Quad-core chips for the holidays

Just as we have finished reeling from the onslaught of dual-core chips, Intel throws a double whammy by forming a quartet with its processing cores.

Intel's Xeon 5335 is a quad-core package that merges two 2.0GHz Xeon 5100 processors (codenamed Woodcrest) on a single chip. Each core pair has individual 4MB memory cache, and runs at 1,333MHz front-side bus speeds. This move puts the chipmaker ahead of its rival, AMD, in the quad-core server space, with the latter's quad-core "Barcelona" chip due only next year.

Bibliochaise

The Italians are stylemeisters without peers, and this one's modest to boot, too (not!), given the company's irreverent label nobody&co. Its Bibliochaise is again, with impish irreverence, an armchair library. Though less chaise (a long chair for reclining) than the name implies, it's aptly named since biblio refers to book. If you're the sort who likes to get totally immersed in reading, the Bibliochaise does that literally, holding up to five linear meters of tomes... and one book lover. So, ok, we can almost hear the significant other screaming that it's a dust collector which'll take ages to wipe down. But think of the guests who'll be utterly impressed with your taste, thereby swelling your ego. All that's missing is a Bibliostool to prop your feet up on for the ultimate reading comfort. By then, your other half would have long since given up yelling.

Get upclose

Via Popgadget

Price: Pricing to contact the designers
Availability: At nobodyandco
Device: Book chair
Specs: 102 x85 x 73.5cm, six possible colors, customization can be accommodated

Fabric keyboard goes wireless

Mobile accessories maker Just Mobile recently told CNET Asia it will be introducing its RoKy² Bluetooth-enabled fabric keyboard in Asia. Powered by two AAA-sized batteries, the RoKy² is water repellent and comes with a stand for mobile phones and PDAs. According to the specifications, the RoKy² is compatible with most of the current handheld operating systems such as Palm, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Mobile.

Like most fabric keyboards, it can be rolled up into a handy size (128 x 48 x 32mm; 68g) and stored in a cloth sack (bundled) for easy transportation. while the company didn't offer any launch dates for the RoKy², it expects the Bluetooth keyboard to be available very soon in South East Asia. It comes in only one color (as shown) and will retail for US$124.99.

Click here (1,2) for larger images.

Motorola's RIZR Z3 debuts in Singapore

Singapore mobile users can finally get their hands on Motorola's latest slider phone, the RIZR Z3. Often seen as the slider version of the KRZR K1, the RIZR is expected to be available immediately at S$528 (US$388.24) without contract and S$428 (US$314.71) with a two-year mobile plan.

It's been a while since Motorola launched a slider phone and the RIZR will certainly make a refreshing addition to the company's stable of clamshell and candy-bar phones. The RIZR was first announced at the 2006 Analyst Meeting held in Chicago in July. It is equipped with a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth support, microSD card expansion slot and, an onboard music and video player.

Samsung and M1 to conduct HSDPA consumer trials

The Korean mobile phone maker has announced that it will partner local cellular operator M1 to conduct the first consumer High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) trials in Singapore. 200 selected M1 users will be given the Samsung SGH-Z560 and M1 SIM card for a one-month trial period (starting December 19) where they can access and download exclusive mobile content, in addition to experiencing the high-speed network on the handset.

M1's HSDPA service, which was launched on Dec 6, is the first available commercially in Singapore. According to an M1 spokesperson, those with a 3G SIM card can subscribe to HSDPA without having to change SIM cards as the service can be activated remotely. However, if you are using a non-3G SIM card, you will have to upgrade to a new SIM card to enable the service.

The SGH-Z560, also launched last week, is Samsung's first HSDPA handset. It was first announced at 3GSM 2006 earlier this year and sports a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth compatibility, document viewer and external touch-sensor music buttons. Read our quick take on the SGH-Z560 here.

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