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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Sony's NEX3 / 5 cameras priced, June release date leaked (update: official)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/sonys-nex3-5-cameras-priced-june-release-date-leaked/

It looks like Sony's having a field day right now in Japan, making its official reveal of the NEX3 and NEX5 cameras, the "ultra-compact" DSLRs with interchangeable lenses we saw back at PMA. The presentation is going on as we speak, and the rumor sites seem to suggest Digital Photography School posted (and subsequently pulled) a review of the NEX3. Quesabesde, however, still has its preview of the not-quite-Micro Four Thirds shooters live, and is also listing some specs and prices. First with the technical details: the NEX3 has a 14.2 megapixel sensor, support for Memory Stick and SDXC media, 720p / 30fps video, and an articulating 2.95-inch LCD. The NEX5 boasts AVCHD 1080i video, and we're not sure yet as to other differences between the pair. As for pricing, the bodies on their lonesome appear to be worth about €250 and €350, respectively -- that's $320 and $448 in US currency. Throw in a 16mm f2.8 lens for €250 and you're now looking at a minimum of €500 (or $640) to join the fray. The kits are said to be going on sale in June. Sony's official site hasn't updated yet, but with any luck we'll get the legit scoop in very short time.

Update: Sony made it official, says a firmware update will be released this summer to capture stereoscopic 3D sweep panoramas.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Gallery: Sony's NEX3 / 5 cameras priced, June release date leaked

Sony's NEX3 / 5 cameras priced, June release date leaked (update: official) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 20:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo adds touch to IdeaCentre A700 and B305 all-in-ones, vies for your desktop dollars with H320

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/lenovo-h320-and-ideacentre-a700-and-b305-all-in-ones-vie-for-you/

While keeping the overdesigned aesthetic of their IdeaCentre brandmates, the new A700 and B305 (above) all-in-ones from Lenovo are moving things forward with optional touchscreens and freshened up spec sheets. The A700 offers the full range of Intel's Core 2010 laptop CPUs, but tops things off with the slightly older 45nm Core i7-820QM, which gives you four cores operating at a somewhat pedestrian 1.73GHz default speed that can be cranked up to 3.06GHz when circumstances demand it. Other specs include a 1080p 23-inch display, built-in 802.11a/b/g/n wireless, and a side-mounted Blu-ray drive. If you're feeling extravagant, you can even cram in 8GB of DDR3 RAM, but don't expect to be paying the $999 entry price for that package when these become available at the end of June.

The B305 gives AMD fans something to admire, with Athlon II X4 processors, Radeon HD 5450 graphics -- great for multimedia, but forget about 3D gaming -- up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and up to a 21.5-inch display stretching to 1,920 x 1,080. Built-in wireless and a DVD-RW drive are again present, along with up to a terabyte of storage (2TB on the A700, that showoff) should you opt to tread beyond the $699 entry price. The B305 will be purchasable next month, as will be the H320 old schooler. Starting out at $549, this small form factor pc offers Intel's 32nm desktop parts, with the finest of the bunch being the 2.8GHz Core i7-860. Radeon HD 5570, up to 8GB of memory, a terabyte of storage, Blu-ray, and wireless options fill out its vital statistics, though you'll have to buy your own monitor. Full PR after the break.

Gallery: Lenovo IdeaCentre A700 and B305, plus H320 desktop

Continue reading Lenovo adds touch to IdeaCentre A700 and B305 all-in-ones, vies for your desktop dollars with H320

Lenovo adds touch to IdeaCentre A700 and B305 all-in-ones, vies for your desktop dollars with H320 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150 upgrades to Atom D510, keeps NVIDIA Ion, 1080p playback, and ultraslim look

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/lenovo-ideacentre-q150-gives-nvidia-ion-an-ultraslim-nettop-to-c/

The world might be all abuzz about Ion 2 already, but we reckon we can still make room for an NVIDIA Ion nettop that measures a malnourished 21mm in width and offers full 1080p video playback. The successor to Lenovo's IdeaCentre Q110, the Q150 is built around a pair of Intel Atom options -- the single-core D410 or dual-core D510, both running at 1.6GHz -- and will come with Windows 7 Home (Basic or Premium) preloaded, built-in WiFi, a quartet of USB 2.0 ports, and an HDMI output should you pick up the Ion option. The wireless Multimedia Remote with Keyboard is also optional, but Lenovo seems to rightly expect you to want one in order to match the stylishness of the machine. The starting price for this little beaut is listed at $249, with availability by the end of June, but expect to pay quite a bit more for the fully outfitted option above. One more intimate pic of the Q150 awaits after the break.

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150 upgrades to Atom D510, keeps NVIDIA Ion, 1080p playback, and ultraslim look

Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150 upgrades to Atom D510, keeps NVIDIA Ion, 1080p playback, and ultraslim look originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo IdeaPad U Series updated with Core i3, i5, i7 ULV processors

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/lenovo-ideapad-u-series-updated-with-core-i3-i5-i7-ulv-process/

Well, thank you, Lenovo! Not only for updating the thin and light IdeaPad U Series laptops with new chiclet keyboards and ambient light sensors, but for finally giving us some details on Intel's new Core i3, i5 and i7 ULV processors. That's right, the new IdeaPad U lappies will be available at the beginning of June and will pack brand new Core 2010 ULV chips, which is in line with what we have heard about the release. Like the current U Series, the 11.6-inch U160, 13-inch U360,14-inch U460 and 15-inch U560 all measure less an an inch-thick and don't weigh more than 3.8 pounds. And according to the spec sheets, all will be configurable with your pick of ultra-low-voltage Core i7 (1.6GHz Core i7-640UM, 1.06GHz Core i7-620UM), Core i5 (1.2GHz Core i5-540UM, 1.06GHz Core i5-520UM, 1.2GHz Core i5-430UM) and Core i3 (1.2GHz Core i3-330UM) processors. There's no indication of discrete graphics options, but on the lower end there are also be Pentium and Celeron processor choices -- we're assuming the $679 starting SKU doesn't get the Core 2010 ULV love. We don't have any performance stats from Lenovo, but it does claim that the entire series continues to be all about portability and long battery life. Regardless, we're still extremely excited about the entire group, though something about that 11.6-inch U160 and the ability to configure it with a Core i7 UM processor has us exceptionally giddy. We're hoping to spend more time with these soon, but till then, be sure and check out the hands-on pics below.

Gallery: Lenovo IdeaPad U Series press / hands-on shots

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaPad U Series updated with Core i3, i5, i7 ULV processors

Lenovo IdeaPad U Series updated with Core i3, i5, i7 ULV processors originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Flipout spotted: an Android 2.1 / Motoblur device with a twist

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/motorola-flipout-spotted-an-android-2-1-motoblur-device-with/

Remember "Square Motorola Android slider?" Ah, those were the days. The little twister's returned, this time with much greater clarity and a new name. Meet Flipout. According to Gizmodo Brazil, we're looking at Android 2.1 with a dash of Motoblur thrown into the mix, a 2.8-inch display, full QWERTY keyboard, 700MHz processor, 512MB ROM / 256MB RAM, GPS, and a 3.1 megapixel camera. The HSPA phone is expected in the states this June in at least three different colors -- black, green, and pink. Backflip, Flipout... one can only hope Motorola keeps the trend alive with a Soundgarden-themed solar phone, the Outshined.

Motorola Flipout spotted: an Android 2.1 / Motoblur device with a twist originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 01:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 3D gaming a reality with LG partnership

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/xbox-360-3d-gaming-a-reality-with-lg-partnership/

The image above is unmistakeable: 3D gaming on an Xbox 360 with the help of an LG 3D television. From the looks of the Korean press release, LG and Microsoft have entered into a memorandum of understanding to jointly market LG's new 3D telvisions along side 3D-capable Xbox 360 games in South Korea, then later expand the partnership throughout the Asia Pacific region. If we're reading this correctly then it appears set to begin by bundling Xbox 360 3D games with LG 55/47LX9500 LED televisions sometime at the end of June. In other words, we're not seeing anything specific claiming new Xbox 360 hardware, just like we've seen on the PS3.

Xbox 360 3D gaming a reality with LG partnership originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 01:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony teases high-end camcorder with Exmor APC HD sensor and interchangeable lenses

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/sony-teases-high-end-camcorder-with-exmore-apc-hd-sensor-and-int/

Like Sony's new NEX3 and NEX5 compact cameras with APC-C-sized sensor? Then check out this tease for a Sony camcorder. The AVCHD shooter will feature the same Exmor APC HD CMOS sensor and E Mount interchangeable lenses. Better yet, it'll also work with A Mount lenses built for Sony's existing Alpha DSLRs. Coming this fall, that's when.

Continue reading Sony teases high-end camcorder with Exmor APC HD sensor and interchangeable lenses

Sony teases high-end camcorder with Exmor APC HD sensor and interchangeable lenses originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 03:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony NEX-5 is small, really really small (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/11/sony-nex-5-is-small-really-really-small-video/

What started back in 2008 has become a glorious trend: stuffing DSLR-sized sensors into compact camera bodies. First it was Olympus and Panasonic with its Micro Four Thirds standard followed recently by Samsung's NX10. Now Sony is flexing its digital imaging muscle with the introduction of its own compacts sporting APS-C-sized sensors and interchangeable glass. Both CNET and LetGoDigital already have previews of the NEX-5 -- the "world's smallest and lightest interchangeable lens digital camera" according to Sony. And by the looks of that comparison shot above with Olympus' diminutive PEN E-PL1, we're guessing that's a pretty accurate assessment. CNET was particularly stoked by the "aggressively priced" pre-production NEX-5 it took for a spin. Although the camera's not without faults -- quirky UI and controls (hey, it's Sony!), inconsistent autofocus, lack of electronic viewfinder, and a general lack of manual controls -- CNET found the NEX-5 to be "fairly fast" with "really quiet" lenses for both zooming and focusing. Most importantly, it judged the photo quality and noise profile to be "really good" while producing "sharp" 1080/60i AVCHD video. Mosey on through the break for CNET's video preview of the NEX-5 and then hit up the source link for some sample photos and a good spec-by-spec comparison of the NEX-5 with its micro format competition.

Gallery: Sony NEX Cameras hands-on

Continue reading Sony NEX-5 is small, really really small (video)

Sony NEX-5 is small, really really small (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 06:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, May 10, 2010

Why the power of the people is the only way to go ... (community must police itself) http://bit.ly/9Cs94L

Intel to launch Core i3 ULV processor this quarter

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/09/intel-to-launch-core-i3-ulv-processor-this-quarter/

We knew that Intel had a Core i5 ULV chip in the works for a June release, and now PC World is reporting on an Intel roadmap mentioning the aforementioned CPU, as well as a ULV Core i3. Due for release this quarter, the new 32nm processor should reach "laptops in the second half of the year," according to Intel VP Stephen Smith. The company was mum on release date, performance, and pricing, but don't fret -- keep your eyes on this space, and we promise you'll know as soon as we do.

Intel to launch Core i3 ULV processor this quarter originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 May 2010 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Overclocked ATI Radeon HD 5870 shootout: HIS, MSI and Gigabyte trade blows

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/09/overclocked-ati-radeon-hd-5870-shootout-his-msi-and-gigabyte-t/

ATI's Radeon HD 5870 first saw the (official) light of day in late September of last year, but the GPU has managed to age well. In the months since that original debut, we've seen an Eyefinity 6 Edition hit the market for multi-monitor maniacs, and quite a few factory overclocked options have also made their way out. The benchmarking gurus over at Hot Hardware scrounged up three of the latest and greatest, all priced just below the $500 mark, which have core clock speeds that are 100MHz higher than standard and memory clock speeds that are up 50MHz above the norm. Cards from MSI, HIS and Gigabyte were represented, and while each of 'em put up a better-than-average fight, the latter card came out on top in nearly every single test. Gigabyte's Super Overclock technology tended to outperform the other OC'ing solutions, but the whole lot managed to show up the non-overclocked alternatives by a good bit. Still, you'll be forced to pay a 25 percent premium for an 11 to 16 percent boost in performance, so these are still probably best for enthusiasts who can't stand to leave a single frame behind. Peep that source if you're in need of more coaching before pulling the trigger either way.

Overclocked ATI Radeon HD 5870 shootout: HIS, MSI and Gigabyte trade blows originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 May 2010 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Aspire 5553G showcases AMD's quad-core Phenom II N930 in early review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/acer-aspire-5553g-showcases-amds-quad-core-phenom-ii-n930-in-ea/

As with most good things, this comes from Bulgaria. Laptop.bg have finagled themselves a prototype unit of Acer's forthcoming Aspire 5553G and taken it on a benchmarking adventure to see what it's made of. Their first impressions relate to the case, which comes in a familiar Timeline-inspired design, including a fingerprint-loving glossy lid and Acer's particular take on the island keyboard, but they quickly move on to analyzing the quad-core Phenom II N930 heart beating within. Sadly, this particular unit was held back in gaming by its anemic Mobility Radeon HD 4250 GPU, but the news wasn't all that flattering in CPU-isolating comparisons either. Cinebench 10 found the N930 outperforming Intel's previous generation chips in multicore workloads, but falling behind on single-threaded tasks. AMD seems intent on pricing its latest Phenoms aggressively, and if you're not too hung up on getting great battery life these will look appealing, but we can't help feeling disappointed that Intel's Core i7s aren't being given more to worry about. Hit the source for the full review.

Acer Aspire 5553G showcases AMD's quad-core Phenom II N930 in early review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 07:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 starts shipping for $250

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/zotacs-zbox-hd-id11-starts-shipping-for-250/

You've seen the sneak peek, you've dug into the review, and now you're more ready than ever before to part with $249.99 in order to get your grubby mitts around one of the world's smallest Ion 2-based small form factor PCs. You've already dreamed up the perfect application for this pint-sized rig, and now it looks as if Newegg is shipping out the orders that it receives right now. Go on and head down to the source link if your mind's made up, but remember, we can't be held responsible for buyer's remorse effective March 13, 2004.

Zotac's ZBOX HD-ID11 starts shipping for $250 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS CrossHair IV Extreme mainboard supports mix-and-match GPU setups

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/asus-crosshair-iv-extreme-mainboard-supports-mix-and-match-gpu-s/

Scouting a new mainboard for that fancy new Phenom II X6 CPU you just picked up? You might want to hold off a minute, particularly if you're also planning on shopping for a few new GPUs as well. Hot Hardware has managed to get their paws around an upcoming motherboard from ASUS, the CrossHair IV Extreme. Much like the Maximus III Extreme that we spotted last November, this one also ships with the RoG Connect feature, enabling a secondary Bluetooth device (like a netbook or smartphone) to tweak overclocking settings from the sidelines. What really makes this one stand out, however, isn't the compatibility with all Socket AM3 Phenom and Athlon CPUs, nor the fancy new 890FX chipset. No -- it's the inclusion of Lucidlogix's nearly-forgotten Hydra solution, which allows users to mix-and-match GPUs (makes and models are no matter here) in order to create the most from whatever graphics cards you have sitting around. There's no mention of when this fellow will ship, but we'll be keeping an eye out at Computex just in case.

ASUS CrossHair IV Extreme mainboard supports mix-and-match GPU setups originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New HDD writing methods could boost platter densities by 5x or more

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/10/new-hdd-writing-methods-could-boost-platter-densities-by-5x-or-m/

New HDD writing methods could boost platter densities by 5x or more

Just when we think that platter-based storage is on its way out it keeps on coming back with a vengeance. A few years ago it was perpendicular recording boosting storage densities by a few orders of magnitude, now it's a pair of new techniques that could push things much further. Your average disk today can manage a couple-hundred GB per square inch while still delivering reliable writes, but if all goes to plan the write methods called bit-patterned recording (BPR) and thermally-assisted recording (TAR) could raise that to 1TB per inch initially and upwards of 10TB per inch down the road. BPR relies on segregating the disk sectors with lithographed "islands" while TAR relies on heating and cooling techniques that preserve the data in nearby sectors. When these Wonder Twins combine, disk sectors can be as small as 15nm in diameter and write speeds can hit 250Mb/sec. Yes, that's megabits, so while you'll be able to store a lot more data than on conventional platters, you won't be able to do so any more quickly than now.

New HDD writing methods could boost platter densities by 5x or more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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