Lucid's Hydra to revolutionize PC graphic upgrades

LucidLogix Technologies seeks to make your video card's processing more efficient. The Israel-based company claims its new Hydra technology will direct graphic-processing traffic between multiple GPUs, using several "intelligent parallelization algorithms". This is a system-on-a-chip solution that will be embedded into video cards and motherboards. LucidLogix claims this will result in the following:

1. "Cost-effective graphic performance with a near-linear to above-linear performance."
2. "Eliminate bottlenecks that exist in typical 3D graphic applications."
3. "Provide interoperability with all GPUs and chipsets."
4. "Work with the latest versions of DirectX and OpenGL."

The key things that stand out to me are the "above-linear performance" claim and the "all GPUs and chipsets" detail. The current video card in my PC is the ATI Radeon X1950. So, supposedly with Hydra, I'll be able to add an Nvidia GeForce 8800 card to get better performance than the two cards are normally capable of. Whether or not the technology will actually work remains to be seen. LucidLogix claims this will improve the performance of any 3D application dynamically without developers having to write specific code. The trick here will be getting all of this to work seamlessly. I hope they can pull it off, as I'm in need of a "cheap" upgrade and I don't want to deal with any headaches. Hydra is set to be available starting in the first half of 2009.

Via CNET Crave

Logitech updates its PlayGear Pocket

Logitech has updated its line of PlayGear Pocket game cases for the current generation of Sony and Nintendo portable gaming rigs. The PlayGear Pocket Slim is a version of the original PlayGear Pocket that has been slightly downsized to more snugly accommodate the current, skinnier version of the Sony PSP.

The company is also debuting the PlayGear Pocket for the Nintendo DS Lite as well. The similarly styled hard case also includes space for up to four DS cartridges.

Both cases will be available immediately--the PlayGear Pocket Slim will cost US$15 and the PlayGear Pocket DS will cost US$20.

Via CNET Crave

Advice on the iPod touch and iTunes 7.7--Ask the Editors

After Friday's iPhone delirium, I'm going to take the helm of the iMania and steer it in a slightly different direction: Toward the iPod touch and the latest release of iTunes, Version 7.7. Namely, let's address whether there's a noticeable difference in screen and sound quality when it comes to the touch, other iPod models, and the iPhone. Also, should someone who has been using the same version of iTunes for five years upgrade to the latest software?

Q: I am thinking of buying an iPod touch but have a couple questions. First, I heard about the screen quality being lesser than the iPhone. Is this true and is it real noticeable? I mean if it still looks good compared to other MP3 screens then I guess I don't care. Also, I was using a Zune until now and I really liked having the subscription music. I heard something about Apple trying to get a subscription going--is there any new news about this? Finally I also have seen from reviews that the quality of the music is not as good as previous iPods were. Is this true and would it be noticeable to someone who will more then likely just use the earphones that come with the iPod touch or maybe slightly more expensive ones?--viper134, via CNET forums
Read more »

Samsung announces the U4 MP3 player

They just keep churning them out. Like Sony with the B-series, Samsung has also announced its new line of flash drive-like MP3 players, the U4. This model has a tiny OLED screen and comes in 2GB and 4GB varieties. The front surface of the U4 looks completely flush, which is possible thanks to the touch-sensitive buttons. Of course, the main draw of such players is the price, and the U4 is quite a steal at S$89 and S$129 for the 2GB and 4GB versions, respectively. The U4 will be available from August 7 throughout Asia Pacific, which coincides with the start of the World Cyber Games Asian Championships in Singapore.

Shiro's super-slim PMP measures just 7.2mm

While Shiro is not a brand you'd normally associate with MP3 players, or in this case portable media players, the company's latest MD offering actually caught our attention with its thin form factor and affordable price.

Measuring just 7.2mm, the Shiro MD is just slightly thicker than the Apple iPod nano (6.5mm) and weighs a featherweight 40g. We'd have preferred a better display than the 1.8-inch 128 x 160-pixel CSTN screen. But the MD does pack quite a fair bit of functions, from the standard music/video/image playback to .txt file viewing, FM radio and voice recording. As with most players in the market today, it also doubles as a USB flash drive. In fact, according to the company, the drivers and installation software are stored in the player, conveniently doing away with the need for a CD-ROM.

What will appeal to those on a tight budget is the price. With a 4GB onboard storage capacity, the Shiro MD retails for just S$109 (US$80.15) in Singapore. It was earlier showcased at the local PC Show in June and started selling in stores only recently. The Shiro MD is expected to be available soon in Malaysia as well as possibly other selected Asian markets such as Indonesia and Thailand. The player comes in white, black and pink, but only the black version will be offered in Singapore.

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