YourITronics

    This news got my attention because I am a fan of flash memory and I’ve been waiting for some time a big capacity flash memory that can replace the Hard Drive from a computer. I don’t know if this memory could replace a Hard Drive but is definitely a big step forward. Samsung announced an advanced process to pack the maximum of 16 of the multi level cells just 30 nanometers. That means they are able to deliver 64 gigabits of flash memory onto one chip.

    The process was called self-aligned double patterning technology (SaDPT). By using the process described above, Samsung can produce 128 GB NAND memory card. Consequently, the price for memory cards will drop, which is a good thing for the consumers. Also, the high storage cards could replace the traditional hard disks being more efficient. But we have to wait till the technology will be released, maybe in 2009.

    Using this technology your next laptop could have a continuous power battery that lasts for 30 years without a single recharge thanks to work being funded by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. The breakthrough betavoltaic power cells are constructed from semiconductors and use radioisotopes as the energy source. As the radioactive material decays it emits beta particles that transform into electric power capable of fueling an electrical device like a laptop for years. Although hearing the expression “betavoltaic batteries” you may think at nuclear energy they are not based on nuclear energy. They neither use fission/fusion or chemical processes to produce energy and so they do not produce any radioactive or hazardous waste.

You can read full article here Link

     A former Cisco Systems engineer is behind all these. He was thinking what good are digital cameras if many of the pictures they take remain forgotten on their memory cards because of complicated ways to upload them to computers. Convinced that users would pay for an easier way to upload their pictures, Koren left Cisco, assembled a team and founded Mountain View, California

The company raised $5.5 million from Silicon Valley firms Shasta Ventures and Opus Capital and the result is an orange 2-gigabyte memory card embedded with a Wi-Fi chip that allows cameras to automatically and wirelessly upload digital pictures. Priced at $99.99 the wifi memory card is already available on stores like Amazon and Wal-Mart.

Here is a few words about how Eye-Fi works: Camera owners set up their Eye-Fi account online and choose where they’d like to upload photos online and on their desktops. Photos can be sent to 17 photo-sharing and blogging sites, including iPhoto, Flickr, Shutterfly and TypePad. They then pop the Eye-Fi card into their camera’s memory card slot and snap away. A Wi-Fi chip (made by Santa Clara, Calif.-based Atheros) then communicates with their home network and automatically uploads photos to their computer and the Web. This is pretty simple.

As you may know this isn’t the only wifi camera technology available… there are other cameras available with integrated wi-fi technology but their price make’s them unaccessible to ordinary people. The coolness of Eye-Fi’s WiFi memory card aside, some analysts say the company’s real value derives from the software it’s developed to automatically send photos to multiple websites and locations on a computer. While uploading photos via WiFi can take longer than using your USB cable, it’s the simplicity that makes Eye-Fi more attractive to people.

This is a full project only for advanced users in electronics. The author provides you with all the details and schematics that you need to build this project. Its pretty cool to, to build your own robot with onboard camera and it has multiple aplication, especially spy applications.

Here is the camera module:

And here is the list of specifications:

• 500MHz Analog Devices Blackfin BF537 Processor (1000 integer MIPS)
• 32MB SDRAM, 4MB SPI Flash
• JTAG (tested with section5 ICEbear USB-JTAG)
• SPI Flash and UART boot mode select
• External I/O Header (32-pin - 16 x 2 x 0.1″)
• Omnivision OV9655 1.3 Megapixel Sensor
• Radio Module
• Motor Control Module

Visit project’s page Link to read detailed specifications and download all the schematics and files that you need to build the robot.

Small computers are always liked by people. The reasons are obvious they are ergonomic, environmental friendly since they only suck up about 4-6w(considering the number of PCs that are left on continuously that could add up to a big environmental - and cost - saving), silently, they have fanless designs and lets not forget cool. The first reason I can come up for buying a small computer its because it is cool, after the cool part I can think at the other advantages.

Lets start by saying a few words about Linutop a small computer that runs from a USB key. Without internal hard drive, linutop is more robust. It offers a completely silent, low-power operation in an extremely small package. It comes with optimized software to access the Web and Digital Contents (Text, Photos, Music & Videos). Its low energy consumption its very low compared to a normal desktop computer, linutop only uses 5W of energy. A pack of Linutop + USB Key 1 GB Linutop

Is priced at $400. Click the Link to visit Linutop’s web page for full specs and ordering. Next lets talk NorhTec’s MicroClient Jr., an 11.5 x 11.5 x 3.5cm box based on SiS’ 200MHz SiS550 x86-compatible system-on-a-chip part. Like Linutop, the MicroClient Jr has no hard drive, but there’s a CompactFlash slot located on the front or a card containing the user’s preferred operating system - NorhTec will pre-install Linux if you like.

The unit has 128MB of on-board memory, plus a trio of USB ports - two on the front, one on the back - along with a PS/2 keyboard port, two serial connectors, 100Mbps Ethernet and a VGA port. MicroClient Jr. prices start from 120$ and go up according to your preferences. Click the Link for full specs and details.

Next on our list is Sumo ST166. Like Linutop, Sumo Technologies bases its ST166 box on an AMD Geode CPU, either a GX533 or an LX800. The 14 x 13 x 3.2cm unit crams in at least 128MB of memory and 64MB to 4GB of Flash storage. There are four USB ports and 100Mbps Ethernet, audio I/O connectors, and a VGA port. The Sumo’s average power consumption of 4.4 Watts makes it outstanding in its field.

Particularly suited for healthcare and industrial applications, the SUMO ST166 has zero ventilation requirements and is presented in a robust, sealed aluminum case. It has Support for Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Windows XP Embedded, Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 and Linux operating systems. So its up to you what OS you will use with Sumo. Click the Link to visit Sumo’s web site.

The last small computer we will be reviewing in this article is ThinLinx. ThinLinx offers a more colorful option: the Hot-e. It’s offered in a couple of configurations both based on an AT91RM9200 SoC, itself derived from a MIPS ARM-compatible CPU, and available in lime, platinum or pink color schemes.

Again, an array of USB and serial ports are included, along with Ethernet for networking. And for power - one model, the HL100, supports Power Over Ethernet. ThinLinx also equips the boxes with CompactFlash and SD/MMC slots. The Debian ARM file system is pre-installed with the 2.6.12 Linux kernel. For full specifications click the Link.