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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Acer partially fulfills prophecy, overtakes Dell as number two PC maker in US

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/acer-partially-fulfills-prophecy-overtakes-dell-as-number-two-p/

As if on cue, here's some new data research firm Gartner lending credence to Lanci's boasting. Looks like Acer has leapfrogged over Dell for the number tow spot in terms of US market share for the third quarter of 2009, from 12.5 to 15.4 percent of the Big Pie Chart[TM]. Meanwhile Dell is just below at 12.8 percent, and HP is sitting happily atop with a 19.9 percent ownership. It's not worldwide domination, but hey, it's a start.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Acer partially fulfills prophecy, overtakes Dell as number two PC maker in US originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer claims Aspire 5738DG as its first 3D laptop, we worry over the future of things

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/acer-claims-aspire-5738dg-as-its-first-3d-laptop-we-worry-over/

3D theaters? Okay, that's acceptable. 3D HDTVs? Sure, go ahead and waste your dollars inventing something that no one's asking for. But 3D laptops? We're pretty sure the line was somewhere back there, and now it's been decidedly crossed. Acer's Aspire 5738DG (not to be confused with the two-dee Aspire 5738PG) is the company's first portable machine to utilize its 3D CineReal technology, which is little more than a "3D coating" on the display that gives off mind-bending effects when viewed with a pair of polarized eyeglasses. The 2D-to-3D conversion takes place thanks to the bundled TriDef 3D Experience software (meaning that no special GPU is needed), and while we are told that the rig will be based around a Centrino 2 platform with up to 4GB of RAM, the only other information we're given is a NZ$1,999 ($1,484) price tag. Now, if only we could decide if laughing or crying would be the appropriate reaction here...

[Via Pocket-lint]

Filed under: Laptops

Acer claims Aspire 5738DG as its first 3D laptop, we worry over the future of things originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson Aino now Remote Playing with European PS3s

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/sony-ericsson-aino-now-remote-playing-with-european-ps3s/

We know Sony Ericsson's PS3-lovin' Aino would be hitting European shelves at some point during the month, and now Sony itself has stepped forward to confirm that the handset is on sale. We're hearing that it's selling for £399.99 ($639) sans a contract, and just in case you're wondering why you and your PlayStation 3 should care, the Aino is capable of turning your console on and off, browsing the XMB user interface, accessing DRM-free content on the HDD, shopping for items in the PS3 Store and watching live TV via PlayTV. Hit up the read link for all the nitty-gritty, and be sure to hit your British friend up if you're stuck yearning here in the States.

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson Aino now Remote Playing with European PS3s originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA Tegra to power next-gen Nintendo DS?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/13/nvidia-tegra-to-power-next-gen-nintendo-ds/

While Microsoft tries to figure out if it should take Tegra-powered Zune HD in a gaming direction or the Xbox in a portable direction, there are wild rumorings from the underground that claim Nintendo is planning on using Tegra to power a next generation DS handheld. The primary source on this comes from Bright Side of News (which doesn't have a big track record to judge by), who claims the debut is planned for late 2010 and conjectures that the device could either use the upcoming 40nm 2nd-gen Tegra tech, or the existing, tried-and-true 65nm chip. There were rumors from Yahoo! Games of a Tegra DS afoot at GamesCom in August, with higher resolution screens and full backwards compatibility, and PC Perspective also claims its own NVIDIA insiders are confirming this -- the evidence is certainly stacking up. If it turns out to be true it's going to mean a pretty dramatic jump forward in portable gaming power, but either way this generation of handhelds seems due for a refresh, and there's plenty of ultra compact silicon floating about to make a graphical leap possible.

[Via PC Perspective; thanks, Fernando]

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

NVIDIA Tegra to power next-gen Nintendo DS? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS's Ion-based Eee PC 1201N, non-Ion 1201HA turn up in yet another leak

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/13/asuss-ion-based-eee-pc-1201n-non-ion-1201ha-turn-up-in-yet-ano/

We'd already had a pretty clear indication that ASUS's Ion-infused Eee PC 1201N was on the way, and even gotten word of a few purported specs, but it looks like yet another leak has now kicked things even closer to all-but-official territory. Judging from the specs that appeared (briefly) on EeePC.it, this one will pack a 12.1-inch screen and Ion chipset as expected, plus an dual-core Atom 330 processor, which is certainly more welcome than the Atom 270 that was previously rumored. Otherwise, you can apparently expect 3GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, HDMI out, a multitouch trackpad, and a six-cell battery, among other standard fare (including Windows 7, of course). If that's all a bit much for you, it looks like ASUS will also have a non-Ion version of the netbook in the form of the Eee PC 1201HA, which dials the specs back across the board, including an Intel Atom Z520 and the usual integrated GMA 500 graphics in place of Ion. Still no firm word on a release for either of 'em, but all signs point to them being available on or shortly after the big Windows 7 launch date.

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS's Ion-based Eee PC 1201N, non-Ion 1201HA turn up in yet another leak originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS's Ion-based Eee PC 1201N, non-Ion 1201HA turn up in yet another leak

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/13/asuss-ion-based-eee-pc-1201n-non-ion-1201ha-turn-up-in-yet-ano/

We'd already had a pretty clear indication that ASUS's Ion-infused Eee PC 1201N was on the way, and even gotten word of a few purported specs, but it looks like yet another leak has now kicked things even closer to all-but-official territory. Judging from the specs that appeared (briefly) on EeePC.it, this one will pack a 12.1-inch screen and Ion chipset as expected, plus an dual-core Atom 330 processor, which is certainly more welcome than the Atom 270 that was previously rumored. Otherwise, you can apparently expect 3GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, HDMI out, a multitouch trackpad, and a six-cell battery, among other standard fare (including Windows 7, of course). If that's all a bit much for you, it looks like ASUS will also have a non-Ion version of the netbook in the form of the Eee PC 1201HA, which dials the specs back across the board, including an Intel Atom Z520 and the usual integrated GMA 500 graphics in place of Ion. Still no firm word on a release for either of 'em, but all signs point to them being available on or shortly after the big Windows 7 launch date.

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS's Ion-based Eee PC 1201N, non-Ion 1201HA turn up in yet another leak originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wi-Fi Direct enabling P2P communications amongst WiFi wares, scaring Bluetooth half to death

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/wi-fi-direct-enabling-p2p-communications-amongst-wifi-wares-sca/

Hear that Bluetooth? That's the sound of competition... finally. After years of waiting for some sort of serious rival in the short-range communication realm, the Wi-Fi Alliance is doing what it should've done eons ago. Starting sometime in mid-2010 (if all goes to plan, of course), a Wi-Fi Direct specification will be published, enabling WiFi'd devices to connect to one another without some sort of WLAN hotspot nearby. Previously, the standard was codenamed Wi-Fi peer-to-peer, as it gives printers, mobile handsets, human interface devices, cameras, laptops and a host of other wireless wares the ability to talk to one another without first consulting an access point. We're told that devices will be able to make "one-to-one" connections or talk amongst a group, and WPA2 security will be bundled in to keep the ill-willed sniffers at bay. Call us crazy, but we get this feeling we're going to dig this protocol -- now, if only we could actually count on seeing shipping products before we're too old to enjoy it, we'd be set.

Continue reading Wi-Fi Direct enabling P2P communications amongst WiFi wares, scaring Bluetooth half to death

Filed under: Wireless

Wi-Fi Direct enabling P2P communications amongst WiFi wares, scaring Bluetooth half to death originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for u! se of fe eds.

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Sanyo unleashes two iFrame compatible Dual HD camcorders

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/sanyo-unleashes-two-iframe-compatible-dual-hd-camcorders/

Sanyo's just unleashed two new full HD camcorders -- the VPC-HD2000A and the VPC-FH1A. Both of these babies boast 1080p and 1080i recording at 60 fps, plus iFrame recording at a 960 x 540 resolution and 30 frames per second and 8 megapixel still shooting with 10x optical zoom. The cams are the first to offer iFrame compatibility, a 'next gen' format designed for easy importing, editing and sharing of video -- and hey, Apple just released an iMovie update adding iFrame compatibility, so the timing is spot-on for those of us aching to ditch the super-lameness of AVCHD. The VPC-FH1A has a 3-inch LCD and HDMI output, while the VPC-HD2000A has a 2.7-inch LCD. They're both available now, with the FH1A running $499.99 and the HD2000A $599.99. Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Sanyo unleashes two iFrame compatible Dual HD camcorders

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sanyo unleashes two iFrame compatible Dual HD camcorders originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's solar Blue Earth launching in Sweden this month, elsewhere soon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/samsungs-solar-blue-earth-launching-in-sweden-this-month-elsew/

First, the good news: that slide we saw back in August promising Blue Earth deliveries in October was spot on, seeing how Samsung just made an official announcement to that effect. Now, the bad: unless you're in Sweden, that doesn't mean much -- at least, not yet. The HSDPA-equipped full touch handset with an integrated solar charger is set to launch in the Nordic nation this month, with France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Portugal, and "other European and Asian countries" following on shortly; notably missing is the US, which wouldn't benefit from the 900 / 2100MHz 3G radio anyhow. Pricing hasn't been announced, but does it really matter when you'll be saving all that cash on your power bill?

Filed under: Cellphones

Samsung's solar Blue Earth launching in Sweden this month, elsewhere soon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Firefox 3.6 will support accelerometers, make the internet seasick (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/firefox-3-6-will-support-accelerometers-make-the-internet-seasi/

If you, like us, are tired of the so-called browser wars trying to woo us with barely identifiable, context-dependent speed differences, this might be of interest. Firefox is about to get a whole lot more sentient on us -- at least those of us with accelerometers in our hardware -- courtesy of a new device API that is capable of maintaining a webpage's vertical orientation relative to the ground, no matter what sort of salto mortale the underlying machine (Mac or otherwise) might be doing. Think of it as the cherry atop your Windows 7 multitouch tablet cake. Originally intended for mobile platforms only, this software will make its way into version 3.6 of the full-fledged browser -- and you can find an early demo of what it can do just past the break.

Continue reading Firefox 3.6 will support accelerometers, make the internet seasick (video)

Filed under: Software

Firefox 3.6 will support accelerometers, make the internet seasick (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's 11.6-inch Timeline 1810T gets ceremonious christening, Oct. 22nd launch date

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/acers-11-6-inch-timeline-1810t-gets-ceremonious-christening-oc/

We swear we've seen this before at least a couple of times, but ask Acer and the 11.6-inch Timeline AS1810TZ is a brand new, LED-backlit and Windows 7-packing ultraportable with a full-sized keyboard, eight hours of battery, multi-gesture touchpad, and a dual-core Intel CULV processor. All the amenities are here, as well, including 802.11b/g Draft-N, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, webcam, mic, and a handful of color options. Care to guess the official release date? October 22nd it is, alongside Windows 7 and a plethora of other newly-minted machines. Prices start at a penny under $550. Full press release after the break.

Gallery: Acer Timeline 11.6-inch AS1810TZ

Continue reading Acer's 11.6-inch Timeline 1810T gets ceremonious christening, Oct. 22nd launch date

Filed under: Laptops

Acer's 11.6-inch Timeline 1810T gets ceremonious christening, Oct. 22nd launch date originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung showing off 55 inches of 240Hz 3D LCD glory

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/samsung-showing-off-55-inches-of-240hz-3d-lcd-glory/

Look, we know this 3D thing is as likely to sink as it is to swim right now, but we have to hand it to Samsung -- it's pursuing the idea with some pretty hefty ambition. A 55-inch 1080p panel with a true 240Hz refresh rate is a decent base on which to build your paradigm-shifting new offering. Using a set of "shutter" glasses, which rapidly alternate between blocking out the left and right eye, the set is capable of delivering the full 240Hz quality, debatable as its benefits may be. Of course, the value or otherwise of a TV like this is going to be found only by experiencing its output in person, so if you're somewhere near Seoul this week, head on down to the IMID 2009 conference to get an eyeful of an early model.

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Samsung showing off 55 inches of 240Hz 3D LCD glory originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Liquid mixes Snapdragon and Android 1.6 'donut' for a movable feast

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/acer-liquid-mixes-snapdragon-and-android-1-6-donut-for-a-movab/

Hey, what do you know, Acer just kicked out its first Android handset into the mystical kingdom of donuts and Snapdragons. Liquid, a rebranded (and slightly restyled) A1, brings a 800 x 480 WVGA capacitive touchscreen upon which you'll watch Android 1.6 ride that peppy Snapdragon processor. It's resumably tuned to 1GHz (or higher) and not 768MHz as listed on the eXpansys Germany spec-sheet -- a trick that'll make this the fastest Android handset on the planet. Of course, what would Android be without some tweaking? Acer promises a bevy of unique features such as improved power management, a new UI with tight entertainment and web integration, geo-tagging, a "Spinlets" application for access to streaming video and music, and full address book integration with Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and other social media houses. Unfortunately, that's all the detail that Acer's willing to spill at the moment; dates, real specs, and prices when we get 'em.

[Via ElectricPig and SlashGear]

Filed under: Cellphones

Acer Liquid mixes Snapdragon and Android 1.6 'donut' for a movable feast originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Mini 9 modded into an internet tablet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/dell-mini-9-modded-into-an-internet-tablet/

MyDellMini forum member Rob928, take a bow. This honorable gentleman has only gone and transformed an aging 9-inch netbook into a new-fashioned internet tablet. it might still be a chubby little thing, but there's no denying the usefulness of using the entire screen to navigate instead of the usually cramped netbook touchpad. With a 16GB SSD upgrade alongside the venerable Atom N270 and 1GB of RAM, this device will even boot faster into Windows than your run-of-the-mill netbook. The read link will reveal all, including more shots of the hardware laid bare.

[Via SlashGear]

Gallery: Dell Mini 9 modded into an internet tablet

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

Dell Mini 9 modded into an internet tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sun FlashFire's record-breaking storage performance will make network admins giddy

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/sun-flashfires-record-breaking-storage-performance-will-make-ne/

Sun's FlashFire's record-breaking storage performance will make network admins giddy

Most businesses look for a good mix between value and performance for the hardware they lock in the server closet, the majority of those leaning toward the "value" side of the equation. However, for those companies that dodged the economic downturn entirely and want only the best, there's the FlashFire storage array from Sun. It's 2TB of rackmountable bits able to perform 1.6 million read and 1.2 million write operations per second, with a sustained throughput of 12.8GB/sec. Sun says these are records, and we can't find anything to refute them, the closest being the RamSan-440 from Texas Memory Systems, offering an (until very recently) impressive 600,000 I/O operations per second with a 4.5GB/sec throughput. TMS, it's been brought.

Filed under: Storage, Networking

Sun FlashFire's record-breaking storage performance will make network admins giddy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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