New Wacom Cintiq 21UX with better pen performance
[permalink] 04.03.2010

Wacom introduced Cintiq 21UX, its newly-redesigned interactive pen display delivering state-of-the-art pen performance and innovative ergonomics in a color-accurate LCD display. Designed specifically to meet the demanding needs of professional photographers, designers, artists and animators, the new Cintiq 21UX comes with new pen performance, offering 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity; rear-mounted Touch Strips that are ideally placed for fingertip access while working; all-black color scheme; customizable, application-specific ExpressKeys; and a patented stand that allows to recline the pen display at any angle between 10 degrees and 65 degrees to match the users ideal working posture. In addition to reclining, the Cintiq 21UX can be rotated up to 180 degrees in either direction or removed from its stand for use on a table top. The new Cintiq 21UX (DTK-2100) priced at $1999 US is intended to begin shipping in the United States, Canada and the majority of Latin America countries in late March or early April. Consult your local electronics retailer or visit wacom.com for the most current information. [source]

www.wacom.com

Autodesk and BOXX unveiled 'RenderFarm on Wheels'
[permalink] 15.02.2010

Computer graphics workstation vendor BOXX Technologies and CG software specialist Autodesk, Inc. introduced RenderFarm on Wheels (ROW), the world's first turn-key dedicated rendering system. In developing ROW, BOXX engineers worked closely with Autodesk Consulting, an embedded services division helping customers address business problems and optimize operations. ROW is founded on a unique combination of hardware, software and support. The base model ROW hardware configuration features five Intel Xeon-based renderBOXX modules, fitted into a 24-unit mobile rack, complete with master node, storage, network switch, display and keyboard. BOXX also equips ROW with professional applications, including Autodesk Maya and/or 3ds Max software), real-time visualization capability (Autodesk Showcase or Opticore Studio software), queuing software with PipelineFX QUBE!, and rendering through mental ray or V-Ray software. [source]

www.autodesk.com

MAXON's 3D benchmarking suite CINEBENCH reaches R11.5
[permalink] 11.02.2010

3D software specialist MAXON announced the immediate availability of CINEBENCH R11.5, an advanced hardware testing suite that assesses a computer's performance capabilities. CINEBENCH is based on the same technology as MAXON's award-winning animation software CINEMA 4D, and its new version includes the ability to more accurately test the industry's latest hardware, including systems with up to 64 processor threads, and the testing environment better reflects the expectations of today's production demands. A more streamlined interface makes testing systems and reading results straightforward (more on features and testing procedures). CINEBENCH Release 11.5 is available free of charge via download from the MAXON web site and can be utilized on Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. [source]

www.maxon.net

NEC debuts PA241W LCD for professional graphics applications
[permalink] 02.02.2010

NEC Display Solutions of America announces the new MultiSync PA Series, successor to the critically acclaimed MultiSync 90 Series, by introducing the MultiSync PA241W. Designed for professional graphics applications, this 24-inch desktop display is ideal for digital photography, video editing, print production and any environment in which color accuracy is crucial. The display features 1920 x 1200 native resolution in 16:10 aspect ratio; 102% coverage of NTSC and 99.3% of Adobe RGB; 10-bit DisplayPort and USB hub; 10-bit IPS LCD panel with 14-bit LUT; 360 cd/m² brightness and 1000:1 contrast ratio; and more. The MultiSync PA241W is available with an estimated street price of $1,079 US and ships with a 4-year parts and labor warranty, including the backlight. [source]

www.necdisplay.com

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
[permalink] 21.10.2009

Canon U.S.A. introduced the next evolution in the EOS 1D series of DSLR cameras: the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. The EOS-1D Mark IV is a high-speed multimedia performance camera with a 16-megapixel Canon CMOS sensor, Dual DIGIC 4 Imaging Processors, and 14-bit A/D data conversion, all at 10 fps, with the widest ISO range Canon has produced to date. This new camera also features 1080p Full HD video capture at selectable frame rates packaged in Canon's most rugged and durable professional camera body. The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in late December, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $4,999.00 US. [source]

www.usa.canon.com

Blackmagic Design releases Linux SDK for its video hardware
[permalink] 07.07.2009
Blackmagic Design Inc. released support for software developers who want to use DeckLink, Intensity and Multibridge video products on the Linux platform. Support includes the software driver and an SDK for developers, and can be downloaded now from the Blackmagic Design Web site, free of charge (requires registration). [source]
www.blackmagic-design.com

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 at the end of October
[permalink] 05.06.2009
Microsoft revealed that the company is confident with the progress made with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, and that as a result, Microsoft will deliver Release to Manufacturing code to partners in the second half of July. Windows 7 will become generally available on Oct. 22, 2009, and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be broadly available at the same time. [source]
www.microsoft.com

The E.U. fines Intel record $1.06 billion EUR!
[permalink] 14.05.2009
The European Competition Commission fined Intel Corp. a record 1.06 billion EUR for "abusive behaviour". The Commission's decision finds that Intel abused its dominant position on the market for computer chips known as "x86 central processing units" in violation of Article 82 of the EC Treaty. This violation lasted for more than five years - from late 2002 to the end of 2007. Specifically, the Commission states, Intel used illegal anti-competitive practices to exclude essentially its only competitor, and thus reduce consumer choice, in the worldwide market for x86 chips. [source]
www.europa.eu

NVIDIA updates its Quadro lineup
[permalink] 01.04.2009
GPU inventor NVIDIA introduced its most powerful and advanced top-to-bottom line of Quadro professional GPU solutions in the Company's history. Spanning from sub-$100 entry-level to standalone visual computing systems, this new series includes: NVIDIA Quadro FX 5800 (4GB high-end visualization solution); FX 4800; FX 3800 (single slot solution with a robust feature set and added capabilities such as SLI Multi-OS and SDI); FX 1800 (mid-range solution offers the best price performance for workstation graphics); FX 580 (best entry-level solution); FX 380 (an affordable professional-class graphics solution delivering 50-percent faster performance); and NVS 295 (business graphics solution capable of supporting up to two 30-inch digital displays at maximum resolutions). The FX 5800 features 240 CUDA parallel processor cores 4 GB of memory with bandwidth up to 102 GB/s and full support of Shader Model 4.0, OpenGL 3.0 and Microsoft DirectX 10 standards... [source]
www.nvidia.com

Wacom Intuos4 coming in April
[permalink] 30.03.2009
Wacom Co., Ltd. announced Intuos4, company's latest line of high performance pen tablets. Available from April 3, 2009, the Intuos4, is equipped with a newly developed IC (integrated circuit) and display functions, and designed using new product design techniques incorporating universal design and ergonomics. It will offer 2048 pressure levels that accurately detect fingertip nuances. New tip sensor provides full expressiveness even with light brush strokes - the minimum ON weight (minimum weight sensed by the pen tip) of 10 grams for the Intuos3 has been reduced to 1 gram in the Intuos4. Another added features are Function Keys / Function display and Touchwheel, a new controller for operations such as zooming, changing brush size, layer switching, and rotating the canvas (more). Tablets will be available in Small, Medium, Large and XL sizes (compare). [source]
www.wacom.co.jp