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Lenovo's war-torn ThinkPad Terminator edition hands-on: it's not for sale... yet
During my discussions with Lenovo's team about the research involved in reshaping the ThinkPad line, they clued me in on the beast you see above. That, friends, is cutely referred to as the ThinkPad Terminator edition within Lenovo's walls, and it's essentially a prototype T431s that's stripped of its retail garb. The lid's paint is torn back in order to expose the edges that enable wireless radio transmissions to be sent and received, while the bottom has been left in its rawest form. Think of this as the space shuttle before its paint job, or Mr. Schwarzenegger before his green room appearance. The goal here was to showcase the underlying rigidity of the machine, without the retail coat of paint covering up the magic within. Obviously, Lenovo has no immediate plans to actually ship this thing, but I can assure you I'm begging the team to reconsider. Looking to join the cause? Go ahead and give 'em an idea of the premium you'd pay in comments if these were released in limited quantities. Or, just enjoy the gallery below. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here! %Gallery-183000%
Visualized: Shepard Fairey's mission patch for CASIS ARK 1 (video)
Remember those old-school NASA mission patches that spacefarers would proudly wear upon their shoulders as they bounced around the great beyond? CASIS, the agency's newly-minted non-profit wanted to commemorate its first experiment being put on the International Space Station, and so enlisted the talents of Shepard Fairey, the graphic designer behind the Obama "Hope" campaign and those Obey T-shirts. We've snagged one of the patches for our own homemade astronaut jacket, but if you aren't here at Fort Mason, you can watch the design process in the video after the break.
Toyota's Sheldon Brown backstage at Expand (video)
Toyota's Executive Program Manager Sheldon Brown took to the Expand stage to discuss how the automaker developed its fully-electric RAV4 and what the future of driving looks like. After chatting with us in front of the crowd, Brown slipped backstage to dive a little deeper. Brown and Myriam discussed the Rav4 EV's development and aerodynamics, and how electric cars have evolved over the past decade or so. Check out the full video interview after the break. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
The inside story of Lenovo's ThinkPad redesign
"When you talk to end users about ports, they'll tell you how much they need them. They'll talk about the vast number of USB devices that they have. It's easy to hear that and determine that you need five or more ports based on what these people report. When you watch these people work, however, and you're more overt in your methods -- you rarely see that happening. "Sometimes, there's a conflict between what someone reports they need and what they require." So begins the backstory of the latest ThinkPad overhaul as told by Corinna Proctor, the senior research manager at Lenovo's User Research Center. Clearly versed in the art of separating whimsical wishes from bona fide requirements, she spoke to me in a phone interview alongside two of her colleagues in the run-up to today's unveiling of the redesigned ThinkPad T431s Ultrabook. The machine itself is still very much a ThinkPad -- it's black, it's understated and it's tough as nails -- but those who appreciate the evolution of technology will no doubt recognize some changes. Changes that began as mere notions some 18 months ago. %Gallery-183000%
Lenovo ThinkPad T431s Ultrabook: refined exterior, widened trackpad, shipping in April for $949
Lenovo's taking the wraps off of its newest ThinkPad here at Engadget Expand, but in fact, the T431s represents more than just a minor spec bump. It's actually the first ThinkPad borne out of Lenovo's latest "clean sheet" development initiative -- an 18-month process that the company briefed me on here. Regarding the laptop at hand, the 14-incher boasts a slimmer, sexier and more understated design, all while remaining very much a ThinkPad. It's being classified as an Ultrabook, yet it still meets the Mil-SPEC 8 standard for rigidity and durability. In other words, the weight loss isn't coming at the expense of ruggedness. As for specs, it's rocking a 1,600 x 900 matte display with 250 nits of brightness, integrated Intel HD graphics, a 720p front-facing webcam, 4GB of RAM (with optional upgrades boosting it as high as 12GB), a 47WHr (three-cell) sealed battery, an optionally backlit keyboard, Bluetooth 4.0 and built-in support for both WiFi and WWAN connections. It measures in at 13.03 x 8.89 x 0.8 inches while weighing 3.6 pounds, and it's easily one of the sturdiest Ultrabooks we've had the pleasure of wrapping our paws around.
Robopocalypse: Now liveblog
We'll be discussing the history and near-future of robotics with luminaries from Willow Garage, Boston Dynamics (yes, the people behind Big Dog) and 3D Robotics. Our editor-in-chief, Tim Stevens, is orchestrating proceedings and we'll be liveblogging the whole event right here... in just a few minutes. March 17, 2013 2:15 PM EST
Lenovo teases next-generation ThinkPad X series at Expand
Lenovo didn't hold back on the unveils here at Expand, and as if the ThinkPad T431s wasn't enough, the company just teased a next-generation of the X series ThinkPad line. In essence, what we saw is the future 12-inch, SSD-infused variant of the X230, gussied up in the same kind of motif that'll be first showcased on the 14-inch T431s. In other words, we're looking at a slimmer, more streamlined machine that boasts the outfit's new widened trackpad, remapped Function keys and a thinner bezel. We weren't given a price or release date, but we'll be sure to update with more as we get it. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here! %Gallery-183060%
Live from Expand: Robopocalypse: Now (video)
Top honchos of 3D Robotics, Willow Garage and Boston Dynamics (yes, of BigDog fame) join us -- and some mechanical pals -- to discuss the past, present and future of robotics. March 17, 2013 2:15 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Lenovo ThinkPad: From Research to Design liveblog
On the 20th anniversary of the ThinkPad, we sit down with Lenovo executives to talk about the brand's position as a leader in the business laptop space. We'll also discuss what it takes to keep an iconic line relevant in an ever-evolving technology landscape, including an exclusive glimpse into the company's plans for the future. Check out the livestream here, our conversation begins at 1:45PMET. March 17, 2013 10:45 AM PDT Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
Live from Expand: Lenovo ThinkPad: From Research to Design (video)
Lenovo's ThinkPad line is now 20 years old, and we're taking sometime to chat with Lenovo execs to discuss what's made the brand so popular among business-minded folks. In addition, we'll also take a look at how the outfit has kept the line relevant, and nab an exclusive glimpse of the outfit's future plans. March 17, 2013 1:45 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Space Exploration After the Shuttle liveblog
America's space shuttle program may have come to an end when Atlantis was laid to rest at the Kennedy Space Center, but that's done nothing to dampen our interest in the universe through which we float. NASA's Curiosity captivates us with pictures and data from the Martian surface, and private ventures are popping up to replace shuttered, publicly funded programs. Join the SS Engadget for our panel on the future of space exploration -- introduced by Patrick O'Neill of the ISS, steered by our captain Brian Heater, and manned by Tom Rivellini of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Alexandra Hall of Google's Lunar X PRIZE, and Michael Laine of the LiftPort Group. March 17, 2013 11:30 AM EST For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Live from Expand: Space Exploration After the Shuttle (video)
Space travel's undergone a major transformation over the past few decades, with the end of the shuttle and the rise of commercial companies. We'll be joined by representatives from Google Lunar X Prize, NASA, LiftPort and the International Space Station. March 17, 2013 12:30 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
In Conversation with Sheldon Brown from Toyota Technical Center, USA liveblog
Toyota is no stranger to the hybrid realm and it has already introduced the fully-electric RAV4 EV SUV. Join us for this session where editor-in-chief Tim Stevens chats up Sheldon Brown, executive program manager of the product development office, Toyota Technical Center, USA, Inc. There's sure to be some talk of hybrids and EVs -- and perhaps a glimpse that what the future holds for us road warriors. March 17, 2013 12:00 PM EDT Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
Live from Expand: Toyota's Sheldon Brown (video)
We'll be joined on stage by Toyota's executive program manager, product development Sheldon Brown to discuss the car's company's presence in the hybrid market, and the RAV4 EV, which furthers its focus on electric vehicles. March 17, 2013 12:00 PM EST For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
When and where to catch our Engadget Expand liveblogs today
Can't make it out to Engadget Expand at San Francisco's Fort Mason today? 'Tis a shame, but we're happy to help ease the pain a bit. You'll be able to watch livestreams of all of today's sessions on this very website, and we'll be liveblogging a few, too, just in case you prefer to take it all in with text and photos instead. Head over to our agenda page for the day's full rundown, and jump past the break for links to all of our liveblogs and livestreams, along with times to watch.
Scanadu's Walter De Brouwer talks tricorders and time travel backstage at Expand (video)
Walter De Brouwer wants to make the tricorder a reality. The Scanadu founder and CEO took some time away from his Trekkie toiling at NASA's Ames Research Park to join our panel on the future of technology and made his way backstage shortly after to discuss his vision of things to come with Sharif Sakr. For the full interview, covering everything from implantable health sensors to semiotics and the possibility (or not) of time travel, check out our video after the break. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
Microsoft's Bob Heddle backstage at Expand (video)
Bob Heddle, director of Kinect for Windows, took to our stage yesterday to talk about the evolution of Microsoft's gaming peripheral. After turning our editor-in-chief into a rather rubbery looking 3D rendering, he headed backstage for an interview with Brian Heater where the two talked about Kinect's effect on Microsoft's business as a whole and the possibility of an embedded future. For the full interview, check out our video after the break. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
Visualized: Engadget Expand's pier of arcade
There are very few things on this Earth that can make a view of the San Francisco Bay even more gorgeous than it already is, and a pier with 67 arcade games lined up side-by-side certainly qualifies as one of them. This stockpile of amusement will soon be making its way into our exhibit hall at Fort Mason for the Engadget Expand afterparty, and we captured this glorious vista fresh off the delivery truck. The usual suspects are here: NBA Jam, Street Fighter, Tetris, Tron, Pac-man, Qbert and even Donkey Kong, along with a litany of other classics. Take a quick break this evening and have yourself a good long look at our gallery of goodies below, as well as a video showing the setup in all its glory. %Gallery-183029%
Live from Expand: What's Next? A Glimpse Into the Future of Technology (video)
Sick of the present? Good, us too. We've gathered together a number of futurists and other thinkers to prognosticate on what's coming next in the world of technology. Let's meet back here for Expand 2 and see who got what right. Deal? March 16, 2013 8:15 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Robots, Lasers and Replicators: Making Science Fiction a Reality liveblog
We're live from the Robots, Lasers and Replicators panel at Engadget Expand! Veronica Belmont of Revision3, author Daniel Wilson, and John Scalzi join Engadget EIC Tim Stevens for the talk. Follow along just beyond the break!
