The Future of Mobile Phones - Nokia Morph concept

New York, US and Espoo, Finland - Morph, a joint nanotechnology concept, developed by Nokia Research Center (NRC) and the University of Cambridge (UK) - was launched today alongside the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition, on view from February 24 to May 12, 2008, at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Morph features in both the exhibition catalog and on MoMA's official website.
Morph is a concept that demonstrates how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing the user to transform their mobile device into radically different shapes. It demonstrates the ultimate functionality that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering: flexible materials, transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces.

Dr. Tapani Ryhanen, Head of the NRC Cambridge UK laboratory, Nokia, commented: "We hope that this combination of art and science will showcase the potential of nanoscience to a wider audience. The research we are carrying out is fundamental to this as we seek a safe and controlled way to develop and use new materials."

Professor Mark Welland, Head of the Department of Engineering's Nanoscience Group at the University of Cambridge and University Director of Nokia-Cambridge collaboration added: "Developing the Morph concept with Nokia has provided us with a focus that is both artistically inspirational but, more importantly, sets the technology agenda for our joint nanoscience research that will stimulate our future work together."

The partnership between Nokia and the University of Cambridge was announced in March, 2007 - an agreement to work together on an extensive and long term programme of joint research projects. NRC has established a research facility at the University's West Cambridge site and collaborates with several departments - initially the Nanoscience Center and Electrical Division of the Engineering Department - on projects that, to begin with, are centered on nanotechnology.

Elements of Morph might be available to integrate into handheld devices within 7 years, though initially only at the high-end. However, nanotechnology may one day lead to low cost manufacturing solutions, and offers the possibility of integrating complex functionality at a low price.

Morph concept technologies might create fantastic opportunities for mobile devices:

• Newly-enabled flexible and transparent materials blend more seamlessly with the way we live
• Devices become self-cleaning and self-preserving
• Transparent electronics offering an entirely new aesthetic dimension
• Built-in solar absorption might charge a device, whilst batteries become smaller, longer lasting and faster to charge
• Integrated sensors might allow us to learn more about the environment around us, empowering us to make better choices

Latest Solid-State Drives may have speeds up by 500%

Intel and Micron Technology on Friday said they have developed technology for a high-speed solid-state drive that's five times faster than current products used in consumer and professional devices ranging from hand held computers and notebooks to digital cameras and camcorders.
The NAND flash memory chips developed jointly by the two companies can reach speeds of up to 200 MB per second for reading data and 100 MB per second for writing data, the partners said. Current memory chips have maximum read-write speeds of 40 MB and 20 MB, respectively.
Solid-state drives are used for storage today in just about any electronic device that holds data. Current technology is fast enough for handling photos and standard video in computers or an Apple iPod, but performance problems become an issue in handling high-definition video, which consumers are expected to start demanding as they become accustomed to watching HD televisions. HDTV's are among the hottest selling consumer electronics products today.
With HD video files requiring multiple gigabytes of storage, the need for technology that can move the content in and out of a storage device quickly, so it can be played on a hand held gadget or recorded in a camcorder, becomes critical. Other applications include digital photography, where faster storage would translate into faster shutter speeds for sports photography, for example.
"These are all areas where performance does matter and consumers or users are willing to pay for it," Joe Unsworth, analyst for Gartner told InformationWeek. "These products are going to have a premium associated with it."
Being able to charge more for a faster solid-state drive is important because memory is mostly a commodity market today, where manufacturers compete for business on price. With current technology good enough for use in Apple iPods and smart phones, most consumers would be unwilling to pay more for a faster drive.
As a result, Micron and Intel are expected to try to differentiate themselves from the pack with speed, and consumers and professionals who want it are likely to be willing to pay more. "We don't expect this high-performance NAND [flash memory] to be widespread," Unsworth said. "But when you're talking video and professional photography, companies are willing to pay that premium to have that performance [in products]."
Micron is expected to release a high-speed 8 GB solid-state drive in the second half of the year, with higher-capacity products expected to follow later, Unsworth said.
Micron will manufacture flash memory devices with the new technology through IM Flash Technologies, the company's joint venture with Intel.
The faster solid-state storage technology is emerging at the same time as new interface standards. One important standard is ONFI 2.0, which stands for open NAND flash interface. The specification makes it possible to move larger amounts of data faster to and from a digital camera or within a notebook, where a solid-state drive is being used in place of a traditional hard disk drive. SSDs are far more expensive than HDDs, but they are also more rugged and reliable and faster, making them desirable in some applications, such as in devices used by the military or utility workers.
Micron's and Intel's latest technology supports ONFI 2.0. In addition, future high-speed SSDs developed by the companies also will support USB 3.0, which is considerably faster than current USB 2.0 ports commonly used in computers today, and PCI express, which is the specification for slots on a motherboard where peripherals, such as graphics cards, are attached.

Windows Vista SP1 to be launched on Feb. 4

Microsoft Corp. will release Windows Vista Service Pack (SP1) on Monday, Feb. 4, according to reports Friday from Tech ARP, a Malaysian Web site.
Vista SP1 will make RTM on Monday, said Tech ARP, with computer makers receiving media later in the week to install the updated operating system on new laptops and desktops. Bits will also be posted for download on Monday, the site claimed.
"Microsoft will be deploying SP1 in two 'waves,'" said Tech ARP. The first, on Monday, will include just five of the 36 available language packs -- English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. The second wave, slated for one to two weeks later, will include all 36 language packs.
Previously, Microsoft has said it would break SP1 into two stand-alone installers for businesses: a 450MB package that includes the five packs, and a 550MB installer that offers three-dozen languages. Both are expected to be available for download from Microsoft's Web site.
SP1 will also be offered to users through Windows Update, Microsoft Update and presumably Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). That update will weigh in at around 65MB. Microsoft explained the smaller size in a change-log posted to its support site: "Windows Update...utilizes an efficient transfer mechanism to download only the actual bytes changed."