At a show where touchscreen tablet computers were king, Google's Android operating system was the crown prince.
Motorola Mobility's Xoom tablet powered by Honeycomb software, a version of Android designed specifically for the touchscreen computers, took the coveted title of best gadget at CES.
And Honeycomb, or Android 3.0, was the operating system of choice for dozens of the other tablet makers showing their wares on the crowded show floor at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Motorola Mobility, South Korea's LG Electronics, China's Lenovo, US computer giant Dell, Taiwan's Asus and Japan's Toshiba were among the global electronics giants unveiling Android-powered tablets, to name just a few.
While Apple's iPad still rules the tablet roost, Android, which is already widely used by smartphone makers, is shaping up to also be a major force in the tablet arena.
Android, which Google licenses to manufacturers for free, has become the number two mobile operating system in the United States according to comScore, with a 26 percent market share trailing Research In Motion's Blackberry OS but ahead of the 25 percent for Apple's iPhone OS.
Another technology giant expected to make a splash in the tablet arena, Seattle-based Microsoft, with its Windows 7 operating system, again failed to deliver.
Windows-powered tablets were few and far between at CES and attracted little notice with the exception of the Eee EP121 from Taiwan's Asus, which runs Windows 7 software and features a 12-inch (30.5-centimeter) touchscreen.
As if adding insult to injury, a Lenovo hybrid tablet-laptop, the IdeaPad U1, runs Windows 7 when serving as a U1 laptop and Android when the detachable screen is removed to work as a tablet, the LePad.
Rotman Epps said Google's Honeycomb actually "poses a much bigger threat to Microsoft than it does to Apple.
"Of the 24.1 million tablets we expect US consumers to buy in 2011, the majority will still be iPads, but consumers looking for a cheaper, feature-rich alternative will turn to Google, not Microsoft," she said.
"I guess the world will have to wait for Windows 8 tablets," Rotman Epps added in a blog post.
Mike Cleron, a Google engineer, said the Mountain View, California-based Internet search giant had spent more than a year "rethinking everything about Android from the ground up" before coming out with Honeycomb.
"We optimized Android for the new hardware," Cleron said, pointing out features which were not available on the first version of the iPad such as multi-tasking.
Most of the Android-based tablets on display also integrated other features not included on the iPad such as front- and rear-facing cameras to enable video chat and the ability to run Adobe Flash video software.
Motorola Mobility device team head Alain Mutricy, accepting the award for best gadget at CES, described the Xoom, whose 10.1-inch (25.6-centimeter) screen is about the same size as that of the iPad as the "next generation of tablets."
"Our partnership with Google has been very intense and has enabled some great technology," Mutricy said.
http://news.yahoo.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sony’s 3D Laptop: New F Series VAIO
With the curtain closing on this year’s CES 2011 event, it gives us time to reflect on some of the hottest pieces of tech to look out for. Sony’s new F series 3D VAIO looks like the business and is a gadget that I cannot wait to get my hands on.
A huge amount of the largest electronics companies have brought 3D technology to the table and implemented it in to their devices, with laptops being an addition to TVs, digital cameras, camcorders amongst others. The new F series line of laptops (un)fortunately requires 3D glasses. Many companies like Toshiba and Sony have their glasses free products in production, but they are not ready yet.
The VPCF21Z1E/BI model to be exact, comes packed with plenty of other juicy features as well as the full HD 3D playback. Also included is a 2nd Generation Intel i7 Quad Core processor for ultimate performance and an NVIDIA DX11 graphics card. PC Pro has provided an excellent review on Sony’s laptop and have informed us that the lid is 1cm thick, with the thickest point of the product being 45mm; the VAIO weighs 3.1kg so it is quite a bulky computer that is more suited for home than on the go. One of the best features is that you can change from 2D mode to 3D mode with the push of one button.
The new laptop is not available for a few months, with March being the time that a release is predicted. Unfortunately we dont have any pricing details either; however I can imagine we are looking at the £1500 marker. We have embedded a quick video of the F series laptop for you below. For a full list of specifications, pay a visit to Sony’s website. Also leave us your thoughts on the new VAIO and if you plan to pick one up when it launches.
A huge amount of the largest electronics companies have brought 3D technology to the table and implemented it in to their devices, with laptops being an addition to TVs, digital cameras, camcorders amongst others. The new F series line of laptops (un)fortunately requires 3D glasses. Many companies like Toshiba and Sony have their glasses free products in production, but they are not ready yet.
The VPCF21Z1E/BI model to be exact, comes packed with plenty of other juicy features as well as the full HD 3D playback. Also included is a 2nd Generation Intel i7 Quad Core processor for ultimate performance and an NVIDIA DX11 graphics card. PC Pro has provided an excellent review on Sony’s laptop and have informed us that the lid is 1cm thick, with the thickest point of the product being 45mm; the VAIO weighs 3.1kg so it is quite a bulky computer that is more suited for home than on the go. One of the best features is that you can change from 2D mode to 3D mode with the push of one button.
The new laptop is not available for a few months, with March being the time that a release is predicted. Unfortunately we dont have any pricing details either; however I can imagine we are looking at the £1500 marker. We have embedded a quick video of the F series laptop for you below. For a full list of specifications, pay a visit to Sony’s website. Also leave us your thoughts on the new VAIO and if you plan to pick one up when it launches.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Apple iPhone 5 may Debut with A8 SoC Processor
Apple unveiled the A4 System-on-Chip processor with the iPad launch in January last year. Later the same A4 Chip was used in the iPhone 4, fourth generation iPod touch and second generation Apple TV. Now a Hong Kong based newspaper Apple Daily has reported that Apple is working on the next generation iPhone and has contacted a few Taiwan-based suppliers for the components. It's being speculated that Apple is working on the ARM architecture based A8 System-on-Chip for the iPhone 5 and other devices.
The Apple A4 chip clocked at 1Ghz consists of an ARM Cortex A8 processor core and PowerVR SGX535 graphics crammed on a single die of silicon. It's powerful enough to offer amazing graphics on iPad, iPhone 4, fourth generation iPod touch and second generation Apple TV.
Apple is rumored to have contacted Taiwanese component makers for the A8 SoC packaging. The A8 SoC application processor is planed for the fifth generation iPhone and other devices. There's no detail about the rumored A8 application processor. However, I believe that the A8 SoC chip would consist of a dual-core processor crammed with PowerVR SGX543 graphics on same silicon.
Recent findings from iOS 4.3 as reported by MacRumors pointed out that the future devices will have PowerVR SGX543 graphics. It's the same graphics that was rumored back in March 2009 and Apple was believed to be planning a multi-core iPhone. The PowerVR SGX543 supports dual-core processors and also OpenCL (Open Computing Language) that is used on Apple Mac OS X Snow Leopard. The OpenCL allows the operating system to reap benefits of the GPU for general purpose computing and make the best of CPU-GPU combination. In short, future iOS version used with the A8 SoC comprising of multi-core CPU and powerful graphics would certainly make Apple devices more desirable.
As of now, none of these details are confirmed and hence I have to call them a speculation. Quite possible that details of Apple A8 might have been confused with the ARM Cortex-A8 CPU, which resides in the Apple A4 SoC processor. Nevertheless, a dual-core processor iPhone with powerful graphics chip surely seems like a feasible option for Apple, especially after the CES 2011 that brought us a number of 4-inch screen phones running dual-core 1GHz Nvidia Tegra T20 mobile application processor. We don't mind multi-core smartphones but not at the cost of battery life. We hope Apple comes up with the best of both worlds.
techtree.com
The Apple A4 chip clocked at 1Ghz consists of an ARM Cortex A8 processor core and PowerVR SGX535 graphics crammed on a single die of silicon. It's powerful enough to offer amazing graphics on iPad, iPhone 4, fourth generation iPod touch and second generation Apple TV.
Apple is rumored to have contacted Taiwanese component makers for the A8 SoC packaging. The A8 SoC application processor is planed for the fifth generation iPhone and other devices. There's no detail about the rumored A8 application processor. However, I believe that the A8 SoC chip would consist of a dual-core processor crammed with PowerVR SGX543 graphics on same silicon.
Recent findings from iOS 4.3 as reported by MacRumors pointed out that the future devices will have PowerVR SGX543 graphics. It's the same graphics that was rumored back in March 2009 and Apple was believed to be planning a multi-core iPhone. The PowerVR SGX543 supports dual-core processors and also OpenCL (Open Computing Language) that is used on Apple Mac OS X Snow Leopard. The OpenCL allows the operating system to reap benefits of the GPU for general purpose computing and make the best of CPU-GPU combination. In short, future iOS version used with the A8 SoC comprising of multi-core CPU and powerful graphics would certainly make Apple devices more desirable.
As of now, none of these details are confirmed and hence I have to call them a speculation. Quite possible that details of Apple A8 might have been confused with the ARM Cortex-A8 CPU, which resides in the Apple A4 SoC processor. Nevertheless, a dual-core processor iPhone with powerful graphics chip surely seems like a feasible option for Apple, especially after the CES 2011 that brought us a number of 4-inch screen phones running dual-core 1GHz Nvidia Tegra T20 mobile application processor. We don't mind multi-core smartphones but not at the cost of battery life. We hope Apple comes up with the best of both worlds.
techtree.com
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Dell and T-Mobile USA Unveil Streak 7, Both Companies' First 4G Tablet Offering the Ultimate Entertainment Experience
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 – Today at 2011 International CES, Dell and T-Mobile USA, Inc. unveiled Dell’s new 7-inch Android™ tablet, the Streak™ 7, both companies’ first 4G* capable tablet specifically designed for the super-fast mobile broadband speeds of T-Mobile’s 4G network. The sleek compact form of the Streak 7 combined with T-Mobile’s super-fast 4G mobile broadband network make it the ultimate entertainment hub for families and consumers craving a rich multimedia and web experience both at home and on-the-go.
Portable, passable and easily shared, the Streak 7’s brilliant seven-inch WVGA touch screen with Gorilla® Glass is ideal for Web browsing, streaming video, watching TV and movies, reading books and magazines or playing games virtually anytime, anywhere. The Streak 7 features Google’s™ Android 2.2 operating system, a dual core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and full support for Adobe® Flash® Player. Preloaded with a variety of compelling content and applications from T-Mobile, the Android-powered tablet also has access to more than 100,000 applications, games and widgets from Android Market™.
In addition to a rich entertainment experience, the Streak 7 easily captures and shares life moments with the rear-facing 5 megapixel camera for high-definition stills and video recording. The front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera with the preloaded Qik™ Video Chat application provide video-calling over T-Mobile’s network as well as Wi-Fi to enable spontaneous connections with family and friends.
“Dell is continuing to create the very best in entertainment, mobile and gaming experiences,” said Steve Felice, president of Dell’s Consumer, Small and Medium Business unit. “With Streak 7 on the blazingly fast T-Mobile network, families, students and mobile professionals will gather, share, and find new ways to interact and keep in touch.”
“We’re proud to bring consumers our first 4G tablet, a milestone for T-Mobile, Dell and the industry,” said Cole Brodman, CMO, T-Mobile USA. “As tablets change the way we consume content, T-Mobile’s combination of 4G speeds, breadth of our 4G network, our affordable data plans and compelling new products like the Streak 7 place us in a position to offer the best experience and value for our customers.”
The new Streak 7 will feature Dell’s innovative Stage user interface, which provides a seamless and unified experience for accessing all your favorite content. Later this year, Dell will add syncing to Stage so people can keep their photos, contacts, calendars and other personal content synchronized across their Dell Stage-equipped devices, from tablets to PCs, connected through their home network.
T-MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT AND CONTENT:
The Dell Streak 7 also comes preloaded with unique content and applications to entertain the whole family, including:
T-Mobile TV: live and on-demand TV including live news, sports and full-length entertainment, plus on-demand full episodes of your favorite shows.
BrainPOP: animated educational content embraced by students and trusted by teachers and parents around the globe. BrainPOP brings learning to your fingertips.
Zinio: the largest online newsstand, enabling customers to shop for, search inside, read, share and save digital content in new ways with more than 75,000 digital magazines from 26 countries.
Qik Video Chat: connect with friends and family through T-Mobile’s network and Wi-Fi, unlike some other video-calling solutions that only work through Wi-Fi. With the Streak 7’s front-facing camera paired with Video Chat through Qik, customers can hold video conversations with those who have a Streak 7, or other compatible mobile device, and even broadcast their view through the rear-facing camera.
Additional entertainment applications including Blockbuster, Kindle for Android, Let’s Golf demo, Slacker Radio and Zoodles.
AVAILABILITY INFORMATION:
The new Dell Streak 7 Tablet is expected to be available in the U.S. in the coming weeks at
T-Mobile retail stores, www.t-mobile.com, and direct from Dell.
FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS:
Streak 7 adds to Dell’s rapidly expanding mobility portfolio and represents the first 4G tablet for T-Mobile’s robust mobile broadband product lineup.
Follow conversations on Twitter and in the blogosphere: #Streak7
Key Links:
About Dell:
Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to its customers and uses that insight to make technology simpler and create innovative solutions that simplify daily activities and help people stay entertained, connected and in touch. Learn more at www.dell.com.
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the third quarter of 2010, approximately 130 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.8 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world’s most widely-used digital wireless standards. Today, T-Mobile operates America's largest 4G network, and is delivering a compelling 4G experience across a broad lineup of leading devices in more places than competing 4G services. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com/. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project” and “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates, and projections, and therefore you should not place too much reliance on them. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom’s control, including, without limitation, those factors set forth in “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” contained in Deutsche Telekom’s annual report on Form 20-F filed on February 28, 2008. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, Deutsche Telekom’s actual results may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Deutsche Telekom does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc.
Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.
Android and Android Market are Trademarks of Google, Inc.
* Offers subject to change, not combinable with all other offers. Taxes, shipping, handling and other fees apply. Valid for new U.S. online purchases through the Dell Home Electronics and Accessories site and for phone orders of electronics and accessories purchased without a system only. Free shipping and handling offer available in Continental (except Alaska) U.S. only. Dell reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors.
*T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network not available everywhere. See coverage details at www.T-Mobile.com/coverage. Use of some applications or services may incur separate, additional charges or require a qualifying data plan. Device operating system and preloaded content will utilize a portion of the internal memory.
Portable, passable and easily shared, the Streak 7’s brilliant seven-inch WVGA touch screen with Gorilla® Glass is ideal for Web browsing, streaming video, watching TV and movies, reading books and magazines or playing games virtually anytime, anywhere. The Streak 7 features Google’s™ Android 2.2 operating system, a dual core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and full support for Adobe® Flash® Player. Preloaded with a variety of compelling content and applications from T-Mobile, the Android-powered tablet also has access to more than 100,000 applications, games and widgets from Android Market™.
In addition to a rich entertainment experience, the Streak 7 easily captures and shares life moments with the rear-facing 5 megapixel camera for high-definition stills and video recording. The front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera with the preloaded Qik™ Video Chat application provide video-calling over T-Mobile’s network as well as Wi-Fi to enable spontaneous connections with family and friends.
“Dell is continuing to create the very best in entertainment, mobile and gaming experiences,” said Steve Felice, president of Dell’s Consumer, Small and Medium Business unit. “With Streak 7 on the blazingly fast T-Mobile network, families, students and mobile professionals will gather, share, and find new ways to interact and keep in touch.”
“We’re proud to bring consumers our first 4G tablet, a milestone for T-Mobile, Dell and the industry,” said Cole Brodman, CMO, T-Mobile USA. “As tablets change the way we consume content, T-Mobile’s combination of 4G speeds, breadth of our 4G network, our affordable data plans and compelling new products like the Streak 7 place us in a position to offer the best experience and value for our customers.”
The new Streak 7 will feature Dell’s innovative Stage user interface, which provides a seamless and unified experience for accessing all your favorite content. Later this year, Dell will add syncing to Stage so people can keep their photos, contacts, calendars and other personal content synchronized across their Dell Stage-equipped devices, from tablets to PCs, connected through their home network.
T-MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT AND CONTENT:
The Dell Streak 7 also comes preloaded with unique content and applications to entertain the whole family, including:
T-Mobile TV: live and on-demand TV including live news, sports and full-length entertainment, plus on-demand full episodes of your favorite shows.
BrainPOP: animated educational content embraced by students and trusted by teachers and parents around the globe. BrainPOP brings learning to your fingertips.
Zinio: the largest online newsstand, enabling customers to shop for, search inside, read, share and save digital content in new ways with more than 75,000 digital magazines from 26 countries.
Qik Video Chat: connect with friends and family through T-Mobile’s network and Wi-Fi, unlike some other video-calling solutions that only work through Wi-Fi. With the Streak 7’s front-facing camera paired with Video Chat through Qik, customers can hold video conversations with those who have a Streak 7, or other compatible mobile device, and even broadcast their view through the rear-facing camera.
Additional entertainment applications including Blockbuster, Kindle for Android, Let’s Golf demo, Slacker Radio and Zoodles.
AVAILABILITY INFORMATION:
The new Dell Streak 7 Tablet is expected to be available in the U.S. in the coming weeks at
T-Mobile retail stores, www.t-mobile.com, and direct from Dell.
FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS:
- Brilliant seven-inch WVGA (TFT) touch screen display with Gorilla Glass
- Android 2.2 (Froyo) with Android Market
- Qik video chat with built-in front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam
- Stage User Interface – easy access to the stuff you care about
- Built-in support for T-Mobile’s 4G mobile broadband network and Wi-Fi
- Dual core GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor
- SMS/MMS, SWYPE® virtual keyboard and stereo Bluetooth 2.1 capable
- Support for Adobe® Flash® Player
- Support for Microsoft® Exchange e-mail, contacts and calendar
- 16 GB of internal memory and SD Card slot with support for expandable memory up to 32 GB
- Dimensions: 7.87” x 4.72” x 0.49”
Streak 7 adds to Dell’s rapidly expanding mobility portfolio and represents the first 4G tablet for T-Mobile’s robust mobile broadband product lineup.
Follow conversations on Twitter and in the blogosphere: #Streak7
Key Links:
- Dell Streak 7: Additional Product Information & Images
- Dell Facebook: Join the Conversation
- T-Mobile Dell Streak 7 Product Page
About Dell:
Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to its customers and uses that insight to make technology simpler and create innovative solutions that simplify daily activities and help people stay entertained, connected and in touch. Learn more at www.dell.com.
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the third quarter of 2010, approximately 130 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.8 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world’s most widely-used digital wireless standards. Today, T-Mobile operates America's largest 4G network, and is delivering a compelling 4G experience across a broad lineup of leading devices in more places than competing 4G services. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com/. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project” and “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates, and projections, and therefore you should not place too much reliance on them. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom’s control, including, without limitation, those factors set forth in “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” contained in Deutsche Telekom’s annual report on Form 20-F filed on February 28, 2008. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, Deutsche Telekom’s actual results may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Deutsche Telekom does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc.
Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.
Android and Android Market are Trademarks of Google, Inc.
* Offers subject to change, not combinable with all other offers. Taxes, shipping, handling and other fees apply. Valid for new U.S. online purchases through the Dell Home Electronics and Accessories site and for phone orders of electronics and accessories purchased without a system only. Free shipping and handling offer available in Continental (except Alaska) U.S. only. Dell reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors.
*T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network not available everywhere. See coverage details at www.T-Mobile.com/coverage. Use of some applications or services may incur separate, additional charges or require a qualifying data plan. Device operating system and preloaded content will utilize a portion of the internal memory.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sony intros new VAIO L Series Touch HD PC/TV all-in-one and VAIO F 3D laptop
It's about time Sony brought some of its Bravia learnings over to the VAIO side of things, and both the new L Series all-in-one and VAIO F 3D laptop clearly show Sony's home theater roots. The L Series may appear to be just another multitouch 24-inch AIO, but the display is surrounded by a new infared border that contains shortcuts for closing windows, opening programs or shutting down the machine. What's the point of that? Sony tells us it was built to take advantage of the extra screen real estate and add some easy shortcuts on top of Windows 7. Besides that, the Core i7-powered system has HDMI in and out ports in case you want to just use the system as a display and can be configured with a Blu-ray drive/burner for writing all those recorded Jersey Shore episodes. We told you it was more like a TV than previous versions. Starting at $1,200, the L can be configured to your liking, but all models will come with NVIDIA's latest GeForce GT500M graphics, Dolby Home Theater speakers as well as a wireless keyboard and mouse.
On the more mobile side, Sony's brought its 3D talents down to the 16-inch VAIO F Series. Packing Intel's second generation quad-core Core i7 processors and NVIDIA's latest GeForce GT540M GPU, the F isn't just a mother of a gaming rig, but its built-in 3D transmitter, Full HD 3D LED backlight, and its 1920 x 1080-resolution display provides one heck of a viewing experience. Sony is using NVIDIA's 3D technology at the core, but it's also done some significant tweaking on top to enhance refresh rates and viewing angles. Oh, and did we mention that it has a 3D button to convert 2D video and Blu-ray and DVD to 3D in real time? It's pretty much the multimedia laptop of the year, but be prepared to set aside $1,700. Both the F Series 3D and L Series will be available next month from Sony, but it shouldn't be too long before we can bring you some more impressions from the show floor. Until then enjoy dreaming up what you'd do with either one of these with the shots below and the press releases after the break.
On the more mobile side, Sony's brought its 3D talents down to the 16-inch VAIO F Series. Packing Intel's second generation quad-core Core i7 processors and NVIDIA's latest GeForce GT540M GPU, the F isn't just a mother of a gaming rig, but its built-in 3D transmitter, Full HD 3D LED backlight, and its 1920 x 1080-resolution display provides one heck of a viewing experience. Sony is using NVIDIA's 3D technology at the core, but it's also done some significant tweaking on top to enhance refresh rates and viewing angles. Oh, and did we mention that it has a 3D button to convert 2D video and Blu-ray and DVD to 3D in real time? It's pretty much the multimedia laptop of the year, but be prepared to set aside $1,700. Both the F Series 3D and L Series will be available next month from Sony, but it shouldn't be too long before we can bring you some more impressions from the show floor. Until then enjoy dreaming up what you'd do with either one of these with the shots below and the press releases after the break.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Acer Laptops Show Love for AMD and Intel Single-Die Chips
Acer is not letting new processors from AMD and Intel pass it by, as it launches laptops that range from $450 to $1,600.
Las Vegas –Every time that Intel or AMD announces new chips, Acer is always eager to show its support. At CES 2011, the company launched several laptops based on Intel's next generation Core processors, codenamed Sandy Bridge. The Acer Aspire AS5750, AS7750, and AS8950 will all showcase one of Intel's newest single-die processors, although Intel isn't the only one launching a single-die chip: The Acer Aspire AS5253 is based on AMD's latest Fusion APUs, featuring both processor and graphics on a single-die, in addition to a cellar price.
The biggest laptop in this group is the Aspire AS8950G, an update to the almighty Aspire AS8943G-6782 and a media center laptop equipped with a quad core processor. Acer continues the quad-core tradition by swapping in the latest Intel Core i7-2630QM (the "2" denotes 2nd generation). Combined with 8GB of DDR3 memory (upgradeable to 16GB), "the new 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processor delivers approximately a 20 percent overall performance gain, while its graphics subsystem delivers performance comparable to an entry level discrete graphics card.", says Preeta Anil, a representative from Acer's Product Marketing. If the integrated graphics won't cut it for hardcore gamers, the AS8950 also ships with discrete graphics—ATI's latests Mobility Radeon 6850, with 2GB of video memory.
The AS8950G launch coincides with Dolby's optimized Acer CineSurround sound system that includes five built-in speakers and a dedicated subwoofer. It features dual hard drive support, each one a 750GB drive, for a total of 1.5 Terabytes. A 1,920-by-1,080 resolution on its 18.4-inch widescreen wouldn't be complete without the built-in Blu-Ray drive. And the dual-mode touchpad that came with the AS8943G is carried over to the AS8950G. It won't come cheap, though, as the AS8950G will cost you at least $1,599 when it ships.
The AS5750 and AS7750 are 15 and 17-inch desktop replacements, respectively. They, too, will feature the Intel Core i7-2630QM (2 GHz) quad core processor and up to 6GB of DDR3 memory, but will have different graphics chips: The AS5750 will house nVidia's latest GeForce GT 540M, while the AS7750 will get the ATI Mobility Radeon 6550 or 6660 graphics. Both laptops can switch between the integrated graphics and their respective discrete chips.
With features, the AS5750 comes with a 750GB hard drive, HDMI port, and Dolby's Advanced Audio v2. Because it's a 15-inch widescreen, the AS5750 is stuck with the boilerplate 1,366-by-768 resolution. The AS7750, meanwhile, scales the resolution to 1,600-by-900 because of its 17.3-inch widescreen, and will have Blu-Ray configurations. Prices aren't outrageous, as the AS5750 starts at $899.99, while the AS7750 will sell for $1,029.99.
Dirt cheap laptops are available if you walk into any computer retail shop, but to announce a 15-inch laptop for under $500, at the biggest computer trade show this year, is almost unheard of. The Acer Aspire 5253 rocks AMD's latest Fusion technology – the E-350 (1.6GHz) APU. It comes with 4GB of DDR3 memory and an ATI Mobility Radeon 6310 graphics. It's as a cheap as a netbook, except you're getting a roomy 15.6-inch widescreen and an HDMI port. It's a full size laptop, starting at just $449.99.
pcmag.com
Las Vegas –Every time that Intel or AMD announces new chips, Acer is always eager to show its support. At CES 2011, the company launched several laptops based on Intel's next generation Core processors, codenamed Sandy Bridge. The Acer Aspire AS5750, AS7750, and AS8950 will all showcase one of Intel's newest single-die processors, although Intel isn't the only one launching a single-die chip: The Acer Aspire AS5253 is based on AMD's latest Fusion APUs, featuring both processor and graphics on a single-die, in addition to a cellar price.
The biggest laptop in this group is the Aspire AS8950G, an update to the almighty Aspire AS8943G-6782 and a media center laptop equipped with a quad core processor. Acer continues the quad-core tradition by swapping in the latest Intel Core i7-2630QM (the "2" denotes 2nd generation). Combined with 8GB of DDR3 memory (upgradeable to 16GB), "the new 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7 Processor delivers approximately a 20 percent overall performance gain, while its graphics subsystem delivers performance comparable to an entry level discrete graphics card.", says Preeta Anil, a representative from Acer's Product Marketing. If the integrated graphics won't cut it for hardcore gamers, the AS8950 also ships with discrete graphics—ATI's latests Mobility Radeon 6850, with 2GB of video memory.
The AS8950G launch coincides with Dolby's optimized Acer CineSurround sound system that includes five built-in speakers and a dedicated subwoofer. It features dual hard drive support, each one a 750GB drive, for a total of 1.5 Terabytes. A 1,920-by-1,080 resolution on its 18.4-inch widescreen wouldn't be complete without the built-in Blu-Ray drive. And the dual-mode touchpad that came with the AS8943G is carried over to the AS8950G. It won't come cheap, though, as the AS8950G will cost you at least $1,599 when it ships.
The AS5750 and AS7750 are 15 and 17-inch desktop replacements, respectively. They, too, will feature the Intel Core i7-2630QM (2 GHz) quad core processor and up to 6GB of DDR3 memory, but will have different graphics chips: The AS5750 will house nVidia's latest GeForce GT 540M, while the AS7750 will get the ATI Mobility Radeon 6550 or 6660 graphics. Both laptops can switch between the integrated graphics and their respective discrete chips.
With features, the AS5750 comes with a 750GB hard drive, HDMI port, and Dolby's Advanced Audio v2. Because it's a 15-inch widescreen, the AS5750 is stuck with the boilerplate 1,366-by-768 resolution. The AS7750, meanwhile, scales the resolution to 1,600-by-900 because of its 17.3-inch widescreen, and will have Blu-Ray configurations. Prices aren't outrageous, as the AS5750 starts at $899.99, while the AS7750 will sell for $1,029.99.
Dirt cheap laptops are available if you walk into any computer retail shop, but to announce a 15-inch laptop for under $500, at the biggest computer trade show this year, is almost unheard of. The Acer Aspire 5253 rocks AMD's latest Fusion technology – the E-350 (1.6GHz) APU. It comes with 4GB of DDR3 memory and an ATI Mobility Radeon 6310 graphics. It's as a cheap as a netbook, except you're getting a roomy 15.6-inch widescreen and an HDMI port. It's a full size laptop, starting at just $449.99.
pcmag.com
Toshiba and Sony Sign Memorandum of Understanding for the Transfer of Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities
Tokyo, Japan, December 24, 2010 --- Toshiba Corporation ("Toshiba") and Sony Corporation ("Sony") today announced that they had signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding expressing their intent to transfer from Toshiba to Sony the semiconductor fabrication facilities owned by Toshiba and operated by Nagasaki Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation ("NSM"), a joint venture among Toshiba, Sony and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. ("SCEI"), and, following the contemplated transfer, terminate their NSM joint venture relationship.
NSM, which was established in March 2008 and is located in the Nagasaki Technology Center of Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation ("SCK"), has been manufacturing the high-performance "Cell Broadband Engine™" processor, the graphics engine "RSX" and other high-performance semiconductors and leading-edge SoC (system-on-a-chip) for applications in digital consumer products of Toshiba and Sony. The facilities to be transferred would be the fabrication facilities and equipment for the 300 mm wafer line located within the Nagasaki Technology Center purchased by Toshiba from Sony and SCK and leased to NSM in 2008 and other facilities that Toshiba and Sony will agree to transfer among those in which Toshiba invested in connection with the operation by NSM after the purchase.
After due diligence on the facilities to be transferred and continuing negotiations, Toshiba and Sony aim to execute definitive agreements (with respect to the contemplated transfer of the semiconductor fabrication facilities) as soon as possible before the end of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011. Thereafter, Toshiba and Sony aim to complete the transfer early in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, subject to any necessary government approvals.
Sony Corp.
NSM, which was established in March 2008 and is located in the Nagasaki Technology Center of Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation ("SCK"), has been manufacturing the high-performance "Cell Broadband Engine™" processor, the graphics engine "RSX" and other high-performance semiconductors and leading-edge SoC (system-on-a-chip) for applications in digital consumer products of Toshiba and Sony. The facilities to be transferred would be the fabrication facilities and equipment for the 300 mm wafer line located within the Nagasaki Technology Center purchased by Toshiba from Sony and SCK and leased to NSM in 2008 and other facilities that Toshiba and Sony will agree to transfer among those in which Toshiba invested in connection with the operation by NSM after the purchase.
After due diligence on the facilities to be transferred and continuing negotiations, Toshiba and Sony aim to execute definitive agreements (with respect to the contemplated transfer of the semiconductor fabrication facilities) as soon as possible before the end of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011. Thereafter, Toshiba and Sony aim to complete the transfer early in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, subject to any necessary government approvals.
Sony Corp.
Style Electronics is now authorized Logitech retailer.
Style Electronics is now authorized Logitech retailer. Keyboards, mice, webcams, NEW and REFURBISHED are comming soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)