Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Will Vizio's Hot New Computers Be Available Next Month at Walmart? [PCs]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5914643/will-vizios-hot-new-computers-be-available-next-month-at-walmart

An anonymous tipster sent us apparent photos of Walmart's inventory supply system, complete with listings for two upcoming Vizio computers. (Presumably this tipster is a Walmart employee.) It looks like the gorgeous machines we first saw at CES could hit the big box giant's stores in mid-June.

There are references to a "27 All-In-One PC" for $1100 and a "14 T L Notebook" for $900, which line up with Vizio's plans for a 27-inch all-in-one and a 14-inch notebook. The also inventory shows that the products are on order. However, there's no information about when we might see 24-inch all-in-one or the 10-inch and 15.6-inch notebooks, we've also heard about.

If true, this is fantastic news. We were very excited when we learned about Vizio plans to move into computers, but we also feared that as with many great plans, the products might never show up in the real world.

We reached out to Vizio reps for comment, but have yet to hear back. If any of you out there have additional information, let us know.

Vimeo provides the soundtrack of our lives with new tools

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/vimeo-provides-the-soundtrack-of-our-lives-with-new-tools/

What's Wes Anderson without the Kinks, Pulp Fiction without Dick Dale or Benny Hill without "Yakkity Sax?" Vimeo knows the power of a good soundtrack, so it's adding a couple of tools to its arsenal. The Enhancer lets users choose from some 50,000-plus tracks from the Vimeo Music Store, adding them directly to videos, adjusting audio levels and shifting the beginning and end of the song. A partnership with SmartSound, meanwhile, offers up access to 4,000 songs that can be customized by adjusting length, instrumental mix and musical arrangement. Tracks from the latter service will run $1.99 for non-commercial use and $20 for commercial licenses. Press release after the break.

Continue reading Vimeo provides the soundtrack of our lives with new tools

Vimeo provides the soundtrack of our lives with new tools originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Outspoken Harvard professor Jonathan Zittrain to head FCC's open internet advisory panel

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/jonathan-zittrain-harvard-fcc-net-neutrality/

The FCC has created a new forum for corporations, experts and activists to scrap over web laws: The Net Neutrality Advisory Committee. Members have been tasked with "tracking and evaluating the effects of the FCC's Open Internet rules," as well as making policy recommendations. The new group is to be led by Harvard professor and long-time defender of an open internet, Jonathan Zittrain, whose appointment echoes that of Tim Wu -- another expert in a senior advisory position over at the FTC. Harvard University is no stranger to what can go wrong when open access is stifled, so perhaps the good professor can shake things up a bit.

Outspoken Harvard professor Jonathan Zittrain to head FCC's open internet advisory panel originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 10:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IK Multimedia's iRig MIC Cast is now shipping for iOS devices, we go hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/irig-mic-cast-hands-on/

Back at CES, IK Multimedia unveiled a trio of music / recording accessories for iDevices. One of which was the diminutive iRig MIC Cast to handle those on-the-go podcasting and voice recording duties. The outfit has announced that the ultra-compact microphone that plays nice with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is now shipping. Let's have a quick refresher, shall we? The kit plugs into your Apple device's 3.5mm audio jack and sports a headphone output of its own for monitoring purposes. Inside the kit, a unidirectional condenser capsule goes to work to isolate the audio you want recorded instead that pesky background chatter. If you're looking to snag one, it'll set you back $40 (€29.99) and includes a stand for your handheld inside the box. But before you take the leap, head on past the break for some of our hands-on impressions of the device.

Continue reading IK Multimedia's iRig MIC Cast is now shipping for iOS devices, we go hands-on

IK Multimedia's iRig MIC Cast is now shipping for iOS devices, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 13:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO 4G LTE hitting Sprint stores on June 2nd

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/htc-evo-4g-lte-sprint/

With the phones no longer locked up in customs, the HTC EVO 4G LTE has already shipped out to pre-orderers last week, but it still hasn't been made available in your local Sprint store or third-party affiliate. That will all change this Saturday, June 2nd, as the Now Network has announced that the device will launch "in most retail channels." If you're hoping to grab one, just make sure you get to sleep early on Friday night so you can enjoy your new toy well-rested.

HTC EVO 4G LTE hitting Sprint stores on June 2nd originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This All-Carbon Fiber Ultrabook Weighs Just 2.1 Pounds [Laptops]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5914500/this-all+carbon-fiber-notebook-weighs-just-21-pounds

Carbon fiber has, without doubt, got to be one of the most exotic materials you can choose to build things out of: race cars, road bikes and, umm, laptops? It seems that the Dell XPS 13 has started a trend because now Gigabyte is hot on its heels with an all-carbon fiber notebook which is, as you'd expect, insanely light.

This is the Gigabyte X11. As you may have guessed it features a 1366 x 768 resolution 11.6-inch screen, which is packed into a frame that tapers from 0.65-inches to 0.19-inches thick and is made exclusively from carbon fiber. Expect the hinge: that's aluminum. Most importantly, it weighs just 2.1 pounds. Or 34.4 ounces. That's 4 ounces less than the equivalent MacBook Air.

Inside, the spec list reads like any other ultrabook: a choice of Ivy Bridge processor, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 128GB SSD, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, mini DisplayPort, 1.3 megapixel webcam, blah blah, yawn yawn. Oh, and it's made from carbon fiber.

Currently there's no availability date announced, but we do know that prices will range from $999 to $1299, and for now it will come with Windows 7 Home Premium. Did I mention it was made from carbon fiber? [Engadget]

Intel teams up with DeviceScape for automatic public WiFi, will hook up your Ultrabook in the background

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/30/intel-teams-up-with-devicescape-for-automatic-public-wifi/

We all know the coffee shop WiFi routine: crack open the laptop, visit a splash page, and dutifully wait until you're logged in before you get to Twitter. Through a new deal between Intel and DeviceScape, you won't even have to think about it. Intel's Smart Connect tool will soon automatically sign in your Ultrabook to a curated list of quality, open WiFi hotspots, even if the PC is fast asleep. This last trick might need Windows 8's Connected Standby mode to live up to Intel's expectations, but the dream is to have your email and social feeds updated and waiting before that laptop or tablet screen has even blinked into life. Intel is leaving some gaps in the story, such as whether or not gadget owners will pay a premium for the fast access. We'd guess that Intel is counting on higher computer (and more importantly, processor) sales to make up the difference.

Intel teams up with DeviceScape for automatic public WiFi, will hook up your Ultrabook in the background originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 17:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second-gen IOIO in the works: embraces the wireless revolution, cuts cost

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/30/second-gen-ioio-in-the-works/

Ytai Ben-Tsvi's IOIO board is quite the hit with the Android-hacking DIY crowd. But, that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement on the $50 dev board. A second-gen version is in the works that adds the ability to connect to a computer as a USB device (not just as a host) or via Bluetooth, without the need for a intermediary controller like an Arduino. Perhaps most exciting for those interested in tinkering with DIY Android phone accessories, is the plan to cut the price of the new IOIO. How much less the next version will cost isn't clear yet, but even just $5 could make a major difference. For more details check out Ytai's blog post at the source link.

Second-gen IOIO in the works: embraces the wireless revolution, cuts cost originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 17:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ADATA lets the sun shine on its new range of Premier Pro microSD cards

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/30/adata-premier-pro/

ADATA's trio of new Premier Pro microSD cards have escaped from the company's headquarters. Aimed at professionals and demanding consumers, the 16GB and 32GB editions come with a 45MB/s read and 40MB/s write speeds and support the latest SD 3.0 standard. The company isn't mentioning how well the 8GB card runs, so we'll just presume it's a little less speedy than either of its larger brothers. We've reached out to the company to find out when we can expect to see these hitting shelves (and how much they'll cost) and we will update if they tell us.

Continue reading ADATA lets the sun shine on its new range of Premier Pro microSD cards

ADATA lets the sun shine on its new range of Premier Pro microSD cards originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 21:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel details 14 dual-core Ivy Bridge processors ahead of Computex

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/intel-dual-core-ivy-bridge/

Intel announced its quad-core Ivy Bridge processors in April, but we've known that dual-core CPUs must be on the way too. And alas, the chip maker does have some up its sleeve -- 14, to be exact. Core i5 and Core i7 versions will be the first to ship, with Core i3 processors launching later this year along with new Pentiums and Celerons. Of the 14 dual-core processors, six are desktop-grade. The rest are mobile, though four are ultra-low voltage (which will be denoted by a U at the end of their name). Computex is just around the corner, and we expect to see plenty of Ivy Bridge systems -- especially Ultrabooks with ultra-low voltage CPUs -- there next week. In the meantime, we've already reviewed the Lenovo ThinkPad x230, a system running a dual-core 2.6GHz Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor. If you're into the nitty-gritty details, you'll find plenty to love in the Intel slides below the break.

Continue reading Intel details 14 dual-core Ivy Bridge processors ahead of Computex

Intel details 14 dual-core Ivy Bridge processors ahead of Computex originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel to show third-gen Ultrabooks at Computex, makes USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt a necessity

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/intel-to-show-third-gen-ultrabooks-requires-usb-3-or-thunderbolt/

When Intel first unveiled its grand plans for Ultrabooks at last year's Computex, many of the fireworks were consciously reserved for Ivy Bridge-based variants in 2012 -- well, they're here. This year's show in Taipei will show off the third generation of the skinny, MacBook Air-inspired platform, and Intel is toughening up the design requirements in the process. The thickness requirements are the same as last year, at 18mm for systems with screens under 14 inches and 21mm for bigger machines, but high-speed ports are now mandatory to get that coveted "Ultrabook" label and the full marketing weight of Intel's $300 million Ultrabook Fund: if a PC doesn't have either USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt, it's out of the running. Intel also wants security built-in, rather than optional, as well as guarantees that a system is quick and responsive when it's fully awake. Not that this would be terribly hard with the low-voltage Ivy Bridge processors launching at the same time, mind you.

Just to reinforce the importance of it all, Intel is noting that the flood of Ultrabooks is about to pick up in a big way as the category hits the mainstream. We were promised 75 Ivy Bridge Ultrabooks this year in a presentation back at CES; that number's now up to 110, 30 of which will be Windows 8-friendly touchscreen models and another 10 opting for the convertible tablet route. At least some of those lightweight portables should pop up at Computex next week, and you can be sure we'll be investigating as many of them as we can to see just how well Intel's partners have advanced the game.

Intel to show third-gen Ultrabooks at Computex, makes USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt a necessity originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OmniVision's 12.7-megapixel OV12830 can shoot 24 fps photo bursts from your smartphone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/omnivisions-12-7-megapixel-ov12830-can-shoot-24-fps-photo-burst/

OmniVision has been on a bit of a tear introducing new mobile camera sensors this week, and its newest could well have the biggest impact on smartphones in the next year. The OV12830's 12.7 megapixels don't make it as dense as the 16-megapixel sensors we've seen, but it makes up for that with some mighty fast still photography. As long as the attached phone can handle it, the CMOS sensor can snap full-resolution photos at 24 frames per second, or the kind of relentless shooting speed that would make One X and Galaxy S III fans happy. The same briskness musters 1080p video at 60 fps, even with stabilization thrown in. Production won't start until the fall and likely rules out a flood of 12.7-megapixel phones and tablets until 2013, but the OV12830's dead-on match for the size of current 8-megapixel sensors gives it a good shot at becoming ubiquitous -- and guarantees that phones won't need a giant hump on the back for a higher resolution.

Continue reading OmniVision's 12.7-m! egapixel OV12830 can shoot 24 fps photo bursts from your smartphone

OmniVision's 12.7-megapixel OV12830 can shoot 24 fps photo bursts from your smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 01:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gigabyte makes 975g X11 official, claims 'world's lightest' 11.6-inch notebook (update: hands-on video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/gigabyte-makes-975g-x11-official-claims-worlds-lightest-11-6/

Well hello there again, Gigabyte X11. Hot on the heels of yesterday's leak, Gigabyte's just made its 11.6-inch X11 laptop (or is that an Ultrabook?) official. At 975g (2.15 pounds) it claims the title of "lightest notebook on earth" -- and weighs even less on Mars. Design-wise, you're looking at a 16.5mm (0.65 inches) to 3mm (0.19 inches) thin Macbook Air-like body made of real carbon fiber (!) with an aluminum hinge. Under the hood you'll find unspecified third generation Intel Core processors (read Ivy Bridge), 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Mobile Intel HM77 Express chipset with Intel HD Graphics 4000, a 128GB SSD, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.

Ports include power, USB 2.0 and mini DisplayPort on the left side plus microSD, combo audio and USB 3.0 on the right. While the specs also mention gigabit Ethernet, there's no sign of it anywhere in the press shots. The display is a 1366x768-pixel LED-backlit affair dotted with a 1.3 megapixel webcam. A chiclet keyboard, buttonless trackpad and 4730mAh 7.4V Li-ion polymer battery (likely sealed) complete the package. There's no word on availability, but prices will range from $999 to $1299 with Windows 7 Home Premium and Professional in tow. Expect more information when we get our hands on this sexy beast at Computex next week.

Update: Our colleagues over at Engadget Chinese just got to spend some time with this svelte black slab. Take a look at the gallery below and hit the break for the hands-on video.

Gallery: Gigabyte X11 hands-on

Gallery: Gigabyte X11 press shots

In addition, Gigabyte's announcing two 14-inch laptops -- the U2442 and U2440 -- which feature third generation Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce graphics. Unfortunately, we're still busy drooling all over the X11 gallery, so we'll direct you to the full PR after the break for the complete details.

Andy Yang contributed to this report.

Continue reading Gigabyte makes 975g X11 official, claims 'world's lightest' 11.6-inch notebook (update: hands-on video)

Gigabyte makes 975g X11 official, claims 'world's lightest' 11.6-inch notebook (update: hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 03:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bio-chemical circuits may make you a man of a machine

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/bio-chemical-circuits-may-make-you-a-man-of-a-machine/

You'd be more than forgiven for not knowing who Klas Tybrandt is. The doctoral student at Linköping University is hardly a household name, but his latest creation may garner him some serious attention. The Swedish scientist has combined special transistors he developed into an integrated circuit capable of transmitting positive and negative ions as well as biomolecules. The advantage here is that, instead of simply controlling electronics, the circuits carry chemicals which can have a variety of functions, such as acetylcholine which the human body uses to transmit signals between cells. Implantable circuits that traffic in neurotransmitters instead of electrical voltages could be a key step in taking making our cyborg dreams a reality. We're already counting down the days till we're more machine than man.

Bio-chemical circuits may make you a man of a machine originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 06:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orange San Diego: Intel's Medfield phone gets benchmarked

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/orange-san-diego-benchmarks/

While we've been pleasantly surprised by some favorable browser scores, we couldn't help sneaking another peek at the phone's (second) launch -- this time right in the center of London. We took the Orange ~~Santa Clara~~ San Diego for a spin on our latest benchmarks. See how Intel's new mobile processor fares against much pricier competition right after the break.

Continue reading Orange San Diego: Intel's Medfield phone gets benchmarked

Orange San Diego: Intel's Medfield phone gets benchmarked originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 06:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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