Security in business: Intel tells business to do more

One of the debates about how well tablet PCs will do in the enterprise market centers around security concerns. After all, a tablet PC is easily stolen and if there's no passwords or encryption then full access is given. It's a corporate espionage dream. CRN reports that Intel is saying that businesses need to sharpen up their act when it comes to security. That's a fair call considering that research has shown that 70% of laptops stolen over recent years had no security on them at all.

If only VIA based netbooks or tablets were more readily available ... VIA processors have a built in security technology on the processor die. With it they can provide things like the recently released VIA VDSS software package.

"The VIA VDSS software package provides a solution to protect on-disk data at volume and disk level. This means that not only can user's files be protected, but operating system and other software and browser files can also be protected, including vulnerable cookies and passwords. This includes data that is invisible to the normal user, such as user data saved in swap files or partitions, in hibernated files, etc.

The VIA VDSS takes advantage of the VIA PadLock Security Engine which is included in VIA's x86 processors, to perform encryption and/or decryption without impacting on system performance."

Now that's what processor manufacturers need to be cooking up when it comes to mobile computing!

Android to help VIA (and others) into tablet market

The Epoch Times is citing a report called 'Impact of Connected Tablets on the CE Market – 2010 Interim Report', which suggests that tablets using the Android operating system could hold almost 30% market share by the end 2015. I actually think that this prediction is quite low. If you're really going to count the worldwide market share then you have to count the huge number of Android tablets that are already being pumped out in China. These models are often inspired by the iPad design, but with smaller 7-inch screens and of course sporting the free Android operating system. I've seen quite a number of them sporting VIA Wondermedia chips.

Looking for a VIA tablet for Christmas? Found a great one!

It is really hard to tell sometimes what hardware is powering the Android tablets that you find for sale on eBay. They all look very similar and unfortunately, the sellers rarely list the actual hardware specs when it comes to processor and integrated graphics. They focus instead on what you can do with the device. That's a fair enough sales tactic. Here's one that I do know has a VIA VT8505 ARM926 400MHz processor, the 7" iRobot or APad.

This is one of the most robust VIA tablet models that's quite easy to buy if you're in Australia, and because it supports the latest Android firmware, it has the most uses, like full support for YouTube and Skype. It also has Open Office installed. The information about what the tablet can and cannot do, and the hardware it has, is just about the most clear that I have come across on eBay.

They even have a few rods to say about VIA: "We have been selling APad since it was new in the market on July. We are selling the unit with VIA 400Mhz CPU 256MB Ram. We choose VIA rather than Rockchip as we know VIA is more reliable than Rockchip under our testing."

The price is also really fantastic at $129.99 including postage. With delivery in 3-5 business days, it's not too late to get this in time for Christmas!

Yep, I changed the name

When I first set up this blog I aimed to track VIA netbooks and their availability in Australia. But as time has gone on I've found that it's more common to find a new VIA-based tablet hitting the shelves ... usually the virtual shelves of eBay for Australian consumers ... than for a new VIA-based netbook to be announced. So I figured it was high time I adapt the blog and start following tablets as well, hence the name changed to VIA Netbook & Tablet News.

Cheap and tiny netbooks on eBay sport VIA CPUs

If you want a netbook for under AUD 100, check out eBay where you'll find small VIA Arm-based netbooks. This one has a buy now price of 87.99. It's got a 7" screen, 300MHz CPU and 128MB RAM. With those specs I'd probably call it a MID or a smartbook more than a netbook. Youd' have to use this for pretty basic stuff and although it's capable of multitasking, it would be pretty slow at doing it. There's a discussion about it on the whirlpool forums.

VIA netbook and notebooks still strong in Asia

This blog has been pretty quiet of late, especially compared to the VIA Embedded News blog and the VIA Misc blog. As liliputing.com points out, VIA processors only showed up in a few netbook models in the US and the situation was much the same here in Australia. But at Computex last week VIA had a flipping row of netbooks and notebooks. Netbook News had a good look at them in this video.

Excellent article about new Nano processor range

According to LinuxFor Devices.com, the new SKUs of the VIA Nano processors have a mobile design purpose:

"Via's new Nano E series processors are, as in the past, available in an L-series ("low-power") for mainstream desktop and mobile PC systems, and in a U-series ("ultra-low-power") for mini-notebooks and small form factor devices. They use the same 21mm x 21mm nanoBGA2 package as the original Nano, and once again are being manufactured -- likely by Fujitsu -- using a 65nm process. "

The five new processors have a very low power draw, in fact, according to VIA, they're 20% faster but 20% more power efficient than previous VIA Nano processors.

800MHz U3400, with 100mW idle power
1.0GHz U3500, with 100mW idle power
1.2GHz U3300, with 100mW idle power
1.3+GHz U3100, with 100mW idle power
1.8GHz L3050, with 500mW idle power

LinuxForDevices article gives a great history of the VIA Nano processor which puts the new models in perspective of older SKUs.