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To distinguish itself from competitors, Hewlett Packard (HP) India is offering high end technology that was once only for the top-end notebooks now to the masses. Some of the technologies that are being rolled out include the LED Display Screens; e-SATA Interface; File Sanatizer; Chiplet Keyboards and IMR technology.

During the last few quarters, HP recorded a slower growth in the enterprise sector and so is focusing on the consumers. The company has now integrated latest technologies across security, display and download speeds.

HP India, said, “The new range has been conceptualized after extensive research to offer the best experience to the customers. This time we have integrated a number of technologies that were earlier used only in the top-end notebooks to the lower-end as well.”

As part of its green initiative, HP wants its products to be mercury-free and so has replaced its LCD screens with those of LED ones. In fact, mercury is reported to affect the ozone layer.

The new LED screens present many advantages over traditional LCD screens. The use of SMD technology enables wide viewing angles, uniformity at very short viewing distances, brightness, high resolution and colour depth and uniformity. Besides, LED has lower energy consumption, longer battery life while LCD screens reflect while watching thus straining the eyes.

“With download speed being must for any notebooks, HP is offering external serial advanced technology attachment or eSATA, an external interface for SATA technologies. It competes with FireWire 400 and universal serial bus (USB) 2.0 to provide fast data transfer speeds for external storage devices. We have provided this technology to all our notebooks irrespective of the cost or the segment as it helps download 6X times faster than the USB speed,” said Diptesh Ghosh, category head, consumer notebook, HP personal systems group (PSG) India.

SATA replaced ATA legacy technology as the next generation internal bus interface for hard drives. It is a good choice for external disk storage. Unlike USB and FireWire interfaces, eSATA does not have to translate data between the interface and the computer. This enhances data transfer speeds, while saving computer processor resources and eliminating the need for an extra off-load chip.

“Likewise did you know deleted files aren’t really wiped clean from your hard drive? Anyone with basic knowledge of data recovery can ‘undelete’ it. However, HP Disk Sanitizer (shredder) permanently destroys data on your hard drive using a US defense algorithm so that it cannot be accessed even with advanced data recovery tools. In this case even the BIOS can’t be tampered using this software,” said Grover.

Unlike the membrane keyboard, HP has introduced chiplet keyboard to give them a longer and are more durable life. For every key, the conductive traces on the bottom layer are normally separated by a non-conductive gap. Electrical current cannot flow between them; the switch is open. However, when pushed down, conductive material on the underside of the top layer bridges the gap between those traces; the switch is closed, current can flow, and a keypress is registered.

Besides HP is also offering IMR technology to give notebooks a scratch resistant body and so can retain its new looks for a long time.

AMD has launched its six-core opteron server processor, codenamed Istanbul.

Dasaradha Gude, MD of AMD India said, Across a single platform, AMD can address the need for more cores and power-efficient solution with Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors.

But AMD’s celebration may be short-lived as Intel is due to launch its own eight-core Nehalem EX chip in the first quarter of 2010. We cannot compare our product with Intel s despite some similarities since the market segment are applications are different, said Gude.

The six-core AMD Opteron processors leverage existing platforms infrastructure and a low-cost, power efficient DDR-2 memory architecture which can help lower system acquisition costs besides HPC, virtualization and database workloads can benefit from increased 4P STREAM memory bandwidth of up to 60% enabled by HyperTransport technology HT Assist, which helps reduce processor to processor latency and traffic.

The processors are expected to be available from this month from OEMs including HP, IBM, Cray, Dell and Sun Microsystems along with support from motherboard and infrastructure partners. Some of the ISV partners of AMD in India include Citrix, Motorola, Novell, Oracle, Parallets, RedHat, Sun Microsystems, VMware and Xeon.

Besides AMD has also appointed two regional partners like Digital Waves and Wipro. The HE, SE, and EE versions of the six-core AMD Opteron processor are planned for the second half of 2009. Intel and AMD have clashed in past years over performance and price, and squeezing as many cores into a single microprocessor has been one way to boost performance.

HP today announced HP iPrint Photo, a free application available on the Apple App store that gives iPhone and iPod touch customers the ability to easily print photos anytime, anywhere.

HP iPrint Photo is the first photo printing application of its kind and allows for quick and easy wireless printing of 4 x 6-inch photos from an iPhone or iPod touch to most HP inkjet printers connected to a local Wi-Fi network. The application is fully compatible with Apple’s Bonjour technology and uses the innovative Multi-Touch interface for the easiest and fastest wireless iPhone or iPod touch print experience.

“Today’s news demonstrates how HP is enabling customers to turn special moments captured on the go into high-quality photos,” said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “More than any other company in the world, HP has re-imagined, re-engineered and re-invented the power of printing with exciting new technologies that address real customer needs.”

The HP iPrint Photo application provides customers the freedom and flexibility to wirelessly print the millions of photos that have been captured on iPhone or iPod touch devices. It will be showcased for the first time at the 2009 Macworld Conference & Expo and the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

“There’s a major shift happening in the mobile domain today,” said Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst, Enderle Group. “Annual camera phone device shipments are exploding on a worldwide basis, and mobile photo printing is quickly growing. Until now, customers had no easy way to print the special moments captured on their iPhone or stored on their iPod touch. “

HP iPrint Photo is available at no charge from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at itunes.com/appstore.

EDS, an HP company, has been awarded a $111 million contract by the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to provide security readiness reviews for the Department of Defense (DoD).

These readiness reviews will support DISA’s mission to provide integrated, agency-wide protection and operational restoration capability to counter security threats.

Under the contract, EDS will work with the DoD’s Field Security Operations (FSO) division to conduct worldwide security reviews of DoD enterprises, enclaves, networks, systems and applications. EDS will send technical resources to client locations around the world to conduct security assessments on DoD operating systems, applications, databases and networks.

EDS also will deliver certification and accreditation support, provide independent evaluation of DoD security policies and conduct security assessments to evaluate the compatibility and interoperability of FSO systems located at various DISA FSO locations.

This agreement builds on a 13-year relationship between the DoD and EDS. EDS has provided DISA with a wide range of infrastructure services, hardware and software through the DISA I-Assure and ENCORE contract vehicles.

“By providing security readiness reviews, we will help DISA to counter security threats,” said Dennis Stolkey, senior vice president of U.S. Public Sector at EDS, an HP company. “This contract builds on a long-standing relationship between EDS and the agency. We look forward to continuing to provide the right people, processes and technology to help DISA align technology with the Defense Department’s needs into the future.”

HP today unveiled the latest additions to its portfolio of large-format digital printing solutions, bolstering the company’s efforts to target the estimated $53 billion page-value opportunity for the global sign and display market projected for 2010.

These additions – demonstrated at SGIA ’08 – strengthen HP’s position as the leading provider of large-format technologies and solutions, and include:

• The HP Scitex FB7500 Printer, which delivers industry-leading productivity along with high print speeds and standard three-quarter automation.
• The HP Scitex FB950 Printer, which provides consistent high-quality point-of purchase/point-of-sale (POP/POS), tradeshow and event signage on virtually any rigid⁽²⁾or flexible media.⁽³⁾
• The HP Scitex TJ8550 Printer, which delivers higher print speeds and quality at lower costs than its predecessor.
• The U.S. debut of the HP Designjet L65500 Printer, the first of a new category of large-format signage printers to feature HP Latex Inks.

HP’s product showcase, demonstrated live in HP booth 2203, features a full range of digital solutions designed to help print service providers (PSPs) profitably grow their businesses while reducing the total impact of their printing on the environment.

“HP is dedicated to providing the broadest portfolio of large-format digital printing technology and end-to-end solutions, along with an unwavering commitment to our customers’ success,” said Santiago Morera, vice president and general manager, Large-format Printing, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “The recent additions to HP’s portfolio strengthen our leadership position in the large-format printing industry by providing our customers increased value, productivity, quality and versatility, and offering the ability to lower the environmental impact of their printing.”

Convert high-quality production volume to digital

With speeds of up to 500 m2/hr (5,380 ft2/hr) and three-quarter automated loading to reduce idle time between sheets by up to 85 percent,⁽⁴⁾ the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer delivers the highest productivity of digital flatbed printers in its price class.⁽⁵⁾

An ideal solution for close-view POP/POS applications, exhibition graphics, signage, backlit displays and posters, the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer is built on the proven HP Scitex TJ Series printing platform, and offers the added benefit of HP Scitex X2 Printhead technology, which combines silicon-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology and innovative piezoelectric inkjet technology. Supporting a native resolution of up to 500 dpi in the HP Scitex FB7500 Printer, the printheads delivers the heavy ink flows required for high-speed, high-quality printing.

The HP Scitex FB7500 Printer will be available for purchase worldwide in May 2009.

High-quality prints and high productivity

The HP Scitex FB950 Printer is a robust flatbed UV printer that delivers high-quality prints and high productivity on virtually any rigid⁽²⁾or flexible media⁽³⁾ for the production of durable outdoor and indoor applications, including POP/POS signage, tradeshow graphics, interior decorations, banners and street furniture. Designed to increase productivity and profitability with efficient media loading and the ability to print multiple sheets at the same time, the HP Scitex FB950 Printer enables PSPs to accommodate a greater range of customer requests and grow their businesses.

“With the HP Scitex FB950, our company is able to target the high-end event and POP signage markets that we previously could not enter,” said Mike Ottens, owner, Visual Marketing. “We have changed our workflow from printing on pre-laminated posters to printing directly on less costly media, which has given us a higher profit margin on signage and helped our cost of goods to decrease substantially.”

The printer’s six HP Scitex FB250 color inks and printheads with variable-sized drops combine to produce great image detail – up to 1,200 x 600 optimized dpi – and smooth color transitions across a wide variety of media. Advanced features, such as an onboard camera, spectrophotometer, embedded software and a solid media feed system, ensure consistent results and worry-free operation.

The HP Scitex FB950 Printer will be available for worldwide general purchase on November 15, 2008.

Increase speed and lower costs

The HP Scitex TJ8550 Printer features up to a 50 percent increase in print speed and up to 20 percent lower cost per print compared to the preceding HP Scitex TJ8500 Printer. With the new HP Scitex TJ8550 Printer, PSPs can confidently respond to a wide range of customer requests for the high-speed production of indoor and outdoor applications, including sheet-to-sheet or double-sided applications with the built-in HP Scitex Double-sided printing upgrade.

Additionally, HP is offering field upgradability for existing HP Scitex TJ8500 Printer owners. The upgrade kit includes hardware, software, on-site installation and training. To complement the new HP Scitex TJ8550 Printer, HP also introduced HP Scitex TJ200 Ink, a UV-curable ink that delivers improved quality and reliability while lowering operational costs.

The HP Scitex TJ8550 Printer and upgrade kit will be available in February 2009.

New for the North American market

The HP Designjet L65500 Printer featuring HP Latex Printing Technologies offers PSPs a compelling alternative for creating a wide variety of indoor and outdoor applications while reducing the environmental impact of printing and delivering quality and durability at breakthrough print speeds.⁽⁶⁾

The 104-inch-wide printer offers sign and display PSPs a versatile system that can produce a broad range of applications with new water-based HP Latex Inks. Prints produced with HP Latex Inks are odorless,⁽⁷⁾ emit extremely low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), require no special ventilation⁽⁸⁾ and are not classified as hazardous waste.⁽⁹⁾

HP has also expanded the HP Graphic Arts Capture Business Success Program, a collection of tools, training and programs to help HP customers gain a competitive advantage and add value to their companies’ bottom lines. Designed for HP large-format customers and HP Indigo press customers interested in offering large-format printing, HP Capture offers a full range of tools to help PSPs gain a competitive edge in large-format printing, including customizable marketing templates, cobranded advertising templates and data sheets.

HP at SGIA

HP is participating in the High Production Inkjet Printing Future Forum at SGIA’08, a panel discussion with industry leaders on high-production inkjet and technological developments that allow for high-quality, high-speed inkjet imaging. The forum takes place on Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. ET in room C-205 of the Georgia World Congress Center and will include Dr. Ross Allen, senior technology specialist, HP Imaging and Printing Group.

Additionally, Len Koerts of Scitex Strategic Marketing at HP, will present a seminar titled “Choices for Wide and Superwide Format Printers,” on Oct. 17 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. ET in room C-201 that will include a discussion of current printhead technology and tips for ink selection and differentiating between wide and superwide format printing.

More information about the conference is available from the SGIA ’08 website: www.sgia.org. More information about large-format printing solutions from HP is available in an online press kit at www.hp.com/go/gsbfall08.

Source: HP

Can your notebook run 24hours on a single charge? If you will get notebook that will give 24 hours backup then you will get rid of again-n-again charging problems…right. So get ready for this as Hewlett-Packard recently launched a notebook that will run for up to 24 hours on a single charge.

To get extra battery life, HP combined its EliteBook 6930p enterprise notebook model with a solid-state drive add-on and HP’s ultra-life battery. So when you order the notebook these are available as optional accessories

According to the HP, “its new LED display adds some four hours of life over older screens, while the solid-state hard drive gives a seven per cent boost to battery life when compared to a regular disk drive.”

The EliteBook 6930p line price starts at $1,199 currently, but customers have to pay a little more to get the advantage of full battery life, as HP publicize.

HP and Sony have revealed the plans to increase the performance and capacity of Digital Audio Tape drives after introduction of the DAT 320 format. HP and Sony developing the Digital Data Storage (DDS) standard jointly but they will independently offer DAT 320 tape drives and cartridges.

With backup speeds of up to 86GB per hour with 2:1 data compression, the DAT 320 open standard will offer up to 320GB of capacity on a single cartridge, compared with 160GB from the current DAT 160 format.

The DAT 320 will also devour fewer watts per gigabyte than previous, and it will be backwards compatible with the DAT 160. HP and Sony will offer the same base hardware for the DAT 320, but will develop features within the firmware configuration to sell the DAT 320 tape drives and media with their own branded and OEM business channels.