Legit Reviews News History
Intel Appeals Potential Tax Bill of $2.4 Billion
Chip maker Intel Corp. said on Monday it was appealing an Internal Revenue Service tax adjustment related to export sales that could increase its tax due by $2.4 billion from 1999 through 2006. Now that is what I would call a tax bill!
Intel has been contesting the issue since August 2003 when the IRS first gave it notice of the adjustment. Intel said its federal income tax for 1999 through 2005 would increase by about $2.2 billion plus interest if it loses its appeal against the IRS, the company said in its annual report filed at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The IRS would also likely make a similar claim for 2006, potentially increasing Intel's tax due by about $200 million, plus interest, if it prevails, the company said.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 28, 2007 - 10:31 PM
Take-Two Interactive Reports Loss of $91.4 Million
Video-game publisher Take-Two Interactive restated its financial results for fiscal 2006 late Wednesday and blamed the higher-than-expected loss on the video-game industry's transition toward next-generation platforms such as Sony's PlayStation 3, Nintendo's Wii, and Microsoft's Xbox 360 consoles.
Net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 was $14 million, or 20 cents a share, compared with net income of $18.9 million, or 27 cents a share, the year before. Analysts were expecting earnings of 13 cents a share. The fourth-quarter loss included $5.5 million for legal and other professional fees associated with the investigation, beginning in June 2006, of stock option grant practices. Revenue for the quarter ended Oct. 31, was $266.6 million falling from $306.8 million for the same period a year ago.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 28, 2007 - 10:26 PM
Kingston Technology 2006 Sales Jump to $3.4 Billion
Kingston Technology Corporation, the world's largest independent memory module manufacturer, today announced revenue figures for 2006 climbed to $3.4 billion -- a $400 million increase from 2005 sales -- exceeding initial forecasts and marking the highest revenues the company has attained in its 20-year history. This is amazing and I'm happy to see it happen to David Sun and John Tu! I've had the pleasure of meeting both of the founders and they are two very smart and down to earth individuals!
Reaching $3.4 billion as we turn 20 is remarkable," said John Tu, co-founder, Kingston(R). "Our continued growth is proof that our commitment to providing the highest levels of product quality and service has kept strong throughout our history," added Tu. "Kingston's focus on Flash over the last few years has met with great success," said David Sun, co-founder, Kingston. "We took time to enter this new market and worked closely with partners to develop the Flash area for Kingston."
Posted by | Wed, Feb 28, 2007 - 05:58 PM
A New AMD Platform Integrates ATI X1250 Graphics - Welcome the 690 Series!
AMD today introduced the AMD 690 series chipset, the company's first chipset to bring together the combined strengths of AMD CPU and platform technology with the industry-leading features of the ATI Radeon(tm) X1250 GPU. Legit Reviews will have an article on this product later today.
The AMD 690 series chipset incorporates ATI Radeon(tm) X1250 graphics into its design to ensure The Ultimate Visual ExperienceTM for Windows Vista. Multitasking between applications has never been easier with Windows Aero, the new visually-rich 3D user interface built into Windows Vista Premium and Business editions. The AMD 690 series chipset delivers the power to make new features like Windows Flip and Windows Flip 3D an integral part of every business day.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 28, 2007 - 07:50 AM
Corsair Steps Up Performance On USB Drives
Corsair today launched the new Flash Voyager GT line of USB drives designed for the user who demands the highest performance in a USB memory product. Complementing the revolutionary Flash Voyager USB drives, the new Flash Voyager GT brand represents the highest performing USB products Corsair offers in any capacities. Legit Reviews got to check out the new Flash Voyager GT a couple months ago at CES 2007 and reported on the new drives HERE.
"Consumers are demanding more from a USB drive today than one that simply stores data. It is becoming apparent that the read/write performance of a drive plays a significant role in the overall user experience, and the Flash Voyager GT delivers exactly that -- uncompromising speed," said Jack Peterson, VP of Marketing at Corsair. "With the introduction of the Flash Voyager GT, we now have 2 distinctive product offerings: Flash Voyager GT is all about performance, and the standard Flash Voyager that delivers the best value for a USB memory product."
Posted by | Wed, Feb 28, 2007 - 07:48 AM
Microsoft says Google success a "wake-up call"
The success of Google opened Microsoft's eyes to the riches available in Web advertising, the chief technologist for the world's largest software maker said on Tuesday.
"This very clearly caused an inflection point within our industry and within Microsoft of understanding advertising as an economic engine," Ozzie said in a question-and-answer session monitored online. Ozzie stepped into the top technical position at Microsoft last year, replacing co-founder Bill Gates and spearheading an important transition for the $44 billion company to extend its reach beyond the computer desktop.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 28, 2007 - 07:45 AM
Asustek ranked 10th largest global PC vendor in 4Q 2006
Asustek Computer was ranked for the first time as the tenth largest PC vendor worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2006, with its shipments, including notebooks, desktops, servers and handheld mobile PCs, totaling 1.06 million units, according to market research firm IDC Taiwan.
Increasing shipments of Asus-branded notebooks, servers and mobile PCs helped push up Asustek's ranking, IDC said, noting that Asustek lagged the ninth largest vendor Sony by less than 50,000 units in volume shipments in the fourth quarter.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 28, 2007 - 07:44 AM
U.S. Stock-Index Futures Rise After Biggest Plunge in 4 Years
.S. stock-index futures rose a day after the biggest plunge in the country's equity market in four years, as strategists advised investors not to sell shares given prospects for economic and earnings growth.
Chinese stocks rebounded today after a selloff in that market yesterday triggered a global tumble in equities, while most Asian and European markets fell a second day. Strategists at UBS AG, JPMorgan and Citigroup Investment Research today recommended that investors keep their equity holdings, saying that the outlook for the global economy hasn't worsened.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 28, 2007 - 07:42 AM
Stocks Plunge as Weakness Overseas and in the US Become Real
Sellers were out in full force early Tuesday as worries about the strength of the U.S. economy and weakness overseas put pressure on stocks in New York. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was losing 176 points, or 1.39%.
Before the session began, the Commerce Department said durable-goods orders dropped 7.8% in January, more than twice as wide as the expected 3% decline. Excluding transportation, orders were down 3.1% for the month. Additionally, December's headline number was revised downward to 2.8% growth from 2.9%. Yields on Treasuries and the dollar dropped following the data. The 10-year Treasury was gaining 13/32 in price to yield 4.58%, and the 30-year bond was surging 22/32 and yielding 4.68%. The greenback extended its losses against the euro and the yen.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 27, 2007 - 12:20 PM
Super Talent DDR2-800 Is Given ATI CrossFire Certification
Super Talent Technology today announced that their 800MHz DDR2 modules have passed ATI CrossFire Certification. Super Talent’s most popular gaming memory kit, T800UX2GC4, has passed ATI’s intensive qualification testing, which ensures that this Super Talent memory kit is compatible with the ATI CrossFire gaming platform. ATI’s Certification List can be found HERE.
The T800UX2GC4 memory kit was developed by Super Talent engineers in San Jose, California to support the growing need for high speed, low latency DDR2 memory among extreme gamers. This kit is built in Super Talent’s Silicon Valley factory from carefully screened components, then is hand tested in leading enthusiast motherboards at 800MHz (PC2-6400), at advanced 4-4-3-8 latencies at 2.2 volts. The kit is tested as a matched pair, then packaged as a kit immediately after testing. Gaming enthusiasts can find T800UX2GC4 at NewEgg and other online resellers for about $220.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 27, 2007 - 11:40 AM
VIA and Geekcorps to Empower Remote Mali Communities
VIA Technologies, Inc, today announced its continued cooperation with international IT development group, Geekcorps, to empower thousands of people through the deployment of specialized, sustainable information and communication technology (ICT) in Mali, including “Cybertigi” mobile cyber service vendors and desert community radio stations.
Mali, the 4th poorest country in the world with an average annual income of just US$1,200, is home to nearly 12 million people, most in rural communities with 64% below the poverty line and 60% illiterate. Much of the country is desert, so temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius and dust pollution are common. The extreme poverty, scarcity of natural resources and poor communication between villages makes the region susceptible to conflict, so Geekcorps, in partnership with USAID, is approaching these problems with innovative technology solutions.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 27, 2007 - 08:21 AM
Vista to drive up DRAM prices in 2H07
Powerchip Semiconductor Corporation (PSC) president Brian Hsieh today expressed optimism that the Windows Vista operating system will drive up DRAM prices in the second half of the year. Hsieh said the low season may last until May or June, but demand will pick up in the second half.
While DRAM prices have dropped sharply in February, edging close to PSC's production costs, there will be little room for further declines, Hsieh said. The PSC president said DRAM spot prices should stay at around US$4 in the first half of the year, and will climb to US$4.5 in the second half, thanks to Vista-stimulated demand. Hsieh's remarks echoed Micron CEO Steve Appleton's expectation that Vista will drive up DRAM prices.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 27, 2007 - 08:19 AM
Apple TV Device Delayed - Wait Till March Please!
Apple said late Monday that the debut of its Apple TV streaming media device has been delayed. Though greatly overshadowed by the appearance of the long-awaited iPhone, Apple unveiled its Apple TV device at Macworld in January and began taking orders that day. It sells for $299, and was originally scheduled to ship in February.
"Wrapping up Apple TV is taking a few weeks longer than we projected," said Apple spokeswoman Lynn Fox. "We now expect shipments to begin mid-March."
Posted by | Tue, Feb 27, 2007 - 08:18 AM
Intel Announces Retooled Factory For 45-nm Chips
Intel today announced their $1.5 billion investment into upgrading its New Mexico fabrication factory that currently produced 90-nm chips. "Fab 11x" will be the company's fourth factory scheduled to use the 45-nm process with production scheduled to start in Q3 of 2008.
Marking one of the biggest advancements in fundamental transistor design in 40 years, Intel's 45nm high-k and metal gate process consists of an innovative combination of new transistor materials that drastically reduces transistor leakage and increases performance. When 45nm production begins later this year, the company will use a new material with a higher-k (dielectric constant), and a new combination of metal materials for the transistor gate electrode. Extending its lead over the rest of the semiconductor industry, early versions of Intel's next generation 45nm family of products -- codenamed Penryn -- are already running multiple operating systems and applications, and the company remains on track to begin 45nm production in the second half of this year.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 26, 2007 - 04:23 PM
VIA Launches Vista-Ready VIA CN896 for Power-Efficient PCs
VIA Technologies, Inc today launched the VIA CN896 digital media IGP chipset, certified Vista-ready by Microsoft and designed to provide OEMs with a flexible platform for power efficient embedded and desktop systems. The VIA CN896 chipset supports the VIA V4 Bus for the power efficient VIA C7 and VIA Eden embedded processors and VIA C7-D desktop processors, which are recognized by Microsoft as designed for Windows Vista.
The VIA CN896 features a dedicated CRT interface as well as flexibility for additional video ports such as DVI transmitter, LVDS transmitter, SDTV and HDTV TV encoder, providing customers with the ability to tailor VIA CN896 systems for use with flat panel displays, a wide variety of LCD panels, TFT color panels, DVI monitors and TV displays, with separate display engines enabling two outputs to display at the same time, with different information and at different resolutions, pixel depths and refresh rates. This greatly enhances the display options for customers designing thin clients, industrial PCs, point of sale machines, digital signage and other embedded products. The inclusion of a 16-lane PCI Express port provides additional upgrade options for desktops, whilst keeping the base configuration affordable for the mainstream, and a further 1-lane for the latest peripherals.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 26, 2007 - 09:21 AM
Toshiba's HD DVD-R laptop on sale - Qosmio Q30
The first laptop computer to feature an HD DVD-R drive, Toshiba's Qosmio Q30, went on sale in Japan over the weekend. HD DVD-R is the read-only version of the HD DVD format and a single-sided disc can hold up to 15GB of data. The format, which is principally backed by Toshiba, is in competition with Blu-ray Disc, which is backed by Sony.
The Qosmio G30/97A is an upgraded model of the existing Qosmio laptop computer that is already on sale in several markets worldwide. It is based on an Intel 2GHz Core 2 Duo processor and has a 17-inch widescreen display with 1,920 pixel by 1,280 pixel resolution, which means it can show high-definition images from HD DVD movie discs. The 4.8-kg machine also features a 320GB hard-disk drive, digital TV tuner and HDMI (high definition multimedia interface) output.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 26, 2007 - 09:18 AM
TSMC may get OEM orders for AMD Fusion processor
Two teams are developing AMD's next-generation Fusion processor, with one focusing on using silicon on insulator (SOI) for the high-end market while the other is developing the chip using bulk processing from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to target the entry-level market, according to investment firm Goldman Sachs as cited by the Chinese-language Economic Daily News
AMD will continue its corporation with Charted Semiconductor for processing on SOI while TSMC may get OEM orders for the processor if the bulk development goes well, reported the paper. If AMD decides to launch only SOI-based processors, however, then Charted Semiconductor will be the only company to benefit from the development, noted the paper. Fusion-based processors are expected to combine the CPU and graphics processor unit on one die.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 26, 2007 - 09:10 AM
February 19th - 23rd News From Around the Web
February 19th - 23rd News From Around the Web
"Thermaltake has a real gem in the Lanbox chassis. The design and styling elements join to produce a small, portable case that not only performs very well, but also is relatively easy to work in, given the space limitations. And, it looks as good as it performs. Its sleek, classy look garnered a lot of attention around here, and it's easy to see why. The all aluminum construction keeps the Lanbox light while the modular design keeps it strong....."
Posted by | Fri, Feb 23, 2007 - 04:09 PM
Gasoline prices pumping back up
Energy experts say prices may jump between 20 and 40 cents a gallon soon. This follows a wild 54-cent hike in wholesale prices over the past few weeks, thanks to higher crude oil prices, two major refinery fires this month and freezing temperatures back east.
Analysts blame fires at a Valero refinery in Texas and at the Chevron plant in Richmond, coupled with seasonal down times as refineries perform routine maintenance and convert to a summer blend of gas, which is more expensive to produce, to help combat smog. But the spark came from Texas, where an oil pipeline to Arizona isn't delivering because of the Valero fire, adding more pressure on refiners in California to pick up the slack.
Posted by | Fri, Feb 23, 2007 - 10:35 AM
Samsung speeds GDDR4 memory up to 4Gbps
Samsung said this morning that they have managed to make GDDR4 (graphics double data rate 4) memory chips that work at 4Gbps. That's two-thirds faster than the current fastest GDDR4 chips generally available, which operate at 2.4Gbps, Samsung said.
It managed to make the higher speed chips by using 80 nanometer production technology. A nanometer is a millionth of a millimeter and the measurement refers to the size of the smallest feature on a chip's surface. As these sizes get smaller, chips can be made more compact, use less energy and work at higher speeds. Samsung's first 4Gbps GDDR4 memory will be a 512Mb (64MB) chip.
Posted by | Fri, Feb 23, 2007 - 10:28 AM