Interpad Marries Tegra 2 To Android 2.1

While it’s known that Android 2.1 isn’t exactly designed for tablets, the hardware coming out is definitely looking impressive. The next to the pad (get it) is a Tegra 2 based device from a German company, Interpad.
Being in the same 10″ range as another famous tablet, it features much more impressive hardware. Dual Core Cortex A9 Tegra 2 giving it unparalleled processing and graphics power, 1 GB of RAM (4 times what the iPad currently has), HDMI output to push all those FullHD movies and games to a much larger screen, and 3900mAH battery for 9-12 hours of battery life.
If you think the hardware is impressive then the price is the icing on the cake. For just over $500USD this baby could be yours when it is released sometime before the end of the year. If Google can get a more tablet friendly OS out the door before Christmas, I can’t imagine why I wouldn’t get one (other then the fact they will probably never leave Germany)?

Via [Lilputing]

Geforce 460 Available, Review Isn’t

It seems that the tech sites haven’t received samples of the budget minded Fermi’s before release. NewEgg, a giant US computer shop, have a dozen different flavors of NVidia Geforce GTX 460 avaiable. There are no review available as yet, but you can expect it to be slightly faster then the ATI of the same price (under $200USD), yet use a crap load more power (its a Fermi thing).

Via [Engadget]

Update – TechRadar have now reviewed the card, and they think it is by far the best in its price range. Good news for gamers on a budget.

StarCraft 2 Might Get 3D

While I am still skeptical if 3D is the future (because it doesn’t really work all that well, and is mainly used to keep new TV sales up) a lot of large companies are taking the technology very seriously. StarCraft 2′s production director Chris Sagaty recently said “We will be releasing 3D in the first few months, for those Nvidia cards and screens that support it.” The game won’t be held up for 3D, but expect a patch a few months after StarCraft 2′s release.
If you wanted to see if there are any long term negative effects of 3D, just wait to see if the population of North Korea go blind.

Via [JoyStiq]

Toshiba First To Market With Smartbook?

Toshiba have announced the AC100 netbook. The device has a 10.1″ screen and runs the NVidia Tegra 250 chipset. This means that it won’t run Windows 7 but it should output HD video (through on board HDMI).
The netbook’s greatest features are the proposed battery life of 8 hours and standby of a week, while keeping the weight at a reasonable 870grams. The price is not yet known, but expect to see it in August.
Now the boring stuff is out of the way, didn’t we decide that ARM based netbooks were smartbooks? If running Android on a 7″ tablet is a bad idea, how does running Android on a 10″ netbook make any more sense?
Toshiba have said there will be an App market but little is know how it will work. I recommend Toshiba bring it out cheap, and throw a Linux distro on it that was designed for netbooks instead of smartphones.

Via [Gizmodo]

GTX 480M King Of Mobile Performance

NVidia announced the Geforce GTX 480M a few months ago, saying it was going to be the fast mobile GPU yet. They were right according to Notebook Check, who believe that it is the new king beating the old king, the ATI 5870, by around 9% in gaming tests.
It is also the first 100w card, so don’t expect untethered MW2. The king is dead, long live the king.

Jump over to Notebook Check for more information then you will probably want.

Apple Mini Gets Unibody Make Over

As well as the iPhone 4 pre-orders going up tonight, Apple has thrown a little surprise with a Unibody Mac Mini. Both Mac Mini’s get an upgrade with a much needed HDMI output and NVidia graphics card update (Geforce 320m), but manages to keep under 10watts when idle. They also have an SD card slot (in the back of all places) and are made out a single piece of aluminium for extra aero dynamics (or for whatever reason).
Prices are still quite expensive with the base model with the slower processor (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz) starting at $US699 and going up to $US999 for the 2.66GHz model. If you are in the market for an Apple branded media centre box you can’t really go past the Mini. That being said, it will be hard to justify when the Boxee media box comes out (at $199).

Via [Gizmodo]

New Touch Screen Vaio J

Sony has been in the touch screen desktop PC for a little while now, but have been on the rather expensive side of things. The Vaio J is planning on changing that with a starting price of around $US900. Sure it is more expensive then some of the Atom based desktops out there, but it will be a hell of a lot faster and better looking.
The specs are great, with a multi touch 21.5 full HD screen, Nvidia graphics of some sort and a Intel i7 at its heart.
Expect to see it next month, and hopefully priced accordingly.

Via [Gizmodo]

NVidia GTX 480 Vs ATI 5870

If I was a betting man, I would have put all my cash on the GTX 480. Luckily I’m not a betting man.
NVidia have published an official video of its GTX 480 against ATI’s own heavy weight 5870. While the are results pretty even, it is a little disappointing the NVidia (which hasn’t been released as yet) didn’t bring home the punishment. Maybe with some real gaming benchmarks and some pricing we may get a better idea of NVidia’s plan is.

Check Engadget for the full video

Nvidia 196.75 Could Mean Fiery Death

NVidia have recently pulled their 196.75 driver due to suspected issues. Apparently the driver is causing the GPU fan to work incorrectly therefore causing over heats.
If you are unfortunately enough to have already installed the driver roll back. If it is to late i’ve heard ATI’s graphics cards are pretty good these days.

Via [Engadget]

NVidia To Gobble Up VIA?

AMD bought ATI and that seems to be going (not) well for them. Doesn’t it make sense that NVidia would make the same move for that other company that makes processors (it isn’t Intel)? It could be so with rumours growing momentum.
It makes good business for NVidia to make the same move their competitors are making. Companies like 3DFX missed the bandwagon when they didn’t implement the right technologies at the right time (onboard 2D render). With the world going CPUGPU, it makes sense that NVidia would be looking to do the same thing.
Imagine an UMPC with a low power VIA processor and with incredible graphics processing of a NVidia chip. If they could keep the price down, they could make some invincible portable and micro hybrid technologies.

For more info, spy over at Engadget.