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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Lenovo ThinkPad bumps bring X201, X201s, X201t, W701, and W701ds into the Core i7 fold

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/23/lenovo-thinkpad-bumps-bring-x201-x201s-x201t-w701-and-w701ds/

Lenovo's giving some of its ThinkPad flagships a nice little spec overhaul, specifically the X200 series of ultraportables and the spectrum-leaping W700 hardlyportable dual screen laptop. The new X201 and X201s start things off with a new option for touchpads on the 12.1-inch form factor, options for Core i7 and Core i5 processors, and sub-three pound weigh-ins on at least the 4-cell configuration. The X201s is slightly lighter and slightly thinner, and is limited to Core i7 procs, though neither version gets much under an inch thick. The X201t (pictured) is the well-leaked tablet version, adding on a bit more thickness in exchange for a highly configurable screen, which includes options for outdoor viewing, capacitive touch and of course pen input. All three laptops rely on Intel HD graphics and are rather extensively configurable, with batteries ranging up into the 12 hour ballpark with the 9 cell battery option on the X201 and X201s. Unfortunately you'll still have to look to Lenovo's consumer line for HDMI output -- none of these machines are packing anything other than VGA.

Meanwhile, on the other end of town, the 17-inch, Wacom-equipped W701 and W701ds (dual screen) are making the leap to Core i7 as well, though the Core i7-920 Extreme and Core i7-820 QM Quad Core on display here is fairly desktop class. There's also NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M / 2800M graphics, and an option for a dual SSD drive configuration to really break the bank.

All of these laptops should be available in the beginning of March, with starting prices of $1,199 (X201), $1,599 (X201s), $1,549 (X201t), $2,199 (W701), and $3,799 (W701ds). Can't wait to find out more? We've got a review of the X201t all warm and ready for you.

Gallery: Lenovo ThinkPad X201 and W701 press shots

Lenovo ThinkPad bumps bring X201, X201s, X201t, W701, and W701ds into the Core i7 fold originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViewSonic's new VNB131 ViewBook Pro puts an attractive spin on the 13.3-inch ULV laptop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/23/viewsonics-new-vnb131-viewbook-pro-puts-an-attractive-spin-on-t/

Viewsonic isn't quite our go-to for excellent PC design just yet, but its new VNB131 ViewBook Pro is a surprisingly decently attractive alternative to the usual ULV fare from the likes of Acer and ASUS. Maybe it's just that touch of "1999" in the aluminum curves and accents that we're finding ourselves suddenly drawn to. Outside of the looks, the VNB131 is mostly pretty stock ULV: there's an Intel ULV SU7300 Core 2 Duo processor, 320GB HDD, 2GB of RAM, a DVD burner, HDMI, VGA, 802.11n and a 7-in-1 card reader. Interestingly, however, you can swap out the DVD drive for an extra 3 cell battery, which in conjunction with the stock 6 cell should offer up to 12 hours of battery life. We're sure you sacrifice a bit on weight and thickness for that luxury, and the price isn't best-in-class either at $949. Still, it's not bad for a company that's still thinks it's pulling one over on people by trying to rip the "MacBook Pro" below-screen lettering. It's available now, wherever ViewBooks are sold. Check out another shot of the laptop after the break, along with some fancy PR.

Continue reading ViewSonic's new VNB131 ViewBook Pro puts an attractive spin on the 13.3-inch ULV laptop

ViewSonic's new VNB131 ViewBook Pro puts an attractive spin on the 13.3-inch ULV laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's in-cell multitouch laptop displays get unveiled, certified with Windows 7 Touch Logo (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/23/lgs-in-cell-multitouch-laptop-displays-get-unveiled-certified/

Want evidence for the old saying that there's always something next to wait around for with technology? We've only just reviewed the most bodacious X200 Tablet from Lenovo, yet already there's a capacitive multitouch display that promises to be that little bit better. LG's in-cell multitouch technology places the touchy-feely parts inside -- rather than as a film on top of -- the LCD panel, which we're told eliminates the loss of picture quality and brightness that regular multitouch results in. It only works with two fingers so far, but LG is still pretty pleased with itself for being the first to gain the Windows 7 Touch Logo sticker with this technology, which was previously limited to cellphone-sized displays. Mass production is set for the second half of this year, and we'll go ahead and assume that local nemesis Samsung will be using every moment until then to offer its own competing models. Bring on the marginally better touchscreens! We've now got a video for you as well, you know where to find it.

Continue reading LG's in-cell multitouch laptop displays get unveiled, certified with Windows 7 Touch Logo (video)

LG's in-cell multitouch laptop displays get unveiled, certified with Windows 7 Touch Logo (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:24:00 EST. Please se! e our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba Portege M780 marries Core i7 with tablet ergonomics, goes official

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/23/toshiba-portege-m780-marries-core-i7-with-tablet-ergonomics-goe/

What would we ever do without our eagle-eyed readers? Bob has spotted the above M780 tablet PC from Toshiba (which we first heard of a couple of weeks ago) on the company's official site, though its product page has yet to be linked to from any of the home pages. So it's official, but sort of prematurely so. Browsing through the spec sheet, this update to the M750 seems to lack for nothing, as its maxed out variant (priced at $1,799) offers a 2.66GHz Core i7-620M, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a 7200RPM 320GB hard drive. Okay, you could stand to upgrade those integrated graphics perhaps, but it's a potent package nonetheless. It's also interesting to see these 12-inch convertible tablets maturing to the point of offering viable workstation performance, as the M780 is joined by Lenovo's ThinkPad X201T and Fujitsu's upcoming tablet in offering Intel's finest and fastest dual-core processor inside.

[Thanks, Bob]

Toshiba Portege M780 marries Core i7 with tablet ergonomics, goes official originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, February 22, 2010

Chinese Hacker Responsible For Google Attack Code Identified [Google]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/0kpwKZ_GV7Q/chinese-hacker-responsible-for-google-attack-code-identified

U.S. authorities have tracked down the man who wrote the code used in the hacker attack on Google. He's a "freelance security consultant" in China, and his participation makes it even harder for the Chinese government to deny involvement.

The man's role was an oblique one: while he wrote the code that took advantage of a security hole in Internet Explorer, he himself didn't do any actual hacking. But according to the Financial Times, the Chinese government has "special access" to his work:

"If he wants to do the research he's good at, he has to toe the line now and again," the US analyst said. "He would rather not have uniformed guys looking over his shoulder, but there is no way anyone of his skill level can get away from that kind of thing. The state has privileged access to these researchers' work."

The "research he's good at," apparently, being breaking into computers and inserting spyware on them.

Hopefully by identifying the writer of the code, analysts are closer to tracking down the actual persons responsible. But until then, it's increasingly clear that the Chinese government had a prominent role in the implementation. [FT]

3D Ceramic Printer Creates Pottery Bowls and That Perfect Futuristic 'Ghost' Parody [3D Printers]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/MVOFS2QkqcY/3d-ceramic-printer-creates-pottery-bowls-and-that-perfect-futuristic-ghost-parody

To watch this transparent cube build a ceramic bowl must be like watching magic. The nozzle shoots clay out, designing sculptures layer by layer, until the finished object is ready to be fired in a kiln.

Below you can see some of the creations made from the powder clay mixing with water in the printer's tubes. If ever the movie Ghost is remade and updated with 21st century technology, Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore's replacements should be straddling one of these 3D ceramic printers instead. Now there's a film I'd pay money to watch. [Unfold via Designboom]

Acer GD235HZ and Alienware OptX AW2310 do battle in 3D HD monitor faceoff

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/acer-gd235hz-and-alienware-optx-aw2310-do-battle-in-3d-hd-monito/

We know 3D isn't for everyone, but if you've got your heart set on jumping that bandwagon nice and early, here's a review for you. The folks over at Tom's Guide have sat down with 23-inch 3D displays from Acer (GD235HZ) and Alienware (OptX AW2310) and sought to figure which one offers the better gaming experience. After some sobering notes about the need for a high end system to run 3D games -- NVIDIA's 3D Vision solution renders each scene twice, meaning you'll need as much power to drive one 3D screen as you would a dual-monitor setup -- they delve right into some benchmarking and real world testing. The key differentiator between the two panels is in the price, with the GD235HZ costing $399 and the AW2310 asking for a steeper $469, though on balance it was felt that the Alienware justified its premium with a superior feature set and better overall performance. Hit the source for the full verdict.

[Thanks, Ben]

Acer GD235HZ and Alienware OptX AW2310 do battle in 3D HD monitor faceoff originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SanDisk ships 64GB Ultra SDXC card for $350

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/sandisk-ships-64gb-ultra-sdxc-card-for-350/

Here's hoping you didn't pull the trigger on of the world's first SDXC cards to ship, 'cause if so, you just paid a painful premium. Nary two months after Panasonic served up the first 32GB and 64GB SDXC cards to the masses, SanDisk has stepped in to ship its highest capacity Secure Digital card ever in the 64GB Ultra SDXC. Said device boasts a 15MB/sec read speed, a Class 4 speed rating and an exFAT file structure that helps you capture 1080p clips without any glitches or hangups. It's also based around the minty fresh SD 3.0 specification, so make sure that you pick up an SDXC reader or a device that specifically supports the format (you know, like ASUS' Eee PC T101MT). If you're finally ready to leap, this one's available now for the not-quite-reasonable price of $349.99, though if we were you, we'd wait for the rest of the competition to hit the ship button and drive down the MSRP.

SanDisk ships 64GB Ultra SDXC card for $350 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10.1-inch ThinkPad X100e surfaces with Atom N450 processor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/10-1-inch-thinkpad-x100e-surfaces-with-atom-n450-processor/

Well, here's a bit of an interesting development. While we've been seeing Lenovo's ThinkPad X100e out and about for a while now, it's always been with an AMD Neo processor and an 11.6-inch 1,366 x 768 display. According to a spec list that recently turned up on Lenovo's own site, however, it looks like the company may also have another version of the laptop in store that's even more netbook-like. That one not only includes a lower-res, 10.1-inch screen, but an Atom N450 processor as well -- something that had been rumored to be headed to Lenovo netbooks as far back as December. Unfortunately, there's no indication of pricing or availability, although it does seem a bit late in the game for this to simply be a slip-up of some sort.

10.1-inch ThinkPad X100e surfaces with Atom N450 processor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Habey intros fanless, noiseless Atom Z510-based BIS-6620 mini PC: shh!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/habey-intros-fanless-noiseless-atom-z510-based-bis-6620-mini-pc/

Habey's no stranger to the diminutive PC arena, but the latest from the company just might be the one you've been scouting. If you've been scouting a mini PC that's dead-silent, that is. The BIS-6620 is described as "an ultra-compact fanless and noiseless PC platform based on the Intel Atom Z510 processor," measuring just 4.5- x 4.5- x 1.5-inches and offering up GMA 500 graphics, 1080p hardware decoding, a single DDR2 SODIMM memory slot, room for a 1.8-inch (iPod classic-sized), a few USB 2.0 sockets, integrated SD / CF card readers, gigabit Ethernet port, an optional WiFi module and your choice of OS (Windows XP Embedded, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Linux). There's a fair chance this could double as a simplistic media player in your cramped studio apartment, and at just $299.99 at NewEgg, you won't be shattering the bank in the process. Video's after the break.

Continue reading Habey intros fanless, noiseless Atom Z510-based BIS-6620 mini PC: shh!

Habey intros fanless, noiseless Atom Z510-based BIS-6620 mini PC: shh! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentax trots out gorgeous K-7 Limited Silver DSLR

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/pentax-trots-out-gorgeous-k-7-limited-silver-dslr/

Do Japanese gadget makers think we're not superficial enough to appreciate specially repainted editions of their gear? Because we are, we totally are. Pentax is producing a mere 1,000 units of the above slice of DSLR beauty and predictably they all seem to be headed to the Japanese market. The Limited Silver variant of the K-7 adds a few enhancements, too, with a specially reinforced glass plate protecting the LCD and adding to the original's robust weatherproofing, as well as updated firmware and photo processing software. The most intriguing addition is the inclusion of a "golden section ratio" focusing screen with curved guiding lines that are supposed to make image composition even easier. We'd say that's just the sort of cosmetic enhancement you'd expect on a prettied up limited edition shooter, but that'd make our bitterness at not being able to buy one too obvious.

Pentax trots out gorgeous K-7 Limited Silver DSLR originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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APIDIS Automated Film Crew Could Produce the Perfect Sports Coverage [Sports]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/02SXQM8joS4/apidis-automated-film-crew-could-produce-the-perfect-sports-coverage

At the end of many sport games, the commentators inevitably give shouts outs to the camera crew, who wave back with toothy smiles. It's a touching, simple "thank you" for covering the game. Sadly, these poor saps are all doomed.

Now, I don't know when the end will come for these unfortunate souls, but I do know what the beginning of the end is called: APIDIS. That's Autonomous Production of Images based on Distributed and Intelligent Sensing to people who enjoy spelling things out, and what it boils down to is a system that combines video streams from several cameras into a kind of "smart" coverage that has little room or tolerance for the inevitable mistakes of carbon-based meat sacks.

Unlike single-minded humans, APIDIS tracks the ball and players simultaneously, using a network of connected cameras. With this network, the system calculates which angle captures the most detail, and displays it to the viewer accordingly.

Even crazier (and the reason why it will truly take off), is a feature that allows coverage to be customized to a user's viewing preferences. Perhaps you're Chelsea captain John Terry's wife, for example, and you want to keep an eye on him for the entire Premiership match against Everton, just in case he tries to have an affair with one of the other player's girlfriends. You can totally do that! Someone already has!

Well, not with John Terry. The match that APIDIS was given custom instructions to cover was a basketball game, so chosen because of that sport's faster pace. It worked, and ESPN is reportedly looking into APIDIS with more than just a passing interest. [New Scientist]

Artificial nose becomes coffee analyzer, sniffs out KIRF Starbucks venues

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/21/artificial-nose-becomes-coffee-analyzer-sniffs-out-kirf-starbuc/

Artificial schnozzes have been sniffing foreign objects for years now, but rarely are they engineered to sniff out specific things. A team of researchers from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign have done just that, though, with a new snout that acts as a coffee analyzer. Reportedly, the device can "distinguish between ten well-known commercial brands of coffee and can also make a distinction between coffee beans that have been roasted at different temperatures or lengths of time." The significance here is that this distinction is incredibly difficult to make, and it could one day help coffee growers determine whether batches are as good as prior batches on the cheap. More importantly, however, it could help the modern java hunter determine whether or not they're walking in a corporate Starbucks or one of those "branded" kiosks with two-fifths the menu. Brilliant, right?

Artificial nose becomes coffee analyzer, sniffs out KIRF Starbucks venues originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Bloom Box: a power plant for the home (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/the-bloom-box-a-power-plant-for-the-home-video/

Those two blocks can power the average high-consumption American home -- one block can power the average European home. At least that's the claim being made by K.R. Sridhar, founder of Bloom Energy, on 60 Minutes last night. The original technology comes from an oxygen generator meant for a scrapped NASA Mars program that's been converted, with the help of an estimated $400 million in private funding, into a fuel cell. Bloom's design feeds oxygen into one side of a cell while fuel (natural gas, bio gas from landfill waste, solar, etc) is supplied to the other side to provide the chemical reaction required for power. The cells themselves are inexpensive ceramic disks painted with a secret green "ink" on one side and a black "ink" on the other. The disks are separated by a cheap metal alloy, instead of more precious metals like platinum, and stacked into a cube of varying capabilities -- a stack of 64 can power a small business like Starbucks.

Now get this, skeptics: there are already several corporate customers using refrigerator-sized Bloom Boxes. The corporate-sized cells cost $700,000 to $800,000 and are installed at 20 customers you've already heard of including FedEx and Wal-mart -- Google was first to this green energy party, using its Bloom Boxes to power a data center for the last 18 months. Ebay has installed its boxes on the front lawn of its San Jose location. It estimates to receive almost 15% of its energy needs from Bloom, saving about $100,000 since installing its five boxes 9 months ago -- an estimate we assume doesn't factor in the millions Ebay paid for the boxes themselves. Bloom makes about one box a day at the moment and believes that within 5 to 10 years it can drive down the cost to about $3,000 to make it suitable for home use. Sounds awfully aggressive to us. Nevertheless, Bloom Energy will go public with details on Wednesday -- until then, check the 60 Minutes sneak peek after the break.

[Thanks, Abe P.]

Continue reading The Bloom Box: a power plant for the home (video)

The Bloom Box: a power plant for the home (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Formula For a Perfect Movie [Science]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/S_RiRqFfNwE/the-formula-for-a-perfect-movie

A Cornell University professor analyzed 150 of the highest grossing movies of the last 70 years. The more recent the movie, he found, the closer it adhered to the mathematical formula that describes the human attention span.

In the 1990s, researchers at University of Texas in Austin determined that our attention spans could be described by the 1/f fluctuation, a pattern representing the ebb and flow of our concentration over a period of time. In a new study, professor James Cutting found that the more recent the blockbuster, the more closely the length of its shots followed that same fluctuation.

Whereas Detour, made in 1945, has shots that only vaguely correspond to the 1/f fluctuation, the 2005 King Kong remake stays surprisingly snug with the attention span wave.

As Cutting explains, this increasing correlation means that films "resonate with the rhythm of human attention spans," but just because movies are increasingly pleasing to our subconscious minds doesn't mean that we will necessarily like them more: the Star Wars prequels strictly followed the formula. [PhysOrg and PopSci]

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