Happy birthday ... integrated circuit (50)

On April 25, 1961, the patent was filed in the integrated circuit. It was not the first time the integration of several transistors on the same chip was considered (Jack Kilby had patented systems of this type in 1958) but the patent of 1961 is the first to use silicon - still used Nowadays - as the basis for the integrated circuit.

The term "integrated circuit" is very broad, ranging from simple assembly of transistors of an amplifier to the billions of transistors on a modern processor. In the majority of integrated circuits, it still uses a common basis: a silicon wafer, whose size varies depending on the technologies, and interconnections with copper or aluminum between transistors.

Asus BW-12D1S-U: New Blue-Ray burner.

Asus presents its new Blu-Ray recorder BW-12D1S-U which is positioned as the fastest on the market, offering speeds up to 12x and features USB 3.0 technology. With the addition of this recorder to your offer, the firm Asus currently has the widest range of Blu-ray devices market, including internal and external recorders, combos and players with 3D support, all characterized by a speed unmatched and a very careful design.

Intel SSDs will be manufactured by Lite-On

Lite-On would have received an order to make Intel SSDs using a Marvell controller. That's what our colleagues at DigiTimes reports that explain that Lite-On should be responsible for assembling the Intel NAND chips and controller to produce a compatible SSD SATA 3 Gb / s. The firm had also received similar orders from Dell and Plextor.

If these reports are confirmed, this would mean that Intel would be preparing its next generation of SSD. One imagines that this is the range of chips using 20 nm (see "Intel announces flash memory in 20 nm).

• Intel's Larsen Creek SSDs leak out, courtesy of ASRock's Z68 motherboard (28/04/2011)
• Geek deals: Save $42 off Intel 510 Series 120GB SSD (25/04/2011)
• Intel announces third-generation SSD 320 series (29/03/2011)
• The Intel SSD 510 Review (02/03/2011)
• Intel Replaces Consumer SSD Line, Nixes SLC-SSD (28/03/2011)

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Everything passes in touch, even the BIOS

The touch is in vogue, is a fact. And Gigabyte has understood this, showing a "Touch BIOS, usable with fingers on a touch screen. The firmware for PC is actually based on UEFI technology - which became the standard on newer motherboards - but naturally includes an emulator that BIOS for older operating systems like Windows XP running.

In fact, we are left with large colorful buttons, but the fundamentals of the interface does not change. It's basically a pretty interface recarrossage austere traditional BIOS. Still remember that the BIOS is not a graphic novel and it did not take RIL to offer something visually pleasing.

Elpida launches its 30 nm DRAM

Elpida said it will begin mass production of 30 nm DRAM etched next month. The firm had sent copies of the first test last December (see "The DDR3 SO-DIMM Elpida consumes less") and is now preparing for their marketing. She initially allocate 20% of its production to these new chips to increase to 30% next quarter.

It will initially produce modules of 2 Gb, then will move to 4 Gb DDR3 in three months. The firm says that this new fine engraving offers 45% higher yields at 40 nm and the diseases consume 20% less energy. Elpida will also appeal to Rexchip plants that will dedicate 50% of its production capacity for these new chips.

Chat with Intel to 16 H on Tom's Hardware

A few months ago, we permit you to ask your questions directly to representatives of Intel, via a chat. We reproduce this experience today with a live chat module Intel directly accessible from our homepage. You can then from 16 hours to ask all your questions, especially those concerning the second generation of Intel Core and Core vPro functionality provided by this new range and improvements in the area of remote management and security .

Case PSN attention to your bank account

The first credit card fraud resulting from the breach of security servers and Playstation Network Qriocity prompted U.S. consumers to complain. It is recommended to monitor their account or to object to your card if you bought online content on your PS3. When we reported yesterday that Sony thought that the banking information of its customers were potentially compromised with the rest of personal data (see "PlayStation Network information is compromised), we were very careful to use the same level of conditional probability that Sony used in its press release.