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Tuesday, March 6, 2012

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Intel intros Xeon E5-2600 family, finally ushers servers into the Sandy Bridge era

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 10:47 AM PST

Xeon E5-2600On the eve of the release of Ivy Bridge, Intel is finally bringing its server chips up to speed by introducing the Sandy Bridge-based E5-2600 family of CPUs. The company claims its latest processors outperform the previous generation of Xeons by up to 80 percent in raw speed, while improving per-watt performance by 50 percent. The eight-core chips support up to 768GB of RAM, PCI Express 3.0, Hyper-Threading, Turbo Boost, Intel Virtualization -- basically the whole Chipzilla portfolio of tricks. A grand total of 17 different Xeons will be available, ranging in price from $198 to $2,050. For complete details hit up the more coverage link and check out the PR after the break.
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New Intel Server Technology: Powering the Cloud to Handle 15 Billion Connected Devices

New Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2600 Product Family at Heart of a Flexible, Efficient Data Center

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

New Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2600 product family is built to scale to meet the demands of an increasingly connected world.

New server processors deliver up to 80 percent1,2 improved performance compared to the prior generation.

New Intel® Integrated I/O with PCI Express* 3.0 can up to triple3 the movement of data into and out of the processor so information can be made available faster than ever to support data-hungry applications.

Best data center performance per watt with over 50 percent1,4 gain on SPECpower_ssj*2008 plus extends platform power control with Intel® Node Manager and Intel® Data Center Manager.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Addressing the incredible growth of data traffic in the cloud, Intel Corporation announced the record-breaking Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family. These new processors deliver leadership performance, best data center performance per watt1,4, breakthrough I/O innovation and trusted hardware security features to enable IT to scale. These processors are not only at the heart of servers and workstations, but will also power the next generation of storage and communication systems from leading vendors around the world.

"For businesses to capitalize on these innovations, the industry must address unprecedented demand for efficient, secure and high-performing datacenter infrastructure. The Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family is designed to address these challenges by offering unparalleled, balanced performance across compute, storage and network, while reducing operating costs."

Forecasts call for 15 billion connected devices5 and over 3 billion connected users6 by 2015. The amount of global data center IP traffic is forecasted to grow by 33 percent annually through 2015, surpassing 4.8 zetabytes per year, more than 3 times the amount in 20116. At these levels, each connected user will generate more than 4GB of data traffic every day – the equivalent of a 4-hour HD movie. This will increase the amount of data that needs to be stored by almost 50 percent per year7. In order to scale to meet this growth, the worldwide number of cloud servers is expected to more than triple by 20158.

"The growth in cloud computing and connected devices is transforming the way businesses benefit from IT products and services," said Diane Bryant, Intel vice president and general manager of the Datacenter and Connected Systems Group. "For businesses to capitalize on these innovations, the industry must address unprecedented demand for efficient, secure and high-performing datacenter infrastructure. The Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family is designed to address these challenges by offering unparalleled, balanced performance across compute, storage and network, while reducing operating costs."

The key requirements to enable IT to scale are performance, energy efficiency, I/O bandwidth and security. With the best combination of performance, built-in capabilities and cost-effectiveness, the new Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product families are designed to address these requirements, and become the heart of the next-generation data center powering servers, storage and communication systems.

Leadership Performance with Best Data Center Performance per Watt

Supporting up to eight cores per processor and up to 768GB of system memory, the Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family increases performance by up to 80 percent1,2 compared to the previous-generation Intel® Xeon® processor 5600 series. The family also supports Intel® Advanced Vector Extension (Intel® AVX) that increases the performance on compute-intensive applications such as financial analysis, media content creation and high performance computing up to 2 times9.

Additional built-in technologies such as Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, Intel Hyper-Threading Technology and Intel® Virtualization Technology provide IT with flexible capabilities to increase the performance of their infrastructure dynamically. These performance advances have led the Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family to capture 1510 new dual socket x86 world records.

Modern data centers must improve the raw performance they deliver, but also do so efficiently by reducing power consumption and operating costs. The Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family continue Intel's focus on reducing total cost of ownership by improving energy efficient performance more than 50 percent1,4 as measured by SPECpower_ssj*2008 compared to the previous generation Intel Xeon processor 5600 series. These processors offer support for tools to monitor and control power usage such as Intel® Node Manager and Intel® Data Center Manager, which provide accurate, real-time power and thermal data to system management consoles. In addition, Intel's leadership performance allows IT managers to meet their growing demands while optimizing software license and capital costs.

I/O Innovation and Network Capabilities

With the unprecedented growth in data traffic it is essential that systems not only improve computational abilities, but also enable data to flow faster to support data-hungry applications and increase the bandwidth within the data center. The Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family meets these needs with Intel® Integrated I/O (Intel® IIO) and Intel® Data Direct I/O (Intel® DDIO). Intel® DDIO allows Intel Ethernet controllers and adapters to route I/O traffic directly to processor cache, reducing trips to system memory reducing power consumption and I/O latency. The Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family is also the first server processors to integrate the I/O controller supporting PCI Express* 3.0 directly into the microprocessor. This integration reduces latency up to 30 percent11 compared to prior generations and with PCI Express* 3.0 can up to triple3 the movement of data into and out of the processor.

The high-performance processing power along with Intel® Integrated I/O and advanced storage features such as PCIe* non-transparent bridging and asynchronous DRAM refresh, makes the Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family also an ideal choice for storage and communications solutions.

Increasing bandwidth demands driven by server virtualization and data and storage network consolidation have led to strong growth in 10 Gigabit Ethernet deployments, with adapter port shipments exceeding 1 million units in each quarter of 201113. Today's announcement of the Intel® Ethernet Controller X540 demonstrates Intel's commitment to driving 10 Gigabit Ethernet to the mainstream by reducing implementation costs. This industry-first single-chip 10GBASE-T solution is designed for low-cost, low-power LAN on motherboard (LOM) and includes flexible I/O Virtualization and Unified networking support at no additional cost.

Trusted Security

The Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family reaffirms Intel's commitment to providing a more secure hardware foundation for today's data centers. Intel® Advanced Encryption Standard New Instruction (Intel® AES-NI14) helps systems to quickly encrypt and decrypt data running over a range of applications and transactions. Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel® TXT15) creates a trusted foundation to reduce the infrastructure exposure to malicious attacks. These features in partnership with leading software applications will help IT protect their data centers against attack and scale to meet the demands of their customers.

Extensive Industry Support

Starting today, system manufacturers from around the world are expected to announce hundreds of Intel® Xeon® processor E5 family-based platforms. These manufacturers include Acer*, Appro*, Asus*, Bull*, Cisco*, Dell*, Fujitsu*, HP*, Hitachi*, Huawei*, IBM*, Inspur*, Lenovo*, NEC*, Oracle*, Quanta*, SGI*, Sugon*, Supermicro* and Unisys*.

Product, Pricing Details

The Xeon processor E5-2600 product family will be offered with 17 different parts which range in price from $198 to $2,050 in quantities of 1,000. Additionally three single-socket Intel Xeon processor E5-1600 parts will be offered for workstations which range in price from $284 to $1,080. Complete pricing details can be found in the Intel Newsroom. For more details on these new Intel Xeon processors, visit www.intel.com/xeon. For more details on world records and other claims, visit www.intel.com/performance/server/.

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.

Intel, Intel Xeon and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

1 Software and workloads used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance only on Intel microprocessors. Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations and functions. Any change to any of those factors may cause the results to vary. You should consult other information and performance tests to assist you in fully evaluating your contemplated purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. For more information go to www.intel.com/performance

2 (Generational Performance) Source: Performance comparison using best submitted/published 2-socket server results on the SPECfp*_rate_base2006 benchmark as of 6 March 2012. Baseline score of 271 published by Itautec on the Servidor Itautec MX203* and Servidor Itautec MX223* platforms based on the prior generation Intel® Xeon® processor X5690. New score of 492 submitted for publication by Dell on the PowerEdge T620 platform and Fujitsu on the PRIMERGY RX300 S7* platform based on the Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2690. For additional details, please visit www.spec.org.16.

3 (I/O Bandwidth) Source: Intel internal measurements of maximum achievable I/O R/W bandwidth (512B transactions, 50% reads, 50% writes) comparing Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2680 based platform with 64 lanes of PCIe* 3.0 (66 GB/s) vs. Intel® Xeon® processor X5670 based platform with 32 lanes of PCIe* 2.0 (18 GB/s). Baseline Configuration: Green City system with two Intel® Xeon® processor X5670 (2.93 GHz, 6C), 24GB memory @ 1333, 4 x8 Intel internal PCIe* 2.0 test cards. New Configuration: Rose City system with two Intel® Xeon processor E5-2680 (2.7GHz, 8C), 64GB memory @1600 MHz, 2 x16 Intel internal PCIe* 3.0 test cards on each node (all traffic sent to local nodes).

4 (Energy Efficient Performance) Source: Performance comparison using best submitted/published 2-socket single-node server results on the SPECpower_ssj*2008 benchmark as of 6 March 2012. Baseline score of 3,329 ssj*_ops/watt published by Hewlett-Packard on the ProLiant DL360 G7* platform based on the prior generation Intel® Xeon® processor X5675. Score of 5,093 ssj*_ops/watt submitted for publication by Fujitsu on the PRIMERGY RX300 S7* platform based on the Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2660. For additional details, please visit www.spec.org.1,16.

5 (Connect devices) Source: "Worldwide Device Estimates Year 2020 - Intel One Smart Network Work" forecast

6 (datacenter traffic forecast) Source: Cisco® Global Cloud Index: Forecast and Methodology 2010 – 2015. http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/collateral/ns341/ns525/ns537/ns705/ns1175/Cloud_Index_White_Paper.html

7 (Data Storage) Source: "IDC Worldwide Enterprise Storage Systems 2010-2014 Forecast"

8 (Cloud system) Intel internal projections of cloud market growth between 2011 and 2015

9 (AVX) Source: Performance comparison using Linpack benchmark. Baseline score of 159.4 based on Intel internal measurements as of 5 December 2011 using a Supermicro* X8DTN+ system with two Intel® Xeon® processor X5690, Turbo Enabled, EIST Enabled, Hyper-Threading Enabled, 48 GB RAM, Red Hat* Enterprise Linux Server 6.1. New score of 347.7 based on Intel internal measurements as of 5 December 2011 using an Intel® Rose City platform with two Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2690, Turbo Enabled or Disabled, EIST Enabled, Hyper-Threading Enabled, 64 GB RAM, Red Hat* Enterprise Linux Server 6.1.16.

10 (World Record Performance) Source: Best available submitted/published performance benchmark results on 2S x86 server platforms as of 6 March 2012. For a full summary of world record performance results, please visit www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/benchmarks/server/xeon-e5-2600-summary.html. For additional details, please visit www.spec.org, www.sap.com/solutions/benchmark, www.vmware.com/a/vmmark, and www.tpc.org.

11 (I/O Latency) Source: Intel internal measurements of average time for an I/O device read to local system memory under idle conditions comparing the Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2600 product family (230 ns) vs. the Intel® Xeon® processor 5500 series (340 ns). Baseline Configuration: Green City system with two Intel® Xeon® processor E5520 (2.26GHz, 4C), 12GB memory @ 1333, C-States Disabled, Turbo Disabled, SMT Disabled. New Configuration: Meridian system with two Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2665 (2.4GHz, 8C), 32GB memory @1600 MHz, C-States Enabled, Turbo Enabled. The measurements were taken with a LeCroy* PCIe* protocol analyzer using Intel internal Rubicon (PCIe* 2.0) and Florin (PCIe* 3.0) test cards running under Windows* 2008 R2 w/SP1.

12 (PCIe* 3.0) Source: 8 GT/s and 128b/130b encoding in PCIe* 3.0 specification enables double the interconnect bandwidth over the PCIe* 2.0 specification (www.pcisig.com/news_room/November_18_2010_Press_Release/ ). Intel internal measurements of maximum achievable I/O R/W bandwidth (512B transactions, 50% reads, 50% writes) using Xeon® processor E5-2680 based platform. Configuration: Rose City system with two Intel® Xeon processor E5-2680 (2.7GHz, 8C), 64GB memory @1600 MHz, 2 x16 Intel internal PCIe* 3.0 test cards on each node (all traffic sent to local nodes).

13 (10GBe) Crehan Research: Server-class Adapter and LOM Market 4Q10

14 (AES-NI) Intel® AES-NI requires a computer system with an AES-NI enabled processor, as well as non-Intel software to execute the instructions in the correct sequence. AES-NI is available on select Intel® processors. For availability, consult your reseller or system manufacturer. For more information, see http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-advanced-encryption-standard-instructions-aes-ni/

15 (TXT) No computer system can provide absolute security under all conditions. Intel® Trusted Execution Technology (Intel® TXT) requires a computer with Intel® Virtualization Technology, an Intel TXT-enabled processor, chipset, BIOS, Authenticated Code Modules and an Intel TXT-compatible measured launched environment (MLE). Intel TXT also requires the system to contain a TPM v1.s. For more information, visit http://www.intel.com/technology/security

16 Intel does not control or audit the design or implementation of third party benchmark data or Web sites referenced in this document. Intel encourages all of its customers to visit the referenced Web sites or others where similar performance benchmark data are reported and confirm whether the referenced benchmark data are accurate and reflect performance of systems available for purchase.

Dell XPS 13 review

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 10:00 AM PST

You don't have to be a marketing skeptic to agree that "Ultrabook" is a somewhat hyperbolic term for a class of devices designed a little thinner, a little lighter and maybe a little quicker than those notebooks that have come before. From a pure hardware standpoint there's nothing particularly "ultra" about them when compared to a standard Wintel lappytop, but manufacturers are, thankfully, using this as an opportunity to raise their game on another front that's becoming increasingly important in the world of portable computing: aesthetics.

Compared to clunky laptops of yore, many Ultrabooks mark a truly massive step forward when it comes to purity of design and Dell is showing some impressive chops with the new XPS 13. But, when you're buckled in to coach class and it's time to get to work, looks are less important than having a solid laptop that performs. Does the new XPS have the brawn to match its beauty? Let's find out.
Dell XPS 13 review

Look and feel


Right out of the box it's clear Dell is trying to make a statement with the new XPS 13. Simple, dark, minimalist packaging contains the sliver of the laptop itself -- and an unfortunately clunky power brick. The 45-watt adapter is smaller than many others Dell makes, but it's outfitted with a fat, three-pronged power cable that makes the thing take up a huge amount of space in your bag. If PC makers are going to get really serious about going after Apple with slinky laptops, they're going to have to come up with some slinkier power adapters to match.

Ignoring that bit of standard-issue fare, the XPS 13 makes a great first impression. If you've been following along, you'll notice it dispenses with many of the gaudy embellishments that made the XPS 14z and 15z so polarizing, with only the fingerprint-free metal lid and pillowy keyboard tying it all together. Its lid is of satiny aluminum with a sandblasted sort of appearance, embossed in the middle with a glossy, 1.5-inch Dell logo. The bottom, though, is even more alluring. Protected beneath a thin rubberized coating is a carbon fiber construction that feels fantastic. You don't have to be a motorsports nut to appreciate the look of a fine carbon weave, and with the soft-touch coating it creates a surface that's reassuringly easy to hold onto when you're wandering around the office trying to find your next meeting.

That grippability is further aided by a pair of rubber feet that run the width of the bottom of the unit, one on the front and the back. These also do a fine job of keeping the laptop in place when typing furiously in said meeting, elevating the thing slightly so that the ridge of air vents on the bottom can do their thing. And they seem to do their thing well. We never noticed an excessively warm lap thanks to our Core i5-equipped unit.


That Dell took the time to design a metal flap just to hide unsightly logos and stickers says a lot about the attention to detail here.

Inset amid that lovely weave is another bit of brushed aluminum, a metal plate with "XPS" menacingly present. (We think this logo would make for far more interesting lid decor than that somewhat overly friendly Dell circle with its quirky E.) Flip this flap open and hidden below is the ugly Windows product key sticker along with about a million certification logos (FCC, etc.). That Dell took the time to design this metal cover just to hide all these unsightly logos and stickers says a lot about the attention to detail here.

Try to open the laptop, though, and you'll realize some further attention was needed elsewhere. There's a somewhat stiff hinge, which isn't necessarily a problem (you certainly don't have to worry about it separating on its own), but actually getting it open can be a bit of a challenge. Stick a finger under the lip of the lid and, when you start to lift, the laptop will start to flip over before opening. And that's not because it's a particularly light little thing. In fact, at just under three pounds, it's actually fractionally heavier than the physically larger 13-inch MacBook Air.

Get it open and you're presented with a backlit, island-style keyboard, black semi-gloss keys raised over a matte background and situated above a similarly dark touchpad, power button to the upper-left.

At 2.99 pounds (1.36kg), the XPS 13 in good company among the 2.96-pound MacBook Air and the 2.9-pound ASUS Zenbook UX31, though none of these are quite as impossibly light as the Toshiba Portege Z830, which weighs a mere 2.47 pounds. Certainly, Dell's entry bests the HP Folio 13 (3.3 pounds), along with the 13-inch Samsung Series 5 Ultrabook (3.5 pounds) and the untold number of 14-inchers we'll see this year.

Available ports are predictably limited, but comprehensive enough. On the left are a 3.5mm headset jack, USB 2.0 port and the power input. On the right is a USB 3.0 port and a Mini DisplayPort, plus a series of five little white LEDs that will give you the battery's current charge at the press of a button. And that's it. Dell went the way of Lenovo and sadly opted not to include an SD card reader, which we would consider an oversight.

Keyboard and trackpad


Following in the footsteps of the XPS 14z and 15z, the keys here are small but comfortable, feeling slightly tall and springy but not overly so.There are no dedicated media keys at your disposal; the various F keys doing double-duty with the help of the Fn key nestled between Ctrl and the Windows logo key. All told, it feels like a step up from the shallow 'boards you'll find on so many other Ultrabooks, such as the UX31 and Acer Aspire S3.

After using the keyboard for a few days we found ourselves neither loving nor hating it, but we did lean toward the latter when it came to the trackpad.

After using the keyboard for a few days we found ourselves neither loving nor hating it, but we did lean toward the latter when it came to the clickable trackpad. It too has a soft-touch feel to it, which makes it a bit sticky as you try to gesture. We could live with that if it were responsive enough. We cranked the sensitivity as high as we could in the Cypress TrackPad settings, which helped to some degree, but it still felt unpredictable and unreliable.

We particularly had issues when clicking, as the slight movement of our fingertip when depressing the trackpad would cause the cursor to jump. Instead of simply placing the text caret we'd wind up highlighting a full row of text. This happened over and over again regardless of how precise we tried to be.

Display and sound

This is, again, a 13-inch laptop. While there are multiple choices for processor and disk size there's but one display on offer, a 1366 x 768 unit that manages to do greater than 720p, but not by much. It is a 16:9 aspect ratio display, so the panel itself is slightly shorter and wider than that on the 13-inch MacBook Air, despite the XPS 13 itself being slightly narrower.

Yes indeed we have some skinny bezels here, but sadly we're also talking about a screen that has a lower pixel density than the 1600 x 900 panel on the $1,100 UX31. (The Air has a 1440 x 900 display, but you'll pay $1,299 and up for the privilege.) It's not a massive difference, but individual pixels are far more noticeable on the Dell.

The contrast of the display doesn't exactly impress either. Get perfectly on-center and it's adequate, but stray more than a few degrees to either side and it quickly begins to fade. This is a particular problem when you're looking down from above, as you're likely to be when sitting upright with this guy on your lap. The hinge doesn't let you lay the screen flat enough and you're often be stuck with a decidedly pasty image.

The speakers are good enough that you can leave your Jambox at home.

We were, however, quite impressed by the integrated speakers -- surprisingly so. Even at moderate levels the laptop easily filled a hotel room with adequate sound and, when cranked, managed to become uncomfortably loud. This will not beat the quality of even mid-range cans or earbuds, but it's certainly good enough that you can leave your Jambox at home.

Performance


Our base-spec XPS 13 contains a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-2467M processor with 4GB of RAM and we found it to be more than adequate for general computing tasks, including writing this very review. It was quite snappy and responsive navigating through Windows, playing videos, listening to music and, in general, computing.

A cold boot is completed in a very respectable 15 seconds and the system wakes from a sleep almost instantly. A 3DMark score of 4,130 puts this in the higher end compared with other Ultrabooks, though slightly behind the UX31. We were unable to get Vantage to execute successfully.

PCMark Vantage
3DMark06
Dell XPS 13 (1.6GHz Core i5-2467M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) N/A 4,130
HP Folio 13 (1.6GHz Core i5-2467M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) 6,701 3,387
Toshiba Portege Z835 (1.4GHz Core i3-2367M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) 5,894 3,601
Lenovo IdeaPad U300s (1.8GHz Core i7-2677M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) 9,939 3,651
ASUS Zenbook UX31 (1.7GHz Core i5-2557M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) 10,508 4,209
Acer Aspire S3 (1.6GHz Core i5-2467M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) 5,367 3,221
13-inch, 2011 MacBook Air (1.7GHz Core i5-2557M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) 9,484 4,223
2011 Samsung Series 9 (1.7GHz Core i5-2537M, Intel HD Graphics 3000) 7,582 2,240
Notes: the higher the score the better. For 3DMark06, the first number reflects score with GPU off, the second with it on.

Battery life


Our XPS 13 and its six-cell, non-removable battery soldiered through our standard battery rundown test of videos looping endlessly for a respectable four hours and 58 minutes before succumbing to exhaustion. That's a half-hour longer than the last XPS we reviewed could manage, the XPS 15z, and a full two hours more than 2010's XPS 14. But, looking at a more direct competitor, it lags about an hour behind what HP's Folio 13 managed on the same test.

Laptop
Battery Life
Dell XPS 13 4:58
HP Folio 13 6:08
Toshiba Portege Z835 5:49
ASUS Zenbook UX31 5:41
13-inch, 2011 MacBook Air 5:32 (Mac OS X) / 4:12 (Windows)
Lenovo IdeaPad U300s 5:08
Samsung Series 9 4:20
Acer Aspire S3 4:11

Of course, your computing tasks might not entail simply looping videos endlessly, and indeed ours don't either. With the WiFi on and connected and the screen set to a moderate brightness we managed almost six hours on a charge of light web surfing and document editing. Lose the WiFi and you could surely do well better, though we're thinking Dell's estimate of eight hours and 53 minutes is a bit optimistic for most usage situations.

Software


With previous XPS models we've found ourselves shaking our heads as we scrolled through the Programs listing, but we're happy to report Dell has kept things respectably clean with the XPS 13.

It's hard to take a premium laptop seriously when it's constantly nagging with trialware pop-ups in your face. Those annoyances set a lasting impression, and it isn't a good one. With previous XPS models we've found ourselves shaking our heads as we scrolled through the Programs listing, but we're happy to report Dell has kept things respectably clean with the XPS 13.

McAfee SecurityCenter is here and probably the most nagging app that's pre-installed, prompting you to hop online and activate it. There is also a solid complement of Dell applications for controlling the webcam, creating recovery media and backing up the laptop. That too throws up an annoying pop-up after you boot, but it's only suggesting you create our recovery media, something that is a good idea. The only slight complication is that, by default, the DataSafe app wants to write that stuff to disc, something the XPS is ill-equipped to do out of the box. Thankfully it can also write to USB drives, should you have one big enough.

Configuration options and the competition


On the inside, again, is an Intel Core i5-2467M processor clocked at 1.6GHz and paired with 4GB of RAM. Configured with a 128GB SSD this laptop would cost you $999, a price we consider reasonably fair. However, step up to the 256GB model with a Core i7-2637M processor and you're looking at a somewhat less wallet-friendly (though still fair) $1,499.

That said, both options compare favorably to the competition, at least that from Apple's camp. Though higher-res, the 13-inch Air comes in at $300 higher than the $999 XPS 13 and, if you move up to a 256GB SSD, you're looking at $1,599 -- and that's still with a Core i5 processor. Still, raw specs aren't everything, and it's worth bearing in mind that for $1,299 you get a skinny laptop with a comfy keyboard and reliable trackpad -- a combination we can't say we've found in any of the Windows-based Ultrabooks we've tested so far.

However, the lowest-end of HP's Folio 13 Ultrabooks comes in at about $100 cheaper than the XPS 13, and starts with a Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD and display that suffers from the same issues as the XPS 13. If you're looking for the value leader, at $900 that's still the one.
Dell XPS 13 vs. MacBook Air

At that rough $1,500 price point the XPS 13 sits about on par with the highest-end Lenovo IdeaPad U300s, which also comes with 256GB of storage and a somewhat disappointing display. (The U300s is also missing an SD reader, but it makes up for it somewhat with an elegant design and one of the more ergonomically sound keyboards we've tested.) But, if you're looking for something in this category with a genuinely good display, right now it's still the $1,099-plus UX31 that's taking the cake -- or, of course, the Air. As always, though, we'd be remiss if we didn't remind you the UX31's fast performance, healthy battery life, gorgeous design and high-res display all come at the expense of one sticky, shallow keyboard.

Wrap-up


From the moment it comes out of the box the XPS 13 looks and feels like a truly premium product and, with a nice keyboard and respectable performance, it's a nice machine to use, too. But, the display suffers the same complaints we've seen with other Ultrabooks in this price range -- middling resolution, poor off-angle contrast -- and the trackpad only works well when it feels like it.

It is, then, another solid choice at the sub-$1,000 price point, but put aesthetics aside and we wouldn't say it's universally better than HP's Folio 13, which is about $100 cheaper. It is, however, better looking.

Dana Wollman contributed to this review.

Toshiba Satellite P855 glasses-free 3D laptop hands-on (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 09:46 AM PST

Remember that glasses-free 3D Qosmio F750 (aka F755 in the US) gaming laptop we saw last year? We're not sure how many of them Toshiba has sold, but the company's PR folks tell us they've been popular enough to justify a further 15.6-inch glasses-free model -- a Satellite P855, which will have a more mainstream target audience. We're looking at exactly the same lenticular technology, which uses a webcam to adjust the 3D effect to the user's head movements, and which delivers effective results if you sit relatively still and give your eyes a chance to adapt. This time, however, the effect is delivered within a textured aluminum chassis that will likely appeal to a wider audience than the red-styled garishness of the Qosmio. The price tag has yet to be disclosed, but that should also be more appealing, since the Satellite range starts at £599 ($940). The P855 won't arrive until Q2 and Toshiba wasn't ready to reveal any concrete specs concerning the processor or graphics, other than saying this laptop is aimed at mainstream 3D gaming as well as Blu-Ray consumption. We asked about memory and storage too, but with no success -- all we could glean is that there are four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI out, Intel WiDi for direct WiFi beaming of 1080 video to a bigger screen, plus Harmon Kardon speakers. C'mon Tosh, give us Ivy Bridge paired with a 28nm Kepler GPU and make the world happy. (Hands-on video right after the break.)
Toshiba Satellite P855 with glasses-free 3D hands-on

Gigabyte U2442 Ultrabook hands-on (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 09:22 AM PST

First they announce, then we touch. Such is the way of the technology trade show. In our eager paws this time is the U2442 Ultrabook from Gigabyte. Strangely, it was running Windows 8 Consumer Preview, which is all good and well, but the 1600 x 900 pixel display wasn't being shown to its full potential. A shame, as it would have been nice to see how the latest Microsoft OS might actually look in real use. The device itself is a mix of aluminum and plastic, which gives it a mixed-quality feel, and there's definitely some weight to the Ultrabook, although it's nowhere near the heaviest laptop we saw today.

Despite being an Ultrabook, the U2442 has dedicated GeForce GT 640M graphics, which will certainly please those who aren't fans of the whole SoC thing. Also, unlike many other devices it competes with, the Gigabyte also touts a full-size Ethernet port along with those USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports we learned about this morning -- no nasty dongles to carry around and lose with this guy. All we know on release is that it's slated for sometime this summer, with pricing expected to be in the $1,000 range. Shimmy on over the break for the hands-on video, or take a peek at the gallery below to see the Ultrabook in all its full-size-port glory.
Gigabyte Utrabook U2442 hands-on


Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Google Play replaces Android Market, new source for apps, books, movies and music (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 09:00 AM PST

The Android Market has morphed significantly since its inception, which now allows users to purchase books, music and rent movies, all from within a hub that was originally designed for just apps. To recognize this fundamental shift -- and emphasize the availability of content for sale -- Google is launching a new platform known as Google Play. The move hints at a strategy shift from just Android to the cloud as a whole, and establishes an umbrella brand for the diverse content sold by Google. For example, its Books, Music and Videos apps will now become Play Books, Play Music and Play Movies, while the Android Market itself will take on the moniker of Play Store. Users of Android 2.2 (and above) should notice the software update within the next few days, although other than the new name, initial changes should be minimal. We're also to be on the lookout for a new "Play" tab within the top toolbar of Google's website. To mark the occasion, the company has announced a promotional "Seven Days to Play" sale, which will tease would-be shoppers with discounted apps, books, movies and music throughout the week. For an additional peek at what's in store, you'll find the gallery below and a video after the break.
Introducing Google Play

T-Mobile, Sprint and DirecTV file with FCC to halt Verizon's AWS acquisition

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 08:36 AM PST

Ready for round two of the great spectrum wars? In what is undeniably an uncanny bit of wireless industry déjà vu, T-Mobile, Sprint, DirecTV, in addition to the Rural Telecommunications Group and six others, have filed a request with the FCC to halt its 180-day review of Verizon's AWS acquisition. According to the consortium's claims, documents submitted by Big Red and its cabler partners (Cox, Time Warner, Bright House and Comcast) in favor of the transaction are heavily redacted and therefore not in the public interest. The group is petitioning the Commission to place an absolute freeze on all of the operator's pending license transfers until full legal disclosure has been achieved. This latest Capitol Hill impasse comes right on the heels of VZW's own filing, in which it outlines an allegedly impending spectrum drought that would see specific pockets of its network hitting capacity by 2015. Neither the FCC nor DOJ have yet to weigh in on either of these proceedings, but, rest assured, this certainly won't be the last we hear of this mobile saga.

Apple's next-gen iPad launch event is tomorrow, get your liveblog right here!

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 08:15 AM PST

Got plans for tomorrow? Of course not -- you canned 'em a week ago. For those still unaware, Apple will be unveiling its next iPad at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco tomorrow, and as always, we'll be there live to bring you the news as it happens. Feel free to get caught up on the latest from the rumormill right here, and bookmark this page for our liveblog. We'll be on the scene early, with Tim and myself livestreaming (just like we did for WWDC and the iPhone 4S launch last year) a pre-event rumor wrap-up as well as a post-event round-up of what all goes down.

As for the liveblog? It'll get going at 10:00AM PT tomorrow, and you can find how that translates to your neck of the woods below. See you then, rations in tow!

March 7, 2012 10:00 AM PST

Top LulzSec members arrested, group leader reportedly acted as informant

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 07:57 AM PST

The LulzSec hacking group may have officially called it quits last June, but that doesn't mean it was able to escape the eye of law enforcement. As Fox News reports, today saw three group members arrested and two more charged with conspiracy -- a move that one FBI official described as "chopping off the head of LulzSec." What's more, it's reported that group leader "Sabu," now identified as 28-year-old Hector Xavier Monsegur, was acting as an informant for the FBI since he was first caught and secretly arrested in June of last year (around the time the group disbanded). Court documents unsealed today also show that Monsegur has pleaded guilty to carrying out attacks on companies like MasterCard and PayPal, and that he's been charged with 12 criminal counts of conspiracy. The full indictments against the group's members can be found at the Gizmodo link below, and the FBI's press release can be found after the break.
Show full PR text
Six Hackers in the United States and Abroad Charged for Crimes Affecting Over One Million Victims

Four Principal Members of "Anonymous" and "LulzSec" Charged with Computer Hacking and Fifth Member Pleads Guilty; "AntiSec" Member also Charged with Stealing Confidential Information from Approximately 860,000 Clients and Subscribers of Stratfor

U.S. Attorney's Office
March 06, 2012

Five computer hackers in the United States and abroad were charged today, and a sixth pled guilty, for computer hacking and other crimes. The six hackers identified themselves as aligned with the group Anonymous, which is a loose confederation of computer hackers and others, and/or offshoot groups related to Anonymous, including "Internet Feds," "LulzSec," and "AntiSec."

RYAN ACKROYD, a/k/a "kayla," a/k/a "lol," a/k/a "lolspoon"; JAKE DAVIS, a/k/a "topiary," a/k/a "atopiary"; DARREN MARTYN, a/k/a "pwnsauce," a/k/a "raepsauce," a/k/a "networkkitten"; and DONNCHA O'CEARRBHAIL, a/k/a "palladium," who identified themselves as members of Anonymous, Internet Feds, and/or LulzSec, were charged in an indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court with computer hacking conspiracy involving the hacks of Fox Broadcasting Company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and the Public Broadcasting Service ("PBS"). O'CEARRBHAIL is also charged in a separate criminal complaint with intentionally disclosing an unlawfully intercepted wire communication.

HECTOR XAVIER MONSEGUR, a/k/a "Sabu," a/k/a "Xavier DeLeon," a/k/a "Leon," who also identified himself as a member of Anonymous, Internet Feds, and LulzSec, pled guilty on August 15, 2011 in U.S. District Court to a 12-count information charging him with computer hacking conspiracies and other crimes. MONSEGUR'S information and guilty plea were unsealed today. The crimes to which MONSEGUR pled guilty include computer hacking conspiracy charges initially filed in the Southern District of New York. He also pled guilty to the following charges: a substantive hacking charge initially filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of California related to the hacks of HBGary, Inc. and HBGary Federal LLC; a substantive hacking charge initially filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Central District of California related to the hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Fox Broadcasting Company; a substantive hacking charge initially filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Georgia related to the hack of Infragard Members Alliance; and a substantive hacking charge initially filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Virginia related to the hack of PBS, all of which were transferred to the Southern District of New York, pursuant to Rule 20 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, in coordination with the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section ("CCIPS") in the Justice Department's Criminal Division.

Late yesterday, JEREMY HAMMOND, a/k/a "Anarchaos," a/k/a "sup_g," a/k/a "burn," a/k/a "yohoho," a/k/a "POW," a/k/a "tylerknowsthis," a/k/a "crediblethreat," who identified himself as a member of AntiSec, was arrested in Chicago, Illinois and charged in a criminal complaint with crimes relating to the December 2011 hack of Strategic Forecasting, Inc. ("Stratfor"), a global intelligence firm in Austin, Texas, which may have affected approximately 860,000 victims. In publicizing the Stratfor hack, members of AntiSec reaffirmed their connection to Anonymous and other related groups, including LulzSec. For example, AntiSec members published a document with links to the stolen Stratfor data titled, "Anonymous Lulzxmas rooting you proud" on a file sharing website.

The following allegations are based on the indictment, the information, the complaints, and statements made at MONSEGUR's guilty plea:

Hacks by Anonymous, Internet Feds, and LulzSec

Since at least 2008, Anonymous has been a loose confederation of computer hackers and others. MONSEGUR and other members of Anonymous took responsibility for a number of cyber attacks between December 2010 and June 2011, including denial of service ("DoS") attacks against the websites of Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal, as retaliation for the refusal of these companies to process donations to Wikileaks, as well as hacks or DoS attacks on foreign government computer systems.

Between December 2010 and May 2011, members of Internet Feds similarly waged a deliberate campaign of online destruction, intimidation, and criminality. Members of Internet Feds engaged in a series of cyber attacks that included breaking into computer systems, stealing confidential information, publicly disclosing stolen confidential information, hijacking victims' e-mail and Twitter accounts, and defacing victims' Internet websites. Specifically, ACKROYD, DAVIS, MARTYN, O'CEARRBHAIL, and MONSEGUR, as members of InternetFeds, conspired to commit computer hacks including: the hack of the website of Fine Gael, a political party in Ireland; the hack of computer systems used by security firms HBGary, Inc. and its affiliate HBGary Federal, LLC, from which Internet Feds stole confidential data pertaining to 80,000 user accounts; and the hack of computer systems used by Fox Broadcasting Company, from which Internet Feds stole confidential data relating to more than 70,000 potential contestants on "X-Factor," a Fox television show.

In May 2011, following the publicity that they had generated as a result of their hacks, including those of Fine Gael and HBGary, ACKROYD, DAVIS, MARTYN, and MONSEGUR formed and became the principal members of a new hacking group called "Lulz Security" or "LulzSec." Like Internet Feds, LulzSec undertook a campaign of malicious cyber assaults on the websites and computer systems of various business and governmental entities in the United States and throughout the world. Specifically, ACKROYD, DAVIS, MARTYN, and MONSEGUR, as members of LulzSec, conspired to commit computer hacks including the hacks of computer systems used by the PBS, in retaliation for what LulzSec perceived to be unfavorable news coverage in an episode of the news program "Frontline"; Sony Pictures Entertainment, in which LulzSec stole confidential data concerning approximately 100,000 users of Sony's website; and Bethesda Softworks, a video game company based in Maryland, in which LulzSec stole confidential information for approximately 200,000 users of Bethesda's website.

The Stratfor Hack

In December 2011, HAMMOND conspired to hack into computer systems used by Stratfor, a private firm that provides governments and others with independent geopolitical analysis. HAMMOND and his co-conspirators, as members of AntiSec, stole confidential information from those computer systems, including Stratfor employees' e-mails as well as account information for approximately 860,000 Stratfor subscribers or clients. HAMMOND and his co-conspirators stole credit card information for approximately 60,000 credit card users and used some of the stolen data to make unauthorized charges exceeding $700,000. HAMMOND and his co-conspirators also publicly disclosed some of the confidential information they had stolen.

The Hack of International Law Enforcement

In January 2012, O'CEARRBHAIL hacked into the personal e-mail account of an officer with Ireland's national police service, the An Garda Siochana (the "Garda"). Because the Garda officer had forwarded work e-mails to a personal account, O'CEARRBHAIL learned information about how to access a conference call that the Garda, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies were planning to hold on January 17, 2012 regarding international investigations of Anonymous and other hacking groups. O'CEARRBHAIL then accessed and secretly recorded the January 17 international law enforcement conference call, and then disseminated the illegally-obtained recording to others.

***

MONSEGUR, 28, of New York, New York, pled guilty to three counts of computer hacking conspiracy, five counts of computer hacking, one count of computer hacking in furtherance of fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. He faces a maximum sentence of 124 years and six months in prison.

ACKROYD, 23, of Doncaster, United Kingdom; DAVIS, 29, of Lerwick, Shetland Islands, United Kingdom; and MARTYN, 25, of Galway, Ireland, each are charged with two counts of computer hacking conspiracy. Each conspiracy count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

O'CEARRBHAIL, 19, of Birr, Ireland, is charged in the indictment with one count of computer hacking conspiracy, for which he faces 10 years in prison. He is also charged in the complaint with one count of intentionally disclosing an unlawfully intercepted wire communication, for which he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

HAMMOND, 27, of Chicago, Illinois, is charged with one count of computer hacking conspiracy, one count of computer hacking, and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

DAVIS is separately facing criminal charges in the United Kingdom, which remain pending, and ACKROYD is being interviewed today by the Police Central e-crime Unit in the United Kingdom. O'CEARRBHAIL was arrested today by the Garda.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. The investigation was initiated and led by the FBI, and its New York Cyber Crime Task Force, which is a federal, state, and local law enforcement task force combating cybercrime, with assistance from the PCeU; a unit of New Scotland Yard's Specialist Crime Directorate, SCD6; the Garda; the Criminal Division's CCIPS; and the U.S. Attorneys' Offices for the Eastern District of California, the Central District of California, the Northern District of Georgia, and the Eastern District of Virginia; as well as the Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs.

The charges contained in the indictment and complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

FTC: Western Digital and Hitachi must give assets and IP rights to Toshiba

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 07:38 AM PST

Thought everything was looking rosy for the hard drive hitch of the year? Well, it looks like Federal Trade Commission reckons the union of Hitachi and Western Digital isn't quite there just yet, ordering that the new company would have to shed some of its assets to Toshiba. The FTC wants to ensure a competitive climate in the 3.5-inch hard drive market and avoid Western Digital and Seagate -- the two largest HDD manufacturers -- carving up the whole sector between them. According to the FTC's proposals, Toshiba has to receive the production assets needed to equal Hitachi's current HDD market share, alongside access to Western Digital's research and development resources and licenses to its intellectual property. Regulators had previously stated that WD could expect to sell on some of its production assets in order to get the tie-up okayed. Western Digital now has 15 days to hand over these assets to Toshiba -- who, presumably, aren't complaining -- once the deal with Hitachi is finally inked.

Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 07:06 AM PST

The Carl Zeiss Cinemizer OLED has been a long time in the making -- we first heard about the video glasses at Macworld in 2008 -- but the company has yet to push the head-mounted display past the prototype phase. We stumbled upon Zeiss' booth here at CeBIT, where we found a version of the glasses that look mighty similar to the mock-up we saw in marketing materials from 2010, but are now equipped with a pair of head-tracking modules to expand the yet-to-be released marvel's practicality. With head-tracking now on board, the Cinemizer can theoretically appeal to gamers, architects, even educators, who can use the glasses in the classroom.

We took a look at an Inreal CAD app demo that lets the wearer navigate a yet-unbuilt house, walking through virtual rooms (a joystick is used for forward motion, so you won't be accidentally walking into physical walls) as you judge paint colors, furniture placement and try to convince your significant other that there really is room for a 65-inch HDTV. The tracking modules are located behind the ear rests on each side of the OLED glasses, which have seen a slight boost in resolution since we last heard about them, jumping from VGA to 870 x 500 pixels in each OLED panel. Tracking was responsive and accurate -- the experience of walking around a room felt almost lifelike. What's even more exciting than the device's performance is that we may finally see these hit stores in 2012, with a tentative summer ship date. And, while still a pricey addition to your display collection, the Cinemizer lands on the inexpensive end of the Zeiss product scale, ringing up at €649 (about $850), plus another €100 for the tracking hardware. Jump past the break to see it in action.
Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on

Kodak moves to block Apple's latest patent suit from proceeding in federal district court

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 06:53 AM PST

In a move that's sure to surprise no one, Kodak is fighting Apple's latest round of patent litigation -- a suit that would force Kodak to pause plans to sell up to $2.6 billion in digital imaging patents as a condition of its bankruptcy loan. In documents filed late last week, Kodak argued the dispute should be heard by the same bankruptcy court that's already overseeing its insolvency proceedings. In fact, Kodak's bankruptcy filing back in January caused all pending litigation (from Apple and RIM, among others) to come to a screeching halt, but Apple is nonetheless pushing for a reboot, arguing it's the owner of "a number of valuable patents," including one that could be lost if that planned $2 billion sale goes through. So where might this legal catfight take place? A bankruptcy judge is expected to hear arguments from both sides on Thursday.

MSI outs new GT60 / GT70 gaming laptops, we go hands-on (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 06:27 AM PST

MSI already popped up on the rumor-radar this week, and now it's confirmed a pair of new gaming laptops at CeBIT. The main difference between the new boys -- that we can see so far, at least -- is the display, with the GT70 sporting 17 inches against the GT60's 15. Both rock an eye-tingling rainbow-effect "SteelSeries" keyboard, as well as some gaming focused hardware. If one hard drive simply isn't enough, then the G-series' support for two SSDs in a RAID 0 configuration, alongside a regular HD, should definitely keep you going -- and support for up to 32 gigs of RAM should help things tick along nicely. We don't have detailed processor specs to share, unfortunately, and the models that MSI had on-hand at the show were simply mock-ups with older components.

After walking up to the duo, the first thing we noticed is how large they are -- especially after spending the day with a handful of Ultrabooks and tablets. The GT60 and GT70 aren't giants in the gaming world, but compared to other slim form-factor devices on offer, these are absolute monsters. We suspect this isn't so much of an issue, however, if you are in the market for this type of machine. The large size isn't wasted, either, with the both housing three USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports (only one for the GT60), an SDHC card slot, and full audio in, out, microphone and headphone ports for audio connectivity, plus an optical drive in each. The final machines will likely have Ivy Bridge processors and are penned in for an April release (provided that Intel's latest-gen processors hit the market by then). You'll be able to pick up the GT60 for around €1,999 (about $2,630), with the GT70 coming in at €2,299 (roughly $3,025). Scoot on past the break to catch our hands on with the pair.
MSI GT60 and GT70 gaming notebooks hands-on


Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Audi A3 with MMI Touch gesture-based entertainment system hands-on (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 06:09 AM PST

CeBIT isn't an auto show in the traditional sense, but we are in Germany after all, so we weren't terribly surprised to see Audi roll up with a brand new car. The latest A3 made its worldwide debut today, bringing with it that wheel-based menu navigation interface we saw in its prototype phase. The touchpad sits atop the jog-wheel and shrinks things down considerably compared to the original version found in the 7-series. To keep things nice and safe, Audi devised a system that recognizes letters you draw with your finger, enabling drivers keep their eyes on the road while selecting music, making calls or setting a destination in the GPS. Also, as is apparently the norm these days, there's Facebook and Twitter integration -- the car can even read updates as you drive. If you know, you can't wait until you're parked.

As you might have gathered, the A3 is a connected vehicle, with a SIM slot or Bluetooth connection providing the car's link to the outside world. It offers another curious addition, too: a "Phone Box" signal boosting system. Details are sparse, but we do know there's an external antenna that relays the signal back to the handset. That particular feature is compatible with any phone you care to toss inside, and requires a wired connection only for charging (the box itself is amplified, so anything that sits within the enclosure will reap those boosting benefits). We managed to get the first hands-on demo with the car, and you can see all those new toys in the video and galleries below.
Audi A3 gesture-based entertainment system hands-on


Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Circle your virtual calendars: Nokia World to be held September 25-26

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 05:54 AM PST

Last year was a hoot, so why not get excited for the next annual Nokia shindig? The folks from Finland already have Nokia World 2012 in their sights, as they've announced September 25th and 26th as the magic dates for this year's event. So what's in store for us in Helsinki six and a half months from now? Hard to tell this early in the game, but we'd expect to see Stephen Elop touting some new Lumia devices that run Apollo, and -- should we be so lucky -- even one or two with PureView thrown in. It's an exciting prospect, but remember to exercise patience, grasshoppers.

LG Optimus Vu launches in Korea, gets priced

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 05:28 AM PST

LG's 5-inch smartphone has finally arrived -- at least over in Korea. While 4:3 ratio display raised a few eyebrows during its debut at MWC, the IPS display, lightweight frame and stylus has us chasing after a review model to give it the full run-down. Anyone in LG's homeland can beat us to the punch -- it's now on sale priced just under the Galaxy Note, a device that's been around for a few months. Expect to pay 990,000 won ($890) for a carrier-free version, but importers should 'note' that they won't be able to take advantage of that built-in TV tuner. We're still sniffing out details on prices and launch dates for the US. Hopefully, the international model will arrive with a rubberdium stylus -- we just want to know what rubberdium is.

Canon unveils PIXMA MX892 wireless all-in-one, prints from the cloud for $200

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 05:00 AM PST

If you're in the market for a new wireless printer for that fancy new home office, Canon has a new model that may suit your needs. The PIXMA MX892 wireless all-in-one boasts copy, scan and fax features for those official docs that still have to be sent over the wire. Prints employ the ChromaLife, 5-ink system for high quality images at a resolution of 9,600 x 2,400 dpi. The printer also features a 3-inch LCD screen for last-minute adjustments and will have your 4 x 6 inch borderless Yellowstone photos printed in around 20 seconds each. Built-in effects, such as toy camera and fish-eye, offer quick photo customization in the event of an extreme time crunch. Through software like Google Cloud Print and PIXMA Cloud Link, you can send those documents or photos to the MX892 directly from online albums and your mobile device -- should you be on the move. No word on a shipping date as of yet, but the unit will set you back $199.99 when it hits shelves. Check out all the details in the PR below, should you be in need of a few more.
Show full PR text
CANON U.S.A. ANNOUNCES NEW HOME OFFICE PRINTER POWERHOUSE, THE PIXMA MX892 WIRELESS OFFICE ALL-IN-ONE

Multiple Connectivity Options Make For Easy Printing of Important Documents When Needed

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., March 6, 2012 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the PIXMA MX892 Wireless1 Office All-In-One (AIO) printer as the flagship model in the award-winning family of Canon PIXMA office printers. Designed with the home office user in mind, this print, copy, scan and fax machine has a variety of connectivity options for easy printing of documents and images from the cloud and other compatible portable devices. The addition of this new model to the Canon PIXMA Office AIO printer lineup helps continue the tradition of providing users with high-quality results and versatility to help increase productivity.

Canon has designed the PIXMA MX892 Wireless Office AIO printer to help home-office users easily access and print materials through utilities such as Google Cloud Print2 and PIXMA Cloud Link. Google Cloud Print will enable Gmail messages, file attachments and select Google Docs to be sent to the printer for printing from any computer, tablet, or smart phone. For those registered with Google's PicasaWeb Albums3, there is PIXMA Cloud Link so users can print photos directly from their online albums. The printer also provides direct access to a wide range of printable templates, such as stationary and calendars, so photographers can get creative with their images.

Adding to the printer's connectivity options is the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint (EPP) mobile app, for use with compatible Apple and Android smart phones and tablets, where documents can be scanned on the printer and sent to the device. Users can also print PDFs of documents that were created with the app directly from these devices4. The Canon PIXMA MX892 Wireless Office AIO printer will also have 802.11n wireless capability allowing for a high-speed network transfer rate and easy sharing on a network. Setting up a wireless network for multiple users to quickly share information can be accomplished with the press of one button when using Wireless Protected Setup (WPS). An Ethernet port has also been included as an alternative when wireless is not available, allowing for a hard line connection for easy sharing with multiple users as well. Canon U.S.A. offers its award-winning service and support online for all of its users looking to set up any of the new wireless products at www.usa.canon.com/wirelesshelp. Here, customers have access to video tutorials and manuals to assist in setting up a wireless printer.

"With users increasingly utilizing the cloud to store important documents and images, it is imperative to provide an easy way for these materials to be printed easily when they are needed ," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. "The variety of connectivity options supported by the PIXMA MX892 Office All-in-One printer allows the flexibility to do just that, and provides the users with the comfort of knowing that the end result will be high-quality."

Productivity at its Best
The Canon PIXMA MX892 Wireless Office AIO printer utilizes the ChromaLife 100+ system5 with five individual ink tanks producing superb quality for presentations and memorable images at a maximum color resolution of 9600 x 2400 dpi6. When the latest task includes creating a family photo album, the printer allows you to easily view images on the 3-inch LCD screen and can generate a 4" x 6" borderless photo7 in approximately 20 seconds8. The scanner capabilities feature an incredible resolution of 2400 x 4800 dpi to help ensure the duplicate copy will be equivalent to the original. Further adding to the functionality of the machine, is the capacity to provide print output at approximately 12.5 images per minute (ipm) for black-and-white documents and approximately 9.3 ipm for color9.

A major concern for home office users is being able to scan oversized documents to be distributed at important meetings. With the Canon exposed user interface, scanning or copying of large sized documents can be accomplished without interfering with any buttons needed to perform a task. Further adding to productivity is the Dual Function Panel, which makes navigating through menus and functions a very smooth process. When switching between the fax function and either print, copy or scan functions, the keypad will switch from the standard numbers to a directional keypad thus making the printer look sleek, clean and easy to use.

The Canon PIXMA MX892 Wireless Office AIO printer comes with additional features which can help increase productivity and conserve paper usage. With Advanced Media Handling capabilities such as a 35 sheet Duplex Auto Document Feeder that allows for quick two-sided copying and scanning in addition to Auto Duplex printing, users can perform other tasks while the printer handles the bulk of the workload. The printer also has two paper feeds which can hold a maximum of 150 sheets of plain paper each, helping ensure paper will not run out unexpectedly while working. With the two paper feeds, there is the option to load one tray with standard paper and the other with specialty paper so the user will not have to re-load when changing types of print jobs and save time.

Let Creativity Shine Through
For those interested in customizing photos, Easy-PhotoPrint EX software is available for this feature-packed printer with a variety of fun filter effects such as Fish-Eye, Miniature, Toy Camera, Soft Focus and Blur Background. Full HD Movie Print10 software has also been included, producing clear images of frames from videos captured on compatible HD Canon EOS and PowerShot Digital cameras. An added bonus is exclusive printable content through CREATIVE PARK PREMIUM11. The content on this website includes family projects such as Eric Carle greeting cards and photo frames as well as calendars to keep track of important business meetings and appointments.

The Canon PIXMA MX892 Wireless Office AIO printer will have an estimated selling price of $199.9912.

Verizon: give us more spectrum, we're gasping over here

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 04:35 AM PST

Verizon: give us more spectrum, we're gasping over here
VZW has stacks of money and plenty of ambition, but apparently it's already running out of mobile spectrum. The operator is trying to buy an extra block of airwaves from some cable companies in a $3.9 billion deal, but it has faced bitter resistance from rival networks who claim it's wrong for one company to hog so much electromagnetism. In a filing to the FCC yesterday, Verizon told regulators that its LTE network will start hitting spectrum limits as soon as next year in some areas of the US, with more areas being affected by 2015. Is it time to panic?

Acer Aspire V3 notebook hands-on (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 04:13 AM PST

Hot off the tails of the Aspire V5 is another new release from Acer. This time it's the Aspire V3 notebook, which comes in any one of three configurations, with 14, 15.6 and 17.3-inch screens in-tow. Each variation will be powered by an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processor, with NVIDIA GeForce GT series graphics throwing up the visuals. As with the V5, specs are difficult to come by at this point, though Acer has confirmed that the 17.3-inch model will include a 1600 x 900 pixel display. There's Blu-ray, HDMI, Bluetooth 4.0 and USB 3.0 on board, as well as support for SSD and hard drive combos (17.3-inch model only). Aesthetically, it'll launch in three colors (black, gold and gray) when it eventually debuts in Q2 of this year. Pricing starts at €400 (about $520) for the entry-level spec, rising to €900 (roughly $1180) at the top end.

Unlike the V5, we got to try out a fully-working model here at CeBIT. The V3 feels much larger and heftier when compared to its slimmer siblings, but the full-length speaker above the keyboard and generous LCD size tells you that Acer intended this model for a very different user. The finish may be plastic, but the gloss and matte combination looks nice enough. It feels relatively heavy in the hand, but it is carrying a reasonable amount of I/O baggage. Be sure to check out our video after the break for a more-detailed look.
Acer Aspire V3 hands-on


Zach Honig contributed to this report.
Show full PR text
Acer Introduces the V3 Series

Brilliant all-around performance

HANNOVER, GERMANY (March 6, 2012) - Acerhas unveiled the V3 Series, a range of notebooks optimized for today's digital needs,available in 14-, 15.6- and 17.3-inch models.With excellent performance, entertainment enhancements, communication tools and a classy design, these notebooks are intended for tech-savvy users who want daily high-definition audio and visual experiences.

The latest generation Intel® Core™ family processors,* plus NVIDA® GeForce® GT Series graphics*ensure excellent performance for multitasking with lots of apps, music, Internet video, movies, games and more.

Specialized entertainment enhancements include the Acer CineCrystal™ HD+ 1600 x 900 LED-backlit display on the 17.3" screen and , Dolby® Home Theater® v4 and a Blu-ray Disc™ drive.* Users can even enjoy notebook entertainment on an HDTV viathe HDMI®-out port.

The V3 Series features Acer InviLink™Nplify™ Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™wireless connectivity and Gigabit Ethernet to keep users online, and the Acer Crystal Eye HD webcam guarantees high-resolution face-to-face communication.

Acer clear.fi 2.0 automatically connects all digital-home devices. This lets users manage, share and enjoy media from any device in any room at home.
Sharing files among other digital devices is also possible viaa multi-in-1 card slot, Bluetooth® 4.0 and USB 2.0/3.0 ports (with USB power-off charging).*

Design-wise, the cover has a glossy finish and its color matches the screen bezel and palm rest. The Acer chiclet keyboard is stylish, ergonomic and complemented by a multi-gesture touchpad for enhanced comfort and productivity. The V3 Series comes in Midnight Black, Dawn Gold, Nightfall Gray and Thunderbolt Silver.

* Specifications vary depending on model.

Harman, Rinspeed partner on Dock + Go dashboard concept

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 04:00 AM PST

Harman is kicking off the Geneva Auto Show by unveiling its new dashboard concept for cars of the future. The Dock + Go system turns your dashboard into a "learning," Aha cloud-connected platform that'll try to eliminate traffic jams, or at least you're kept entertained in line. Your smartphone will connect over NFC and immediately the car will remember your preferred settings and social networks for access. The navigation will learn your driving habits and tweak the GPS settings accordingly and it'll even measure your alertness level and suggest you take a nap, or at least drive down a less busy street. It can recognize gestures and with a wave of the hand, it can start reading your new emails or tweets and, best of all, when driving past a store, the cloud system can show you vouchers and deals for your road-based impulse purchase needs -- after all, there's nothing better than being offered half-price meat while you're cruising down the freeway.
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HARMAN introduces the personalized dashboard at the 82nd Geneva Motor Show

HARMAN breaks new ground in personalized infotainment with its visionary networked infotainment concept incorporating a customizable situational human machine interface Geneva Motor Show – Imagine a car that automatically adjusts to every driver's tastes and preferences, harnesses a universe of personalized entertainment and information from the web, and makes your drive time easier, safer, and more productive by learning your driving routes and habits. Imagine all these capabilities available to a driver without the need to turn a dial, touch a screen, or even utter a word. This vision of a personalized, context-aware driving experience is brought to life by HARMAN, the leading provider of premium infotainment and audio solutions, through revolutionary customizable infotainment technologies on-board the DOCK+GO concept vehicle.

Developed in partnership with automaker Rinspeed, the DOCK+GO mobility concept delivers a personalized interface between the driver, the car, and the connected and digital world around it. HARMAN has created a new "context-aware" infotainment system concept that creates a virtual personalized dashboard for the driver. The system combines advanced smartphone integration technologies, cloud-based Aha platform, and flexible human-machine interface (HMI) design including gesture recognition, to deliver media-rich digital content into the car in an intuitive, easy-to-use manner, without compromising safety.

"The DOCK+GO concept epitomizes HARMAN's promise to deliver automotive infotainment solutions that are connected, green and safe, and also addresses further market trends including individualization and sharing", explains Michael Mauser, Executive Vice President and Co-President, Infotainment and Lifestyle. "HARMAN has contributed its groundbreaking high-performance technologies like Aha, personalized HMI and learning navigation to this vision of the future and co-designed the new customizable concept."

The infotainment concept in the DOCK+GO uses the driver's smartphone to store preferences regarding personalized content. As soon as the driver enters the vehicle, it connects with the driver's smartphone and uses NFC (Near Field Communication) to recognize the users saved preferences such as: seat positions, favorite music and settings for the HARMAN HALOsonic Electronic Sound Synthesis system, the preferred HMI visualizations, emails, contacts and calendar entries as well as Facebook and Twitter accounts via the Aha platform.

Cars - our digital, networked and personal companions
HARMAN holds a leading position at the cutting edge of the navigation industry. With "Learning Navigation" integrated in the infotainment system, it is now expanding its portfolio to include the personalized route map visualization systems. The navigation system "learns" by monitoring the driver, his operation characteristics such as speed and braking habits, his preferred routes and his interactions with the system. Based on this data the HMI display will, for example, change the zoom factor between intersection mode and regular view. The navigation system also detects driver alertness through sensors that measure the driver's steering wheel movements, voice timbre, and braking and accelerating behavior, to intelligently propose less risky routes or suggest stopping for a rest.

The 'learning navigation' system is further enhanced with HARMAN's augmented navigation technologies. The situational HMI combines location, telemetry, and personalized user data to offer the driver with optimal route- relevant information such as traffic congestion avoidance, nearby fuel stations and weather information. The range management system of HARMAN's infotainment concept works hand-in-hand with the navigation system and location-based services to optimize the distance and route taken by the vehicle. The on-board near field communication (NFC) is a further element of HARMAN's all-round infotainment system concept, offering functions including personalized cashless payment for toll highways or other automated systems.

HARMAN's feature-rich infotainment concept is also designed to ensure that safety remains a top priority. The infotainment system incorporates a number of HMI options, including gesture control, where basic functions can be performed with a wave of the hand, with no need for the driver to manipulate buttons, dials or touchscreens. The system's voice control allows drivers to access specific services such as read-aloud function for emails or – via Aha - social media feeds on Facebook and Twitter without taking their hands off the wheel. The integrated office solution allows standard documents and emails to be viewed and managed, transforming the vehicle into a mobile workplace.

Regular city drivers will appreciate the Parking Search function, which leverages HARMAN's Aha cloud technology platform to find and book free parking spots, reducing the time and frustration of circling to find a vacant spot. Backing into a spot becomes much easier, since HARMAN's 3D surround view system provides a virtual model of the surroundings for identifying obstacles and increasing safely. If the parking place is off the beaten track, the route can be transferred to the driver's smartphone to facilitate orientation after leaving the vehicle. The remaining path to the final destination (last mile navigation) can be guided by the smartphone, as the "last mile" has been transferred from the infotainment system.

Multimedia streaming based on latest mobile communications standards
The mobile communications technology integrated into the concept car will open up new opportunities to access entertainment and information. HARMAN's Aha platform delivers access to multimedia content including audio books, radio, music services, podcasts, location based services, and more, supplied by an extensive roster of partners and stored in the cloud. Drivers can choose from an array of themes and filter content to match their preferences to create their own presets. The Aha platform also supplies drivers on the road with up-to-date offers and information, such as vouchers that can be redeemed in restaurants or stores en route.

iRobot's 'throwable' 110 FirstLook bot gets drafted into the military (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 04:00 AM PST

There's something pretty damn appealing about a controllable robot that can be hurled through a window and live to tell the tale. It looks like the military brass agree; The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) has ordered over 100 of iRobot's 110 FirstLook scouting units. Unsurprisingly, these robots are tougher than your garden variety RC vehicle. Aside from managing our desperate throws, these can survive 15-foot drops, self-right, relay radio communication over a digital mesh network and feed back video from its four built-in cameras. After a year of internal testing, the bots will get their first on-the-job trial in an "operational assessment" later this spring. Check out the (military) man-toy in action right after the break.



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iRobot receives military order for FirstLook robots

Represents first significant order of company's small, light and throwable robot


BEDFORD, Mass., March 6, 2012 – iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader
in delivering robotic technology-based solutions, received a $1.5
million order, funded by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat
Organization (JIEDDO), for more than 100 of the company's model 110
FirstLook™ robots. Since its introduction last year, the iRobot 110
FirstLook has undergone extensive testing and demonstrations with the
customer. All robots under this order have been delivered and will
take part in an operational assessment this spring.

FirstLook is a small, light and throwable robot. It is ideal for a
wide range of infantry and special operations missions, including
building clearing, raids and other close-in scenarios. With four
built-in cameras, FirstLook provides multi-direction situational
awareness while keeping the operator out of harm's way.

FirstLook possesses a unique set of capabilities. While it weighs just
five pounds, it is robust enough to survive 15-foot drops, overcomes
obstacles as high as seven inches and automatically self-rights when
flipped over. Future capabilities include two-way audio communication
and digital mesh networking, which will allow multiple robots to relay
radio communications over greater distances.

"iRobot has received very positive feedback from the field about
FirstLook's capabilities, and we are excited about the advantages this
game-changing robot will provide to our troops," said Tim Trainer,
interim general manager of iRobot's Military Robots business unit.
"Similar to how iRobot's PackBot and SUGV robots changed the way
explosive ordnance disposal missions are conducted, we feel FirstLook
will change how infantry and special operations missions are performed
in the years ahead."

Experimental controller has 'thumbstick within thumbstick' for blistering sensations (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 03:22 AM PST

Just when you thought slingshots were the future, here comes a whole new way to enjoy baddie deletion in Uncharted 7. Each thumbstick on the prototype controller above has a secondary force feedback-enabled nub at its center, which moves independently and creates different sensations by stretching the skin on the pad of your opposable digit. In the video after the break, the designers at the University of Utah show how they've created effects for crawling, collisions, explosions and even fishing. They're apparently hoping to push their technology into next-gen games consoles, but they'll have to join the queue.

Acer launches Ultrabook-like Aspire V5 series, we go hands-on (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 02:58 AM PST

After trotting out some mobile fare at MWC, Acer hasn't pulled in the reigns on its new product horse, announcing its new V5 notebook this morning at CeBIT. Yes, notebook. At 30 percent slimmer than the class it replaces, these are still trim machines. The 11.6-inch model is only 15mm thick, which is way into Ultrabook territory, while the 14- and 15-inch models land at 21 and sub-23mm respectively. It's Intel on the inside, including Core i3 and Core i5 processors, with NVIDIA GeForce GT series on-board to handle graphics. Release is penciled in for Q2, and pricing is expected to range from €499 to €699 (about $650 to $920). If you're in the market for something a bit less expensive but you're into the V5's design, you might take notice of the Aspire One netbook, which is set to use the same chassis but will ship with Intel Pentium and Celeron processors instead, with pricing estimated between €399 and €449 (about $525 to $590).

We went hands-on with a dummy model of the V5 at CeBIT, though the prototype we saw today may not be the exact design you'll find in stores later this month. The 15.6-inch sample was very thin and relatively light, with a full-size chiclet keyboard and numberpad on the side. There's a USB 3.0 port on the left-hand side, along with two standard USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI connector and proprietary Ethernet port. There's also a pop-out optical drive on the right, though there's no SD slot in sight. Overall, it's a very nice design, but we'll need to wait for the company to demo functional versions before we can pass judgement on performance. As always, you'll find our video overview just past the break.
Acer Aspire V5 hands-on


Zach Honig contributed to this report.
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Acer Introduces the Aspire V5 Series

New Ultra-slim notebook featuring all-round mobility with impressive performance, thermal comfort, and affordability


HANNOVER, GERMANY (March 6, 2012) - Acer presents the Aspire V5 Series at the CeBIT tradeshow in Hannover, Germany. This new range of thin and light notebooks suits budget-conscious users looking for impressive performance, thermal comfort, cool style, plus convenient mobile usability.

While the current trend is towards thinner and lighter notebooks with the capability for infotainment consumption and content creation anytime, anywhere, Acer knows how to meet the consumers' expectations. The V5 Series notebooks are all 30% slimmer than the same class so they're extremely easy to handle on the go. The 11.6-inch model is less than 15 mm thin while the 14-inch model includes an optical drive and is under 21 mm and 2.1 kg; the 15.6-inch model, also with an optical drive, is thinner than 23 mm, and weighs less than 2.3 kg.

The V5 Series features powerful Intel® Core™ family processors,* and renowned NVIDA® GeForce® GT Series graphics* for impressive daily multitasking, content creation and multimedia enjoyment.
A smart power management and component layout optimizes acoustics and thermal comfort without compromising performance. These notebooks can be used quietly and comfortably on the lap during computing and media playback. ENERGY STAR® certified, the V5 Series conserves power and is environment-friendly.

Easy to use on the go, the V5 Series features Acer Instant Connect, which automatically scans and registers most-visited access points, letting users connect to the Internet in just 2.5 seconds, which is four times faster than conventional methods.

The cool, fluid design has smooth surfaces that make this notebook comfortable to the touch. Full-size chiclet keyboard and large click-pad are well-placed and ergonomic for easy navigation and enhanced productivity. The new range of Aspire V5 is ultra-slim and modern with cool design, available in a selection of appealing colors.

Users can enjoy all-round mobility with LAN/VGA combo port to easily extend connectivity online and external display from one cable. Sharing files among other digital devices is also quick and easy via USB 3.0 ports.

The V5 will start shipping in Q2 2012.

Verizon launches 'faster than wired' broadband for the home

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 02:57 AM PST

Verizon Wireless is making good on that name, aiming to rid your home of those ugly, ugly wires. The carrier wants to substitute them with the not-exactly-subtle, bucket-sized antenna you can see on the left. Its HomeFusion service aims to replace DSL-connected domiciles, with Verizon reckoning its own wireless broadband can offer up better upload and download speeds. According to the Washington Post, the hardware will set potential customers back around $200, but installation costs will be included in the service. The entry-level $60 per month package will net you just 10GB of data, with HomeFusion currently readied for launch in Dallas and Birmingham later this month. Users will be able to connect up to 50 different devices and Verizon intends to roll out the wireless internet package as far as its LTE network tendrils can reach. Plans go up to the dizzying heights of 30GB for $120 per month, with additional gigabytes charged at $10 a pop. For anyone in broadband-unfriendly homes looking for a step up in internet speed, you may want to start looking for somewhere to hide hang that antenna...

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HomeFusion Broadband From Verizon Powers In-Home Internet Connectivity With 4G LTE

Verizon's First Residential Wireless Broadband Solution Harnesses High Speed of 4G LTE Network

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today introduced HomeFusion Broadband: a new service that provides high-speed in-home Internet access using the power and speed of the nation's largest 4G LTE network. The solution will offer households in areas with limited broadband options a reliable alternative for data connectivity in their homes.
"HomeFusion Broadband is just one of the new products and services that is made possible with our 4G LTE network," said Tami Erwin, vice president and chief marketing officer, Verizon Wireless. "Customers want to connect more and more devices in their homes to the Internet, and HomeFusion Broadband gives them a simple, fast and effective way to bring the most advanced wireless connection from Verizon into their homes."
The 4G LTE network is efficiently delivered to an antenna which transmits the signal to a broadband router inside the home. The cylinder-shaped antenna is professionally installed at the customer's home, and the product's innovative design includes multiple internal antennae allowing the device to pick up Verizon's 4G LTE signal. The broadband router can connect up to four wired and at least 20 wireless devices inside the home using Wi-Fi, including everything from computers to gaming consoles.
HomeFusion Broadband will be available beginning later this month in Birmingham, Ala., Dallas and Nashville, Tenn., with additional markets to follow. Verizon Wireless is working with Asurion, a trusted leader in consumer technology protection services, for installation.
Customers can choose several usage-based plans, beginning at $59.99 monthly access for 10 GB of data, specifically designed for HomeFusion Broadband. A one-time equipment fee of $199.99 applies, and installation is free.
Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network now covers more than 200 million people in the United States. In real-world, fully loaded network environments, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE customers, including HomeFusion Broadband customers, should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.

Square's new Register app turns the iPad into a full-on point of sale terminal

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 02:21 AM PST

Square continues to add functionality to its mobile payment platform, and the latest addition is its new Register app for iPad. The refresh brings a sleeker interface and greater Card Case integration along with analytics to break down sales by transaction type and chronology to track your business' performance. Additionally, you can set up custom permissions to limit employee access, create customer loyalty programs and there's an improved inventory system feature as well. Naturally, it still relies on Square's trusty card reader for swiping cards and charges 2.75 percent per transaction using Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. Small businessmen, your payment chariot awaits, so check out a video of the new Square Register in action after the break.

French government to digitize out-of-print 20th century works, plans ebook initiative

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 01:41 AM PST

It's a case of having one's cake and eating it, too. Or, in this instance, digitizing the works of others and reselling them online for a 40 percent cut. According to Le Temps, a controversial new law recently passed by the French government will see out-of-print books from the 20th century converted into ebook format for preservation and an eventual commercial release. The effort, backed by a 30 million Euro subsidy and curated by the Bibliothèque nationale, encompasses some 500,000 to 700,000 books and has caused a number of the country's writers to raise their baguettes and pens in protest. Indeed, the legislation dives into murky IP territory, granting rights holders a measly six month window to opt-out of the initiative. It's safe to say, La France is taking a page directly out of Google's book. We just hope they read the end to that particular story.

[Image credit via Britannica.com]

Samsung announces cutesy Galaxy Pocket with 2.8-inch display, coming 'later this year'

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 12:56 AM PST

Space will always have room for another galaxy, and your pocket should equally have room for this little piece of Android 2.3 TouchWizadry. The Galaxy Pocket has just been announced in London and will arrive in the UK "later this year," bearing a 2.8-inch screen with a 240 x 320 (QVGA) resolution, an 800MHz processor, 3GB of expandable storage. That's an even smaller display than last year's crop of budget Androids, so hopefully this one will be priced accordingly. Full spec table and PR after the break.


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SAMSUNG INTRODUCES THE GALAXY POCKET

New addition to the Galaxy portfolio provides affordable option for customers

6th March 2012, London, UK – Samsung Electronics today announces the latest addition to its Android powered Galaxy portfolio, the Galaxy Pocket. Featuring AndroidTM 2.3, this new smartphone offers those on the lookout for a new handset, a stylish portable option.

The Galaxy Pocket's slim design makes it ideal for use whilst on the move and features a 2.8" display so that content and images can be viewed easily. The device features an upgraded TouchWiz user interface making menu navigation a smooth and efficient experience.

Connecting with others and sharing content is quick and easy thanks to the Galaxy Pocket's social networking and communication features. Samsung's ChatON cross-platform communication service connects all phone users into a single community, enabling spontaneous messaging, group chatting and content sharing so customers can stay in touch more easily.

In addition, the Galaxy Pocket's Social Hub enables owners to see their Instant Messaging, social network and email communications in a single inbox for added convenience when they are travelling to and from work or out shopping.

The Galaxy Pocket offers 3GB of user memory, which can be expanded by a SD memory card up to an additional 32GB, for applications, MP3 files and photos, as well as an in-built FM radio which can be tuned into a favourite station. Integrated high-speed Wi-Fi and HSDPA 3.6 connectivity mean multimedia content can be downloaded fast and keep owners entertained whilst they're out and about.


Simon Stanford, Vice President, UK & IRE Telecommunications & Networks Division: "With the Samsung Galaxy Pocket, we are building on the features we know our customers enjoy and get the most out of. This new device adds further breadth to the choice of smartphones we currently offer and provides a smartphone experience for even more customers at an affordable price."

The Galaxy Pocket will be available in the UK later this year.

The ukulele's future is now with 'Futulele' iPhone, iPad app (video)

Posted: 06 Mar 2012 12:13 AM PST

Nothing quite says "check me out" to the ladies like riffing on a frickin' pink ukulele -- until now. For folks rocking both an iPhone and an iPad, Touch DJ app maker Amidio Inc., is releasing its latest magnum opus, the "Futulele." Ah, be still, your beating heart. This dual-device ukulele synthesizer connects the aforementioned iOS devices via Bluetooth, creating a virtual four-string strummer on which to throw down a soulful rendition of "Tiny Bubbles." Users get their groove on by touching the iPhone to select up to 12 chords per song and using the iPad to strum; chord sets also can be changed on the fly. Amidio says the app should drop sometime in April, and will be optimized for the iPad 3, to boot. Sure, a regular ukulele might be cheaper, but who are you to argue with the future? Speaking of the future, check it out in all its cheerful glory with the Futulele video posted after the break, as well as some not-so-futuristic PR.


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NY, 03/05/2012

Amidio Inc (www.amidio.com) have announced FUTULELE, an Ukulele synthesizer for iOS. One of the most remarkable features of Futulele is that it can be operated with the iPhone (iPod Touch) and the iPad simultaneously, in a way that has never been introduced before.

It is not a secret that many iPad owners also have an iPhone, so Futulele is an excellent and innovative reason to get the best musical juices flowing out of both. A special guitar-shaped case holds the two devices, making it possible to select the chord on the iPhone and strum along the iPad screen, just as on a regular instrument. Changing a chord requires only one tap, and the strumming technique is easy and convenient. No external wires or hardware accessories are needed, since the devices use Bluetooth for communicating.

The chord switch lag is kept at a minimum level, and as for the sound, Futulele successively captures every little nuance of a high-grade professional Ukulele instrument. Up to 12 chords can be used per song, and changing chord sets on the fly is a blast. Full recording and sharing possibilities come straight from Amidio's top-ranked guitar app OMGuitar (http://amidio.com/omguitar), as well as the onboard FX section.

Futulele (universal iOS app) is expected in early April, 2012 and will be one of the first music apps optimized for the iPad 3. It will be also possible to play using a single iPad. Website: http://amidio.com

ROCCAT Power-Grid app, Phobo gaming keyboard shift PC controls to your phone

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 11:00 PM PST

Razer's switchblade concept may not have made it out of CES 2011, but its dynamic, adaptive keys lived on, both in the outfit's Star Wars: The Old Republic keyboard and Blade laptop. The hardware is slick, to be sure, but what if you could snag similar functionality for free from your local app marketplace? That's what ROCCAT hopes to deliver with its newly announced Power-Grid application. In addition to providing quick-key hungry gamers with a programmable touchscreen grid of applications and in-game macros, the handheld suite will let iOS and Android users monitor their gaming PC's vital statistics (such as CPU status, RAM usage, hard drive space, etc), manage Facebook, TeamSpeak, Skype and Twitter traffic, and even fine tune their audio settings -- all without the need to minimize their game.

Of course, delegating all of your text chatter to your smartphone means you'll be tapping up your responses on its itty-bitty touchscreen keyboard -- at least until ROCCAT finishes its companion keyboard, Project Phobo. The modular PC keyboard not only provides a dock for your Power-Grid equipped mobile, but also lets you respond to texts, chats and tweets using its full array of keys. Pairing your phone with the Phobo will even route voice calls to your PC's gaming headset, leaving you free to continue to rack up kills without missing important business calls. The German peripheral outfit will be rolling out the beta to iOS devices after CeBIT, and says an Android version is scheduled for release at Gamescom 2012. Hit the break for the official press release and get a look at the Phobo keyboard in the gallery below.
ROCCAT Power-Grid app and Phobo gaming keyboard press shots




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A First for PC Gaming: Command Using a Smartphone with ROCCAT Power-Grid

Exclusive technology represents a breakthrough in PC gaming control, makes expensive touch-display gaming devices obsolete, works with every PC, and is free to get started

Hamburg, 6 March 2012 – German gaming peripherals manufacturer, ROCCAT Studios, has introduced a groundbreaking technology called the ROCCAT™ Power-Grid that – for the first time in the history of PC gaming – lets players control their games and computer with their smartphone. And, in what is surely music to the ears of many players, the Power-Grid is completely free to get started.

Gaming evolved

"Some gaming companies claim PC gaming is sick and needs help," says René Korte, ROCCAT Founder and CEO. "We at ROCCAT have never thought that. We know PC gaming is alive and well. It just needs to keep evolving. Power-Grid represents that natural evolution. Why? Because it makes possible the dream of millions of gamers: to stay fully absorbed in the game no matter what happens in the real world. It works with every PC, makes expensive touch-display gaming devices obsolete, and is completely free to get started. Is PC gaming sick? Hardly. Is it dead? Of course not. It's evolving and getting a hell of a lot better."
Connect, monitor and control – all from a smartphone

The free-to-download Power-Grid is a tool that lets gamers connect, monitor and control their game and PC in real time while staying completely absorbed in the action. The app comes standard with four control displays – or "grids". Three grids have been preloaded with a wide range of essential gaming tools – and the fourth is completely customizable.

The first of Power-Grid's three pre-installed control grids is called the "Incoming Center". It routes all outside voice and text communication – from Skype™, Facebook®, TeamSpeak, Twitter, etc. – to an at-a-glance display on the gamer's smartphone. This means players can get messages from friends and teammates while staying in the game.

The "Stats Control" grid also comes preloaded with Power-Grid, letting gamers quickly and easily monitor their computer's vital data via their smartphone – info such as CPU status, hard drive space and network traffic.
The third preloaded display is the "Sound Control" grid, which allows gamers to set and fine tune every aspect of their gaming audio using just their smartphone. Gamers can even change audio settings in, for example, Skype™, with in-game music, or with their media player together or independently – for custom-tailored audio control made simple.

Create, build and share

In addition to the free Power-Grid app, gamers will need to download the free ROCCAT Power-Grid Launcher from www.roccat.org. This program not only connects smartphone and PC, it also features a powerful editor that lets players create their own custom control icons, or "blocks" – like individually-designed macro buttons from their favorite games, or specialty buttons like a pizza timer – for the ultimate in command customization.
Plus, users can easily share their self-styled blocks and grids with teammates, colleagues and friends.

Combine

At the end of the year gamers will be able to connect their Power-Grid-loaded smartphone to ROCCAT Smart Gear – new gaming hardware that delivers the ultimate smart gaming experience.
First on the horizon is Project Phobo – the "Phone Board". The Phobo is not only one of the world's most advanced gaming keyboards, it's also the perfect home for a smartphone using Power-Grid. And once gamers have connected their Power-Grid-enabled smartphone to the Phobo, they'll never need to separate the two. That's because players can write any kind of text message using the Phobo's keyboard – via Facebook®, Skype™, TeamSpeak, you name it – and because the Phobo also lets gamers take voice calls with a connected headset. And while connected, the Phobo will naturally charge a user's smartphone in case they do need to unplug it.

And following in the footsteps of the world famous ROCCAT Apuri Active USB Hub with Mouse Bungee, ROCCAT plans on introducing the Apuri 2.0 – a ROCCAT Smart Gear gaming assistant that acts as a stylish stand for a gamer's Power-Grid-enabled smartphone – and is the perfect way to keep it charged for when a player needs to step away from the game.

When will it be available?

Select attendees will be able to see the Power-Grid in action for the first time at CeBIT 2012. And everyone can apply to be a beta tester at power-grid.roccat.org.
Initial versions of Power-Grid work with all Apple iPhones using the latest version of iOS, as well as with the iPod touch. In addition to a compatible smartphone, Power-Grid requires a PC with Wi-Fi capability. ROCCAT will launch Power-Grid for Android smartphones at gamescom 2012.

Microsoft expands Internet Explorer push with new TV ad

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 10:24 PM PST

Internet Explorer may still be the world's number one web browser, but Microsoft has a declining market share to deal with, as well as the small problem of folks hesitant to upgrade from an earlier version for one reason or another. The company's now making a new push to address both issues, however, and has today unveiled a relatively rare Internet Explorer TV commercial extolling the virtues of IE9. That ad continues the "beauty of web" campaign Microsoft has been promoting as of late, and focuses more on web-based apps and games than traditional web sites -- or, for that matter, the browser itself. What remains to be seen is just how big a marketing push Microsoft plans to put behind the new ad campaign, but it is an actual TV ad, not just a web ad. Press play above to render your own judgement.

Researcher proposes Thumb on Hand gestures, no touchscreen necessary (video)

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 09:09 PM PST

Would you be willing to wear an additional device in order to avoid interacting with another? That's the conundrum posed to us by Christian Loclair, a master's student at the Hasso Plattner Institute. His thesis, titled Thumb on Hand Interaction, proposes that users control their mobile equipment with simple hand gestures that are performed independently of their device's touchscreen. This level of freedom requires that users wear a depth camera on their chest, and builds upon prior research from the Hasso Plattner Institute that required use of both hands. Loclair proposes a diverse new set of gestures that users can perform with only one hand, where one's thumb acts as the primary navigation tool and one's palm serves as a trackpad. Another set of gestures is based on the interaction of one's thumb and index finger, which allows users to control sliders and the like. Perhaps once the research team determines how to implement this technology without making our lives more complex, we'll be able to sink our teeth into this one. In the meantime, you'll find a video demonstration after the break.

MIT opens App Inventor to all, launches public Beta

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 08:22 PM PST

You'd be forgiven for thinking you've already read this article. Truthfully, you pretty much already have. The software is the same (App Inventor), the milestone is the same (public availability), even the development status is the same (beta). So, what praytell is new then? Well, the Android apps creation tool is no longer being managed by Google -- MIT has snatched up the source and worked up its own version. Now you, or anyone else for that matter, can go and log into the MIT App Inventor, so long as you have a valid Google ID. Interested in giving it a try? Did you miss out when it was the Google App Inventor? Hit up the source link for more.

Google sharpens its memory, brings recent search history to Android and iOS

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 07:06 PM PST

Face it, Google already knows you better than your friends or family, so why not cuddle up next to the giant and let it make your life a touch easier to manage? Today, the folks in Mountain View announced that recent search history is now accessible from Google's mobile homepage for Android and iOS, where users may now easily access the businesses and places they've searched for within the last day. We attempted to try the addition for ourselves, but it seems the new functionality hasn't yet hit every user. Naturally, you must opt-in to have your searches archived in the first place, and from there, you'll need to sign into your account from your mobile device to access the helpful tidbits. One thing is now certain: even if you've forgotten where you're going, Google is sure to remember.

RelayRides hooks up with GM, opens P2P car sharing to OnStar subs

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 05:54 PM PST

Usually when a stranger gets behind the wheel of your car, it's more a situation for the authorities than General Motors. But with the impending nationwide rollout of RelayRides' P2P car sharing program, owners of GM vehicles will soon be actively looking for complete strangers to take a spin at their wheels in exchange for cash. The startup, backed by venture capital from Google, launched its unique rental service two years ago in Boston and San Francisco and is now poised to expand that reach to about six million OnStar subs with an upcoming smartphone app. Admittedly, it's a bizarre, though potentially lucrative concept, as those who opt-in and open their driver-side doors to randoms could net anywhere from $250 to $1000 per month, while renters only have to cough up about $5 to $10 per hour. It's a tough sell when compared up to the more traditional, well-established likes of, say, ZipCar, but if you're keen on sniffing that previously-owned car smell, this should be right up your alley.

Android Market raises maximum app size to 4GB, APK files still limited to 50MB

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 05:04 PM PST

A small but fundamental shift happened this evening in the Android Market, as Google has raised its rather arbitrary maximum application size from 50MB to a hefty 4GB. While APK files retain the traditional 50MB restriction, developers will be able to bundle two additional 2GB expansion files with their apps, which (in most cases) will be downloaded automatically. The move is fundamentally a goodwill gesture toward game developers -- who were previously forced to host any content in excess of 50MB themselves -- but it also bodes well for consumers, who can now view an application's actual file size. As a further benefit, the refund period won't initiate until the entire download completes. Those interested to know the gory details can find the complete story in the source below.

DIY password dongle logs you in, saves you from RSI (video)

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 04:50 PM PST

Any of you who have spent time in corporate America know that companies can be pretty paranoid about your passwords. Change them every three months, have a minimum of one upper case and one lower case letter, one number, one special character and be at least 12 characters long. We've even seen requirements for how many characters must be different from one password to the next. Joonas Pihlajamaa apparently got tired of trying to keep up and built himself a USB key, based around an ATtiny85, that automatically inputs a password for him when plugged into a computer and can even generate a new one with just a few key presses. You can see it in action after the break or hit up the source to learn how to build your own.

Gigabyte unveils U2442 ultrabooks and P2542G gaming laptop at CeBIT

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 04:00 PM PST

You didn't think a company like Gigabyte would roll into CeBIT empty-handed, did you? The Taiwanese company knows how to rock a trade show properly and came packin' a whole bevy of goodies. Getting top billing are the brand new U2442 ultrabooks and the P2542G gaming laptop. The slim and light model comes in two versions. The U2442N comes rocking an Ivy Bridge class Core i5 or i7 in a shell that's 18.5mm thick at its narrowest point and starts at 1.49Kg (3.3lbs). The U2442V trades in the standard voltage CPUs for ULV ones, while keeping the same 14-inch 1600 x 900 display. They both also offer a GeForce GT 640M GPU with 2GB of memory, up to a 750GB hard drive as well as USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0 and Thunderbolt connections.

The 15.6-inch P2542G sacrifices portability, but comes packing high-end components like an Ivy Bridge Core i7, a 2GB GTX 660, a Blu-ray drive, a THX certified, dual-woofer sound system, a 1920 x 1080 display, oh, and an HDMI out jack in addition to the usual assortment of USB ports. For more check out the gallery below and PR after the break.
Gigabyte U2442 and P2542G
Show full PR text
GIGABYTE Presents Marvelous Mobile Computing Innovation at CeBIT 2012

Introducing the Stunning U2442 UltrabookTM and Powerful P2542G Gaming Notebook

CeBIT, Hannover, Germany – March 6, 2012. GIGABYTE today introduced an extraordinary lineup of computers that are redefining mobility and powerful performance. The U2442V is a sleek and stunning 14" UltrabookTM that provides fantastic performance with a 3rd generation Intel® CoreTM i5/i7 ULV processor, while the U2442N features the same incredible form factor, but has a powerful 3rd generation Intel® CoreTM i5/i7 standard voltage processor. Both models feature an excellent NVIDIA® GeForce® GPU, which provides remarkable graphics performance for multimedia and games.

Other models to be introduced include the P2542G, which is a 15.6" powerful gaming notebook with an exciting race car design; and the Q2542N, an excellent 15.6" mainstream notebook that delivers terrific versatility. Also to be showcased at CeBIT 2012 is the S1081, a 10.1" powerful business slate; the BooktopTM T1132N, an 11.6" revolutionary 3-in-1 notebook, tablet and desktop; the BooktopTM M2432, a sleek 14" notebook that provides desktop graphics performance through its unique docking station; and the AC21, an all-in-one PC that simplifies the desktop experience.

GIGABYTE will be located in Planet Reseller, Hall 15, D19 from March 6th to 10th.

U2442N and U2442V UltrabookTM
The 14" U2442N and U2442V UltrabookTM are at the forefront of GIGABYTE's commitment to impressive notebook innovation. Both models have the same bold, striking design that exudes remarkable style and combined with powerful features herald a new era of mobile computing. The notebooks have a slim form factor that is only 18.5-20.5mm thick and weigh just 1.49Kg at their lightest, making them fantastic choices for portability. Despite their thin profile, the U2442 models are equipped with high-powered features normally found on much larger notebooks. The U2442N comes with a powerful 3rd generation Intel® CoreTM i5/i7 standard voltage processor that delivers tremendous performance, while U2442V is powered by an excellent 3rd generation Intel® CoreTM i5/i7 ULV processor. The notebooks have a HD+ (1600x900) LED Backlight display that produces bright, vivid images. Both models come equipped with a NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 640M GPU with 2GB VRAM that provides an outstanding experience for multimedia and playing games. The notebooks have either a speedy and responsive SSD or a high-performing and large storage HDD up to 750GB. An outstanding backlight keyboard comes equipped on both models and provides an enjoyable typing experience in all settings. The U2442N/U2442V also have many other fantastic features, including USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0, Thunderbolt (optional), 2T2R Double Antenna Wi-Fi, and more.

P2542G - Blazing Fast Gaming Notebook
The 15.6" P2542G is an exceptional gaming and multimedia notebook with a stunning design that is reminiscent of a premium sports car. The P2542G features a powerful quad-core 3rd generation Intel® CoreTM i7 processor and a NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660M GPU with 2GB VRAM that provide blazing performance, great for handling even the most extreme multitasking and graphics intensive games. The P2542G also comes with a Blu-ray Drive and a brilliant and vivid Full HD 1920x1080 LED backlight screen that is great for crisp media playback. The notebook comes equipped with four terrific dual-channel stereo speakers and two woofer speakers that combined with THX TruStudio ProTM technology produce a tremendous audio experience that is great for music, movies and games. The P2542G also has either a high-performing 7200rpm HDD or a speedy SSD, two USB 3.0 ports and HDMI. In terms of design, the notebook features a unique dual heat sink design with dual air vents (one for the processor and one for the GPU) that provide a powerful cooling effect even during long hours of use. With its impressive features and sleek design, the P2542G is an extraordinary choice as a mobile gaming and multimedia notebook.

Q2542N - Delivering Terrific Versatility
The 15.6" Q2542N is the perfect choice to provide exceptional everyday mobile computing. The notebook is equipped with a 3rd generation Intel® CoreTM i3/i5/i7 series processor and a great NVIDIA® GeForce® GT640M GPU with 2GB VRAM to provide outstanding performance for everyday tasks and multimedia enjoyment. Other exciting features include a Blu-ray Drive (optional), two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, a full-range keyboard with numeric keypad, and a powerful Li-ion 8 cell battery. The notebook is fashionably designed with an attractive rippling pattern to make it a stylish choice for mobile computing.

S1081 - Powerful Business Slate
The S1081 is a high-performing 10.1" slate that offers the full productivity of Windows® 7 and is designed for business and professional users. The slate is powered by the new Intel® AtomTM N2800 1.86GHz processor, which delivers fantastic energy efficient performance that is great for mobile multitasking. The slate has two excellent options for storage. The huge 500GB HDD version allows users to load all their important files and data and never worry about space limitations, while the SSD version provides a speedy user experience. Along with the responsive capacitive multi-touch display that is great for general use, there is also an optical trackpad when precision is needed. The slate also includes HDMI and VGA ports so that it can be connected to a TV or projector during presentations or business meetings. It also has USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0 and 1.3mp webcam. A keyboard (with USB cable) and a carrying case were also designed specifically for the S1081, which increases the functionality of the device and make it easy to stay productive while on the go.

D1080 - Multimedia Docking Station for S1081
A docking station was designed for the S1081 and it comes with a Super-Multi DVD Drive and a powerful audio system, including two stereo and two woofer speakers. The high-quality audio system is great to use for enjoying music, movies and other multimedia. The docking station also comes with many useful ports that bring excellent connectivity options.

BooktopTM T1132N - Revolutionary 3-in-1 Notebook, Tablet and Desktop
The 11.6" BooktopTM T1132N is a revolutionary new computer with an impressive 3-in-1 design that can be used as a notebook, a tablet and even a desktop through an innovative docking station. The computer is powered by an Intel® CoreTM i5 processor that delivers incredible performance. The NVIDIA® GeForce® GT520M with 1GB VRAM provides an outstanding multimedia experience and comes with OptimusTM technology that helps extend battery life. The T1132N has two high-quality dual-channel stereo speakers and two woofer speakers that combined with THX TruStudio ProTM technology provide a masterful audio experience that is normally found in live performances, films, and recording studios. The computer also comes with a 3.5G antenna built-in, USB 3.0 and HDMI. The T1132N can instantly transform into tablet mode and the bright and responsive capacitive multi-touch display makes the computer great for accomplishing business tasks and enjoying multimedia content. The T1132N also features an innovative docking station that when hooked up with peripheral devices transform it into a desktop. The docking station includes a dockable Super-multi DVD drive and multiple ports, including USB 3.0, HDMI and more, which provide excellent connectivity and expandability options.

BooktopTM M2432 – Sleek Notebook with Desktop Grade Performance
The BooktopTM M2432 is a stunning notebook that is thin and light and can also be transformed into a powerful desktop with a unique docking station. The notebook has a sleek and eye-catching design with a gorgeous aluminum hairline brushed finish and is powered by a high-performing Intel® CoreTM i5 processor that delivers fantastic performance. With a 14" LED backlight display that produces bright and crisp images and Intel's high-quality integrated HD 3000 graphics, the M2432 is great for everyday tasks and also enjoying multimedia. The notebook comes equipped with two excellent speakers and THX TruStudio ProTM technology that deliver a superb audio experience. The innovative docking station comes loaded with many exceptional features to provide a desktop-like experience. It has a NVIDIA® GT 440 GPU with 1GB VRAM GDDR5 built-in, which provides desktop level graphics performance back into the notebook and on up to two external displays. Like a desktop, it also includes full I/O connectivity, including six USB ports, HDMI, D-Sub, DVI, and other useful ports. With all the I/O connectivity, there is never any need to deal with the hassle of unplugging accessories or power cords and it's always ready to go.

AC21
The 21.5'' AC21 combines a beautiful display with a feature-rich desktop PC in an All-in-One design that makes it an ideal choice for both home and business as a space-saving desktop replacement. The computer has a special modular design that provides great flexibility for users to easily upgrade the components. The AC21 incorporates a 2nd generation Intel® CoreTM i3/i5/i7 series processor that provides exceptional performance. The Full HD (1920x1080) LED Widescreen display produces an excellent visual experience, making it perfect for both work and play. The display can also support a spectacular 10-point capacitive multi-touch panel (optional). The AC21 can be equipped with an internal battery (optional) so that it can be moved around the home or office without constantly needing to connect to a power source. The computer has a back stand that is designed to be easily adjusted to provide a comfortable viewing angle. The AC21 can support up to a 1TB HDD, 8GB of RAM, and is also packed with connectivity ports, including two USB 3.0 and three USB 2.0, HDMI, Mini-PCIe, 4-in-1 card reader and a S/PDIF sound port that supports 5.1 surround sound. The computer can also be installed with a TV Tuner (optional) so that HDTV can be enjoyed.

About GIGABYTE GIGABYTE Technology Co. Ltd., headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is known as a leading brand in the IT industry with branch offices located in 24 countries around the world. Founded in 1986, GIGABYTE started as a small research and development team and has since taken a position as one of the in the world's top motherboard manufacturers. In addition to motherboards and graphics cards, GIGABYTE further expanded its product portfolio to include notebook and desktop PCs, datacenter servers, networking products, mobile handsets, and home entertainment devices to serve each facet of the digital life in the home and office. Everyday GIGABYTE aims to "Upgrade Your Life" with innovative technology, exceptional quality, and unmatched customer service. Visit www.gigabyte.com for more information.

MyFord Touch update rolling out now, promises to be 'faster, simpler, better'

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 03:21 PM PST

It's been a few months since Ford promised us that juicy refresh to its whips' infotainment system, but it looks as if the wait is about to come to an end. The Built Tough manufacturer says it's finally shipping those 2GB USB sticks (plus an SD card if you have Navigation) to proud owners of MyFord Touch-equipped rides. Included in the fresh update -- which promises to be faster, simpler and better -- are things such as easier controls, audio support for tablets, improved Sirius commands and the ability to jam listen to Audible audiobooks. Folks rockin' the Nav add-on will also see bits like updated map views, additional 3D landmarks as well as better graphics. So you should probably be hitting up your mailbox more often than usual to grab your stick as soon as it arrives, and if you'd like to prepare yourself, then head on over to the source where an installation walk-through video awaits.

[Thanks, Letalis]

Must See HDTV (March 5th - 11th)

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 02:31 PM PST

Big East Championship
One of the 3D early adopters and looking for something to watch? While there are many conference championships taking place in the run up to March Madness this week, ESPN 3D's cameras are set to catch all the action at the Big East Championship, meaning several games each day, leading up to the final game Saturday night. Last year it was Kemba Walker and UCONN lighting up the stage on their way to an NCAA Championship, now we'll see which team makes a run in 2012.
(All week, ESPN 3D)

Game of Thrones
Assuming you haven't been forced at gunpoint into piracy, the first season of HBO's acclaimed series finally comes home on Blu-ray this month. Whether you're just reliving your trip to the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros or visiting for the first time, if fantasy , intrigue and drama is your thing, this should be a good fit. Winter is coming.
($34.99 on Amazon, March 6th)

Mass Effect 3
The final chapter of Bioware's epic trilogy finally arrives on Xbox 360 and PS3 this week. If you haven't caught on to the series blend of action and RPG elements yet it may be too late, but for fans this final battle to protect the universe should be yet another incredible battle. Now featuring multiplayer, if you see a sudden dropoff in post count over the next few days then this game is probably the reason why.
($59.99 on Amazon, March 6th)





Blu-ray & Games
  • Game of Thrones (S1)
  • Immortals (3D)
  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  • To Catch A Thief
  • NFL Super Bowl XLVI Champions: New York Giants
  • Footloose
  • Transformers Prime (S1)
  • Jack and Jill
  • Mass Effect 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)
  • Street Fighter x Tekken (Xbox 360, PS3)
  • Top Gun: Hard Lock (Xbox 360, PS3)
  • MLB 12: The Show (PS3)
  • Major League Baseball 2K12 (Xbox 360, PS3)

Monday

  • Alcatraz, Fox, 8PM
  • Mavericks/Thunder, NBA TV, 8PM
  • The Voice, NBC, 8PM
  • The Bachelor, ABC, 8PM
  • Pretty Little Liars, ABC Family, 8PM
  • Being Human, Syfy, 9PM
  • WWE Raw, USA, 9PM
  • Hart of Dixie, CW, 9PM
  • The Lying Game (season finale), ABC Family, 9PM
  • American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior, Discovery, 9PM
  • Smash, NBC, 10PM
  • Lost Girl, Syfy, 10PM

Tuesday

  • Breaking In (season premiere), Fox, 8PM
  • Raising Hope, Fox, 8PM
  • I Hate My Teenage Daughter, Fox, 8:30PM
  • Switched at Birth, ABC Family, 8PM
  • Cougar Town, ABC, 8:30PM
  • New Girl, Fox, 9PM
  • Top Gear, History, 9PM
  • The River, ABC, 9PM
  • Jane By Design (season finale), ABC Family, 9PM
  • Ringer, CW, 9PM
  • Doomsday Preppers, National Geographic, 9PM
  • Justified, FX, 10PM
  • Unforgettable, CBS, 10PM
  • Top Shot, History, 10PM
  • Southland, TNT, 10PM
  • Ink Master (season finale), Spike, 10PM
  • Tosh.0, Comedy Central, 10PM
  • Key & Peele, Comedy Central, 10:30PM

Wednesday

  • Doomsday Bunkers (series premiere), Discovery, 10PM
  • Survivor, CBS, 8PM
  • American Idol, Fox, 8PM
  • One Tree Hill, CW, 8PM
  • Whitney, NBC, 8PM
  • Are You There, Chelsea?, NBC, 8:30PM
  • Car Warriors, Speed, 9PM
  • Happy Endings, ABC, 9:30PM
  • CSI, CBS, 10PM
  • Psych, USA, 10PM
  • The Slap, DirecTV, 10PM
  • Rock Center with Brian Williams, NBC, 10PM
  • Face Off, Syfy, 10PM

Thursday

  • Bulls/Magic, TNT, 8PM
  • Mavericks/Suns, TNT, 10:30PM
  • American Idol, Fox, 8PM
  • 30 Rock, NBC, 8PM
  • The Big Bang Theory, CBS, 8PM
  • Parks & Recreation (winter finale), NBC, 8:30PM
  • Saving Face (special presentation), HBO, 8:30PM
  • The Office, NBC, 9PM
  • Person of Interest, CBS, 9PM
  • The Finder, Fox, PM
  • Impact Wrestling, Spike TV, 9PM
  • Up All Night, NBC, 9:30PM
  • Archer, FX, 10PM
  • Awake, NBC, 10PM
  • The Mentalist, CBS, 10PM
  • All Star Dealers, Velocity, 10PM
  • Unsupervised, FX, 10:30PM
  • I Just Want My Pants Back, MTV, 11PM
  • Inside Comedy, Showtime, 11PM
  • MMA Junkie Live!, Spike TV, 11PM
  • Delocated, Comedy Central, 11:59PM

Friday

  • The Ultimate Fighter (season premiere), FX, 9PM
  • Nets/Bobcats, NBA TV, 7PM
  • Undercover Boss, CBS, 8PM
  • Shark Tank, ABC, 8PM
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Cartoon Network, 8PM
  • Who Do You Think You Are?, NBC, 8PM
  • WWE SmackDown, Syfy, 8PM
  • Grimm, NBC, 9PM
  • The Mentalist, CBS, 9PM
  • Merlin, Syfy, 10PM
  • Blue Bloods, CBS, 10PM
  • Portlandia (season finale), IFC, 10PM
  • Spartacus: Vengeance, Starz, 10PM
  • Comedy Bang! Bang! (series premiere), IFC, 10:30PM

Saturday

  • Game Change, HBO, 9PM
  • The Firm, NBC, 9PM
  • Being Human, BBCA, 9PM
  • Saturday Night Live: Jonah Hill / The Shins, NBC, 11:30PM

Sunday

  • NASCAR Sprint Cup Series @ Las Vegas, Fox, 2:30PM
  • Celtics/Lakers, ABC, 3:30PM
  • 60 Minutes, CBS, 7PM
  • The Cleveland Show, Fox, 7:30PM
  • Once Upon a Time, ABC, 8PM
  • The Simpsons, Fox, 8PM
  • The Amazing Race, CBS, 8PM
  • Harry's Law, NBC, 8PM
  • Bob's Burgers (season premiere), Fox, 8:30PM
  • The Apprentice, NBC, 9PM
  • The Shadow Line, DirecTV, 9PM
  • Family Guy, Fox, 9PM
  • The Good Wife, CBS, 9PM
  • Luck, HBO, 9PM
  • Inside West Coast Customs, Velocity, 9PM
  • The Walking Dead, AMC, 9PM
  • Desperate Housewives, ABC, 9PM
  • American Dad, Fox, 9:30PM
  • Comic Book Men, AMC, 10PM
  • House of Lies, Showtime, 10PM
  • GCB, ABC, 10PM
  • Breakout Kings, A&E, 10PM
  • Eastbound & Down, HBO, 10PM
  • Full Metal Jousting, History, 10PM
  • Californication, Showtime, 10:30PM
  • Life's Too Short, HBO, 10:30PM

Deutsche Telekom tests 512Gbps fiber optic network in Germany, breaks record in the process

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:35 PM PST

If you thought Google's Kansan stab at blistering gigabit speeds was lust-worthy, then this latest fiber feat out of Germany should have you flooding the room with drool. Part of Deutsche Telekom's OSIRIS (Optically Supported UP Router Interfaces) project, the telco's T-Labs team managed to successfully transfer data "over a single optical fiber wavelength channel" from Berlin to Hanover and back at speeds of up to 512Gbps -- that's over half a terabit. It's hard to imagine just what exactly you'd be able to do with all that bandwidth (upload your entire music and video library, perhaps?), but this real-world experiment should go a long way towards helping operators shore up increasing network demands, going so far as doubling their backhaul capacity. As for any actual implementation of the next-gen tech, well, the good news is that a costly and lengthy cable deployment won't be necessary; all that's required to get these state-of-the-art dumb pipes up and running is some newfangled terminal equipment. Don't hold your breath, though, as with all things bleeding edge, this tech is still light years away from your mitts.

Join the Engadget HD Podcast live on Ustream at 5:30PM

Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:00 PM PST

It's Monday, and almost as regular an occurrence as the day itself, we're here to help by letting you listen into the recording booth when the Engadget HD podcast goes to mp3 at 5:30PM. Please be a part of it by reviewing the list of topics after the break, then participating in the live chat as you listen in.

Microsoft Windows 8 Consumer Preview detailed impressions
HBO Go coming to Xbox 360 on April 1st
WSJ: Walmart to offer in-store disc to digital UltraViolet service
Fox, Warner, SanDisk and Western Digital's Project Phenix: promotes DRM, misspelling
TV stations predictably sue Aereo over antenna-to-internet streaming plans
Netflix Watch Instantly's life after Starz includes Academy Award winners, more captions
Always Innovating HDMI Android dongle gets an ICS update, we swing by for a taste (video)
FCC puts Dish Network's LTE plans on hold, opts for a longer review
Redbox deal with Universal keeps DVDs, Blu-rays on 28-day delay through 2014
The Complete Indiana Jones Blu-ray Collection finally brings the entire set home in HD this fall
Must See HDTV (March 5th - 11th)



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