While Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) haven’t benefited from a good deal of buzz just yet, things could be taking a turn, as both Xilinx and Altera caught a few eyes at IDF. We’ve already seen the unique, albeit highly specific chips in a supercomputer, but the dedicated coprocessor / accelerator modules could be landing beside your Intel Xeon CPU. Essentially, the devices plug “directly into the processor socket of dual- or quad-socket servers” in order to provide “high performance application acceleration ranging from 10x to 100x compared to processors alone, while simultaneously reducing overall system power consumption.” The modules act as targeted CPUs, effectively computing very specific tasks in a much more efficient fashion than a general microprocessor can alone, which could boost the speed of scientific, financial, and life science applications that rely on very particular calculations. Of course, mainstream adoption still has quite a ways to go, but the quicker we get dedicated physics and AI coprocessors to go along with these snazzy new GPUs, the happier (and poorer) we’ll be.

[Via RobotSkirts]
Read – Altera demonstrates FPGA at IDF
Read – Xilinx demonstrates FPGA at IDF
from engadget

Cramming Bluetooth, iPod capabilities, or even entirely too many speakers into a boombox are all fair game, but Yamada’s latest rendition manages to include a seven-inch LCD for an all-in-one home threatre for the studio apartment set. Sure, we’ve seen LCDs big and small within sound systems before, but this media-centric conglomerate actually takes the video side of its duties quite seriously; you’ll find support for DVB-T, DivX, DVDs, and MPEG4 movie files, while it even provides for a 5.1 output to cap off the “theater going experience.” Additionally, the system purportedly hooks up to your TV if the built-in screen begins to hurt your retinas, rips your CDs, and also plays nice with MP3s, JPEGs, and FM radio when your video collection runs dry. The system itself reportedly packs 30-watts of RMS power, connects to your PC via USB, and will set you back around €220 ($300).

[Via CNET]
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So you liked Kohjinsha’s sub-$1,000 SA1F00 ultra-ultra portable, eh? But man, if only it packed a touchscreen. We hear ya brother, we hear ya. Check it, Kohjinsha just announced the SA1F00V which not only adds a 100GB disk option (up from 80GB) but also slams in a touch-sensitive 7-inch panel for use with its built-in stylus or your conveniently built-in finger. Other than a slight increase in heft to 990-grams (2.2-pounds) and wee jump in MSRP to Â¥99,800 ($843), the rest of the specs, including the 5-hour battery, remain unchanged. Yeah, same 500MHz Geode LX800 too which is quickly aging next to the latest class of UMPCs, MIDs, and mobile Intel procs. Still, if you want über portability on the cheap then this is about as good as it gets in this price range.

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A year after introducing us to their tiny, one-trick B10 mini DMB television, iriver is finally set to launch their B20 followup. Their latest D-Clicker features up to 4GB of flash memory on-board, a slightly larger 2.4-inch, 320 x 240 260k color display, miniSD expansion, and the ability to record voice and some of that sweet, sweet DMB TV. In addition to the FM radio found on the B10, the B20 also supports media-a-plenty including MP3, WMA, OGG, MPEG-4, WMV9, and JPG files and a battery which should muster up to 26/5/4-hours for MP3/video/DMB playback. Expect the 4GB version to hit Korea first for â‚©248,000 ($267) starting April 25th or â‚©198,000 ($213) if 2GB is enough to see you through.

[Via Akihabara News]
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Oh hey, what’s this? Thin GPS… can it really be? Fine Digital just announced their Finedrive M760 navigator with real-time TPEG traffic alerts for S.Korea. Of course, with a 7-inch, 480 x 234, LED-backlit LCD display, they just couldn’t resist slapping in some DMB television to up the distraction factor. Hell, it even features a little NIP (Navigation In Picture) so you’ll never have to look at the road again. The 25-mm (1-inch) slab also packs an SD card and 800mA battery to take your MPEG-4, DivX, WMV video and MP3, WMA, and WAV audio with you once you arrive. If you arrive, that is. It’ll cost you â‚©440,000 (about $483) for the pleasure starting next month.

[Via AVING]
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Shortly after releasing a 16GB SSD for ExpressCard slots, Transcend is joining SanDisk and TDK (among others) in the cost-effective 32GB arena. The company’s 32GB 2.5-inch IDE solid state disc sports a “tough outer metal case,” anti-shock features, “no moving parts,” and the lower power consumption we’ve come to expect from these guys. The drive clocks in at just 7.4-millimeters thick and even touts built-in ECC (Error Correction Code) functionality that purportedly “ensures highly reliable data transfer and increases your systems energy efficiency.” Unfortunately, the firm hasn’t divulged details just yet around pricing, but we do know that an 8GB (TS8GSSD25) and 16GB (TS16GSSD25) flavor will be sitting alongside the 32GB TS32GSSD25 right about now.

[Via PCLaunches]
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Yamaha has announced an upscaling 1080p receiver for just shy of $1000, with many of the features normally reserved for more expensive models, like microphone-based speaker optimization, HDMI output, and XM and iPod compatibility. The RX-V861 will upconvert HDMI, S-Video, or component, and output via HDMI to your display, while accepting audio formats such as DTS-HD or Dolby TrueHD digitally for output over its 7.1 channels. Four preset buttons on the front of the unit allow for quick switching between audio modes, including the seventeen flavors of DSP processing. The optional iPod dock allows for playback of audio and video through the receiver’s remote, which also controls XM satellite radio subscriptions. The RX-V861 will be available in May for a suggested retail of $999.95.

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