Oem -- Engadget

oem posts

Microsoft emancipates Digital Cable Tuners with second Media Center update today

by Richard Lawler posted Nov 6th 2009 at 10:19PM

Scant hours after the SDV tuning, DRM-relaxing firmware update for Vista and Windows 7 Digital Cable Tuner users became available, Missing Remote let us know Microsoft has come through on the other half of its CEDIA promise by pushing the Digital Cable Advisor to Media Center Extras galleries everywhere. This half should enable all Windows 7 PCs to work with the CableCard tuners, sans-OEM requirement or inconvenient hacking. Sure we could ask for more from Windows 7 Media Center, but for now Netflix and these two (in less than 100 days) will have to do.

Read - MCE: Digital Cable Advisor Tool Available Now!
Read - ATI DCT Firmware update pops up on Windows Update, DRM-free MCE recordings are a go

Windows 7 OEM pricing revealed by Newegg

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 29th 2009 at 4:39PM

Well, it's not the fifty bucks that OEMs are said to be paying for a copy of Windows on the average PC, but the pricing for individual OEM copies of Windows 7 has now finally been revealed by the folks at Newegg and, as expected, it's still a good deal cheaper than the full retail price. Things start at just $99.99 (after a $10 discount) for a full version of Windows 7 Home Premium (compared to $199 retail), and move up to $134.99 for the OEM Professional edition, and $174.99 for the Ultimate edition (also after a pre-order discount that's good until October 20th). Of course, there are a few limitations if you decide to go the OEM route yourself (like not being able to transfer the license between PCs, and a complete lack of an upgrade option), but we're guessing that extra $100+ back in your pocket will more than make up for those drawbacks with plenty of folks.

[Via DailyTech]

Microsoft says OEMs pay about $50 for Windows on a $1,000 PC

by Donald Melanson posted Sep 16th 2009 at 7:07PM

There's been no shortage of rumors and speculation about how much Microsoft charges OEMs for a copy of Windows over the years, but Microsoft itself has stayed fairly mum on the matter -- until this week, that is. Speaking at the Jefferies Annual Technology Conference, Microsoft exec Charles Songhurst revealed for the first time that the company has "always charged about $50" for a copy of Windows on the average $1,000 PC, or about 5% of the total cost. Songhurst also seems to imply that Microsoft is looking to get about 5% across the board for Windows, meaning that it can rake in some impressive profits on high-end PCs while still being able to offer Windows on the cheap for netbooks or $300 desktops. Songhurst even went so far as to say that cheap PCs are a net benefit for Microsoft so long as they are "not cannibalistic to the total PC demand," and he and unsurprisingly further went on to extol the virtues of Windows 7, saying that it is a "compellingly good product," and that "when Windows is executing well, Microsoft is in good shape."

[Thanks, Sammy]

Microsoft invites some of its bestest OEM buddies over for a Windows 7 RTM code handoff party

by Paul Miller posted Jul 25th 2009 at 1:54PM

Redmond was the place to be last night, as Microsoft gave over that long-anticipated Windows 7 RTM code to its favorite OEM partners, including HP, Toshiba, Lenovo (pictured), ASUS, Acer, Dell, Sony and Fujitsu-Siemens. Even if you're not big into operating system nuts and bolts, it's hard not to get just a little choked up as one nerd hands a nondescript white box to another nerd. You know there's magic in the air.

[Thanks, JagsLive]

F88 netbook stands out with HD playback, VIA Nano

by Vladislav Savov posted Jul 10th 2009 at 6:59AM

What do we have here then? An OEM netbook, looking remarkably like a recent ASUS iteration, has come to our attention with some bold claims in tow. Spec'd with a 1.6GHz VIA Nano processor and S3 Chrome 9 graphics, this promises to be one of the most potent netbooks yet and backs up that claim with up to 4GB of memory and 500GB of storage. The major attraction of all this extra juice is full 1080p video playback, which is somewhat confounded by the 1024 x 600 resolution and 10.1-inch screen, but can be pumped out to an external display via HDMI. Expect this to be rebadged and hitting store shelves some time soonish, at which point we may consider the distinction between netbooks and laptops entirely academic.

[Via liliputing]

Windows 7 RC and XP given extensions on life well into 2010

by Ross Miller posted May 1st 2009 at 12:33AM

Whether or not Windows 7 does launch in October as previously suggested, those who have (or plan to get) Release Candidate will be happy to hear that Microsoft won't be pulling the plug until June 1, 2010, well over a year from now and 11 months after its initial expiration date. After that, you're gonna have to fork over the Benjamins for one of the retail SKUs if you wanna keep 7 alive. As for those still living in Redmond's past, the company's also extended the life of XP, at least for OEMs. Companies using the older OS will still be able to install it on netbooks for up to one year after 7's official shape date. Seeing as the new system's likely to have a more expensive licensing fee, it's probably the best move if the company plans on keeping that 96% grip on the netbook OS market.

[Via gadgetmix]

Read - Windows 7 RC extension
Read - Windows XP extension

Microsoft launches entry-level Foundation Server 2008

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Apr 1st 2009 at 7:41PM

Microsoft has just announced the release of Windows Server 2008 Foundation. Codenamed Lima once upon a time, this release is being billed as a low cost alternative to Windows Small Business Server. Squarely aimed at the OEM set (Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and various Chinese software pirating syndicates have already have expressed interest), this licensing scheme limits the server to fifteen users (even as a member server on a Windows domain), doesn't include hypervisor, and does away with the need for Client Access Licenses (CALs). With today's announcement, Foundation is available in 40 countries in English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish.

[Via ZDNet]

Nokia pulling all OEM contracts?

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 27th 2009 at 5:04PM

iSuppli, of all companies -- you know, the teardown people -- is reporting that Nokia has stopped using outside contractors altogether for manufacturing its hardware. Nokia has always had a good deal of in-house manufacturing capability, but certain products -- including its upcoming MID, allegedly -- have been contracted out to ODMs like Foxconn and its contemporaries, so this calls a whole slew of initiatives into question. Notably, many of its recent CDMA devices are made outside of Nokia proper, so we've got to wonder -- does this mean they'll be taking up the slack internally, or is CDMA once again on the outs for these guys? See iSuppli's full press release after the break.

[Image via Unwired View]

Continue reading Nokia pulling all OEM contracts?

HABEY's second 1080p-boasting, N270-powered mini HTPC brings along video proof

by Ross Miller posted Mar 21st 2009 at 6:16AM

Following up on its impressive debut earlier this month, HABEY's unveiled the BIS-6540HD mini HTPC that, like its 6550 counterpart, is capable of running an impressive 1080p signal with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor -- special thanks go to its HD hardware decoder for that feat. The fanless unit also features up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, eight USB ports, a built-in CF socket, two SATA II ports with SSD support, DVI and VGA outputs, ethernet, and options for wireless and HD TV tuner. No word on pricing or availability, but it looks like it's being marketed as an OEM product and we suspect it'll cost more than a pretty penny. Check out the video after the break to see it rocking Planet Earth on Blu-ray.

Continue reading HABEY's second 1080p-boasting, N270-powered mini HTPC brings along video proof

Palm Pre to be assembled by Chi Mei Communication Systems, fairies

by Laura June posted Mar 18th 2009 at 4:33PM

Information about Palm's hotly anticipated Pre just keeps slowly trickling out... today, we hear that Taiwanese OEM Chi Mei Communication Systems will have the honor of assembling the smartphones. The company's not one of the largest out there, but it also manufactures phones for Motorola. This info comes to us courtesy of DigiTimes, so make of it what you will, but they also say that production could begin as early as March. Considering that it's March now, well... we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?

[Via Brighthand]

Verismo's VuNow internet TV platform ambushes OEM market

by Darren Murph posted Feb 10th 2009 at 4:51PM

If you're still resisting the onset of the internet TV revolution, we're here to inform you that your efforts are in vain. Shortly after launching a dedicated box at CES, Verismo Networks has announced an OEM program that's apparently drawing lots of attention from manufacturers of TVs, optical media players, AV receivers, etc. Essentially, the company is looking to get its open VuNow platform, which pulls in content from around the web, onto other standalone boxes and integrated within future devices -- much like Netflix's Watch Instantly has done, and exactly like we saw at CES with Netgear. And don't think the cash flow stops at the consumer level, as there are also opportunities within education and medicine sectors for institutions seeking a streamlined way of distributing learning materials. Watch out, pay-TV -- we've got options here, and we aren't afraid to use 'em.

Kogan intros world's second Android phone: Agora / Agora Pro

by Darren Murph posted Dec 3rd 2008 at 10:23PM

We'll be totally honest -- we pretty much blew Ruslan Kogan off when he proclaimed that he was about to push out a $199 Android phone by the year's end. And truthfully, the guy still hasn't totally delivered, but you won't find us kvetching about more Googlephones, regardless of MSRP. The Agora (AU$299; US$192) and Agora Pro (AU$399; US$256) are available for pre-order as we speak, though neither one is scheduled to ship out until the end of January. For those unfamiliar with Kogan, it's an online-only enterprise that has wares built specifically to its dimensions in China, and so far as we can tell, it's as legit as they come. As for specs, the Agora packs a 2.5-inch touchscreen (320 x 240), 3G networking, a backlit QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth 2.0 and a microSD card slot; the Pro adds in GPS, 2-megapixel camera and WiFi. So, with unsubsidized prices this low, are you willing to take a chance?

[Via iTWire]

Microsoft may extend Windows XP "downgrade" deadline by six months

by Darren Murph posted Oct 4th 2008 at 6:15PM

First off, we'll warn you that these reports are currently unconfirmed by the suits in Redmond, but word has it that Microsoft is working with at least one OEM to have the Windows XP "downgrade" deadline pushed out from January 2009 to at least July 31, 2009. That's according to an e-mail sent from Microsoft to an unspecified partner company, which purportedly details a plan to work with other buddies in pushing that deadline out another half year. Given the results thus far, we suppose we're not too surprised to hear that firms are still clamoring for the XP option, but one wonders when this madness will ever end. Will folks really be opting for XP on new machines after Windows 7 is out?

[Via Download Squad]

Averatec's 10.2-inch netbook just wants to be your Buddy

by Paul Miller posted Sep 19th 2008 at 10:12AM

We knew it was coming, and now Averatec's officially unveiled the Buddy, another 10.2-inch, Atom N270-based netbook. It's not straying far from that template laid down by the Eee 1000 and Wind, but the more recent photos we've dug up seem to show that it's not a straight up Wind rebadge as previously implied -- which could be a good or bad thing, depending on Averatec's attention to detail and / or OEM partner. The laptop manages 1GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, Windows XP Home and WiFi for a reasonable $450, and should be hitting retail shelves and online stores soon.

Match Tech Industrial puts the M860 UMPC in your hands, 2,000 at a time

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Sep 12th 2008 at 3:42PM

From the magical town of Shenzhen in mainland China, we present you with a new OEM UMPC manufactured by Match Tech Industrial. The M860 is a 7-inch, 800 x 480 touchscreen device sporting a 1.2GHz VIA processor, 60GB hard drive, WiFi, an SD slot, and 1GB of DDR2 Memory. Also housed in the otherwise unremarkable black plastic case: three USB 2.0 ports, a VGA port, 1.3-megapixel camera, and optional internal GPS and Bluetooth. Shipping with Windows XP Home, Match Tech promises the user "3 to 4 hours working time" before it needs to be recharged. There's no price listed, but if you're interested, the minimum order is 2,000 units, and who knows -- at the right price, with the right branding, you could have a nice little product here. Ready to dive in? Don't hesitate to contact the company's head salesman, Mr. Strong Chan. No, seriously.

[Via, Pocketables]