Forty Years Of Intel: Interactive Timeline [Intel]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/339545575/forty-years-of-intel-interactive-timeline

This week marks the 40th anniversary of Intel, the people who likely made the CPU in your computer. To mark the occasion, the people at PC Magazine have put together a pretty comprehensive timeline showing every major generation of Intel processor from the first one to the current Core 2 Quad and Atom series processors. We've all used them at some point in our lives, and I remember my first Intel processor was a Pentium II running at a blazing 233MHz. I loved that laptop. What was your first Intel processor? Or which was your favorite? [PC Mag]

NVIDIA's GeForce 9700M / 9800M laptop GPUs get quasi-official

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/339050551/

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

So it seems that NVIDIA has been sneaking its 9700M / 9800M GPUs into potent gaming laptops for a little while now, but we're finally getting some official-ish verbiage on the new-ish families. The GeForce 9700M GT, 9700M GTS, 9800M GT, 9800M GTS and 9800M GTX should all be available as we speak in some of your favorite portable LAN machines, with the latter capable of a mind-melting 420 gigaflops. For more on the graphical powerhouse that could be sitting within your machine right now, check the read link.

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XIM2 brings your keyboard and mouse to the Xbox 360. But you still suck at Halo.

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/339086214/

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Oh man, remember that one time we tried to balance the teams in your favor, so there were like eight guys on your side, and just two of us? And then we still kicked your ass at CTF? Yeah, well XIM is gonna get you nowhere. Sure, the newly refined mod can hijack the Xbox 360 controller input and allow you to use just about any USB input device with the console -- for instance, a keybord and mouse -- but we're still gonna shoot you in the face while you're trying to remember where that shotgun spawns, steal your flag right out from under you, and then snipe your base's spawn points. Get used to it. Simulated video of us owning you is after the break.

[Via Xbox-Scene]

Continue reading XIM2 brings your keyboard and mouse to the Xbox 360. But you still suck at Halo.

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AMD says it'll detail its Atom-challenging plans in November

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/339253974/

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

AMD has been hinting at its plans to take on Intel's processor du jour, the Atom, for some time now, but brand new CEO Dirk Meyer is now getting slightly more official about it than the company has been previously, and he's promising that AMD will reveal all come November. As the folks at Register Hardware point out, all indications point to that Atom-challenging processor being the "Bobcat," which has been talked about for nearly a full year now. If that past information is correct, it looks like we can expect the chip to debut with a 1GHz clock speed, along with 128KB of L1 cache, 256KB of L2 cache an 800MHz HyperTransport link, support for 400MHz DDR 2 RAM, and a power consumption 8W. No word on how AMD plans to compete with Intel in terms of price just yet, but that'll no doubt be revealed in November, if not sooner.

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GM designing car windshield that does the looking for us

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/339357337/

Filed under: Transportation

Apparently not everyone at General Motors is toiling away in an attempt to get the Volt ready for its 2010 debut, as another sector of the outfit's R&D division is busy creating a windshield that will, at its core, enable us to stop running stuff over. The futuristic glass would utilize lasers, sensors and cameras in order to help drivers see the road's edge better, recognize obstructions and enhance things ahead of us so we'll theoretically react faster. Truth be told, the device is being designed with older drivers in mind, though we don't see why younger motorists won't benefit all the same. Unfortunately, it sounds as if you'll have to keep those toothpicks in your eyelids for a few more years, but at least we're one step closer to full-on autopilot.

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Five Best File Syncing Tools [Hive Five]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/338189146/five-best-file-syncing-tools

If you work and play on multiple computers in the course of a week, keeping your important files in sync can be difficult. The day may come when you've got access to all of your files and data straight from the cloud, but until that day, a solid file syncing application is just what the doctor ordered. On Tuesday you shared your favorite file syncing tools, and now we're back with the five most popular answers. Read on for a closer look at the five best file syncing tools, then cast your vote for the app you like best.

Dropbox (Windows/Mac)

Dropbox is a free, cross-platform syncing app that boasts quick, instantaneous syncs and file versioning through your desktop and their web-based interface. Currently Dropbox is in a private beta (we handed out invites a few weeks ago), during which the application is free and offers 2GB of storage space. Once Dropbox leaves beta, premium accounts will be available if you need more space than the free 2GB default. Currently Dropbox's biggest drawback is that you can't define sync folders, so you have to move everything you want to sync to the main Dropbox folder. Read more about Dropbox>>

Syncplicity (Windows)

Syncplicity is a free and premium, Windows-only tool for seamless, instantaneous file syncs. Like Dropbox, Syncplicity offers 2GB of free space and helpful icons to help keep track of the sync status of your files. Unlike Dropbox, Syncplicity can add any folder to your Syncplicity syncs, it has more advanced sharing features, and it already has pricing in place for premium accounts if you need more than 2GB (40GB for $10 per month or $100 per year). It's also available now, so if you've been waiting on a Dropbox invite, you might want to skip it and head over to Syncplicity. The biggest drawback to Syncplicity right now is its lack of a Mac client, but one is in the works and slated for September.

Windows Live FolderShare (Windows/Mac)

Windows Live FolderShare offers 2GB of free file sync between the FolderShare web site and Mac and Windows computers. Unfortunately the Mac version is ancient and reportedly has bugs with case-sensitive volumes, but either way it's a strong utility for both Windows and Mac syncing. In fact, it's what I used to sync Firefox extensions across Mac and Windows computers. Read more about setting up and using FolderShare>>

SyncToy 2.0 (Windows)

SyncToy 2.0 is the go-to application for many a Windows user looking to keep files in sync locally&md! ash;eith er over your home network or with a USB thumb drive. The new SyncToy boasts several impressive features, most notably a smart drive letter detection that recognizes your thumb drive even if it's assigned a different letter each time. What's more, SyncToy is the tool I use to sync my iTunes library between PCs. SyncToy is freeware, Windows only. Read more about setting up and using SyncToy>>

SyncBack (Windows)

The only cross-over from our Hive Five Windows Backup Tools, both the freeware and shareware versions of SyncBack offer options for synchronizing files between computers on a local network. Like many of the others, this backup favorite is Windows only, but it's more than up for the task if you need to copy and synchronize files between computers. Read more about setting up SyncBack for automated backups>>

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Now that you've seen the best, it's votin' time.

Which Is the Best File Syncing Tool?
( surveys)

Big ups to this week's honorable mentions: Microsoft's hyped Live Mesh and the venerable command line classic, rsync. Did your favorite make the list? Let's hear more about it in the comments.

Urbanspoon Picks a Restaurant for You [Featured IPhone Download]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/338440333/urbanspoon-picks-a-restaurant-for-you

iPhone/iPod touch only: Free application Urbanspoon finds you a place to eat nearby at the shake of your iPhone or iPod touch. Aptly described as part Magic 8 Ball and part slot machine, Urbanspoon uses your location-aware iPhone to find where you are, then circumvents your indecisive tendencies by picking a restaurant for you each time you shake the device. The video demo above gives you a good idea of how it works, but it's got even more polish (and cooler sound effects)—including the ability to lock any of the three categories in case you want to stick to a neighborhood, type of food, or price range. Urbanspoon is freeware, works with iPhones and iPod touches running 2.0 software. If you don't have an iPhone but are equally indecisive, check out previously mentioned Wheel of Food. Thanks wqwert!

Urbanspoon [iTunes Store via Urbanspoon Blog]

Nikon D90 Coming in Early September? Or is it the D3X? Or BOTH?? []

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/338311423/nikon-d90-coming-in-early-september-or-is-it-the-d3x-or-both

Nikon has been sending out press invites for an event on September 3rd. What could they possibly want to talk about just a few weeks before Germany's Photokina expo? It could be Nikon's sequel to their D80, the D90. Or, it could be the 24.4-megapixel D3x that was spotted in Nikon firmware. Or, in a slight breach of etiquette, Nikon could skip the D90 and just release the D100, making the entire photography world crap itself. Because that would be a photo op. [Nikon Rumors via electronista]