Render This Fast

C|Net reports that nVidia is releasing itx GTX260 and GTX280 graphics chipsets today.  The GTX280 has 240 cores and 933 gFLOPS of processing power.

Yeah, that's right — almost 1 TFLOPS in a single GPU. nVidia claims the GTX280 can render three million triangles per frame.  That's some serious graphics performance.

I couldn't help but notice this paragraph further down, though:

Nvidia is also boasting that a dual-core GTX 280 can convert a high-definition movie into iPod video format in 35 minutes, compared to about five hours for a quad-core CPU system with low-end integrated graphics.

Um, OK, I guess I'm impressed.  Or something.  But you know, I can't help thinking that might actually mean something if an iPod had a high-definition screen.

It reminds me of an article I was reading the other day talking to a professional audio engineer about CDs vs. vinyl.  He made the good point that no vinyl record ever offers perfect audio reproduction and no vinyl record ever can, no matter how careful the engineer, because the playback stylus is a different shape from the cutting stylus and tracks the groove differently, even on a linear-arm turntable.  He discussed how the "warmth" that vinylphiles like to talk about as part of vinyl's "faithful reproduction" is largely composed of surface noise, and it isn't there on the master.

Then he went and blew his cred by saying that all compression formats are bad, and that he loads his iPod only with uncompressed raw PCM to get the most flawless possible reproduction of his classical music favorites.

Flawless reproduction ... on an iPod with a pair of earbud headphones?

Sorry, buddy, but you're kidding yourself there.  It may sound good, but invent a pair of earbud phones capable of flawless, 100% faithful reproduction, and half the audio world will beat a path to your door begging to license your secret.

OK, now where's my flying car?

Also on C|Net:  Honda officially launched the world's first production fuel-cell car on Sunday.  The Honda FCX Clarity delivers a combined-cycle driving range of about 72 miles per kilogram of hydrogen, which Honda says is equivalent to 74mpg in a gasoline-fueled car.  The car has a 280-mile range, implying it can hold about four kilos of hydrogen.

The Clarity will be offered for lease in three California cities (Costa Mesa, Santa Monica, and Torrance) for about $600 a month, starting in July./p>

Of course, hydrogen cars are not going to be widely driven anytime soon.  Honda estimates it will lease only about 200 FCX Clarity vehicles over the next three years.  In order to qualify for the lease program, would-be owners will have to meet a set of criteria that includes living within range of a hydrogen filling station, according to Honda.  As part of the lease, Honda will provide any necessary service or maintenance on the vehicle.

The biggest obstacle in mass market appeal of hydrogen-powered vehicles vs. gas-electric hybrids is where owners could fill up their cars.  While the U.S. Department of Energy has been a proponent of hydrogen fuel as an alternative energy for cars, there are currently few hydrogen-fuel filling stations the U.S.

Assuming you manage to qualify in the first place, good luck finding a place to fill it up away from home.

(See also this article on the hydrogen energy chain.)