Future system-on-a-chip unveiled

Intel has revealed details of its upcoming complete SOC (system-on-a-chip), which it hinted at when revealing details of the Nehalem generation of processors last month. The codename is Tolapai, and a single physical chip will be integrated with a high-performance processor (possibly based on Nehalem next-but-one generation technology), memory controller, graphics chipset and a specific hardware acceleration unit known as an Intel Quick Assist unit. This can be used for specific acceleration of tasks like encryption and network packet processing, freeing up the main CPU for more general tasks. ...more

Cisco to debut new router family

Internet hardware giant Cisco Systems is said to be preparing to launch a new family of routers that can manage both voice and data applications. Consisting of seven new devices and two software applications, the Integrated Services Router will target a broad range of businesses from Cisco's traditional markets down to smaller and medium sized businesses. Cisco says that it will be launching three families of the ISR; the 3080 series for enterprises the 2800 series for medium sized companies and the 1800 series for small businesses. ...more

UK's major Internet exchange cuts prices

The UK's major Internet exchange is cutting the prices that it charges ISPs, which could lead to further reductions in broadband pricing. The London Internet Exchange (LINX) links the networks of some 180 ISPs and other organisations to each other and is reducing the cost of connecting to the 1Gbit and 10Gbit Ethernet ports on its switches by 15 per cent. 'LINX's lower pricing comes at a time when many ISPs are seeking to attract new customers through lower prices for broadband services,' said Vanessa Evans, LINX's sales and marketing manager. ...more

Microsoft Word 2003

For a full review of all the components of the Office System see the 20-page special in this month's PC Pro (already with subscribers and on the newsstand from Thursday 23 October) Word, the most heavily used application in the Office suite, has had only a moderate makeover for this 2003 version. The cosmetic enhancements to menus and toolbars improve the overall aesthetic appeal and there are some usability improvements, but the main changes are the XML support, Smart Documents and IRM (Information Rights Management), which will only appeal to corporate IT departments. Word files can now be saved as XML, with all the formatting marked up using the WordML Schema. ...more

Philips announces variable lens technology

Philips has announced a new display technology developed in its Research division: a variable-focus lens system that has no mechanical moving parts. Furthermore, the company claims that the technology lends itself to high volume manufacturing, which puts lower-cost imaging systems within sight. Dubbed 'FluidFocus', the system mimics the action of the human eye in that a fluid lens alters its focal length by changing its shape. ...more