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Distro's CES 2013 Daily Issue 73.4 is out and so are we
We're cracking up over here -- literally. It's our sixth day of coverage live from CES and the long hours and lack of daylight are playing tricks on us. While the working conditions have not been kind, the news is an entirely different story. We've seen more, written more and generally dived deeper into the bowels of CES to bring you this, our final CES 2013 Daily. Now please excuse us while we curl up in a collective ball and rock gently back and forth until the screaming stops. Distro Issue 73.4 PDFDistro in the iTunes App StoreDistro in the Google Play StoreDistro in the Windows StoreDistro APK (for sideloading)Like Distro on FacebookFollow Distro on Twitter
Romo gen 3 gains Lightning connector, we go hands-on (video)
Remember Romo, the adorable iPhone-faced track-equipped robot? We met up with Romotive in Vegas at CES 2013 to play with the 3rd generation model that was recently launched on Kickstarter. The company also gave us an exclusive first look at a 3rd generation prototype with Lightning connector. We sat down with CEO Keller Rinaudo to discuss the new robot and catch up on what the team's achieved over the past year. As a refresher, we first encountered Romo when we covered it for our Insert Coin feature in October 2011. Back then, the robot used rudimentary analog electronics and plugged into the iPhone's headphone jack. After a successful initial Kickstarter campaign, Romotive moved from Seattle to Las Vegas where we caught up with the team on our stage during CES 2012. The 2nd generation model was available both pre-assembled and it kit form with support for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It was upgraded to digital electronics but still used the audio interface to control its tracks and featured hacker-friendly auxiliary ports. Hit the break for more.
Sony SimulView gets even more bananas in 4K, we go eyes-on
We've seen Sony SimulView in action before -- the system was first unveiled on Sony's tiny 24-inch PlayStation 3D Display back at E3 2011 -- but never quite like this. An 84-inch 4K LED Sony television at CES 2013 upscaled Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 5 to 4K resolution, but instead of employing said resolution for graphics, it was used to deliver two full HD images to two separate players. Those two separate HD feeds are then pumped into the same screen, which can be viewed fully independently by two separate people wearing polarized glasses, all at the same time. Did we lose you? Let's break it down: since 4K TV delivers twice the number of lines vertically as well as horizontally, the television is upscaling GT5's HD visuals by double. Rather than employing those lavish numbers on single player, the duty's divided between each player's video feed, allowing two-player gaming all on one screen. The two images are then overlaid, a la 3D, resulting in a simultaneous feed that looks crazy until you put on polarized glasses. Once you're wearing those glasses, though, you only see one of the two feeds in full HD. It's ... it's kinda messed up. The system is incredibly impressive, but boy is it weird how effectively it works. Even better, it works without the game developer having to actually do anything (other than making a 3D-enabled game, that is) -- the splitting is handled by the television rather than the software. It's similar to systems that LG has in Dual Play and Samsung has in Multi-View, and it's not exactly brand new, but it's as impressive as ever. We've captured a variety of stills and dropped a video after the break showing the system in action, should you wish to join in our amazement.
Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos hands-on (video)
When it comes to Samsung's collection of large-screened phones, the Galaxy Note II (as well as the Galaxy S III) takes the bulk of the mindshare. And while that particular handset is the flagship, the company is still interested in branching out to a market segment that wants a large screen but needs to keep within a limited budget. Welcome the Galaxy Grand Duos (and Grand, a single-SIM version), a 5-inch WVGA device that will likely see most of its time in emerging markets. We had an opportunity to sit down with the Grand Duos for a few minutes, so keep your eyes peeled below for our impressions, as well as a photo gallery and video.
AMD shows off a reference device with a quad-core, x86-based Temash chip
Earlier today AMD's director of global business units marketing, John Taylor, joined us on our CES stage to talk chips. Specifically, tablet chips, and laptop chips, and chips for products that have elements of both. While he was up there, Mr. Taylor flashed a reference device -- a laptop hybrid with the keyboard and touchpad built into the carrying case. Obviously, we weren't satisfied with just a quick tease, so we caught up with him afterward to learn a bit more. As it turns out, it runs a quad-core version of AMD's new Temash chip, which is being billed as the first quad-core, x86-based SoC. (There's also a dual-core version.) Built into the chip is an HD Radeon 8000 series GPU with AMD's Graphics Core Next architecture, so in theory you should be able to pull off PC-caliber gaming even on a tablet. All told, it promises 50 percent more performance than AMD's Hondo processor, which you can find in Vizio's new Windows 8 tablet. Of course, those are just marketing claims, and besides we haven't had a chance to benchmark either a Hondo or a Temash system yet. So, to put that in better context, it might be helpful to hear AMD talk about its competitors. Obviously, Intel is a biggie, but in particular AMD says Temash should be able to compete with Clover Trail tablet chips, going all the way up to Core i3 on laptops. We're told Temash will ship sometime in the first half of this year, and that AMD will be revealing more details about the platform at Mobile World Congress, which kicks off in late February. Until then, we've got hands-on photos of the unit below, along with some performance impressions after the break.
Distro's CES 2013 Daily Issue 73.3 has arrived!
Three, two, one... Contact! We've reached a heightened level of delirium here at Engadget HQ -- this being our eighth day since touch down -- but we've saved just enough of our sanity to bring you the third issue of Distro's CES 2013 Daily. In it you'll find a DJing baby, Motorhead's Lemmy and even a few must-see gadgets from the show floor and beyond. Distro Issue 73.3 PDF Distro in the iTunes App Store Distro in the Google Play Store Distro in the Windows Store Distro APK (for sideloading) Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
Hands-on with Archos' Titanium tablet line (video)
Archos' Platinum line of tablets already got the hands-on treatment from us earlier this week, but today we stopped by Archos' CES 2013 booth one more time to take a look at the similarly named Titanium line. Sadly, the smallest of the quartet wasn't available on the show floor, but we did get a look at the other three tablets on hand, ranging from 8 inches to 10.1. All three feature the same set of internal hardware: a dual-core 1.6GHz Rockchip CPU and an unnamed quad-core GPU. The pre-production units we handled were running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and all feature high-res IPS screens. The 9.7-incher has the highest-res of all, at 2,048 x 1,536 resolution -- and it really shows. Images on that "super high-res" screen looked dramatically nicer than the other two, though the build quality on the 8-inch and 10.1-inch models is noticeably more solid. To be extra clear, the rear on the latter two is a solid metal, while the 9.7-inch is a cheap-feeling plastic. The ports on all three devices looked a bit on the rough side as well -- the mini-HDMI out looked cocked in its port, even. This could of course just be a measure of its display use at CES, but the fact that the port traveled in its slot worried us for sure. In terms of software, the tablets were able to quickly transition from app to app, and games loaded quickly -- we couldn't check its internet capabilities, as WiFi in the Las Vegas Convention Center is less than ideal at the moment. While the hardware wasn't what we'd call top quality, the low price point and performance of the Titanium line more than makes up for it. Take a tour of all three with us in video form, just below the break.
LG's Smart Activity Tracker wields a swipeable touchscreen and smart TV apps, we go hands-on (video)
We've seen our fair share of wearable tech here at CES already and LG is looking to cast its hat in the ring as well. A waltz through the company's booth revealed the Smart Activity Tracker: a device that rests comfortably on the wrist, much like the Nike+ FuelBand or the Jawbone UP. Despite sharing some aesthetic similarities with the former gadget -- like a dotted LED display, USB clasp and soft-touch rubber coating -- LG's model has a few more tricks up its sleeve. First, the Smart Activity Tracker is compatible with both iOS and Android using the Fitness Band app to track, monitor and share your fitness habits (no big surprise given LG's handsets run Google's OS). As you might expect, the wearable touts Bluetooth for connecting to your smartphone and an accelerometer for tracking purposes. However, LG tacked on an altimeter for more accurate location data (the world ain't flat, you know) and the display can show call info during a run while also offering media controls for navigating through those playlists. Speaking of the display, this one is swipeable, allowing the user to cycle through without pressing a button repeatedly. Smart Activity Tracker bands will also sync with LG's smart TVs and fitness apps like Let's Dance to offer a workout from the comforts of your living room. Unfortunately, these aren't scheduled to arrive until sometime in the heat of summer, but when they do, there will be a few color options to suit those personal preferences. For now, a brief demo awaits after the break.
Microsoft Surface Pro hands-on
Even though Microsoft doesn't have a booth at CES this year, that doesn't mean it skipped Vegas altogether. Panos Panay, the general manager for Surface products, is in town, holding meetings with a few members of the media, us included. And he brought some toys with him. Specifically, the forthcoming Surface Pro along with the pressure-sensitive pen that goes with it. We only had a few minutes of hands-on time and in any case, we plan on going into much more detail when we eventually write our review. For now, though, we've got a first look waiting for you past the break. Join us.
Westinghouse's 110-inch 4K television costs $300,000, is built to order (eyes-on)
We must admit, we were a bit surprised when we heard that Westinghouse -- not exactly the first name in HDTV -- would be bringing a 110-inch 4K HDTV to CES. Naturally, once we got to Vegas, we had to see the thing for ourselves. Its size is as impressive as you imagine, and the native-res 4K video looked really good on such a massive screen, with nearly 180-degree viewing angles and vibrant colors. Unfortunately, the unit we saw was an engineering test mule, so the back was all exposed panels and circuit boards and there was some ghosting on the screen itself. However, we were assured that those willing to pony up the obscene $300,000 asking price can get a flaw-free TV custom installed via special order at the end of Q1 of this year. Want to see more of what all those dollars will get you? Check out our gallery of shots below.
Robotex Avatar for Home and Office eyes-on
Unless you have loads of cash at your disposal or work for the federal government, chances are you haven't heard of Robotex. The start-up, featured here at CES 2013's Eureka Alley, specializes in creating automated solutions for a variety of security applications (think: SWAT busts, radiation level monitoring, etc.). Traditionally, these high-end robotic solutions carry a price tag in the tens of thousands, but starting this week, Robotex is targeting the consumer market with its Avatar. Set to retail for $299, the blue tank-like bot links up with iOS devices (an Android version's coming in Q1) via USB to communicate with a companion app over Bluetooth 4.0 for remote monitoring. In its current incarnation, the Avatar doesn't do much apart from offering telepresence -- authenticated by the company's servers -- but the robot has been designed to be open source. To that end an SDK and HDK will be made available allowing tinkerers to craft up their own innovations. Unfortunately, due to the abundance of wireless signals here at the show, Robotex's reps weren't able to get the Avatar up and moving around the floor. But in a typical home environment, users should expect to get up to an hour and a half of "driving" time out of the robot. There's no video of the Avatar in action, so instead, check out the gallery below.
NVIDIA's Tegra 4 reference tablet hands-on at CES 2013 (video)
During our on-stage broadcast with NVIDIA, while we got another look at Project Shield, we were also surprised by the appearance of NVIDIA's new Tegra 4 reference tablet. Previously out of reach over at the chipmaker's CES space, we got to exclusively handle it and play some Riptide GP 2 (another first). The device -- which won't ever make its way to consumers -- was incredibly light, while the 16:9 11-inch display beamed out Android 4.2. There's a raft of ports for developers to meddle with, including micro-USB, HDMI and storage expansion, as well as some indentations for docks and fixtures. In our hands, it's unerringly light -- and the NVIDIA guys seemed pretty proud when we mentioned that. Performance on the game and basic navigations was unsurprisingly very slick -- the game we tried was developed specifically for NVIDIA's new mobile chip. However, we weren't able to steal a glance at the web browser or other functionality, but we're likely to see and hear a lot more next month at Mobile World Congress. After the break, we've got some playtime with Riptide 2 and a video tour of the device. %Gallery-175577% Note: In the video, we mention that the device is running Ice Cream Sandwich, but it's actually running Jelly Bean. Apologies for the error.
Eyes-on with Valve's Steambox prototypes
The Steamboxes are here! Well ... sort of. The prototypes for various Steambox designs are certainly here at CES 2013, and we just spent a grip of time acquainting our lenses very closely with them. The devices range in size and form factor, as well as origin -- several of the devices we saw originate from Valve internal, but inclusions like Alienware's X51 and Digital Storm's Bolt were also being held up as examples of the ongoing "Steam in your living room" initiative (note: all the controllers are off-the-shelf Logitech wireless devices, not prototypes). The idea here, as Valve hardware engineer Jeff Keyzer told us, was to show off a variety of form factors for living room-friendly designs. We'll have more from our meeting later today, but for now you can feast your eyes on the elegant prototypes -- as well as Xi3's Piston, and the aforementioned other two third-party PCs -- that we'll be sure to see more of as 2013 goes on. Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report.
Samsung names flexible OLED display series 'Youm', shows new prototype handheld device
Samsung wasn't done with CES. During its second CES event, it just announced that it will brand its new series of flexible OLED displays Youm. Better still, the company brought on a handheld prototype that was all sorts of flexible. We then got a glimpse of a quick concept video where what appeared to be a phone proceeded to fold out to transform into a tablet. The prototype Youm device also had a screen that stretched beyond the front of the device, meaning that you'll be able to see notifications and widget content even when the device is laid down flat. Update: A glimpse of the video has posted to YouTube, check it out after the break.
Distro's CES 2013 Daily Issue 73.2: 4K TVs, celebrity sightings and a giant robotic spider
With calluses forming on our fingertips as we pound away at our well-worn keyboards, we bring you the second installation of Distro's CES 2013 Daily. Our eyes may be having a hard time focusing on the real world, what with all of the 4K displays we've been staring at, but there's plenty more to see in this issue than the UHD screens that have dominated this year's show. We'll keep it short, but leave you with this to whet your appetite: giant robotic spiders! Distro Issue 73.2 PDF Distro in the iTunes App Store Distro in the Google Play Store Distro in the Windows Store Distro APK (for sideloading) Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
Pebble smartwatch hands-on (video)
It's hard to believe that nine months have elapsed since we first wrote about Pebble. The smartwatch quickly became one of Kickstarter's most successful campaigns -- raising $10 million in a few short weeks -- only to miss its original shipping date. We knew things were looking up when the device recently cleared the FCC and today at CES 2013, Allerta confirmed that Pebble will be shipping to its backers on January 23rd. We spent some time with the smartwatch here in Las Vegas and came away extremely impressed with the level of polish the company's achieved. Pebble's most visually striking feature is its colorful multi-layer polycarbonate face / bezel, which looks fantastic. The device is incredibly light (just 38.2g / 1.35oz) but still manages to feel solid. Build-quality is top-notch -- Allerta's clearly put a lot of care into the hardware. The sides and back are black and completely sealed (Pebble is water-resistant to five atmospheres). On the right side you'll find the up, select and down buttons, while the left side is home to the back button and a magnetic power connector, à la MagSafe. Speaking of which, battery life is rated for a lofty seven days per charge. More after the break.
Lenovo K900 is the first Intel Clover Trail+ phone, boasts 5.5-inch 1080p screen and 13MP cam (hands-on)
Much like how Lenovo's K800 was unveiled as the first Intel Medfield phone last CES, this year the manufacturer pulled another first with the K900, powered by Intel's recently-announced Clover Trail+ platform (likely an Atom Z2580 clocked at 2GHz). For those who missed the Intel keynote, Clover Trail+ is the much improved yet still secretive successor to the relatively quiet Medfield, though it is odd that Lenovo only says "the forthcoming Intel Atom processor platform for smartphones" instead of just "Clover Trail+" in the press release. Anyhow, said Android device comes with many mouth-watering features: 5.5-inch 1080p IPS display, Gorilla Glass 2, 13-megapixel F1.8 camera with dual flash, and a front-facing imager with an 88-degree super wide viewing angle. 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage add to the package. As with many Lenovo phones, there will also be three capacitive touch buttons below the screen. All of this goodness comes in a handsome 6.9mm-thick body that consists of stainless steel alloy plus polycarbonate, and together they weigh just 162g. Little else has been unveiled about the K900 so far, but it'll be available in China from April. Update: We've just gotten up close and personal with the Lenovo K900 and it's certainly an impressive piece of kit. This 5.5-inch 1080p device touts a low magnetic property steel in combination with polycarbonate to offer users lavish style without compromising on antenna reception. Depending on the model -- four colors in all -- users will be treated to a striped brushing or, in the case of the Diamond Plate model, a very reflective gem-like design on back. For more of these first impressions of Lenovo's K900, follow on after the break. Joseph Volpe, Ben Gilbert and Zach Honig contributed to this report.
Sony CEO Kaz Hirai talks 4K, Xperia Z, death of the PS2 and more at CES 2013 (video)
4K TVs and streaming? The Xperia Z? The death of the PlayStation 2? Just a few topics of conversation as our own Editor-in-chief Tim Stevens sat down for a one-on-one interview with Sony CEO Kaz Hirai. We won't waste any more of your time here -- head on past the break to watch the full video!
Distro's CES 2013 Daily Issue 73.1 is hot off the digital press
Today may be the official first day of the rest of our lives CES, but we've already seen plenty of touchscreen laptops and UHD TVs. We've run ourselves ragged, covering every last bit of news worth your time, but we understand not everyone has the wherewithal to read every last post we've published since Sunday night. So, in the interest of keeping you informed (and entertained) we present to you issue 73.1, our very first Distro CES 2013 Daily, published from our trailer at the biggest gadget show on Earth. For more from the madhouse, check back tomorrow for version 73.2. Distro Issue 73.1 PDF Distro in the iTunes App Store Distro in the Google Play Store Distro in the Windows Store Distro APK (for sideloading) Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
Panasonic 4K tablet prototype hands on (update: video)
The Panasonic liveblog was barely finished when we saw this beauty calling out to us from the show floor. This is Panasonic's 20" 4K tablet, running Windows 8. It's a prototype design right now, but seemed to be pretty well put together, and not something quickly knocked up for the show. Given that it's not a full release model, details on specifications are sparse, but we can tell you that as well as that truly jaw dropping display, there is a front facing camera (no details on resolution, but possibly 2-megapixel), and an Intel Core i5 running the show. Input / output wise there wasn't a lot going on, but there was micro-USB, microSD and at least WiFi. If you're thinking that that display is going to pretty much keep you tethered to a wall to keep it powered, then we were told that it will at least give you two hours of use on the go. Panasonic also told us that Anoto digital writing technology features in the tablet, which makes sense given that -- judging by the display section for this device -- that the tablet is aimed at marketing professionals, architects, photographers and other such business users. Given the tablet's size, it's not the sort of thing you are likely to be slinging in a rucksack and taking out on the road. That said, in our time with it, picking it up and moving it about wasn't terrible, and you can imagine swanky design houses and media companies lining the walls of their offices with these things. No word on price or availability, but Panasonic were confident that this would make it to production.
