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Monday, September 08, 2014

Amazon Just Dropped The Price Of Its Smartphone To 99 Cents

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-fire-phone-smartphone-99-cents-2014-9

Jeff Bezos Amazon Fire Phone

Amazon dropped the price of its first smartphone, the Fire phone, from $199 to 99 cents with a two-year contract with AT&T.

Even with the slashed price, the phone still comes with a year of Amazon Prime, which includes free shipping on millions of items as well as a growing selection of free movies, books, and music.

Amazon launched the phone July 25, and it was widely seen as a bit of a flop with slow usage growth, according to market research (Amazon hasn't released any sales numbers).

The phone has two main unique features: Dynamic Perspective, which allows it to react to how it is held, and Firefly, which can scan more than 100 million objects and make it easy to buy them on Amazon.com.

Amazon also announced that Fire phone will be on sale in the U.K. and in Germany starting Sept. 30.

Here's the statement from the company:

Dynamic Perspective, Firefly, world-class customer support with Mayday, free unlimited cloud storage for photos, 32GB of storage—and, for a limited time, customers get 12 months of Prime membership with Fire phone, which includes unlimited streaming of tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes from Prime Instant Video, access to over a million songs to download or stream from Prime Music, over 500,000 books to borrow from Kindle Owners’ Lending Library and free two-day shipping on tens of mil! lions of items. Now there’s another great reason to buy Fire—it’s just 99 cents with a two-year contract. Customers can purchase Fire on www.amazon.com, www.att.com and in AT&T stores nationwide.

“Fire is now 99 cents with a two-year contract, plus customers get one full year of Prime included,” said Ian Freed, Vice President, Amazon Devices. “With access to all of the Prime content, Mayday, 32GB of memory and free unlimited cloud storage for photos, plus the exclusive Dynamic Perspective and Firefly features, Fire is another example of the value Amazon delivers to customers.”

SEE ALSO: We Wanted To See If People Were Excited About Amazon's Fire Phone — Here's What We Found

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HP's Chromebook-like 'Stream' laptop is real, but not as cheap as we thought

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/08/hp-stream/

Don't believe everything you read, kids. When we first saw leaks for the HP Stream, a $199 laptop primarily meant to be used online, like a Chromebook, we were pretty excited -- here was something as affordable as a Chrome OS device, but running full Windows. It turns out, however, that although the Stream is indeed a real product, it's not as cheap as we all thought. HP just formally unveiled it, and it's actually going to start at $300, not $199, as previously reported.

That disappointment aside -- a $199 Windows laptop would have been sweet -- the specs match up perfectly with the rumors. This is a 14-inch machine, with a 1,366 x 768 display, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of local storage and a low-powered AMD A4 Micro processor that allows for a fanless design. On the outside, it looks similar to HP's Android-powered SlateBook, with bright-colored accents, two USB ports (3.0 and 2.0), an HDMI socket and a microSD slot. Even the weight is basically the same, at 3.8 pounds. Similar to how Chromebooks come with 100GB of Google Drive storage, the Stream will include 100GB of OneDrive space, free for two years.

The Stream ships later this month, on September 24th. The higher-than-expected price aside, we still hope to check one out -- ultimately, having more alternatives to Chromebooks is a good thing. Until then, what say you guys? Anyone out there buying? Sound off in the comments.

Filed under: Laptops, HP

This Technology Straight Out Of 'Minority Report' Is Real — And Soon We'll Be Using It Every Day

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/sc/intel-realsense-technology-to-change-computers-2014-9

realsense blade4 gaming

This post is sponsored by Intel.

Imagine you had the ability to video conference your boss at the beach while making it look like you were sitting in your living room. What if you could arrange photos on your computer by flicking your wrist, without even touching the screen? Or your computer could read your face and detect what emotions you were feeling, right at that moment?

While these futuristic abilities sound like scenes straight out of "Minority Report," they actually exist. Since 2012, Intel has invested a great deal of effort into its RealSense program. What Intel refers to as "perceptual computing" allows computers to "see" depth the way the human eye does, using an integrated 3D depth and 2D camera.

Business Insider Studios was recently given a personal tour of Intel's Innovation Lab, located in Santa Clara, to learn more about RealSense 3D technology. Intel's Director of Perceptual Computing Dr. Achin Bhowmik and Application Engineer Dmitry Ivanov led the tour, giving us a glimpse of several demos that showed the 3D camera in action.

"It's about giving the computer the ability to perceive the user and the world," explained Bhowmik. "As humans, we constantly see the world in 3D. We know how far things are, we know the shape of the environment around us. We wanted to add these same human-like senses to the computer to reinvent what the machine does."

RealSense 3D before after

What began as a bulky attachment in its beta stage has shrunk into a sliver of a device that can now be embedded into electronic equipment of almost any size. Intel's RealSense technology comes in three forms: a front-facing camera (which captures facial movements, tracks fingers and hands, and detects backgrounds and foregrounds), a rear-facing ca! mera (th at can scan and measure rooms and objects), and a snapshot camera (which can alter photo backgrounds after a photo has been taken).

Intel Hand Tracking.JPG

One can't help but ask: Do we really need this technology? What's wrong with using a controller to play a game? Or swiping your screen to flip through photos? Bhowmik argues that advances like this don't make us lazy, but rather make our lives easier. "The same argument was made for the automatic car," Bhowmik said. "Initially people thought, 'What's wrong with having a stick shift?' But automatic cars became hugely popular because they made people's lives easier — the same way touch screens simplified computing devices by replacing or augmenting the mouse."

By the end of 2014, Intel RealSense 3D cameras will come already installed in computer devices made by Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Fujitsu, NEC, and Toshiba, to name a few. Brands like Crayola, Skype, Scholastic, and DreamWorks have plans to incorporate the technology into their individual applications.

Bhowmik thinks computer devices are only the beginning for Intel RealSense technology. "This technology started with laptops and tablets, but we believe that it'll eventually be everywhere," said Bhowmik. "Everything that's autonomous — such as robots and drones — should have senses. The human senses receive information via seeing, hearing, touching, etc., and the human brain processes that information to allow comprehension of the physical world and enable effortless movements and interactions. The same should go for these devices."

Learn more about Intel! 's RealS ense technology.

Stay tuned for Business Insider's coverage of IDF later this week.

Find out more about Sponsor Posts.

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Article: Toshiba adds 1080p IPS display and Skullcandy audio to its Chromebook 2

Having joined the Chromebook party earlier this year with the first Chromebook to feature a 13-inch HD display, Toshiba has followed it up with its Chromebook 2. On display it IFA, Toshiba's second-generation Chromebook will come in two versions that continue the 13-inch display tradition and bri...

http://www.gizmag.com/toshiba-chromebook-2-ips-skullcandy/33711/

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The Big Picture: Infrared satellite images reveal the true extent of a forest fire

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/08/big-picture-infrared-satellite-imaging/

DigitalGlobe's satellite reveals a forest fire through infrared imaging

DigitalGlobe's recently launched high-res imaging satellite isn't just in orbit for the sake of creating pretty pictures; it can also uncover things that you might never see at all. As proof, the company has posted before-and-after imagery of a California forest fire that shows off the advantages of WorldView-3's shortwave infrared sensor, which can easily see past clouds and smoke. Suffice it to say that the sensor's effect is dramatic -- areas that would have been completely obscured are suddenly in plain sight, revealing both the perimeter of the blaze and its intensity. The hope is that firefighters will use overhead shots like these to pinpoint areas where they're needed most, saving people and whole regions. It could be a while before emergency teams are pulling up satellite views at a moment's notice, but it won't be surprising if aircraft-based fire recon eventually becomes obsolete.

Filed under: Science

Source: DigitalGlobe

Google's latest object recognition tech can spot everything in your living room

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/08/google-details-object-recognition-tech/

Google object recognition spots items in a living room

Automatic object recognition in images is currently tricky. Even if a computer has the help of smart algorithms and human assistants, it may not catch everything in a given scene. Google might change that soon, though; it just detailed a new detection system that can easily spot lots of objects in a scene, even if they're partly obscured. The key is a neural network that can rapidly refine the criteria it's looking for without requiring a lot of extra computing power. The result is a far deeper scanning system that can both identify more objects and make better guesses -- it can spot tons of items in a living room, including (according to Google's odd example) a flying cat. The technology is still young, but the internet giant sees its recognition breakthrough helping everything from image searches through to self-driving cars. Don't be surprised if it gets much easier to look for things online using only vaguest of terms.

Filed under: Internet, Google

Via: GigaOM

Source: Google Research Blog

Friday, September 05, 2014

Intel's Core M chips will boost PC battery life by nearly two hours

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/05/intel-core-m-chips-detailed/

Indisputably, the star of this year's IFA show is going to be wearables: round ones, flashy ones, head-covering ones. After that, though, you're also going to see a lot of super-thin tablets and 2-in-1 PCs, many of them made possible by Intel's new low-power Core M chips. Intel first teased these processors earlier in the summer, in the form of a 7.2mm-thick tablet that was even thinner than the iPad Air. Now many such systems are about to go on sale, which means it's time for Intel to fully explain what these new chips are capable of.

To be clear, although these CPUs fall into the "Broadwell" family -- the one that comes after the current Haswell line -- these are not the replacements for Intel's fourth-generation Core processors, the ones inside most new high-end laptops. Those won't come until sometime next year. Rather, Core M is the follow-on to the current "Y series" of Haswell processors, which are already used in some 2-in-1 PCs, like this one. Indeed, Core M is also meant for 2-in-1's (plus super-thin notebooks); it just promises faster performance and longer battery life. You know, like you'd expect on a new chip.

Because Intel moved from a 22-nanometer process with Haswell to a 14-nanometer one with Broadwell, this new crop of PCs will be both thinner and lighter than was previously possible for a full-fledged PC. In particular, Intel says some of these devices will measure as little as 7mm thick, though the company has warned from the beginning that not every Core M device will be as thin as that iPad Air-like tablet we mentioned earlier. Again, all this is possible thanks to some significantly shrunken components. The motherboard alone is 25 percent smaller and is now about as wide as a dime and slightly taller than a quarter. In total, the die size is now 37 percent smaller.

As for power consumption, the power draw can go up to 6W, though Intel says the typical TDP for systems on the market will be 4.5W. As a result, the company claims you can expect up to 1.7 hours more battery life versus Haswell-Y depending on the use case, with the biggest gains coming from local 1080p video playback. These systems should run cool enough, too, that just about all of them will be fanless. (You could technically do this with a 4.5W-TDP Haswell CPU, though most PC makers chose not to.) Additionally, Intel says CPU performance is up to 50 percent faster, with Intel's integrated HD 5300 graphics notching a 40 percent performance improvement.

Other features of these processors include Wireless Display 5.0; Intel's Smart Sound technology, which allows the device to wake on voice; and native support for PCIe storage disks. Core M chips will eventually support the WiGig wireless docking standard as well -- just not at launch, according to Intel. That last bit is important, as it's a key step in Intel's plan to one day enable PCs with zero cables or ports.

All told, more than 20 models with Core M are on the way, according to Intel. For now, Intel is shipping three different processor SKUs, the specs of which you can find in the table below. More CPU options will follow early next year, including some vPro-enabled chips for corporate-issued machines. Eventually, too, Intel still says prices will drop as low as $599 -- just don't count on seeing anything that cheap right away. Everything you'll see here at IFA is likely to be a bit pricier.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Intel

Source: Intel

This levitating Bluetooth speaker is the best we've seen

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/05/another-levitating-bluetooth-speaker/

When I met with OM Audio in Manhattan to check out what the company was calling the "world's first levitating Bluetooth speaker," I didn't bat an eye. I had never myself seen a levitating speaker before that day, and a thorough internet search turned up nil. As it turns out, a Taiwanese company has been showing off a very similar (albeit non-functioning) device for months. ASWY, based in Taipei, is here at IFA in Berlin demoing a production-ready version of its own speaker, which at this stage looks much more polished than the OM Audio prototype I saw last month. Audio quality is quite good, as well, and while a noisy trade show floor isn't the best place to test a speaker, it sounded better than the OM model I was able to experience in a silent room.

ASWY's product, simply called the Floating Bluetooth Speaker, has three watts of output, five hours of battery life and Bluetooth 4.0 support. You can also plug an audio source directly into the 3.5mm input, and, since there's an integrated mic, you can use the device as a speakerphone as well. Like with OM Audio's version, you'll need to use a powered base to keep the speaker in the air, but it'll operate untethered as well. The base also includes an integrated USB port, so you don't need to use a secondary adapter to charge up the device (though you can if you like). ASWY reps expect distributors to sell the speaker for $149 beginning this November. Check out the demo video below to get a feel for how it works -- we captured the audio straight from a mic attached to an Olympus E-M1 camera, and for a portable Bluetooth speaker, it really does sound good.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Create Customizable GeoMaps with Google Sheets

Source: http://lifehacker.com/create-customizable-geomaps-with-google-sheets-1630493802

Create Customizable GeoMaps with Google Sheets

If you want to display a range of data by region, you need a GeoMap. You may not have known this, but it's quite easy to create your own in Google Sheets after entering your data.

Highlight the data and go to Insert > Charts. On the charts tab of the new window you can select maps and choose which type of map you want. On the customize tab you can choose the colors and select which region you want. I created a map for the U.S., but you can choose to create a map for the world instead, or a select number of other regions.

6 Powerful Google Drive Features You're Probably Not Using | PC World

That Wonderful Sony Short Throw 4K Projector Costs as Much as Two Cars

Source: http://gizmodo.com/that-wonderful-sony-short-throw-4k-projector-costs-as-m-1630944892

That Wonderful Sony Short Throw 4K Projector Costs as Much as Two Cars

If you love short-throw projectors and hate money, you can officially purchase Sony's delightful short throw 4K projector for a grand total of $50,000 American dollars . But only if you live in the New York area.

Dell's 27-Inch 5K Monitor Is Like Filet Mignon For Your Eyeballs

Source: http://gizmodo.com/dells-27-inch-5k-monitor-is-like-filet-mignon-for-your-1630946185

Dell's 27-Inch 5K Monitor Is Like Filet Mignon For Your Eyeballs

For those who like to really spoil their eyes, Dell's new 27-inch monitor services them a whopping resolution of 5120×2880. That works out to 14.7 million pixels in total, and 218 PPI. That's just a hair shy of the 15-inch MacBook Pro's 220 PPI, on a display that's nearly twice the diagonal lenth. Wowza.

Philips' new curved TV and 4K media player run on Android

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/05/philips-new-curved-tv-and-4k-media-player-run-on-android/

Philips has just revealed a new lineup of 4K TVs, along with a way to actually play something on them. The standout model is the curved, 55-inch curved Philips 8900 that brings Smart TV features via Android. That gives you access to the Google Play Store for apps, games and content and an interface you may find ~~less miserable~~ more comfortable if you're used to Android. The set itself uses Philips' three-sided Ambilight and micro dimming to adapt the viewing experience to your room, along with a 1,000 Hz refresh rate, high-quality upscaling and a curved "ribbon" stand. Unlike Samsung and others, Philips didn't explain exactly why it thought a curved screen was a good thing, other than hyping its "striking appearance" (hey, at least they're honest).

Philips (or rather TP Vision, the awkwardly-named company that markets Philips TVs) also showed off the Philips 9100, a flat, high-end model UltraHD TV in 55- and 65-inch sizes. It also gets Smart TV functions powered by Android, and the 1,000 Hz refresh rate, upscaling, and four-sided Ambilight glow. But the model's piece de resistance is Spotify integration, letting you control music with your smartphone, without actually tying it up for streaming. Unlike the curved model, it also ships with a 50 watt subwoofer.

For the budget set, TP Vision launched the Philips 7900 UltraHD TVs in 49- and 55-inch sizes. Those models are also powered by Android, but have knocked-down specs like two-sided Ambilight only (instead of four-sided), and 600Hz refresh rates -- two features that purists won't care about anyway. Like the rest of the models, the 7900 also sports minimal bezels.

Finally, if you're tired of upscaling HD content, TP Vision also announced the Philips Media Player UHD 880, joining Samsung, Sony and a few others with such a box. It'll work with all the new Philips models as well as those from 2013 and use a new HEVC streaming format (aka H.265), the standard used by video services like Netflix. The UHD 880 will be powered by Google's upcoming Android L OS, giving users the store, apps and games that also come on the TVs. Other features include WiFi, ethernet, USB and HDMI 2.0. It'll run 249 euros when it arrives in Europe early next year, but if you bought an 8000- or 9000-series model like the first two above, Philips will throw it in for free. Meanwhile, all three new 4K model lines will arrive to Europe in Russia sometime this quarter, but there's no word yet on pricing.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Rebecca Minkoff's smart bracelets place emphasis on style and luxury

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/05/rebecca-minkoffs-luxury-wearable/

Some fashionistas wouldn't be caught dead wearing certain smartwatches, okay? That's why you see all these fancy wearables pop up these days, including a handful of new offerings from American designer Rebecca Minkoff. Her collection's comprised of two high-tech, high-fashion bracelets like Intel's MICA, as well as a golden phone charger, made in collaboration with luxury phone casing maker Case-Mate. Each bracelet has its own function, so it wouldn't be redundant to wear them both: the $120 gold chain-linked one connects to your phone via Bluetooth and alerts you of calls and texts from chosen contacts. The $60 studded leather bracelet, on the other hand, transforms into a lightning cable that connects to a USB cable for times when you badly need to charge.

Minkoff's the latest designer to cross over to tech from the fashion industry, following in the footsteps of Diane Von Furstenberg who designed stylish frames for Google Glass, Tory Burch who teamed up with Fitbit to create a special Flex tracker, and Ralph Lauren who recently launched a smart shirt for athletes. We'll likely hear more about these bracelets when Minkoff launches them today at New York Fashion Week, though they seem pretty straightforward, so it may be best not to expect more features.

Filed under: Wearables, Mobile

Via: Stylelist

Source: Rebecca Minkoff

Thursday, September 04, 2014

How Polar Bears Will Keep the Elephants Warm at the Oregon Zoo

Source: http://gizmodo.com/how-polar-bears-will-keep-the-elephants-warm-at-the-ore-1630597939

How Polar Bears Will Keep the Elephants Warm at the Oregon Zoo

Zoos are weird places . You have fake safari next to fake tundra next to fake rainforest—all separated by a glass and concrete and a few feet of space. At the Oregon Zoo, a new energy plan manages to both subvert and perfectly embody the zoo's artificial ecology: The excess heat from the polar beat habitat will keep Asian elephants warm.

HP's Chromebook 14 Gets a Big Time Tegra K1 Boost

Source: http://gizmodo.com/hps-chromebook-14-gets-a-big-time-tegra-k1-boost-1630480447

HP's Chromebook 14 Gets a Big Time Tegra K1 Boost

HP has a few power-ups planned for the holiday that are worth getting excited about. Specifically, its newest 14-inch Chromebook will be getting a fancy Tegra K1 chip , and the Envy X2 detachable is going to get a serious powerboost from Intel's Core M Broadwell .

Panasonic's AR Make-Up Mirror Turned Me Into a Pussycat Doll

Source: http://gizmodo.com/panasonics-ar-make-up-mirror-turned-me-into-a-pussycat-1630523732

Panasonic's AR Make-Up Mirror Turned Me Into a Pussycat Doll

Stuff the tech reporting — after trying out Panasonic's augmented reality make-up mirror, I reckon I've got a glittering career awaiting me as the first male member of the Pussycat Dolls.

Garmin's Vivosmart is part fitness band, part smartwatch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/garmin-vivosmart/

Considering how many damn smartwatches and fitness bands we've seen, it's incredible how few of them manage to combine aspects of both. Sure, there was the Fitbit Force, which was designed to show incoming calls for iPhones, but that was discontinued after a recall. The Samsung Gear Fit and Gear 2 have some fitness features, but you need a Samsung phone to use them, and besides, the step and heart-rate tracking aren't very accurate anyway. You might even remember the Razer Nabu, which won our People's Choice Awards at CES, and promised to display notifications for emails, among other things. But since that still hasn't come out, it's basically a moot point. All of this is to say: There's a wide-open market for fitness trackers that can also do the core job of smartwatches. Enter Garmin. The company just announced the $170 Vivosmart band, a fitness tracker that shows texts, emails, calls, calendar appointments, game notifications and music playback controls. For the time being, at least, it might just b! e the mo st versatile fitness device you're going to find.

At first glance, the Vivosmart looks like the popular Nike FuelBand: A wide plastic bracelet (available in five colors), whose built-in OLED display stays hidden most of the time. When you want to swipe through your notifications, just double-tap the display to wake it up. Like any other fitness tracker, it counts your steps, calories burned, distance covered and the amount of time you spend sleeping each night. Also similar to other models, it has a vibration motor, which you can use to set wake-up alarms. It does food logging too, but only if you connect your existing MyFitnessPal account inside the Garmin Connect app, available for Android and iOS. As you might've guessed, the band is powered by a low-energy Bluetooth Smart radio, promising a fairly typical seven days of battery life.

That about covers the basics. Now let's get to the interesting stuff. For starters, the device is waterproof up to 50 meters -- a nice bonus, considering other models (including the FuelBand) are merely water-resistant. Additionally, the Vivosmart carries over some of the features we liked best on Garmin's other fitness trackers, including the flagship Vivofit and the Forerunner 15 running watch. First, there's the "move bar," a line that appears on the screen -- and that you have to work off -- whenever you've been inactive for an hour. It's a clever feature if only because it's less intrusive than a vibration or a beep. You can ignore either of those if you happen to be in a meeting, but the move bar -- that won't go away until you get up and walk. Like other Garmin devices, too, it's compatible with heart rate monitors and bike speed sensors, though you'll of course have to buy those separately.

The Vivosmart is available for pre-order today, with shipments expected to start mid-month. It's exclusive to Best Buy for now, but starting in November, you'll be able to find it in other stores as well. There's also a version that comes with a heart rate monitor. That costs $200. Hopefully, we'll get one in to review soon. Until there's a device that can do everything a fitness tracker and smartwatch can, we'll be curious to see if the Vivosmart does a better job as a smartwatch than smartwatches have as fitness trackers.

Filed under: Wearables

Lenovo reveals the Vibe Z2, its very first 64-bit smartphone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/lenovo-vibe-z2-and-x2/

Lenovo might not be known for its smartphones around these parts (Motorola's new wares should change that soon), but it's definitely no slouch where the rest of the world is concerned. To no one's surprise, the Chinese juggernaut's family of phones just got a little bigger today at IFA: the company just pulled back the curtain on a pair of devices called the Vibe Z2 (pictured above) and Vibe X2.

Its name would imply that the Vibe Z2 occupies the rung under Lenovo's flagship Vibe Z2 Pro, but this new entry is Lenovo's first 64-bit smartphone thanks to the 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon chipset housed within its 7.8mm thick chassis. That means it'll play rather nicely with the new (and currently unnamed) version of Android waiting in the wings, though at this point it's unclear whether it'll ship with Android L preloaded. Rounding out the package are a super-bright 5.2-inch screen running at 720p (sigh), along with 32GB of internal storage, dual SIM slots, a 3,000 mAh battery and a 13-megapixel rear camera with a backlit sensor.

Itching for something a little more stylish? That's where the Vibe X2 comes in. There's a 5-inch 1080p display and one of Mediatek's new True8Core chipsets lurking under the hood, but your eyes will dart to its three-layered design with colors stacked atop each other like paperbacks perched atop a coffee table. Striking? You bet, but we're sure it won't be everyone's cup of tea. You'll be able to choose from white, red, gold and gray options, all of which should complement the 13-megapixel camera 'round the back nicely. And in case three layers just isn't enough for you, Lenovo's got a series of accessories -- think a super-slim battery and an amped-up speaker -- to add a fourth stratum to the mix.

The Vibe Z2 and X2 will cost $429 and $399 respectively when they launch in October, and (to no one's surprise) they'll hit Lenovo's native China first. From there, they'll trickle into the rest of southeast Asia, eastern Europe and Latin America -- just don't expect them to hit US doorsteps any time soon.

Filed under: Mobile

Lenovo's ThinkPad Helix returns with a thinner design and longer battery life

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/lenovo-thinkpad-helix-2014/

Lenovo's ThinkPad Helix returns with a thinner design and longer battery life

Lenovo's ThinkPad Helix Windows convertible was always a promising device. Here was a tablet that could fit into its keyboard dock with the screen facing forward or backward. It had a full HD display and an active digitizer for pressure-sensitive pen input. Best of all, it used proper laptop-grade processors, ensuring you'd get performance more in line with Ultrabook than a standalone tablet. Sure, its weird cooling flap and pointy dock-guides made it cumbersome to use, but in spirit, at least, we were on board. We hoped Lenovo would try again with a refreshed design. At last, the company has done just that -- more than a year after the original first went on sale. The new Helix arrives later this fall with a thinner fanless design, not to mention slightly longer battery life.

As Lenovo tells it, the company's design team held off on refreshing the Helix until Intel's Core M processors came out. These chips, based on Intel's "Broadwell" architecture, allow for thinner, fanless Windows PCs. Not like an Atom-powered tablet, mind you, but full-fledged, laptop-grade performance inside a tablet. Just without the fans and cooling flap that annoyed us so much the first time around. The tablet alone weighs the same, at 1.8 pounds, but it now measures 0.38 inch thick, down from half an inch.

Other than that slimmer profile, the other big improvement is in battery life. The tablet now promises up to 12 hours with the keyboard dock, versus 10 on the original. As it turns out, most of the enhancements come from the tablet, not the dock: Even on its own, the slate is now rated for eight hours of runtime, up from four. The dock actually promises one less hour than it did last year.

Speaking of the keyboard dock, you actually get two options for a change. When the Helix goes on sale in October, you'll be able to buy it with a magnetic keyboard that connects via small pins at the bottom (meaning, it's not Bluetooth). Starting in January, when Intel's business-class vPro Core M chips become available, Lenovo will also start selling a "Pro" keyboard that looks similar to the one on last year's Helix, complete with a rotating hinge and the signature red TrackPoint. The Pro does still have guides that jut out from the device, though they're thankfully less pointy this time around. If we're honest, you might want to wait for this one instead of settling for the magnetic keyboard, which doesn't have a built-in battery, and which doesn't allow you to adjust the screen angle the way you can on the Pro.

As for other key specs -- 400-nit, 1080p display, dual 5MP/2MP cameras -- not much has changed since last year. Also like the original Helix, it'll be offered with a Wacom digitizer, with a slot on board to stow the pen. Hey, if you live in the US, it won't even be an "option"; it'll just come standard. Once it arrives in October, it'll start at $999 with the pen and magnetic keyboard. No word yet how much the tablet will cost with the Pro keyboard, but we're hearing around $1,200 and up. Don't take our word for that, though -- the price isn't final.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Lenovo

Beats co-founder returns with ROAM Ropes wireless in-ear headphones

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/roam-ropes-headphones/

Steven Lamar helped create the now iconic Beats by Dre brand back in 2006, and after a spat over royalties last spring, he's back with headphones of his very own. Touting the best in ergonomics, sound and "Noise Equalization," Lamar's ROAM brand is launching Ropes as its first portable audio offering. As the moniker suggests, the design allows for the earbuds to be worn around your neck when they're not in use. That "Noise Equalization" bit is proprietary tech that claims to deliver "the best sound quality on the market today." Unforunately, I've yet to get my hands on a pair, so I can't confirm or deny that declaration. If the stock tuning does suit your sonic sensibilities though, there's a ROAM EQ app for tweaking via smartphone. The in-ears will arrive in time for your Christmas shopping, and they'll carry a pricey $299 tag in either graphite/black or orange/gray (benefiting Stand Up to Cancer) color options. For comparison sake, that's $100 more wireless units from Jabra (a pulse-tracking model) and Beats, and $140 higher than the sport-themed pair from SMS Audio.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video

Source: ROAM

LG's got an 8K OLED television and food looks delicious on it

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/lg-8k-tv/

As per usual, South Korean electronics giant LG is here at IFA in Berlin, Germany. Less usual? The company showing up with a 98-inch 8K OLED television. LG's saying it's "16 times full HD resolution," and while we didn't sit and count every pixel, the food porn being shown off looked mighty tasty. No pricing or availability was given, but we'd expect it to cost quite a bit of dough. The real reason it's here, however, is simply to showcase that LG can create the gorgeous, ultra high-res screen. And hey, did we mention that the food looked really pretty? Explore its depths in the gallery below.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD, LG

WSJ: Apple's smartwatch will arrive in two sizes with NFC in tow

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/apple-iwatch-sizes-nfc-report/

By now, you've likely read at least one of the many rumors surrounding what's become known as the iWatch. Well, according to The Wall Street Journal, you can add a few more details to the fray. That outlet is reporting that whenever Apple's smartwatch arrives -- which has been tipped as no sooner than 2015 -- it will be NFC equipped. The prevailing sentiment is that inclusion of wireless connectivity that can be used to pair with other devices or sort things like mobile payments means Cupertino has more lofty expectations that just fitness and health for the gadget. Of course, the current iPhone doesn't have said feature, but rumblings indicate that it could (finally) be inside the next model. What's more, WSJ goes on to say that the so-called iWatch will come in two sizes that both have curved displays and exercise-tracking chops. With a reported 2015 arrival, we may not hear much about the wearable at next week's phone event. But who knows, Apple's been known to have a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes product-focused affairs in the past! .

Filed under: Wearables, Apple

Source: The Wall Street Journal

The Best Jobs For Every Personality Type

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/best-jobs-for-every-personality-2014-9

Does your job fit your personality?

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test, measuring preferences like introversion and extroversion, has been part of business culture for decades. Today about 80% of the Fortune 500 and 89 of Fortune 100 companies use it to analyze the personalities of employees, in an effort to get them in the right roles and help them succeed.

To determine five of the best jobs for each of the 16 Myers-Briggs personality types, we consulted one of the most popular personality guides, "Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type," which is now in its fifth edition and has sold over a million copies, according to its publisher, Hachette Book Group.

We also talked to one of its authors, Paul Tieger. As the CEO of SpeedReading People LLC, Tieger has spent 30 years advising companies and individuals on how personality types can help teams work together.

While the list below is in no way definitive — and personality preferences can be flexible over time — it may serve as a helpful guide for understanding yourself and what sort of personalities gravitate toward certain jobs.

There are several tests you can take to determine which personality type you fit into. Tieger provides a free assessment here. Figure out which type suits you best, and then check out the chart below:

Best Jobs For Personality Infographic

SEE ALSO: How To Dress Like A Leader In Any Work Environment

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Samsung's latest 105-inch UHD TV isn't just curved: it bends too!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/samsung-105-inch-uhd-bendable/

Perhaps 85 inches isn't enough? Samsung's just introduced a 105-inch curved, bendable UHD TV at its IFA 2014 press conference. That means not only is it a massive, ultra high-definition screen, but also that it's re-shaped at the touch of a button. If all that sounds expensive to you, that's because it is: the non-bendable version is around $120K, so we can only imagine how much this one'll cost (Samsung didn't offer a price this morning, sadly). If nothing else, it's quite pretty! Head past the break for more details and a closer look.

Samsung's 105-inch QHD, bendable TV has a 21:9 aspect ratio and transforms "from flat to curved." Here are a couple shots, care of Samsung.

And how about another one, for good measure:

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

Wednesday, September 03, 2014

Intel introduces a snakeskin smart cuff for fancy humans

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/03/intel-luxury-smart-band/

We understand: you want to get into the whole wearable tech thing, but what's holding you back is how fugly most current offerings are. That shouldn't deter you for long, as Intel has made good on its promise to make a smart-bracelet that doesn't look like an overgrown phone strapped to your wrist. It's called the MICA (My Intelligent Communication Accessory) and the notification-bracelet be available at Opening Ceremony and high-end retailer Barney's for the holiday shopping season this year, according to USA Today. Pricing isn't quite set in stone yet, but an Intel rep tells CNET that the cuff-style gadget will run under $1,000. Slightly expensive for a a wearable, sure, but not so much when compared against, say, a piece of traditional jewelry. The MICA comes in black and white (as illustrated by the image above), and will feature either Chinese pearls and lapis stones or tiger's eye and obsidian depending on which color of watersnake skin you opt for. Snazzy!

If the device's looks don't do it for you, maybe its capabilities will. The MICA packs a 1.6-inch sapphire touchscreen covering an OLED display that'll show off, among other things, your text messages and calendar reminders. An internal 3G radio (no smartphone-pairing needed, apparently) keeps it connected to mobile data and it can be charged either via USB or a wireless system. Still want more? Swing by Opening Ceremony's spring/summer 2015 show this Sunday during New York Fashion Week for the gizmo's official unveiling.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Mobile

Source: USA Today

Sony's Rad Short Throw 4K Projector Is Coming to the US

Source: http://gizmodo.com/eyes-on-sonys-ultra-short-throw-4k-projector-sure-ligh-1496694759/1630047892/+marioaguilar

Sony's Rad Short Throw 4K Projector Is Coming to the US

Back at CES we got a first look at a prototype for a short throw projector that lets you light up a wall even if you don't have a lot of space to beam the image across a room. Today, we learned that it's coming to the United States this month. Heck yeah!

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