Saturday, November 17, 2012

Google's Nexus 10 tablet gets torn down, found to be Samsung-made inside and out

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/16/googles-nexus-10-tablet-gets-torn-down-found-to-be-samsung-mad/

Google's Nexus 10 gets torn down, found to be Samsungmade inside and out

We've already seen what makes the Nexus 7 tick, and the folks at PowerBook Medic have now done the teardown honors with its larger counterpart, the Nexus 10. Expectedly, there aren't many major surprises to be found, but the site did note the "complete ease" of taking the tablet apart, with no glue or other impediments getting in the way. It's also confirmed that this is very much a Samsung-made tablet, with the company not only putting it together, but manufacturing everything from the processor to the flash memory to the battery. You can find the full rundown at the link below.

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Google's Nexus 10 tablet gets torn down, found to be Samsung-made inside and out originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iFixit pries open Google's Nexus 4, exposes somewhat stubborn battery (update: repairability verdict, LTE chip)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/16/ifixit-google-nexus-4-teardown-battery/

iFixit pries open Google's Nexus 4, exposes somewhat stubborn battery (update: repairability verdict)

The warranty-voiders over at iFixit decided to spend their Friday evening tearing into a freshly delivered Nexus 4 and have given us a peek inside Google's smartphone darling. After removing a pair of screws and spending a few minutes prying off the rear cover, the teardown specialists found that the backplate's sparkling exterior isn't the only thing that makes it special. In addition to serving a cosmetic purpose, the hind side plate packs a handful of pressure contacts that power the handset's NFC antenna and connect its wireless charging induction coil. Extracting the battery required evicting additional screws and a fair amount of elbow grease to wrangle the 2100 mAh pack free from adhesive. As for the motherboard, its removal was a relatively easy process comprised of freeing it from a couple of connectors. The outfit's final verdict on the device's repairability isn't in just yet, but you can tap the source link below to gaze at the LG-made phone's innards.

Update: iFixit has given Mountain View's smartphone a 7 out of 10 score in terms of repairability. The three point mark-down stems from a tricky battery removal experience and the glass front, which is fused to the display and its frame. Also, despite the lack of LTE support, a close look at the motherboard reveals a Qualcomm WTR1605L seven-band 4G LTE chip.

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iFixit pries open Google's Nexus 4, exposes somewhat stubborn battery (update: repairability verdict, LTE chip) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: HTC One X+, five other devices from ASUS, HTC, Novatel and Samsung on sale at AT&T

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/16/psa-asus-htc-samsung-novatel-at-att/

HTC One X+ for ATT

American carriers love to launch their device lines in bundles, and AT&T just proved the rule in style. Forget the LTE iPad mini -- six other devices have shipped in one day, covering just about every category Big Blue offers. Want a Windows tablet? There's a $500 ASUS VivoTab RT waiting for you. Smartphones? HTC's $200 One X+ covers the high-end, while its $50 One VX and Samsung's $100 Galaxy Express target the more frugal among us. Even shutterbugs and cutting-edge networkers can pick up a $500 Samsung Galaxy Camera or Novatel's $50 MiFi Liberate hotspot. There's no doubt that AT&T is cramming the channel full of new gadgets in the hopes of scooping up all the Black Friday sales it can, but we'll forgive the slightly cynical strategy for the sake of a wider device selection.

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PSA: HTC One X+, five other devices from ASUS, HTC, Novatel and Samsung on sale at AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 22:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo's upcoming five-inch 1080p phone to feature dual-SIM connectivity

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/17/lenovo-1080p-5-inch-phone/

DNP Lenovo also working on a 1080p smartphone in the 5inch area

By now you should already know that HTC, Sharp and Oppo share a common theme: 1080p display on their five-inch phones. As it turns out, Lenovo also wants in on the VIP list. Spotted on Sina Weibo earlier this week (but have since been deleted) are the above three screenshots showing off Lenovo's customized Android UI in 1080p glory. As with many phones in China these days, the device in question supports dual-SIM connectivity -- the screenshots indicate that it's connected to China Telecom's CDMA2000 network and China Mobile's 2G network simultaneously.

Our own source wouldn't directly confirm that it's a five-inch display on this mysterious phone, but we were told that it'll be somewhere between 4.5 inches and 5.5 inches -- we'll take that as a yes, especially since the only 1080p mobile panels available right now are the five-inch, 440ppi ones from Sharp and JDI. Our source also said the phone's entered DVT (Design Verification Test) phase for some time, so it might not be long before we hear an official announcement in China. As always, stay tuned.

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Lenovo's upcoming five-inch 1080p phone to feature dual-SIM connectivity originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Nov 2012 02:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, November 16, 2012

LG F240 possibly spied in benchmarks packing 1080p screen, Snapdragon S4 Pro

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/16/lg-f240-possibly-spied-in-benchmarks-packing-1080p-screen/

LG F240 possibly spied in benchmarks packing 1080p screen, Snapdragon S4 Po

LG's Optimus G (and Nexus 4) might have been the resolution champion among non-phablet Android phones for only a brief moment before the HTC Droid DNA arrived, but there's clues surfacing that LG may fight its way back to a draw. Following hints through browser profiles, a set of results on GLBenchmark have appeared for an unconfirmed LG F240 wielding a 1080p screen resolution; given the allusions to Korean phone carriers like KT and LG's earlier decision to back away from tablets, we suspect that it's something pocketable. The F240 could otherwise be more of an evolution, if it's real -- the Adreno 320 graphics and 1.5GHz clock speed allude to the Optimus G's Snapdragon S4 Pro sticking around, and the biggest leap beyond the screen could be an upgrade to Jelly Bean (4.1, not 4.2). While benchmarks aren't entirely trustworthy without a tangible device to match, there's enough here to imply that HTC will have at least one major competitor in a very young category.

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LG F240 possibly spied in benchmarks packing 1080p screen, Snapdragon S4 Pro originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, November 15, 2012

FYI: What's The Lightest Metal On Earth?

Source: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-11/fyi-what-lightest-metal-earth

This material is 100 times lighter than styrofoam--but it's also really strong!

The lighter a structure launching into air, the better. That's one of the reasons why ostriches can't fly--because their bones are solid instead of hollow. It's also one of the reasons why researchers at HRL Laboratories created the lightest metal known to man.

The researchers collaborated with scientists at Caltech and UC Irvine to design metallic microlattice, a mesh lighter than styrofoam, for aerospace structural components. The material is so light, it can sit atop a dandelion without crushing it.

But that doesn't mean it isn't strong. The material can handle a strain exceeding 50 percent in compression tests and still resume to its original shape and 98 percent of its height once the load is removed.

Other materials that fall into the ultralight category (below 10 mg/cm3), such as silica aerogels, carbon nanotube aerogels, metallic foams and polymer foams, have very random cellular architectures. This means that while these low-density materials retain benefits such as high specific surface area (total surface area for a material per specified unit), they lack the stiffness, strength, energy absorption and conductivity of heavier materials. HRL researchers created a material that is both ultralight and structurally robust.

The key structural component is a series of hollow tubes. In a study published last November in Science, the researchers exposed a light sensitive liquid to UV light through a patterned mask, which created a three-dimensional photopolymer lattice. They then deposited a layer of nickel-phosphorous onto the polymer lattice, which was then etched. The remaining structure was a macroscopic material with hollow tubes as the base structural elements. The resulting m! aterial had a density of .9 mg/cm3. By comparison, ultralight silica aerogels are 1 mg/cm3.

Though metallic microlattice is the lightest metal developed to date, it held the title of lightest material for less than a year. Aerographite, a carbon material developed by researchers at the Technical University of Hamburg and University of Kiel (and first reported in an Advanced Materials article in June 2012), weighs in at just .2 mg/cm3.

Have a burning science question you'd like to see answered in our FYI section? Email it to fyi@popsci.com.



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MIT-Made Metamaterial Focuses Radio Waves, Could Yield Up-Close Views Of Molecules

Source: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-11/new-mit-material-could-give-us-more-detailed-views-molecules-and-stars

The lab-built material focuses radio waves better than anything that occurs in nature.

When nature's materials can't do the job scientists want done, it's time to head into the lab and get creative. That means entering the impressive, strange genre of metamaterials--stuff with a designer molecular structure that gives it unique properties. The latest entry in that field: a metamaterial lens from MIT that can bend and focus radio waves, which could be used to bring us higher-resolution images--of outer space or of molecules on Earth.

The metamaterial is fashioned into a concave lens made with help from 3-D printing. Usually a concave lens works by radiating waves out, like a speaker sending sound out into a room, but with the new material those rays get focused from the ends of the lens into a single point. Researcher Isaac Ehrenberg compares it to the Death Star focusing lasers to take out a planet, which is 1) awesome, 2) accurate, and 3) an excuse to use this clip.

The lens is actually made up of 4,000 "unit cells," tiny shapes that all bend radio waves slightly. Put enough of those together and you get the focused wave. When the MIT team tested out the process they found that the waves didn't get slowed down much by the material, either. That focus and efficiency, combined with the lens's light weight (less than a pound), means it could be ideal for use in imaging processes. The metamaterial might send radio waves to zero in on molecules, or go on top of satellites to guide the waves into the cosmos.

[MIT]



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Samsung's new 10nm-process 64GB mobile flash memory chips are smaller, faster, better

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/15/samsung-10nm-64gb-emmc-mobile-flash-memory/

Samsung's new 64GB mobile flash memory chips are smaller and faster, will establish a new standard

Even though Samsung only announced volume production of ultra-fast eMMC memory chips back in August, it's already upgrading to a newer generation of hardware. Moving from the previous 20nm process to 10nm, the new 64GB eMMC Pro Class 2000 has a 20 percent smaller physical footprint, and claims 30 percent advantages in both performance and manufacturing productivity. While its previous chips only starting taking advantage of JEDEC's eMMC 4.5 interface standard a few months ago, Samsung plans to approach the group next year to create a new standard that can handle this design. It has a write speed of 2,000 IOPS (input/output per second) and a read speed of 5,000 IOPS, besting the 1,500/3,500 numbers reported on the older hardware, and kicks up the bandwidth to 260 MB/s read and 50MB/s write. These chips went into production late last month and are destined for slim phones and tablets near you, even if they don't say Samsung on the outside.

Continue reading Samsung's new 10nm-process 64GB mobile flash memory chips are smaller, faster, better

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Samsung's new 10nm-process 64GB mobile flash memory chips are smaller, faster, better originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dropcam's iOS app goes big, now optimized for iPad

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/15/dropcam-now-available-for-ipad/

DNP Dropcam for iPad now available at the App Store

After establishing itself in the Android ecosystem with a native app, modern-day nanny cam outfit Dropcam has decided to optimize its service on the iPad, too. Users of the iPad 2, new iPad or the iPad mini can now view up to four Dropcam devices simultaneously, snap still images and receive real-time motion and audio alerts via SMS. Subscribers also have access to a cloud-based DVR service, which allows them to view, store and manage their recorded videos. So, whether you're trying to catch your roommate stealing borrowing your clothes, or keep an eye on a mischievous pet, you can now grab a super-size update from the App Store.

Continue reading Dropcam's iOS app goes big, now optimized for iPad

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Dropcam's iOS app goes big, now optimized for iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 03:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Google TVs now have integrated OnLive cloud game streaming

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/15/lg-smart-tv-onlive-available/

LG Smart TV owners may've noticed a new application pop up today on their G2 series sets, as OnLive's cloud game streaming app is being delivered via an over-the-air update today (first announced at E3 back in June) -- it seems that LG Smart TVs are the first to get Google TV's latest update. Beyond just viewing games, the app allows for actually playing them employing OnLive's wireless controller (sold separately). Per normal OnLive service, you can demo various games before buying them, and purchases on one OnLive account transfer across its many platforms (PC, Mac, Android tablets, the Microconsole, and LG TVs). The OnLive app can be found in the "Premium Apps" area, and it'll be pre-installed on future LG sets.

Of course, it's a question of how long any of this will last, as OnLive's had a rough 2012 -- the company lost the vast majority of its staff and its former CEO back in August. It was subsequently spun off into a separate company to keep from defaulting on its many, many overdue loans.

Continue reading LG Google TVs now have integrated OnLive cloud game streaming

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LG Google TVs now have integrated OnLive cloud game streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google wants to change your reality with Ingress, a mobile game played out in real life

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/15/google-launches-ingress/

Google wants to change your reality with Ingress, a mobile game played out in real life

All the viral ads courtesy of Niantic Labs told us something was coming, and now its here -- an alternate reality game from Google called Ingress. The theme is one of worldwide mind control, and it'll be played out in real life, where you'll be a part of one of two teams which either embrace or fight "the power" -- The Enlightened or The Resistance, respectively. With a companion mobile app installed, you'll venture out into the world collecting energy known as "Exotic Matter" (XM), found at real locations. This can then be spent claiming, stealing or reinforcing "portals," which are positioned at key public places. Teamwork will be essential, as the goal is to create zones controlled by your faction, and attacking those occupied by the enemy. One team will eventually win, although this end point is expected to be a year to 18 months down the line.

John Hanke of Niantic Labs said some of the inspiration for Ingress came from JJ Abrams, and hardcore Lost fans may remember a similarly cryptic internet 'game' focused around the show. The Ingress app is available on Google Play today, with an iOS version in the pipe, and if you want you play, sign up at the source below to request access. Your mobile device will provide you with an overview of your local battlefield when you're out and about, but a web client can keep you up to date on the global war while you're sat at a computer. Check out the video and app screenshots below, and if you're still confused as to what i! t's all about -- well, that's how they want you to feel.

Continue reading Google wants to change your reality with Ingress, a mobile game played out in real life

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Google wants to change your reality with Ingress, a mobile game played out in real life originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let's Make This Easy: Out Of All The Tiny Tablets, Google's Nexus 7 Is The Best Buy (GOOG)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-tiny-tablets-2012-11

google nexus 7 my library widget

A lot of people are going to want one of the new smaller/cheaper tablets that are out now.

Since we get asked which one is the best all the time, here's a quick ranking of the order you should consider them.

Here you go:

  1. Google Nexus 7, starts at $199
  2. iPad Mini, starts at $329
  3. Kindle Fire HD, starts at $199
  4. Nook HD, starts at $199

Want more information? Check out our reviews of each tablet below:

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

A Sports Cam With Eyes On the Back of Its Head Captures Twice the Action

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5960519/a-sports-cam-with-eyes-on-the-back-of-its-head-captures-twice-the-action

A Sports Cam With Eyes On the Back of Its Head Captures Twice the ActionNow here's a unique take on the seemingly unending supply of action sports cams hitting the market. Oregon Scientific's ATC Chameleon packs a pair of adjustable lenses on the front and back of the camera with 110-degree fields of view. So athletes can share what's happening behind the camera, as well as what's in front.

And instead of creating two separate videos of the action, the ATC Chameleon combines both of the 1280x720 feeds into a single hi-def clip—either split vertically or horizontally. But unfortunately there's seemingly no option to capture just one or the other, which frustratingly limits its functionality.

It comes across as a little gimmicky for a $200 video camera, but for athletes who want to relive their daredevil escapades it does provide a unique angle on the action.

On a full charge it can reportedly run for a couple of hours, and you'll need to get yourself a waterproof case if there's a chance it will get wet. But if footage from a GoPro doesn't excite you anymore, finally seeing what you've always been missing behind you might be enough to get you back to risking life and limb again. [Oregon Scientific via Gizmag]

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Camera+ Gets a Horizon Level, Front-Facing Flash, and Live Exposure Details

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5960454/camera%252B-gets-a-front+facing-flash-horizon-level-live-exposure-and-goes-on-sale-for-99

Camera+ Gets a Horizon Level, Front-Facing Flash, and Live Exposure DetailsiOS: Camera+ is our favorite photography app for iPhone, and today it gets a few cool updates as well as $1 off the regular price.

The most handy new features in Camera+ are the horizon level, which puts a simple line across your screen so you can take level shots, and live exposure details so you can see what Camera+ is doing under the hood before you snap a shot. If self portraits are more your thing, Camera+ also adds a front facing flash by quickly flashing a white screen in your face.

Camera+ (99¢ on sale, $1.99 otherwise) | iTunes App Store

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Why Can't All Map Apps Be This Clever?

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5960448/why-cant-all-map-apps-be-this-clever

Augmented Reality has mostly found its niche as a way to bring virtual characters to life through a mobile device. But a Japanese developer has found a more clever use. Crossfader's AR-MAPS app syncs Apple or Google Maps to a live video feed from your iPhone's camera, so you can visualize how you're oriented, and easily locate destinations.

Using the device's GPS, compass, and gyroscope, the app automatically switches between a split-screen map/video view of your surroundings, or just a flat map depending on if you're holding your device vertically or horizontally. And not only does it let you search for a specific address or landmark, it uses augmented reality to overlay markers on the video feed so all you need to do is spin around until it highlights your destination. And best of all, it's currently available free of charge on the iTunes App Store, providing yet another alternative to Apple's Maps offering.

Why Can't All Map Apps Be This Clever?

[iTunes App Store via DigInfo TV]

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Samsung Ativ Smart PC 500T: Don't Expect Any Miracles

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5960465/samsung-ativ-smart-pc-500t-dont-expect-any-miracles

Samsung Ativ Smart PC 500T: Don't Expect Any MiraclesSamsung's Ativ Smart PC tablet is supposed to be a tablet-sized tablet that can run all of your desktop apps. It is all that, sort of. But it's also a mix of things that are impressive, tolerable, and totally unacceptable—sometimes all at once.

Let's get this out of the way first: The Ativ is less about Samsung than it is about Intel. This is the first machine to run on Intel's new Atom chips (formerly Clovertrail). Intel is on a warpath to prove it can make power-efficient, lightweight gadgets that perform as well as their ARM-powered counterparts. The Ativ Smart PC, and the Atom Z2760 inside of it, is the tip of that sword.

Performance-wise, things don't feel optimized, at the very least. There is some noticeable video lag in basic apps like Fruit Ninja, which is strange, but it's rare enough to shrug off. Overall, when you're using and switching apps with the Ativ as a simple Windows RT tablet, it's as fast and responsive as anything we've used. But desktop mode complicates that.

Samsung Ativ Smart PC 500T: Don't Expect Any Miracles

Simple desktop apps, like Pidgin or Chrome, run without incident. On its own, that's awesome. The 1.65-pound Ativ isn't tiny, but it's definitely an average-sized tablet, and desktop apps on a machine this size is a big win.

Other tasks, though, can cause serious problems. The machine is totally unusable while it's downloading something in desktop mode, for instance. All apps, Modern or desktop, slow to a crawl, and the touchscreen barely recognizes input. Dragging something around the screen will stutter for a few pixels at a time, lose track of your finger, and then all of a sudden catch up at once. Then the download finishes, or you quit out of the problem tab in Chrome, and everything is snappy again. You can run into that with any computer, but unless you've been using a netbook for the past few years, you'll notice it far more often on the 500T.

Similar things happen when running heavier programs like Photoshop. But that's missing the larger point—you can run Photoshop on this thing! It doesn't feel as snappy as running it on a Core series, and you won't want to multitask too much while doing it, but running the desktop version relatively well is very impressive. That's about the top end of what you're going to want to run on the Ativ 500T, though. While you can stick Steam on there and run it more or less fine, even relatively lightweight games like Trine 2 are graphical impossibilities for the 500T's guts.

The display is another good example of the Atom-based Ativ being impressive on some levels, and very much not on others. It's a bright, well-calibrated 11.6-inch 1366x768 display, which is the norm on 11-inch ultrabooks. It's brighter than the MacBook Air's screen, and text looks about the same from similar distances. It's totally fine, and a little above average. But compare it to other, similarly-sized tablet displays, like the Nexus 10, or the new iPad, or even other convertibles, like the Dell XPS 12, or the Surface, and it's just not up to par. And at $800, that's tough to swallow.

Design and build-wise, this hardware is some of the least impressive we've seen from Samsung in a while. "Plasticky" is thrown around a little too easily at times, but the plastic back plate on the Ativ 500T is so flimsy that pressing on it with any force will actually distort the LCD display you're looking at. It's like the effect of pressing down on a non-glass LCD display. That's unheard of, even in early generation tablets like the Galaxy Tab or TouchPad.

Samsung Ativ Smart PC 500T: Don't Expect Any Miracles

The battery performance varied. When using it strictly as an RT tablet, the 500T was pretty efficient, making it through a whole day. But when using a bunch of browser tabs and apps in desktop mode, it drained a lot faster. The bevy of ports helps—it's got slots for one USB 3.0, a micro-HDMI cable, and a microSD card. The micro-HDMI port is especially nice, since it handles a second display without slowdown, and works like you'd want from an external display on a smaller computer. The only downside about the ports is the kitschy, sorta-hard-to-remove covers over each of them.

More broadly, there are some quibbles to be had with the integration of a full desktop Windows experience into a regular-sized tablet. Things you don't think of much on a mobile device, like the idle time it takes until the device auto-sleeps, comes into play much more for desktop apps than for mobile apps, since they're often performing functions in the middle of getting shut off, and can't continue in a sleep power state.

Additionally, while in tablet mode, the touch keyboard does not immediately pop up when you interact with a text field. You have to manually tap the keyboard. Should you be using the desktop mode as a tablet very often? No, probably not. But it would be nice if it didn't feel like you were 100 percent unwelcome while using it like that.

Samsung Ativ Smart PC 500T: Don't Expect Any Miracles

Of less concern, but probably worth mentioning, is we saw a low of bugs on the first unit we used. Pixels were tearing and breaking on all of the live tiles, and a bug was kicking us out of the password entry box at the login screen and was booting us to the secondary display menu. Weird. We haven't seen these issues on a second unit that Intel sent us, though.

So the Ativ 500T is a compromise. A bunch of compromises, crammed into a sorta-dorky looking tablet. For a lot of you, that's going to mean it's in a No Man's Land of mediocrity—despite a genuinely impressive trick of running desktop apps on this slender little tablet, just not worth it. But the new Atom is a promising, mostly acceptable processor, if you know what you're getting into. For some of you, Intel has delivered exactly what you've been waiting for in a PC/tablet convertible.

Samsung Ativ Smart PC 500T Specs

Processor: Atom Z2760
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 64GB SSD
Display: 11.6-inch 1366x768 400 nits
Dimensions: 11.6x7.2x0.38 inches
Weight: 1.65 pounds
Ports: USB 2.0, micro-HDMI, microSD
Price: $750

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Everspin throws first ST-MRAM chips down, launches commercial spin-torque memory era

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/14/everspin-throws-first-st-mram-chips-down/

DNP Everspin

Who says scientific breakthroughs never amount to anything? Everspin has followed up on research developed by IBM, TDK and German researchers years back and released the first commercial spin-torque magnotoresistive RAM (ST-MRAM) onto the market. The technology works by taking advantage of electron "spin" to store data in a magnetic, rather than electronic state, providing non-volatile memory that doesn't wear out. The company said the first chips were about 50 times the cost of flash memory by size, but where a typical NAND module can perform about 800 iOPS, ST-MRAM is capable of 400,000 -- making it ideal for SSD caching and other demanding applications. Everspin has started shipping working samples of the 64MB DIMMS in a DDR3 form factor, saying that future versions will scale to gigabyte capacities and faster speeds -- keeping Moore's Law hurtling inexorably forward. Check the PR after the break for the company's spin on it.

Continue reading Everspin throws first ST-MRAM chips down, launches commercial spin-torque memory era

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Everspin throws first ST-MRAM chips down, launches commercial spin-torque memory er! a or iginally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony to release XAVC 4k video spec, licensees include Apple, Adobe

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/14/sony-to-release-xavc-4k-video-spec/

Sony to release XAVC video format SDK to 4K developers

Sony has announced that it'll release an SDK to 4k developers this month for its recently launched XAVC video format used by the new F5 and F55 CineAlta camcorders. The new specification uses MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video compression, which allows up to 12-bit color depth, 60 fps shooting speed at 4k and 180 fps in HD. So far, fourteen companies including Adobe and Apple have signed on as licensees, and Sony says the format may come to consumer products as well. Details of the program along with an SDK will arrive this month, just in time for a possible Ultra HD onslaught.

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Sony to release XAVC 4k video spec, licensees include Apple, Adobe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Camera review: a 21x compact shooter brought to life by Android

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/14/samsung-galaxy-camera-review/

Samsung Galaxy Camera review

There were no heckles, boos or crickets for Samsung's reps back at IFA. But it's fair to say that the atmosphere following its unveiling of the Galaxy Camera was as muted as it was polite. It didn't help that most journalists in that meeting room were there primarily to see the Galaxy Note II, which was undoubtedly the show's headline act. It was also worrisome that Nikon had recently released a half-hearted Android camera of its own -- the Coolpix S800c running on lowly Gingerbread. And finally, some folks in the room -- ourselves included -- may have been put off by Samsung's talk of "convergence," in reference to the fact that the Galaxy Camera has a micro-SIM slot for HSPA+ cellular data. After all, the whole notion of converged hardware has lost the sheen it once had. Hybridized, perhaps. Modular, maybe. But please, not a camera-phablet.

Here's the thing, though: the Galaxy Camera is not a converged device. It's a camera, plain and simple. It just happens to be one that's hooked up (in a multitude of ways) to the glorious world of Android. More specifically, we're looking at full-throttle Jelly Bean sitting astride the same optically stabilized 21x zoom lens and almost half-inch 16-megapixel sensor that have already been deployed in Samsung's WB850F WiFi camera. These are components which far exceed anything you'd find in even the most image-conscious smartphone. If you want to put a label on it, it's probably more meaningful to describe all this as software convergence. The same OS and cloud-connected apps that have so radically transformed phones, tablets and TVs are now also being deployed in a camera -- and there's no reason why they shouldn't be just as invigorating in this new role. At the very least, don't dismiss this device as a curiosity until you've read our take on it.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Camera review: a 21x compact shooter brought to life by Android

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Samsung Galaxy Camera review: a 21x compact shooter brought to life by Android originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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