Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Pentax's WG-3 ruggedized camera scores a white paint job

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/white-pentax-wg-3-ruggedized-camera/

If you'd like a ruggedized camera to match that white Nexus 4 of yours, Pentax has you covered. The outfit has just unveiled an alabaster WG-3 that boasts the same specs and price tag as its vibrantly colored siblings. Dropping $300 on the shooter nets risk-prone photographers a 4x, f/2-4.9 lens backed by a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3-inch LCD screen, video capture at 1080/30p and 720/60p, and even GPS for an additional $50. A toughened exterior makes the hardware cold-proof, crush-proof, drop-proof, shock-proof and water-proof. Yearning to get your hands on the ivory cam? Pentax says it'll see a "limited distribution" at brick-and-mortar establishments and head to online shops this July.

Source: Pentax

Splashtop partners with Intel, lets you remotely wake WiFi-connected PCs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/splashtop-wake-wifi/

So you need to grab that hilarious gif from your desktop remotely. No worries, you can tunnel in with, wait, darnit your office PC is switched off and not on the wired network (so not even wake-on-LAN to the rescue). Splashtop's woken up to that scenario, though, and in a collaboration with Intel will be bringing "wake over WiFi" functionality to its popular remote desktop app. Your target PC will need Intel's Smart Connect Technology to make use of the feature, which is coming to Splashtop 2 Remote Desktop for iPad and iPhone first, with Android and other platforms to follow.

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Tablets, Mobile, Intel

SoftKinetic teases embedded 3D depth camera, coming to Intel devices next year (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/softkinetic-embedded-3d-depth-camera-intel/

At Intel's Computex keynote earlier today, the chip maker teased that it expects embedded 3D depth cameras to arrive on devices in the second half of 2014. Luckily, we got an exclusive early taste of the technology shortly after the event, courtesy of SoftKinetic. This Belgian company not only licenses its close-range gesture tracking middleware to Intel, but it also manufactures time-of-flight 3D depth cameras -- including Creative's upcoming Senz3D -- in partnership with South Korea-based Namuga. Read on to see how we coped with this futuristic piece of kit, plus we have a video ready for your amusement.

Gallery: SoftKinetic embedded 3D depth camera prototype hands-on

Filed under: Peripherals, Intel

ASUS' 31.5-inch 4K monitor priced at $3,799, 39-inch version coming in Q3 (eyes-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/03/asus-31-5-inch-4k-monitor-priced-at-3-799-39-inch-version-com/

Yeah, we want one too. Here at Computex, ASUS is showing off its new 31.5-inch 4K monitor, which we just learned will cost $3,799. (Oh come now, don't get all sticker-shocked on us.) The photos below speak for themselves, really, but suffice to say, the combination of that 3,840 x 2,160, 140-ppi panel and that matte, anti-glare finish make for some stunning images. And because the bezels are so thin, photos more or less extend from one end of the screen, uninterrupted. Still think you'll have room to spare after taking into account this monitor's big footprint? ASUS is also prepping a 39-inch version with mostly the same specs (except for pixel density, obviously). We've got pictures of that guy too, though we still don't know how much it'll cost. Look for the 31.5-inch model to ship in June, with its big brother following sometime in Q3. And if a $3,800 monitor isn't in the cards, well, that's what hands-on galleries are for.

Gallery: Eyes-on with ASUS's 4K monitors at Computex 2013

Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Filed under: Displays, ASUS

Acer upgrades its PCs with Haswell, new models include the Aspire V7 Ultrabook

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/acer-haswell-refresh-v7-ultrabook/

This is hardly the biggest Acer news of the week (that would be this, this and this), but it's worth a PSA nonetheless. Now that Intel's formally unveiled Haswell, Acer announced it'll be refreshing much of its PC lineup with those fourth-generation chips -- 23 notebooks and six desktops, to be exact. Obviously, that includes too many models and configurations for us to discuss today, but Acer did say the updates will span the S7, M, V3, V5, V7 and E Series laptop lines, with prices ranging from $600 to $1,600. On the desktop side, the changes are limited to AT3-605 series and the Predator AG3-605 series, with prices running the gamut from $700 to $1,500.

If there's one model that caught our eye, though, it would be an Ultrabook from Acer's recently announced Aspire V7 series. The V7-482PG-9884-U (how's that for a name?) has 14-inch IPS display, a Core i7-4500U processor, a 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GT750M GPU, 12GB of RAM and a 1TB HDD. That'll be available this month for $1,300, putting it squarely at the high end of what Acer has to offer.

Filed under: Laptops, Acer

Dell refreshes its XPS 12 Ultrabook, XPS 27 all-in-one and XPS 8500 desktop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/dell-refreshes-xps-12-xps-27-xps-8700/

Dell refreshes its XPS 12 Ultrabook, XPS 27 all-in-one and XPS 8500 desktop

Now that it's unveiled its next-gen Ultrabook, Dell's taking the opportunity to refresh the machines it's already got. Starting with the XPS 12 convertible Ultrabook, the company is adding an NFC chip, Haswell processors and a bigger battery (50Wh, up from 47Wh). Between that CPU change and the enlarged power pack, Dell says the system will now last up to 9.5 hours on a charge -- more than three hours longer than the OG version. Fortunately for you, the starting price is staying put at $1,200, with shipments beginning July 9th in most regions.

Moving on, the XPS 27 all-in-one is stepping up to a 2,560 x 1,440 screen with improved brightness (350 nits vs. 300) and a wider color gamut (99 percent, up from 72). As you'd expect, Dell also swapped in fresh Haswell processors and a 2GB, next-gen NVIDIA GPU, along with a Thunderbolt port, TPM and Dell's ProSupport service offering. Finally, the machine's getting a bigger storage option: a 2TB 7,200RPM HDD paired with a 256GB SSD. That's available today for $1,600 and up -- the same price you would've paid for the last-gen model with a touchscreen. Finally, Dell replaced the XPS 8500 desktop tower with the XPS 8700, which brings Haswell, along with four HDD bays, up to 4TB of storage and up to 32GB of RAM. Additionally, the SSDs offered now include Intel's Smart Response Technology. That's available today too for $700 and up. Happy shopping!

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Dell

Intel targets Bay Trail '2 in 1' tablet / laptops for the holidays starting at $399

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/intel-targets-bay-trail-2-in-1-tablets-for-the-holidays-starti/

Intel is in the middle of its Computex 2013 presentation, and it's already putting a target price for some of those tablet / laptops we're expecting around the holidays: $399. While more premium experiences will be powered by Intel's fourth generation Core "Haswell" CPU, the quad-core Atom "Bay Trail" are going in cheaper ultrathin and light notebooks with touchscreens with 2 in 1 editions swinging the keyboard out of the way for use as tablets. That puts them slightly above the $200 floor predicted by Intel execs for basic touchscreen laptops, we'll see if any of the numerous OEMs on stage can bring out convertible devices worth the extra cash this holiday season.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Intel

Source: Intel (Twitter)

Intel teases fanless Haswell Core processor tablet at Computex

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/intel-teases-fanless-core-processor-tablet-at-computex/

It was barely a glimpse, but Intel's pushing the physical limits of its 4th generation Haswell processors. Here on stage, at Computex, we saw one very slender (and as-yet unnamed) tablet that packs the aforementioned processors without the need for fans for cooling. Sure, we've seen fanless Windows 8 tablets with Clover Trail-based hardware, but never with the potency of Intel's Core processor series. Alas, slimline profile (and hybrid skills) aside, that's all we can say for the moment. We'll update if we glean any more details from Intel.

Filed under: Tablets, Intel

Intel announces Creative Senz3D Peripheral Camera at Computex 2013

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/intel-announces-creative-depth-vision-camera-at-computex-2013/

Intel's just announced the Creative Senz3D Peripheral Camera at the company's Computex keynote in Taipei. The camera lets users manipulate objects on the screen using gestures and is able to completely eliminate the background. It appears to be an evolution of the Creative Interactive Gesture Camera we recently played with at IDF in Beijing. This new 3D depth camera is expected to become available next quarter and Intel plans to incorporate the technology into devices during the second half of 2014. "It's like adding two eyes to my system," said Tom Kilroy, VP of marketing. The company's been talking about "perceptual computing" for some time and this certainly brings the idea one step closer to fruition.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Mobile, Intel

Sandisk introduces Extreme II SSD, boasts 19nm tech and faster speeds

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/sandisk-extreme-ii-ssd/

We haven't heard a peep about Sandisk's solid state drives since CES, so we perked our ears when the flash maker announced a new consumer SSD today. It's called the Extreme II, a SATA III SSD the company claims is fast and responsive enough to please gamers or just anyone hungering for a performance boost. Built with 19nm process and nCache technology, the Extreme II promises quicker boot-ups and faster runtimes. The hardware boasts up to 550MB/sec sequential read and 510MB/sec sequential write speeds, and up to 95,000 random read Input/Output Operations per Second (IOPS) and 78,000 random write IOPS. You can snag one now in 120GB, 240GB and 480GB capacities for $129.99, $229.99 and $439.99 each. Or you can save some cash and get something a little more budget-minded.

Filed under: Storage

Dell unveils Haswell-powered laptops and desktops for professionals (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/04/dell-enterprise-haswell-revamp/

Between Computex and the launch of Intel's ~~fourth generation Core~~ Haswell processors, June's shaping up to be a big month for the PC industry. Fresh from letting us play with its new folding hybrid, Dell is whipping out new OptiPlex 9020 and XE2 desktops, an OptiPlex All-In-One and the Latitude E6540 business laptop. Given that they're Dell machines, customization options will be limitless when they arrive in the forthcoming weeks, backed by all of those enterprise-friendly vPro, WYSE and Cloud management services that Dell's attempting to become famous for.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Via: Electronista

Source: Dell

Monday, June 03, 2013

Gigabyte shows four prototype BRIX mini PCs, including models with projectors and wireless charging

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/03/gigabyte-shows-four-prototype-brix-mini-pcs/

Gigabyte said that we'd have at least a few BRIX mini PCs to choose from. At Computex, however, it's showing four new prototypes that could lead to a much larger catalog. Two of them are run-of-the-mill designs with AMD Kabini and Intel Haswell processors -- nice enough, but more evolution than revolution. The other two are decidedly more exotic, though. One includes a wireless charging pad to charge a smartphone in a pinch, while the other carries a pico projector for on-the-spot presentations. Although Gigabyte hasn't mentioned whether or not these BRIX models will reach production, we'd wager that the conservative systems are more likely to reach our desks.

Filed under: Desktops, AMD, Intel

Source: Engadget Chinese (translated)

Cameras in the Future Might Not Need Lenses

Source: http://gizmodo.com/cameras-in-the-future-might-not-need-lenses-511037818

Cameras in the Future Might Not Need Lenses

Every camera you've ever used in your life has a lens that focuses incoming photons on to a light-sensitive surface. But in the future, cameras might not need lenses at all, and this Bell Labs prototype illustrates how this could be done for cheap.

Technology Review reports the Bell Labs concept, which relies on a method for assembling images called comprehensive sensing (or comprehensive imaging). The basic principle states that any data set with lots of similar measurements will contain a lot of overlapping—and therefore redundant—information. In theory, then, if you take better measurements, you can get substantively similar results more efficiently.

The prototype design consists of two different parts: An aperture assembly and an image sensor. The aperture assembly is an LCD, which allows light to pass through at points of variable size and position. The sensor, in this case, is a single-pixel, three-color chip.

To take a photo, the camera records the light that passes through a random sampling of points on the aperture assembly, and uses processing to find the correlation between the different data, after which, it can reassemble the image.

While this whole process takes a bit longer than we're used to by today's photographic standards—it needs to do the equivalent of thousands of shutter movements instead of a single shutter—it's unbelievably efficient when it comes to materials and components. Indeed, the Bell Labs prototype was assembled using off-the-shelf materials.

Imagine a camera without optics and hardly any pixels on the sensor. It could be incredibly cheap. The main problem will be getting the image quality and performance of such a camera up to snuff, which is all too far off. [arxiv.org via Technology Review]

E Ink launches Mobius flexible display for your next smartwatch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/03/e-ink-launches-mobius-flexible-display-for-your-next-smartwatch/

Although smartwatch makers have had access to e-paper for a while, there have been few such displays tailor-made for our wrists. E Ink is more than willing to fill that void with a new, watch-oriented version of its Mobius screen. The flexible, 1.73-inch panel won't floor anyone with its 320 x 240 grayscale picture, but it can be cut into timepiece-friendly shapes that take more abuse than a typical e-reader. More importantly for us end users, E Ink already has at least one hardware partner lined up: Sonostar is using the tiny Mobius for a smartwatch this summer, and the odds are that the company won't be alone.

Filed under: Peripherals, Wearables

Source: Sonostar, E Ink

Toshiba intros three Android tablets, two with Tegra 4 and a 2,560 x 1,600 screen

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/03/toshiba-excite-pure-excite-pro-excite-write/

Could three times be a charm for Toshiba? After striking out with its "Thrive" Android tablets and then coming up a bit short with the "Excite" line, the company is completely scrapping its tablet lineup and replacing it with three new models. These include the Excite Pure, Excite Pro and Excite Write, and while they share the same plastic design, 10-inch form factor, ports and Android 4.2 OS, they each offer something a little different on the inside. Starting with the Pure, it's a $300 tablet running with last year's specs -- namely, a Tegra 3 SoC, a 1,280 x 800 screen with Gorilla Glass 1 and no rear camera whatsoever. Storage is capped at 16GB, but since all of these have a microSD slot, 16GB or 32GB isn't really a hard limit. Moving up the line, the Excite Pro steps up to a Tegra 4 chip, 32GB of storage, an 8MP rear camera, Harman Kardon sound and a 2,560 x 1,600, 300-ppi Gorilla Glass 2 screen to match the Nexus 10.

As you can see in the shot above, it was meant to be used with an optional keyboard case, though you can technically use that dock with any of these tablets, since they all share the same hardware. That will arrive in early July for $500, putting it in line with the iPad and other premium tablets like the ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity. Finally, the Excite Write is exactly what it sounds like: a tablet with pen support. Specifically, it has a Wacom digitizer with support for 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity. Accordingly, Toshiba is also pre-loading its own TruNote and TruCapture apps to assist with note-taking. That digitizer aside, the Write shares all the same specs as the Excite Pro: Tegra 4, 32GB of storage, an 8-megapixel camera and a 10.1-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 display. This, too, will be available next month, with an MSRP of $600. In the meantime, check out our hands-on photos after the break.

Filed under: Tablets

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