Gizmodo Australia » cell

Toshiba’s SpursEngine Chip to Improve Internet Videos with PS3 Tech

Mark Wilson — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:50:00 +0000

Toshiba’s new SprusEngine chip can’t do anything about annoying internet memes, but it does promise to include their image quality a bit.

The new SpursEngine is a quad-core chip based upon Cell architecture (think of it as a scaled back PS3). Bundled in Toshiba’s upcoming Qosmio multimedia laptops, the chip not only assists the Core 2 Duo in intense calculations and decodes MPEG2 and MPEG4, but it will “clean up” internet video like a sort of YouTube upscaler.

This video enhancement only works through Internet Explorer when video is played back full screen. And the technology is Japan-only for the time being, arriving in laptops this week that start at $US2,000. Maybe if the SpursEngine simply blocked all YouTube content, we’d have a deal. [Network World]

Sony: PS3 to Get 45-Nanometer Chips Around June

Mark Wilson — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:20:00 +0000

According to David Reeves, president of Sony Computer Entertaintment Europe, the PS3 could get a 45-nanometer Cell chip in a few months. From an interview with The Guardian:

We’re always looking at ways to reduce costs [in the PS3], replacing the current 65 nanometre Cell chip with a 45 nanometre one probably in middle of year.

So why should you care? Well, the chips should run cooler and at a lower wattage. But more importantly, shrinking the processor to something cheaper to build is absolutely essential if we’re ever to see a cheaper PS3.

What we’re a little confused about is why it’s taking Sony so long to make this switch. Because, according to reports, IBM has long figured out how to make a 45nm Cell. So is Sony sitting on a pile of 65nm chips that haven’t sold since last year? [The Guardian via Engadget]

Sony Basically Designed the Xbox 360 Processor For Microsoft, Says New Book

Jason Chen — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:45:00 +0000

The new book The Race For a New Game Machine, by two IBM engineers, details how ridiculous the design process was when IBM was making Sony’s PS3 cell chip. Microsoft basically got a free ride.

The WSJ pulls out facts like IBM employees trying to hide their work from people from companies in cubicles next to them, helping one team out (the Microsoft team) with their design process based on knowledge they had already gained from the Sony side, and most importantly, that Microsoft received the chip from manufacturing BEFORE Sony did because they ordered “backup manufacturing capacity from a third party.” [WSJ via PS3 Fanboy]

Ericsson’s Pretty Tower Tube Cell Towers Now Wind-Powered

John Mahoney — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:20:00 +0000

We like Ericsson’s idea for the original Tower Tube–take something as ubiquitous and ugly as a cell tower and add a touch of nice design and a streamlined manufacturing process that saves money and energy. Now they’re taking the idea in another cool direction by adding a four-blade vertical wind turbine to the already-efficient design, allowing it to generate much of its own power. It’s a concept in trial stages currently but something that makes a whole lot of sense. [Ericsson via PC World]

Video Cards Featuring SpursEngine (Cell Processor) Coming Soon

Mark Wilson — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:00:00 +0000

We’ve already seen the SpursEngine teased in laptops, but Toshiba is becoming vocal about bringing the SpursEngine—the same technology found in the PlayStation 3 Cell processor—to standalone video cards in 4-core configuration. The first will come from Leadtek later this month for $US286, a 128MB card that can fit into a small form PC, and it will be followed in November by Thomson cards that will start in the high $US300s. SpursEngine cards have built-in MPEG2 and H.264 codecs which equal smooth video playback and the ability to uprez SD content on the fly. And at least Leadtek’s offering sounds like a solid alternative to small media PC packed with integrated graphics. [PCWorld]

Cell Processors to Go 45nm in ‘09; Smaller, Cheaper PS3s Likely to Follow

John Mahoney — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Sony and Toshiba announced that they had successfully shrunk the 65nm cell down to 45nm earlier this year, and now thanks to Japan’s Nikkan Kogyo, we now have a date for mass production: 2009. At a 40% reduction in power consumption, the shrunken Cell will generate less heat, which would help the PS3 to lose some of its piano-black bulk in a slim version. Cheaper production costs also means more $$ for Sony (or price drops for us). This could also lead to wider adoption of Cell technology in HD upscaling, which Toshiba is already doing in their SRT-enabled TVs and DVD players (but with their own custom chip). [Nikkan Kogyo (Translated)]

Toshiba’s Regza ZF HDTVs Do Their Own Cell-Processor Upscaling

Kit Eaton — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:46:00 +0000

Toshiba’s new Regza ZF HDTVs don’t upscale your DVDs to HD resolution with any old chipset or engine: they do it with a Cell-processor based system. Bonkers! It’s the first TV to upscale with a Cell, and according to its European executive vice president, Toshiba’s future “does not involve Blu-ray disc” but will use this sort of tech to deliver high-res imagery. The upscaling system uses the Cell for some advanced image-processing techniques, creating interpolated pixels to give the final image “near-HD” quality. The sets will also have Active Vision M100 100Hz HD picture processing, 178-degree viewing angle, 30,000:1 contrast ratio and 10-bit processing. The ZF TVs will be in 40- and 46-inch sizes, the 40-inch out now with pricing of around US$2,390, the 46-pricing and availability is not announced yet. [Toshiba.co.uk and Toshiba.de-via Google translate.]

Toshiba Qosmio G55 is First Laptop With Cell Processor Aboard

Kit Eaton — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:24:00 +0000

Toshiba’s Qosmio G55 has popped up on Giz over the last couple of months, talking about its advanced gesture controls which rely on its use of the PS3’s Cell processor tech, and now it’s official. Toshiba’s calling it the “world’s first laptop with cell processor tech inside,” and concentrates on four functions it gives the machine. Upconvert/upconversion (basically 1080i upscaling,) transcoding of video formats, face-based video indexing and gesture control. The laptop will have a starting price of US$1,299.99. Press release below.

Jul 15, 2008 00:01

Toshiba Qosmio World’s First Laptop with Cell Processor Technology

¶ TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Cell Processor Provides Revolutionary Multimedia Experience Through Enhanced Speed and Control
IRVINE, Calif. —(Business Wire)— Jul. 15, 2008 Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the world’s first laptop PC to feature Cell processor technology. This computing advancement, called the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor(1), is available on Toshiba’s Qosmio(R) G55-Q802 laptop PC and delivers a revolutionary high-definition, multimedia user experience.

“In terms of the Qosmio laptop brand, innovation is the key ingredient,” said Jeff Barney, vice president and general manager, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. “The addition of the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor marks a watershed moment in the multimedia and HD segments. Qosmio G55-Q802 laptop PC users now have the power and ability to control and manipulate their personal content with unmatched precision and speed while also enjoying their full DVD collections at resolutions up to 1080i.”

The TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor was designed to better serve the creative process by alleviating the intense burden that’s placed on the CPU while handling a wide range of multimedia tasks, such as video transcoding. The complex task of transcoding and encoding a personal video project monopolizes a majority of the processing power of today’s advanced computer systems. Through the addition of the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor, along with the combined strength of Intel’s latest Core(TM) 2 Duo processor(1) technology and the NVIDIA GeForce(R) 9600M(2) GT graphics card, tasks that once took hours to complete now are accomplished in a fraction of the time with Toshiba’s Qosmio(R) G55-Q802 laptop PC.

This revolutionary Cell processor technology was co-developed by Toshiba, Sony and IBM, and is best known for its use within the popular Sony PlayStation(R) 3 and various supercomputers. Branded the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor, it currently consists of four cutting-edge, distinctive proprietary features:

— Upconvert/Upconversion – Through “Upconvert/Upconversion,” standard-definition video files, such as home videos and DVDs, are upscaled in real time to 720p high-definition. Combined with the use of the Qosmio’s HDMI-CEC port, users can output today’s standard DVDs in stunning clarity up to 1080i on an HDTV.

— Transcoding – The included Ulead(R) DVD MovieFactory(R) 5 for TOSHIBA has been optimised to take advantage of the Toshiba Quad Core HD Processor to dramatically reduce the time needed in high-definition video editing. Transcoding video between high-definition formats or converting high-definition video into standard definition for burning to DVD can be completed up to 10 times(3) faster on the Qosmio(R) G55-Q802 laptop PC.

— Video Indexing – “Video Indexing” provides the power to catalog video clips based on an individual’s face in a scene. This unique technology enables quick and easy scene access by eliminating the need to manually search through hours of video content.

— Gesture Control – Using a remote to control DVDs, CDs and PowerPoint is a thing of the past. Through the use of “Gesture Control” and the Qosmio’s Webcam, physical motions, such as extending an arm and simple hand gestures, users can control the play, pause, rewind and fast-forward functions of their movies, music and slides.

The Qosmio G55 series laptop is also available without the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor, but the series was collectively designed to enhance the digital lifestyle by providing cutting-edge innovations that are built upon the backbone of sharp picture quality and pristine sound reproduction. In addition to the technological advancement of the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor, the Qosmio is built around an expansive 18.4-inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite(R) high-definition display that sports a true 16:9 aspect ratio. Users can take advantage of more of the display and enjoy their widescreen movies with less of the black bar letterboxing, which frames a picture on other displays. To further enhance the visual experience, the Qosmio G55 laptop PC sports two premium Harman Kardon(R) stereo speakers, a sub-woofer and Dolby Home Theater(TM) technology, which allows users to experience their content in surround sound. The Qosmio can be seamlessly integrated into a user’s home theatre system for a complete surround sound experience thanks to its REGZA LINK(TM) HDMI technology while empowering users with simultaneous instant device configuration and the ability to control REGZA LINK enabled devices, such as Toshiba’s REGZA(TM) HDTVs and a Qosmio laptop, with a single remote.

The Qosmio G55 laptop PC has several design features that magnify its cutting edge nature, such as its striking Fusion(TM) finish with Vibe design, white-LED FeatherTouch multimedia buttons and a flush-mounted Touchpad. These external features do much to enhance the overall quality and premium feel of the new Qosmio, which has a starting price of $1,299.99(4).

For the first time, Toshiba will offer users the option of configuring their laptop to run either a 32-bit or 64-bit(5) version of Windows Vista, depending on a user’s preference and intended computer use.

The Qosmio G55 laptop PC is available from a variety of major consumer electronic and computer stores nationwide or directly from Toshiba at http://www.toshibadirect.com. Detailed product information is available at http://www.explore.toshiba.com/G55.

The Qosmio G55 series is available in the following configurations: -0-

Qosmio G55-Q802 Unique Specifications (MSRP $1,549.99(4))
—OS selection at first boot:
– Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium (SP1, 64-bit5
version)(default)
– Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit version)
—Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T7350(1)
– 2.0 GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB
—TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor(1)
—4096MB PC2-6400 DDR2 800MHz SDRAM memory(6)
—500GB using two 5400 RPM Serial ATA hard disk drives(7)
—DVD SuperMulti (+/- double layer) drive with Labelflash(TM)
supporting 11 formats
—NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 9600M GT with 512MB GDDR2 discrete graphics(2)
memory,
—Atheros(R) 802.11 b/g/n wireless-LAN(8)

-0-

Qosmio G55-Q801 Unique Specifications (MSRP $1,299.99(4))
—OS selection at first boot:
– Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium (SP1, 64-bit(5)
version)(default)
– Genuine Windows Vista(R) Home Premium (SP1, 32-bit version)
—Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T7350(1)
– 2.0 GHz, 3MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB
—4096MB PC2-6400 DDR2 800MHz SDRAM memory(6)
—320GB (5400 RPM) Serial ATA hard disk drive(7)
—DVD SuperMulti (+/- double layer) drive with Labelflash(TM)
supporting 11 formats
—NVIDIA(R) GeForce(TM) 9200M GS with 256MB GDDR2 discrete graphics(2)
memory
—Atheros(R) 802.11 b/g/n wireless-LAN(8)

Multimedia: Qosmio G55 Series

Toshiba Qosmio Line Gets Cheaper, More Fun with GPS-Equipped F55, X305 Gamer and G55 with PS3 Cell Chip (Updated with Video)

Wilson Rothman — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:25:28 +0000

Toshiba decided to divvy up its Qosmio line into three very different machines, with starting prices way below the US$3,000 that Qosmios previously cost.
• The 15.4″ F55, with starting price at US$1,150, will include built-in GPS—with Garmin navigation and mapping software—while its US$1,750 configuration will have some reasonably decent gaming capability as well.
• The already leaked (and leaked) 18.4″ monster G55 includes gesture-based controls—hand gestures in front of the camera—enabled by the Cell chip found in PS3s. This secondary processor also helps transcoding HD video and face tracking while editing video. It is priced from US$1,300 to US$1,550.
• Toshiba has officially rolled its gaming systems into the Qosmio brand, starting with the X305 (which you may have seen). The 17″ gaming notebook will cost anywhere from US$1,550 (in retail configs) to US$3,500 with overclocked Core 2 Extreme processor, WSXGA resolution screen and two 7200-rpm drives.
UPDATE: Video showing gestures, GPS interface and more below, along with gallery and press release.

TOSHIBA EMPHASISES INNOVATION AND STYLE WITH NEW QOSMIO FAMILY

Qosmio Series Consists of Three Distinct Models that Uniquely Sport a Quad Core HD Processor, Gaming Grade Graphics and GPS Chipset

IRVINE, Calif., (June 17, 2008) – Toshiba’s Digital Products Division (DPD),
today announced the expansion of its flagship Qosmio brand with three unique laptops, the Qosmio G55, Qosmio X305 and Qosmio F55. These new laptops are specifically designed for users who enjoy gaming, multimedia and advanced mobility technology.

“The Qosmio has long been the standard of excellence in the multimedia laptop space, in both styling and entertainment capabilities,” said Jeff Barney, vice president and general manager, Digital Products Division, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. “In an effort to take this standard to the next level for gamers and multimedia enthusiasts alike, the three new Qosmio models have been tailored specifically towards their personal interests, while staying true to the incredible user-experience that the Qosmio family is known for.”

Designed to meet the needs of a growing demographic of digital consumers, each new Qosmio harnesses unique features that set them apart from their respective Qosmio siblings.

The Qosmio G55 is the world’s first notebook to incorporate a parallel media co-processor, which is based on the revolutionary Cell processor1 technology co-developed by Toshiba, Sony and IBM. This technology is best known for its use within the popular Sony PlayStation® 3 and various supercomputers. Branded as the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor, users have more power than ever to control and create personal movie projects with unmatched speed and efficiency. Additionally, the Qosmio G55 sports up to 500GB of hard drive storage space, and is the first laptop from Toshiba to include an expansive 18.4-inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite® high-definition display sporting a true 16:9 aspect ratio that’s perfect for serious filmmakers.

As high-definition digital camcorders become more affordable, people quickly learn that video editing is a time-intensive process. Video often must be converted from the camcorder’s format into one the editing software understands (called transcoding). Burning the video onto a DVD requires reducing the resolution to standard-definition and then transcoding the final product to a DVD Video MPEG2 format. A 10-minute video can take an hour or more to transcode using a high performance processor. Offloading that work from the CPU to the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor boosts the transcoding speed up to 10 times2 faster. The Toshiba DVD Player software also takes advantage of this extra performance, upscaling DVD video to high definition.

Toshiba’s Qosmio X305 is a powerful gaming rig that’s built around a stunning 17.1-inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite high-definition display. Designed to provide gamers with the highest laptop performance possible, select Qosmio X305’s take advantage of the latest NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800 GTX GPU3, up to 1GB VRAM graphics memory, dual hard drives with up to 400GB of collective storage space, as well as leading-edge DDR3 RAM4. Collectively these features power a premium gaming machine that’s designed for high-level competition, while also looking the part of a gaming machine with an aggressively bold chassis and red-flamed Rogue design topped off with Toshiba’s Fusion™ finish.

The Qosmio F55 with its 15.4-inch diagonal widescreen TruBrite high-definition display is a worthy gaming machine that also takes mobility seriously. Sporting gaming grade NVIDIA GeForce 9700 GTS graphics users can enjoy a fluid and impressive gaming experience. Toshiba’s first laptop with a built-in GPS receiver and Garmin™ mapping software, the Qosmio F55 frees users from the need for an Internet connection when searching for millions of points of interest, as the built-in GPS system empowers users to determine their exact location in relation to their destination within moments.

Beyond the laptops, the new Qosmio family has the power to be extended into the living room through REGZA LINK™ HDMI technology. This standard feature enables simultaneous instant device configuration, and the ability to control REGZA LINK enabled devices, such as Toshiba’s REGZA™ HDTVs and a Qosmio laptop with a single remote.

Adding to their quality appeal, the Qosmio X305, Qosmio G55 and Qosmio F55 feature several prominent design characteristics that magnify the cutting-edge nature of the series. Each Qosmio sports a striking new chassis design and Fusion™ finish, Feathertouch multimedia buttons, a flush-mounted Touchpad, a high-speed eSATA port and Harman® Kardon high-fidelity bass reflex speakers with a built-in sub-woofer. These features do much to enhance the overall quality and premium feel of the new Qosmio series.
Each new Qosmio model will be available later this summer from a variety of major consumer electronics and computer stores nationwide or available directly from Toshiba at www.toshibadirect.com. Additional information is available at www.explore.toshiba.com/Qosmio.

All new Toshiba laptops are RoHS-compatible5, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances. Beginning in the third Quarter of 2008, Toshiba will offer a computer trade-in and recycling program for all manufacturer’s PCs to reduce environmental impact and promote efficient utilization of resources. To learn more about this free PC recycling program or to find out how to recycle other consumer electronic products, please visit: www.toshiba.eztradein.com/toshiba.

Toshiba Bringing PS3 Innards to Notebooks, TVs

Adrian Covert — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:54:00 +0000

Its recently been revealed that Toshiba is planning to use Sony PS3 technology in its upcoming TVs and Notebooks. The OC Register’s Gadgetress got her hands on the Toshiba’s Qosmio notebook (shown above), which will use the SpursEngine chip, jointly developed between Toshiba and Sony around the Cell. The processor will handle much of the video and multimedia processing, taking the load off the main CPU.

According to Toshiba, HD processing that once took an hour now only takes 10 minutes. And though the SpursEngine chip can handle graphics processing for games, no PC games are currently optimised for the chip, rendering it useless. But game development built around the processor is in the works. Tentatively, the Qosmio will also feature gesture based controls via webcam, but will lack the usual Blu-ray drive, 1080p resolution and TV tuner. But it will only run for US$1700, shaving about US$1300 off the price.

As for the TV, it will make use of Sony’s Cell microprocessor for realtime HD upscaling, recording of multiple channels, and “displaying video as if it is being viewed through opera glasses” (whatever that means). The Qosmio notebook is planned for a 2008 release while the TV will hit stores in Autumn 2009. [Electronista and Gadgetress]