Monday, January 07, 2013

Hands-on with Toshiba's new LED Cloud TVs and Media Box with Blu-ray

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/hands-on-with-toshibas-new-led-cloud-tvs-and-media-box-with-blu/

Handson with Toshiba's new LED Cloud TVs and Media Box with Bluray

Although a mixer isn't exactly the best place to spend quality time with new TVs and Blu-ray players, we did take advantage of the time with the new hardware that was on display at Toshiba's CES party. We saw a few new Media Boxes with Blu-ray as well as new cloud-connected LED TVs. They all shared a common look and feel, which is part of Toshiba's new corporate design elements. Cloud can, of course, mean just about anything these days, but to Toshiba it means things like network upgradability, peer-to-peer WiFi, Skype, as well as an event calendar and photo album. The slimmer L7300 line and higher includes a wireless keyboard with trackpad, while that is only an accessory on the L4300. We'll have to wait a little longer to learn the price, but everything is set to come out by this summer.

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NVIDIA details the Grid, a card built for powering cloud computing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/nvidia-grid-unveiled/

NVIDIA's CES 2013 press conference is still ongoing, but the chipmaker is already unveiling something we've only seen teased before: the NVIDIA Grid, a card used for cloud computing across PCs, smart TVs, and smartphones. CEO and founder Jen-Hsun Huang detailed the new card on-stage, which you can see above in a rack of 20 grid servers. Huang says the rack pushes out roughly 240 NVIDIA GPUs worth of power, or about 200 teraflops -- equivalent to approximately 700 Xbox 360s. The Grid was given a tease earlier this year; the card will assist in pushing serious horsepower to the cloud, so that gaming over the air, across multiple devices becomes a less complicated reality.

During an on-stage demonstration, NVIDIA showed Frozenbyte's Trine running on various devices, all powered by the Grid system. Beyond just looking great, it carried over seamlessly between multiple devices. Huang also detailed NVIDIA's first partners for Grid: Agawi, Cloudunion, Cyber Cloud, G-cluster, Playcast, and Ubitus. Apparently biggies like OnLive and Gaikai are already all set? We'll be sure to get a closer look in the coming days as CES rages on.

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NVIDIA officially unveils Tegra 4: offers quad-core Cortex A15, 72 GPU cores, LTE support

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/nvidia-tegra-4-official/

NVIDIA officially unveils Tegra 4

One new SoC per year? That's what NVIDIA pledged back in the fall of 2010 and today at its CES 2013 presser, it delivered with the Tegra 4's official unveiling. The chip, which retains the same 4-plus-1 arrangement of its predecessor, arrives with a whopping 72 GeForce GPU cores -- effectively offering 6x the Tegra 3's visual output and is based on the 28nm process. It also is the first quad-core processor with Cortex A15 cores on-board, and offers compatibility with LTE networks. NVIDIA claims this piece of silicon is the world's fastest mobile processor, and showed a demonstration in which a Tegra 4 went head-to-head against a Nexus 10 in loading websites (you can guess which one won).

The Tegra 4 also introduces new computational photography architecture, which adds a new engine to drive the image processing and significantly improve the amount of time it takes to calculate the necessary mathematics 10 times faster than current platforms. To show off its power, NVIDIA demonstrated HDR rendering on live video. The chip is also capable of implementing HDR in burst shots and with LED flash. The idea, NVIDIA says, is to eventually make our mobile cameras more powerful than DSLRs, and this is certainly a step in the right direction.

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HP unveils an avalanche of monitors ranging in size from 20 to 27 inches

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/hp-announces-monitors-ces-2013/

HP unveils an avalanche of monitors ranging in size from 20 to 27 inches

It's pretty clear HP is all about monitors at this year's CES -- in fact, that's pretty much all it announced, with the exception of a couple laptops. All told, we've detailed 10 models here, and that's not even counting that USB-powered one we wrote up in a separate post. You can find all the gory details after the break, because we're assuming you don't want Engadget's home page taken up by paragraphs on resolution, contrast ratio and brightness ratings. (Or do you?) For those of you who just plan on skimming, all you really need to know is that the displays range in size from 20 to 27 inches, and cost anywhere from $130 to $500. And some of them, like the one pictured above, are damn gorgeous. Meet us past the break where we'll break down all the particulars.

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Lego Mindstorms EV3 arrives tailored for mobile, infrared and more hackability

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/lego-mindstorms-ev3-arrives-tailored-for-mobile-apps/

Lego Mindstorms EV3 arrives tailored for mobile apps, infrared and 3D building guides

Lego's Mindstorms kits were born into a world where the PC reigned supreme for control; the company is ushering in 2013 with an acknowledgment that its build-it-yourself toy part of a much wider universe. Its updated Mindstorms EV3 runs on new Linux firmware that's ready for Android and iOS control out of the box, creates an overall more hackable platform and allows further programming on the core Intelligent Brick itself; accordingly, there's an SD card slot for local storage. A built-in infrared sensor expands the possibilities for a more autonomous design, as well -- Lego suggests that EV3 constructs can follow other moving gadgets, or even their creators, around the room. It should also be the first Lego bundle with its own 3D construction guide, as a new app built with Autodesk's help lets builders see the process from every angle. We won't have the chance to put a kit together until the EV3 line ships in the second half of the year, but Lego already expects the core unit to sell for $350.

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Source: Lego

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HP intros its first USB-powered monitor, the U160; goes on sale this month for $179

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/hp-u160-usb-monitor/

HP intros its first USB-powered monitor, the U160; goes on sale this month for $179

In case you haven't noticed, HP's presence at CES 2013 pretty much boils down to monitors: the company just unleashed nearly a dozen models and, uh, very little else. As it is, we decided to round up most of the new displays into a single news post, but there's one we felt deserved its own story. That would be the U160, HP's first USB-powered monitor. Now of course, this is hardly the first USB display to hit the market, but it is the first made by HP, which seemed noteworthy enough, given how big a player HP is in the monitor space.

In any case, this has a matte 15-inch screen with 1,366 x 768 resolution, and comes with a built-in leather case allowing you to prop it up for presentations and whatnot. It weighs 3.4 pounds and measures 1.2 inches thick, which for comparison's sake means it's slightly heavier than whatever Ultrabook you're carrying around. Interestingly, HP won't discuss the other specs in great detail, except to say that the contrast ratio and brightness levels are comparable to most notebook screens. So we guess you'll just have to take HP's word for it? In any case, if you've been looking for a travel monitor and fancy this one, it goes on sale this month for $179.

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NVIDIA building Tegra 4 into a gaming controller / console, 'Project Shield'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/nvidia-project-shield-tegra-4/

A video shown on-stage during NVIDIA's press conference just unveiled "Project Shield," a gaming controller / portable console running Tegra 4.

Developing ...

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Sunday, January 06, 2013

Samsung introduces its CES audio hardware, claims a world first

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/05/samsung-ces-audio-hardware/

Samsung introduces its CES audio hardware, claims a world first

Samsung's just unveiled its raft of audio products at CES and they're headlined by what the firm claims is a world's first: a sound bar to pack a built-in vacuum tube and Bluetooth for connecting to tubes of another kind (read: TVs). A portable wireless Bluetooth speaker (labeled the DA-F60), pumps out tunes with the apt-X audio codec and leverages NFC to connect to devices. Home theater buffs were also given a nod with a 7.1 channel surround sound system intended to be used with the firm's line of 2013 televisions. As for internals, the system relies on a Gallium Nitride amplifier for enhanced sound quality. If you're jonesin' for a new way to watch Blu-Rays to go along with the fresh audio hardware, Sammy's also unveiled a "premium" Blu-Ray player which upscales content to 4K. Head past the break for the press release and full set of glamour shots.

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Source: Business Wire

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Vizio debuts its first Windows 8 tablet, an 11.6-inch slate with a 1080p display, AMD processor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/vizio-tablet-pc-windows-8-tablet/

Vizio debuts its first Windows 8 tablet, an 11inch slate with a 1080p display, AMD processor

After breaking into the PC market last year, it was only a matter of time before Vizio released its first Windows 8 tablet. The company just announced the Vizio Tablet PC, an 11.6-inch slate running full Windows (i.e., none of this RT business). What's interesting is the combination of specs here: on the one hand, it packs a dual-core, 1GHz AMD Z60 chip, making it among the first Windows 8 tablets with an AMD processor inside. At the same time, it rocks a 1080p display -- not the sort of resolution you'd expect to find on a low-power tablet with a Z-series or Intel Atom CPU. Also, like the rest of Vizio's PCs, this has a Microsoft Signature software install, with zero bloatware. Otherwise, the specs are pretty standard: 2GB of RAM, 64GB of solid-state storage, a 2-megapixel front camera and micro-HDMI / micro-USB ports. Vizio hasn't announced pricing or exact availability just yet, but we hope to get hands-on with this thing very, very soon.

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Vizio refreshes its PC lineup: all new models have touchscreens, quad-core CPUs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/vizio-thin-and-light-touch-all-in-one-touch/

Vizio refreshes its PC lineup all new models have touchscreens, quadcore CPUs

When Vizio entered the PC market last year, we weren't gushing about its computers, per se, but we found ourselves rooting for the company anyway: for all it got wrong (flaky trackpads, poor battery life), it did a lot of things right. We had to respect Vizio for giving most of its PCs 1080p screens and installing a clean, bloatware-free version of Windows. Not to mention, Vizio kept the price relatively low, the same way it did when it was trying to break into the TV space. Now, the company is completely refreshing its lineup for 2013, leaving only one model from 2012 (that would be its 15-inch mainstream notebook). Starting now, all of its all-ones and Thin + Light laptops will come standard with touchscreens and quad-core processors, including some from AMD (a first for Vizio).

What's curious is that although Vizio is taking the opportunity to replace most of its PCs, it hasn't actually made any changes to the industrial design. That means, for better or worse, that these new models will probably be quite similar to the PCs we tested just a few months ago. Same metal chassis but also, the same flat keyboard. What they do promise is faster performance, along with improved audio. Both the 14- and 15-inch Thin + Light Touch are available with either a Core i7 CPU or AMD's top-of-the-line A10 chip. Likewise, the 24-inch all-in-one is now the All-in-One Touch, and it too will be available with AMD and Int! el proce ssors. The 27-inch model, however, will be Intel-only.

As ever, these machines will have that clean, Microsoft Signature install, and almost all will have 1080p screens, save for the 14-inch Thin + Light, which has 1,600 x 900 resolution. No word on pricing, though Vizio says they'll go on sale in mid-February. We'll be back soon enough with hands-on shots but for now, check out some press photos after the break.

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Fujifilm gets official with X20 and X100s cameras, promises 'world's fastest AF'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/fujifilm-announces-x20-x100s/

Fujifilm gets official with X20 and X100s cameras, promises worlds fastest AF

We saw some details leak out earlier this week, and Fujifilm has now gotten official with its two latest high-end compact cameras. That includes the X100s (pictured above), a successor to the X100 that boasts what Fujifilm claims is the "world's fastest AF of 0.08 seconds" (compared to other cameras with an APS-C sensor and a non-interchangeable lens, at least). Otherwise, you can expect a FUJINON 23mm f/2 fixed prime lens, a 16.3 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor that promises "performance comparable to full-frame output," a hybrid viewfinder that combines both an optical and EVF, and a new Digital Split Image display that displays dual images on the left and right to aid manual focusing. On the slightly lower-end is the company's X10 followup, the X20, which packs a 12 megapixel 2/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor, a non-hybrid but "advanced" optical viewfinder, an f/2.0-2.8 4x manual barrel zoom lens and the ability to shoot full HD video at 60 fps -- all available in your choice of all-black or two-tone black and silver (as pictured after the break). Unfortunately, there's still no word on pricing or availability for either model -- hopefully Fujifilm will have more to say about that once CES officially kicks off.

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Source: Fujifilm (1), (2)

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Griffin launches PowerDock 5 multi-device charging platform and ChargeSensor adapters

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/griffin-powerdock-powerblock/

Griffin launches PowerDock 5 multidevice charging platform and ChargeSensor adapters

Given how many of us have more than one device, it's rare to see gear that really cares for our increasingly large gadget collections. Griffin's solution is to produce the PowerDock 5, a USB-device toast-rack that can replenish the energy of up to five iPads simultaneously. It's priced at $100 and will be available in Spring.

At the same time, the company is putting out a new PowerBlock plug adapter and PowerJolt car charger with Griffin's ChargeSensor technology, which identifies the power needs of your device and meters out energy accordingly. Both will be available in the spring, the PowerBlock setting you back $30 and the PowerJolt costing $25.

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Saturday, January 05, 2013

Here's Proof That Wearable Tech Is The Next Big Thing

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/wearable-tech-is-the-next-big-thing-2013-1

wellie boots

People today are already pretty much inseperable from technology, whether it's a smartphone, laptop, or tablet. 

But that's not stopping innovators and creators from coming up with ways to bring technology even closer to us. 

Google Glass is probably the most well-known wearable tech item, but other examples include a pair of boots that charge your cell phone, and a glove that allows deaf and blind people to send text messages.

Drum Machine t-shirt lets you make beats on the go

What: Electronic Drum Machine T-shirt

How it works: The drum pads on the front of the shirt let you tap out a beat using your fingers. The shirt also comes with a mini amplifier that clips on to your pants.

Cost: $29.99



This solar-powered bikini soaks up sun rays to power your smartphone and other small electronics

What: Solar Bikini

How it works: The bikini, which is equipped with photovoltaic film strips, absorbs sun rays to charge your phone and other electronics. It's also waterproof!

Cost: Anywhere from $500 to $1,500



Glove One acts a cell phone, but it's not going to keep your hands warm, unfortunately

What: Glove One

How it works: The glove has a slot for a sim card to make and receive calls. On the underside of each finger, there are numeric touch keys for making phone calls. The speaker on the thumb and microphone on the pinky allow you to mimic the standard method of holding a phone while making a call.

Cost: Not for sale, but you can learn how to make your own for about $340 here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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