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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Samsung puts 128-gigabit 3-bit cell flash into production, plans to build more memory cards

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/11/samsung-nand-flash-production/

Samsung puts 128gigabit 3bit cell flash into production, plans to build more memory cards

Flash memory advancements usually sing the same tune: faster, smaller and high-density. Improve one of these attributes, and you've go the makings of a better chip on your hands. Samsung is focusing on the latter, announcing the mass production of its 10 nanometer 128-gigabit three-bit multi-level-cell NAND flash. That mouthful translates into flash chips with more memory per cell in a small form factor. Sammy says the new chip is capable of 400Mbps, and claims the highest density in the industry. The new silicon will be used to expand the company's supply of 128GB memory cards and high-volume solid state drives. It's also well positioned to be a better part for devices with embedded NAND storage, which Samsung hopes will keep it competitive. You'll find Samsung's announcement and all the granular details after the break.

Filed under: Storage, Samsung

Source: Samsung Tomorrow

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Use Google Cloud Print to Quickly Save Files as PDFs on Your Mobile Devices

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5994280/use-google-cloud-print-to-quickly-save-files-as-pdfs-on-your-mobile-devices

Use Google Cloud Print to Quickly Save Files as PDFs on Your Mobile Devices Chrome: Google Cloud Print is an under-rated, yet awesome service that lets you print wirelessly and remotely to any printer connected to the service. Beyond creating paper printouts, however, Cloud Print is also an awesome tool for sending content to remote devices, saving them as PDFs.

James Kendrick on ZDNet points out this handy, lesser-known feature. Once you enable Cloud Print (under Chrome's settings), all your phones and tablets that have the Chrome browser become "printers." So you can be browsing an article like this and "print" it to your iPad or Android phone, letting Cloud Print convert the page to a PDF file. I just tried this with my Nexus 7, and the web page instantly was sent to the SD card's download folder, under a new "ChromeSnapshots" subfolder. I also got a prompt for which app I wanted to open the PDF with.

If you have Cloud Print apps installed on your mobile devices (such as the Android Cloud Print or Print Central Pro for iOS), you can easily send content between your devices as well: from your Android tablet to the iPhone, for example.

Finally, Cloud Print also can save to Google Drive, converting any content that can be opened in the Chrome browser to PDF and sending it to that online storage space.

How to: Using Google Cloud Print for working with PDFs | ZDNet

Consumers Are Obsessed With Products That Give Them Information

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/info-scarcity-2013-4

babolat Consumers these days have an insatiable demand for information, according to the consultants at trendwatching.com.

With new possibilities unlocked by technology, consumers want to visualize data, map it, track it, alert it, evaluate it, and use it in ways that make life better.

"Info Scarcity" is one of dozens of megatrends listed in the premium database at trendwatching to identify some products that fit into this trend. We see it everywhere, like in the following products.

This clock tracks your sleep patterns in order to wake you up at exactly the right time.

Available from July 2012, the Renew SleepClock from UK-based electronics brand GEAR4 is a dock which facilitates the tracking and management of sleep patterns in conjunction with an iOS device. Via inbuilt sensors, the Renew SleepClock detects users’ deep and light sleep phases, and can then wake them up at the most appropriate time. The device generates personalized recommendations based on individual sleep patterns, while the associated free app enables users to monitor sleep habits over time. The Renew SleepClock retails for USD 129.95.

Trends: Benchmarked Life, Data Divinity

Courtesy of trendwatching.com.

Twine connects everyday objects to the Inte! rnet, li ke sending you a text when your laundry is done.

Available to buy from September 2012, Twine is an wireless electronic device which enables consumers to connect everyday objects with the internet. The device is integrated with a cloud-based service and equipped with a temperature sensor and accelerometer (which detects orientation). Via a simple web app, individuals can program and monitor Twines; for example, users could track their home’s temperature, with Twine sending them a tweet if it’s over 90 degrees, or opt to receive a text message when their laundry is done. Twine was designed by US-based MIT Lab’s project Supermechanical, and is priced at USD 99.

Trends: Alerting, InfoLust, Eco-Metering, On

Courtesy of trendwatching.com.

Stick-N-Find means you never have to lose your keys again.

Stick-N-Find is a Bluetooth-enabled sticker that consumers can place on their possessions so that they can be found via a smartphone app. The disc-shaped sticker is 4.1mm thick and can be affixed to TV remotes, phones, house keys, passports or even pet collars. The corresponding app can be set to Radar, which displays the distance from connected items, or Virtual Leash mode, where the user receives an alarm if their possession is removed from a certain radius. After launching on crowdfunding site Indiegogo in December 2012, the US-based creators received the fundi! ng neede d to go into production. A pack of two Stick-N-Find stickers is priced at USD 35.

Trends: Infolust, Time Saviors

Courtesy of trendwatching.com.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Intel introduces next-gen Xeon E7, E5 and E3 families for enterprise space

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/10/intel-xeon-e7-e5-e3-idf/

Truth be told, not much has been announced on the consumer end at IDF Beijing earlier today, but Intel did tease us with upcoming refreshes of its Xeon E7, E5 and E3 families for the enterprise space. In chronological order we have the Haswell-based E3 with TDP as low as 13W, and it's coming in mid-2013. This is followed by the "Ivy Bridge-EP" E5 in Q3 and then the "Ivy Bridge-EX" E7 series in Q4, the latter of which boasting three times the memory capacity of its predecessor, along with Intel's Run Sure reliability feature. More details in the press release after the break if you're into these flavors of chips.

Also mentioned at the keynote were the now-available Atom S12x9 family for storage systems, as well as a couple of upcoming 22nm 64-bit Atom SoCs codenamed "Avoton" and "Rangeley," both of which are sampling now and are expected to launch in the second half of this year. We've actually already heard of the microserver-friendly Avoton from Facebook's Open Compute Project, whereas Rangeley for network infrastructures was also detailed around the same time; so again, hit up the press release for more details.

Gallery: Intel Xeon E7, E5 and E3; Avoton and Rangeley Atom enterprise SoCs

Filed under: Misc, Intel

ZTE Geek unveiled with 2GHz Intel Clover Trail+ and a terrible name

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/10/zte-geek-intel-clover-trail-plus/

Oh ZTE you cheeky monkey. Towards the end of day one at IDF in Beijing, we stumbled upon this awkwardly titled Android Jelly Bean phone that is the Geek at ZTE's booth. Needless to say, this is yet another phone powered by an Intel processor -- a 2GHz Clover Trail+ Atom to be exact, which is what Lenovo's K900 also has. The rest of the device isn't too shabby, either: you get a nice 5-inch 720p display with Gorilla Glass, along with an 8-megapixel main camera, a 1-megapixel front-facing camera, 8GB of storage space, 1GB of RAM, 2,300mAh battery and wireless charging. Radio-wise we see UMTS 900/2100 courtesy of Intel's XMM 6260 chip, and there's also the usual lot of 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE and GPS.

Design-wise the Geek takes a huge step away from the Grand X IN and shares a similarly clean look with the Grand S, but without the black eye around the main camera, and this particular unit had a glossy finish in white. Since ZTE admitted that it had to rush this prototype for exhibition at IDF, we'll come back to the build quality once we see a final retail unit. Until then, check out our hands-on video and the press release after the break.

Gallery: ZTE Geek hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

These Tiny Chiplets Could Coat Nearly Anything in Digital Intelligence

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5994129/these-tiny-chiplets-could-coat-nearly-anything-in-digital-intelligence

These Tiny Chiplets Could Coat Nearly Anything in Digital Intelligence Imagine if silicon chips were smaller than a grain of sand and could be made using a laser printer: everything under the sun could be made unobtrusively smart. But that's not science fiction, and you don't have to imagine too hard—because researchers at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center have already done it.

The New York Times reports on a new breed of tiny pieces of silicon called chiplets. From the Times:

With financing from the National Science Foundation and from Darpa, the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, [PARC researchers] have designed a laser-printer-like machine that will precisely place tens or even hundreds of thousands of chiplets, each no larger than a grain of sand, on a surface in exactly the right location and in the right orientation.

The chiplets can be both microprocessors and computer memory as well as the other circuits needed to create complete computers. They can also be analog devices known as microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS, that perform tasks like sensing heat, pressure or motion.

Which all sounds great, but what exactly will they be used for? Well, brace yourself, because the researchers envisage being able to deposit the tiny chips within objects that are 3D-printed: essentially, they want to create everyday objects that have computing punch embedded in them from the get-go. The possibilities that offers up are so insanely wide and varied that it almost defies belief, but perhaps most excitingly it opens up the possibility of smearing technology—say, memory or storage—across the whole of a physical object, as opposed to in one small concentrated lump.

But let's not get carried away: the researchers openly admit that they're years away from simultaneously placing these kinds of chips consistently and accurately, so a world of smart 3D printed objects is still some way off. But at least we know it's possible. [New York Times]

Image by Amy Sullivan/PARC

Samsung Is The Largest Smartphone Manufacturer In Europe

Source: https://intelligence.businessinsider.com/welcome

Samsung catapulted to the top of the European smartphone market last year, capitalizing on the tumbles of faltering rival Nokia, according to data from comScore.

Samsung accounted for 32 percent of all smartphones used in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK — up from its 18 percent share at year-end 2011. These five markets combined for 136 million active smartphones at the end of 2012, up from approximately 105 million a year prior.

Note that comScore tracks installed base market share, indicating that Samsung's share of shipments was likely much larger.

It appears that Samsung is eating up market share from onetime stalwart Nokia, which is in the middle of a rocky transition from its proprietary Symbian platform to Microsoft's Windows Phone. Nokia's share of the European smartphone market plummeted from 28 percent in December 2011 to 16 percent at the end of last year. The release of Windows Phone 8 in late October does not appear to have arrested its fall.

Click here to view a larger version of this chart.

euro smartphone market share

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Intel looking to turbocharge its NUC with Core i5 and i7 CPUs, according to leak

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/09/intel-next-unit-of-computing-roadmap-leak-i7-i5/

Intel looking to turbocharge its NUC with Core i5 and i7 CPUs, according to leak

It looks like Intel's planning on bringing its Next Unit of Computing (NUC) mini-computer upmarket, if a leaked roadmap from ComputerBase.de is to be believed. The documents look highly tentative, but if they come to fruition then Intel will start offering new NUCs (code-named "Skull Canyon" and "Horse Canyon") with Intel Core i7-3537U and Core i5-3427U processors along with its current Core i3 model during the first half of the year. New motherboards would be used that alter the slot configurations substantially: the Thunderbolt connector would be dropped in favor of USB 3.0 -- three on the i7 model, one on the i5 -- with DisplayPort 1.1a added to each along with HDMI 1.4a connectors. There's no pricing yet, but we found that you'd need to nearly double the price of the original NUC to create a working computer, so bear that in mind when you're looking at the leaked slides after the break.

[Image credit: ComputerBase.de]

Filed under: Desktops, Intel

Via: FanlessTech

Source: ComputerBase.de

AU Optronics says it'll bring a 5-inch, 1080P OLED display to market soon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/09/au-optronics-5-inch-FHD-OLED/

AU Optronics says it'll soon join Samsung at a table for two making 5-inch, full-HD OLED smartphone displays. It'll show off the technology at the China Optoelectronics Display expo starting tomorrow, promising 443 ppi, lower power consumption, fast response times and wide viewing angles. While others build 1,080 x 1,920 LCD screens for models like HTC's One, currently Samsung has a monopoly on OLEDs of that size and resolution. However, it likely wants to set those aside for its soon-to-ship 5-inch, 1080p Galaxy S 4 -- so, AU's announcement is likely good news for other handset makers seeking something punchier than LCD for that form factor.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Via: Android Beat

Eyes-on with Sony's brilliant 4K OLED monitor prototypes (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/08/sony-4k-oled-prototypes/

The 30- and 56-inch 4K OLED monitor prototypes that Sony introduced yesterday are sitting prominently in the company's booth here at NAB, and they're really quite something. These sets offer wider viewing angles and reduced color shift compared to previous-gen monitors, and Sony is emphasizing the technology's color accuracy. We got a taste of the 56-inch, 3,840 x 2,160 model back at CES, but it looks like we can extinguish all hopes of this monitor making it to the consumer market anytime soon. Instead, it will be available to professionals working with 4K content. Even though the prototype won't make it to our living room, we couldn't help but marvel at the image quality: to say that the footage of Carnivale popped off the screen would be an understatement -- colors were just that vibrant and details were incredibly lifelike.

Meanwhile, the 30-inch, 4,096 x 2,160 model is destined to hit the market sometime in 2014, and it's plenty striking itself. Like its larger sibling, the relatively petite model looked fantastic, with very sharp details and bright, vibrant colors. Sony wouldn't share pricing information -- heck, booth attendants wouldn't even let us get close enough to get a good shot of the monitor itself -- but we did manage to snag a clip of both panels in action. Granted, it's impossible to judge the quality from our compressed eyes-on video, but if you can't make it out to NAB, you'll just have to take us on our word that these really are quite stunning.< div>

Gallery: Sony prototype 4K OLED monitors eyes-on

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, Sony

Monday, April 08, 2013

Blackmagic announces Production Camera 4K, $995 Pocket Cinema Camera with MFT mount (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/08/blackmagic-pocket-cinema-camera-production-camera-4k/

A sub-$1,000 price tag makes any product a relative steal on the floor of NAB -- impressive specs and industry standard compatibility are just icing on the cake. If such figures are any indication, however, Blackmagic's new Pocket Cinema Camera, which leaked earlier today and ships in July, is potentially a very solid buy at $995, with a Super-16 Cinema 1080HD sensor with 13 stops of dynamic range, CinemaDNG RAW recording, SD card storage, Micro HDMI monitoring and a Micro Four Thirds lens mount. We got an early look at the shooter on the showroom floor, and the compact size is truly striking -- the body is comparable in size to any other mirrorless camera, though it definitely pushes the limits of what we'd consider pocketable. The design is very similar to Blackmagic's larger Cinema Camera launched at last year's NAB, with the same Micro Four Thirds lens mount. There's a very sharp built-in matte LCD for viewing footage and adjusting settings, and the build is quite solid -- it's significantly heavier than you'd expect.

Naturally, the camera isn't as capable as Blackmagic's pricier NAB model, the Production Camera 4K, which also made its debut today and ships in July. With that flavor, $3,995 buys you a Super 35 sensor with native Ultra HD and 4K support, a built-in SSD recorder, compressed CinemaDNG RAW and compatibility with EF lenses. We spent a few minutes with ! that mod el as well, and were equally impressed. The screen was very bright, sharp and not at all reflective, and the camera includes your standard array of inputs and outputs, including dual mic jacks, an SDI port, power and control. Both models are very competitively priced, as you might expect from Blackmagic, and with this wide range of appeal, there's now a little something for everyone. Be sure to head past the break to check out our hands-on video as we take a closer look at both models.

Gallery: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera and Production Camera 4K hands-on

Filed under: Cameras

Acer's 7.9-inch Iconia A1-810 outed with quad-core CPU

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/08/acers-iconia-a1-810/

Acer doesn't seem to have officially announced the Iconia tab A1-810 yet... at least not that we can see. But French retailer Rue Du Commerce already has the 7.9 inch listed, though, since it was first spotted the spec sheet has been cleared. Thankfully, MiniMachines caught the page before someone scrubbed it clean. If the numbers are to be believed, then the Taiwanese company has the Nexus 7 and iPad mini squarely in its sights. The A1-810's crams some reasonably impressive internals into a diminutive and affordable package. Under the hood is 1GB of RAM, and a 1.2GHz quad-core processor. Granted, the Cortex-A9 chip is produced by MediaTek instead of one of the bigger boys like Qualcomm or NVIDIA, but it should prove plenty robust for everyday tasks. The 1024 x 768 IPS panel puts it right in league with Apple's mini, but it also means a lower pixel density than the middle child of the Nexus family. You'll also find 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS radios inside, along with a 3,250 mAh battery -- which is quite a bit smaller than its competitors (despite its 10.5mm thick, 430g body being quite a bit larger). The biggest news about this Android 4.2 device though, is the price: it's yet another uber-cheap slate, currently listed at €199, or about $259.

Filed under: Tablets

Via: Android Authority, MiniMachines

Source: Rue Du Commerce

Search Dominates Mobile Local Ad Spend; Videoâs Influence to Grow

Source: http://www.marketingcharts.com/wp/interactive/search-dominates-mobile-local-ad-spend-videos-influence-to-grow-28394/

Search dominates mobile local ad spend to the tune of 58% share of revenues ($704 million of $1.22 billion in 2012), per the latest mobile local ad spend forecast from BIA/Kelsey. That compares with 31% share for display, 8% share for SMS, and just 3% for video. But that picture should change quite dramatically by [...]

Sony responds to Red lawsuit with its own patent claims, seeks damages, injunction

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/08/sony-responds-to-red-lawsuit-with-its-own-patent-claims/

If we've learned anything from the patent wars it's that lawsuits beget lawsuits, and Red and Sony's budding spat is no exception. In response to allegations that Sony's F5, F55 and F65 cameras violate a pair of Red camera patents, the Japanese manufacturer is filing a suit of its own. The company says that the Red One, Epic and Scarlet cameras infringe on seven Sony patents, and is seeking damages and a sales injunction on the offending products. Accessories like the REDMOTE are headed to the courtroom, too. Sony's demands aren't as specific as Red's, which originally sought to have its competitor's camera's destroyed -- but we'll sure things will heat up when litigation starts. Take a peek at Sony's brief statement after the break.

Filed under: Cameras, HD, Sony

Via: Verge, Sony Alpha Rumors

Source: Sony

Sunday, April 07, 2013

Sony unveils 30-and 56-inch professional 4K OLED monitor prototypes, shipping in May

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/07/sony-unveils-professional-4k-oled-monitor-prototypes/

The 56-inch OLED TV Sony trotted out at CES may have lost an inch on its way to the market, but that extra few centimeters can still be had, at least in the professional sector. The company announced its A Series Trimaster EL monitors at NAB today, outing a 4,096 x 2,160 30-inch model as well as a 3,840 x 2160 56-inch display. Both panels boast of wide viewing angles and low color shift, promising accurate signal reproduction for industry professionals working with 4K content. No word yet on pricing, but professionals can look forward to upgrading sometime in May 2013. Hit the break for the official press release, item skus, and a quick break down of what products the A series will be replacing.

Filed under: Displays, HD, Sony

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