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- Microsoft's next major release of Windows Phone will be previewed on May 24th, and we'll be there live!
- Toshiba Satellite E305 (S1990) review
- Visualized: Porsche's GT3 R Hybrid has its very own boost button
- Six-rotor drone counts trees, not kills
- Framed 40-inch digiframe for galleries, cafes, the insanely rich (video)
- Apple iMac (spring 2011) review
- ASUS Eee PC 1015PX netbook now shipping, Atom N570 included
- PQI USB 3.0 flash drive is world's smallest, easiest to misplace
- NVIDIA acquiring wireless chip manufacturer Icera, doubling-down on the post-PC era
- Conde Nast brings The New Yorker to iPad, seven other magazines by month's end
- GameCube Fusion portable brings Wii aesthetics, GBA design to Nintendo's boxiest console (video)
- Audio battlefield would prepare troops for combat or a typical Slayer concert
- WiMAX sleeve brings 4G speeds to the iPhone 4 in South Korea
- Hyperkin 3DS Powerplus covers your handheld in battery-extending goodness
- CTA's translucent Kinect steering wheel, for when you absolutely, positively must see the road
- HTC's Facebook phones, ChaCha and Salsa, get Amazon pre-order with June 26th delivery
- 'Miraculous' Aeros airship set to fly by 2013, thanks to DOD funding
- Fujitsu's Stylistic Q550 business slate up for US pre-orders, starting at $729
- ASUS Sabertooth P67 motherboard sheds its skin, feels better without it
- Apple brand valued at $153 billion, scoots ahead of Google for first place
- Brammo delays flagship Empulse electric motorbike to 2012, teases new transmission tech
- Samsung's 75-inch D9500 3D TV announced for Korea, doubles as wind shield (updated)
- HP launches DataPass to sell prepaid 3G data plans, service piggybacks on Sprint's network
- HP intros the ProBook 5330m, EliteBook 2560p, and EliteBook 2760p tablet
- HP unveils the Pavilion dv4, Envy 14 with Sandy Bridge, and a redesigned Mini 210
- HP Mini 210 hands-on (video)
- Windows Phone 7 updates Bing to find music and barcodes, provide turn-by-turn directions and send speech-to-text SMS?
- Inhabitat's Week in Green: Cities of the future, the Aqua Star, and 0-60 in 3.4 seconds... with a go-kart
- Switched On: RIM's shot
- Poker chip-sized device non-invasively measures brain temperature, intrigues Le Chiffre
- Comscore report finds widening Android lead in US smartphone market, largely at RIM's expense
- Nexus S 4G on sale today: $200 at Sprint, $150 at Best Buy
- HP EliteBook 2760p tours the FCC, shows up online starting at $1,499
| Posted: 09 May 2011 11:18 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toshiba Satellite E305 (S1990) review Posted: 09 May 2011 11:00 AM PDT  Look and feelIn its third collaboration with Best Buy, Toshiba scrapped almost everything that made last year's E205 distinctive – the oversized touch buttons, extended hinge, and, yes, its glossy, Smurf blue finish. But one thing hasn't changed: it's clear Toshiba and Best Buy still want their budget creation to look more expensive than its $900 price tag. They almost succeeded. The aluminum lid makes a striking first impression, as do the matching chassis and chrome accents. Meanwhile, the etched checkered patten makes the design seem richer and has the added benefit of repelling fingerprints, though it also creates the optical illusion that the chassis is thicker than it is. And while the "champagne" color isn't so aptly named -- it's a cooler, silvery shade in all but the dimmest light -- we think it's a good match for the textured metal surfaces. The overall effect is modern, though we wouldn't go so far as to call it futuristic. Most of all, we're pleased that Toshiba tucked its all-caps logo in a corner of the lid, as opposed to emblazoning it front-and-center as it's wont to do.  And yet, when you lift the lid the notebook suddenly looks less refined. We stared down this laptop for a long time, trying to put our finger on what made us have a change of heart. Then it came to us: the plain, slightly shiny keys make for an incongruous match for the metal-clad body. The keyboard's backlighting helps distract from its plasticy finish, but it only kicks in if you're in a dim room or touch the keyboard. Likewise, the touchpad has a hard, plastic feel though it does mirror the chassis' checkered pattern. All this is hardly a deal-breaker, of course, especially when we're talking about a $900 system. It just seems to us that if Toshiba and Best Buy were going to go elegant on this one, they should have gone whole hog. We're told that Best Buy insisted the E305 weigh less than five pounds, and it comes in just under the limit at 4.95 pounds. That's not bad, considering that a metal-clad 13-inch notebook could easily top five, although what the E305 shed in pounds it's kept in girth – at 1.2 inches thick, it's still on the chunky side. On the bright side, though, it feels sturdy in the hand, thanks to that rock-solid aluminum body. And because the battery sits flush with the system, there aren't any bulges on the bottom, which makes it easy to slip under your arm while walking. And if for some reason the durability doesn't hold up, it comes with a relatively long two-year warranty (not including accidental damage / klutz protection, of course). The E305 offers a healthy selection of ports, including three USB 2.0 ports, along with a USB 3.0 port that's also home to Toshiba's sleep-and-charge technology, which allows you to charge USB-powered gadgets even when the notebook is asleep. Similarly, the headphone jack will charge a music player even if the laptop isn't powered on and fully awake. Besides those, the E305's got HDMI and VGA output, a mic jack, an Ethernet port, and a memory card reader. Keyboard and touchpadWe won't mince words: the E305's chiclet keyboard is supremely comfortable. As much as we kvetch about how the keyboard looks chintzy, it's well spaced, with amply sized left and right Shift buttons. Typically, it takes us a day or two to warm up to a new keyboard, but this time we barely had a learning curve, and were typing 94 words per minute (a good score for us) not long after unboxing the laptop. What's more, the panel felt sturdy through some bouts of furious typing, and even with our pounding the keys barely made any noise.  Unfortunately, we can't say the same about the trackpad. For the first time, Toshiba opted for a clickable pad -- a concept that's apparently easier to imitate than successfully pull off. The touch area is divided into left and right click zones, with a neat line to make it obvious where your finger should be. The problem is, it constantly registered right clicks, even when our finger was planted firmly on the left side. And because the buttons are narrow, it's easy for your finger to land on a too-high spot where clicks don't register at all. After about a week of testing, we had more success, but really, it's not a good sign when a successful left click is enough to make you feel like you've won. The trackpad is certainly spacious enough for multi-touch gestures, and also includes a narrow, invisible strip on the right edge for single-finger scrolling. We have to give credit where it's due: given all the hassle we ran into just trying to left click, gestures felt surprisingly smooth, and worked reliably. ScreenThe 14-inch uses Toshiba's TruBrite technology, which means, marketing speak aside, that this is one glossy panel. Given that, we were pleasantly surprised at how well we were able to follow a movie while watching from odd angles. We had no problem making out the action from the far left and right sides, though we had a little more difficulty watching a movie head-on with the screen dipped forward -- the more we lowered the screen, the more washed out the colors appeared. The 220-nit display was bright enough for us to comfortably work and watch movies for long stretches, though splurge and you'll find similarly sized notebooks with more eye-popping screens, such as the Samsung Series 9. And although the E305 has a Blu-ray player, you'll be limited in how much you can enjoy those high-def movies, as the screen has a run-of-the-mill 1366 x 768 resolution. That said, Blu-ray movies looked crisp and played smoothly at full screen with faithful color reproduction.  The E305 is endowed with Dolby technology, and not the Harman Kardon audio you'll find in Toshiba's high-end Qosmio systems. You're not going to hear any pounding bass notes here, but we've also heard far tinnier speakers in our day. As for the volume, the speakers were loud enough that we could still hear The Doors and The White Stripes from across our apartment, and over the sound of our noisy printer and Joan Rivers dissecting the royal wedding on TV (yes, really). In short, the speakers will be powerful enough when you're hanging out alone or with a few friends, but you'll want to fall back on external speakers the next time you decide to host a rager. The E305's webcam stops short at VGA resolution. Though that's fine for video chats, a fair amount of detail gets lost in still photos. And although the lighting in our pictures and clips looked natural, the colors took on a slightly bluish tint. The good news is that setting up the webcam for facial recognition -- a process that requires you to align your face with an onscreen avatar's -- took all of 30 seconds, and the notebook recognized us instantly when we later used it to log into our system. Intel Wireless Display 2.0Like the E205, the E305 packs Intel's Wireless Display technology, which lets you mirror your display (and whatever HD content you happen to be watching) on an HDTV or monitor -- sans cables, of course. This time, though, it features the second generation of WiDi, which can stream 1080p content, a step up from last year's limit of 720p resolution. We're happy to report that WiDi is as easy to set up as always. The notebook comes bundled with a small adapter made by Netgear ($100 on its own) that you plug into the wall with an AC adapter and then connect to your monitor or HDTV using an included HDMI cable. Press the power button in the back and then push the Wireless Display launch button on the E305's keyboard deck (that's the one on the far right). After you press the launch button, you might notice a pause of up to 10 seconds while your laptop finds the adapter. When it does, you'll have to manually select the adapter you want (in the event you bought more at $100 a pop to use with other TVs in your home). That's odd, given that laptops can automatically connect to familiar wireless networks. In this case, though, you'll always have to manually select the adapter. Played at full screen, 1080p video lagged ever so slightly, but we ultimately didn't find that minor slowdown distracting. We do suggest keeping your notebook out of sight -- as you can see below, the laptop is always one step ahead, and the video doesn't align perfectly with what's playing on TV.  As it turns out, during the writing of this review, Intel started supporting DRM-protected DVDs, Blu-rays, and some online content via a free driver update. Unfortunately, though, that upgrade's only available for laptops with Sandy Bridge processors (like this one), which only started shipping this spring. That won't make a difference to people thinking of buying this laptop or a similar one, but it ought to be a bummer for readers stuck with last year's Wireless Display technology. Performance and GraphicsThis won't surprise you, but E305, like other notebooks refreshed this year, graduates to an Intel Sandy Bridge processor -- a 2.3 GHz Core i5-2410M CPU, to be exact. In addition, the notebook runs Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) and comes with 4GB of RAM and a 500GB 7,200RPM drive. As for the HDD, it employs hybrid drive technology, which combines traditional hard drive storage with 4GB of flash memory that's used to remember commonly used documents and applications -- in theory making them quicker to load. During a week of testing, the E305 was able to keep up with us while we ran Tweetdeck at full screen and used Chrome for email, Facebook, online banking, YouTube, and keeping up with various blogs. All this while running a full system scan using Norton Internet Security, mind you. In short, the performance was brisk, though frankly, it's hard to fully appreciate a laptop's power when a wonky touchpad makes even the most rote tasks feel painstaking. As for graphics, the E305 has Intel's integrated HD graphics -- a staple among low- and mid-range laptops. Its score of 4,547 in the gaming benchmark 3DMark falls thousands of points short of what you'd get from a discrete card, but it still trumps many of the scores we've seen from similarly sized machines with integrated graphics. In real-world terms, that's just fine for basic photo editing and playing simpler, not-too-graphically-intensive games. Rounding out the E305's list of specs is an Atheros wireless-N radio and... WiMAX support! Not something you typically find in a mid-range consumer laptop, eh? Though Toshiba is shy about saying just who its partner is, you'll get your answer just by poking around the menus -- it runs on Clearwire's network, of course, under Sprint's brand. You can activate the service in Best Buy, but the notebook also comes with a utility from which you can subscribe through Best Buy. If you all you want is a day's worth of connectivity, you can snag a day pass for $10, but you can also sign up for a month to month plan or a two-year contract. Either way, those options both come out to $45 a month in data fees.
Battery Life and heatToshiba rates the E305's six-cell battery for up to seven hours and ten minutes of battery life. In our own test, which involves playing the same video at 65 percent brightness with WiFi on, we eked out five hours and seven minutes. Throughout, the laptop's temperatures stayed relatively cool. After playing a Blu-ray movie for awhile and running a virus scan, the fan whirred loudly, and the vent on the right side became warm -- though not hot -- to the touch. The right side of the palm rest inched up a few degrees, too, while the left side (the one farther way from the vent) stayed downright chilly, thanks to that aluminum finish. SoftwareThe E305 comes with its fair share of bundled software you didn't ask for, much of Toshiba-branded utilities, such as a PC health monitor and proprietary media player. Our one complaint is that the launch pad for the webcam software sits on the edge of the desktop and flaps out when you roll over it, which frequently got in our way. As for third-party software, though our review unit came with Norton Internet Security installed, those of you who pick one up through Best Buy will get a complementary one-year subscription to Kaspersky Anti-Virus software (not to mention, 90 days of Geek Squad support). Not to excluded, Best Buy bundled some software of its own, including that WiMAX connection utility we told you about and an app store that leads you to a place where you can Wrap-up There's no question Toshiba's Satellite E305 has a lot to offer: a striking aluminum body, Intel's easy-to-use Wireless Display 2.0 technology, Blu-ray playback, USB 3.0, cool operating temperature, and a Sandy Bridge processor more than powerful enough for everyday use. It's a crying shame, then, that something as basic as a touchpad could make this laptop stumble. Were it not for its jumpy, imprecise trackpad, we would have awarded it a higher rating, and the only reason we didn't dock it more is because this is something Toshiba can address through a driver update, as other companies have done after enough people wailed about the touch experience. Given all of its redeeming qualities, we suggest at least heading to a Best Buy store and handling one in person. But if you find yourself frustrated by unintended right clicks, remember that it's not likely to get easier with use -- not without a nudge from Toshiba, anyway. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Visualized: Porsche's GT3 R Hybrid has its very own boost button Posted: 09 May 2011 10:39 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six-rotor drone counts trees, not kills Posted: 09 May 2011 10:16 AM PDT    | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Framed 40-inch digiframe for galleries, cafes, the insanely rich (video) Posted: 09 May 2011 09:47 AM PDT  If a 7-inch photo frame is perfect for grandma, think of Framed as an art display for the rest of us. (Assuming the rest of us have sky-high art budgets.) This 40-inch giant is based on a Samsung LED HDTV and powered by a Core i5 processor and Windows 7. Built-in 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi connects the digital canvas to a dedicated iOS app, which you'll use to purchase static and motion art and even manipulate content for display, using a virtual touchpad. Built-in speakers aren't a surprise, considering it's essentially a modified consumer HDTV, but there's also a camera and microphone -- for making your own art? No word on pricing or availability, but judging by the sample spaces used in the demo video (after the break), we're guessing that we don't fit within the designer's target demographic. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple iMac (spring 2011) review Posted: 09 May 2011 09:00 AM PDT  These latest iMacs are quite naturally the speediest yet, as you'd expect, but with the right configuration they can be properly quick. Faster internals plus Thunderbolt ports on the outside turn what's supposed to be a family-friendly and eye-catching machine into an unassuming powerhouse that might just be quick enough for professional users. There's a more important question, though: is this $1,999 system the right choice for you? HardwareWhen Apple refreshed the iMac lineup last year we sampled the 21.5-inch model, svelte and sweet and a good choice for your average household. This time we moved up to the full 27-inch size, sporting a Core i5 processor that hums along at 3.1GHz. This is the processor you get if you opt for the pricier configuration of the bigger model and resist the urge to make any other customizations -- but cycle-hungry users can spend an extra $200 to step into a 3.4GHz Core i7. Either way you get four cores, ours came paired with 4GB of 1333MHz, DDR3 RAM, installed as two 2GB DIMMs, and a 1TB 7,200RPM, SATA drive. Pushing pixels to that 27-inch, 2,560 x 1,440 resolution IPS panel is an AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics card with 1GB of GDDR5 memory. That, thanks to the dual Thunderbolt ports tucked around the back, gives users a new-found ability to power a lot of external displays, in theory up to four thanks to the dual-channel nature of each port. We managed to get two additional displays lit up, but the LED-backlit monitor here is more than spacious enough for most use, and is certainly bright and gorgeous enough too -- but you knew that.  In fact you probably already know a lot about how this looks because, other than the faster internals, there isn't a lot new here. It's the same design that Apple's been hawking for a few years now. It still looks good, modern and understated styling matching your modern and understated life, but we're left wanting some updates. That SD card slot is still dangerously close to the DVD-ROM slot (which still won't accept Blu-ray discs), and the power button is still in exactly the right spot to confound new users and frustrate experienced ones as they accidentally hit it every time they reach to tilt the display back. And we can't help but wish we could get a little more interactive with that hyper-glossy display, which makes for a heck of a good mirror when turned off. Apple of course has patents out for what looks like a touchable iMac and we're a bit disappointed they didn't come to fruition here -- though we would hate to smudge up that surface. There's still no matte option, but at least you can opt out of getting a Magic Mouse and substitute in a Magic Trackpad this time. Oh, and there's a new FaceTime HD webcam stuck in the bezel, for those about to chat. Performance This machine has the higher of the two default configurations for the 27-incher, and we found it more than adequate for just about anything we threw at it. Obviously the gaming selection is still a little limited here, but Half-Life 2 and Portal 2 played full-res without a hitch. As you'd expect a 1080p clip loads quickly and cycles just fine -- we had five simultaneous 1080p clips going without a hint of frame drop on any. In fact about the only the only thing that really caused a stutter was trying to edit a 4K video clip in REDCINE -- it was still workable, but we had to view it at half-res to get the preview render looking smooth. Hardly a deal-breaker. If you're looking for more synthetic benchmarks, we scored 8,465 in Geekbench, a 30-second 720p clip exported from iMovie in 20 seconds, and a 1080p clip took under a minute. Wrap-up So could a pro-level user, someone who spends their days in Photoshop or Premiere or even REDCINE be happy here? Yes, surprisingly, they could -- especially with the addition of an internal SSD (a $500 option for 256GB) and a high-speed external storage array connected via Thunderbolt. It wouldn't be our choice, and whether it makes sense to buy something like this versus a dedicated machine with an external display is another question entirely, but if you wanted to, you certainly could. However, for a general consumer setup we can't help but think this is a bit too much. The vastly more affordable and still hugely capable 21.5-inch model makes a lot more sense for a lot more people. But, for ease of setup, aesthetic appeal, and overall performance and flexibility, the iMac is as hard to ignore as ever. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASUS Eee PC 1015PX netbook now shipping, Atom N570 included Posted: 09 May 2011 08:27 AM PDT  Heads up, netbook enthusiasts: the ASUS Eee PC 1015PX is now available for stateside delivery. Essentially an upgrade to last year's 1015PEM, this puppy rocks a 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 display and houses a 1.66Ghz Intel Atom N570 dual-core CPU. It also comes equipped with a 250GB hard disk, up to 2GB of DDR3 memory, Bluetooth 3.0 capabilities, LAN and VGA ports, and a 0.3-megapixel camera. Buyers have the choice between two models: the MU17, which promises a ten hour battery life and the PU17, designed for an eleven hour run. Despite their battery-related differences, both models weigh 2.76-pounds and are available on Amazon for $320 and $390, or on Newegg for $330 and $350, respectively. Hit the source links for more details. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PQI USB 3.0 flash drive is world's smallest, easiest to misplace Posted: 09 May 2011 07:54 AM PDT  PQI Releases Smallest USB 3.0 Traveling Disk Intelligent Drive U819V~Only 3cm Long Disk Boasts Unprecedented Performance PQI leads the industry with its exclusive release of the world's smallest USB 3.0 traveling disk. The Intelligent Drive U819V is the solution to bulky traveling disks and thick USB 3.0 transfer interfaces. PQI applied COB encasement technology to USB 3.0 interface and overcame the transmission overheating problem after continuous research and improvements. At the same time, PQI solved the data reading problem caused by high-frequency noise while creating the lightest, thinnest, shortest, and smallest USB 3.0 traveling disk. The 3 centimeter disk delivers high performance and allows users to experience high speed transmission like never before! PQI's Intelligent Drive U819V traveling disk has a sleek and simple look featuring clean lines and smoothly curving trim, creating a seamless, unitary exterior. The disk's glossy exterior coating in ivory white and midnight black gives off a beautiful, glittering silvery radiance. Additionally, there is a special LED display at the tip that flickers when data is being read. Furthermore, with user experience in mind, PQI has come up with a cap retention design. The complimentary, square shaped, transparent soft rubber not only serves as a cell phone ornament but also attaches to the end of the disk. When the cap is removed from the Intelligent Drive U819V, it can be inserted into the transparent rubber. This exclusive cap retention design is unusual, funny, and charming! As user demand for high quality multimedia increases, the rise of the USB 3.0 transmission interface offers the greatest transmission speed of up to 5 Gbps/sec, which is 10 times faster than USB2.0 (480 Mbps/sec). USB 3.0 significantly reduces the time required for data transmission, reduces power consumption, and is downward compatible with USB 2.0. Also, the stable current of USB 3.0 prevents data loss caused by current instability. Being energy-saving and environmentally friendly makes USB 3.0 the best choice in an age that demands ever increasing storage capacity. For the latest information about PQI, please visit PQI's global website at http://www.pqigroup.com. To choose from PQI's entire line of products, please visit PQI's shopping site at http://shop.pqigroup.com. Product Specifications Capacity: 4GB - 32GB Dimensions: 31.5 x 14.8 x 7.3 mm Weight: 3.6g ± 1g Interface: USB 3.0 / 2.0 compatible Warranty: Lifetime warranty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NVIDIA acquiring wireless chip manufacturer Icera, doubling-down on the post-PC era Posted: 09 May 2011 07:14 AM PDT  NVIDIA to Acquire Baseband and RF Technology Leader Icera SANTA CLARA, CA--(Marketwire - 05/09/11) - NVIDIA announced today that it has agreed to acquire Icera, a leading innovator of top-performing baseband processors for 3G and 4G cellular phones and tablets. Icera has more than 550 patents granted or pending worldwide, and its high speed wireless-modem products have been approved by more than 50 carriers across the globe. By combining the companies' products and technologies, including NVIDIA's Tegra processor, NVIDIA will enhance its position as a leading player in the growing mobile market. The acquisition, for $367 million in cash, has been approved by both companies' boards of directors and is expected to be completed, subject to customary closing conditions, in approximately 30 days. The transaction is expected to be slightly dilutive on an operating basis through the first half of calendar 2012, and accretive on an operating basis in the second half of calendar 2012. This expectation does not take into account significant revenue synergies that the companies anticipate. By offering the two main processors used in smartphones (the application processor and baseband processor), the combined company will help OEM customers both improve their time to market and deliver the requirements of next-generation mobile computing. NVIDIA will also have approximately doubled its revenue opportunity within each device. The market for baseband processors is one of the fastest growing segments of the technology industry, worth an estimated $15 billion a year. Icera will be able to leverage NVIDIA's momentum in the smartphone and tablet markets to capitalize on this growth. CEO Quotes "This is a key step in NVIDIA's plans to be a major player in the mobile computing revolution," said Jen-Hsun Huang, President and CEO of NVIDIA. "Adding Icera's technology to Tegra gives us an outstanding platform to support the industry's best phones and tablets. "Icera is a perfect fit for NVIDIA. Our businesses are complementary. Icera has the right team, with a strong, proven track record. And their nimble, entrepreneurial, engineering-focused culture mirrors our own," he continued. Huang added that NVIDIA intends to continue to collaborate with its existing baseband partners and respect its customers' preferences in combining application and baseband processors. Stan Boland, President and CEO of Icera, said, "NVIDIA's Tegra processor has the most impressive roadmap in the industry, and it is an ideal match for Icera. As part of NVIDIA, we will be able to reach a broader market. Our team has collaborated closely with NVIDIA for several years on a range of projects, and we're delighted to be joining forces." Background on Icera Icera is a pioneer in next-generation, multi-protocol wireless baseband processors with RF components. Its technology scales from 2G to 4G networks, using a custom-built, ultra-low-power processor. Because the baseband is software-based, manufacturers can develop multiple products from a common platform, reduce development costs, accelerate time to market and secure a route to support future baseband standards. Icera's third-generation Livanto line of chipsets delivers the industry's fastest data rates, cuts user wait times, reduces battery drain and supports multiple standards on the same hardware. And its forthcoming Espresso®450 and Espresso®500 line of platforms provides industry-leading performance for 2G, 3G and 4G networks, low-power optimization for voice and high-speed data, and the industry's smallest form factor. Its portfolio of products will expand significantly in the near future. Founded in 2002 and based in Bristol, England, the company has approximately 300 employees in seven countries in Europe and Asia, as well as the U.S. It was established by a group of senior executives with strong, shared backgrounds in microprocessor design and cellular communications. Thursday Conference Call More details will be provided during NVIDIA's quarterly conference call to be held on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. PT. To listen to the conference call, please dial 706-679-2572; no password is required. The conference call will also be webcast live (in listen-only mode) at the following websites: www.nvidia.com and www.streetevents.com. A replay of the conference call will be available until May 19, 2011, at (706) 645 9291, conference ID 59360508. The webcast will be recorded and available for replay until the company's conference call to discuss financial results for its second quarter of fiscal year 2012. About NVIDIA NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA - News) awakened the world to the power of computer graphics when it invented the GPU in 1999. Since then, it has consistently set new standards in visual computing with breathtaking, interactive graphics available on devices ranging from tablets and portable media players to notebooks and workstations. NVIDIA's expertise in programmable GPUs has led to breakthroughs in parallel processing which make supercomputing inexpensive and widely accessible. The Company holds more than 1,800 patents worldwide, including ones covering designs and insights that are essential to modern computing. For more information, see www.nvidia.com. Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to statements as to: the benefits and impact of the acquisition; NVIDIA's position as a leading player in the growing mobile and tablet markets; addressable markets; future product roadmap; product features and benefits; anticipated revenue synergies; future financial results and the effects of the company's patents on modern computing are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: the failure of the acquisition to close on a timely basis or at all; the failure to successfully integrate the acquired business or retain its key employees; global economic conditions; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test our products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to our existing product and technologies; market acceptance of our products or our partners products; design, manufacturing or software defects; obtaining sufficient intellectual property rights; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems; as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2011. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company's website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. © 2011 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo and Tegra are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conde Nast brings The New Yorker to iPad, seven other magazines by month's end Posted: 09 May 2011 06:35 AM PDT  Yet another print powerhouse is bringing its wares to the iPad, all lining up neatly ahead of Apple's upcoming WWDC. First it was Time, then it was Hearst, and now Condè Nast is joining the fun with very similar terms to the other two. Starting this week with The New Yorker, digital versions will be available for free to current print edition subscribers. For new subscribers it's $5.99 per month or $59.99 a year, which gets you 47 issues. Seven other magazines from the publisher are coming by the end of May, including Wired and Vanity Fair, priced at $1.99 each or $19.99 annually. That matches up perfectly with the earlier announcements, meaning Apple and the publishers seem to finally be getting along. Isn't it nice when everyone gets along? CONDÉ NAST TO OFFER MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR iPAD The New Yorker Available Via Subscription on the App Store Starting Today, Seven Others by End of May New York, N.Y.-May 9, 2011- Condé Nast has begun offering subscriptions for iPad editions of its magazines today, it was announced by Robert A. Sauerberg, Jr., President of Condé Nast. Subscriptions are now available for The New Yorker, which will be followed by Vanity Fair, Glamour, Golf Digest, Allure, Wired, Self and GQ in the coming weeks. Subscriptions for iPad editions of Condé Nast magazines will be available through In-App Purchase on the App Store. Current print subscribers will be able to access iPad editions immediately through the term of their subscriptions, and new print subscriptions sold on Condé Nast websites ―including newyorker.com― will include access to iPad editions. "We've been working closely with Apple for some time to be the first to deliver what consumers clearly want: easy access to premium packaged digital content via subscription," said Mr. Sauerberg. "The iPad has created an incredible new way for readers to experience our award-winning magazines. Over time, we'll see subscriptions leading to greater and greater scale, helping to drive overall industry growth." "We are thrilled to have Condé Nast's world-renowned magazines available on the iPad," said Eddy Cue, Apple's Vice President of Internet Services. "Condé Nast is connecting with readers in an innovative way, and we think everyone is going to love being able to subscribe to iPad editions of their favorite Condé Nast magazines with just one click." Condé Nast will offer monthly and yearly subscriptions and will continue to offer single issues, all via In-App Purchase on the App Store. Some additional pricing details: · Subscriptions to The New Yorker's weekly iPad editions are available through In-App Purchase on the App Store and include password access to the web-based edition for $5.99/month (4 issues) or $59.99/year. Print and digital bundled subscriptions available at newyorker.com include print, iPad and web-based editions for $6.99/month (4 issues) or $69.99/year. · Subscription offerings available through In-App Purchase on the App Store for Wired, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Golf Digest, Allure, Self and GQ will be $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year. Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications, operates in 25 countries and is home to some of the world's most celebrated media brands. In the United States, Condé Nast publishes 18 consumer magazines, four business-to-business publications, 27 websites, and more than 30 apps for mobile and tablet devices, all of which define excellence in their categories. Condé Nast has won more National Magazine Awards over the past ten years than all of its competitors combined. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GameCube Fusion portable brings Wii aesthetics, GBA design to Nintendo's boxiest console (video) Posted: 09 May 2011 06:17 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Audio battlefield would prepare troops for combat or a typical Slayer concert Posted: 09 May 2011 05:53 AM PDT  Ever wondered how well playing Call of Duty at maximum volume mimics a real combat experience? Researchers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology must have asked a similar question, because they've built a 64-speaker surround-sound audio battlefield designed to train new troops. The system reproduces screaming fighter jets, rumbling tanks, and persistent gunfire -- all the better to accommodate recruits to the overwhelming, disorienting cacophony of warfare. Veterans say even with the four large 20-hertz subwoofers, it's nowhere near the real thing: combat volume is 25 percent louder than the average rock concert, at levels that can cause permanent hearing loss. Still, the creators say every bit of training helps; having near-combat experience is certainly better than none at all. So tell that to your neighbors next time they bang on your wall. [Image via The Associated Press] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WiMAX sleeve brings 4G speeds to the iPhone 4 in South Korea Posted: 09 May 2011 05:29 AM PDT  This is exactly how we humans got out of the trees five million years ago. We spot a problem, like the iPhone 4's lack of 4G data, and we solve it. In fact, Korean Telecom's new Egg sleeve not only brings WiMAX to the iPhone 4 but also incorporates an extra battery to allow five hours of 4G surfing. It could make bipedalism slightly uncomfortable however, by bulking your pocket out with 2.4 ounces (68g) in added weight plus a third of an inch (8mm) in extra thickness. Primates outside of South Korea can't buy the â‚©129,800 ($120) Egg right now, but problem-solving minds can always use 4G mobile hotspots instead -- like the Sprint Overdrive or Verizon's new LTE-based MiFi. That's why we're the jungle VIP. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hyperkin 3DS Powerplus covers your handheld in battery-extending goodness Posted: 09 May 2011 05:05 AM PDT  Nintendo 3DS users will soon have another way to extend their system's notoriously limited battery life, thanks to Hyperkin's new 3DS Powerplus. Slated for release this summer, the 2.2-ounce accessory slips on to the back of the console without obstructing the 3DS' cartridge port, SD card and game controls, while adding an extra 1800mAh to the device's standard 1300mAh battery. The Powerplus also features an enhanced grip, as well as an LED indicator that can give you an idea of how much gas you've got left in the tank. Hyperkin says its $19.99 appurtenance will more than double your 3DS' battery life, but, as we learned from Nyko, seeing is believing. Head past the break for an extra image of the Powerplus, along with a full PR. HYPERKIN ANNOUNCES 3DS POWERPLUS: EXTRA BATTERY LIFE Doubles Play Time with Additional 1800 mAH Battery Power in Sleek Form Fitting Design NEWPORT BEACH, CA (MAY, 2011) – Hyperkin, a recognized and trusted brand of video game peripherals, has announced the upcoming launch the 3DS Powerplus designed to provide extra battery life for the Nintendo 3DS handheld video game system. Providing an 1800 mHA battery, the 3DS Powerplus more than doubles the playing time of the 3DS. The 3DS Powerplus is a lightweight, sleek 1/4" design that slides onto the back of the 3DS while allowing full access to all of the systems original functions such as the cartridge port, stylus, SD card and all the control buttons. It also provides an excellent grip and includes a battery LED indicator. "The 3DS Powerplus is a great way to juice your 3DS for marathon gaming," stated Steven Mar, Hyperkin's Business Director. "It doubles the battery life and it's incredibly comfortable to use." Continued Mar: "The 3DS default battery is 1300 mAH. In 3D mode with normal sound, the system only provides three and a half hours of playtime. The 3DS Powerplus more than doubles the battery life while still remaining unobtrusive." PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS · 1800 mHA · Sleek, 1/4″ Design · Lightweight (2.2 Ounces) · Battery LED Indicator · Full Access to All 3DS Functions · Improved Grip · Launch Date: Summer 2011 · Retail Price: $19.99 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CTA's translucent Kinect steering wheel, for when you absolutely, positively must see the road Posted: 09 May 2011 04:31 AM PDT  Steering wheels: sure, they're fun and functional, but why do they have to be so opaque? It's like you can't see through them at all! Our friends at CTA Digital -- purveyors of such fine gaming peripherals as the Wii bowling ball and the Nintendo DS/DSi Puppet Pouch -- are thinking outside that particular box with the aptly named Transparent Steering Wheel. Looking like something pulled from the wreckage of Wonder Woman's invisible plane, the TSW is nothing more than a transparent (well, translucent if we're being nitpicky) piece of plastic shaped like a steering wheel, which promises more precise driving on the Kinect racetrack. The company's apparently still perfecting the clear-plastic technology, which will ship June 5th, setting you back $12.99. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HTC's Facebook phones, ChaCha and Salsa, get Amazon pre-order with June 26th delivery Posted: 09 May 2011 03:36 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Miraculous' Aeros airship set to fly by 2013, thanks to DOD funding Posted: 09 May 2011 02:38 AM PDT  Are you nostalgic for a time when the word "zeppelin" stood for leisurely intercontinental travel for the rich and famous, rather than bass-heavy portable sound and MotoBlur phones? Take heart, as Ukrainian entrepreneur Igor Pasternak claims to have solved the "buoyancy problem" that has long limited the usefulness of airships. The problem is that burning fuel or dropping cargo lightens the ship, which then needs to vent costly helium to return to earth; without a way to control buoyancy, take-offs and landings become complicated to the point of uselessness. Pasternak claims to have solved this sticking point by compressing the pricey gas, thereby conserving it for later use. The Defense Department (which loves its warblimps) has contracted his company, Aeros, to provide a working demonstration by 2012-13. Dubbed Pelican, it will only fly without a payload at first -- but if the technology proves feasible, we might just see a new Era of Airships. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fujitsu's Stylistic Q550 business slate up for US pre-orders, starting at $729 Posted: 09 May 2011 01:42 AM PDT  [Thanks, Manish] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ASUS Sabertooth P67 motherboard sheds its skin, feels better without it Posted: 09 May 2011 12:29 AM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple brand valued at $153 billion, scoots ahead of Google for first place Posted: 09 May 2011 12:02 AM PDT  [Thanks, Bruce] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brammo delays flagship Empulse electric motorbike to 2012, teases new transmission tech Posted: 08 May 2011 11:36 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung's 75-inch D9500 3D TV announced for Korea, doubles as wind shield (updated) Posted: 08 May 2011 10:13 PM PDT  3D is best served on a large plate, which is why Samsung's latest HDTV got us all dribbling over our TV munchies. This 75-inch platter, dubbed D9500, has stolen the short-lived crown off LG's 72-inch LZ9700 to become the world's largest LED-backlit 3D LCD HDTV, and obviously Samsung's still staying faithful to its active shutter 3D technology following its recent price drop on its glasses. The 240Hz display will also come with the usual Smart TV features, garnished by a QWERTY flip remote for your web-browsing and SNS needs on that large screen. Oddly enough, only an ex-factory price of a whooping â‚©19,000,000 ($17,600) is quoted here, so customers will have to pay a bit more than that during the pre-sales at the end of the month. Alternatively, you can hold off your shopping spree until Samsung pushes out its 70-inch "Ultra Definition" 3DTV. Update: A little birdie told us that this 3DTV will be making its way to the US in August, and will retail at around $13,000. Additionally, four premium active shutter glasses will be included. Thanks Anonymous! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HP launches DataPass to sell prepaid 3G data plans, service piggybacks on Sprint's network Posted: 08 May 2011 09:01 PM PDT 
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| HP intros the ProBook 5330m, EliteBook 2560p, and EliteBook 2760p tablet Posted: 08 May 2011 09:01 PM PDT  After announcing a trio of consumer laptops, you didn't think HP had forgotten about its business line, did you? The company also trotted out three lightweight models for the corporate set, including the 12.1-inch EliteBook 2760p convertible tablet, which has been rearing its head around the FCC as of late. Although it's an update to the current-generation 2740p, it sticks with its tried-and-true metal design. But -- surprise, surprise -- it steps up to Sandy Bridge Core i5 and Core i7 CPU options, promises 5.5 hours of battery life with the standard six-cell, and will be one of several models compatible with HP's newly minted (optional) prepaid data service, DataPass. Is this the Windows 7 tablet you've been looking for? It's on sale now starting at $1,500 -- stylus included. Next up is the EliteBook 2560p laptop, an update to the 12.1-inch 2540p. This one, too, has a tough aluminum-and-magnesium-alloy build, but it gets the good ol' Sandy Bridge treatment and also shifts to a 12.5-inch display -- a screen size that's rarely stretched to 16:9 proportions. And, HP claims it's the only laptop of its size with a built-in optical drive, if sacrificing optical discs isn't a compromise you're willing to make. Look for it on May 23 with a starting price of $1,100. Lastly, there's the ProBook 5330m, a 13.3-incher that's trying hard to win over Generation Y-types just dipping their toes into the workforce... and who will call in sick if their work machines aren't trendy, or something. In addition to a dual-tone aluminum chassis, it plays cool with a backlit keyboard, Sandy Bridge Core i3 and i5 CPU options, and Beats Audio -- a first for an HP business system. On the inside, meanwhile, it offers TPM circuitry and optional Intel vPro processors -- perks for the IT managers likely to buy these in bulk. These are on sale now, starting at $800. HP Brings Style, Performance and Portability to Notebook PCs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HP unveils the Pavilion dv4, Envy 14 with Sandy Bridge, and a redesigned Mini 210 Posted: 08 May 2011 09:01 PM PDT  Then there's the revamped Mini 210, which swaps last year's not-too-glossy plastic lid for candy-colored lids, and adds a seamless touchpad, edge-to-edge 10.1-inch display, and a flush six-cell battery promising up to 8.8 hours of battery life -- an upgrade over last year's standard four-cell. Spec-wise, nothing has changed from the current 210, except for the addition of Beats Audio, something you'll find across HP's notebook lineup. It'll be available on June 15 and cost $300 for the charcoal version -- alas, you'll have to pony up $330 for one of the punchier colors. For now, be sure to check out our video hands-on. Lastly, HP did the predictable and refreshed the high-end Envy 14 with Sandy Bridge CPU options and USB 3.0. It also promises an improved touch experience -- something we bemoaned in our review last year -- with a trackpad that uses optical sensors to analyze your multitouch gestures. That will go on sale June 15 for $1,000 and up. HP Brings Style, Performance and Portability to Notebook PCs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 08 May 2011 09:01 PM PDT  Truth be told, we liked the Mini 210's not-too-glossy design when we reviewed it last year, but compared to the latest generation, it manages to look frumpy. The made-over version (starting at $299) has a shimmering paint job that's almost metallic, but since the 210 is still made of plastic, it feels light in the hands -- as a netbook should. And oh, the colors! We'd be lying if we said the palette didn't help sell us on the design. (It's just too bad that all but the charcoal gray model will set you back an extra $30). Even more than our sweet spot for turquoise, what makes these color options appealing is that HP committed to them. Lift the lid, and you'll see the color extending onto the palm rest, above the keyboard, and even between the keys. The 210 also has a flat bottom with a larger, six-cell battery inside, and it's because of this flush battery that HP was able to paint the area near the hinge, as opposed to letting the battery stick out. Throw in the edge-to-edge 10.1-inch display and flush touchpad, and you've got a design that feels seamless, minimalistic. That continuity -- even more than the metallic finish -- is what makes the Mini 210 look like a high-end laptop, cut down to size. In fact, the Mini 210 borrows design elements you might recognize from the company's premium Envy line -- namely, rounded edges, scooping around the keyboard area, and Beats audio -- a surprise feature in a category that doesn't usually offer much in the way of rich sound. As for the keyboard, HP's stuck to a chiclet layout that's served it well in the past. In our brief hands-on, the panel felt sturdy, and we made few typing errors. The buttons, meanwhile, felt tactile, though we'll have to spend more time with it to gauge how well HP fixed the trackpad issues afflicting last year's model. We hope to do just that before it ships in mid-June, but until then take a peek at the gallery of close-up shots below, along with the video tour after the break. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 08 May 2011 07:56 PM PDT  [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 08 May 2011 06:45 PM PDT Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.  Green transportation also took off with a blast this week as the Linde E1 Electric Go-Kart set a Guinness World Record by traveling from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds and Synergy's folded-wing glider plane announced plans to compete in the CAFE Green Flight Challenge. We also saw greener vehicles gear up around the world as France announced plans to deploy a fleet of all-electric garbage trucks next week and Nissan unveiled the NV200 -- New York City's taxi of tomorrow. And for those looking for an underwater escape this summer, don't miss out on the Aqua Star - a submersible electric scooter capable of charting the ocean depths. In other news, this week we showcased several high-tech concept gadgets made from paper - an origami cell phone that folds into a flat piece of cardboard and the world's first interactive paper computer. We also brought you a sensor glove that could help stroke patients recover through gaming, and we covered a clutch of wired home furnishings that bring new meaning to the term geek chic -- from an interweb chaise made from 1,100 feet of coaxial cable to an analog cassette tape chair, to a modern computer mouse made from fine wool felt. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 08 May 2011 05:30 PM PDT Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.  Apple designs products for consumers that have relevance for enterprises. RIM designs products for enterprises that have relevance for consumers. This has also been evident with the PlayBook, which has taken heat for its lack of native e-mail and calendaring options. RIM consciously put these on the back burner because it wanted to appease CIOs concerned about data theft, even though it meant a less appealing launch product for consumers. Another parallel: RIM has suffered as AT&T delays in supporting Bridge, just as Apple struggled with AT&T supporting tethering on the iPhone. Indeed, when Steve Ballmer took the stage at BlackBerry World in Orlando, it brought back memories of a scene that leads off the movie Pirates of Silicon Valley, when Bill Gates appeared on screen at Macworld Expo in 1997 to announce a deal that would make Internet Explorer the default browser for the Mac. Fourteen years later, Google has replaced Netscape as Microsoft's archrival and the BlackBerry has become a prize for Bing.
Despite some missteps and significant market share losses, RIM is nowhere near the state of financial crisis that Apple was in back then. However, in both cases, the appearance of a Microsoft CEO has been a sign of confidence in a platform against which Microsoft competes. So, if Apple was able to pull itself back from what Steve Jobs has called its "near-death experience," can RIM regain its lost luster too? Has it hit a bump in the road amidst a transition or is it in freefall as Nokia was prior to its recent overhaul? Apple has one demonstrated advantage compared to its northern neighbor, and that has been an acute sense of timing. Like the big cats for which its Mac operating systems are named, Apple has shown a strong pattern of pouncing on the industry at just the right time. When the right components become affordable enough, Apple envelops them in a luscious layer of user experience to drive mass adoption. RIM, meanwhile, has seen growth stall since miscalculating the challenge of iPhone and its mercenary competitor Android.  The challenge, as was acknowledged several times at BlackBerry World, is time. The core components are there. Now RIM is racing competitors to synthesize its acquisitions. It must create a competitive experience with headroom to grow across a suite of its own core apps, those of its developers, and, most importantly, expand from a dual-core tablet platform into a revitalized line of BlackBerry handsets. The sand in the hourglass is the goodwill of corporate and carrier customers that RIM says still have strong demand for its products and trust in its approach. Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) is executive director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poker chip-sized device non-invasively measures brain temperature, intrigues Le Chiffre Posted: 08 May 2011 04:12 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Comscore report finds widening Android lead in US smartphone market, largely at RIM's expense Posted: 08 May 2011 03:14 PM PDT  The percentage shift in the chart above tells most of the story here. According to Comscore's latest report, Android's share of the US smartphone market grew an impressive six percent in the three-month period ending in March to land at 34.7 percent, and RIM took the biggest hit as a result, slipping 4.5 points to a share of 27.1 percent. That's still enough to keep it ahead of Apple, however, which held its own with a slight gain to 25.5 percent. Both Microsoft and Palm / HP slipped just under a percent each to land in a distant fourth and fifth place, respectively. As for mobile OEMs, things stayed almost identical during the three month period, with Samsung, LG, and Motorola occupying the top three spots, and only Apple seeing any significant gains thanks to the Verizon iPhone launch -- although that still wasn't enough to push it above RIM for the fourth spot. Hit up the source link below for all the numbers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nexus S 4G on sale today: $200 at Sprint, $150 at Best Buy Posted: 08 May 2011 01:56 PM PDT  [Thanks, Robert and Nick] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HP EliteBook 2760p tours the FCC, shows up online starting at $1,499 Posted: 08 May 2011 12:25 PM PDT  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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