, OEMs, and iSCSI storage vendors. (ERN)

4D Web 2.0 Pack v1.2 Released

Dynamic, high performance Web 2.0 applications are easier than ever to develop and deploy.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 13 (medianowonline)-4D Inc., maker of an integrated development platform for building and deploying business applications, announced today the release of version 1.2 of the 4D Web 2.0 Pack, a powerful toolset that lets 4D developers create rich Internet applications and integrate browser technology into 4D applications. Version 1.2 includes significant new feature additions, plus performance improvements and numerous bug fixes.


Version 1.2 of the 4D Ajax Framework provides developers with a new event mechanism, dynamic choice lists and new JavaScript callbacks. Version 1.2 also includes a new Set Up Wizard that enables Ajax applications to be developed quicker than ever.


"Version 1.2 delivers on the promise of continued improvement. This release empowers 4D Web 2.0 Pack developers to deliver more productive, higher performing dynamic live Web 2.0 applications," said Brendan Coveney, President and CEO of 4D Inc. "In addition, we're releasing a Developer Preview version of Web 2.0 Pack version 11, which includes full support for 4D v11 SQL, our recently released high performance business application platform."


4D Web 2.0 Pack retails for $599 and includes six months of free upgrades. An additional 12-month maintenance plan is $249. Updates and features will be added to the product on a regular basis. 4D Web 2.0 Pack is available from the 4D web site, http://www.4d.com/, or by calling 4D at (800) 785-3303.


About 4D


4D Inc., located in San Jose, CA, offers companies and developers an integrated platform for creating and deploying business applications. The 4D product line is used in more than 50 countries by a network of 7,000 professional software developers and millions of end users worldwide. 4D Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of 4D SAS, headquartered in Clichy, France. 4D Inc. can be reached at (408) 557-4600, or at http://www.4d.com/.
(PRN)

Shuttle Launches the XPC Prima SX38P2 Pro

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., Oct. 11 (medianowonline)- Shuttle Inc. - the leading designer and manufacturer of small form factor (SFF) computers and accessories today announced the launch of its flagship gamers' series of products -- the Shuttle XPC Prima SX38P2 Pro, where the Prima designation pertains to the hardcore platform of products for the power enthusiasts.


The Shuttle XPC Prima series SX38P2 Pro boasts of the Intel(R) X38 Express Chipset's optimized system memory capable of maximum over-clocking performance, as it supports the latest Intel(R) multi-core processors up to 1333MHz FSB, which can handle 8GB of DDR2 memory running at 1066MHz at over- clocked state. It also comes 8-channel HD audio loaded with Dolby(R) Digital Live! and DTS(TM) 7.1 Connect surround sound for exciting realism in a gaming experience. Two PCI Express 2.0x16 slots supporting ATI CrossFire(TM) will get nonstop gaming performance with flawless 3d graphics rendering.


Shuttle has also provided several enhancements to the internal chassis: an all solid capacitors motherboard design for maximum stability, reliability and longer system lifecycle that ensures top performance in a SFF platform and the ultra quiet and fanless Shuttle OASIS Cooling Technology to keep the system cool at over-clocked mode equipped with fan-less heat-sinks.


Shuttle also offers two unique user benefits. First, the innovative USB Speed-Link technology which allows for easy PC to PC file sharing via a standard USB cable. Next, Shuttle also introduces it newest advanced fingerprint recognition technology for added security to sensitive files housed in the unit.


The Shuttle XPC Prima SX38P2 Pro also ships out with the latest 80 PLUS(R) certified power supplies that are at 33% more efficient than current power supplies.


For the latest information and specification on the Shuttle XPC Prima SX38P2 Pro, please visit our official Shuttle website: http://www.shuttle.com/


Technical details:
Shuttle XPC Prima SX38P2 Pro

* Intel(R) X38 Express / ICH9R
* Supports Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad, Core(TM) 2 Duo E6000/E4000 Series,
Pentium Dual-Core E2000 Series, Celeron 400 Series with 775 socket, FSB
1333
* Max. 8 GB, 2 x Dual Channel DDR2 800 (OC to 1066 MHz)
* 8-Channel HD Audio with Dolby(R) Digital Live! and DTS(TM) Connect
* 2x PCI-E 2.0 x16(ATI CrossFire(TM)), 1x PCI, 1x Mini-Card
* Gigabit LAN
* 2x Firewire, 8x USB 2.0
* 4x SATA2, 2x eSATA
* USB Speed-Link Technology
* Fingerprint Recognition Security
* 400-Watt power supply
* 325(L) x 210(W) x 220(H) mm

About Shuttle Inc.

Established in 1983 and publicly listed since 2000, Shuttle Inc. (TAIEX 2405) is an industry leading designer and manufacturer of small form factor (SFF) computers and accessories. Shuttle produced the first commercially- successful SFF computer and continues to define the segment with its platform defining XPC product line. (PRN)

Linspire 6.0 Desktop Linux Operating System Released

Commercial Offering Builds on Popular Ubuntu Distribution, Adding New CNR
Service, Proprietary Software, Drivers, Codecs, and is First Release to
Include Microsoft Technology

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 10 (medianowonline)Linspire, Inc., developer of the
Linspire commercial and Freespire community desktop Linux operating systems
and CNR.com, a free Linux software delivery service, today announced the
immediate availability of Linspire 6.0, the latest commercial release of
the desktop Linux operating system. Building on the best of open source
software using Ubuntu as its base line, Linspire 6.0 adds licensed
proprietary drivers, codecs, and software in its core distribution to
provide a better user experience.

The first commercial release from Linspire, Inc. in over two years,
Linspire 6.0 continues its traditional focus on ease-of-use and bundles
proprietary software where there are no viable open source alternatives,
providing improved hardware, file type, and multimedia support, such as
MP3, Real, Java, Flash, ATI, nVidia, WiFi, and many more. Linspire 6.0 is
also the first commercial release to incorporate several technologies from
Microsoft including Windows Media, True Type Fonts, as well as Open XML
translators that allow OpenOffice to open and edit Microsoft Word .docx
formatted documents.

"Today we continue the Linspire tradition by offering the choice of a
better overall experience for users new to desktop Linux," said Larry
Kettler, President and CEO of Linspire, Inc. "Linspire 6.0 further bridges
the gap between open source and commercial software, combining the best
from each into a single easy-to-use, familiar and productive operating
system."

Linspire 6.0 is the first commercial desktop Linux operating system to
bundle the CNR Client (beta), providing one-click access to thousands of
open source and popular commercial applications such as Sun's StarOffice,
Parallels Workstation, Win4Lin, CodeWeaver's Crossover Office,
TransGaming's Cedega, commercial games and many more.

"If you are genuinely interested in finding an OS alternative, Linspire
6.0 will show you how far desktop Linux has come" continued Kettler. "We
have put everything into this latest commercial release to make it our most
complete offering to date."
Linspire 6.0 begins with Ubuntu (Version 7.04) as its base line and
then adds software from six broad categories, further expanding Linspire's
capabilities:
CNR Client (beta) provides free one-click access to thousands of open
source applications, as well as commercial software such as Sun's
StarOffice, Parallels Workstation, Win4Lin, CodeWeaver's Crossover Office,
TransGaming's Cedega, commercial games and many more. Linspire 6.0 users
will be able to automatically update the CNR Client when future versions
are released.

KDE is added for an easier-to-use and more comfortable interface, with
a more familiar look and feel for Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows users.
Enhanced applications and features are added for superior usability and
ease of use, modifying software applications such as Firefox and
Thunderbird, and along with the inclusion of Linspire-sponsored open source
software like Lsongs and Lphoto.

Proprietary software is added when necessary, such as Java, Flash, and
Adobe Acrobat, in order to provide overall increased interoperability and
enhanced user experience.
Proprietary codecs are added to expand multimedia compatibility and
provide a superior overall computing experience so users can listen to MP3
files, play Windows Media files and much more.
Proprietary drivers are added to expand hardware compatibility and
provide optimum 3D graphic card support, better WiFi support and more.

Version 6.0 is also the first commercial offering from Linspire to
provide customers with Microsoft patent covenants. In June of 2007,
Linspire and Microsoft entered into a broad interoperability and technical
collaboration agreement to facilitate interoperability between Windows and
Linspire, which included intellectual property assurances. The agreement
promotes customer choice and strengthens the bridge between the
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) and Linux operating systems. (PRN)

New Interface Technology

Engenio storage systems now offer unmatched breadth of host-interface selection including iSCSI, SAS, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand

MILPITAS, Calif., Oct. 10 (medianowonline)- LSI Corporation (NYSE:LSI) announced iSCSI connectivity support across its complete line of Engenio(TM) external storage systems. LSI is introducing its Simplicity(TM) iSCSI-based 1532 storage system for SMB (small-to-midsized business) customers in need of simple and low-cost networked storage. In addition, LSI has certified select SANtricity(TM) Fibre Channel-based storage systems with the QLogic SANbox 6140 Intelligent Storage Router, providing enterprise customers with multi-protocol connectivity between servers and SANtricity storage systems. Today's announcement further expands the industry-leading selection of interface options offered by LSI, which now includes iSCSI, SAS, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand.


"IP networks are ubiquitous in the industry, and more and more customers are looking to leverage this familiar technology for a low-cost storage network that increases efficiencies while offering easy integration; iSCSI makes this possible," said Steve Gardner, director of product marketing, Engenio Storage Group, LSI Corporation. "LSI is delivering iSCSI support across our Engenio family of storage systems in order to provide both SMB and enterprise customers with an easily-managed IP storage network that brings the consolidation benefits of a shared environment. This is the latest step in our continued effort to offer the industry's most extensive selection of host interfaces to meet any organization's storage requirements regardless of connectivity performance, availability or functionality requirements."


The 1532, with iSCSI host interface technology, is the newest addition to the LSI family of Simplicity systems, which already offer SAS and Fibre Channel interface options with the 1333 and 1932, respectively. The 1532 storage system is designed as an easy-to-use IP SAN (storage area network over an IP network) solution for SMB customers looking for an alternative to a Fibre Channel SAN as they transition from a DAS (Direct Attached Storage) environment. The 1532 enables IT organizations to leverage their IP expertise while cost-effectively gaining the advantages of consolidated storage. The 1532 storage system is ideal for applications including relational databases, Exchange, SQL Server, CRM, ERP, web, e-commerce or supporting server consolidation with products like VMware.


Designed with four 1Gb/s iSCSI hosts per dual controller system, the 1532 supports "start small, grow big" scalability allowing users to only invest in the amount of storage currently needed and dynamically scale capacity when their storage demands call for it. Entry-level systems begin with a 2U 12-drive configuration, which can scale up to 48 300GB SAS and SATA drives, offering up to 36.0TB of storage. The 1532 system is managed by Simplicity Storage Manager software providing customers an intuitive, task-based management structure that significantly reduces the complexity of installation, configuration, management and diagnostic tasks. Simplicity delivers premium features to support data utilization and protection strategies, including storage partitioning, snapshot and volume copy.


Bringing together the advantages of Fibre Channel storage and the pervasiveness of IP networks, LSI has also completed certification of its SANtricity-managed Fibre Channel arrays with the QLogic SANbox 6140 Intelligent Storage Router. By testing and certifying this router, select SANtricity storage systems can be bridged across an IP network, enabling enterprise customers to have multi-protocol connectivity between servers and the SANtricity storage systems. It is also an ideal solution for enabling a virtualized server-to-storage interface that allows the deployment of hundreds of virtual or physical servers to a SANtricity system, which provides the additional benefit of consolidated storage.


"The certification of the LSI Engenio storage systems with the QLogic iSCSI Intelligent Storage Routers enables users to combine the availability and consolidation advantages of the SANtricity-based Fibre Channel systems across IP networks for data transfers," said Shishir Shah, general manager, Storage Solutions Group, QLogic Corporation. "The result is a cost-effective method to connect all of an organization's servers to a SAN regardless of location." (PRN)

Sony Unveils 4X Blu-ray Disc Writer Drive

Cuts Burning Time in Half from Previous Model

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 9 (medianowonline)-Sony Electronics today
announced its second generation internal Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) writer drive
for the computer aftermarket, which boasts 4X BD-R and 16X DVD+R recording
speeds.

The new BWU-200S model cuts BD-R burning time by half compared to the
first generation model, allowing for a full 50GB BD-R disc to be recorded
in about 45 minutes. It also features improved DVD burning speeds, making
it a multi-format combo burner that eliminates the need for more than one
drive in a system.

The drive comes with CyberLink BD Solution software that provides a
comprehensive application for capturing, authoring, editing, burning and
viewing high-definition personal content captured in the native HDV 1080i
format from an HDV camcorder. In addition, the software supports recording
on DVDs and CDs, as well as playback of DVDs recorded in the AVCHD format.
The BWU-200S drive can record up to 50GB of data for random access
storage and backup on BD-R (write once) or BD-RE (rewritable) discs, or up
to 230 minutes of high-definition HDV 1080i video on a BD-R/RE 50GB disc.
It also supports recording on standard single layer 4.7GB DVD+R/+RW/RAM
discs, 8.5GB DVD+R double/dual layer discs, and CDs.

The internal drive features a Serial ATA (SATA) interface and standard
5.25-inch form-factor for easy installation inside a desktop PC with
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP or Windows Vista(R) software.
"Consumers and professional videographers alike can enjoy the huge
storage capacity to record and experience high-definition video with our
Blu-ray Disc drive," said Bob DeMoulin, marketing manager for branded
storage products in Sony Electronics' IT Products Division.
The new drive is supported by Adobe(R) Encore(R) CS3 that now comes
bundled with Adobe Premiere(R) Pro CS3 software, providing video production
professionals with another option for outputting high-definition video on a
Blu-ray Disc with MPEG-2 or H.264 compression.

"Advanced optical storage technologies, such as Blu-ray Disc technology
with its vast capacity compared to DVD technology, will be key enablers for
next generation PC applications like HD personal video content and high-
definition TV recording," said Wolfgang Schlichting, research director for
removable storage at IDC. "Sony's many innovations in optical storage have
prepared the company to be a leader in the Blu-ray Disc writable market."
Availability and Pricing
The BWU-200S drive will be available directly from Sony at
sonystyle.com next month for about $600. Pre-orders are now being accepted.

Business Requirements Management Solution

Compuware Optimal Trace 5.0 Introduces Ability to Customize Project
Structure for all Stakeholder Needs, Enabling Better Collaboration Between
IT and the Business

DETROIT, Oct. 9 (medianowonline)- Compuware Corporation
(Nasdaq: CPWR) today released Compuware Optimal Trace 5.0, the latest
version of Compuware Optimal's market-leading business requirements
management solution. This new version provides an easy entry into adopting
a business requirements management solution and enables organizations to
grow into a sophisticated use of "structured requirements." It also further
strengthens Compuware Optimal's application delivery management solution by
offering increased capability to propagate business intent through the life
cycle. These capabilities create a quicker and higher return on investment.

Version 5.0 dramatically lowers the barrier of entry for organizations
wishing to achieve requirements process improvement. In environments where
requirements have been captured in Word documents and Excel spreadsheets,
Optimal Trace 5.0 now provides a highly intuitive document and text import
capability that allows virtually any document or file structure to be
rapidly absorbed into the Optimal Trace repository. Leveraging the
business-driven philosophy of Optimal Trace, this yields fast deployment
and rapid adoption of a business-driven approach.

"It is challenging to get stakeholders to take the time to communicate
effectively with business analysts and IT staff," wrote Melinda-Carol
Ballou, Program Director, Application Life-Cycle & ITMS at IDC in her
report titled: Emerging Requirements Market Drives IT/Business
Adaptability. "The emergence of more intuitive tools that are usable by
business executives in conjunction with analysts to capture and codify
requirements is a key step forward."

Optimal Trace 5.0 also introduces complete and unparalleled structural
flexibility for tailoring project and package/group structure to the needs
of any project. This is facilitated by extending the capability to create
custom field definitions on any level, including project, package and
requirement level. Combining this with a new and simplified list style
requirement concept creates a highly customizable requirements capture and
management solution further augmenting Optimal Trace's business-driven
approach.

The capabilities of Compuware Optimal Trace 5.0 enhance the propagation
of requirements to all aspects of the application life cycle. This
business- driven approach is the cornerstone of Compuware Optimal's
application delivery management solution. In addition, this new version
dramatically improves the capability to propagate requirements to
Compuware's Project and Portfolio Management solutions, ensuring complete
alignment with the business.

"IT needs to work collaboratively with the business to elicit effective
requirements and manage them throughout the application life cycle," said
John Williams, Senior Vice President of Product Solutions at Compuware
Corporation. "With Optimal Trace 5.0, business intent is the driving force
in the life cycle, and this is augmented by IT-specific requirements
ensuring an end deliverable that maximizes business impact. Combining
Optimal Trace 5.0 with Compuware's Optimal Delivery Manager provides a
potent mix for any IT manager to effectively communicate and collaborate
with the business."

Compuware Optimal helps IT organizations consistently deliver
high-quality applications to the business. Compuware's business-driven
application delivery approach delivers on business requirements and drives
quality and performance into the application from the earliest phases of
the development life cycle. Using these powerful solutions, IT
organizations can more efficiently and effectively deliver high-quality
applications to maximize business value.

Compuware Corporation
Compuware Corporation maximizes the value IT brings to the business by
helping CIOs more effectively manage the business of IT. Compuware
solutions accelerate the development, improve the quality and enhance the
performance of critical business systems while enabling CIOs to align and
govern the entire IT portfolio, increasing efficiency, cost control and
employee productivity throughout the IT organization. Founded in 1973,
Compuware serves the world's leading IT organizations, including more than
90 percent of the Fortune 100 companies.

Self-Care Quota-Management for Broadband Users

FTS Launches Leap(TM) BCE Broadband Edition to Provide Real-time, Self-Care Quota-Management for Broadband Users



BERLIN - October 9 (medianowonline)- FTS (LSE: FTS), a global provider of Business Control, Billing and CRM solutions for communications service providers,
has announced today the launch of Leap(TM) Business Control Engine (Leap
BCE) Broadband Edition, which will transform broadband access, creating
higher revenue opportunities for providers and higher customer satisfaction
for users. Customers can monitor quotas and costs accruing on their account
as well as purchase extra quotas and switch bandwidth on demand.

Leap BCE Broadband Edition allows service providers to improve and
enhance services across their networks, in turn influencing the
customer-provider relationship. The solution enables real-time customer
interaction which will increase revenues and customer satisfaction. This
works by capturing and responding to events in real-time based on a
pre-configured set of business policies and dynamically adapting network or
service behavior in response to customer interaction. Examples include:
setting dynamic QoS, sending the subscriber a message or an alert,
provisioning an upgraded service, balance management or charging.

Leap BCE Broadband Edition is pre-integrated with leading Deep Packet
Inspection (DPI) vendors such as Allot and Sandvine. By using the power and
granularity of DPI, Leap BCE Broadband Edition can offer unprecedented
quota-management services such as usage-quota per application (e.g. quota
for P2P traffic or for video), usage-quota's that ignore certain services
(e.g. the operator-branded-gaming is not counted) and even peak/off-peak
plans.

A sophisticated, pre-integrated web self-care (WSC) allows the
customers to monitor their usage throughout the month, set alerts and
notifications (e.g. 'at 80% send me an SMS') and decide, even in advance,
how his account will behave when quota is depleted.

Leap BCE Broadband Edition is intelligently deployed alongside existing
systems with interfaces into Billing, CRM and other BSS & OSS systems.
FTS will be demonstrating Leap BCE Broadband Edition at the Broadband
World Forum Europe 2007 in Berlin 9-11 October 2007 in Allot
Communications' booth, number 2032.

"Leap BCE Broadband Edition enables providers to offer real-time,
self-care and sophisticated quota-management to customers, leveraging the
opportunities as well as other benefits of the Leap suite of solutions,"
said Gil Hurwitz, FTS' Chief Operating Officer. "We feel that the synergy
between Leap BCE Broadband Edition and DPI solutions will enable service
providers to maximize the benefits of the DPI ground-breaking technology."
About FTS
FTS (LSE: FTS) is a leading provider of Business Control, Billing and
CRM solutions for communications service providers. FTS pioneered the
Business Control Layer market and is the leading player in the space. By
analyzing events from a business standpoint rather than just billing them,
FTS allows providers to better understand their customer base and leverage
business value from every event and interaction. FTS deploys its full range
of end-to-end, stand-alone and add-on solutions to customers in over 40
countries and has implemented solutions in wireless, wireline, cable,
content and broadband markets including multiple cross-network
installations. Serving the evolving needs of both traditional and next
generation service providers; the company's operations comprise four
international R&D locations and strategically located sales support offices
worldwide. FTS is one of EMEA's fastest growing technology companies,
consistently earning a place within the Deloitte Technology Fast-500 EMEA
listing.(prn)

McAfee Delivers Most Flexible and Manageable Data Loss Prevention Solution

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 9 (MEDIANOWONLINE) - Extending its
leadership in helping organizations prevent the loss of confidential data,
McAfee, Inc. (NYSE: MFE) released McAfee(R) Data Loss Prevention Host 2.0
in early September. The new version includes comprehensive device
management and integration with McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator(R) (ePO(TM)).
It is a key component of the industry's most comprehensive solution for
preventing both accidental and malicious data loss.
High profile data breaches continue to make headlines, impacting
corporate reputations and bottom lines. According to Privacy Clearinghouse,
more than 166 million American records (personal data) have been
compromised. McAfee Data Loss Prevention offers complete visibility and
control by monitoring and preventing confidential data loss everywhere --
at work, at home, and on the road. It stops information loss across
networks, through applications, and via removable storage devices, even
when data is disguised. McAfee is the first to safely enable the use of
valuable employee productivity tools such as USB thumb drives by offering
granular control over which devices are allowed to be used, while enforcing
control over what data can be copied onto them.
Easy management through McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator enables event
monitoring and incident details to prove internal and regulatory compliance
measures to auditors, board members, and other stakeholders.
"Enterprises face dire consequences because they are losing
confidential data without even knowing it," said Vimal Solanki, senior
director of marketing for McAfee. "McAfee DLP protects enterprises from the
risks of financial loss, brand damage, competitive disadvantage, lost
customers and non-compliance."
New Standards in Data Loss Prevention
McAfee is the first large security vendor in the Data Loss Prevention
(DLP) space offering the rich heritage, desktop and gateway expertise, and
stability not available with startups. McAfee DLP is part of an overall
Security Risk Management portfolio that customers can add without adding a
new agent or console to minimize management time and costs while offering a
complete security view for faster response. McAfee is the first to combine
comprehensive device management with flexible controls to stop confidential
data copied onto USB devices so that employees can use them safely.
Existing McAfee customers can leverage strengths of industry leading
security management console; ePO manages 55M+ endpoints in 30K+
enterprises.
Availability
McAfee Data Loss Prevention Host 2.0 is available now in English,
German and Japanese.

McAfee Delivers Most Flexible and Manageable Data Loss Prevention Solution

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 9 (MEDIANOWONLINE)Extending its
leadership in helping organizations prevent the loss of confidential data,
McAfee, Inc. (NYSE: MFE) released McAfee(R) Data Loss Prevention Host 2.0
in early September. The new version includes comprehensive device
management and integration with McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator(R) (ePO(TM)).
It is a key component of the industry's most comprehensive solution for
preventing both accidental and malicious data loss.

High profile data breaches continue to make headlines, impacting
corporate reputations and bottom lines. According to Privacy Clearinghouse,
more than 166 million American records (personal data) have been
compromised. McAfee Data Loss Prevention offers complete visibility and
control by monitoring and preventing confidential data loss everywhere --
at work, at home, and on the road. It stops information loss across
networks, through applications, and via removable storage devices, even
when data is disguised. McAfee is the first to safely enable the use of
valuable employee productivity tools such as USB thumb drives by offering
granular control over which devices are allowed to be used, while enforcing
control over what data can be copied onto them.
Easy management through McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator enables event
monitoring and incident details to prove internal and regulatory compliance
measures to auditors, board members, and other stakeholders.
"Enterprises face dire consequences because they are losing
confidential data without even knowing it," said Vimal Solanki, senior
director of marketing for McAfee. "McAfee DLP protects enterprises from the
risks of financial loss, brand damage, competitive disadvantage, lost
customers and non-compliance."
New Standards in Data Loss Prevention
McAfee is the first large security vendor in the Data Loss Prevention
(DLP) space offering the rich heritage, desktop and gateway expertise, and
stability not available with startups. McAfee DLP is part of an overall
Security Risk Management portfolio that customers can add without adding a
new agent or console to minimize management time and costs while offering a
complete security view for faster response. McAfee is the first to combine
comprehensive device management with flexible controls to stop confidential
data copied onto USB devices so that employees can use them safely.
Existing McAfee customers can leverage strengths of industry leading
security management console; ePO manages 55M+ endpoints in 30K+
enterprises.
Availability
McAfee Data Loss Prevention Host 2.0 is available now in English,
German and Japanese.

Enhanced SNMP Security

InterWorking Labs Announces SNMP APIs to Replace 'Scotty' and New Security Features

InterWorking Labs adds technical support, extensive documentation, and examples to a robust and mature set of APIs along with expanded encryption capabilities for enhanced SNMP security.


SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Oct. 5, 2007 -- InterWorking Labs, creators of network test, network emulation, and network optimization products to improve the quality of voice and data networks, today announced the SilverCreek SNMP APIs (the "Scotty" replacement) as well as new, expanded, encryption capabilities for enhanced SNMP security.

Thousands of users worldwide test their SNMP implementations with SilverCreek, the Official SNMP Test Suite. SilverCreek's libraries are written in C++ and are accessible through a Tcl shell or command line or a Tcl program. Tcl, the Tool Command Language, is a flexible, interpretive language, popular for network applications.

With today's announcement, the comprehensive collection of SilverCreek APIs are repackaged and enhanced for developers to easily migrate from "Scotty" and to create their own cross platform network management applications for Linux, Windows, and Solaris. Many developers relied on "Scotty," a freely available, and very popular, set of SNMP APIs that also used Tcl, the Tool Command Language. However, after Scotty version 2.1.11 in June 2002, Scotty's authors moved to other projects. There is no plan to update or maintain Scotty.

Now network management applications using Scotty can migrate to the SilverCreek SNMP APIs. The advantages include full support for SNMPv3 security, a comprehensive set of tools, and robust, mature, and well-maintained APIs. For a mapping of Scotty SNMP APIs to SilverCreek SNMP APIs, please see:

http://www.iwl.com/idocs/SL1

In addition to the comprehensive APIs, the SilverCreek SNMP API package also offers a complete set of tools that are listed and described at:

http://www.iwl.com/idocs/SL2

Finally, SilverCreek offers enhanced encryption capabilities for SNMP security. TripleDES encryption, AES192 and AES256 encryption are supported in the latest release and available worldwide. Implementation details may be found at:

http://www.iwl.com/idocs/SL3

About InterWorking Labs

InterWorking Labs, creates network test, network emulation, and network optimization products to improve the quality of voice and data networks. SilverCreek, the official SNMP Test Suite, verifies correct operation of SNMP agents and their standard and private MIBs and checks for vulnerabilities to attacks. Maxwell-TCP/IP and Maxwell SIP provide protocol and robustness testing for network devices. Maxwell, the programmable Network Emulator, creates real-world network scenarios including multiple network flows and network attacks in order to evaluate product behavior under adverse network conditions. (ERN)

Processors for Scalable Performance and Low-Power Designs

ARM Unveils Cortex-A9 Processors for Scalable Performance and Low-Power Designs

CAMBRIDGE, October 4 - First Fully Synthesizable Single and Multicore Processors Capable of Delivering More Than 8000 Aggregate DMIPS of Performance and Mobile-Level Power Efficiency to a Wide Range of Applications


ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)] today launched its new Cortex(TM)-A9 processors at the fourth annual ARM(R) Developers' Conference, in Santa Clara, California. The ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore(TM) multicore processor and ARM Cortex-A9 single core processor deliver unprecedented performance within tight power constraints for innovative devices that deliver superior overall functionality, such as smartphones, connected mobile computers, consumer electronics, automotive infotainment, networking and other embedded and enterprise devices.


ARM also announced today that several Partners have already selected the Cortex-A9 processors, including NEC Electronics, NVIDIA, Samsung, STMicroelectronics and Texas Instruments.


The new Cortex-A9 processors are compatible with other Cortex family processors and the popular ARM MPCore technology, thereby inheriting a rich ecosystem of OS/RTOS, middleware and applications to lower the costs associated with adopting a new processor.


The Cortex-A9 processors deliver highly scalable and power-efficient solutions by leveraging for the first time key microarchitectural advances. Utilizing a dynamic length, 8-stage superscalar, multi-issue pipeline with speculative out-of-order execution, it is capable of executing up to four instructions per cycle in devices clocked at more than 1GHz while also providing reductions in the cost and inefficiencies of today's leading 8-stage processors.


ARM MPCore Technology


The widely-adopted ARM MPCore technology increases performance scalability and control over power consumption to exceed the performance of today's comparable high-performance devices while remaining within the tight mobile power constraints. To date, ARM MPCore technology has been licensed by more than ten companies including NEC Electronics, NVIDIA, Renesas Technology and Sarnoff Corporation and has been in silicon production since 2005.


The Cortex-A9 MPCore multicore processor was developed to deliver the next generation of the MPCore technology to a breadth of new application markets by further optimizing and extending this technology. In addition, to simplify and broaden the adoption of multicore solutions, the Cortex-A9 MPCore processor supports system-level coherence with accelerators and DMA to further increase performance and reduce power consumption at the system level.


The Cortex-A9 single core processor was developed for simplified design migration and reduced time-to-market of high-performance, cost-sensitive applications such as feature phones and other low cost embedded devices. Each processor is available with ARM Advantage(TM) standard cells and memories for a traditional and convenient synthesizable flow and provides increased levels of power efficiency within a similar silicon cost and power budgets to the previous ARM11 family processors.


"ARM continues to raise the bar in performance for mobile and battery operated applications with its Cortex family by introducing the ARM Cortex-A9 microprocessors," said Mario Morales, Vice President, Semiconductors at market research firm IDC. "The new processor options include multicore support for the Cortex family, which we expect will help extend the range in performance and power to address requirements by OEMs for next generation devices in terms of scale and features. By focusing on system level performance and lower power, the ARM Cortex-A9 processors can support the growing demand for multicore architectures that are enabling converged services and devices."


"ARM technology remains at the heart of breakthrough products designed to meet growing consumer requirements in a broad section of applications including smartphones, connected mobile computers and consumer electronics," said Mike Inglis, EVP, Sales and Marketing, ARM. "In 2005 we introduced the highly successful Cortex-A8 processor which is being used by multiple Partners to support a diverse mix of innovative end products starting in 2007/8. In 2007, ARM takes a further step forward by introducing the Cortex-A9 processors. These will allow further innovation with efficient, cost-sensitive uniprocessor and high-performance multicore implementations for end equipment in the 2009/10 timeframe. This new technology enables ARM Partners to continue to maintain leadership in multiple application areas including the emerging connected mobile computing market."


Cortex-A9 Processor Benefits


The Cortex-A9 processors are the first synthesizable ARM processors capable of delivering more than 8000 aggregate DMIPS for demanding high performance, consumer and enterprise applications while also providing a significant performance increase over today's handsets when implemented within the very tight 250mW mobile power budget. For 2000 DMIPS of performance when designed in a TSMC 65 nanometer (nm) generic process the core logic costs less than 1.5 mm2 of silicon. This scalable performance from 2000-8000 DMIPs is 4-16x what is found in today's high end phones or set top boxes and will allow end users to instantly view complex, multimedia enabled web pages and make the most of Web 2.0 applications, enjoy photorealistic graphics and gaming, open complex attachments quickly or edit media files.


The Cortex-A9 MPCore processor is the first ARM processor to combine the Cortex application class architecture with multiprocessing capabilities for scalable performance and provides enhanced multicore technology that includes:



- NAK Accelerator Coherence Port (ACP) for increased system performance
and lower system power

- NAK Advanced Bus Interface Unit for low latency in high bandwidth
devices

- NAK Multicore TrustZone(R) technology with interrupt virtualization to
enable hardware based security and enhanced paravirtualization
solutions

- NAK Generalized Interrupt Controller (GIC) for software portability and
optimized multicore communication




During the development of the multicore benchmarking framework developed by the industry-led Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium (EEMBC), the Cortex-A9 MPCore multicore processor demonstrated near linear scalability in a variety of benchmarks, with additional processor units providing up to four times the performance of a comparable single core processor. (PRN)

A Tool For Embedded Software Analysis

ARM Announces RealView Profiler for Embedded Software Analysis

Unique Tool That Enables Fast and Non-Intrusive Software Analysis With No Time Limit on the Length of the Analysis Run

CAMBRIDGE, England, October 3 - ARM (LSE:ARM); (Nasdaq:ARMHY) today announced at the ARM(R) Developers' Conference, Santa Clara, Calif., the launch of the RealView(R) Profiler, a unique tool specifically designed to enable non-intrusive analysis of software performance and code coverage of real system workloads running over minutes, hours or days. Using the tool, developers can typically improve the performance of their application by more than 20 percent, while at the same time enabling reduction of the ROM size requirements by a similar amount. The RealView Profiler also includes comprehensive analysis of both statement and branch code coverage, enabling software testing to achieve and demonstrate 100 percent code coverage to ensure the highest levels of software validation


The RealView Profiler is designed to complement ARM's industry-leading Compilation technology and will drive ARM processor-based devices to new performance levels. Based on the comprehensive ARM debug and trace infrastructure, the RealView Profiler delivers unrivalled insight into the performance of embedded device software. The RealView Profiler supports performance analysis from the early stages right until the end of the design cycle and, therefore, greatly reduces software development project risks. To enable this, the ARM RealView Profiler supports both hardware profiling, via the new RealView Trace 2 capture unit, and virtual platform profiling, via the ultra-fast RealView Real-Time System Models.


"The consumer electronics market requires increasingly complex applications delivering rich media content, making embedded software performance and quality an absolute imperative," said John Cornish, vice president, Marketing, System Design Division, ARM. "The RealView Profiler supports non-intrusive analysis of software performance and code coverage of real system workloads, and provides critical insights and hot spot information. This enables developers to quickly optimize their code for both performance and code coverage and makes it the ideal product to test and measure production level embedded software".


"Our customers want to make the most of our ARM Powered(R) Wireless CPU(R) and expect optimal real-time responsiveness and high computing performance," said Stephane Baixas, director of Software department at WAVECOM SA. "The RealView Profiler will help us to identify bottlenecks in our code and improve the performance of our Open AT(R) OS. In addition, thanks to the code coverage feature, we will be able to broaden our test capabilities to ensure the quality and reliability of our solutions."


The RealView Profiler is a plug-in to the industry-leading Eclipse(TM) Integrated Development Environment and in this environment provides a graphical user interface that is designed for ease of use with a familiar look and feel. This significantly increases productivity in the normally challenging optimization phase.


Technical information


The RealView Profiler can be used alongside RealView Development Suite and the GNU tools to provide performance and code-path coverage information. The RealView Profiler provides its information for both the executed machine instructions and the original source code. This is essential for the success of the widely-used practice of incorporating third-party software into the end product; without this a thorough impact analysis is exceedingly difficult.


The RealView Profiler offers unrivalled insight into the performance and behaviour of ARM processor-based devices, providing detailed information on CPU interlocks, unexpected instruction delays, code efficiency and low-level instructions views mapped back to software developer's source code annotated with performance information. This enables software developers to take full advantage of ARM processor-based devices in the shortest possible time.


The RealView Profiler provides hardware profiling in combination with the new RealView Trace 2 unit using a unique streaming profiling technique. This enables continuous profiling for long periods of time at frequencies up to 250 MHz. This first release of the RealView Profiler will support the ARM926EJ-S(TM), ARM1136JF-S(TM), ARM1176JZF-S(TM) and Cortex(TM)-R4 processors, with more to be added in the next months. The RealView Trace 2 unit also supports classic 32-bit data and instruction trace at up to 400 MHz to enable advanced trace and debug using the ARM RealView Development Suite.


The RealView Profiler also provides profiling without the need for actual hardware by including four RealView Real-Time System Models of the ARM926EJ-S, ARM1136JF-S, ARM1176JZF-S and Cortex-A8 processors. These models can execute at more than 200 MHz running on a standard PC platform and can be deployed across development teams at low cost.


More information on the RealView Profiler is available at http://www.arm.com/realview/profile

Smallest and most powerful LED driver for portable applications

Micrel Introduces Ultra-Compact 2MHz, 7-12W Integrated Boost HB LED Driver Solution


SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 2 - Micrel Inc., (Nasdaq: MCRL), an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today launched the MIC2299, the industry's smallest and most powerful LED driver for portable applications.
This high-efficiency boost DC-to-DC converter features an integrated 3.5A
guaranteed switch current and delivers a net output power of 7-12W -- from
a tiny 3mm x 3mm MLF(R) package. Targeting photoflash and torchlight
applications in mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras, and emergency
lighting, the MIC2299 is currently available in volume quantities with
pricing starting at $1.70 for 1K quantities.
"With a guaranteed 3.5A switch current and a solution footprint of just
0.25 square inch, Micrel's MIC2299 sets a new standard for driving high
brightness LEDs in portable applications without sacrificing valuable
battery life," noted Ralf Muenster, Micrel's marketing director for power
products. "In addition, the solution enables up to 30V on the output
thereby enabling arrays of up to eight high brightness LEDs in a series."
The powerful, high current integrated switch in the MIC2299 allows the
device to deliver at least 1A into two WLEDs or 750mA into three WLEDs
connected in series. This enables a powerful torch for illumination in dark
environments or a brilliant flash for improved picture quality in low light
situations. LED brightness can be dynamically controlled by applying a
voltage or PWM signal to the brightness pin. The IC operates at a fixed
2MHz switching frequency with an efficiency reaching up to 90 percent. The
MIC2299 solution requires only a tiny, low profile inductor and small
ceramic capacitors, making the footprint very compact while minimizing
solution cost. Finally, consistent with the current operating array of a
range of battery configurations, the solution operates from an input
voltage range of 2.5 - 10V.
About Micrel, Inc.
Micrel Inc., is a leading global manufacturer of IC solutions for the
worldwide analog, Ethernet and high bandwidth markets. The Company's
products include advanced mixed-signal, analog and power semiconductors;
high performance communication, clock management, Ethernet switch and
physical layer transceiver ICs. Company customers include leading
manufacturers of enterprise, consumer, industrial, mobile,
telecommunications, automotive, and computer products. Corporation
headquarters and state-of-the-art wafer fabrication facilities are located
in San Jose, CA, with regional sales and support offices and advanced
technology design centers situated throughout the Americas, Europe and
Asia. In addition, the Company maintains an extensive network of
distributors and reps worldwide. (prn)