Playstation 3 Cell Processor
The setup of the Cell processor is like having a team of processors all working together on one chip to handle the large computational workload needed to run next-generation video games. In order to understand how the Cell processor works, it helps to look at each of the major parts that comprise this processor.
The "Processing Element" of the Cell is a 3.2-GHz PowerPC core equipped with 512 KB of L2 cache. The PowerPC core is a type of microprocessor similar to the one you would find running the Apple G5. It's a powerful processor on its own and could easily run a computer by itself; but in the Cell, the PowerPC core is not the sole processor. Instead, it's more of a "managing processor." It delegates processing to the eight other processors on the chip, the Synergistic Processing Elements.
The computational workload comes in through the PowerPC core. The core then assesses the work that needs to be done, looks at what the SPEs are currently processing and decides how to best dole out the workload to achieve maximum efficiency.
Just the Facts, Ma'am
When?It hit U.S. shelves on November 17, 2006 and will release in Europe and Australasia in March 2007.
How much? The U.S. price of the 60GB configuration is $599 and expect the 20GB configuration to go for $499.
The SPEs used in the Cell processor are each SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data), 128-bit vector processors. Vector processors are designed to quickly process several pieces of data at once. They were commonly used in the 1980s in large, powerful, scientific supercomputers and were created as a faster alternative to the more common scalar processor. Scalar processors can only work one data element at a time. Despite this limitation, advances in scalar design and performance have made the use of vector processors very rare these days in most computers. However, because of the vector processor's ability to handle several data elements at once, IBM resurrected this design for the Cell. There are eight SPEs on the chip, but only seven of them handle processing. The eighth SPE is built in as redundancy in case one of the other seven fails.
The SPEs each come loaded with 256 KB SRAM. This high-speed memory helps each SPE crunch numbers quickly. The SPE memory is also visible to the main Processing Element. This allows the PowerPC Core to utilize the resources of each SPE in the most efficient way possible. All of this amounts to unprecedented power for a piece of consumer electronics.
You would probably like to download a free PSP theme. Virtually all PSP users do. The PSP has become an incredibly well known, and well loved, machine, and part of that is the flexibility it affords its users. Ipod socks are totally superfluous when you have the freedom to choose the exact way your PSP looks and behaves!
Download A Free PSP Theme Tip 1-Don't use the main Sony site!
A lot of people never bother to look beyond the main Sony Playstation website when they are looking for themes for their PSP. It is virtually impossible to find a unique PSP Theme if you are downloading it from the same place as everybody else. Although there is no shortage of themes to choose from on the main site, there are a lot of people choosing them. Look somewhere else!
Download A Free PSP Theme Tip 2- Do an internet search
A lot of people will use the main search engines to find out how to download a free PSP theme, but use a bit of clever thinking, and you can get what you want. Instead of doing a direct search engine search for themes, look for PSP communities on the internet? Try to see if you can find some forums or newsgroups. This can be a really useful source of resources, sometimes from members of the forum, and sometimes just from threads. You can find custom-made PSP Themes on these dedicated forums.
Download A Free PSP Theme Tip 3- Don’t use a download!
You can try using one of the simple art programs on your computer to design your own original Theme. Virtually any of the simple art programs will allow you to produce a simple wallpaper, and this should be compatible with your PSP as long as you create it as a JPEG file. Another possibility is to get someone who is good with art to actually design a theme for you. You can find a PSP forum which has some decent Themes, and ask whoever designed the themes you like the best if they will create one for you. Often they will be happy to do it, although they may charge you a little for doing the job.
You can do a lot more with downloading free PSP Themes than just following everybody else with EA games wallpapers etc from the official Sony site. Be original, and you will enjoy your PSP more!
Come 2009, the Google Android will be seen on all major mobile phones. It was unveiled on November 5, 2008 but will come into use next year. Google will release the Android platform available under the Apache free-software and open-source license. That means absolutely free to use.
What is Google Android ?
No, android is not a mobile phone which most people have assumed. But it is a operating system and software platform for mobile devices. It will based on the Linux operating system. Developers can write applications using Java Programing languages. The Android will be jointly developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance.
In simple terms, it will be like Symbian and Windows Operating system found in mobile phones.
Features of Google Android
1. Android will supports all common media formats for videos, songs and pictures. Such as MPEG-4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPEG, PNG, GIF.
2. Network Capabilities - It will support all the present cell phone network providers namely GSM/EDGE, CDMA, EV-DO, UMTS. It will also feature Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
3. Unlimited and diverse applications - Since its a freeware software, anyone can make applications using the java programming language and share it with others. This is the main and will be the most important selling point of google android.
4. Messaging features - Supports text and picture SMS, MMS and the new XMPP(directly contact with other people without any softwares like yahoo messenger or skype)
5. Google Android will provide enhanced utilization of GPS services combined with google maps. Very helpful in finding your way.
6. Display - The platform will be adaptable to all mobile phones display layouts. Provided it has a color screen and GPRS enabled.
A preview release of the Android software development kit (SDK) has been available since 12 November 2007. It includes development and debugging tools, a set of libraries, a device emulator, documentation, sample projects, tutorials, and FAQs.
Developers are required to download the SDK to an x86-based computer running Linux (any Linux Distribution), Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later or Windows XP or Vista. Requirements also include Java Development Kit, Apache Ant, and Python 2.2 or later.
The only officially supported integrated development environment (IDE) is Eclipse 3.2 or later, through the Android Development Tools Plugin, but programmers can use command line tools to create, build and debug Android applications.
