Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[CeBIT 2012 wrap-up]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/cebit-2012-wrap-up/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/cebit-2012-wrap-up/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/cebit-2012-wrap-up/#comments For better or worse, our week in the frigid German city of Hannover has come to a close, bringing with it the end of this locale's days-long tourist season. All of the local highlights were in the region's Messe, and were focused around CeBIT, which draws visitors from every corner of the globe. There's no question that IT remains the focus of this giant European trade show, but buried amongst the servers, point-of-sale terminals and countless cloud-based solutions were a handful of gems. Ultrabooks stole the show from a CE perspective, with Intel's touchscreen-equipped solution making its hands-on debut, but we also came across a multitude of tablets, and even a pink Samsung Galaxy Note. We also spent some time wandering a virtual living room with a pair of head-tracking VR glasses, played a classic arcade game using only our mind (and our eyes), and got a front-seat demo of Audi's new gesture-based entertainment system, which lets you navigate your car while focusing on the road. We've gathered all of these demos and more for an inside look at everything CeBIT, which you'll find just past the break. Now, it's time for one more currywurst before we make our way back home.

Gallery: CeBIT 2012 wrap-up

Continue reading CeBIT 2012 wrap-up

CeBIT 2012 wrap-up originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2012Cebit2012germangermanyHannoverHannover germanyHannoverGermanytrade showtrade showsTradeShowTradeShowsThu, 08 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tobii EyeAsteroids 3D lets you destroy virtual space stones with a gaze, we go eyes-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/tobii-eyeasteroids-3d-eye-tracking-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/tobii-eyeasteroids-3d-eye-tracking-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/tobii-eyeasteroids-3d-eye-tracking-hands-on/#comments We've touched and tapped our way through a variety of gadgets at CeBIT, but it's the devices that operate without traditional user interfaces that have really grabbed our focus. Tobii was on-hand to demonstrate its eye-tracking technology earlier this year at CES, but the company is peddling its wares here in Hannover as well, and we decided to drop by for a second look. This time, it's all about gaming, with EyeAsteroids drawing quite a bit of attention on the show floor. The demo pairs Tobii with a SeeFront glasses-free 3D panel for a fairly engaging extraterrestrial shootout. We weren't really sold on the glasses-free 3D, unfortunately, which provides the same unconvincing three-dimensional image from any angle, but Tobii was spot-on, letting us hone in on those infamous space rocks to save our planet from destruction without even raising a finger.

Like SeeFront's display, you're able to make visual selections from any angle (within reason) just as easily as you can from directly in front of the panel. There's a seconds-long calibration process each time you start the game, so Tobii can locate your eyes and pair your pupil orientation with a target on the screen. After that, it's open season -- you simply focus on an asteroid to destroy it, and you can add your name to the leader board and navigate menus as well, just as we saw with the Windows 8 demo back at CES. Is this the future of gaming? That remains to be seen, and while the eye-tracking seemed to work just as described, old school gamers will likely prefer tilting a joystick and (violently) tapping on arcade buttons. We still had a lot of fun playing without using our hands, though, as you'll see in our glare-filled demo just past the break.

Gallery: Tobii EyeAsteroids 3D hands-on

Continue reading Tobii EyeAsteroids 3D lets you destroy virtual space stones with a gaze, we go eyes-on (video)

Tobii EyeAsteroids 3D lets you destroy virtual space stones with a gaze, we go eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dasteroidscebitcebit 2012Cebit2012eye trackingeye-trackingeye-tracking technologyEye-trackingTechnologyeyeasteroidsEyeTrackinggazegaze uiGazeUiglasses freeglasses free 3dGlassesFreeGlassesFree3dhands-oninterfaceseefronttobiitobii eye trackingtobii eye-trackingTobiiEye-trackingTobiiEyeTrackinguser interfaceUserInterfacevideoThu, 08 Mar 2012 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Viota ICS tablet has 9.7-inch IPS display and costs $120 wholesale, we go hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/vitoa-ics-tablet-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/vitoa-ics-tablet-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/vitoa-ics-tablet-hands-on/#comments It's no surprise that notebooks, Ultrabooks and tablets were pretty much the flavors of the day here at CeBIT, and we've already picked out a few choice selections. So, we're bringing you a second OEM Android tablet, but we liked the sound of it so much, we just had to give it a try. Chinese manufacturers certainly seem to be embracing the 9.7-inch form-factor, and that's what we have here. That translates to a 1024 x 768-pixel display, which benefits from in-plane switching (IPS) for improved viewing angles. Sadly, it's another absolute fingerprint magnet, so you'll need to keep your cloth handy or learn to live with it. We barely handled it at all, and we'd already given the feds enough to catch us several times over.

The innards are pretty modest, with a "Boxchip" A10 1.5GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 4 gigs of internal memory, but it seemed to run just fine. We were handling an engineering sample at the show, which meant there were a few visual blemishes, but reps promised that they won't find their way into production versions. Unlike other budget (and some not-so-budget) slabs, this one has a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and a relatively impressive 5-megapixel shooter around the back, supported by a 6,000mAh battery -- which the makers promise provides up to 8 hours of use. Getting out on to the internet can be done via WiFI (802.11b/g/n), or over 3G by popping in a SIM. The all-plastic finish has a few quirks, like the power button sitting next to the camera, but it doesn't look all-together bad given what you're paying -- well, what OEMs will be paying, at least, considering that this tab won't be shipping directly to consumers. As always, we took it for a quick spin, which you can see in the video just after the break.

Gallery: Viota $120 IPS ICS tablet hands-on

Continue reading Viota ICS tablet has 9.7-inch IPS display and costs $120 wholesale, we go hands-on (video)

Viota ICS tablet has 9.7-inch IPS display and costs $120 wholesale, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>android tabletAndroidTabletcebitCebit2012hands-onipsIPS displayIpsDisplayoemtabletvideoviotaviota M970viota tabletViotaM970ViotaTabletWed, 07 Mar 2012 12:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Yitoa M9704 9.7-inch ICS tablet has a keyboard that doubles as a case, we go hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/yitoa-m9704-9-7-inch-ics-tablet-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/yitoa-m9704-9-7-inch-ics-tablet-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/yitoa-m9704-9-7-inch-ics-tablet-hands-on/#comments Hall 17 at CeBIT in Hannover could just as well be downtown Shenzhen. Step inside its cavernous walls, and the air lights up with the sound of chirpy pop music, and excited sales chatter. But once you tune out the aural assault and look past the swathe of Gingerbread MIDs, you might just find yourself a catch. This M9704 9.7-inch, Android 4.0 slate from Yitoa is one such get. Okay, so it won't be winning any awards for original design, but with a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 processor and 1GB of RAM -- all for $120 -- we were certainly curious to know more. The first thing you might notice from the pictures is the combination keyboard and case. It might not be the only time we've seen something like this, but it's the first we've seen that offers it as a standard accessory.

Look up from that keyboard, however, and you'll be staring at a fingerprint-hugging 9.7-inch 1024 x 768-pixel capacitive touchscreen. There are two cameras; up front there's a very modest 0.3-megapixel affair, with 2-megapixels around the back. Connectivity-wise, there's only WiFi on board, but you do get 802.11n, as well as good 'ole b/g -- all powered by a 3,000mAh battery. It's always hard to tell what the final build will be like with OEM products, but the metal finish on the rear and glossy screen up front certainly look the part, and in our hands-on, it felt as solid as any other tab in this price range -- perhaps even a little better. It's important to point out that the $120 asking-price is for wholesale orders, so you can expect there to be a mark-up of some kind if this ever hits the stores in the U.S. If you want to get a taste of it in action, hit up the hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: Yitoa M9704 ICS tablet hands-on

Continue reading Yitoa M9704 9.7-inch ICS tablet has a keyboard that doubles as a case, we go hands-on (video)

Yitoa M9704 9.7-inch ICS tablet has a keyboard that doubles as a case, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid tabletAndroidTabletcebitcebit 2012Cebit2012chinahands-onIce Cream SandwichIceCreamSandwichICSOEMtabletvideowholesaleyitoayitoa m9704YitoaM9704Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Archos Arnova 7-inch Child Pad hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/archos-arnova-child-pad-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/archos-arnova-child-pad-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/archos-arnova-child-pad-hands-on/#comments It might not quite be the hottest tablet news of the day, but we managed to catch a glimpse of the Arnova "designed by Archos" Child Pad on the floor here at CeBIT. Last time we saw this slate it was nothing but a render and a few specifications, but now we know a little more. First, there's a MicroUSB port and a front-facing camera, so your little darlings can be uploading pictures to Facebook even before that pacifier has dried for the last time. There's a microSD slot too, so you can load up an extra 32 gigs of Barney re-runs, if the 4GB internal storage isn't enough. The model we saw was a special edition "Alvin" version, which comes pre-loaded with bonus chipmunk-related content, such as special themes, wallpapers and, well, you get the picture.

The 7-inch, 800 x 480-pixel touchscreen is resistive -- which might be a bit of a dirty word these days -- but considering the intended audience, it's probably a fine choice. Our prods and pokes were met responsively enough, and Ice Cream Sandwich seemed to run just fine on the modest 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor with 1GB of RAM. Archos claims you'll get eight hours of video playback, or 16 hours of music per battery charge, and we assume that's with the 802.11b/g wireless turned off. The plastic finish actually looks pretty good, and will wipe free of jam and chips easy enough. Also, the back has a rubberized feel that should help prevent it from slipping from those juvenile paws. It's penciled in for release in April, and the real kicker here is the price. The €99 (about $129) price tag might not quite be pocket-change, but it's pretty darn close. See Alvin and our hands-on after the break.

Gallery: Archos Arnova Child Pad hands-on

Continue reading Archos Arnova 7-inch Child Pad hands-on (video)

Archos Arnova 7-inch Child Pad hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidarchosarchos child padArchosChildPadarnovaarnova child padArnovaChildPadcebitcebit 2012Cebit2012child friendlychild padchild-friendly tabletChild-friendlyTabletChildFriendlyChildPadhands-onIce Cream SandwichIceCreamSandwichICStabletvideowifiWed, 07 Mar 2012 09:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Fujitsu Lifebook UH572 with Ivy Bridge hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/fujitsu-lifebook-uh572-ivy-bridge-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/fujitsu-lifebook-uh572-ivy-bridge-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/fujitsu-lifebook-uh572-ivy-bridge-hands-on/#comments We've seen plenty of laptops here at CeBIT, but not so many with an Ivy Bridge processor inside. Yep, that Fujitsu you see coyly sunning itself in the Intel business center above is a fully paid-up member of that most exclusive of Intel gangs. Predictably, as we're a few months out from any official unveiling, the normal pre-production caveats apply, but we can't deny it's nice to finally see some Ivy Bridge action. We only had a limited time with the 1.5GHz notebook, and neither Intel or Fujitsu were able to share any more about what might actually make it out to market, but part number spotters (you know who you are) might want to jot down Intel IVY 2c 4MB 17W GT2 in your journals, as this is what we found on the underside.

As for the rest of the notebook, well there's a pair of USB 3.0 ports, ready to serve, as well as HDMI and other essentials (power, headphone and USB 2.0). The 320GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM are as likely to change as the weather, but that's what was in the machine before us. Needless to say the form factor is small, light and the build was typical of the Fujitsu laptops that we've seen before (considering this is a prototype). Will we see this exact model make it to production? Our magic 8 ball says "only time will tell." Be sure to check the video after the break for our hands-on.

Gallery: Fujitsu Lifebook UH572 hands-on

Continue reading Fujitsu Lifebook UH572 with Ivy Bridge hands-on (video)

Fujitsu Lifebook UH572 with Ivy Bridge hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2012Cebit2012fujitsuFujitsu LifeBookFujitsu LifeBook uh572FujitsuLifebookFujitsuLifebookUh572hands-onintelIntel Ivy BridgeIntelIvyBridgeivy bridgeIvyBridgelaptoplifebook UH572LifebookUh572notebookUH572videoWed, 07 Mar 2012 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel Ivy Bridge touchscreen Ultrabook reference design hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/intel-ivy-bridge-touchscreen-ultrabook-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/intel-ivy-bridge-touchscreen-ultrabook-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/intel-ivy-bridge-touchscreen-ultrabook-hands-on/#comments Interested in replacing both your tablet and that clunky notebook with a svelte all-in-one portable? Intel might have just the gadget for you -- an Ivy Bridge Ultrabook with a built-in 13.3-inch 1600 x 900-pixel capacitive-touch LCD. We happened upon such a device in the bowels of Intel's gaming-centric CeBIT booth, and had a chance to go hands-on with the company's one and only (at this show, at least) reference design touchscreen Ultrabook. The device we saw appeared to be no larger or thicker than similar portables, but integrated a gorgeous 13.3-inch touchscreen, along with that elusive 1.5GHz Ivy Bridge processor. Unfortunately Intel was mum on detailed specs, though the prototype we saw did include a pair of USB 3.0 ports, SIM and SD card slots, and an HDMI port. And according to the system info page, the touch feature supports up to 10 individual input points. We're also told that there might be NFC functionality on-board, though the only visible confirmation of this hardware feature was a piece of medical tape with the letters "NFC" inscribed.

The touch functionality worked just as expected -- if you've used touch on a high-end tablet before, you're already familiar with the experience here. We were able to navigate the installed Zinio app with ease, flicking through magazine pages and pinch-and-zooming our way around a cover. You can of course use the touchscreen to adjust system settings, drag-and-drop files or input text with the on-screen keyboard, though we found the trackpad and hardware keyboard to be more practical here. Overall, this appears to be a no-compromise solution -- it will surely add to the manufacturing cost for next-gen Ultrabooks, but if you opt for a touch-equipped model only to find that you prefer traditional input controls, there's not much lost on the feature front. And, if you do happen to enjoy flicking your way around a notebook, you're definitely in for a treat. You'll find our hands-on video just past the break.

Gallery: Intel Ivy Bridge touchscreen Ultrabook hands-on

Continue reading Intel Ivy Bridge touchscreen Ultrabook reference design hands-on (video)

Intel Ivy Bridge touchscreen Ultrabook reference design hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 07:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capacitivecapacitive touchcapacitive touchscreenCapacitiveTouchCapacitiveTouchscreencebitcebit 2012Cebit2012hands-onintelintel ivy bridgeintel reference designintel touchscreenintel ultrabookIntelIvyBridgeIntelReferenceDesignIntelTouchscreenIntelUltrabookivy bridgeIvyBridgelaptoplaptopsnotebooknotebooksprotoprototypereference designReferenceDesigntouchtouchscreentouchscreen laptoptouchscreen notebooktouchscreen ultrabookTouchscreenLaptopTouchscreenNotebookTouchscreenUltrabookultrabookvideoWed, 07 Mar 2012 07:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Gigabyte U2442 Ultrabook hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/gigabyte-u2442-ultrabook-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/gigabyte-u2442-ultrabook-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/gigabyte-u2442-ultrabook-hands-on/#comments First they announce, then we touch. Such is the way of the technology trade show. In our eager paws this time is the U2442 Ultrabook from Gigabyte. Strangely, it was running Windows 8 Consumer Preview, which is all good and well, but the 1600 x 900 pixel display wasn't being shown to its full potential. A shame, as it would have been nice to see how the latest Microsoft OS might actually look in real use. The device itself is a mix of aluminum and plastic, which gives it a mixed-quality feel, and there's definitely some weight to the Ultrabook, although it's nowhere near the heaviest laptop we saw today.

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

Gallery: Gigabyte Ultrabook U2442 hands-on

Continue reading Gigabyte U2442 Ultrabook hands-on (video)

Gigabyte U2442 Ultrabook hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2012Cebit2012gigabytegigabyte u2442gigabyte u2442ngigabyte u2442vGigabyteP2542gGigabyteU2442GigabyteU2442nGigabyteU2442vhands-onivy bridgeIvyBridgeu2442u2442nu2442vvideoTue, 06 Mar 2012 13:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/zeiss-cinemizer-oled-head-tracking-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/zeiss-cinemizer-oled-head-tracking-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/zeiss-cinemizer-oled-head-tracking-hands-on/#comments The Carl Zeiss Cinemizer OLED has been a long time in the making -- we first heard about the video glasses at Macworld in 2008 -- but the company has yet to push the head-mounted display past the prototype phase. We stumbled upon Zeiss' booth here at CeBIT, where we found a version of the glasses that look mighty similar to the mock-up we saw in marketing materials from 2010, but are now equipped with a pair of head-tracking modules to expand the yet-to-be released marvel's practicality. With head-tracking now on board, the Cinemizer can theoretically appeal to gamers, architects, even educators, who can use the glasses in the classroom.

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

Gallery: Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on

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

Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CADCarl ZeissCarl Zeiss Cinemizer OLEDCarlZeissCarlZeissCinemizerOledcebitcebit 2012Cebit2012CinemizerCinemizer OLEDCinemizerOleddisplaydisplaysglasseshands-onhead mounthead mountedhead mounted displayhead-mounted displayHead-mountedDisplayHeadMountHeadMountedHeadMountedDisplayHMDHUDinrealinreal CADInrealCadOLEDOLED glassesOledGlassesvideovideo glassesVideoGlassesvirtual realityVirtualRealityVRzeissTue, 06 Mar 2012 11:06:00 EST<![CDATA[MSI outs new GT60 / GT70 gaming laptops, we go hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/msi-gt60-gt70-gaming-laptops-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/msi-gt60-gt70-gaming-laptops-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/msi-gt60-gt70-gaming-laptops-hands-on/#comments MSI already popped up on the rumor-radar this week, and now it's confirmed a pair of new gaming laptops at CeBIT. The main difference between the new boys -- that we can see so far, at least -- is the display, with the GT70 sporting 17 inches against the GT60's 15. Both rock an eye-tingling rainbow-effect "SteelSeries" keyboard, as well as some gaming focused hardware. If one hard drive simply isn't enough, then the G-series' support for two SSDs in a RAID 0 configuration, alongside a regular HD, should definitely keep you going -- and support for up to 32 gigs of RAM should help things tick along nicely. We don't have detailed processor specs to share, unfortunately, and the models that MSI had on-hand at the show were simply mock-ups with older components.

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

Gallery: MSI GT60 and GT70 gaming notebooks hands-on

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

MSI outs new GT60 / GT70 gaming laptops, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2012Cebit2012g-seriesgaminggaming laptopGamingLaptophands-onivy bridgeIvyBridgelaptoplaptopsMSIMSI g-seriesMSI gt60MSI GT70MsiG-seriesMsiGt60MsiGt70raidssdsteelseriesvideoTue, 06 Mar 2012 10:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Audi A3 with MMI Touch gesture-based entertainment system hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/audi-a3-with-mmi-touch-gesture-system-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/audi-a3-with-mmi-touch-gesture-system-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/audi-a3-with-mmi-touch-gesture-system-hands-on/#comments CeBIT isn't an auto show in the traditional sense, but we are in Germany after all, so we weren't terribly surprised to see Audi roll up with a brand new car. The latest A3 made its worldwide debut today, bringing with it that wheel-based menu navigation interface we saw in its prototype phase. The touchpad sits atop the jog-wheel and shrinks things down considerably compared to the original version found in the 7-series. To keep things nice and safe, Audi devised a system that recognizes letters you draw with your finger, enabling drivers keep their eyes on the road while selecting music, making calls or setting a destination in the GPS. Also, as is apparently the norm these days, there's Facebook and Twitter integration -- the car can even read updates as you drive. If you know, you can't wait until you're parked.

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

Gallery: Audi A3 gesture-based entertainment system hands-on

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

Audi A3 with MMI Touch gesture-based entertainment system hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a3audiaudi a3AudiA3capacitive touchCapacitiveTouchcebitcebit 2012Cebit2012controlshands-onin carin car electronicsIn Car EntertainmentInCarInCarElectronicsInCarEntertainmentinfotainmentmmiMMI touchMmiTouchmobilepostcrosstouchtouchwheelvideoTue, 06 Mar 2012 10:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer Aspire V3 notebook hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/acer-aspire-v3-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/acer-aspire-v3-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/acer-aspire-v3-hands-on/#comments Hot off the tails of the Aspire V5 is another new release from Acer. This time it's the Aspire V3 notebook, which comes in any one of three configurations, with 14, 15.6 and 17.3-inch screens in-tow. Each variation will be powered by an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processor, with NVIDIA GeForce GT series graphics throwing up the visuals. As with the V5, specs are difficult to come by at this point, though Acer has confirmed that the 17.3-inch model will include a 1600 x 900 pixel display. There's Blu-ray, HDMI, Bluetooth 4.0 and USB 3.0 on board, as well as support for SSD and hard drive combos (17.3-inch model only). Aesthetically, it'll launch in three colors (black, gold and gray) when it eventually debuts in Q2 of this year. Pricing starts at €400 (about $520) for the entry-level spec, rising to €900 (roughly $1180) at the top end.

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

Gallery: Acer Aspire V3 hands-on

Continue reading Acer Aspire V3 notebook hands-on (video)

Acer Aspire V3 notebook hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceracer aspireAcer aspire v3acer v3AcerAspireAcerAspireV3AcerV3aspire v3AspireV3Blu-Raycebitcebit 2012Cebit2012hands-onhdmlintelintel core i3intel core i5intel core i7IntelCoreI3IntelCoreI5IntelCoreI7laptoplaptopsnotebookssdusb 3.0Usb3.0videoTue, 06 Mar 2012 08:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer launches Ultrabook-like Aspire V5 series, we go hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/acer-ultrabook-v5-series-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/acer-ultrabook-v5-series-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/acer-ultrabook-v5-series-hands-on/#comments After trotting out some mobile fare at MWC, Acer hasn't pulled in the reigns on its new product horse, announcing its new V5 notebook this morning at CeBIT. Yes, notebook. At 30 percent slimmer than the class it replaces, these are still trim machines. The 11.6-inch model is only 15mm thick, which is way into Ultrabook territory, while the 14- and 15-inch models land at 21 and sub-23mm respectively. It's Intel on the inside, including Core i3 and Core i5 processors, with NVIDIA GeForce GT series on-board to handle graphics. Release is penciled in for Q2, and pricing is expected to range from €499 to €699 (about $650 to $920). If you're in the market for something a bit less expensive but you're into the V5's design, you might take notice of the Aspire One netbook, which is set to use the same chassis but will ship with Intel Pentium and Celeron processors instead, with pricing estimated between €399 and €449 (about $525 to $590).

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

Gallery: Acer Aspire V5 hands-on

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

Acer launches Ultrabook-like Aspire V5 series, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceracer aspireacer aspire oneacer aspire v5acer v5AcerAspireAcerAspireOneAcerAspireV5AcerV5cebitcebit 2012Cebit2012hands-onintelintel core i3intel core i5IntelCoreI3IntelCoreI5laptoplaptopsnetbooknotebooksandybridgeultrabookv5videoTue, 06 Mar 2012 06:58:00 EST<![CDATA[ROCCAT Power-Grid app, Phobo gaming keyboard shift PC controls to your phone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/roccat-power-grid-app-phobo-gaming-keyboard-shift-pc-controls-t/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/roccat-power-grid-app-phobo-gaming-keyboard-shift-pc-controls-t/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/roccat-power-grid-app-phobo-gaming-keyboard-shift-pc-controls-t/#comments ROCCAT Power-Grid app, Phobo gaming keyboard shift PC controls to your phoneRazer's switchblade concept may not have made it out of CES 2011, but its dynamic, adaptive keys lived on, both in the outfit's Star Wars: The Old Republic keyboard and Blade laptop. The hardware is slick, to be sure, but what if you could snag similar functionality for free from your local app marketplace? That's what ROCCAT hopes to deliver with its newly announced Power-Grid application. In addition to providing quick-key hungry gamers with a programmable touchscreen grid of applications and in-game macros, the handheld suite will let iOS and Android users monitor their gaming PC's vital statistics (such as CPU status, RAM usage, hard drive space, etc), manage Facebook, TeamSpeak, Skype and Twitter traffic, and even fine tune their audio settings -- all without the need to minimize their game.

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

Gallery: ROCCAT Power-Grid app and Phobo gaming keyboard press shots

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

ROCCAT Power-Grid app, Phobo gaming keyboard shift PC controls to your phone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activity monitorActivityMonitorapp marketplaceapplicationsAppMarketplaceappsCeBITcebit 2012Cebit2012gamingkeyboardmacrosmonitorPhobophobo keyboardPhoboKeyboardPower-GridProject PhoboProjectPhoboROCCATvideo gamesVideoGamesTue, 06 Mar 2012 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gigabyte unveils U2442 ultrabooks and P2542G gaming laptop at CeBIT]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/gigabyte-unveils-u2442-ultrabooks-and-p2542g-gaming-laptop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/gigabyte-unveils-u2442-ultrabooks-and-p2542g-gaming-laptop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/gigabyte-unveils-u2442-ultrabooks-and-p2542g-gaming-laptop/#comments Gigabyte at CeBITYou didn't think a company like Gigabyte would roll into CeBIT empty-handed, did you? The Taiwanese company knows how to rock a trade show properly and came packin' a whole bevy of goodies. Getting top billing are the brand new U2442 ultrabooks and the P2542G gaming laptop. The slim and light model comes in two versions. The U2442N comes rocking an Ivy Bridge class Core i5 or i7 in a shell that's 18.5mm thick at its narrowest point and starts at 1.49Kg (3.3lbs). The U2442V trades in the standard voltage CPUs for ULV ones, while keeping the same 14-inch 1600 x 900 display. They both also offer a GeForce GT 640M GPU with 2GB of memory, up to a 750GB hard drive as well as USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.0 and Thunderbolt connections.

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

Gallery: Gigabyte U2442 and P2542G

Continue reading Gigabyte unveils U2442 ultrabooks and P2542G gaming laptop at CeBIT

Gigabyte unveils U2442 ultrabooks and P2542G gaming laptop at CeBIT originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2012Cebit2012gigabytegigabyte P2542Ggigabyte u2442gigabyte u2442ngigabyte u2442vGigabyteP2542gGigabyteU2442GigabyteU2442nGigabyteU2442vivy bridgeIvyBridgeP2542Gu2442u2442nu2442vMon, 05 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fujitsu Lifebook Ultrabook hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/fujitsu-lifebook-ultrabook-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/fujitsu-lifebook-ultrabook-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/fujitsu-lifebook-ultrabook-hands-on-video/#comments We still don't have detailed specs or even a model number, but we just had a chance to go hands-on with Fujitsu's new Lifebook Ultrabook at CeBIT. The 14-inch device will ship in red and silver, and is very thin -- 16mm, to be more precise -- including a frameless display that folds flat 180 degrees to lie flush. The nearly edge-to-edge LCD looks fantastic, at least powered off. There's a webcam up top, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, a proprietary Ethernet connector, SD card slot, an HDMI port, headphone jack and a Kensington Security Slot. There also appears to be a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader -- just one of the proposed security features for Fujitsu's yet-to-be-named enterprise Ultrabook. The magnesium body is very lightweight, at 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs), though the lid did feel a bit flimsy, at least on the sample we saw today. Pricing details have yet to be announced, though Fujitsu reps have confirmed that the Ultrabook will ship by early summer. Jump past the break for a closer look in our video hands-on.

Gallery: Fujitsu Lifebook Ultrabook hands-on


Update: It turns out that the Ultrabook does not fold flat -- the device we saw at the Fujitsu press conference had this capability, but only because it's a shell-only mock-up.

Continue reading Fujitsu Lifebook Ultrabook hands-on (video)

Fujitsu Lifebook Ultrabook hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscebitcebit 2012Cebit2012enterprisefujitsufujitsu lifebookfujitsu notebookfujitsu ultrabookFujitsuLifebookFujitsuNotebookFujitsuUltrabookhands-onITlaptoplaptopsnotebooksecurityteaseteaserultrabookultrabooksvideoMon, 05 Mar 2012 09:46:00 EST<![CDATA[We're live from CeBIT 2012 in Hannover, Germany!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/were-live-from-cebit-2012-in-hannover-germany/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/were-live-from-cebit-2012-in-hannover-germany/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/were-live-from-cebit-2012-in-hannover-germany/#comments Where is Hannover, you ask? Well it's definitely in Germany -- of that much we're sure. This town certainly isn't a tourist haven, save for a week in March when tech pros from every continent arrive and grow the city beyond its typical community of 500,000, but CeBIT is among the world's largest tech trade shows, and it's the sole purpose for our brief jaunt to Kansas City's sister metro. It's never crystal clear just what we'll see at CeBIT, though we've begun poking around one day shy of the show's official ribbon cutting, turning up a few surprises, such as this pink Galaxy Note. We'll of course be sharing whatever we happen to find between now and Thursday, so check back often for an inside look at Germany's flagship enterprise trade show.

Protip: Use our "CeBIT 2012" tag for all of our updates from the floor!

Gallery: Live from CeBIT 2012

We're live from CeBIT 2012 in Hannover, Germany! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitCeBIT 2012Cebit2012germangermanyHannoverHannover germanyHannoverGermanymobilepostcrosstrade showtrade showsTradeShowTradeShowsMon, 05 Mar 2012 08:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Fujitsu teases new premium Lifebook Ultrabook at CeBIT, promises more details tomorrow]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/fujitsu-teases-new-premium-lifebook-ultrabook-at-cebit-promises/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/fujitsu-teases-new-premium-lifebook-ultrabook-at-cebit-promises/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/fujitsu-teases-new-premium-lifebook-ultrabook-at-cebit-promises/#comments We're here at the Fujitsu press conference at CeBIT, where the company just teased a yet-to-be-named premium Ultrabook. We don't have many details at this point, but we were able to confirm that it will include a 14-inch frameless display, a magnesium housing and a standard variety of connectivity options, including LTE, WLAN and Bluetooth. The notebook will weigh in at less than 1.5 kg and will measure 16mm thick. Fujitsu is marketing the Ultrabook as an enterprise device, with a full suit of security features, including a fingerprint scanner, TPM module, FDE and ATP. More details are promised for tomorrow, so you'll need to hang tight for a model number, pricing and a full spec rundown, though we're told to expect it to hit the market this summer.

Fujitsu teases new premium Lifebook Ultrabook at CeBIT, promises more details tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscebitcebit 2012Cebit2012enterprisefujitsufujitsu lifebookfujitsu notebookfujitsu ultrabookFujitsuLifebookFujitsuNotebookFujitsuUltrabookITlaptoplaptopsnotebooksecurityteaseteaserultrabookultrabooksMon, 05 Mar 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung confirms pink Galaxy Note coming soon, we go hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/samsung-confirms-pink-galaxy-note-coming-soon-we-go-hands-on-v/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/samsung-confirms-pink-galaxy-note-coming-soon-we-go-hands-on-v/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/05/samsung-confirms-pink-galaxy-note-coming-soon-we-go-hands-on-v/#comments Sure, you can personalize your Galaxy Note by sketching with the 5.3-inch phablet's S Pen, but there's no better way to express your mobile-obsessed self than by dressing your device in a flashy new color. Pink is the flavor of the month over at Samsung, which just gave us a sneak peek at its rosy Android hybrid at its CeBIT booth in beautiful Hannover, Germany. The sample on hand is of the shell-only variety, in that it doesn't include any internals, but looks pretty juicy even in its static state. The device is virtually identical to its blue and white counterparts, though its backplate is textured like that of the blue model, rather than the glossy rear you'll see on the white. There's not much more to say about pinky here, considering that the sample device won't even power on, but jump past the break for our hands-on video if you'd care to take a closer look. And keep an eye out for the pink Note in a store near you -- it's expected to land (in Germany, at least) within the next two months.

Gallery: Pink Samsung Galaxy Note hands-on

Continue reading Samsung confirms pink Galaxy Note coming soon, we go hands-on (video)

Samsung confirms pink Galaxy Note coming soon, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2012Cebit2012cellphonecolorcolorsgermanyhands-onhannovermobilepostcrossnotepinkpink galaxy notepink notepink samsung galaxy notePinkGalaxyNotePinkNotePinkSamsungGalaxyNotesamsung galaxy noteSamsungGalaxyNotesmartphonetabletvideoMon, 05 Mar 2012 07:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Roccat unveils Savu hybrid gaming mouse ready for CeBIT]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/roccat-unveils-savu-hybrid-gaming-mouse-ready-for-cebit/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/roccat-unveils-savu-hybrid-gaming-mouse-ready-for-cebit/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/01/roccat-unveils-savu-hybrid-gaming-mouse-ready-for-cebit/#comments
In the increasingly complex world of gaming mice, we'd be happy with one that doesn't scrape the paint from the top of our desk. Still, if your ambitions are a little loftier, Roccat's unveiled the Savu gaming mouse in anticipation for its big day out at CeBIT. Named after an Indonesian province, its the first mouse to include a trophy system (nope, us neither) that rewards "gaming feats" when you reach the milestone of having clicked your right button a thousand times in an hour, or something. The 4,000 DPI optical sensor device has the company's usual clutch of features including Easy-Shift+ and customizable colors and it'll be available in May where you can customize it to your whimsy for an as-yet unspecified price.

Continue reading Roccat unveils Savu hybrid gaming mouse ready for CeBIT

Roccat unveils Savu hybrid gaming mouse ready for CeBIT originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CeBITCeBIT 2012Cebit2012Gaming MiceGaming MouseGamingMiceGamingMouseGermanyMiceMouseRoccatRoccat SavuRoccatSavuSavuThu, 01 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer Iconia Tab A510 to hit European retailers this April?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/acer-iconia-tab-a510-to-hit-european-retailers-this-april/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/acer-iconia-tab-a510-to-hit-european-retailers-this-april/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/acer-iconia-tab-a510-to-hit-european-retailers-this-april/#comments Amidst the madness that was CES, Acer quietly snuck its Iconia Tab A510 onto the showroom floor, tucking the tablet into the folds of NVIDIA's booth. While the company was more than willing to fess up to the slate's specs -- quad-core Tegra 3 processor, skinned Ice Cream Sandwich UX, 1280 x 800 display -- little in the way of pricing and availability were revealed. If a report out of Germany is to be believed, however, Europeans (sorry, statesiders) might very well see the 10.1-incher hit retail as early as this April, with a €500 price tag in tow. That's all the rumor mill's wrought for now, folks, but we'll keep you posted should the news go official at CeBIT 2012.

Acer Iconia Tab A510 to hit European retailers this April? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A510AcerAndroidAndroid 4.0Android4.0CeBITIce Cream SandwichIceCreamSandwichIconia Tab A510IconiaTabA510quad coreQuadCorereleaserumorslateslatestablettabletsTegra 3Tegra3Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS debuts, showcases new 3D and IPS-based Designo displays]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/14/asus-debuts-showcases-new-3d-and-ips-based-designo-displays/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/14/asus-debuts-showcases-new-3d-and-ips-based-designo-displays/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/14/asus-debuts-showcases-new-3d-and-ips-based-designo-displays/#comments If it ain't broke, don't fix it; ASUS has taken this old adage to heart, offering up some moderate, but worthwhile changes to its latest consumer and 3D monitor lines. Retaining the award-winning style of its Designo series, the outfit is launching a trio of new 22-, 23-, and 24-inch IPS and VA panel displays -- each vaunting a 178-degree viewing angle, 1920 x 1080 resolution as well as more accurate color reproduction and a higher contrast ratio than previous models. Too bad this change didn't carry over to ASUS' 3D line -- despite adding an integrated IR transmitter for NVIDIA 3D Vision, the 1080p 27-inch LED VG278H sports a backlit TN panel (boo), same as its predecessor. But hey, at least the integrated transmitter ought to free up some desk space... right? No official price on these just yet, but check out the more coverage link below for a spate of eyes-on impressions.

[Thanks, TheLostSwede]

ASUS debuts, showcases new 3D and IPS-based Designo displays originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080p3d monitor3dMonitorasusASUS VG278HAsusVg278hcebitdesignoDesigno MSDesigno MS SeriesDesignoMsDesignoMsSeriesdisplayfull hdfull hd 3dFullHdFullHd3dipsips lcdIpsLcdlcdlcd monitorLcdMonitormonitormsnvidia 3d visionNvidia3dVisiontnVAVA LCDVaLcdVG278HThu, 14 Apr 2011 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[France fines Google €100,000 for Street View privacy violations, then mulls striking for no apparent reason]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/france-fines-google-100-000-for-street-view-privacy-violations/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/france-fines-google-100-000-for-street-view-privacy-violations/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/france-fines-google-100-000-for-street-view-privacy-violations/#comments Ah, France. Land of beautiful beaches, a respectable railway system, and more unexplained delays and work stoppages than anywhere else in the developed world. Oh, and a primary airport that forces you to use "tickets" to buy food from certain vendors and refuses to complete a CDG -> JFK flight on schedule. Gripes aside, it seems that at least one thing is getting done today over in The country of the Human Rights, with France's data protection regulator confirming a record €100,000 fine sent over to Google in relation to improper data collection during its Street View sweeps. Granted, El Le Goog has run into privacy issues before on this very matter, but none quite as ginormous as these. The National Commission for Computing and Civil Liberties claims that the company's infractions include "collecting passwords and email transferred wirelessly," and its highest ever fined has been levied due to the "economic advantages Google gained from these violations." We're told that the company has two months to appeal the penalty, but as of now, it seems as if Google's frightened to make any comment at all in English. Thank heavens for Translate, right?

France fines Google €100,000 for Street View privacy violations, then mulls striking for no apparent reason originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CeBITdatafinegooglegpsguidancemapmappingmapsprivacystreet viewStreetViewunfair collectionUnfairCollectionMon, 21 Mar 2011 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hacks, performance art edition: pin boards, puppets and RoboThespians]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/05/kinect-hacks-performance-art-edition-pin-boards-puppets-and-r/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/05/kinect-hacks-performance-art-edition-pin-boards-puppets-and-r/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/05/kinect-hacks-performance-art-edition-pin-boards-puppets-and-r/#comments
Tired of Kinect hacks yet? We hope not, as the frequency and ingenuity of them only seems to be increasing with each passing week. The three in this latest group all fall more or less under the banner of performance art, and include two hacks that let you control two very different avatars -- a virtual puppet in the "We Be Monsters" project and the very real "RoboThespian" -- as well one that creates a virtual pin board that's perfect for your next rave. If the RoboThespian looks a little familiar, it's because it's actually been in development since 2005, but it recently got a Kinect-enhanced upgrade for its appearance at CeBIT this month. Head on past the break for videos of all three hacks in action, and hit up the links below for some additional details.

[Thanks to everyone who sent these in]

Continue reading Kinect hacks, performance art edition: pin boards, puppets and RoboThespians

Kinect hacks, performance art edition: pin boards, puppets and RoboThespians originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 03:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2011Cebit2011hackkinectperformance artPerformanceArtpin boardPinBoardrobothespianvideowe be monstersWeBeMonstersSat, 05 Mar 2011 03:12:00 EST<![CDATA[New SteelSeries gaming headsets come to CeBIT, now iPhone compatible]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/new-steelseries-gaming-headsets-come-to-cebit-now-iphone-compat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/new-steelseries-gaming-headsets-come-to-cebit-now-iphone-compat/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/new-steelseries-gaming-headsets-come-to-cebit-now-iphone-compat/#comments
As you might have heard, a little something called CeBIT is going down in Hanover, and all the usual suspects are there. And that includes the kids at SteelSeries, who are debuting three more headsets for the gamers in the crowd. Siberia v2 for PS3 is compatible with the PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and Mac, featuring 50mm driver units, leather earcups, and a retractable microphone for your clumsy pick-up attempts while playing Assassin's Creed. This bad boy also features independent volume controls for game action and conversation, as well as LiveMix audio presets. But wait -- there's more! The company's Siberia v2 and SteelSeries 7H headsets are now available in Apple-approved flavors with a single 3.5mm jack for audio and voice, an inline remote, and compatibility with your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad. Look for the Siberia v2 for PS3 in Q3 2011 for $120 MSRP. Look for SteelSeries 7H and Siberia v2 for iPod, iPhone and iPad soon for $130 and $100 respectively. PR after the break.

Continue reading New SteelSeries gaming headsets come to CeBIT, now iPhone compatible

New SteelSeries gaming headsets come to CeBIT, now iPhone compatible originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleaudiocebitcebit 2011Cebit2011headphoneheadphonesheadsetipadiphoneipo touchIpoTouchmusicplaystation 3Playstation3ps3siberia v2siberia v2 for ps3SiberiaV2SiberiaV2ForPs3steel seriesSteelSeriessteelseries 7hSteelseries7hXbox 360Xbox360Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS' Jerry Shen pledges 3D tablet, MeeGo and Android netbooks, plus a 2012 Windows Phone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/asus-jerry-shen-pledges-3d-tablet-meego-and-android-netbooks/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/asus-jerry-shen-pledges-3d-tablet-meego-and-android-netbooks/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/04/asus-jerry-shen-pledges-3d-tablet-meego-and-android-netbooks/#comments ASUS (A-seuss) CEO Jerry Shen is rarely a man without a good quote or two for journalists and this year's CeBIT has been no exception. Sitting down for a chat with some Russian scribes, Shen outlined ASUS' general product roadmap, which includes a 3D tablet (the iPad 2-threatening secret weapon, perhaps?), Atom-based netbooks for both MeeGo and Android platforms, and a Windows Phone device that should be with us next year. An aside from his PR aide Mae Wang also states that ASUS aims to be second in the tablet market by 2012, with a giant five to eight percent market share. We're sure the Apple board are all shaking in their hemp sandals right now. Anyhow, hit up the source for the full story.

ASUS' Jerry Shen pledges 3D tablet, MeeGo and Android netbooks, plus a 2012 Windows Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d tablet3dTabletandroidasusasus ceoAsusCeocebitcebit 2011Cebit2011ceofutureinterviewjerry shenJerryShenmeegonetbooknetbooksplansroadmapschedulesmartbooktablettabletswindows phoneWindowsPhoneFri, 04 Mar 2011 09:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Fogale Nanotech takes the 'touch' out of 'touchscreen smartphone' at CeBIT]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/03/fogale-nanotech-takes-the-touch-out-of-touchscreen-smartphone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/03/fogale-nanotech-takes-the-touch-out-of-touchscreen-smartphone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/03/fogale-nanotech-takes-the-touch-out-of-touchscreen-smartphone/#comments French sensor manufacturer Fogale Nanotech -- historically more of an industrial supplier than a consumer-facing one -- was demonstrating its non-contact capacitive sensors at CeBIT this week and how they might be used for the most consumer-facing application of them all: smartphone interfaces. Fogale had two stations set up, PCs running Windows Phone 7 emulators with the sensors attached out front (oriented like you might place a trackpad on a desk). Though they didn't have any actual phone prototypes on hand with the technology integrated, it's clear that they're trying to drum up support with a manufacturer partner or two; in the meantime, you can get a sense of what's going on by waving your hand over the phone-shaped sensors at the stations. We found that as long as you're within about half inch of the pad, the on-screen cursor flys by in perfect harmony with your finger. Of course, there are plenty of unanswered questions here: deciding on the best user experience for actuating taps is key... but perhaps more importantly, we're not certain that you need your hand waving slightly above your phone while using it anyway. Don't get us wrong, it's super cool -- but are you really that worked up over smudges? Follow the break for a quick video of Fogale's recorded demos plus some time at the live kiosk.

Gallery: Fogale Nanotech takes the 'touch' out of 'touchscreen smartphone' at CeBIT

Continue reading Fogale Nanotech takes the 'touch' out of 'touchscreen smartphone' at CeBIT

Fogale Nanotech takes the 'touch' out of 'touchscreen smartphone' at CeBIT originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capacitivecapacitive sensorCapacitiveSensorcebitcebit 2011Cebit2011fogalefogale nanotechFogaleNanotechhands-onnon-touchvideoThu, 03 Mar 2011 14:44:00 EST<![CDATA[3M's 32-inch display with 10-finger multitouch steps out at CeBIT (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/3ms-32-inch-display-with-10-finger-multitouch-steps-out-at-cebi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/3ms-32-inch-display-with-10-finger-multitouch-steps-out-at-cebi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/3ms-32-inch-display-with-10-finger-multitouch-steps-out-at-cebi/#comments Though there are bigger multitouch screens out there -- and ones that can support more simultaneous touch points -- 3M's brand new C3266PW is the company's largest, said to be suited for industrial-strength installations with multiple simultaneous users (the company is quick to note that the ultra-wide 178-degree viewing angle along both axes is great for that, since folks can crowd around and start touching). They demoed the new unit here at CeBIT in two ways: three of them in a row on a "cascade table" with one high, one slanted, and one low, and another separate unit mounted on a solo kiosk at roughly eye level. The table's set up as a multi-display Windows box running a tech demo with maps, images, and videos that can be flicked between screens, pinched, and zoomed; the kiosk, meanwhile, is running a rudimentary flight simulator designed to demonstrate all ten points of multitouch capability at once with a finger-based aircraft control scheme (not the way you'd really design a game, but a good demo nonetheless).

3M points out that touch response -- the amount of time that it takes the screen to actually recognize that it's been touched -- is an issue in the industry, and it's not something that we really think about as users; if a gesture is laggy, we just assume the processor isn't up to the task or the software sucks. The C3266PW is rated at a relatively brisk 12ms recognition time, and while the company has other products with even quicker ratings, we definitely noticed the lack of lag as we played around (of course, the computers powering the displays have plenty to do with that). We've come to associate good capacitive displays with glossy glass and resistive with matte, but that's really not a fair assessment -- this one has a non-glare "anti-stiction coating" that, as its name implies, makes your fingers glide like butter. It might not be great for a phone, but it works well for a display of this size that's probably going to be used in public installations and potentially handled by hundreds of people a day. Follow the break for 3M's press release and video of both setups!

Gallery: 3M's 32-inch display with 10-finger multitouch steps out at CeBIT

Continue reading 3M's 32-inch display with 10-finger multitouch steps out at CeBIT (video)

3M's 32-inch display with 10-finger multitouch steps out at CeBIT (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3232 inch32-inch32Inch3mC3266PWcebitcebit 2011Cebit2011displayhands-onmulti touchmulti-touchMultiTouchscreenvideoWed, 02 Mar 2011 17:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: if the iPhone had happened in an alternate reality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/visualized-if-the-iphone-had-happened-in-an-alternate-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/visualized-if-the-iphone-had-happened-in-an-alternate-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/visualized-if-the-iphone-had-happened-in-an-alternate-reality/#comments This collection of devices -- from Germany's SKS Hinkel, and winner of an iF Product Design Award this year -- is really a video intercom system. But if you use your imagination, from left to right, it looks like an iPod shuffle, an iPod classic, an iPhone shuffle, and an iPhone classic all developed in some awesome alternate dimension where coiled phone cords are still cool.

Admit it: you miss the click wheel.

Visualized: if the iPhone had happened in an alternate reality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2011Cebit2011ifif product design awardIfProductDesignAwardintercomiphoneipodsks hinkelSksHinkelvideo intercomVideoIntercomvisualizedWed, 02 Mar 2011 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/fujitsu-stylistic-q550-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/fujitsu-stylistic-q550-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/fujitsu-stylistic-q550-hands-on/#comments Unless you're eagerly anticipating your IT department handing one of these to you, something tells us the Stylistic Q550 isn't the tablet you're looking for. Why's that? Everything about the experience screams "corporate," starting with our time at Fujitsu's booth earlier today where business dealings to deploy the tablet in some corporate environment were literally happening before our very eyes. There was only one unit in the vicinity -- and the suits were relentless in trying to get their paws on it -- but we spent just long enough with it to figure out that there are far, far better-suited consumer options out there; as far as we can tell, that's exactly how Fujitsu wants it. That opinion was further reinforced by the presence of a smart card reader on the side (for secure logins), a fingerprint scanner on back, and old-school pen input, which Fujitsu tells us that legacy tablet users (read: medical personnel and field data entry folks) still want. It can take fingers, too, but we felt like the quality of the display is compromised a bit for the dual-mode support. Interestingly, there's no place to store the pen in the tablet anyway; you'll need the accessory case for that.

The company is talking about its custom Windows 7 skin as a key differentiator. The build they had on the demo unit was a little buggy, but at any rate, we came away with the impression that it's basically just a finger-friendly view to launch apps; fortunately, the full Windows experience -- which is just as non-touch-optimized as ever -- is just a tap away. We were hoping the Oak Trail guts would keep everything snappy, but the pre-release code here was actually lagging pretty badly as we navigated from screen to screen. Don't get us wrong: we're sure these are precisely the specs that some enterprise customers are looking for... but as an individual, gadget-loving, tablet-wanting human being, we're pretty sure they aren't the specs that you're looking for.

Gallery: Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 hands-on at CeBIT 2011

Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2011Cebit2011fujitsuhands-oninteloak trailOakTrailq550stylisticstylistic q550StylisticQ550windowswindows 7Windows7Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:53:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS Eee PC 1015B and 1215B hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/asus-eee-pc-1015b-and-1215b-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/asus-eee-pc-1015b-and-1215b-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/asus-eee-pc-1015b-and-1215b-hands-on/#comments Okay, picture an ASUS Eee PC 1015. Got it? Good -- now picture it with AMD Fusion internals. Boom: the 1015B is born. We spied versions in both white and black trim here at CeBIT, promising 1080p output in your choice of 1.2GHz single-core and 1GHz dual-core APUs, both with ATI Radeon HD 6250 graphics, 1GB of RAM (expandable to 2), and Bluetooth 3.0 along with 802.11b/g/n WiFi. If you're looking for something a little beefier, ASUS has a Fusion remake of the 1215, too -- the 1215B -- with many of the same features but the added benefit of a larger 12.1-inch WXGA LCD, an optional 1.6GHz AMD E350 dual-core processor, and up to 4GB of RAM. No word on when these will be in retail channels, but by all appearances, these are production or very-near-production models on display here at the show, so we imagine they'll be popping up any time now.

Gallery: ASUS Eee PC 1015B hands-on at CeBIT 2011


Gallery: ASUS Eee PC 1215B hands-on at CeBIT 2011

ASUS Eee PC 1015B and 1215B hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1015b1215bamdasusbrazoscebitcebit 2011Cebit2011eeeeee pcEeePcfusionhands-onnetbookwindowswindows 7Windows7Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Xtreamer Ultra HTPC hands-on -- and Prodigy eyes-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/xtreamer-ultra-htpc-hands-on-and-prodigy-eyes-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/xtreamer-ultra-htpc-hands-on-and-prodigy-eyes-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/xtreamer-ultra-htpc-hands-on-and-prodigy-eyes-on/#comments First, the good news: Xtreamer has its lovely little Ultra HTPC out and hooked up here at CeBIT. Now, the bad: the considerably more beautiful Prodigy streamer is under lock and key, and they won't be doing any demos. Ah, well -- may as well make the best of the situation, right? In brief, the Ultra might be the baddest little HTPC we've seen here at the show -- Xtreamer seems to have nailed the equation with the small size and the price point. It doesn't look cheap, either; we imagine it's a little overbuilt-looking with those faux heat sink fins for some living rooms, but you can plug in an IR extender and bury the actual box in a cabinet if you like. The company's staying very media platform-agnostic, shipping with Boxee and XBMC among others on a 2GB USB flash drive that houses the entire operating system. And at a shipping price of €200 (about $277), it puts the hurt on the Boxee Box. Look for it in early April.

Turning our attention to the Prodigy, this thing is seriously gorgeous for one reason: a large curved sheet of metal covering the top and sides. Functionality is another matter entirely, though, and as we mentioned before, Xtreamer isn't demoing it here. On paper, at least, it should take care of business thanks to USB 3.0 and AirPlay support along with an internal 3.5-inch hard drive bay -- and the company is currently taking pre-orders for €50 (about $69), which seems dirt cheap for what you're getting. Like the Ultra, Xtreamer expects to ship it in early April.

Gallery: Xtreamer Ultra and Prodigy hands-on at CeBIT 2011

Xtreamer Ultra HTPC hands-on -- and Prodigy eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boxeecebitcebit 2011Cebit2011hands-onhtpcprodigyultraxbmcxtreamerTue, 01 Mar 2011 11:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Fujitsu and partners show off cord-free display using SUPA wireless power (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/fujitsu-and-partners-show-off-cord-free-display-using-supa-wirel/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/fujitsu-and-partners-show-off-cord-free-display-using-supa-wirel/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/fujitsu-and-partners-show-off-cord-free-display-using-supa-wirel/#comments Cords suck. They tangle, they get lost, they're never long enough, and you never have the kind you need. Indeed, wireless displays are nothing new -- but when you hear "wireless display," you typically think that they've managed to cut the video cable alone. Well, Fujitsu's taken it one step further here at CeBIT this week, throwing together what it claims to be the world's first totally wireless desktop display -- no video, no power. The imagery is handled via wireless USB and can connect to any appropriately-equipped PC, while the juice is sucked in using a newly-minted proposed standard for wireless power delivery called SUPA (developed with the likes of Fraunhofer) that can function over wide surface areas -- in this case, an entire desk. Right now it's just the display, but it's easy to imagine how phones, laptops, tablets, and anything else that requires continuous power or a quick, convenient recharge could benefit from this arrangement rather than needing a special mat (which is, of course, corded) lying around. Fujitsu tells us that SUPA can deliver about 25 watts in its current incarnation, which isn't going to keep your gaming PC going -- but it'll certainly handle your typical handheld device (or, in this case, a 22-inch monitor).

The demo we saw was a little glitchy; the first time we visited the booth, Fujitsu was having a hard time getting the WUSB connection to light up, but it was up and running the second time we dropped by. We got the impression there wasn't quite enough bandwidth to deliver smooth video at this color depth and resolution, but it was good enough for data entry tasks. Likewise, the monitor appeared to flicker from time to time, suggesting that it was either right on the edge of that 25W maximum or just experiencing typical prototype hiccups. On a couple occasions, they lifted the monitor to reset it, and it only required 2-3 inches of lift before power was lost -- so this isn't the kind of thing where you can get up and wander around with a device and expect it to magically continue to charge (we'd be awfully concerned about being turned into beef jerky at those energy levels, anyway).

All told, we're excited about this technology, assuming SUPA can gain enough critical mass in the marketplace to be relevant. They're expecting the first commercial applications next year... so in the meantime, enjoy our pictures and videos while you plan how you're going to rearrange your workspace once you don't have to worry about power cords.

Gallery: Fujitsu and partners show off cord-free display using SUPA wireless power

Continue reading Fujitsu and partners show off cord-free display using SUPA wireless power (video)

Fujitsu and partners show off cord-free display using SUPA wireless power (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2011Cebit2011fujitsuhands-onprototypesupasupa technologySupaTechnologyvideowirelesswireless displaywireless usbWirelessDisplayWirelessUsbwusbTue, 01 Mar 2011 11:10:00 EST<![CDATA[MSI's Radeon HD 6990-based graphics card looks the part (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/msis-radeon-hd-6990-based-graphics-card-looks-the-part-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/msis-radeon-hd-6990-based-graphics-card-looks-the-part-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/msis-radeon-hd-6990-based-graphics-card-looks-the-part-video/#comments If you've got a desktop case with a view, we can't think of a better thing to put on prominent display than a giant, red-trimmed graphics card -- and that's exactly what MSI's new Radeon HD 6990-based unit provides. The dual-GPU card is lined up to be AMD's 2011 flagship, and MSI proudly proclaims that it's "the most powerful" unit around on the accompanying placard. Interestingly, this is just about the only card MSI's got at its booth that isn't available to handle outside of a case -- we're guessing these prototypes are still pretty rare, and really, they look prettier when they're running at full clip on a motherboard with a ridiculous cooling unit anyhow. Follow the break for a quick video panorama.

Gallery: MSI R6990 graphics card at CeBIT 2011

Continue reading MSI's Radeon HD 6990-based graphics card looks the part (video)

MSI's Radeon HD 6990-based graphics card looks the part (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdcebitcebit 2011Cebit2011gpugraphics cardGraphicsCardmsiradeon hdradeon hd 6990RadeonHdRadeonHd6990videoTue, 01 Mar 2011 07:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Shuttle H7 Pro, H3, and XG41 HTPC hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/shuttle-h7-pro-h3-and-xg41-htpc-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/shuttle-h7-pro-h3-and-xg41-htpc-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/shuttle-h7-pro-h3-and-xg41-htpc-hands-on/#comments Shuttle's diving headlong into Sandy Bridge to shore up its ever-expanding line of barebones HTPC systems at CeBIT this week, showing off the H3 model (pictured above) featuring support for up to 16GB of DDR3-1333 RAM alongside one PCI Express x16 slot, one x1 slot, and another mini-PCI Express x1 slot -- but considering that you've got HDMI and eight-channel HD audio on board, you won't likely use all three. Moving on, they've got a re-upped version of the H7 -- aptly named the H7 Pro -- with two built-in USB 3.0 ports and a pair of 6Gbps SATA connectors. Finally, there's the slim, sexy XG41, though it's on the aging G41 Express chipset; needless to say, it's the lowest-power (both in terms of electricity and capability) of the three. See galleries of all three models below!

Gallery: Shuttle H7 Pro at CeBIT 2011


Gallery: Shuttle H3 at CeBIT 2011


Gallery: Shuttle XG41 at CeBIT 2011

Shuttle H7 Pro, H3, and XG41 HTPC hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bare bonesBareBonescebitcebit 2011Cebit2011h3h7 proH7Prohands-onhtpcsffsff pcSffPcshuttleshuttle pcShuttlePcsmall form factorSmallFormFactorxg41Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Tobii and Lenovo show off prototype eye-controlled laptop, we go eyes-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/tobii-and-lenovo-show-off-prototype-eye-controlled-laptop-we-go/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/tobii-and-lenovo-show-off-prototype-eye-controlled-laptop-we-go/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/01/tobii-and-lenovo-show-off-prototype-eye-controlled-laptop-we-go/#comments A lot of companies -- including heavyweights like Microsoft -- believe that motion control is the future of the human-machine interface. But it's an awful lot of work to wave your hands around every time you want to change windows, isn't it? Swedish firm Tobii, which specializes in eye control, teamed up with Lenovo to craft a run of 20 prototype Windows 7 laptops with eye control sensors built-in, and we had a chance to check out the setup here at CeBIT today.

The verdict? It works extraordinarily well -- Tobii clearly knows what it's doing, because even with our sloppy calibration at the start of the session, the system still detected where we were looking with pinpoint precision. One demo the company had set up was an Expose-style layout of all open windows, and we were able to target the smallest of the bunch (Calculator in this case) consistently and naturally -- we never felt like we were "staring" to make something happen. Clearly this is a capability that'll require some UX thought and research, because you don't want the computer to just start doing things as you look around; most of the eye-controlled capabilities they'd baked into the laptop here were triggered with a key command, though one feature we really liked -- a quick bar to access frequently-used media -- was pulled up just by looking beyond the left side of the screen. It also worked very well and never came up when we didn't want it to. The level of precision was further verified with a simple game they've created where you blow up asteroids before they impact Earth just by looking at them; the smallest rocks were only a few pixels wide, and we could consistently blast 'em.

As for commercialization, they're still a ways off -- they're thinking two years if they can team up with the right partner. Tobii says that there's a trade-off between sensor size and accuracy; the prototype has a sizable hump on the back and a roughly inch-wide strip running directly below the display, both of which are pretty impractical for a truly portable machine. The sensor must be below the display, we're told, though it could be made quite a bit thinner -- no wider than the bezel you've got below your notebook's current display. Follow the break for a full video demo!

Gallery: Tobii and Lenovo's eye-controlled laptop at CeBIT 2011

Continue reading Tobii and Lenovo show off prototype eye-controlled laptop, we go eyes-on (video)

Tobii and Lenovo show off prototype eye-controlled laptop, we go eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2011Cebit2011eye controleye-controlledeye-controlled laptopEye-controlledLaptopEyeControlhands-onlaptoplenovotobiivideoTue, 01 Mar 2011 05:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Tablet shocker! MSI WindPad 100A packs Tegra 2 and will ship with Honeycomb]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/tablet-shocker-msi-windpad-100a-packs-tegra-2-and-will-ship-wit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/tablet-shocker-msi-windpad-100a-packs-tegra-2-and-will-ship-wit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/tablet-shocker-msi-windpad-100a-packs-tegra-2-and-will-ship-wit/#comments At this point, MSI has been showing off its 10-inch Android tablet for a good half a year, but at least this time it's coming clean with some specs, and they're actually not half bad. Yep, the company brought its WindPad 100A to CeBIT and has announced that it, like most of the others, is powered by a dual-core Tegra 2 processor and will get some sweet Honeycomb when it hits the market in late May or early June. The model on hand at CeBIT was running some 2.X version of Android, and the hardware was identical to the one we saw back at CES. MSI's told us that pricing hasn't been set yet, but hopefully, like Moto's Sanjay Jha just proclaimed, these tablet prices will be dropping come the second half of the year. Hit the gallery below for some closer hands-on shots.

Gallery: MSI WindPad 100A at CeBIT 2011

Tablet shocker! MSI WindPad 100A packs Tegra 2 and will ship with Honeycomb originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100AAndroid 3.0Android3.0cebitcebit 2011Cebit2011hands-onhoneycombmsiMSI WindPad 100AMsiWindpad100ategra 2Tegra2Windpadwindpad 100aWindpad100aMon, 28 Feb 2011 16:43:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS Eee Pad Transformer shows up wearing Honeycomb to CeBIT (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/asus-eee-pad-transformer-shows-up-wearing-honeycomb-to-cebit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/asus-eee-pad-transformer-shows-up-wearing-honeycomb-to-cebit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/asus-eee-pad-transformer-shows-up-wearing-honeycomb-to-cebit/#comments Here's a trend we can get behind: ASUS and others are remixing existing, yet-to-be-released Android tablets with Honeycomb where it makes sense to do so. The Eee Pad MeMO, for instance, is now being promised with a Qualcomm port of the platform in time for its June launch -- and along those same lines, the company is showing its Eee Pad Transformer here at CeBIT with a Honeycomb upgrade. Unlike the MeMO, the Transformer is just a straight Tegra 2 setup like the already-launched Xoom, which is likely why they were able to get it loaded on here and functioning relatively well in time for the show. The build ASUS has here doesn't appear to be final -- the Android Market is missing, for example -- but what was there seemed to be running smoothly; considering the internals, we'd expect no less. Follow the break for video (pardon the lack of audio -- there was some talking going on that we found distracting).

Gallery: ASUS Eee Pad Transformer running Honeycomb at CeBIT

Continue reading ASUS Eee Pad Transformer shows up wearing Honeycomb to CeBIT (video)

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer shows up wearing Honeycomb to CeBIT (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 3.0Android3.0asuscebitcebit 2011Cebit2011eee padeee pad transformerEeePadEeePadTransformergooglehands-onhoneycombtablettransformervideoMon, 28 Feb 2011 14:33:00 EST<![CDATA[MSI Dual Pad concept eyes-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/msi-dual-pad-concept-eyes-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/msi-dual-pad-concept-eyes-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/msi-dual-pad-concept-eyes-on-video/#comments Complementing the integrated projector concept introduced at CES last month, MSI brought a new not-for-sale hottie to its CeBIT booth this week in the form of the Dual Pad, which is... well, literally two WindPads placed on top of one another. The idea is that the pads can be taken apart and used as two completely independent Windows 7 tablets when necessary -- "you and your girlfriend on a trip" was the example given to us during the press conference -- but when you piece them together, they become one mega-tablet capable of operating essentially as a single dual-screen netbook (a hingeless, permanently-open one). Again, it's a pure concept; there are no plans for commercialization that we could eke out, but we can't imagine it'd be cheap since you'd effectively be buying two complete tablets. Follow the break for video!

Gallery: MSI Dual Pad concept eyes-on

Continue reading MSI Dual Pad concept eyes-on (video)

MSI Dual Pad concept eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cebitcebit 2011Cebit2011dual paddual screenDualPadDualScreenmsivideowindowswindows 7Windows7Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[MSI WindPad 110W eyes-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/msi-windpad-110w-eyes-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/msi-windpad-110w-eyes-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/28/msi-windpad-110w-eyes-on/#comments Joining its Intel-powered 100W cousin at CeBIT this week is MSI's WindPad 110W, basically an AMD Brazos-powered remix of the original with a slightly different design. You've got an optical pad on the upper part of the right bezel that controls a mouse pointer -- if you're into that sort of thing -- but hopefully you'll be touching the lovely 10.1-inch IPS display (which it shares with the 100W) directly most of the time. We would've liked to have taken the skinned load of Windows 7 for a spin, but MSI had its demo unit set up on a looping video and kept it under glass or in employees' gentle hands for the entirety of our time at the booth, so we didn't get a great sense for performance; they're targeting mid-year for release, though, so they've got some time left on the clock to put some spit and polish on the package. There'll also be a dock available that plugs into a connector in the bottom of the tablet -- it wasn't on-hand, but the company had some prototype docks connected to WindPad 100A dummy units (showing Honeycomb on their fake displays, interestingly, even though live 100As at the show are running Froyo). Follow the break for a quick video from all angles.

Gallery: MSI WindPad 110W eyes-on

Continue reading MSI WindPad 110W eyes-on (video)

MSI WindPad 110W eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>110wamdbrazoscebitcebit 2011Cebit2011fusionmsivideowindowswindows 7Windows7windpadwindpad 110wWindpad110wMon, 28 Feb 2011 12:28:00 EST