Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Microsoft will talk about 'the next version' of Windows at Computex tonight

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/microsoft-will-talk-about-the-next-version-of-windows-at-compu/

Microsoft's Computex keynote today was all about the software giant's expansive portfolio of current offerings, but it started off with a pretty awesome promise: a partner preview event is coming tomorrow (Taipei time) where we'll get to hear about the next version of Windows. Steve Guggenheimer, the man who dished up this delicious tease, naturally had nothing more to say on the matter, but we do know that said event kicks off at 10AM local time, making it 10PM ET (on Wednesday!) in the US. Whichever side of the Pacific you're on, however, rest assured that we'll have all the details that Microsoft is willing to disclose about its future as soon as they become available.

Update: Remember, there's a remote chance that we might see Windows Next (aka, Windows 8) revealed a few hours earlier when Steven Sinofsky hits the stage at the D9 conference Wednesday afternoon. Naturally, we'll be bringing the conversation with Microsoft's president of Windows to you live, just as soon as things kick off at 3:15PM PT (6:15PM ET).

Microsoft will talk about 'the next version' of Windows at Computex tonight originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel ships 100 million Atoms, celebrates third birthday of netbook CPU

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/intel-ships-100-million-atoms-celebrates-third-birthday-of-netb/

Intel's Atom processor and the rise of the netbook have gone hand in hand, which has to this date resulted in a tally of one hundred million CPUs shipped by Intel. And though netboks are not quite the new hotness they once were, Intel is today celebrating the third birthday of its low-power processor and promising to keep it going for many years yet. That'll happen thanks to a category Intel is calling companion devices, which includes clamshells of the old netbook ilk and tablets of all sizes and varieties. As if to prove that point, the company showed off a tablet that could boot into MeeGo, Android and Windows -- choice is what it's all about, according to Intel.

Intel ships 100 million Atoms, celebrates third birthday of netbook CPU originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

SanDisk outs faster U100 and i100 SSDs for ultra-portables and tablets, we go hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/sandisk-outs-faster-u100-and-i100-ssds-for-ultra-portables-and-t/

SanDisk has been pumping out press releases all day thanks to Computex-mania, so we shuffled past its stall to see what all the fuss is about. The biggest news is the U100 range of tiny SSDs for ultraportables, which crank data in and out at twice the speed of SanDisk's previous generation P4 drives. We're talking 450MB/s reads and 340MB/s writes thanks to the latest SATA III interface, plus a max capacity of 256GB -- specs which have already enticed ASUS to use the U100 in its lightweight UX-series notebooks. Mass production is expected in Q3 of this year. Specs table and triple-shot of PR coming up after the break, plus a gallery showing size comparisons of the U100 SSD in its glorious mSATA and Mini mSATA varieties, stacked up against some common objects like a 2.5-inch SSD drive, an HP Veer, and a vaguely goth bracelet.

Meanwhile, SanDisk hasn't forgotten about our desperate need for faster tablets. The company has doubled the speed of its existing iNAND embedded flash modules, and is also releasing a brand new SATA III drive, the i100, specifically for this form factor. The i100 maxes out at 128GB and achieves a significantly slower write speed (160MB/s) than the U100, but it has same impressive read speed (450MB/s) -- which should mean nippier tablets in the not-too-distant future.

Continue reading SanDisk outs faster U100 and i100 SSDs for ultra-portables and tablets, we go hands-on

SanDisk outs faster U100 and i100 SSDs for ultra-portables and tablets, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 09:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer TravelMate 8481 series laptop shown off with super thin bezel, or so you think

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/acer-travelmate-8481-series-laptop-shown-off-with-super-thin-bez/

Remember the rumor about an upcoming Acer laptop housing a super thin LG Shuriken display? Well, here it is at Computex. Thanks to the crazy thin bezel, we noticed this TravelMate 8481 series laptop quietly chilling out in a corner at Acer's booth, though upon closer inspection it turned out that the bezel is slightly deceptive. What's really happening here is that while the screen module (which includes the 1.3 megapixel webcam) really is eating away the bezel, the actual LCD (14.1 inches at 1,366 x 768) isn't really touching the edge. Still, it's one helluva slim display thanks to LG's display technology and Acer's carbon fiber chassis.

Other highlights include Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT520M, up to 320GB of hard drive space, up to 13 hours of battery life, USB 3.0 with power-off charging, fingerprint reader, HDMI, and Bluetooth 3.0. Oh, and like some of the ThinkPads, the mouse buttons use the same mechanism as the keyboard keys for better clicking experience, though it might not be everyone's cup of tea. No prices announced just yet, but keep an eye out for a global launch around mid-June. Video after the break.

Continue reading Acer TravelMate 8481 series laptop shown off with super thin bezel, or so you think

Acer TravelMate 8481 series laptop shown off with super thin bezel, or so you think originally appeared ! on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 10:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia lowers devices and services outlook for Q2, increasingly confident about first Windows Phone in Q4

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/nokia-lowers-devices-and-services-outlook-for-q2-increasingly/

You know what happens when you tell the world that you're abandoning Symbian for the Windows Phone ecosystem? Right, Symbian sales dry up. No matter how many times you boast about plans to sell an additional 150 million new Symbian devices, and no matter how long you commit to supporting Symbian devices, the OS is essentially dead to developers and consumers alike. So, we're not surprised to hear that Nokia just lowered its devices and services outlook for Q2 of 2011. The updated guidance calls for net sales from devices and services to be substantially below the EUR 6.1 billion to EUR 6.6 billion expected in Q2 due lower expected average selling prices on lower volumes. It also sees margins drifting below the expected range of 6 percent to 9 percent due to lower than expected net sales -- in fact, Nokia expects its non-IFRS operating margin to be "around breakeven." As as result, Nokia is pulling back its annual targets for 2011 and will provide further updates as its future becomes more clear.
On a positive note, Nokia does say that it has "increased confidence" that it will ship its first Windows Phone product in Q4 2011. Let's hope so.

Continue reading Nokia lowers devices and services outlook for Q2, increasingly confident about first Windows Phone in Q4

Nokia lowers devices and services outlook for Q2, increasingly confident about first Windows Phone in Q4 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 08:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel Smart Connect and Rapid Start technologies unveiled, coming by the holidays

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/intel-smart-connect-and-rapid-start-technologies-unveiled-comin/

As part of its keynote at Computex today, Intel unveiled a pair of new sleep-related technologies, though funnily enough, neither of them is particularly boring. Smart Connect checks up periodically on web apps you have open while your computer is in sleep mode -- meaning that email clients and in-browser web apps like Twitter and Facebook will update themselves without the need for you to flip the computer on in full. Updates will be ready and waiting for you when you get back. Rapid Start is a new hibernation mode that can resume within 5 to 6 seconds and can remember your computer's state with zero power. Though, admittedly, the zero-power operation doesn't look like it can be maintained for too long, the hibernation itself can keep your computer going for up to 30 days. Pretty neat stuff. It's all coming to Sandy Bridge laptops with Windows 7 soon, with widespread availability promised by the holidays.

Intel Smart Connect and Rapid Start technologies unveiled, coming by the holidays originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 02:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViewSonic equips 24-inch V3D245wm-LED monitor with built-in 3D emitter

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/viewsonic-equips-24-inch-v3d245wm-led-monitor-with-built-in-3d-e/

The "ultimate 3D monitor?" Likely a stretch, but who are we to argue with a stalwart like ViewSonic? All jesting aside, those looking to finally bite on the 3D value proposition can get ready to do so, as the 24-inch V3D245wm-LED monitor packs a built-in 3D emitter, an HDMI 1.4 input, 1080p resolution, 120Hz scanning rate, two millisecond response time and a brain-melting 20,000,000:1 "maximum contrast ratio." For those looking for something a bit more bantam, the PLED-W200 is also being (re)introduced here at Computex, claiming to be the planet's first WXGA pico projector. 'Course, we got an early peek of this very unit back at CES, but hopefully we're one step closer to actually seeing this one ship. Sadly, the outfit's not dishing out pricing or release dates, but hopefully both will be revealed shortly.

Continue reading ViewSonic equips 24-inch V3D245wm-LED monitor with built-in 3D emitter

ViewSonic equips 24-inch V3D245wm-LED monitor with built-in 3D emitter originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 03:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel shows off Oak Trail-based Android Honeycomb tablets, confirms Android Market support

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/intel-shows-off-oak-trail-based-android-honeycomb-tablets-confi/

At a time when ARM and Android are dominating the mobile computing world, Intel's only just starting to catch up with some green robot-friendly prototypes, like these Oak Trail-based 10-inch tablets at Computex 2011. Starting from the left we have the Intel Green Ridge, Foxconn F150, Quanta QXZI, an unnamed Compal device, Intel Marco Polo 2, and Intel Carrot. Sadly, Intel wouldn't give the names of the ODMs behind its own reference tablets, so your guess is just as good as ours.

With the exception of the Gingerbread-powered Foxconn slate, these were all running on Honeycomb 3.0.1 OS -- well, we say running, but just barely. As you'll see in our hands-on video after the break, most of the devices were struggling to keep up with the launcher animation, and needless to say, Intel wasn't keen on letting us test video playback on them. We also noticed that Android Market was missing on the prototypes, but Intel assured us that it'll be available on the final products, and that current Android apps are already supported by Oak Trail. In terms of build quality it left much to be desired, though this is forgivable at a trade show; it's the software that we're concerned with. From what we've seen here at Computex, Android on Oak Trail is far from ready, so it'll be interesting to see if Acer can actually pull off a July launch for its rumored Oak Trail Honeycomb tablet.

Update: OK, our in-depth hands-on video is finally working. Check it out after the break.

Continue reading Intel shows off Oak Trail-based Android Honeycomb tablets, confirms Android Market support

Intel shows off Oak Trail-based Android Honeycomb tablets, confirms Android Market support originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 03:42:00 E! DT. Ple ase see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pixel Qi takes aim at Android tablets with higher-res 10-inch and 7-inch reflective LCDs (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/pixel-qi-takes-aim-at-android-tablets-with-higher-res-10-inch-an/

We've been holding out hope for Pixel Qi devices for years, ever since we first heard that the OLPC spin-off would begin manufacturing its displays for use by any OEM looking for a battery-sipping LCD. Unfortunately, Mary Lou's LCDs, capable of switching between a sunlight-readable reflective mode and full-color transmissive state, have had limited uptake by some less than desirable partners. Still, the team has returned to Computex with the 7-inch (1024 x 600) panel that was teased in December last year and a new higher resolution 10-inch (1280 x 800) panels offering an 80 percent power savings over conventional LCDs, according to Pixel Qi. In fact, the 10-inch panel consumes just 2.7W in color mode or 0.4W in reflective "eReader" mode.

We had the chance to see the new displays up close here at Computex and were immediately struck by the improvement in pixel density on the 10-inch panel. Making the leap to WVGA has been a major boon, as identical images looked sharper and better-defined than on the 1024 x 600 current-gen Pixel Qi display. The brightness on the new screen is lower than on its predecessor, but that's because the company still hasn't finalized things -- we're promised significantly better readability with the backlight off in the final product and brighter pictures when it's on. The 7-incher, originally intended for mass production in the second quarter will now sample in Q3, to be followed by the more pixel-dense 10-inch model, which will hit production in Q4. Scope out the newness in the gallery below or jump past the break for video.

Continue reading Pixel Qi takes aim at Android tablets with higher-res 10-inch and 7-inch reflective LCDs (hands-on)

Pixel Qi takes aim at Android tablets with higher-res 10-inch and 7-inch reflective LCDs (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 06:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WiMAX PlayBook 4G announcement betrayed by Google search?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/30/wimax-playbook-4g-announcement-betrayed-by-google-search/

Google Search for
Well, we've been waiting for a PlayBook packing something more than WiFi to rear its enterprise-friendly head, and there it is -- sort of. Search Google for "Sprint PlayBook" and the number one (non-sponsored) result is a page "introducing the BlackBerry 4G Playbook tablet," which means the companies are right about on schedule for that promised summer release. Clicking on the link just redirects you to the Sprint homepage for now and, sadly, price and exact ship date are still anyone's guess. There's enough detail in the search snippet to tell us that this is legit and and an announcement page is ready to go, though -- so, WiMAX fans, we hope you like QNX.

[Thanks, Josh]

WiMAX PlayBook 4G announcement betrayed by Google search? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 10:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel's Ivy Bridge coming Q1 2012, growing festive moss while you wait

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/30/intels-ivy-bridge-coming-q1-2012-growing-festive-moss-while-yo/

If you were religiously awaiting the fruition of last month's Intel leak, brace yourself: we've got another one. Although Intel's updated roadmap hasn't changed anything per se, it does offer a few specifics. Whereas the previous schedule only suggested we'd be crossing the Ivy Bridge in the first half of 2012, the new roadmap shows the 22 nanometer processor penned in at the end of the first quarter. The Sandy Bridge E series is still on schedule for Q4 however, so unless you just have to have native USB 3.0 and DirectX 11 support, you still have plenty to look forward to. Otherwise, we'll see you in April.

Intel's Ivy Bridge coming Q1 2012, growing festive moss while you wait originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 17:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TransPhone pairs tablet and handset, emerged before ASUS Padfone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/30/transphone-pairs-tablet-and-handset-emerged-before-asus-padfone/

While ASUS' Padfone was being launched with much sticker-clad-model fanfare at Computex today, CMIT's TransPhone was apparently enjoying its third day of life, having first appeared on the web as early as Saturday. Both tablets include built-in docks with smartphones to match, but are otherwise unique in appearance and features. The TransPhone includes a bluetooth headset and a slide-in smartphone dock, while the Padfone's handset is completely hidden by a flip-up rear door. The CMIT device reportedly packs a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor and SVGA display, along with USB and HDMI ports, though we're still unclear on which OS will be running on the tablet. There's also no word on pricing or availability, but the TransPhone is in good company there, so don't get ready to ditch those standalone gadgets just yet.

TransPhone pairs tablet and handset, emerged before ASUS Padfone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 17:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG V300 does multitouch, 3D, all-in-one

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/30/lg-v300-does-multitouch-3d-all-in-one/

A show as packed to the walls will shiny new technology as Computex could surely benefit from a few space saving devices, like, say, this new all-in-one from LG. With the high-end configuration you'll get a second generation Intel Core i7 processor, AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics, a 750GB hard drive, 8GB of RAM, and a Blu-ray player all packed inside the system's slender 1.8-inch thick frame. The V300's multitouch 23-inch Film-type Patterned Retarder (FPR)-enabled display offers up 3D with the aid of polarized glasses. The AIW is set for a Korean launch in July, followed by trips to Europe, the Middle East, and other parts of Asia. No word on if or when it'll hit desks in the States, but at least you won't have to find much room on your desk when it does.

Continue reading LG V300 does multitouch, 3D, all-in-one

LG V300 does multitouch, 3D, all-in-one originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NTT DoCoMo exhibits on-the-fly speech translation, lets both parties just talk (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/30/ntt-docomo-exhibits-on-the-fly-speech-translation-lets-both-par/

The race to smash linguistic barriers with simultaneous speech-to-speech translation is still wide open, and Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo has just joined Google Translate and DARPA on the track. Whereas Google Translate's Conversation Mode was a turn-based affair when it was demoed back in January, requiring each party to pause awkwardly between exchanges, NTT DoCoMo's approach seems a lot more natural. It isn't based on new technology as such, but brings together a range of existing cloud-based services that recognize your words, translate them and then synthesize new speech in the other language -- hopefully all before your cross-cultural buddy gets bored and hangs up. As you'll see in the video after the break, this speed comes with the sacrifice of accuracy and it will need a lot of work after it's trialled later in the year. But hey, combine NTT DoCoMo's system with a Telenoid robot or kiss transmission device and you can always underline your meaning physically.

Continue reading NTT DoCoMo exhibits on-the-fly speech translation, lets both parties just talk (video)

NTT DoCoMo exhibits on-the-fly speech translation, lets both parties just talk (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 22:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel reveals skinny Ivy Bridge 'Ultrabooks,' Moore's Law-defying Atoms

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/30/intel-reveals-skinny-ivy-bridge-ultrabooks-moores-law-defyin/

Ultraman + Intel
Intel took the opportunity at Computex to update the tech-loving world on its processor plans, and it looks like those whispers we heard about low power and an accelerated Atom roadmap were spot on. Executive VP Sean Maloney didn't divulge specific TDPs but did confirm that we could look forward to reduced power consumption and sleek designs in 2012. The Intel exec declared that new class of PC, dubbed "Ultrabooks," will make up 40-percent of the market by the end of 2012. These machines, powered by the 22nm Ivy Bridge, will be less than 0.8-inches thick and start at under $1,000 -- which sounds just like the lines we were fed about CULV chips back in 2009.

Maloney also confirmed that, going forward, the Atom line would be getting a die shrink every year, as opposed to every two. The upcoming, 32nm Cedar Trail will usher in the new Moore's Law-smashing era with promises of a 10 hour battery life and weeks of standby, and will be succeeded by 22nm and 14nm models. Intel even talked up Medfield, it's Atom variant designed specifically for smartphones and tablets, and showed off more than 10 tablets based on the Oak Trail-flavored Z670. With AMD merely a fading blip in the company's rearview mirror it looks like Chipzilla is gunning for all those ARM-touting manufacturers. Check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Intel reveals skinny Ivy Bridge 'Ultrabooks,' Moore's Law-defying Atoms

Intel reveals skinny Ivy Bridge 'Ultrabooks,' Moore's Law-defying Atoms originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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