Sponsoer by :

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Engadget News

Sponsored

Engadget News

Take Tesla's Model S for a spin this October, if you can get past the velvet rope

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 10:22 AM PDT

Tesla's been showing off its Silicon Valley-bred saloon for months now, from the touchscreen-laden console to the mechanical bits beneath its shapely skin. We even got a spread of a road going Model S last month, and this October a lucky few will get to cruise in some beta test cars at Tesla's factory in Fremont. These beta versions are "over ninety percent" of what the production Model S will be, and after the test-drive, the chosen get to tour Tesla's manufacturing facility. We plan on being there to put the new EV through its paces, so stay tuned for our impressions of the Model S this autumn.

ASUS Eee Pad Slider shows off its specs, may launch in September

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 08:16 AM PDT

ASUS' Eee Pad Slider is fast becoming just as mythical as the flying horse the company's named after. We've had several encounters with potential release windows for the slate, only to see it continually creep back into fall. Well, judging by a recent report from Notebook Italia and the tab's new product page, it looks like we may actually see a September launch for the 10.1-incher -- in Italy. Contrary to prior rumors, the company will be offering the Slider in two storage configurations -- 16GB and 32GB at potential €479 and €599 price points overseas, while $400 and $550 models should hit the US. We've also got a slew of official specs for the Honeycomb-based device, which should ship with Android 3.1 installed, with a promised 3.2 upgrade to follow. The QWERTYfied tablet packs a 1280 x 800 WXGA display, dual-core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of memory, 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera, 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, USB 2.0, mini-HDMI, microSD card reader, WiFi and Bluetooth. The company's also thrown in one year of "unlimited ASUS Web Storage" for your cloud computing needs. Will the electronics maker finally commit to a concrete launch for the Slider? We'll find out in a month's time.

Swarm robots attack your bookshelf, win AAAI Oscar

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 06:33 AM PDT

What's more frightening than a swarm of robots? An award-winning swarm of robots trained to raid your library -- that's what. This SciFi-worthy outfit of mechanized literature swindlers, known as the "Swarmanoid," landed themselves the Best Video Award at this week's AAAI (Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence) conference in San Francisco. The video in question features the mixed bag of eye-bots, hand-bots and foot-bots in an Oceans 11-style bookcase heist. Of course, there are probably easier ways to reach the top shelf (e.g. a ladder), but none that get us thinking about the end times quite like this. The full video awaits you after the break.

Orange UK's official HP Pre 3 support page goes live, still not available to purchase

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 05:30 AM PDT

OEMs to spend more on semiconductors for wireless devices than computers in 2011

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 03:41 AM PDT

Well, if you didn't believe that we live in a post-PC world before, the latest report from IHS iSuppli should help persuade you. According to its research, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will have spent $55.4 billion on semiconductors for phones and tablets in 2011, as compared to just $53.1 billion on PC silicon. Of course, as the chart above shows, OEMs spent more money on wireless devices in 2008 and 2009. But, after an interlude of PC primacy in 2010, it looks like mobile's where the money's at for the foreseeable future -- can't say we didn't warn you.
Show full PR text
OEMs to Spend More on Semiconductors for Wireless than for Computers in 2011
August 11, 2011

In another sign of the technology industry's fundamental shift away from PCs and toward mobile communications, the wireless segment is expected to overtake computers to become the world's leading application market for semiconductor purchasing by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) starting in 2011.

Driven by booming sales of smartphones and tablets, OEMs in 2011 will buy $55.4 billion worth of semiconductors for use in wireless devices, up 10.7 percent from $50.1 billion in 2010, according to the new IHS iSuppli Semiconductor Spend Analysis report from information and analysis provider IHS (NYSE: IHS). In contrast, OEMs will spend $53.1 billion on semiconductors used to make computers, up a scant 1.2 percent from $52.5 billion in 2010, as presented in the figure below.

Not only will wireless be the leading category for semiconductor spending in 2011, wireless will also expand its lead in 2012 as the high-technology market increases its focus on mobile, Internet-connected devices.

"Led by Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPad, demand is booming for smart phones and tablet devices," said Wenlie Ye, analyst for semiconductor design and spending at IHS. "This is spurring a surge in sales of semiconductors used in wireless devices, including baseband chips, applications processors and mobile memory. With overall sales growth for PCs slowing, the balance of power in the semiconductor industry is shifting toward the wireless segment."

Mobile Platforms vs. Computers

The wireless semiconductor spending segment consists of all OEM chip purchases for mobile devices such as mobile handsets, smartphones and media tablets. The category also includes wireless infrastructure gear like routers and base stations.

The computer segment comprises spending on chips used in computers, including notebook PCs, desktop PCs and servers. The category excludes chip spending for computer peripherals such as hard disk drives and printers.

During the past few years, the wireless and computer segments were engaged in a seesaw battle for leadership in OEM semiconductor spending. For instance, wireless led in 2008 and 2009, while the communications area took the top spot in 2010.

However, the shift in market focus toward mobile platforms, and the limited growth potential of the computer market, means that wireless is set to remain the top OEM semiconductor segment for the foreseeable future.

Nonetheless, computer applications will remain a major segment for OEM semiconductor purchasing. And although tablets are cannibalizing the computer space, notebook sales are still expanding. Partly because of the growth in notebooks, computer-related semiconductor purchasing is not set to shrink significantly in the immediate future.

Apple Drives Semiconductor Purchasing Trends

Beyond the rise of wireless, OEM semiconductor spending trends also reflect the ascendance of Apple. Apple in 2010 became the world's largest OEM semiconductor buyer for the first time ever, surpassing perennial leader Hewlett-Packard Co.

Although Apple and HP have been rivals in the computer space for many years, the businesses of the two companies are fundamentally different. Apple is much more of a wireless device seller than a computer maker, spending approximately 61 percent of its chip budget in 2010 on wireless products such as the iPhone and iPad. In contrast, HP in 2010 devoted 82 percent of its chip spending to computer products like desktops, notebooks and servers.

Thus, the supremacy of wireless as an OEM semiconductor spending category also is partly a consequence of Apple's domination of hot mobile markets-and its primacy in the electronics supply chain.

Apple is set to increase its lead in semiconductor purchasing over HP in 2011 and 2012.

Zynga's Pioneer Trail is like The Oregon Trail without the typhoid

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 12:31 AM PDT

Zynga has finally released The Pioneer Trail, the long promised sequel to FrontierVille on Facebook. Those familiar with The Oregon Trail will be right at home here but there's no indication as yet that you can die of dysentery. The game abandons many of Zynga's social gaming trademarks; rather than doing anything related to farming, players must instead journey across one of three maps. The creators claim that each one of these maps is five times larger than any of the outfit's previous games. Significantly, you can only play the game with three friends, as each player is awarded specific skills necessary to reach "Fort Courage" at the finish. The company hopes that by forcing four players together it will create "intimate gaming" experiences (translation: you can't give up if you get bored, friends are relying on you). Each map is said to take three weeks of hard pioneerin' to complete and if that still leaves you cold, remember: there's always that history textbook waiting in your app queue.

Windows Phone Mango RTM leaks into the wild, offers tropical sweets for the daring

Posted: 13 Aug 2011 09:24 PM PDT

For those who've longed for Twitter integration and multitasking capabilities on your Windows Phone, the folks at xda-developers have a weekend project you're bound to flip over: the final version of Mango has leaked, and it's available for download today. Internally, it's known as build 7720, and it requires the post-NoDo update dubbed 7392. Alternately, users of Mango beta versions 7661 and 7712 may hop on board, too. If you've got a couple hours to spare, a full list of instructions -- along with the operating system itself -- is included in the source. So far, the software has been confirmed to work on the HD7, Mozart, Trophy, Focus, Arrive, Venue Pro and Optimus 7. As always, proceed at your own risk, and best wishes for your tropical getaway.

[Thanks, Leonidas]

Ask Engadget: best 1TB+ USB 3.0 external drive on a budget?

Posted: 13 Aug 2011 07:29 PM PDT

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Patrick, who can't wait another day to start taking advantage of his newfangled blue USB port. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"I just got a new laptop with a USB 3.0 port. I currently have a USB 2.0 external hard drive, but I would like to upgrade. First of all, is the speed boost really worth the money? Is there a speed difference between those that need external power and those that are powered through the USB cable? Looking for one that's 1TB to 2TB, and my price range is about $150, give or take. Thanks!"

It's certainly harder to come across a SuperSpeed bargain than a USB 2.0 bargain, but we're sure there's a few deals to be had. That said, reliability has to come into play here -- any well-rounded suggestions for this fellow? Drop 'em in comments below!

Visualized: the Apple mothership

Posted: 13 Aug 2011 05:23 PM PDT

Visualized: the Apple mothership
We've already caught a glimpse of Apple's proposed science fiction museum new campus in Cupertino, but screen grabs just don't do this behemoth justice. A recently released set of renderings of Apple Campus 2, as it's known to the city of Cupertino, however, give it that proper otherworldly glow. According to the accompanying proposal, the building will take up a measly 2.8 million square feet, contain a 1,000-seat auditorium and research facilities totaling 300,000 square feet. Really? Is that all? If architectural renderings are your thing, hit the source link for some building-plan booty.
The Apple mothership

Sony announcing three NEX lenses on August 24th?

Posted: 13 Aug 2011 03:14 PM PDT

Last month we fell in love with a camera. Specifically, the Sony NEX-C3. We were so enamored with its lilliputian body and stunning image quality that we gave it a "9," declared it nearly perfect and promptly began recommending it to everyone we know. But if there's one thing we thought needed improvement, it was the selection of lenses. Well, it looks like we had nothing to fret about -- a series of leaked shots suggest the outfit's had at least three in the works all along. According to the shots, originally posted in DPReview, we're looking at a 55-210mm / F4.5-6.3 zoom lens and fixed 50mm / F1.8 and 24mm / F1.8 numbers. Though the poster stopped short of revealing any pricing info, he seems confident Sony will announce them on August 24th. Now, while we typically take rumors with a grain of salt, it turns out that the tipster who posted these shots is none other than "Eddieaus," the same guy who splattered forums with pictures of the VAIO Z next to its external Power Media Dock -- the same press photos, in fact, that Sony unveiled days later. So we're inclined to believe NEX loyalists are about to get a few new pieces of glass to play with. And if that rumored August 24th launch date is also on the money, you won't have to wait too long to find out how many pretty pennies they'll cost.

Amazon axes copied content, duplicate Kindle Store ebooks get the boot

Posted: 13 Aug 2011 01:09 PM PDT

If we take a can of Spam and call it "Engadget's precooked pork meat product," you'll still know it's the same mystery meat you ate for lunch, right? Under the idea of "private label rights," authors can do just that: sell their works to others who can rebrand and resell them. This week, Amazon cracked down on duplicate ebooks in its Kindle Store, pulling titles because they "diminish the experience for customers." One copycat who got the smack down called it a "kick in the pants" when his 22 titles got yanked. He did, however, admit he had the swift one coming. Aping authors can expect more book banning Kung Fu as Amazon continues to rid itself of "undifferentiated or barely differentiated versions of e-books." Hi-yah!
at 11:03 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

My Blog List