drag2share: Microsoft eyes new category for Windows Embedded, envisions intelligent systems for everyday objects

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/microsoft-eyes-new-category-for-windows-embedded-envisions-inte/

Microsoft's fixin' to get its Windows platform inside, well, everything. That's according to GM of Windows Embedded, Kevin Dallas, who says the tech giant is on track to create a new category for the division that centers around "intelligent systems." It appears the time is ripe for "low-cost... high-powered microchips" to take advantage of MS' emerging cloud services and integrate means of delivering data and immersive experiences to both enterprise and commercial end users, like in-car systems or point of sale terminals. Need a more specific visual of where this heavy-handed business jargon's headed? Dallas claims customers in the medical industry are eager to implement Kinect's gesture-based tracking into future equipment, so pretty soon you won't have to worry about shaky hands splicing into your vital organs. And all of this is coming relatively soon, as good 'ol Redmond plans to make its Windows Embedded platforms available shortly after the release of Windows 8 for PCs. So hold tight, there's a brave new world coming and Microsoft's holding the keys.

Microsoft eyes new category for Windows Embedded, envisions intelligent systems for everyday objects originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: HTC Jetstream review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/htc-jetstream-review/

When HTC entered the tablet game, it did so in reverse course. Where other manufacturers were jostling for elbow room in a 10-inch form factored world, the company opted for smaller, more familiar battleground, eschewing the rough-hewn Honeycomb OS for a Gingerbread-baked Sense overlay on the Flyer. Naturally, the time for that mini-slate to shine has come and gone. In its stead, we're treated to a flagship of sorts -- HTC's first 10-incher and AT&T's inaugural 4G LTE slate. Android 3.1 makes an appearance here, as does Sense 1.1 for tablets, but is the skinned experience really any different from the custom UX we've all come to love or hate on phones? Can the added Scribe pen functionality, repurposed here from its 7-inch brother, transform the Jetstream from third pillar offering to an always-on, on-the-go assistant? And will those newly hatched 700MHz speeds convince you to cough up for that weighty $700 price tag? Follow along past the break to see how it fared.

Gallery: HTC Jetstream review

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HTC Jetstream review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Shopping Discovery App Zoomingo Raises $1.3 Million

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/14/shopping-discovery-app-zoomingo-raises-1-3-million/

The newly launched shopping discovery app Zoomingo announced today it has secured $1.3 million in funding from early-stage VC firms Naya Ventures and Benaroya Capital along with several prominent angel investors. Previously self-funded, Zoomingo says it will use the additional capital to enhance its current mobile application, build a retailer platform and grow its community through expanded outreach to customers and retailer partners.

With this funding, Dayakar Puskoor, managing director of Dallas-based Naya Ventures, will also join Zoomingo's board of directors.

For background, Seattle-based Zoomingo was founded by language learning service Livemocha's co-founders, Shirish Nadkarni (Zoomingo CEO) and Krishnan Seshadrinathan (CTO). Nadkarni said he had the idea for the service when he noticed that his wife (an avid shopper, he says) was having trouble locating nearby sales using her mobile phone. So many of today’s apps focus on barcode scanning, deals and offers or price comparisons, but none simply rounded up all the nearby sales at local retailers in one easy-to-access mobile application.

Hence, Zoomingo.

The app pulls in sales data from major retailers using a combination of manual and automated means as well as crowd-sourcing via its “Deal Scouts,” who are positioned in several major U.S. cities. Zoomingo now provides access to 70,000 retail outlets in the U.S., and growing.

The app is available on both iPhone and Android.

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drag2share: Best Buy Preps $249 Asus Transformer For Black Friday

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/14/best-buy-preps-249-asus-transformer-for-black-friday/

The ratio of awful tablets to good ones in this year’s Black Friday ads doesn’t exactly inspire much confidence, but there are some good deals to be found even at this early stage. Case in point: Best Buy’s leaked Black Friday circular has the first generation 16GB Asus Transformer for $250, a respectable $150 drop from its current price.

Much like with Staples and their bargain-basement BlackBerry PlayBooks, this doorbuster deal is only for people with the guts to wait in line for it. The big question though, is whether or not it’s worth risking life and limb to acquire. Let’s not forget, after all, that the Transformer Prime is barreling down the pipeline with a better processor and camera in tow as we speak.

Still, the Transformer’s solid Tegra 2 chipset and 10.1-inch display make it one of the better tablet options available during the post-Thanksgiving mayhem. Better one of these than a Coby Kyros or a “Polaroid Internet Tablet,” after all.

I’m sure the temptation of a low price already has some bargain hunters working out their Black Friday logistics, but here’s a thought — why not stay at home as see what Cyber Monday has to offer instead? Call me lazy, but in this case, I’d rather my credit card and clicking finger get a workout instead of schlepping around in the cold with 1,000 other people.

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drag2share: Meet AMD's New History-Making, 16-Core Beast [Guts]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5859235/meet-amds-new-history+making-16+core-beast

Your quad-core computer doesn't seem so great anymore now, does it, champ? AMD's Opteron 6200 boasts 16 cores running at up to 2.6 GHz each. That is a lot of number crunching—and the first x86 with 16 cores.

Sadly, the monster isn't really made for you. AMD's going after server farms with the 16-headed Opteron—places where all of those cores can actually be taken advantage of, as opposed to a game of WoW. But in case you really, really want all those cores—and money isn't a problem—the upper deck model can be snapped up for a cool $1,020. That's only like $64 a core! And since the 6200 uses AMD's power-saving Bulldozer architecture, you might even end up saving money, in some extremely complex rationalization you might want to employ. Tenuous, fine. So how about this? The 6200 can overclock its cores on the fly by up to an extra 1 GHz, and supports up to 384 GB of RAM. I can't wait to see how Skype runs on this thing. [AMD via PC World]

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