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- Gamera II hits new high with unofficial human-powered helicopter altitude record (video)
- Hands-on with the Samsung ATIV Smart PC (aka the Samsung Series 5 Slate)
- Netgear intros sharing-savvy N750 Premium Edition router, powerline and WiFi adapters for media fans
- Samsung brands its dockable, S Pen-touting Windows 8 tablets as ATIV Smart PC and Smart PC Pro
- Samsung says Jelly Bean update coming to Galaxy S III and Note 10.1 'very soon'
- Flipboard adds dedicated video channels, decides reading isn't everything
- Samsung ATIV Smart PC dock hands-on
- Time Warner Cable expanding fiber broadband coverage in NYC, only businesses to benefit
- Samsung Galaxy Note II: what's changed?
- Samsung Windows RT ATIV Tab hands-on
- Samsung Galaxy Note II getting redesigned S Pen with rubber tip, improved grip
- Samsung introduces ATIV Tab: a 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet
- Samsung announces EK-GC100 Galaxy Camera with Android Jelly Bean, massive 4.8-inch display, 21x zoom, WiFi and 4G connectivity (hands-on)
- Samsung announces ATIV S, a 4.8-inch Windows Phone 8 device
- Live from Samsung Unpacked at IFA 2012!
- Samsung Galaxy Note II coming to the US 'later in 2012'
- Samsung Galaxy Note II: hands-on with the new S Pen-toting phablet (video)
- Samsung Galaxy Note II unveiled: 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display, Android Jelly Bean and more S Pen functionality
- Samsung announces Series 5 and Series 7 Windows 8 tablets with S Pen apps, optional keyboards
- Samsung Series 5 Ultra Touch Ultrabook arrives October 26th, starting at $799
- Sony VAIO Duo 11 slider PC hands-on (video)
- Sony's VPL-HW50ES projector revealed at IFA, ships in October
- Toshiba unveils U925t Ultrabook with slide-out touchscreen, keeps the price a secret for now
- IBM debuts new mainframe computer as it eyes a more mobile Watson
- Fujitsu outs Esprimo X all-in-one at IFA 2012: Windows 8, adjustable display, Intel vPro Core CPUs
- Sony unveils top of the line HX95 HDTV for Europe at IFA 2012
- Sony launches STR-DA5800ES home cinema AV receiver: true 4K output, 9.2 surround sound
- Sony VAIO Tap 20 hands-on (video)
- Samsung Ativ Tab and Ativ S details leak, hint at a Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 power duo
- NVIDIA, Epic Games bringing Unreal Engine 3 to Windows 8 and Windows RT (video)
- Google offering Google+ for businesses, free until the end of 2013
- Engadget's back to school guide 2012: printers
- JayBird intros Freedom Sprint: the JF3 Bluetooth stereo fitness headset gets 40% smaller
- Sony Xperia TX hands-on (video)
- Sony Xperia V hands-on (video)
- Sony's Xperia J arrives in style and on budget, we go hands-on
- Netatmo Urban Weather Station tells iOS users when it's safe to brave the great outdoors (video)
- TiVo Stream transcoder officially set to go on sale September 6th for $129
- Sony Xperia Tablet S hands-on (video)
- Sony debuts NFC and Bluetooth-enabled SRS-BTM8 wireless speaker
| Gamera II hits new high with unofficial human-powered helicopter altitude record (video) Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:48 AM PDT The University of Maryland team responsible for the Gamera II human-powered helicopter NAA flight time record may be on its way to bagging another one -- this time for altitude. With new freshman pilot Henry Enerson spinning the cranks, the gigantic four-rotor design ascended to eight feet, an unexpectedly lofty level, according to the team. The well-controlled 25 second flight was far less than the record 49.9 seconds Gamera achieved earlier, but the new altitude bodes well for its upcoming Sikorsky Prize attempt. That $250,000 award, unclaimed since 1980, requires a 10-foot altitude to be maintained for one minute, and now looks to be distinctly in the UMD group's sights. Check the video after the break, and marvel at the ungainly quadrocopter's latest aerial exploit.
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| Hands-on with the Samsung ATIV Smart PC (aka the Samsung Series 5 Slate) Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:31 AM PDT Would a Series 5 Slate be just as sweet under any other name? We've already got hands-on with the ATIV Smart PC Pro (called the Series 7 Slate in the US) and now we're going to show you the wonder that is the ATIV Smart PC -- aka, the Series 5 Slate on this side of the Atlantic. And what can we say? It's a lot like the Series 7 we checked out, though this guy is of course a smidge thinner and lighter, given the fanless design and inclusion of an Atom-based Clover Trail processor instead of something in the Ivy Bridge family. Another difference: that 11.6 inch display. It's still bright, of course, but the resolution is a lower 1,366 x 768, as opposed to the 1080p panel used in the Series 7 / Smart PC Pro. That caveat aside, the Series 5 / Smart PC is still pretty sexy, with that vibrant display and brushed metal back -- though, as mentioned in our hands-on with the dock, that beauty clashes a bit with the relative cheapness of the keyboard. As you may have read, the two slates also have stylus slots, though the S Pen was nowhere in sight during our demo -- perhaps to keep it out of the hands of sneaky bloggers. In the meantime, we've got some hands-on photos, but we encourage you to refer back to our Series 7 / Smart PC Pro hands-on to compare the designs, and get a better feel for the custom apps Samsung has bundled. Dana Wollman contributed to this report. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netgear intros sharing-savvy N750 Premium Edition router, powerline and WiFi adapters for media fans Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:31 AM PDT Netgear is giving its home networking the same sort of tuneup going into the fall that you'd give your car -- not a complete overhaul, but enough to keep it running in top form. Headlining the pack, the N750 Premium Edition router you're looking at above upgrades the original N750 through a better ability to play with others: the dual-band WiFi hotspot's ReadyShare file access expands to the cloud, while its USB support now envelops Apple's AirPrint and Time Machine as well as TiVo Storage. Media sharing mavens also get their own, more specific add-ons. The Powerline Media Extender can pipe audio (and USB printing or storage) over a 200Mbps link, with a major emphasis on AirPlay streaming; the N900 4-port WiFi Adapter is a slightly less exotic, 450Mbps wireless-to-Ethernet bridge for multi-device home theaters. If Netgear's refresh is tempting enough to prompt a trade-up, you can snag the N750 Premium Edition immediately for $120 or wait until September and October for the respective launches of the N900 adapter for $80 and the Powerline Music Extender in its single pack ($99) or dual-device starter kit ($139) editions. NETGEAR INTRODUCES NEW FEATURE-RICH HIGH PERFORMANCE N750 PREMIUM WIFI ROUTER Enables customers to create secure private cloud for safe and secure remote access to their data and supports Apple Time Machine backup for Macs Berlin, Germany – August 29, 2012 – NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced the NETGEAR N750 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Router - Premium Edition (WNDR4300), a wireless solution that combines a rich feature set with blazing fast 750Mbps (300 + 450 Mbps) speed to stream HD video, support multiplayer gaming and handle large file transfers. Featuring secure NETGEAR ReadyShare® Cloud service and compatibility with Apple® Time Machine®, the NETGEAR N750 is a cost-effective router that makes home networks faster, more reliable and easier to manage in medium-to-large homes. The NETGEAR N750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Premium Router includes NETGEAR ReadyShare Cloud service, which enables the creation of a highly secure private cloud for easily accessing and sharing files wirelessly. NETGEAR ReadyShare Cloud keeps all your files stored securely at home but available to transfer, edit or share anywhere, anytime remotely via your smartphone, tablet or PC. Simply and securely drag and drop files and folders without the hassle of using multiple file sharing sites or uploading. The NETGEAR N750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Premium Router's compatibility with Apple Time Machine provides automatic wireless backup to a connected USB hard drive for Macs. The router also offers expanded TiVo® Storage via a connected USB drive for saving your favorite programs and NETGEAR ReadyShare Printer for sharing USB printers on the network. Simultaneous dual band (2.4 and 5.0 GHZ) and four gigabit Ethernet ports ensure an ultra-fast connection and stronger WiFi connections for medium-to-larger homes. "The NETGEAR N750 Premium WiFi router provides a feature rich solution to meet increasing consumer demand for safe and secure access to data anytime and anywhere," said Sandeep Harpalani, senior product line manager for wireless networking, NETGEAR. "By offering a feature set unmatched by any other wireless router on the market, NETGEAR raises the bar and firmly reiterates its position of leadership in the market." The NETGEAR N750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Difference: - Faster WiFi speed – up to 750 Mbps (300 + 450 Mbps) for fast HD video streaming, simultaneous downloads and lag-free online gaming Easy to Install, Set Up and Use Setup for the NETGEAR N750 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Router - Premium Edition is easy for the Apple iPad, tablets, smartphones and computers. Just the push of a button establishes WiFi connections (WPS), and NETGEAR Genie makes home network management simple. Pricing and Availability The NETGEAR N750 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Router - Premium Edition (WNDR4300), is available from major worldwide retailers, in stores and online for $119.99 USD. NETGEAR RAISES THE BAR IN POWERLINE NETWORKING - STREAMS MUSIC TO ANY SPEAKER AND TURNS USB PRINTERS AND HARD DRIVES INTO NETWORKED PRINTERS AND STORAGE The NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender Delivers Digital Convergence in the Home Berlin, Germany – August 29, 2012 – NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced the NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender (XAUB2511). Using Powerline technology, the NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender combines the ability to turn any outlet into an Internet connection, with the ability to play your music in any room in the home with an outlet. The NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender enables you to stream music to speakers anywhere in the home from a smartphone, tablet (Apple® iOS- and Android®-supported) or Windows PC. Just choose music on your smartphone, tablet or Windows PC, select a remote speaker in your home connected to the NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender, and play it. For Macs and iOS devices, use the Airplay® function to stream the music to your desired speaker. For PCs and Android devices, download an app for such capabilities. Any type of audio system is supported, from a brand new home theater system to an old stereo, which can be connected using RCA jack connectors. As a unique feature for your Apple iPhone® and Apple iPad®, you can stream your favorite music from Pandora®, Spotify® or Deezer™ services to the remote speaker using the Airplay function. The NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender can also connect smart TVs, HD set-top boxes, gaming consoles, Blu-ray™ players, network DVRs, PCs or any other Ethernet-based device to the Internet via an Ethernet port (RJ45). In addition, the XAUB2511, through a NETGEAR "media extender app" downloaded to your PC, enables you to connect your Windows PC to remote USB devices located anywhere at home, be it a USB printer or USB hard drive. The NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender is the latest in a series of NETGEAR products that go beyond basic networking to enhance the multimedia experience for consumers worldwide. The NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender Difference - Stream music from your smartphone, tablet or Windows PC to a speaker anywhere at home "Consumers want to remotely control and play their music anywhere in the home without being confined by distance or device," said Fred Guiot, senior product line manager, consumer products at NETGEAR. "By enabling users to connect and use existing speakers, NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender facilitates the 'play music anywhere' lifestyle we have come to expect. The Extender also turns any power outlet into a high-speed Internet connection, and can be used as a network connection for USB printers and USB hard drives on the home network – with minimal setup." Easy to Install, Set Up and Use: NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender is simple to install and set up. No configuration is necessary – just plug and play. Pricing and Availability NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender will be available worldwide from major retailers and online starting in October 2012. The NETGEAR Powerline Music Extender Starter kit (XAUB2511) starts at $139/139€. The single pack XAU2511, ideal for those who already have NETGEAR Powerline at home, is priced starting at $99/99€. NETGEAR ADAPTER ENABLES WIFI N900 PERFORMANCE WITH HOME THEATER AND GAMING DEVICES The NETGEAR N900 Adapter Delivers 450 Mbps Dual Band WiFi for a Fast Online Gaming and HD Streaming Experience at Home Berlin, Germany – August 29, 2012 – NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced the availability of the NETGEAR N900 4-Port WiFi Adapter (WNCE4004). The adapter connects up to four Ethernet-enabled devices - like Smart TVs, Blu-ray™ players, Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 and others - to WiFi for ultra-fast HD video streaming at 450Mbps on each WiFi band, providing an unparalleled home entertainment experience. The NETGEAR N900 4-port WiFi Adapter supports multiple, simultaneous 1080 HD wireless streams so consumers can enjoy HD content from Netflix®, Vudu™, YouTube™, Hulu® Plus and other Internet content services, as well as an improved gaming experience with lower-latency. The NETGEAR adapter is ideal for upgrading home theater and gaming devices to Dual Band N 450 Mbps WiFi for an enhanced entertainment experience. For those who already have a dual-band router, the NETGEAR N900 Video and Gaming 4-Port WiFi Adapter is a way to add 5-GHz performance to gaming consoles, TVs and Blu-ray players which is ideal for demanding tasks such as HD video streaming. Streaming HD content to Ethernet-enabled devices at home often requires a wired connection that is frequently impractical to install. The NETGEAR N900 4-port WiFi Adapter quickly and easily makes an Internet connection for multiple wired devices in a room via WiFi, which eliminates the need and additional cost of having to use multiple USB WiFi adapters for the respective devices. Because of the adapter's small form factor, it can easily be placed next to a TV or within a home entertainment center. Connectivity for an Enhanced Entertainment Experience - Wirelessly stream multiple 1080p HD videos throughout your home "It's important to get a great entertainment experience when streaming an HD movie from Vudu or playing an online session of Activision® 'Call of Duty®' on your Xbox 360," said Damir Skripic, product line manager for connected entertainment at NETGEAR. "The NETGEAR N900 Video and Gaming 4-Port WiFi Adapter is ideal for consumers who want to simultaneously connect multiple entertainment devices to their WiFi network at a faster WiFi speed." Pricing and Availability The NETGEAR N900 4-Port WiFi Adapter will be available worldwide September, 2012 for $79.99 from major retailers in stores and online. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung brands its dockable, S Pen-touting Windows 8 tablets as ATIV Smart PC and Smart PC Pro Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:25 AM PDT Samsung didn't leave its ATIV introductions to just an ARM tablet and a phone. We first saw them as the Series 5 and Series 7 tablets, which will likely be their final US names; to recap, though, the newly branded ATIV Smart PC and ATIV Smart PC Pro both look to capture some of that Transformer-like aura by mating an 11.6-inch tablet with a detachable keyboard dock for a laptop experience. Some of Samsung's own Galaxy Note vibe rubs off on them, too -- both carry an S Pen and a bundled S Note app for some on-the-spot writing. They likewise share support for 3G and 4G as well as micro-HDMI and USB, but there's a clear difference depending on what you buy. Going for the regular Smart PC loads in a modest Clover Trail-based Intel Atom processor and a 1,366 x 768 display, but offers a lengthy 13.5-hour battery life, 2GB of RAM, up to a 128GB flash drive, a rear 8-megapixel camera and a 2-megapixel front camera. Slap that "Pro" moniker on the front and you have to drop to eight hours of battery life and a 5-megapixel rear camera, but you'll get a much faster Core i5 processor, a 1080p display, 4GB of RAM and as much as a 256GB SSD. Unlike the ATIV Tab, we do know the Smart PCs will be available in the US on October 26th at $649 for a base Smart PC/Series 5, $749 for a bundle with the keyboard and $1,119 for a Smart PC Pro/Series 7 with a 128GB SSD built-in. Samsung Ready to Go With Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 Introduces ATIV[ati:v] family of Smart PCs, Tablets, and Smartphones BERLIN, Germany – August 29, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced its brand-new ATIV devices based on the Windows 8 for Smart PCs, tablets and Windows Phone 8 for smartphones. With the introduction of Microsoft's Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 operating systems, Samsung introduces "ATIV", the new brand for its Windows-based devices. ATIV, the reverse order of the word VITA, meaning "Life" in Latin, is a pledge by Samsung to make everyone's life extraordinary with excitement. The full range of Windows-powered devices will enable this goal. Today Samsung introduces ATIV SMART PC, ATIV Smart PC Pro, ATIV Tab, and ATIV S, a full range of ATIV devices. Samsung is one of very few companies that is capable of offering such a diverse product lineup and is committed to offering more choices based on the Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 platforms for consumers. "Samsung is delighted to introduce a wide portfolio of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8-powered devices. With our leadership in design and technology and Microsoft's leadership in operating systems, together we are able to provide customers with a full range of ATIV devices for cross-category convergence," said Seong Woo Nam, Executive Vice President of IT Solutions Business at Samsung Electronics. "Samsung is a highly valued partner and it's great to see this investment in a global brand for its Windows-based Smart PCs, tablets, and phones," said Nick Parker, corporate vice president, OEM, Microsoft. "This gives us an increased opportunity to inspire our customers with excitement and confidence as they enjoy Windows experiences across their beautiful Samsung devices, including entertainment scenarios, mobile productivity and cloud services." Samsung's ATIV devices are simple, powerful, and beautiful. The Windows operating system is sleek, intuitive and compatible across devices. Together Samsung and Microsoft will provide users with an advanced, productive and creative experience with its ATIV devices. Its full lineup is designed for a simple user experience to share your work and ideas as well as enjoy consuming content. Furthermore, Samsung's Windows devices are enhanced with Samsung's own unique services and content. Samsung Family Story provides fun and intuitive content sharing. Samsung's ChatON service complements Microsoft's popular People Hub to provide a wide range of social communication options across these versatile devices. Samsung ATIV Smart PC & Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro Combing revolutionary design, the power of a notebook PC and the convenience of a tablet PC, the 11.6-inch Samsung ATIV Smart PC and ATIV Smart PC Pro are Samsung's next set of smart devices. These provide computing power with Windows 8 functionality as well as full Windows 7 compatibility. Each device features a detachable keyboard-docking system that allows users to easily switch between a clamshell notebook PC and a tablet PC form factor. These devices allow for great mobility with maximum productivity. An advanced 10-finger multi-touch screen provides a technological leap in interactivity, surpassing the traditional two-finger touch features. Its enhanced sensitivity allows users to pinch-to-zoom, rotate images and scroll through pages with ease to enjoy the full capabilities of the latest entertainment applications. In addition to commonly-provided input methods, the ATIV Smart PC and ATIV Smart PC Pro are equipped with the renowned S Pen, delivering real writing and drawing experiences for maximum productivity, both on the desk and on-the-go. Just like using a pen or pencil, the Wacom digitizer pen is capable of meeting the demands of professional designers with its 1024-level pressure sensitivity. The pre-loaded S Note application accompanies the S Pen to make writing and drawing as simple and intuitive as possible. While the S Camera fully exploits the performance of the integrated front and rear cameras, the S Player ensures seamless playback of images and videos in any format. This content is presented with Samsung's SuperBright 11.6-inch Full HD LCD display, producing the most vivid colors and sharpness with 400nit brightness. Beautifully stylish and ultra-portable, the ATIV Smart PC and ATIV Smart PC Pro are only 9.9mm and 11.9mm thick, respectively; and there are no compromises on performance. The ATIV Smart PC Pro's powerful Intel® Core™ i5 processor can handle particularly demanding professional use and multimedia consumption; while the ATIV Smart PC's next generation Intel® Atom™ processor is a solid match for everyday productivity tasks. Despite their compact and portable form factor, the two devices feature USB 2.0(Smart PC), USB 3.0(Smart PC Pro), mHDMI, miniSD and two extra USB 2.0 ports on the keyboard. To get the experience going, the ATIV Smart PC has a battery life of up to 13.5 hours, whereas its stronger sister device, the ATIV Smart PC Pro, runs up to eight hours. Samsung ATIV Tab: Windows RT Tablet with the optimization of PC experience and mobility The new Samsung ATIV Tab is designed with a classy hairline finish, and delivers a full Windows 8-based PC experience with superior tablet mobility. Weighing 570g, featuring a 10.1" display, and measuring 8.9mm thick, the ATIV Tab is always ready to go. It instantly boots up without lagging and comes with Office Home and Student 2013 RT, offering the new versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote to help transform the way people get things done at home, school or work. These applications are fully featured with complete document compatibility, meaning people can open and create any document, make edits on it and share it with others just like we do with PCs. An 8,200 mAh battery provides enough power to allow you to work on your projects and review or share them virtually anytime and anywhere. Moreover, the ATIV Tab is compatible with a range of Windows-based PC devices and accessories, including printers, keyboards, projectors, external monitors, and other peripherals, through its USB port and uHDMI, with no need to install extra software. Samsung ATIV S: Smartphone with maximized PC experience Samsung ATIV S is a new smartphone for both work and entertainment featuring Windows Phone 8.. ATIV S brings a stunning hairline design and high performance with a range of content-sharing and productivity options. Its impressive 1.5GHz dual-core processor and HSPA+42 connectivity enable great browsing performance and high responsiveness even for the most demanding gaming or work applications. Users can enjoy the brand new Windows Phone 8 experience on the ATIV S's stunning 4.8" HD Super AMOLED display. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung says Jelly Bean update coming to Galaxy S III and Note 10.1 'very soon' Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:16 AM PDT It's not as specific as we're guessing some would like, but Samsung confirmed during its IFA 2012 keynote today that a Jelly Bean update is coming to both the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note 10.1 "very soon." That is at least a bit more encouraging than the "later this year" that we last heard for the Note 10.1, and follows a leak of an official GS3 Jelly Bean build earlier this month. The original Galaxy Note wasn't specifically mentioned on stage, but it did make an appearance on the company's Jelly Bean slide, so we'd assume an update for it is coming as well, if not necessarily "very soon." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flipboard adds dedicated video channels, decides reading isn't everything Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:15 AM PDT Flipboard supports video, but it's always been focused on modernizing the reading experience. Until today, that is. The app is taking advantage of YouTube channels to give readers -- sorry, viewers -- a steady stream of video pattered along common themes. Basic feeds for concepts like cooking, music and news sit side-by-side with more esoteric sections for 'influencers,' fashion and (our favorite) science. Is it the end of reading? We don't think so, but it does mean we won't have to hop to another app to get our moving picture fix, which we're sure is as much Flipboard's dream come true as it is ours. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung ATIV Smart PC dock hands-on Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:05 AM PDT And hey, what's a Windows 8 tablet without a docking station? Sure enough, Samsung was showing off a snazzy one tonight that turns your bright and beautiful ATIV Smart PC (which is a bit chunkier than its brother) into a notebook. The tablet slots into the top of the keyboard dock, with the Windows 8 button obscured slightly by the top of the dock. The device does look a fair amount like a netbook when it's firmly nestled inside. But we have to say, the quality of the dock doesn't match the beauty of the tablet itself, the plasticky bottom clashing with the brushed aluminum backing, particularly where the lip shows up slightly on the rear of the device. When using the dock, you're likely going to spend most of your time in the classic UI -- and when you want to switch, you can just hit the button at the top of the dock to release the tablet from its docky prison. The buttons and trackpad feel a bit like a low-end netbook, and we had to do some fiddling to get that mouse across the desktop. We're hoping that Samsung will either release a slicker version or we'll be seeing something from a third-party manufacturer. In the meantime, the dock feels more like a second home for the tablet, best saved for those rare occasions when you'll need to do, say, some serious word processing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time Warner Cable expanding fiber broadband coverage in NYC, only businesses to benefit Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT Google, we're not in Kansas anymore, we're in New York, where Time Warner Cable is planning to drop $25 million on expanding its (up to) 1Gbps fiber broadband infrastructure. Specifically, the additional network is hitting neglected areas in Brooklyn and Manhattan, but it's not for general consumption -- it's strictly for businesses. Don't feel too disheartened though -- you might not be getting a slice of this particular fiber pie, but it's all you can eat, all the time at the free WiFi buffet. Time Warner Cable Business Class Investing $25 Million to Expand Its Fiber Optic Network to Key NYC Business Locations Brooklyn Navy Yard Among Key Sites to Gain Advanced Broadband Infrastructure Company Also Announces its Second Time Warner Cable Learning Lab for Brooklyn BROOKLYN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Time Warner Cable Business Class (TWCBC), a division of Time Warner Cable, today announced that it expects to invest $25 million in 2012 as it expands its fiber optic network to established and emerging business locations in New York City. The investments align closely with New York City's desire to attract growth businesses that rely heavily on advanced communications technology. Today's announcement was made at the headquarters of the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where TWCBC is finishing a multi-million dollar investment to provide fiber-based solutions to tenants of the 300-acre business complex. HITN is one of the complex's first fiber clients and is utilizing the technology to improve and enhance its overall business operations, as well as to transport and deliver its online and television-based educational programming to viewers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. TWCBC also announced that the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) organization, will receive a state-of-the-art Time Warner Cable Learning Lab in its Employment Center, located inside the massive complex and accessible to the public. "We are very pleased to work with the City of New York to make significant investments to ensure that this city has the technology infrastructure to successfully compete in a worldwide marketplace," said Ken Fitzpatrick, President of Time Warner Cable Business Class, East Region. "Our fiber optic network provides dedicated Internet access at incredible speeds and high-bandwidth capabilities to serve the communications needs of any business." The company's fiber network enables businesses to be connected to a dedicated Internet network that provides speeds that reach 1 gigabyte per second and faster, and have their voice, Ethernet, TV, and video transport solutions delivered over high-bandwidth fiber for increased speed and reliability. "Time Warner Cable's investment reflects the growing need for increased technology and speed for the 275 existing and growing businesses in the Yard. With this growth, comes jobs and the Learning Lab grant will support our efforts to prepare local residents for jobs in the Navy Yard," said Andrew H. Kimball, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. "Today's announcement is yet another sign of the Navy Yard's continued success. Fiber optics and the Learning Lab will both allow the Navy Yard to continue to grow and help support the jobs our community needs," said Senator Daniel Squadron. "Just like the new Tech Triangle bus route we're building, this is a step towards greater connectivity to allow the Navy Yard and all of Brooklyn to keep creating great new jobs. Thank you to Time Warner Cable Business Class, the Navy Yard, and all those working with us toward an innovative and flourishing New York." Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, said, "With all the technology start-ups emerging in Brooklyn, Time Warner Cable Business Class has made the right decision by investing in the expansion of the fiber optic network. Laying down this cutting-edge infrastructure will definitely attract more businesses to Brooklyn, and as result, create more jobs." Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said, "My office was proud to work with the City and Time Warner Cable Business Class to ensure that New York City's commercial, industrial and manufacturing areas receive the highest quality communications technology to create jobs, support Brooklyn's burgeoning Tech Triangle, and keep our borough attractive to new businesses-particularly those that need state-of-the-art fiber optic networks. We've certainly come a long way since 1907, when the USS Dolphin-docked at the Navy Yard-was part of the first transmission of a singing voice over an arc radiotelephone. From the early days of wireless to the fiber optics of today, Brooklyn has been evolutionary-and revolutionary-in the way we communicate with the world." Councilman Stephen T. Levin said, "Time Warner Cable Business Class's investment in the Brooklyn Navy Yard will enable these businesses to connect quickly and efficiently, expanding their horizons of communication and laying the foundation for dynamic growth. Additionally, Time Warner Cable Learning Lab at the Employment Center is an investment that stems far beyond the Navy Yard, and will allow individuals to attain the skills and training they need to reach their full potential. I salute Time Warner Cable Business Class for making these investments." "The Bloomberg Administration's commitment to greater digital inclusion is exemplified each day – from partnering with private sector partners on infrastructure investments to expansion of broadband accessibility in public computing centers across the five boroughs," said Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications Commissioner Rahul N. Merchant. "The Brooklyn Navy Yard represents the latest advance on these efforts, simultaneously connecting an underserved 'digital island' with advanced communications technology for the businesses that require it, as well as setting the stage for increased public access to help further bridge the digital divide." "Today's announcement represents yet another achievement in Mayor Bloomberg's technology roadmap, equipping New York City to fulfill its digital potential. High-speed Internet access via fiber-optic technology is the foundation of a thriving technology sector, qualified workforce and connected city," said Rachel Haot, New York City's Chief Digital Officer. "With Time Warner Cable's infrastructure investment, the City of New York takes a powerful step forwards to a future as the world's premiere digital City." HITN CEO Jose Luis Rodriguez said, "Switching to Time Warner Cable Business Class's fiber optic network has proven to be very cost-effective for HITN, and the additional benefits – the ability to access additional bandwidth quickly and fiber optic stability – make it much easier for us to grow our telecommunications initiatives, from HITN-TV, which reaches over 40 million homes in the US and Puerto Rico, to our new cloud-based educational programs, including HITN Learning." TWCBC is investing to ensure that businesses in Manhattan have access to fiber-based technology. A project to bring fiber access to all tenants of the Empire State Building was recently completed, and TWCBC is continuously extending its fiber network to business locations such as the World Trade Center, the Flatiron District, all areas of Midtown and throughout the Financial District, among other areas. In Brooklyn, Time Warner Cable is making investments to serve the borough's business community. In addition to building out fiber at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, TWCBC is making investments to serve other business locations such as Brooklyn Tech Triangle, the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Industry City, in addition to other business locations. Businesses in Long Island City, as well as other emerging areas in Queens, are also continuing to receive fiber investments from TWCBC. The company is also investing in Staten Island to bring this advanced technology to the borough's business community. The company's fiber network is in addition to its hybrid fiber coax infrastructure that is widely available throughout in New York City areas served by Time Warner Cable Business Class, and offers a suite of data, video and voice services. A Second Time Warner Cable Learning Lab in Brooklyn Time Warner Cable Business Class today also announced a Time Warner Cable Learning Lab will be located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Learning Labs are state-of-the-art technology centers that provide the public with free access to computers and high-speed Internet. The Learning Lab is scheduled to open later this year and will be part of the Navy Yard's onsite Employment Center, located in Building 92. The Lab will be a boon to local residents who are encouraged to visit for job training and placement services, as will help connect residents to employers with jobs inside the complex. The Learning Lab at the Brooklyn Navy Yard will be the second such facility that Time Warner Cable has donated to the people of Brooklyn, as a Learning Lab opened earlier this month at Good Shepherd Services in Park Slope. Time Warner Cable has opened six Labs in New York City and plans to open have 40 such facilities open during the next several years. Time Warner Cable Business Class's local service area includes Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and western Brooklyn, Mt. Vernon, NY, as well as Bergen and Hudson Counties in New Jersey. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Galaxy Note II: what's changed? Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:46 AM PDT It's hard to believe that the word "phablet" has now been in our vocabulary for exactly a year. Perhaps even more difficult to believe is that it's still in our lexicon, but it doesn't look like the term is going anywhere anytime soon. Today, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Note II, a followup to the company's S-Pen equipped sleeper hit introduced at last year's IFA. But what does the sequel have that the original doesn't? Head below with us as we take a closer look at how the two devices compare. Note: We'll continue filling out the chart as details surface.
Check out all of our IFA 2012 coverage on our event hub! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Windows RT ATIV Tab hands-on Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:45 AM PDT Well, well, well, what have we here? It's yet another beautiful tablet from the folks at Samsung. We've got our hands on the Samsung ATIV Windows RT Tab, and it looks and feels fantastic -- and familiar. Yep, if you've ever seen or played with a Samsung Galaxy Tab, you'll know what you're in for, a solid and beautiful tablet with a brushed aluminum back. The screen is extremely vivid, and yeah, we had to turn it down to get some decent shots of the thing. The big tell, however, is the new square Windows button on the bottom bezel. Yep, this thing is rocking Windows 8, in all of its glory. The other big tip off: there's no stylus on the slate. You're going to be using you finger to navigate through the operating system -- sorry S-Pen fans. The tablet is extremely zippy, as well -- and no question why -- the device is rocking a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor on top of 2GB of memory. Obviously the tablet is best suited to the tile UI, though you can swap between that and the older familiar one by clicking the right tile. We'll get you more information as it become available -- in the meantime, please enjoy the following image gallery. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Galaxy Note II getting redesigned S Pen with rubber tip, improved grip Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:33 AM PDT Today at its IFA 2012 press conference, Samsung confirmed that the newly announced Galaxy Note II will make use of a new, redesigned S Pen. In addition to boasting an improved 8mm grip, it has a rubber tip. It also recognizes 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is already true of the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. Other than that, Samsung hasn't shared much in the way of specifics, but if you'd like to see video of the new Note in action, we can at least offer that. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung introduces ATIV Tab: a 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:32 AM PDT Samsung's busy cranking out its fall lineup here in Berlin, and among the new entries is the ATIV Tab, a Windows RT-packing cousin of the Galaxy Note 10.1. The new 10.1-inch slate isn't quite as aggressive as its Android counterpart and centers on a 1,366 x 768 display, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 5MP rear camera paired with a 1.9MP front-facing cam, and ports for micro-HDMI as well as USB. Dimensionally, the tablet is as light and skinny as you'd hope: it weighs 20.1 ounces (570g) and measures a slim 8.9mm thick. The 32GB and 64GB storage options aren't shockers given the extra space Windows and the bundled copy of Office 2013 Home and Student 2013 will demand, but there's a treat for long-haul users in the battery -- it's been upgraded from the 7,000maH pack of the Note 10.1 to an ample 8,200mAh unit. Samsung hasn't handed out launch details, but it's safe to say that the ATIV Tab won't arrive any sooner than October 26th. Check out all of our IFA 2012 coverage at our event hub! Brad Molen contributed to this post. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:30 AM PDT During a visit to Samsung's headquarters in Korea earlier this year, we had a chance to talk shop with company execs. The electronics maker's existing mirrorless and point-and-shoot lineups were the primary topic of discussion, but we did catch wind of a Galaxy product possibly to come, from the camera division. A Galaxy camera? That could only mean Android, and a heavy heaping of touch and connectivity. At the time, reps admitted only that they were "considering" such a device, and declined to provide any hint as to design or functionality. And we haven't heard a further peep, until today. As you may have gathered from recent rumors, Samsung's Galaxy Note II is not the only product to be Unpacked this afternoon. Sure enough, the anticipated Galaxy Camera is also on order, and we have all the juicy details just past the break.
Nikon beat Samsung out the door with its Coolpix S800c -- a 16-megapixel snapper powered by Android 2.3.3, but this latest version is an entirely different beast. The entire back of the camera is occupied by an edge-to-edge 4.8-inch 1,280 x 720-pixel (308 ppi) display. It looks like something you'd find on a cellphone, like, say, the Galaxy Note -- having a touch-enabled viewfinder on a compact camera is certainly advantageous. There are still a few hardware buttons on board, including a flash release (there's a pop-up strobe in the top right corner), a power button, zoom toggle and shutter release, but you'll spend most of your time interacting with the Galaxy Camera through touch. With the Auto mode, you'll have access to a touch-to-focus system while leaving the rest of the computing to the camera. Smart Pro Mode is Samsung's version of intelligent auto, offering ideal settings for 10 different scenarios, such as the Waterfall Trace and Night Trace options, which slow down the shutter speed for daylight and evening shoots, respectively. Despite the Galaxy's rather large profile, Samsung opted for a standard 1/2.33-inch BSI CMOS sensor, capable of 16-megapixel snaps. Don't expect top-of-the-line image quality, but the 21x, f/2.8-5.9, 23-480mm lens will let you get far closer to the action than any smartphone on the market today. This latest point-and-shoot falls within Samsung's SMART lineup, which means there's surely WiFi on board. There's also 3G and 4G connectivity as well, though, delivered from the carrier of your choice through a micro-SIM that slides in beside the microSD card and 1,650 mAh battery, which Samsung reps say can provide up to seven hours of battery life while connected. Naturally, there are plenty of options for sharing. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean's on board, so you can add any of your favorite imaging apps from Google Play (yes, even Instagram -- a future update will add zoom functionality, too). There are also plenty of native sharing and sorting options, including a device-wide search tool that lets you locate shots based on a face tag, location or time. Best Group Pose will automatically select the ideal portrait of you and your friends, while Share Shot lets you use WiFi Direct to send content to your buds with Galaxy cameras and smartphones in realtime. There's also an Auto Cloud Backup feature, which provides redundancy by sending your photos wirelessly as you shoot -- assuming you're connected to WiFi or a wireless carrier. We had a chance to shoot with the Galaxy Camera for a few minutes today. The camera we had was clearly an early prototype -- we did experience focusing issues and a colleague's device locked up during the demo -- but considering that it's not set to ship until October, Samsung has a bit of time left to work out the kinks. Otherwise the experience was quite positive; we found the camera to be very responsive and intuitive, especially if you're already familiar with Android. Upon boot-up, you're met with a typical Jelly Bean home screen, with a standard Camera shortcut, located front and center, launching the advanced interface. You can, of course, use the device as a data-only smartphone of sorts as well, surfing the web, responding to email and consuming media just as you would on any other Galaxy. Without standard phone functionality, the Galaxy Camera won't replace your smartphone -- not to mention that the rather bulky form-factor would end up being quite a nuisance -- but if you don't make calls, this could theoretically be the only device in your (rather spacious) pocket. We can't speak to image quality just yet, as we weren't permitted to transmit samples, but based on the existing SMART line, it's safe to expect perfectly acceptable, though not spectacular stills. The device is set to begin shipping in October, and will be sold through camera retailers as well as carrier outlets, though pricing has not yet been released. Catch all the details directly from Samsung in the press release just below. Samsung presents 'Camera, Reborn.' – the GALAXY Camera BERLIN, Germany – August 29, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, has today announced the launch of the GALAXY Camera. Developed to fit the changing ways we communicate, the GALAXY Camera combines high performance photography with the latest Android™ 4.1 platform, so called Jelly Bean, and wireless network connectivity, creating a brand new type of device. Samsung GALAXY Camera fits perfectly for those who wish to shoot, edit and share high quality photographs and video easily and spontaneously from anywhere, at any time. "The GALAXY Camera opens a new visual communication era and shifts a paradigm in communication. With the growth of social networks and the prevalence of smartphones and tablets, people today communicate faster than words. As we increasingly articulate our experiences through pictures and videos the GALAXY Camera has been created to lead the way in this new era of visual communication. Communication becomes more vivid and lively with high-quality images and instant sharing anywhere, anytime," said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital Content at Google, congratulated the Samsung team on their launch. "When we first started work on Android, we envisioned building a smart camera that would take digital photography to the next level. The GALAXY Camera is an innovative product that speaks to the openness and flexibility of the Android platform." The GALAXY Camera makes outstanding photography on the go. Users never again have to sacrifice picture quality if they want to edit and share their photos instantly. It easily outperforms any smartphone camera. The GALAXY Camera, boasting a 21x super long zoom lens and a super-bright 16M BSI CMOS sensor, delivers pictures in brilliant quality. The device also features 'Smart Pro' technology, a series of modes that make professional-looking photography easy for anyone to achieve. What truly revolutionizes this photography experience is Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean and wireless connectivity, which opens up the device to applications for photo-editing, sharing, and much more. Users will experience all of GALAXY Camera's great features on a market-leading HD Super Clear LCD. With stunning clarity, incredible ease-of-use and unparalleled connectivity, the GALAXY Camera is the next step in imaging innovation. Shoot stunning quality images The GALAXY Camera's 21x optical zoom can be controlled by either button or touchscreen, rendering long-distance pictures in a quality that users will be proud to share, while OIS ensures that images stay clear and crisp. The camera's 16 Megapixel 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor captures images in brilliant color and resolution, while the 23mm aperture lens delivers impressive wide-angle shots incomparable to smartphone pictures. Enjoy your photos and video on a world-leading display Edit and perfect images on your device Share your images anywhere, anytime The GALAXY Camera comes in two connectivity options: a 3G and Wi-Fi version or a 4G and Wi-Fi version. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung announces ATIV S, a 4.8-inch Windows Phone 8 device Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:14 AM PDT Samsung took to the stage in Berlin to showcase its new product lineup, and one of the featured devices is the first confirmed Windows Phone 8 device. Dubbed the ATIV S, the new Microsoft-sanctioned smartphone offers a 4.8-inch screen with an HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm CPU, 8MP rear camera and 1.9MP front-facing cam. Additionally, it's got a beefy 2,300mAh battery, 1GB RAM, Gorilla Glass 2 and will come in both 16 and 32GB flavors. At 8.7mm, it's also reasonably thin. Its body is made of brushed aluminum and comes with a WP8-friendly MicroSD slot. We've got another pic of the ATIV S below, and we'll have a hands-on to you as soon as possible. Check out all of our IFA 2012 coverage at our event hub! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Live from Samsung Unpacked at IFA 2012! Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:05 AM PDT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Galaxy Note II coming to the US 'later in 2012' Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:03 AM PDT If you're waiting for the US release date for Samsung's Galaxy Note II, we're sorry to say that you won't find one today. While this version of the form-defining phablet is destined for European, Asian and Middle Eastern-markets, the company promises a version of the device will hit American shores before the end of 2012, as you can see in the quote we've got from the company below.
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| Samsung Galaxy Note II: hands-on with the new S Pen-toting phablet (video) Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Samsung's got a handful of announcements to offer its mobile fans at IFA this year, and it's started big: with the Galaxy Note II. The new Android device packs a larger 5.5-inch, 1,280 x 720 16:9 screen, but still falls roughly within the same generous footprint of its predecessor. A year on, we've now got a more powerful SoC, up from a dual-core 1.4GHz processor to a new quad-core 1.6GHz Exynos chipset (yes, that's even faster than the one found in the Galaxy S III) and Android Jelly Bean right out of the box. Samsung's putting a lot of focus on making the most of all that screen space and S Pen functionality. We got our hands (both of them) on the Galaxy Note II just a few hours early, so after the gallery, skip past the break for our first impressions.
The Galaxy Note II speaks the same design language as the Galaxy S III, with a glossy shimmering plastic finish that envelops the back of the device, plus the same slim bezel. The button space below the screen has been slimmed down, as has the thickness of the device: 9.4mm instead of 9.7mm on the old Note. If you were able to hold the original Galaxy Note, there shouldn't be any problems here either. In the hand, the device feels just as solid as you'd expect considering its heritage -- it's impeccably well-built. Physically, there aren't many changes to talk about here -- ports and buttons are where you'd expect to find them, which is mostly a good thing, and the camera looks to be very similar to the 8-megapixel module we're familiar with -- with an LED flash and 1080p video skills. Instead, the big news is the new S Pen and the fresh software that goes with it. The stylus itself has been fattened out and lengthened to three-quarters of the device's length, making it easier to write with, and its end is now rubberized to give it more pen-like friction on the glass screen. Pressure sensitivity is the same as on the new Galaxy Note 10.1, which means you get a full, art-friendly 1,024 levels of sensitivity instead of the old Note's mere 256. A great addition is the ability to recognize when the S Pen is removed from the device, which can trigger the app of your preference or the default note creation screen shown above. Equally, if you leave the stylus on a desk somewhere and try to walk off, the phone -- courtesy of its accelerometer -- alerts you to the fact that it's being moved without its buddy. The Note II has also been given "Air View" -- or the ability to detect the hover position of the S Pen, which opens up a whole world of new UI additions. These include a quick preview function, which can show the contents of a folder when you hover over it and before you actually tap into it. There's also a video preview feature which allows you to scroll through a video timeline to the section you want before tapping to go there. It all looked really fluid. Further productivity boosts include the ability to run S-Note -- now called Pop-up Note -- on top of other apps, as a resizable window. Pop-up video works the same -- it can now be resized and run over other apps, just like on the GS III. Interestingly, the email and calendar apps have been tweaked to recognize handwritten input -- for example, start a note with the @ character and it'll automatically put your completed text into an email ready to be sent. You can easily capture screen grabs using the stylus to mark out the grab area, and you can even record video of your onscreen activity. Samsung is giving nothing away in terms of pricing or availability, beyond saying the Note II will be available in Europe, Asia and the Middle East by October, and the US by the end of the year. It also tells us that it plans to add plenty more dedicated S Pen software (echoing the Premium Suite) in the future. As we burrowed into the Galaxy Note II's new features, it all felt simpler and more cohesive than the original -- less business and more pleasure. Big phone fans will just have to wait until we can put the new Note through a full test later this year, but so far so good. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT While we can't say it was a shock, Samsung's latest superphone has arrived -- and it's got a new stylus. The Galaxy Note II pushes the screen frontier to 5.5 inches wide, with another HD Super AMOLED display, this time at 1,280 x 720. Despite that expansion the phone is a mere 9.4mm thick, while it now houses a larger capacity (faster charging) 3,100mAh battery and a quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.6GHz. As the Galaxy Note was to the Galaxy S II, so the Note II takes some design riffs from the Galaxy S III, with the same rounded edges, glossy finish and extra software piled atop its Android base. There's also Samsung's reliable 8-megapixel camera sensor on the back, capable of 1080p video-recording. The great news is that the Galaxy Note II will be launching on Jelly Bean -- no laborious waiting for those over-the-air updates for Google's very latest. Software additions are understandably heavily weighted towards the phablet's S Pen advances. The stylus itself now has a rubber nib, which Samsung reckons will offer an experience closer to pen and paper. User can add "Quick Commands" to their stylus gestures, while "Air View" allows you to peruse galleries and folders by floating the stylus just above the screen. Samsung's also added an Easy Clip ability to crop and share from anything beaming out from the Note II's 16:9 screen. Stylus functionality has been gifted to the calendar (S Planner) and the native email app, while the S Pen itself will now notify your phone if it's left behind. The device will launch in Titanium Grey and Marble White, arriving internationally before the end of the year. We've just managed to handle both the Galaxy Note II and that reformed stylus -- check out our hands-on here. Be Creative, Be Expressive with the GALAXY Note II The most powerful smartphone sparks everyone's creative inspirations BERLIN, Germany-29 August 2012- At the Samsung Mobile Unpacked event held today at IFA, in Berlin, Samsung introduced the GALAXY Note II, a whole new level of innovation for the GALAXY Note category. The new Samsung GALAXY Note II enables unique experiences in personalized and expressive content creation, making it the ultimate smartphone for on-the-go creativity. "Last year at IFA, we launched the GALAXY Note, which opened a new category of smart mobile devices. This year, again at IFA, I am proud to announce the GALAXY Note II, which will encourage users to 'unleash their inner creativity.' With a perfect viewing experience and unique and differentiated features, users can discover information and capture their ideas faster, express thoughts freely and manage tasks more efficiently. For anyone who wants to be creative, expressive and unique, the Samsung GALAXY Note II will be the ideal device, allowing users to live a life extraordinary," said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. Since the first introduction of the GALAXY Note category, Samsung has continued to enhance and expand the GALAXY Note product experiences. In May 2012, Samsung introduced 'Premium Suite,' a software upgrade which provided enhanced user experiences. With the Ice Cream Sandwich OS upgrade, Samsung offered innovative new features such as Shape Match and Formula Match, providing a new way for organizing and expressing ideas in their personal and professional life. Also in August, Samsung expanded the category further with the GALAXY Note 10.1, which has a 10.1-inch large screen, a Multiscreen feature for the ultimate multitasking, and enhanced features for users' productivity, creativity and learning abilities. With further enhancements, Samsung GALAXY Note II will help users unleash their inner creativity by letting them discover information faster, capture ideas, and express them in a more organized and efficient manner. Perfect viewing experience The GALAXY Note II features a 5.5" (140.9mm) HD Super AMOLED screen, providing breathtaking visuals and crystal clear detail. Its 16:9 screen ratio ensures an immersive and enriched cinema-like video viewing experience, perfect for watching HD videos on-the-go. Its larger screen allows users to see content clearly and vividly, with much enhanced readability. In addition to the stunning content consumption experiences on a larger screen, users will also be able to accomplish more tasks efficiently and create content freely on-the-go, as the GALAXY Note II comes with a thinner and portable body. Easy multitasking Air View allows users to hover with the S Pen over an email, S Planner, image gallery, or video to preview the content without having to open it. This feature enables users to quickly search and see more information in one view without screen transitions. Thanks to the breadth of the GALAXY Note II's amazing viewing experience, a feature called Popup Note extends the concept of Popup Play, which lets users open an S Note instantly as a pop-up window anywhere on the screen. For example, when a user pulls out the S Pen during a phone call, the S Note application automatically pops up on the screen, allowing users to jot down a quick note. In addition, the device's new gesture pad feature, called Quick Command, lets users quickly activate frequently used apps with the S Pen. The command pad appears when a user just swipes upward on the screen with the S Pen button pressed. Users can quickly send an email, make a call, or search a location as they draw pre-registered marks on the command pad or register a unique mark to allow for quick and easy access. Furthermore, users will be able to share their experiences with others quickly and easily using Screen Recorder. It allows users to record a whole sequence of actions taken on their screen - a demonstration of how to use an application, for example - and then share it with friends for comment, or just for fun. Amazing expression tools - Advanced S Pen & S Note The new S Pen is longer, thicker and ergonomically designed for the perfect grip. Therefore, it provides a more precise, comfortable, and natural writing and drawing experience. The S Pen's advanced features also provide enhanced capabilities to capture ideas and inspirations instantly, and to combine handwriting with any digital content directly on the screen. By simply pressing the dedicated S Pen button, the S Pen magically recognizes that users want to clip or edit the selected content on the screen. The Easy Clip feature allows users to instantly outline and crop any content on the screen in any shape to save, share or paste. Once done cropping the image, users can freely edit the cropped content through coloring, shading, or their own personal handwriting. It is quick and easy. Another amazing expression feature called Idea Visualizer allows users to easily add illustrations by handwriting keywords on the S Note. It provides illustration images that match the handwritten keywords. It's a fancy illustration match function that will allow users to express, organize and visualize ideas in a more innovative and creative way. Users can even customize and add in their own illustrations library. Powerful Performance Powering content creation, sharing and multitasking capabilities, the GALAXY Note II comes with the latest hardware technologies. A mighty 1.6GHz Quad-Core processor and HSPA Plus or 4G LTE connectivity delivers easy multitasking, lightning-fast screen transitions, powerful browser performance, and minimal app load time. The GALAXY Note II is powered by Android™ 4.1, Jelly Bean. This brings stunning graphical capabilities and an upgraded Google Now service, including new features such as contextual search, to the GALAXY Note II. The memory options are 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB with an expandable micro SD memory slot. Thanks to a 3,100mAh battery, users can enjoy multimedia content, always be productive on the go, and capture ideas whenever, wherever without suffering from power limitation. The GALAXY Note II comes with an 8 megapixel rear-facing and 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera with HD video recording. The camera has great features like Buddy Photo Share, Burst Shot and Best Photo, which were introduced on the GALAXY S III earlier in the year. In addition to that, the GALAXY Note II features a unique camera function called Best Faces. Best Faces allows users to choose the most preferred face or pose of each person from group portrait photos. Users can also personalize photos by leaving handwritten notes on the backside of a photo using the S Pen. Handwritten Photo Notes can be shared with others in jpg format. Available in Marble White or Titanium Gray color options, the Samsung GALAXY Note II is set to launch in October starting in major European, Asian, and Middle East markets. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung announces Series 5 and Series 7 Windows 8 tablets with S Pen apps, optional keyboards Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Samsung already showed off its Series 5 Hybrid back at Computex, but what we didn't know was that Sammy had yet another tablet / laptop mash-up in the works. The company just formally announced the Series 5 and it turns out it's going to be joined by the next-gen Series 7 Slate as well. The two 11-inch tablets more or less look alike, except the Series 5 is powered by an Atom-based Clover Trail processor, while the Series 7 packs Core i5 guts. Both support pen input, and will come with the same S Pen apps found on the Galaxy Note 10.1. As for that optional keyboard dock, Samsung previously touted its magnetic hinge, but the dock has since been retooled with a sturdier latch-based mechanism. (Check out the video below to see it in action -- the tablet really does seem incapable of falling out.) As you can imagine, that difference in processor entails more than just different clock speeds. The two-watt Atom chip inside the Series 5 is rated for about nine hours of battery life, whereas the Core i5-powered Series 7 is expected to last between four and five hours on a charge. (The Series 5 is lighter, too, at 1.65 pounds, compared with 1.89 for the Series 7.) And, being a lower-powered device, the Series 5 has no vents. Last major difference: the Series 7 has a 1080p screen, while the Series 5's resolution tops out at 1,366 x 768. On the software side, Samsung is loading all of its Win 8 systems with its various Media Hubs -- yes, just like the ones you'll find on the company's Android devices. You'll also find AllShare, a DLNA media-sharing app; S-Launcher, a widget that replicates the missing Start Menu in Windows 8; and eSettings, a centralized options menu for folks who maybe haven't learned where all the settings are in Win 8. As for those S Pen applications, you've got S Note, among other carry-overs from the Android side. As with the Note 10.1, the pen itself can recognize 1,024 degrees of pressure sensitivity. Both tablets will arrive October 26th, the day Windows 8 starts shipping. The Series 7 will be available in one $1,119 configuration with 4GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD and the keyboard. The Series 5, meanwhile, will cost $649, and will include 2GB of RAM and a 64GB solid-state drive. If you like, you can purchase the keyboard for $99, or you can buy the two as a bundle for $749. We'll be back with reviews in October but until then, check out our walk-through below. (Note: we didn't get a chance to play with AllShare, the S Pen apps or the Hubs, but hopefully we can give you a more detailed demo of the software soon.)
Sarah Silbert contributed to this report.
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| Samsung Series 5 Ultra Touch Ultrabook arrives October 26th, starting at $799 Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Remember that touchscreen Series 5 Ultrabook that Samsung showed off at Computex last June? Well, it's definitely coming to the US and will be available October 26th, the same day Windows 8 formally launches. As we noted in our hands-on, this is basically the same Series 5 we reviewed earlier this year, except the touchscreen adds some heft (it now weighs 3.83 pounds, versus 3.24 for the non-touch version). As for specs, you're looking at just two configurations, both of which have 4GB of RAM, a 13-inch (1,366 x 768) display and a 500GB hard drive with 24GB of ExpressCache. The only difference is that the entry-level $799 model has a Core i3 processor, while the $899 version steps up to i5. If that all sounds rather humdrum, Samsung is attempting to spice up Windows 8 by bundling custom apps, some of which you might remember from its various Android products. Sammy's various "Hubs" (Music, Video, Media and Social) are all present and accounted for, as is the AllShare app, which uses DLNA to share content across different devices. Additionally, Samsung is including a handful of desktop applications designed to soften the learning curve for people new to Windows 8. For instance, S-Launcher is a desktop widget that replicates the now-extinct Start Menu, live search and all. eSettings, meanwhile, is a centralized options menu for folks who might not know where to find power management or display settings in Win 8. If you follow on below, you'll find a short video walk-through of some of these apps (Sammy didn't demo AllShare or the Hubs for us, sadly), and we've also got fresh hands-on shots to complement the ones we took back in June.
Sarah Silbert contributed to this report.
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| Sony VAIO Duo 11 slider PC hands-on (video) Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:55 AM PDT While Sony's keeping quiet on a lot of the precise technical specs, there's plenty to talk about in the form-factor Sony has chosen for one of its debut Windows 8 VAIO devices. The Duo 11 slider pairs an 11.6-inch screen with a sliding -- and very satisfying -- hinge. This gives the slate two different ways to deal with Microsoft's forthcoming OS. Handily, Sony has also developed a precise digitizer to work in tandem with the device. We're liking the style of the slider, and that petite footprint is also rather appealing -- aside from the paucity for keys. There are more impressions and a hands-on video after the break.
The keyboard was a little cramped, but the chiclet keys were responsive enough. This early model was tagged in Windows 8 regalia, with that new logo lingering below the 11.6-inch, 1080p screen. The Sony stylus is also an interesting new addition. It was responsive to our chicken-scrawl, navigating us to Internet Explorer as we wanted. Another neat feature was how the stylus aided photo-editing with the ability to quickly crop faces of friends and then easily reassemble them on new pictures. There's also some visible integration within Microsoft's Office suite, but we'll have to re-visit those functions on the final model to really delve into how useful it could be for business users. Fortunately, it shouldn't take long -- we expect the device will arrive this October. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony's VPL-HW50ES projector revealed at IFA, ships in October Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:53 AM PDT Slotting in above the VPL-HW30ES, this VPL-HW50ES uses a version of the same technology seen in the VW1000ES Update: Whoops, no, this is not a part of Sony's all-4K everything push, and brings merely 1080p resolution with some fancy image processing tech. We're now not quite as excited to see it, but 1,700 lumens of brightness, built-in 3D transmitter and wider lens shift range aren't too disappointing. Sony announces its latest ground-breaking Full HD 3D home projector, the VPL-HW50ES IFA, Berlin, 29th August, 2012 (HALL 4.2): Sony today announced its latest market-leading Full HD 3D home projector, the VPL-HW50ES. With the already competitive VPL-HW30ES making strides in 3D home projection, Sony has ensured this latest model encapsulates the latest technology and delivers a premium 3D home cinema experience. With a plethora of new features that draw on Sony's latest technology, the VPL-HW50ES sits at the forefront of advanced Home Cinema Projection. This includes utilising an adapted version of Sony's clever 'Reality Creation' which was developed for the EISA Award winning VPL-VW1000ES Sony 4K home cinema projector. Digital Reality Creation technology employs an originally developed digital signal processing algorithm to restore any information lost when packaging from original content to disc, recreating high quality, colour-rich, full HD images. A 1,700lm brightness has been achieved by improving the light efficiency of the lamp and optimising the optical block. This combines with a new Bright Cinema and TV Mode to achieve 30 per cent more brightness than the previous model, without losing colour reproduction. Sony's contrast enhancer technology and Optimised Advanced Iris 3 algorithm combine to give the projector a dynamic contrast ratio of more than 100,000:1. The contrast enhancer works by analysing each scene and then automatically optimising contrast in real-time by compensating for dark and bright parts of the image. Additional features such as high brightness and Sony's 3D Crosstalk reduction system, with SXRD panels, enhance the 3D image even further. Commenting on the VPL-HW50ES, Tak Nakane, product manager, Sony Europe said: "When we launched the VPL-HW30ES we knew that we'd set a high standard. In announcing the VPL-HW50ES, Sony is confident that it's raised that bar again, setting the benchmark for home cinema projection. Home projection technology is advancing at a rapid pace, Sony is ensuring it's at the forefront of new developments, speaking with customers regularly to gain feedback and then channelling this knowledge into creating high-end, reliable products that are enjoyed by consumers worldwide." As well as encompassing Sony's latest technology, the VPL-HW50ES also features a number of functionality upgrades that make it more user-friendly. These include a built-in 3D transmitter, a wider lens shift that makes its V shift range become +- 71 per cent and a whisper quiet 21db maximum noise output. The VPL-HW50ES is available in black and white across Europe from the end of October 2012. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Toshiba unveils U925t Ultrabook with slide-out touchscreen, keeps the price a secret for now Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:52 AM PDT If Computex was a coming out party for Windows 8 Ultrabooks, Toshiba was one of the wallflowers: though the company teased some concept devices, it only let journalists photograph them from certain angles, and with their screens turned off. Now, though, we're closing the summer with yet another tradeshow, and Toshiba is using the occasion to demo its wares in more detail. The company just announced the Satellite U925t, that Windows 8 slider we showed you earlier in the summer. No word on price, except that it's expected to be "slightly north" of the Satellite U845W, which starts at $1,000. We do know that it will ship on October 26th, the day Win 8 formally launches. In the meantime, Toshiba hasn't left any specs to the imagination. What we have here is a 12.5-inch Ultrabook with a slide-out, Gorilla Glass touchscreen. Pushing the screen up reveals a built-in keyboard, and we were pleasantly surprised in our hands-on to find that it's actually quite spacious. (With this form factor, the propped up display usually cuts into the usable keyboard space.) The keys are also backlit, and have the same feel as what you'll find on Toshiba's U845 and U845W Ultrabooks. That is to say they're shallow, and very, very quiet. The whole package weighs "just over three pounds" and measures about 0.8 inches thick, making it easy enough to stuff in a carry-on. When you push up the display you'll also find another surprise: an autofocusing camera on the back side. For good measure, there's also a lower-res shooter up front. On the inside, it packs a Core i5 processor, Intel HD 4000 graphics and a 128GB SSD. Like many other Ultrabooks, it also has Intel's Wireless Display tech on board, though you'll of course have to buy the requisite set-top box separately. Taking a tour around the device, you'll find a mix of tablet- and laptop-style trappings: two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, vents, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a volume rocker and a button for turning off screen auto-rotation. Software-wise, Toshiba is bundling Desktop Assist, a utility designed to give Windows 8 newbies quick access to files, programs and the like. You'll also see Live Tiles for things like Toshiba Central (a support hub), Book Place and Toshiba App Place. That's all she wrote for now, but expect us to follow up closer to October 26th with a more specific price. Until then, we've got hands-on photos below, along with a short walk-through video. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IBM debuts new mainframe computer as it eyes a more mobile Watson Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:48 AM PDT Those looking for a juxtaposition of IBM's past and future needn't look much further than two bits of news out of the company this week. The first comes with IBM's announcement of its new zEnterprise EC12 25 mainframe server -- a class of computer that may be a thing of the past in some places, but which still serves a fairly broad range of companies. In addition to an appearance that lives up to the "mainframe" moniker, this one promises 25 percent more performance per core than its predecessor and 50 percent more capacity. The second bit of news involves Watson, the company's AI effort that rose to fame on Jeopardy! and has since gone on to find a number of new roles. As Bloomberg reports, one of its next steps may be to take on Siri in the smartphone space. While there's no indication of a broader consumer product, IBM sees a range of possible applications for a mobile Watson in business and enterprise -- even, for instance, giving farmers the ability to ask when they should plant their crops. Before that happens, though, IBM says it needs to give Watson more "senses" in order to respond to real-world input like image recognition -- not to mention learn all it can about any given subject. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fujitsu outs Esprimo X all-in-one at IFA 2012: Windows 8, adjustable display, Intel vPro Core CPUs Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:38 AM PDT Fujitsu's keeping its IFA 2012 presence relatively low-key, holding off on any new major tablet or mobile announcements. So while we may have already seen its Windows 8 Stylistic Q702 and LifeBook T902 in Hong Kong last week, there is still one product the company's trotting out here in Berlin: the Esprimo X. Planned for a late year launch, this All-in-one also runs Redmond's latest OS and packs Intel's third-generation vPro chipset (up to Core i5 configurations) for the enterprise set. The slim PC features an adjustable touch display, which can even be laid out completely flat across any surface, a proximity sensor for power saving management, in addition to face recognition tech for an added layer of security. No other details on this AIO have yet to be disclosed -- the company's retaining those fuller spec bits for its release -- so stay tuned for our first impressions from the showfloor. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony unveils top of the line HX95 HDTV for Europe at IFA 2012 Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:35 AM PDT Sony's latest and greatest HDTV popped up in Japan earlier and now it has made its European debut as the HX95 series at IFA 2012. We're not seeing pricing information or a release date listed, but the benefit of a native English press release confirms it features full LED backlighting as well as the company's latest image processing technology. All that's left now is to find out any US release details, we'll see if we get any more information today or have to wait until CEDIA 2012 next week. In the meantime, check the PR after the break and browse through a gallery of sweet images showing off the slim monolithic design. Reveal the beauty with the new HX95 Full LED TV from Sony • Enjoy an immersive Full LED picture from a slim TV design BRAVIA KDL-HX950 Images that shine bright Bright whites and deep blacks Improve the look of whatever you watch Go online wirelessly for music and movies Smooth lines, slim design "The HX95 brings together our latest innovations, such as a Full LED backlight, to raise the bar in picture performance," says Kentaro Matsumoto, TV Product Manager at Sony Europe, "as people find even more ways to stay entertained, from online videos to on-demand movies, the HX95 offers a deeply immersive picture which really pulls them into the viewing experience." HX95 Bring pictures to life with Full LED Enjoy a higher contrast than a conventional TV with intelligent Full LED technology For more information please contact Offering an integrated entertainment experience through its electronics, mobile, music, pictures, game and the Sony Entertainment Network, Sony is uniquely positioned to be one of the world's leading consumer brands. Sony is renowned for its audio-visual products in both the consumer and professional markets, such as the BRAVIA™ LCD high-definition (HD) television, Cyber-shot™ digital camera, Handycam® camcorder, "α" (pronounced Alpha) digital SLR camera, Xperia™ Tablet and Walkman® MP3 player as well as its VAIO™ personal computers and 3D HD professional broadcast equipment. For more information on Sony Europe, please visit www.sony-europe.com. For more information on Sony Corporation please visit www.sony.net "Sony", "WALKMAN", "VAIO", "Cyber-shot", "Handycam", "α", "BRAVIA" and "Xperia" are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Corporation. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony launches STR-DA5800ES home cinema AV receiver: true 4K output, 9.2 surround sound Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:34 AM PDT Sony's just launched a high-end home cinema receiver that's finally good enough to pair up with its IFA-fresh Bravia KD-84X9005 TV or existing VPL-VW1000ES 4K projector. On top of native 4K for supported displays, the receiver will upscale standard HD movies, promising greater color, contrast and detail. For audiophiles, the system has 9.2 channels of surround sound for so-called Front High and Surround Back speakers, on top of the standard 5.1 speaker setup. A feature called "Movie Height" enables the sound to be virtually adjusted up or down to better match the screen position, and acoustics can be selected to match famous concert halls like those in Vienna or Berlin. Finally, you can take advantage of all that Hi-Fi and display tech by streaming from your laptop, smartphone or tablet through a LAN hub on the receiver. There's no availability or pricing yet, but if you're not too concerned about that money stuff, check the PR for the rest of the story. Get the future sound of cinema 29 August 2012 Enjoy a full 4K resolution viewing experience with the new 9.2 channel STR-DA5800ES home cinema AV receiver Tailor sound for movies and music The STR-DA5800ES also features sound modes to optimise audio for whatever you're enjoying. Virtual Front High virtually creates Front High speakers to add surround effect in the vertical direction. even if none are installed. Movie Height enables you to virtually adjust the height of front speakers and centre speaker to match the image on your large screen TV. You can even re-create acoustics from the world renowned Berlin Philharmonic Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Musikverein Vienna with Concert Hall mode. Real picture detail with 4K resolution Set up things how you want "The STR-DA5800ES produces the sound quality to match the detail and immersion of the 4K resolution viewing experience," says Naoto Yoshioka, Home Audio Video Senior Product Manager at Sony Europe, "it combines our latest audio innovations for an incredible 9.2 channels of full surround sound plus everything you need to set up your own movie theatre or auditorium at home." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sony VAIO Tap 20 hands-on (video) Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:27 AM PDT At the tail-end of Sony's IFA 2012 presser, Kaz Hirai announced two updates to the VAIO line, one of which was the Tap 20. The so-called tabletop PC is a Windows 8 device targeted at families as it can easily convert from a very traditional upright position to a full flat profile. The device is still a work-in-progress, as one of the company's reps confirmed to us, so it could hit shelves later this year with a much slimmer profile and less weightier feel. We spent some time getting to know this sliding slate, so follow on after the break to see how it fared.
Surprisingly, the Tap 20's stand is incredibly sturdy and consequently takes a bit of effort to budge. We had to use considerable force to shift the unit from its upright position and down so that we could use it as if a "surface-like" tablet. The resolution across this 20-incher's IPS panel comes in at 1,600 x 900. It's evident from the product demo and pre-loaded software that Sony is gearing this as a family-friendly PC. To make use of its 10-point multi-touch functions, we sampled a quick game of Fruit Ninja and were pleased with its responsiveness. Hopefully, further optimizations are on the way and a more compelling software suite. There's no concrete release or price point for the Tap 20 as of yet -- much of that depends on Microsoft's Windows 8 plans, so consider this your first taste of what's to come this holiday season. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Ativ Tab and Ativ S details leak, hint at a Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 power duo Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:27 AM PDT Remember those Ativ Tab and Ativ S trademarks we saw just a couple of days ago? They may well be more than just Samsung's daydreams. As long as details at The Verge prove true, the devices attached to those names represent a two-pronged revival of Samsung's Windows-based mobile strategy. We're most interested in the Ativ S: thanks in part to Windows Phone 8's multi-core support, it's effectively a Galaxy S III for the Microsoft crowd with a similar 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD screen, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, a 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.9-megapixel front shooter. Swinging attention to the Ativ Tab shows what's likely to be a commonplace list of features for a Windows RT slate. Outside of the 10.1-inch screen, it's sporting its own 1.5GHz dual-core chip and 1.9-megapixel front camera as well as a 5-megapixel rear sensor, HDMI video out and USB. We're still missing a slew of details, such as storage and launch dates, although we might not have to wait long at all to know -- if the claims are correct, one or both of the Ativ models may show their faces at Samsung's IFA 2012 events. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NVIDIA, Epic Games bringing Unreal Engine 3 to Windows 8 and Windows RT (video) Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:26 AM PDT NVIDIA and Epic Games have successfully ported the full PC version of Unreal Engine 3 to both Windows 8 and, more importantly, Windows RT. Demonstrating the achievement on a Tegra 3-powered ASUS Vivo Tab RT, it played a buttery-smooth version of Epic Citadel, suggesting that developers of both PC and Xbox games should have no problem in bringing them over to the new operating system. It also casually mentioned that both Gears of War and Mass Effect were built on the engine, heavily implying that we could see titles of that caliber coming to Microsoft's low-power OS once it makes it debut on October 26th, but we'll let you decide for yourself after the break.
This morning NVIDIA demonstrated the Unreal Engine 3 flagship demo known as Epic Citadel on a Windows RT tablet powered by Tegra. This took place at the ASUS Vivo Tab RT (the device formerly known as Tablet 600) press conference held at IFA 2012 this week in Berlin. This was the first public showing of an Unreal Engine 3-based application on the Windows RT platform. Porting Unreal Engine 3 to Windows 8 and Windows RT represents a joint effort by NVIDIA and Epic, and was made available to developers as of last week. Originally developed by Epic Games, creators of blockbuster gaming franchises such as Gears of War and Infinity Blade, Unreal Engine 3 is considered a category leader with more than 20 technology awards. It operates on nine platforms, with more than 20 integrated technologies and has been licensed for more than 225 game titles. This is a big leap forward for the Windows ecosystem as not only is one of the top game engines now available for developers to begin working with, it is also the full PC implementation. This gives developers unprecedented support for porting PC and Xbox games to a mobile platform, and vice versa. "The Unreal Engine 3-powered 'Epic Citadel' demonstration for Windows RT tablets implements the full DirectX 9 pipeline, with shaders and materials, all running beautifully on Tegra 3," said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games. "By porting the full engine as opposed to a modified mobile version, NVIDIA and Epic have made it easy for UE3 developers around the world to bring their best content to Windows RT, Windows 8 and NVIDIA's Tegra 3 processor. Windows RT code is available to licensees from Epic now and we're excited to see the great games they develop with it." This is just one of the things NVIDIA is doing to support the Windows RT platform. Stay tuned for more great announcements as we get closer to Windows RT launch on Oct. 26. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google offering Google+ for businesses, free until the end of 2013 Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:14 AM PDT Google is bringing the enterprise-friendly elements of its Apps platform into Google+ in order to help businesses collaborate on projects online. The company's been using the service internally, but feels it's time to launch, in Google tradition, a "full preview" with a free and open beta that'll run until the end of 2013. The feature set includes private sharing, admin tools and, most impressively, hangouts directly integrated into Calendar, Gmail and Docs -- letting you video chat with multiple colleagues while you draft that project proposal, or resignation letter. Apps chief Clay Bavor hasn't mentioned how much the service will cost when the preview period finishes, but we'd be surprised if it was much more than what it currently charges if it's trying to snare the Yammer and Salesforce crowds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engadget's back to school guide 2012: printers Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:01 AM PDT Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today, we have printers on our minds and on our desks -- and you can head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the series we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! It's safe to say that, at some point, you'll need to print out a collection of assignments this fall. We're looking to save the environment just as much as the next set of folks, but physical outputs are still required for a number of things -- especially in the realm of academics. Now that WiFi has become a standard option on most ink-to-paper peripherals, the ability to print from mobile devices has become a hot commodity. A number of our selections offer just that, allowing you to get the job started without needing to be in front of a computer. Enough chatter, though... head on past the break to peruse our picks for the back to school season this year.  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | HP Photosmart 5520 Don't think you'll need to fax a transcript? You may want to look here. Also touting 4,800 max DPI, the 5520 "e-all-in-one" sports HP's ePrint connectivity allowing you to print that paper while you're running back to the dorm to snag it. The kit also features WiFi, USB / SD slots, a 2.65-inch LCD touchscreen, four ink cartridges and direct-to-email scanning. $100 on Amazon | | $56 on Amazon |
Inkjet
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| HP Officejet Pro 8100 Don't think the 6100 has quite enough to handle your workload? Well, splurging for the 8100 model nets you professional-grade color at 50 percent lower cost per page than laser printers. As you might expect, WiFi, Ethernet and USB 2.0 connections are available here alongside ePrint for remote access and AirPrint for your iOS devices. An on-board control panel and graphic display will lend a hand while auto two-sided printing keeps costs down.
$150 on HP.com |
| $250 on Epson.com |
Laser
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| | From $127 on Amazon | |
$77 on Amazon |
Engadget's Back to School Giveaway
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Prizes: Fifteen (15) Grand Prize Winners will each receive a Back to School Prize Pack containing the following items: HP Envy Ultrabook 4, Sony NEX-F3, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), Samsung Galaxy S III (AT&T), Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, AiAiAi Capital headphones, Western Digital My Passport (1TB) hard drive, Timbuk2 Commute Messenger laptop bag, Flying Alarm Clock, AOC 16" USB monitor, Spotify Premium subscription (1 year), Satechi Energy Station, Edifier Tick Tock, Satechi 12-port USB hub, NuForce Cube, Withings WiFi Scale, Powermat 24-hour system, Carbonite Backup (1 year), AViiQ Ready Chips, and Targus Defcon 1 lock. Approximate Retail Value of each Prize Pack is $3,203. Subscriptions are subject to issuer's terms and conditions. Activation fees and monthly service fees not included with any smartphone/digital devices. No cash or other substitution may be made, except by the Sponsor, who reserves the right to substitute a prize or portion of a prize with another prize of equal or greater value if the prize is not available for any reason as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. Winners are responsible for any taxes and fees associated with receipt or use of a prize.
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JayBird intros Freedom Sprint: the JF3 Bluetooth stereo fitness headset gets 40% smaller
Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT
It's been quite a while since we last heard from JayBird, but now it's back with another set of Bluetooth in-ear headphones for fitness activities. Unveiled and available today, the new Freedom Sprint ($130, pictured right) joins the ranks of the company's Freedom JF3 headset ($99) -- it's essentially the same Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR headset, albeit with 40-percent less of a footprint for the earpieces (33 x 16 x 8 mm vs. 44 x 19 x 9 mm). The petite size naturally means a smaller internal battery (rated for 4.5 hours, compared to the original's six), but JayBird let us know that the Sprint is acoustically identical to the JF3. While size is the main focus, there are also a few other improvements being toted in the Sprint -- it sports a micro-USB port for charging (changed from mini-USB), a softer cable between the buds, an inconspicuous notification LED, enhanced call quality and the multifunction button has been repositioned to the top of one of the earpieces (the JF3's is on the outside). Sounds like the Sprint could be the $130 ticket if Bluetooth, small size and a secure fit are your main concerns for a pair of in-ears. You'll find more images in the gallery below and further details at the source link.
Sony Xperia TX hands-on (video)
Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:48 AM PDT
Sony just wrapped its IFA 2012 press conference, but not before ushering in three new members to its Xperia mobile line. The breadwinner of the pack, the Xperia TX, is the company's new smartphone flagship, outfitted with a 4.6-inch 720p HD display powered by Mobile Bravia Engine, 13-megapixel rear camera capable of sleep-to-snap fast capture and NFC functionality. We got a chance to handle the very vibrant metallic pink version of the device, so follow on after the break for our first impressions.
First things first, when you pick up this Android 4.0 ICS handset you notice its extreme lightness and that's because the TX weighs in at 127 grams (about 0.28lbs). Though this is undoubtedly the company's premium device (the T announced on stage is the Germany-only model), it has neither that appearance nor in-hand feel. That could be due to its slim profile, but there's also a disconnect between its high-end specs and actual performance. In our brief time with it, we noticed an extremely visible lag when attempting to rotate the home screen from portrait to landscape and that same sluggishness was evident when we attempted to access the app drawer.
Lest you think this is a quad-core affair, in keeping with its high-profile debut, it's not -- there's a dual-core setup under that shiny shell clocked at 1.5GHz. And as we mentioned above, it could do with some heavy optimization. We didn't have a chance to check out the device's NFC transfer capabilities, which Kaz Hirai touted during its announcements, nor its 13-megapixel rear camera, but be sure we'll have plenty more to say when final review units land in our hands.
Sony Xperia V hands-on (video)
Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:46 AM PDT
The slightly shier Xperia V was mentioned ever-so-briefly in Sony's IFA presser -- but that's not to say there's nothing to see. We've just got our hands on with the firm's newest LTE handset, and it's a lightweight 127 grams, comes with a 4.3-inch, 1,280 x 720 display and boasts iPx5/7 water resistance. It's also packing Sony's new ClearAudio+ technology. It's got that familiar Xperia curve, which we like, plus a rough silver finish around the edge. Check out our hands-on video after the break, with more impressions coming soon.
The 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8960 dual-core processor inside the Xperia V proved plenty capable, with that high-resolution screen offering space for on-screen Android 4.0 buttons. It's an Xperia kind of Android, though, with similar widgets and drop-down menu adjustments, but it's all inoffensive enough. There's also raft of Sony's new Android widgets that we'd soon drop from our homescreen-- but again, it's an easily-solved problem. It also packs the same 13-megapixel sensor we saw on earlier on the Xperia S, although we'll have to wait for the final review model before we can compare results. The Xperia V will offer in pink, while and black paint jobs when it hits stores later this year.
Sony's Xperia J arrives in style and on budget, we go hands-on
Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:35 AM PDT
The Xperia T may have been Sony's flagship phone for this year's IFA, but the company's promised some style for a tighter budget in the form of the Xperia J -- what exactly "budget" means in this case, we're not exactly sure. The style thing we get, however -- the J's a pretty nice-looking phone and clearly in the aesthetic vein of its Sony Xperia brethren. The 4-inch FWVGA display is nice and bright (we had to turn it down a bit, even with that white Sony tablecloth in the background) and fairly shiny, offset by a matte black back.
At 9.2mm thick, Sony's talking up the handset's svelte design. And it's certainly slimmer than a lot of handsets we've seen -- though not even close to the slimmest. It's also not the most powerful handset we've seen by any stretch with a 1GHz single-core processor inside, but it does a zippy enough job with the Ice Cream Sandwich it's rocking. All in all, the J seems like a fairly solid choice for those who don't want to shell out an arm and a leg on its bigger brother -- although we'll hold off full judgement until we figure out exactly what "budget" means. Check out our hands-on video after the break.
Netatmo Urban Weather Station tells iOS users when it's safe to brave the great outdoors (video)
Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:35 AM PDT
We haven't seen weather stations garner the same level of clever mobile integration as other pieces of household gear -- like, say, thermostats. Netatmo wants its newly available Urban Weather Station to inject a similar dose of life into a category that some of us still associate with the thermometer by the window. The aluminum tube design certainly gives a fresh look to the WiFi-linked indoor and outdoor sensors, but the real trick is the matching iOS (and eventually Android) app. It's for more than just gauging the wisdom of biking to work: the free app tracks historical trends and shares them with fellow users in a network that Netatmo hopes will provide a better understanding of wider-scale and longer-term trends. The sensors go beyond just obvious air quality, humidity, pressure and temperature conditions as well, flagging noise levels and warning if the CO2 levels are high enough to warrant airing out the house. The $179 price for the Urban Weather Station isn't trivial, but neither is knowing just how well you can cope with your environment.
TiVo Stream transcoder officially set to go on sale September 6th for $129
Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:25 AM PDT
A bit of early access for pre-orders blew the surprise, but TiVo has officially announced that its Stream transcoder device will hit stores on September 6th. Priced at $130 the feature set should be familiar by now: plug it into a home network that also has a TiVo Premiere series DVR connected to it, and it takes in live or recorded programming and reformats it for viewing on a mobile device. Currently those mobile devices are limited to the iOS family, but TiVo says Android access is coming. According to the company, the Stream is the first device to allow streaming and recording to as many as four devices without interrupting what's currently being viewed on the TV.
Comparing it to the others, live streaming or VOD in and out of the home on mobile devices is a feature several cable / satellite companies offer, Dish Network has tight Sling integration for streaming in multiple locations, and both DirecTV's Nomad and the Monsoon Vulkano boxes do place-shifting, the a combination of features plus a familiar TiVo UI puts the Stream in the lead, at least on paper. We're testing one now and should have a better handle on its strengths and weaknesses soon -- we'll have a comprehensive review for you soon.
Sony Xperia Tablet S hands-on (video)
Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:25 AM PDT
Sony officially launched its new tablet here at IFA -- and it's keeping that folded-over profile. Happily, it's running Android ICS. We've just spent some time with the Xperia Tablet S here in Berlin and it's looking like Sony wants this to be the center of your media-consuming world. The new tablet pals up with the company's range of phones, bearing that familiar Xperia branding on a freshly hewn metal slab. Yes, the new tablet sidesteps the plastic build of Sony's last two tablets going for a solid metal build. Fortunately, it feels just as light in the hand, while that folded design also remains well-balanced. We're particularly pleased with the tactile finish on the folded-over surface of the tablet -- it's very grippable. Internally, we're dealing with a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, while a 10-inch 1,280 x 800 IPS display will be showing off all that media and gaming content. Browse our gallery of images below and check out our hands-on video and first impressions after the break.
The screen had strong viewing angles, while some brief video playback worked without a hitch. It was smooth and sharp enough -- although we're always tending towards higher resolutions than what Sony's put on the table here. Swishing through home screens and web browsing barely troubled NVIDIA's quad-core processor, and we managed to reach a browser benchmark score of 1,884 ms on SunSpider putting it in a decent place for an initial show floor model. Performance was a little spotty when it came to browsing sites and we hope that it'll run a bit smoother once a final model lands in our hands in a few weeks.
Sony has also loaded the tablet with a whole wave of its home-grown apps, covering social networks, music and video through its Unlimited services and more -- but it remains to be seen whether people are also hungry for Sony's multimedia content.
Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.
Sony debuts NFC and Bluetooth-enabled SRS-BTM8 wireless speaker
Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:19 AM PDT
Smartphones, tablets and headphones aren't the only NFC-enabled devices that Sony announced at IFA today. While it didn't make it on stage during the keynote, the company's also officially announced a new wireless speaker that boasts NFC connectivity in addition to the usual Bluetooth -- an addition that lets you play music simply by tapping the speaker with your smartphone. As you can see, the speaker (known only as the SRS-BTM8) is also available in your choice of black or white, and it's clearly designed with portability in mind, boasting an integrated handle along with space for 4AA batteries that promise 20 hours of playback time. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing or availability just yet, but we'll keep you posted if we hear anything.
With the SRS-BTM8 NFC and Bluetooth® wireless speaker, all it takes is a touch 29 August 2012
One touch connection* - just touch it with your NFC-enabled smartphone and let the music play
With NFC technology you simply touch the speaker with your NFC-enabled smartphone to start streaming music with Bluetooth®
Easy to carry anywhere in the house, the SRS-BTM8 can be used with AA/LR6 batteries or a mains adapter
You can even use it to make hands-free calls thanks to Bluetooth® connectivity
Discover easier listening
The SRS-BTM8 portable wireless NFC Bluetooth® speaker from Sony lets you enjoy music from your smartphone or tablet in high quality audio, anywhere in the house. What's more, thanks to built-in NFC** (Near Field Communication) technology, you don't even have to worry about pairing your devices if they're NFC-enabled.
All you do is touch the top of the speaker with your NFC-enabled smartphone or tablet and almost instantly your music will be pumping out into the room. When you want it to stop, just touch the speaker again.
And if your smartphone or tablet isn't NFC-enabled? As long as it has Bluetooth® you can still pair it with your wireless speaker quickly and easily.
Let the music follow you
So you're heading back from work, listening to a great album on your smartphone. You get home, take your earphones out, kick off your shoes. Then you touch your NFC-enabled smartphone (such as Xperia™ T and Xperia™ V) to your stylish SRS-BTM8 speaker and enjoy the rest of the album in rich, room-filling audio while you chill out on the sofa.
When it's time to get ready for your night out, simply pick the speaker up by its built-in carrying handle and take it upstairs to the bedroom. The SRS-BTM8 is compact and lightweight so you can position it pretty much anywhere. You don't even need a plug socket – it can run off 4 AA/LR6 batteries for up to 20 hours of wireless playback.
Even if a friend phones while you're busy getting ready, it's not a problem. Thanks to Bluetooth® connectivity you can conduct the call hands free via the SRS-BTM8 speaker. So you can fix your hair and discuss the evening's plans without missing a beat.
Great sound, great looks
As you'd expect from any speaker from Sony, the SRS-BTM8 offers a natural listening experience. Despite its compact size, the stereo speaker packs plenty of punch with a 4W power output (2W + 2W) and delivers rich, detailed sound.
What's more, the SRS-BTM8 has style to match its substance. Available in black or white finishes, its distinctive design will look good in any room in the house.
Keeping things simple
"With our range of wireless speakers, we want to make listening to music as easy and convenient as possible," says Lynda Lamraoui, Marketing Manager, Sony Europe, "and with NFC technology, it really couldn't be simpler. The SRS-BTM8 is the type of product you don't even have to think about using – and that's when technology is at its best."
* Through Sony's One-touch function - incorporating NFC technology – you can enjoy your music and photos across an array of NFC-enabled Sony devices, such as Xperia™ T and Xperia™ V smartphones. Simply touch one to another and instantly establish a wireless connection.
For models other than Xperia™ T and Xperia™ V smartphones, you'll need to download the free App from Sony, "NFC Easy Connect" at Google Play Store to experience One-touch function. It will be released in late September.
** The Near Field Communication (NFC) Forum is a non-profit industry association that promotes the use of NFC short-range wireless interaction in consumer electronics, mobile devices and PCs.
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