Nvidia to buy PortalPlayer

Nvidia has announced that it is to pay $357 million to acquire PortalPlayer, a manufacturer of processors, firmware and software for portable devices. PortalPlayer was founded in 1999 and is credited with pioneering technologies such as system-on-chip (SoC) that enabled the current generation of high-performance handhelds, including iPods, many of which also make use of graphics technology from Nvidia. Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO of Nvidia said that modern mobile devices are miniaturised yet powerful multimedia computers based on the integration of technologies. ...more

Google makes plea for new PSU standard

Google is urging computer manufacturers to adopt a single 12 Volt power supply for new PCs. According to the New York Times, two Google engineers are due to present a paper to the Intel Developers Forum, currently taking place in San Francisco, arguing that adherence to an obsolete industry standard is wasting huge amounts of electricity and billions of dollars in energy bills. For historical reasons dating back to the original IBM PC, the power supplies fitted with today's desktop computers are multivoltage units designed to power a number of devices at once. ...more

Consumer electronics set to enjoy 11 per cent growth in 2005

Global shipments of consumer electronics products are expected to grow 11 per cent on-year in 2005 from about $113.5 billion recorded in 2004, thanks to brisk sales of digital TVs and portable MP3 players, said the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), organizer of the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which was held in Las Vegas from January 6-9. In the US alone, shipments of MP3 players are likely to hit 10 million units, worth about $1. ...more

Wippit chews through 2.4m more songs

Agreements with The Orchard, IODA, VUT, Digital Rights Agency and CD Baby encompass music from independent artists including all Out Boy, Bebel Gilberto, Seu Jorge and Master P to multimillion sellers such as Green Day, Coldplay, Ray Charles, Snoop Dogg and Ludacris. Wippit offers both MP3 files from independent labels and DRM-protected WMA files for artists signed to majors, with its users currently purchasing four MP3s format to one WMA. 'Wippit has a solid reputation as a destination for independent music even if we do offer a full range of content and the public perception of Wippit as the online "indie store" is certain to be reinforced with the addition of this content,' said Paul Myers Wippit's founder and CEO. ...more

Into the frying pan

There are some great gadgets around and some not-so great gadgets - but the jury is still out on the digital frying pan. Wireless Alarm Products has taken the somewhat ridiculous steps of announcing a digital frying pan on its Web site. Don't expect this little beauty to cook your breakfast for you and then automatically pop itself into the dishwasher. ...more