The TR Podcast 113: Asian Fusion at 220 PPI

	Date: June 17, 2012 Time: 1:33:48 Hosted by Jordan Drake Co-Hosts: Scott Wasson, and Geoff Gasior Download: MP3 (67.7MB) | M4A (91.9MB) Subscribe: RSS (MP3) | RSS (M4A) iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (M4A)
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Show notes
We waited a week to bring you this latest episode of the podcast, and the wait was well worth it! Fresh from a week at Computex in Tapei, Geoff brings us a selection of headlines from the international computing trade show. We cover Asus' Transformer-inspired Windows 8 portables, Intel's Next Unit of Computing, Lucid's Dynamix, and more. Then, in Cyril's absence (he's recovering from a nasty travel/conference cold), Scott helps round up the latest AMD news from Computex and AMD's Fusion Developer Summit. E3 is next, with an unusual story from Crytek (free games on the way), and two new tech demos from Epic and Square Enix. Finally, we wrap the show with the new Retina MacBook Pro, Apple's finger to the pro users, and the next version of iOS.

Send in listener mail, and we'll answer on the podcast. - jdrake@techreport.com

Follow us on Twitter - Scott - Jordan - Geoff - Cyril - The Tech Report

Listener mail/tweets:

Integrated graphics (0:02:09) - from Daniel:

"Scott referenced the large improvements in Intel's Quick Sync from Sandy Bridge's integrate GPU to Ivy Bridge. Would you mind discussing the differences in video/audio encoding comparing a dedicated AMD or nVidia graphics card to Intel's Integrated GPU specifically in regards to performance. I know there is not a comparison in performance when it comes to gaming, but what about media? The differences are confusing. I recently purchased a new Macbook Pro 13' knowing I was compromising on the graphics card but my budget was prohibitive."

Keyboard question (0:07:03) - from Joe:

"I'm in the market for a new keyboard as my current logitech wireless bubble board is going on the fritz (the space key doesn' always work - sigh). So I've started shopping around and I feel like would be up for moving to a newer mechanical unit. However, it seems that wireless mechanical boardsare difficult to source. A quick search on the Egg only turned up one unit - the QUMAX Xarmor U9W with Cherry MXbrown switches and I'm not sure I want brown switches. The other feature I'm looking for in my future keyboard is back lighting - my wife's laptop has this and it is a lifesaver for work in darker places. The options on back lighting are more plentiful, but none of them seem to have wireless options. Am I looking in the wrong place for this type of unit? Is the slightly intermittent nature of wireless simply an anathema to mechanical board makers? Any other suggestions?"

Twitter questions (0:10:44)

"Mason: Preductions: What's the biggest trend in tech? And where do you see it headed?

Andrew: Are SSD reliability problems a think of the past now, or are there still specific brands/models to avoid?

Sean: I'm wondering what all your thoughts are on high-dpi displays driving (some) Windows 8 adoption (especially among enthusiasts)

Tom: What's your thoughts on VRAM use at over 1080p? I have a U3011 and only 1.5gb on SLI 480 (don't worry, they are under water!)

KJ: Availability of AMD laptops with trinity 17/25 watt. AMD win8 tablets. comparison of intel/amd in lower cost laptop sub $700"

Tech discussion:

Computex

Asus' Windows 8 tablets follow familiar Transformer theme - (0:24:37) - Read more

Asus unveils dual-screen notebook/tablet hybrid - (0:28:59) - Read more

Intel's 4-inch Next Unit of Computing to cost $400 - (0:31:53) - Read more

Lucid Dynamix increases gaming fluidity on notebook IGPs - (0:36:04) - Read more

We catch up with Asus' Xonar team - (0:40:09) - Read more

Gigabyte puts server chipset on Sandy Bridge-E motherboard - (0:43:12) - Read more

AMD

First AMD Brazos 2.0 APUs break cover - (0:45:22) - Read more

Future AMD APUs to integrate ARM security tech - (0:47:33) - Read more

AMD, ARM team up to push Heterogeneous Systems Architecture - (0:49:23) - Read more

Desktop Trinity APU models revealed - (0:53:45) - Read more

Motherboard makers say desktop Trinity delayed - (0:55:48) - Read more

Papermaster details new AMD mobile, server roadmaps - (0:56:44) - Read more

AMD shows upcoming dual-GPU card - (0:59:38) - Read more

E3

Crytek to concentrate on free-to-play titles - (1:01:56) - Read more

Tech demos: Unreal Engine 4 and Square Enix Final Fantasy- (1:05:18) - Unreal Engine - DirectX 11

WWDC

Apple unwraps 15'' MacBook Pro with Retina display - (1:11:53) - Read more

2010 calls Apple, wants its Mac Pro back - (1:23:18) - Read more

Apple shows iOS 6, preps Mountain Lion for July - (1:27:17) - Read more

That's all, folks! We'll see you on the next episode.