Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Hands-on demo with TI's OMAP5 platform at MWC (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/hands-on-demo-with-ti-omap5-at-mwc-video/

It's TI's time to brag. We first met OMAP5 when the company's VP of the OMAP division, Remi El-Ouazzane, unveiled the developer's reference platform on our stage at CES. While there, he boasted OMAP5 as "the greatest platform on Earth right now," but we were given only a few insights into the platform's capabilities. Now, TI is back with a new wave of demos that better show the prowess of OMAP5 -- a system-on-chip design that houses a dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU clocked at just 800MHz, two Cortex-M4 cores for low-power processes, along with a PowerVR SGX 544 GPU that handles 3D compositions, and a number of accelerators such as TI's IVA-HD, which supports both video encoding and decoding and plays 1080p video at a whopping 60fps. We were shown a demo of all these capabilities humming in unison on a 1080p display, along with a complex HTML5 mashup that adds credence to the company's latest benchmark report. Photography geeks should know the system supports up to 14 megapixel cameras, and is able to process ten shots per second at that setting. We're told to expect devices based on the OMAP5 platform by the end of the year, and if you're anything like us, it's going to be one hell of a wait. Hop the break for the demo.

Continue reading Hands-on demo with TI's OMAP5 platform at MWC (video)

Hands-on demo with TI's OMAP5 platform at MWC (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redbox deal with Universal keeps DVDs, Blu-rays on 28-day delay through 2014

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/redbox-universal-28-day-rental-delay/

So far, Redbox has maintained that it's only willing to delay rentals of new releases a maximum of one month, but while Warner pushes for a longer window the rental kiosk chain has reached an agreement with Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The new deal keeps the delay window at 28 days, and promises to keep the discs flowing through August 2014. Despite Redbox's threat to start offering Warner movies day and date due to their dispute, so far it's still taken a couple of weeks for new releases like Harold & Kumar and J Edgar to make their way into kiosks. So far there's no word of other studios backing Warner's push for a 56-day delay between the date movies go on sale at retail and the earliest budget renters like Redbox and Netflix will offer them, which is a good sign. Not mentioned in the press release? Whether or not this deal could affect the availability of content for Redbox's internet streaming service that's on the way with Verizon.

Continue reading Redbox deal with Universal keeps DVDs, Blu-rays on 28-day delay through 2014

Redbox deal with Universal keeps DVDs, Blu-rays on 28-day delay through 2014 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/noveros-solana-is-an-800-netbook-running-windows-7-and-android/

The last time we saw the Novero Solana, we were prowling Intel's booth at CES in search of prototypes. Because it was Intel, not Novero, showing the device, the emphasis was on that Cedar Trail processor inside, as well as that kooky form factor -- a netbook with a titling, easel-like touchscreen. What we didn't know then was that the Solana also runs Android, and that it's almost ready for prime time: it's expected to hit Europe and North America within the next two to three months, priced at about €699 or $799, respectively. We had a chance to play with some more polished hardware here at Mobile World Congress, and also see the machine running Gingerbread. Follow past the break for some early impressions or, if it's too early in the US to stomach reading, have a gander at our quickie demo video.

Gallery: Novero netbook / tablet hybrid hands-on at CES 2012

Gallery: Novero Solana hands-on at Mobile World Congress 2012

Continue reading Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on

Novero's Solana is an $800 netbook running Windows 7 and Android, we go hands-on ori! ginally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/wacom-intuos5-hands-on/

Wacom announces Intuos5 pen tablets, we go hands-on!

It's a couple of months since we spotted paperwork for a mysterious "PTK-450" device at the FCC and now Wacom has finally revealed the gadget that goes with the label. The Intuos5 tablet is available to purchase immediately in Small (4 x 6 inches), Medium (6 x 8) and Large (13 x 8) sizes, priced at £200, £330 and £430 respectively. We're still waiting on confirmation of US pricing, but it'll no doubt be less than what a straight currency conversion suggests (i.e. somewhere below $320, $525 and $680). There's actually a fourth variant to add to the trio, but it's not an XL -- Wacom is hoping to up-sell you to a Cintiq 21UX or Cintiq 24HD if you want something bigger. Instead, the fourth tablet is a version of the Medium that comes without touch sensitivity, bringing the price down to £270 if you're able to live with pen-only input. Opting for this particular model will remove one of the biggest upgrades in this three-year product cycle: the ability of the Intuos5 to sense up to 16 finger-touches simultaneously, rather than just the nib of the pen. But there have been other revisions since the Intuos4 aside from touch, and you only have to read on to discover what those are.

Update: There was a problem with the embedded video -- sorry folks. It's working properly now, alon! g with m ore gallery pics below.

Update: Just got word on US pricing. $230, $350 and $470 for the touch sensitive models. $300 for the Medium without touch. Also coming to the US is a pen-only version of the Small tablet -- we're not sure how much that'll cost (and Wacom's site seems to be down right now), but it'll be the cheapest upgrade of the bunch.

Gallery: Wacom Intuos5 hands-on

Gallery: Wacom Intuos 5 publicity shots

Gallery: Wacom Intuos5 software screenshots

Continue reading Wacom announces Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video)

Wacom announces! Intuos5 graphics tablets, we go hands-on! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Withings Baby Monitor makes its official, expensive US debut

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/withings-baby-monitor-makes-its-official-expensive-us-debut/

The Withings Baby Monitor has already been available in the UK for sometime now and recently made a splash over at the FCC. Now the iOS accessory is finally for sale here in the good ol' US-of-A, for the rather staggering price of $299. That's right, this sensor-packed web cam probably costs more than your handset. Then again, that $20 set of audio-only monitors you picked up at Walmart can't keep you abreast of the temperature and humidity in your child's sleeping quarters or let you watch your newborn sleep with the aid of a night vision mode. You can get the associated WithBaby app for free in the iTunes App Store now. The only question is, whether or not you love your baby enough to spend $300 on an iPhone accessory. We won't judge you either way. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Withings Baby Monitor makes its official, expensive US debut

Withings Baby Monitor makes its official, expensive US debut originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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