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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Samsung exec admits 15-inch Series 9 could benefit from better viewing angles

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/samsung-15-inch-series-9-viewing-angles/

When we reviewed the 15-inch Samsung Series 9, we found very little to complain about, save for the narrow viewing angles and the fair-weather trackpad. Turns out, Samsung at least agrees with the first part. Raymond Wah, VP of PC product strategy, told a group of reporters, "We can make improvements in terms of the viewing angle." That's not surprising, given that Samsung's homegrown 15-inch display doesn't currently make use of the same IPS-like PLS technology as the panel used in the 13-inch Series 9. It would seem, then, that it's occurred to Samsung to develop one, though company reps declined to say when we might see a 15-inch Series 9 with such a display in tow.

For now, anyway, the outfit is giving itself some credit for the laptop's relatively dense 1600 x 900 pixel count (and rightfully so!). Interestingly, Wah's comments come at a time when MacBook Pro rumors are starting to flow fast and furious, and a Retina display is looking like a fair possibility. As to whether Samsung will ever produce a 4K laptop display of its own, Wah declined to comment, but he did note that right now there isn't enough content optimized for that higher resolution, and that such screens would be costlier to produce. Until all that changes, we have to admit we're pretty pleased with the Series 9's resolution too -- after all, anything's better than plain old HD.

Samsung exec admits 15-inch Series 9 could benefit from better vi! ewing an gles originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Google Docs gets new Research tool, lets you search without leaving your work

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/google-docs-research-tool/

Google has already brought a pile of new fonts and templates to Google Docs this month, and it's now back with another fairly big new feature. Open a document today and you'll find a new Research tool on the side of your page (which can be toggled on and off), offering the ability to search for any topic and get results without having to leave the document you're working on. Those results can include images, quotes and other basic information that's delivered right in the sidebar -- and, of course, the usual search results that you can open in a new tab or window if you want to dive deeper on a subject. Hit the source link below for all the details on how to use the new tool, or simply fire up a new document to try it out for yourself.

Google Docs gets new Research tool, lets you search without leaving your work originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 15:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Haswell-based Windows 8 Ultrabook shown off at IDF 2012 in Brazil (updated)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/haswell-based-windows-8-ultrabook-shown-off-at-idf-2012-in-brazi/

Intel's been playing the slow tease with its Haswell microarchitecture as far back as 2008. But today, we finally have a glimpse at what devices running that 22nm core might look like. Shown off at IDF 2012 down in Sao Paulo, the company's Brazilian prexy, Fernando Martins, was photographed brandishing a Windows 8 Ultrabook powered by that next-gen CPU, replete with touchscreen functionality. While it remains to be seen if such hands-on features will make it into the final consumer product, this reference design does at least tip us off to a potential form factor. When those chips do make their official market debut, you can expect a line of svelte laptops that will reportedly consume 20x less power and last up to ten days on standby. That'll make for some nice computing kit, for sure. Now you just have to endure the wait. Hop on past the break for a closer look at this work-in-progress.

Update: A spokesperson for Intel reached out to let us know that the device above is not, in fact, running a Haswell core. The Ultrabook in Martins' hands is actually an Ivy Bridge reference design.

[Thanks, Henrique]

Continue reading Haswell-based Win! dows 8 U ltrabook shown off at IDF 2012 in Brazil (updated)

Haswell-based Windows 8 Ultrabook shown off at IDF 2012 in Brazil (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon: The Ultralight, Semi-Rugged Carbon Fiber Ultrabook [Ultrabooks]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5910216/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-the-ultralight-semi+rugged-carbon-fiber-ultrabook

Tablets may be the next big thing in mobile computing, but don't count out ultrabooks just yet. At least not until you've given Lenovo's Thinkpad X1 Carbon—a feather-weight, carbon fiber workhorse a closer look. It's tough, it's light, and you don't have to be an office drone to crave it.

The X1 Carbon it the latest addition to Lenovo's popular X1 series. Despite a spacious 14-inch screen, the X1 Carbon tips the scales at a scant three pounds—making it the lightest rig of its size—thanks to its carbon fiber roll cage. The screen displays at a native 1600x900 resolution. The system supports up to 8GB of integrated DDR3, runs 64-bit windows 7 Pro, and has that Intel Ivy Bridge goodness you've been hearing so much about.

I had a brief moment to handle the X1 Carbon at a recent press demo and I have to say, it's impressive—three pounds on the nose for a system this robust and a screen this large feels like cheating. There's a full Thinkpad keyboard here that's spill resistant and backlit. And the display isn't just big, it's matte, which only Samsung had standard previously. Most impressive, though, was the overall build quality. If the MacBook Air is a porcelain doll, the X1 Carbon is a G.I. Joe strapped with Kevlar.

The X1 Carbon reportedly gets up to 10 hours of battery life, which should translate to nearly a full day of real-world usage. But even if it doesn't, its Rapid Charge feature means it can get back to 80-percent capacity with just 30 minutes of outlet time. Handy when you're stuck in a terminal on a 45 minute layover with a quickly fading laptop.

Other key features include the 720p front-facing camera and Dolby Home Theater v4—good for Skype meetings with your supplier in Boise. The camera employs face-tracking software to follow your movements, so you don't have to sit rigidly front-and-center, while the Dolby system ensures that the mic picks up your voice while filtering out background noise. The X1 Carbon also features 3G connectivity for when you can't find an open Wi-Fi connection.

There's no word yet on pricing or availability, although it seems like Lenovo may be making it an online exclusive.

Here's the Brand New AMD Processor that Could Power Your Next Laptop [Guts]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5910303/heres-the-brand-new-amd-processor-that-could-power-your-next-laptop

You didn't think AMD was going to let Intel get all the cool new processor attention with Ivy Bridge, did you? AMD's latest and greatest is now: Trinity. It's runs fast, cool, efficiently, and packs some terrific graphical tricks.

To put it simply, Trinity is about graphics. The chip packs a significant CPU upgrade, of course—by 29 percent, AMD claims—but they say the real muscle comes with the built-in GPU. The Radeon HD 7000, stuffed onto the same silicon, provides GPU acceleration for a huge swath of applications you're probably using every day. This frees up CPU power, and allows CPU and GPU to tag team heavy software to squeeze as much performance out of your laptop as possible. The first batch of Trinity chips will be topped off by the A10-4600M, with four CPU cores, a base clock speed of 2.3 Ghz, and 4 MB of L2 cache. AMD's also dropping a super thin and efficient (you might say ultra) model, the A10-655M, which will power new tinybooks with two cores at 2 Ghz and a 4 MB L2 cache.

AMD's teamed with developers to make sure programs like Photoshop, Handbrake, VLC, WinZip, and every major browser get a swift kick in the ass from Trinity's graphical guts, along with beefed up HD video playback. The GPU acceleration uses an open standard, too, so you can bet AMD is pushing more devs to team up.

It's an interesting approach—AMD is essentially ceding the CPU war to Intel as pointless, with the presumption that GPU acceleration is going to matter more in the long run. A war they can win, having absorbed the Radeon mojo. We'll have to wait until independent benchmarks come in to see whether Trinity delivers what AMD's promising, but it's an exciting way to think about computing, and one it's sort of betting the farm on.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Samsung Galaxy S III battery tested by GSMArena, lasts as long as your tablet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-battery-tested/

Samsung made much ado over the Galaxy S III's 2,100mAh battery, but we've been wondering whether or not that power pack was a major perk or just a necessity to offset that hefty Exynos 4 Quad. One of what looks to be a growing number of escaped pre-release devices was put through the ringer in battery tests and came out looking spic-and-span: it lasted for just over 10 hours for video and voice, or long enough to make even a tablet like the new iPad or Transformer Prime break a sweat. Web browsing wasn't quite so hot, though, which at a bit over five hours was well behind the seven hours of an iPhone 4S. Don't expect the seemingly infinite battery of the Droid RAZR Maxx, and don't be surprised if final devices handle differently, but those with the international Galaxy S III should make it through at least a few interminable meetings watching their favorite reruns... not that we'd condone such a thing.

Samsung Galaxy S III battery tested by GSMArena, lasts as long as your tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 09:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo beats others to the 802.11ac WiFi punch, ships 1.3Gbps router and bridge

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/buffalo-beats-others-to-the-802-11ac-wifi-punch/

As intrigued as we were by the Netgear R6300's high-bandwidth chops, it won't be the one to claim the early 802.11ac WiFi crown with a shipping product. That distinction is instead going to a Buffalo AirStation router and a matching bridge, both of which should be on shelves now. Either can hit the eye-watering 1.3Gbps peak speed of the standard if you get cozy on the 5GHz band -- and if you have a computer or mobile device that recognizes the spec, for that matter. The duo still has a more leisurely paced 2.4GHz, 450Mbps WiFi option as well as a quartet of Ethernet jacks if you prefer your gigabit speeds the old-fashioned way. Both the router and the bridge will set you back $180 each, so there's not much of a penalty versus high-end alternatives to satisfy your need for network speed.

Continue reading Buffalo beats others to the 802.11ac WiFi punch, ships 1.3Gbps router and bridge

Buffalo beats others to the 802.11ac WiFi punch, ships 1.3Gbps router and bridge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 11:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amped Wireless launches dual-band 10,000 square feet router, now no wall is safe

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/amped-r20000g/

High-power wireless maven Amped Wireless has finally filled that conspicuous dual-band gap in its lineup with the R20000G router. Promising to cover the same 10,000 square feet that its predecessor, it'll flit between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands to ensure you can catch unbroken video around your house on the go. Beside the five ethernet jacks you'll find a USB 2.0 port for adding some network storage and the company's usual raft of features. It's available for $180 on Amped's website from today, and should be arriving on store shelves shortly.

Continue reading Amped Wireless launches dual-band 10,000 square feet router, now no wall is safe

Amped Wireless launches dual-band 10,000 square feet router, now no wall is safe originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huawei Ascend D1 hits the FCC with pentaband HSPA+

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/huawei-ascend-d1-fcc/

Of the trio of Huawei's Diamond-class smartphones announced at Mobile World Congress in February, the dual-core Ascend D1 got the least amount of buzz. Today, however, the handset gets its opportunity to bask in the spotlight, since it's the first of the group to obtain the FCC's nod of approval. No huge revelations were given, but the docs confirm quadband GSM and pentaband HSPA+ / WCDMA, a welcome treat for AWS fans. As always, we can't assume any carrier affiliation here, but at least we know the unlocked versions will work on AT&T and T-Mobile without a hitch. It looks like Huawei's still on track for a Q2 release -- let's hope the same is true for the D1's older siblings.

Huawei Ascend D1 hits the FCC with pentaband HSPA+ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 12:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Chart Proves Just How Much SAT Scores Predict Future Success

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/this-chart-proves-just-how-much-sat-scores-predict-future-success-2012-5

We recently published a chart that shows just how much smarter engineers are than everyone else. Researcher Jonathan Wai of the Duke University Talent Identification Program has another interesting study, Creativity and Occupational Accomplishments Among Intellectually Precocious Youths, which evaluated the top 1% performing youths — identified in the 1970s by a talent search — over 20 years. Wai and two other researchers at Vanderbilt University looked at how SAT scores (taken by students at age 13) of this top 1% group predicted future doctorates, income, patents, and tenure at top U.S. universities.

The chart below compares the top (Q4) and bottom quartile (Q1) of the top 1% of performers on the SAT math section. It shows a significant difference, even among those subsets, in performance later in life (participants were surveyed at around age 33). For example, men in Q4 from one study group earn 13 percent more than those in Q1.

Wai and the other researchers concluded: "Other factors are indeed important, and we agree that being strongly committed and highly motivated is critical for high achievement. Yet, the data reported here on secured doctorates, math–science PhDs, income, patents, and tenure track positions at top U.S. universities collectively falsify the idea that after a certain point more ability does not matter."

Now See How Much Smarter Engineers Are Than Everyone Else >

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Visualized: 121-megapixel satellite photos show Earth in glorious, psychedelic detail (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/visualized-121-megapixel-satellite-photos-show-earth/

We're starting to think the Russians have an inside track on high-resolution space photos. When Nokia's 41-megapixel photo of Earth's horizon was just a twinkle in the 808 PureView designers' eyes, the Russian Federal Space Agency had long since finished taking 121-megapixel photos of the whole planet that we're just now seeing in earnest. Unlike NASA photos, which are usually composites of multiple shots, the Elektro-L weather satellite's images display the entire planet in one ridiculously detailed take from 22,369 miles away. Why the trippy colors? Instead of just displaying Earth as-is -- real colors are so passé, dahling -- the satellite layers on near-infrared imagery that paints vegetation in wide swaths of rust-like orange.

You can get a peep of what a day-night cycle looks like for Elektro-L in the video below, and hop over to the sources to get an inkling of just how insanely detailed the images can be. You can also be slightly jealous of the satellite's network connection: at a minimum 2.6Mbps and maximum 16.4Mbps for bandwidth, odds are that it has faster broadband than you do.

Continue reading Visualized: 121-megapixel satellite photos show Earth in glorious, psychedelic detail (video)

Visualized: 121-megapixel satellite photos show Earth in glorious, psychedelic detail (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 04:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, May 13, 2012

Seraku's Android mirror lets you reflect on your operating system

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/13/serakus-android-mirror-lets-you-reflect-on-your-operating-syste/

Phones, watches, TVs and in-car entertainment. Android has been put to work in many corners of our technological world. Now, it's reached another, less expected one -- mirrors. The Verge spotted ~~itself~~ the Smart Wash Basin prototype at Smartphone and Mobile Expo, and took a good look into it. The heavy lifting is done by a hidden Android tablet, and the reflective display is actually a separate monitor with a semitransparent piece of reflective glass. If you're thinking "smudges," hang fire, as RF proximity sensors are used, so you interact with it without smearing your paws across the shiny surface. The show prototype had water monitoring functions, and was coupled up to a set of scales in the floor. The manufacturer hopes one of the uses for the invention could be reading the news at the hairdresser. What we want to know is, when did salons suddenly go al! l futuri stico?

Seraku's Android mirror lets you reflect on your operating system originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 May 2012 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's The Super-Cool Transparent TV Concept From The German Company Apple Might Buy

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/loewe-invisio-transparent-tv-apple-might-buy-2012-5

Apple is rumored to be in talks to acquire Loewe AG, a small German manufacturer of high-end TVs and audio equipment.

Loewe's products look really slick--Apple-like.

The one everyone's buzzing about, though, is the transparent TV below.

This concept, designed by Michael Friebe, does not appear to be in Loewe's current product catalog (we're not sure it's actually for sale--anyone know?)

But it certainly is cool looking. And it also resembles the "sheet of glass" concepts that analysts have discussed with respect to the forthcoming Apple TV.

Loewe Invisio

See more pictures here, at Yanko Design >

SEE ALSO: APPLE'S TV DREAM REVEALED: Embarrass Hardware Makers, Squeeze Content Cos, Kill Cable

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Apple's iPad WiFi + 4G renamed 'iPad WiFi + Cellular' across many of its stores

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/12/apple-new-ipad-wifi-4g-now-ipad-cellular/

Remember Apple's new iPad WiFi + 4G? Well, forget that moniker, as this variant of the company's latest slate has been quietly re-dubbed as the iPad WiFi + Cellular. As noticed by 9to5Mac, the change occurred within the last "24-48 hours" across many of Apple's region-specific webstores (update: and retail locations), including (but not limited to) those for the US, UK, Australia, Canada and various countries in Asia. If you'll recall, in many regions the best you'll get out of the slate is HSPA-connectivity, even though it's also equipped for LTE -- something that Apple itself had considered good enough to market it as 4G despite offering refunds to customers in Australia who (like many others) couldn't officially partake in its LTE. Interestingly, 9to5Mac also notes that a similar change hasn't made its way over to the iPad 2, which still has its cellular-equipped variant named, iPad 2 WiFi + 3G. We've reached out to Apple for comment, but the meantime, feel free to hit up the source links below for more insight.

Apple's iPad WiFi + 4G renamed 'iPad WiFi + Cellular' across many of its stores originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 May 2012 17:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

9to5Mac, Twitter (@markgurman) | source

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MIPS unveils new Aptiv mobile chip design, vows more speed in a tiny space

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/12/mips-unveils-new-aptiv-mobile-chips/

MIPS has only had a slight amount of traction in smartphones and tablets given that its best friend is Ainovo. It might get a better footing in an ARM-dominated world with a new range of processors in the Aptiv line. The highest-end chip of the bunch, the ProAptiv, is reportedly much smaller than its ARM opponents across the aisle while managing the same speed, goosing the floating-point math, memory addressing and multi-core support to where it's as much as 75 percent faster over the previous generation. That's good news for mobile devices and set-top boxes where space is tight. MIPS isn't leaving embedded gear like 4G LTE modems alone, either, as the mid-size InterAptiv and tiny MicroAptiv are getting similar improvements. If you're eager to get cracking on a processor of your own, you can license MIPS' new work right away -- and us plebeians who simply buy the devices can expect Aptiv to be ready for gadget use by the middle of the year.

Continue reading MIPS unveils new Aptiv mobile chip design, vows more speed in a tiny space

MIPS unveils new Aptiv mobile chip design, vows more speed in a tiny space originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 May 2012 19:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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