Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Android mini PC review

Zealz GK802

gk802

These days, you can get all the power of a smartphone or tablet on an Android Mini PC, a device the size of a USB flash drive that connects directly to your TV or monitor via HDMI. In the past year, we've seen so-called Android sticks grow from the relatively slow, single-Core Android 4 Mini PC MK802 to the speedy, dual-core RK3066. Now, the product category is taking another step forward with Zealz GK802, the first quad-core Android mini PC. With its snappy CPU and sleek design, the GK802 delivers a solid Android experience, but suffers from some incompatibilities and requires a lot of tinkering.

20 years Linux

29/7/2013

20 great years of Linux and supercomputers

Summary: Today, Linux rules supercomputing. It wasn't always that way. Here's how Linux moved from being Linus Torvald's hobby operating system to being the OS of choice for high-performance computing.

By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols for Linux and Open Source

In the latest Top500 supercomputer rankings, 476 of the top 500 fastest supercomputers, 95.2 percent, in the world run Linux. Linux has ruled supercomputing for years. But, it wasn't always that way.
When the first Top500 supercomputer list was compiled in June 1993, Linux was just gathering steam. Indeed, in 1993, the first successful Linux distributions, Slackware and Debian were only just getting off the ground.
What happened next, as reported in The Linux Foundation's forthcoming report, 20 years of Top500.org Supercomputer Data Links Linux With Advances in Computing Performance, was that "after first appearing on the list in 1998, Linux has consistently dominated the top 10 over the past decade and has comprised more than 90 percent of the list since June 2010."
Before Linux made its move, Unix was supercomputing's dominant operating system. Since 2003, the top operating system by performance share on the Top500 List underwent a complete flip from 96 percent Unix to 96 percent Linux. By 2004, Linux had taken over the lead for good.
According to The Linux Foundation, "Linux [became] the driving force behind the breakthroughs in computing power that have fueled research and technological innovation. In other words, Linux is dominant in supercomputing, at least in part, because it is what is helping researchers push the limits on computing power."
The Foundation believes that this has happened because of two reasons. First, since most of the world’s top supercomputers are superscalar research machines built for specialized tasks, each supercomputer is a standalone project with unique characteristics and optimization requirements. Thus, it's not affordable for anyone to develop a custom operating system for each system. With Linux, however, research teams can easily modify and optimize Linux to the one-off, groundbreaking designs that characterize the modern generation of supercomputers.
And, just as importantly, "The licensing cost of a custom, self-supported Linux distribution is the same, whether you’re using 20 nodes or 20-million nodes." Thus, "by tapping into the vast open-source Linux community, projects had access to free support and developer resources to help keep developer costs on par with, or below other operating systems."
The result of this has been supercomputers that are going faster than ever. By total RMax, a supercomputer's maximum achieved performance on the Linpack benchmark, supercomputer performance has outpaced Moore’s Law (The number of transistors incorporated in a chip will approximately double every 24 months.) by doubling roughly every 14 months. At the top end, supercomputing is progressing at even more rapid rate. The RMax of the fastest supercomputer on the Top500 list has increased by a factor of three to reach the Tianhe-2’s 33.86 petaflop/second in 2013 from the CM-5’s 59.7 gigaflop/s in 1993."
Therefore, The Linux Foundation concluded, "By isolating RMax by operating system using the past 20 years of Top500 data, it’s clear that Linux is not only responsible for supporting the majority of supercomputers today, but is a driving force behind the disproportionate growth in supercomputing capacity over the past decade. In continuing to drive progress and innovation in computing, Linux is also helping to explore the mysteries of the universe and solve our toughest problems."
I can only agree with these conclusions.
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HTC Butterfly s

Key Features
- HTC BlinkFeed™. Stream customized data feeds directly to your home screen.
- HTC BoomSound™. Dual front-facing stereo speakers project sound at you for more volume and quality.
- HTC Zoe™ & Video Highlights. Cluster 20 photos together for high-def motion pics, and automatically create 30-second mini movies to bring your photo gallery to life.

Data Streams in a Blink.
HTC BlinkFeed™
Keep up on everything from breaking news, sports, social network posts and more. HTC BlinkFeed™ streams live content from over 1,400 content partners that provide more than 10,000 news feeds per day. Customize your very own HTC BlinkFeed™ and stay connected in the blink of an eye.

Amplify Everything.
HTC BoomSound™
Dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amps blast sound and music at you – not away – for premium audio that’s loud, rich, and sharp. Beats Audio™ combines software and hardware for a signature level of unmatched quality.

Memories that Move.
HTC Zoe™ with Video Highlights
It’s not a photo, it’s not a video, it’s a HTC Zoe™ – a camera setting that automatically clusters 20 photos to create HD images that move. Plus, HTC Zoe™ enables Video Highlights – a setting that automatically creates 30-second mini movies with music themes you select, and one-press sharing allows you to send it all with a simple screentap.

Less Down Time, More Durability.
Longer-Lasting Battery
Our most powerful battery features 3200mAh for long-lasting stamina that keeps you listening to your favorite music, taking impressive photos, watching HD videos, and reading the latest posts. You’ll spend less time charging and more time using this incredible multi-tasking machine.

Redefining High Definition.
Super LCD 3 Display
5” HD home screen features 440ppi resolution that displays vibrant colors, stunning details, and eye-popping clarity from just about any angle. Full optical lamination presents crisp images even in bright sunlight, and scratch-resistant glass provides additional durability.

Specifications

Size:144.5 x 70.5 x 10.6mm
Weight:160g
Display:5.0 inch Full HD 1080p, 440PPI, Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass 3

CPU speed

Qualcomm^® Snapdragon™ 600, quad-core, 1.9GHz

Platform Android

Android™ with HTC Sense™
HTC BlinkFeed™

SIM card type

micro SIM

Memory¹

Total storage : 16GB, available capacity varies¹
RAM : 2GB
Expansion card slot supports microSD™ memory card for up to 64GB additional storage (card not included)

Network²

2G/ 2.5G - GSM/GPRS/EDGE:

850/900/1800/1900 MHz

3G/ 3.5G - UMTS/ HSPA:

850/900/1900/2100 MHz with HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps

GPS

GPS/AGPS + GLONASS
Digital compass

Sensors

Gyro sensor
Accelerometer
Proximity sensor
Ambient light sensor

Connectivity

3.5 mm stereo audio jack
NFC
Compliant with Bluetooth^® 4.0
Bluetooth^® 4.0 with aptX™ enabled
Wi-Fi^®: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
DLNA^® for wirelessly streaming media from the phone to a compatible TV or computer
Support consumer infrared remote control
micro-USB 2.0 (5-pin) port with mobile high-definition video link (MHL) for USB or HDMI connection (Special cable required for HDMI connection.)

Sound enhancement

HTC BoomSound™

Dual frontal stereo speakers with built-in amplifiers
Studio-quality sound with Beats Audio™
Sense Voice

Camera

HTC UltraPixel Camera
BSI sensor, Pixel size 2.0 µm, Sensor size 1/3"
Dedicated HTC ImageChip 2
F2.0 aperture and 28 mm lens
Smart Flash: Five levels of flash automatically set by distance to subject
Front Camera: 2.1 MP, wide angle lens with HDR capability
1080p Full HD video recording with HDR Video
HTC Zoe™ with Sequence Shot, Always Smile and Object Removal
Gallery with Video Highlights and HTC Share
Continuous shooting and VideoPic
Slow motion video recording with variable speed playback

Multimedia

Audio supported formats:

Playback: .aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, .wma (Windows Media Audio 9)
Recording: .amr

Video supported formats:

Playback: .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv (Windows Media Video 9), .avi (MP4 ASP and MP3)
Recording: .mp4

Battery³

Embedded rechargeable Li-polymer battery
Capacity : 3200 mAh

Talk time :

Up to 25 hours for 3G

Standby time :

Up to 659 hours for 3G

AC Adapter

Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
DC output: 5 V and 1 A

text and pictures by HTC

for more information visit http://www.htc.com/www/smartphones/htc-butterfly-s/#overview

HTC Desire 500

Key Features
- Up-to-the-minute in a glance. Live streaming home screen with instant refreshes to keep you informed.
- Multi-shot burst mode camera. Rapid fire shutter speed captures images faster.
- 30-second mini movie. Automatically compile the highlights of an event and choose the music theme you want.

Data Streams in a Blink
HTC BlinkFeed™
Keep up on everything from breaking news, sports, social network posts and more. HTC BlinkFeed™ updates fresh content from over 1,400 content partners that provide more than 10,000 news feeds per day. Customize your very own HTC BlinkFeed™ and stay connected in the blink of an eye.

Multi-Shot Burst Mode Catches Everything
Rapid Shutter Camera
Capture more images and miss less moments with multi-shot burst mode camera. VideoPic setting allows you to get both videos and pictures at the same time. HTC ImageChip provides great shots even with movement and poor lighting conditions.

Memories that Move
Automatic Video Highlights
Automatically select the highlights of an event and create a 30-second show, no additional software or editing skills required. Choose the music theme and image sequence you want. Then release your life movie for everyone to enjoy with easy sharing feature.

Double the Convenience
Dual SIM Holders*
Dual SIM holders increase coverage, use and convenience. Multiple services with one phone enable both business and personal uses from the same device with additional privacy.

*Dual sim devices in select areas only. See your local carrier for availability.

Blazing Performance Speed
Quad-Core Processor
Enjoy blazing fast browsing speeds, lifelike visual displays and gaming graphics, and amazing multi-tasking performance to stay ahead.