Samsung introduces its CES audio hardware, claims a world first

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/05/samsung-ces-audio-hardware/

Samsung's just unveiled its raft of audio products at CES and they're headlined by what the firm claims is a world's first: a sound bar to pack a built-in vacuum tube and Bluetooth for connecting to tubes of another kind (read: TVs). A portable wireless Bluetooth speaker (labeled the DA-F60), pumps out tunes with the apt-X audio codec and leverages NFC to connect to devices. Home theater buffs were also given a nod with a 7.1 channel surround sound system intended to be used with the firm's line of 2013 televisions. As for internals, the system relies on a Gallium Nitride amplifier for enhanced sound quality. If you're jonesin' for a new way to watch Blu-Rays to go along with the fresh audio hardware, Sammy's also unveiled a "premium" Blu-Ray player which upscales content to 4K. Head past the break for the press release and full set of glamour shots.

Gallery: Samsung CES 2013 Audio Hardware

Continue reading Samsung introduces its CES audio hardware, claims a world first

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

Comments

Source: Business Wire

Read More...

Summary only...

Vizio debuts its first Windows 8 tablet, an 11.6-inch slate with a 1080p display, AMD processor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/vizio-tablet-pc-windows-8-tablet/

After breaking into the PC market last year, it was only a matter of time before Vizio released its first Windows 8 tablet. The company just announced the Vizio Tablet PC, an 11.6-inch slate running full Windows (i.e., none of this RT business). What's interesting is the combination of specs here: on the one hand, it packs a dual-core, 1GHz AMD Z60 chip, making it among the first Windows 8 tablets with an AMD processor inside. At the same time, it rocks a 1080p display -- not the sort of resolution you'd expect to find on a low-power tablet with a Z-series or Intel Atom CPU. Also, like the rest of Vizio's PCs, this has a Microsoft Signature software install, with zero bloatware. Otherwise, the specs are pretty standard: 2GB of RAM, 64GB of solid-state storage, a 2-megapixel front camera and micro-HDMI / micro-USB ports. Vizio hasn't announced pricing or exact availability just yet, but we hope to get hands-on with this thing very, very soon.

Filed under: Tablets

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

Vizio refreshes its PC lineup: all new models have touchscreens, quad-core CPUs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/vizio-thin-and-light-touch-all-in-one-touch/

When Vizio entered the PC market last year, we weren't gushing about its computers, per se, but we found ourselves rooting for the company anyway: for all it got wrong (flaky trackpads, poor battery life), it did a lot of things right. We had to respect Vizio for giving most of its PCs 1080p screens and installing a clean, bloatware-free version of Windows. Not to mention, Vizio kept the price relatively low, the same way it did when it was trying to break into the TV space. Now, the company is completely refreshing its lineup for 2013, leaving only one model from 2012 (that would be its 15-inch mainstream notebook). Starting now, all of its all-ones and Thin + Light laptops will come standard with touchscreens and quad-core processors, including some from AMD (a first for Vizio).

What's curious is that although Vizio is taking the opportunity to replace most of its PCs, it hasn't actually made any changes to the industrial design. That means, for better or worse, that these new models will probably be quite similar to the PCs we tested just a few months ago. Same metal chassis but also, the same flat keyboard. What they do promise is faster performance, along with improved audio. Both the 14- and 15-inch Thin + Light Touch are available with either a Core i7 CPU or AMD's top-of-the-line A10 chip. Likewise, the 24-inch all-in-one is now the All-in-One Touch, and it too will be available with AMD and Int! el proce ssors. The 27-inch model, however, will be Intel-only.

As ever, these machines will have that clean, Microsoft Signature install, and almost all will have 1080p screens, save for the 14-inch Thin + Light, which has 1,600 x 900 resolution. No word on pricing, though Vizio says they'll go on sale in mid-February. We'll be back soon enough with hands-on shots but for now, check out some press photos after the break.

Continue reading Vizio refreshes its PC lineup: all new models have touchscreens, quad-core CPUs

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

Fujifilm gets official with X20 and X100s cameras, promises 'world's fastest AF'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/fujifilm-announces-x20-x100s/

We saw some details leak out earlier this week, and Fujifilm has now gotten official with its two latest high-end compact cameras. That includes the X100s (pictured above), a successor to the X100 that boasts what Fujifilm claims is the "world's fastest AF of 0.08 seconds" (compared to other cameras with an APS-C sensor and a non-interchangeable lens, at least). Otherwise, you can expect a FUJINON 23mm f/2 fixed prime lens, a 16.3 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS II sensor that promises "performance comparable to full-frame output," a hybrid viewfinder that combines both an optical and EVF, and a new Digital Split Image display that displays dual images on the left and right to aid manual focusing. On the slightly lower-end is the company's X10 followup, the X20, which packs a 12 megapixel 2/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor, a non-hybrid but "advanced" optical viewfinder, an f/2.0-2.8 4x manual barrel zoom lens and the ability to shoot full HD video at 60 fps -- all available in your choice of all-black or two-tone black and silver (as pictured after the break). Unfortunately, there's still no word on pricing or availability for either model -- hopefully Fujifilm will have more to say about that once CES officially kicks off.

Continue reading Fujifilm gets official with X20 and X100s cameras, promises 'world's fastest AF'

Filed under: Cameras

Comments

Source: Fujifilm (1), (2)

Read More...

Summary only...

Griffin launches PowerDock 5 multi-device charging platform and ChargeSensor adapters

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/06/griffin-powerdock-powerblock/

Given how many of us have more than one device, it's rare to see gear that really cares for our increasingly large gadget collections. Griffin's solution is to produce the PowerDock 5, a USB-device toast-rack that can replenish the energy of up to five iPads simultaneously. It's priced at $100 and will be available in Spring.

At the same time, the company is putting out a new PowerBlock plug adapter and PowerJolt car charger with Griffin's ChargeSensor technology, which identifies the power needs of your device and meters out energy accordingly. Both will be available in the spring, the PowerBlock setting you back $30 and the PowerJolt costing $25.

Continue reading Griffin launches PowerDock 5 multi-device charging platform and ChargeSensor adapters

Filed under: Peripherals

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...