Paul Miller
Articles by Paul Miller
IBM's Watson supercomputer destroys all humans in Jeopardy practice round (video!)
So, in February IBM's Watson will be in an official Jeopardy tournament-style competition with titans of trivia Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. That competition will be taped starting tomorrow, but hopefully we'll get to know if a computer really can take down the greatest Jeopardy players of all time in "real time" as the show airs. It will be a historic event on par with Deep Blue vs. Garry Kasparov, and we'll absolutely be glued to our seats. Today IBM and Jeopardy offered a quick teaser of that match, with the three contestants knocking out three categories at lightning speed. Not a single question was answered wrongly, and at the end of the match Watson, who answers questions with a cold computer voice, telegraphing his certainty with simple color changes on his "avatar," was ahead with $4,400, Ken had $3,400, and Brad had $1,200. Alright, a "win" for silicon for now, but without any Double Jeopardy or Final Jeopardy it's hard to tell how well Watson will do in a real match. What's clear is that he isn't dumb, and it seems like the best chance the humans will have will be buzzing in before Watson can run through his roughly three second decision process and activate his buzzer mechanically. An extra plus for the audience is a graphic that shows the three answers Watson has rated as most likely to be correct, and how certain he is of the answer he selects -- we don't know if that will make it into the actual TV version, but we certainly hope so. It's always nice to know the thought processes of your destroyer. Stand by for video of the match, along with an interview with David Gondek, an engineer on the project. Update: Video of the match is up, check it out after the break! Update 2: And we have the interview as well, along with a bit more on how Watson actually works. %Gallery-114391%
IBM demonstrates Watson supercomputer in Jeopardy practice match
We're at IBM's HQ in upstate NY, where IBM will pit its monstrous Watson project (in the middle buzzer spot) against two Jeopardy greats, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. Watson has been in development for four years, and this is its first big public practice match before it goes on national TV in February for three matches against these giants of trivia. Unlike IBM's Deep Blue chess project in the 90s, which was pretty much pure math, Watson has to deal with the natural language and punny nature of real Jeopardy questions. IBM, ever the salesman, has thrown gobs of its fancy server hardware at the project, with 10 racks full of IBM Power 750 servers, stuffed with 15 terabytes of RAM and 2,880 processor operating at a collective 80 teraflops. IBM says it would take one CPU over two hours to answer a typical question, so this massive parallel processing is naturally key -- hopefully fast enough to buzz in before Ken and Brad catch on to the human-oriented questioning. We'll update this post as the match begins, and we'll have some video for you later in the day.
Bridgestone shows off QR-LPD display, the future looks dim
We didn't manage to check out Vivitek's booth and its bevy of low power QR-LPD-screened devices at this year's CES, but it doesn't look like we missed much. The e-book fanatics over at The Digital Reader dropped by, and found Bridgestone's QR-LPD screen technology extremely disappointing. Apparently the screens are just as dim and washed out as they were when we first glimpsed them, over two years ago. In addition, the screen refresh time is painfully slow. Unless these screens turn out to be vastly better in production and incredibly cheap, we think Mirasol and Pixel Qi don't have anything to worry about in the next-gen screen space. There's a video of QR-LPD after the break if you're still interested.
WebM VP8 specs ready for chip companies to start building hardware acceleration
You know how long we've been waiting for Flash video to get decent hardware acceleration? Well, it looks like the Google-backed WebM VP8 codec won't take nearly so long. The WebM hardware development team just pushed out hardware decoder IP for VP8, which will let chip folks build WebM playback into their chipsets -- most of which are currently oriented around accelerating H.Google's-gunning-for it-264 and / or Flash. A VP8 hardware encoder IP will follow later in Q1. There's nothing much more to it: it's the same ol' 720p and 1080p decoding we know and love, which will be possible on mobile devices (and already is with other codecs), but this time it's open, remember?
Razer Hydra Sixense motion controller eyes-on
The technology behind the Hydra Sixense motion controller has been in development for a while now, but Razer was actually showing it off at CES this year. Unfortunately, it was strictly a hands-off situation at the booth -- we could only look on with jealousy as the Razer rep played through some gorgeous Portal 2 level. What we could see is that the magnetics-based controllers are very responsive, spatial, and multi-dimensional; these aren't your parent's simplistic Wii-style flick controls. There's still no word on price or a release date, but we're hearing "under $100" and "early" this year. It's hard to get totally excited about a PC hardware peripheral, given the smaller quantity of games (particularly hardware-specific titles) over in desktop land, but with Valve support and what appears to be the perfect control scheme (dual analog sticks, dual fully 3D-sensing motion controllers), we'd say the Hydra has a better shot at winning us over than anything else of its ilk. Check out a video after the break for a bit of Hydra action. %Gallery-113921%
The Verizon iPhone
Update: We now have our full review of the Verizon iPhone up! You'd be a fool not to click. We've waited and waited, and now Apple and Verizon have made a million dreams come true: the iPhone is coming to Big Red. After talking up his new LTE network a bit, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed a CDMA (non-LTE) version of the iPhone 4 is coming to Verizon Wireless next month. Talks started way back in 2008, and the phone has been in testing for a year -- it sounds like they wanted to get this one right. Current Verizon customers will be able to pre-order on February 3rd for the standard $200 price for the 16GB model on a two year agreement, $300 for the 32GB version -- everyone else can order on February 10th (see it compared with AT&T's iPhone 4). Just to clarify and put any wild rumors to bed, the phone is Verizon 3G (EV-DO) only, no 4G data or GSM roaming. It's not a world phone or an AT&T + Verizon phone, it's just a Verizon phone. Outside of Verizon connectivity, the phone is basically unchanged, although Verizon's CDMA network doesn't support simultaneous voice and data as with the GSM version. It does have the new antenna design we were hearing about last week, but that's just because CMDA requires a different configuration of antennas. (Apple says they didn't go LTE just yet because first-gen chipsets would force unwanted design decisions, and customers want a Verizon device now.) That slight modification also equates to a slight bump in where the volume buttons and mute switch -- a new case might be required. Software-wise the big innovation is five user WiFi hotspot functionality, something that's standard on Android phones, while Apple has kept the iPhone only able to tether directly to one computer. Check out our full hands-on with the Verizon iPhone right here, and stay tuned -- we've got lots more coming up. %Gallery-113857% %Gallery-113856% .vi-wrapper { text-align:center; text-size:28px; } .vi-box { width:400px; height: 170px; background: #CCC; margin-bottom:10px; position:relative; margin: 0 auto; display:block; } .vi-box.everything { background:url(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/01/ver-ip2.jpg); } .vi-box.liveblog { background:url(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/01/ver-ip-2.jpg);} .vi-box.handson { background:url(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/01/vzw-iphone-600-rme_400x170.jpg);} .vi-box p { background-color: rgb(0,0,0); background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.8); color: #0EADDC; font: 900 14px/17px normal Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; padding: 7px 10px; bottom: 0; letter-spacing: -0.02em; } .vi-date { font-size:79%; } History lesson: the run-up to the Verizon iPhone January 11, 2011 @ 11 AM ET Verizon iPhone Liveblog Verizon iPhone hands-on
Motorola Xoom: pretend UI hands-on walkthrough (video)
The Motorola Xoom is a huge product this year for two reasons: it's a major first tablet from a major Android manufacturer, and it's the flagship device for Honeycomb, an OS that's been announced for dozens of other tablets here at the show, but not actually shown running on any of them. The only problem is that Motorola isn't really showing Honeycomb on the Xoom, either. Instead they're showing a demo video of the UI, which is actually running on top of real Honeycomb. For a glimpse under the covers, Jacob snagged a quick illicit peek at a totally unpopulated home screen, the gallery app, and even the task switcher the other day. We'll just keep that between us, however, and until we get a full-on official look at the UI, we thought we'd walk you through that demo UI video Moto is running on the actual tablet and pretend like we're actually using the thing, which should clear up some of the confusion on this brand new tablet OS while simultaneously stoking our egos. Check it out after the break. Update: Here's the gallery of the non-pretend and very real UI shots we peeked in the first hands-on post (including a shot of the task switcher in its current form). %Gallery-112881%
Motorola Atrix: another look (video)
Every CES there's something so alluring that we can't help going back for seconds (or thirds). This year it happens to be the Motorola Atrix, which is undoubtedly our gadget of the show, and which Myriam already put together an in-depth hands-on for. We've been using every excuse we can to swing past Motorola's booth "on our way" to other stuff on the show floor, and we finally broke down and went in for another hands-on. Check out our video walkthrough after the break, which hopefully should help explain the transition the Atrix can make from phone to desktop to laptop to set-top box. And please excuse our enthusiasm. %Gallery-113570%
The Engadget Podcast Show livestream extravaganza starts at 6:15PM PST / 9:15PM EST!
It's our last and final show of this fine CES. We're going to talk to some more staff members tonight, so get ready for some new faces. Also, get ready for zero tangents and total topic adherence. Right guys? Right? Check out the stream and chat after the break. Oh, and here are the last three shows, in case you missed them: Engadget Podcast Show 004 Engadget Podcast Show 003 Engadget Podcast Show 002 Engadget Podcast Show 001
Editorial: Windows on ARM is a big deal, but it's not enough to win at tablets
While "Windows runs on ARM now" is a really easy thing to say, it's an extremely complicated subject, fraught with industry drama, technical accomplishment, and a hint of Microsoft's vision for the future. Microsoft is saying loud and clear that x86 isn't enough (sorry, Intel and AMD), that current Windows form factors aren't sufficient (sorry, netbooks), and that it's still a nimble enough company to respond to changes in the market and consumer frustrations (sorry, Clippy). But what does that actually mean, in the long run? Let's talk things through, after the break.
The Engadget Podcast Show livestream extravaganza starts at 8PM PST / 11PM EST!
We're not sure if we can top the excitement of a power outage tonight (in fact, we hope we don't), but what we can do is talk about the second official day of CES and whine about being hungry for around an hour. How does that sound? It all kicks off at 8PM PST / 11PM EST, livestream and chat are after the break, like always. Oh, and here are the last three shows, in case you missed them: Engadget Podcast Show 003 Engadget Podcast Show 002 Engadget Podcast Show 001 Update: It's over! But you know, you can watch it again tomorrow when the archived recording goes up. And then we'll do it again, one more time.
Verizon iPhone: everything you need to know
Update: The Verizon iPhone has been announced! Here's our hands-on, and here's a comparison chart with the AT&T version. Below is documentation of the rumoring and the speculation and the historic desperation for this product. You know, for posterity. Ah, the Verizon iPhone. In our bizarre careers as tech journalists, if there's one question we've heard more than "When is Verizon getting the iPhone?" we can't think of it. Also, outside the original rumors for the iPhone and iPad, we can't think of another product so heavily teased by those in the know and those not in the know -- though mostly by those not in the know. But then we heard Verizon is having a little get together on Tuesday, which is particularly odd timing because Verizon has a huge presence and a large amount of announcements at this year's CES. Rumors of the event being a Verizon iPhone announce immediately flared up, but there were still reservations: Apple usually announces its own products at its own corporate campus -- why would Verizon be doing the honors in NY? That's when the Wall Street Journal swooped in with a confirmation: the Verizon iPhone will be announced on Tuesday, and WSJ's All Things D even thinks Steve Jobs will be there. So, who is this fly-by-night "Wall Street Journal" publication we speak of? They have one of the best track records on Apple rumors in the business, and they've been leading the Verizon iPhone predictions from day one. Follow after the break as we talk it out.
iRobot AVA chills with us at CES, will turn Android and iPad app developers into roboticists (video)
We just got a chance to meet iRobot's AVA and talk to iRobot's CEO Colin Angle about his plans for this intriguing new bot. What we're looking at right now is basically a developer platform, or a "concept car" as Colin put it, showing off ideas for a consumer-facing bot with a lot more smarts than a Roomba, with hopes to attract developers who can extend its functionality. What wasn't clear to us before is that the tablet perched atop the bot can be any iPad or Android tablet -- not some first-party model by iRobot -- and the point of that is to let existing iPad and Android devs to develop apps using their regular tools that can control the bot through an API iRobot will give them access to. That means, unlike some robotic SDKs out there, developers won't have to learn the ins and outs of robots before they build an app for the AVA, they just have to pass simple instructions to the bot which can be interpreted by iRobot's already impressive software. For instance, the robot can already drive itself around a building and map it entirely, so then a software dev would just have to pick a point on a map and send AVA on its way -- no complicated navigation work on the app dev's part. iRobot also sees potential for game devs, which is particularly interesting because they could combine two of the "hot" areas of current game development: Kinect-style motion controls and touch controls. It's all very exciting, we assure you, so we suggest you follow after the break and watch this video -- before we sic AVA on your ass. %Gallery-113314%
Samsung shows off Google TV companion box and Blu-ray player
So, the word is that Samsung was planning on showing off Google TV at its presser, but switched things up at the last minute and stuck to its first party Smart TV offering. Still, that didn't stop two Samsung Google TV boxes from showing up at the show floor, a Blu-ray player and a standalone "companion" box. They both look pretty svelte, and the companion box is particularly smaller than the standalone Logitech and Sony boxes. Samsung's explanation of the showing was the idea that Samsung was "capable" of supporting other platforms, though they didn't have any promises of a release, a release date, or a price range. We also saw a Samsung Galaxy S running the Google TV controller app, which isn't much of a stretch, and there wasn't any sort of physical remote or keyboard on display. Basically, Samsung is showing the bare minimum of a Google TV offering, which seems to be sort of appropriate with Google TV's current feature set, if you want to get all "deeper meaning" about it. %Gallery-113282%
Dell Venue announced for the US, will be sold unlocked
We knew the Dell Venue was coming stateside, but now we know it. Dell has announced the phone for our fine country at its CES 2011 press conference, although it failed to mention a price, a release date, or anything else very helpful. Right now Dell doesn't have a carrier partner, so they're planning on selling the handset unlocked from Dell.com. Apparently they're flirting with the idea of a T-Mobile version, but the unlocked model won't have the T-Mobile 3G bands -- basically, it's an unlocked AT&T phone that AT&T hasn't blessed. Oh, and just in case you forgot the specs: WVGA 4.1-inch AMOLED screen, 8 megapixel camera, Android 2.2, and a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8250 processor. Got it? Good, now we wait.
iRobot debuts AVA telepresence robot with tablet controls
iRobot's first attempt at a telepresence robot, a modified Roomba, was a false start, but now they're back with an all-new bot called AVA which should right all wrongs. The bot can adjust its own height from three feet to five feet tall to meet you at eye level, with a tablet perched on top (this is CES 2011, after all). Its base is an odd three-wheeled configuration for maneuverability, and the robot has DARPA Challenge-style environment mapping to avoid bumping into anything or anybody. For sensors the AVA is using dual Kinect-style PrimeSense sensors, along with laser rangefinders, scanning acoustic sensors, and bump sensors. There's naturally a microphone and camera for the bot's primary purpose: video telepresence. What's more interesting, however, is that iRobot has an apps platform for this, which will allow developers to build new functionality. There's no word on price or when this will go on sale, but we already know one thing: we want one. Check out some quality time that PC Magazine's Lance Ulanoff spent with AVA after the break.
Lady Gaga and Polaroid launch Grey Label Instant Camera, Printer, and insane Camera Glasses
Polaroid has officially gone off the deep end, as a willing accomplice in Lady Gaga's crazy schemes. The new Grey Label line also includes a rebirth for Polaroid as an instant camera company, with a sexy new GL30 Instant Digital Camera with built-in printer, a separate GL10 Instant Mobile Printer, and Lady Gaga's bizarre triumph: the GL20 Camera Glasses (pictured), which include a built-in camera and dual LCDs which appear to cover your eyes when you're wearing the oversized shades. This CES marks a full year of Polaroid's collaboration with Lady Gaga, and while the glasses are possibly the least commercially viable device to be announced this year (in the best possible way), the classy new camera and printer might just make up for it. Both devices are using Zink technology for the instant printing, which Polaroid has been using in a much uglier way in its OneStep cameras, but the new devices have a retro sort of look that we're really digging. For the most part specs are light, including the GL30's megapixel count, but the GL10 printer will be out in May for $150, while the GL30 camera and the GL20 glasses don't have prices and will be available "later this year." %Gallery-113150%
Samsung launching RVU-compatible D6000 series TVs in March
Remember the RVU Alliance from last year? The idea is to use standard tech like DLNA and UPnP to move live TV and DVR'd content around the home and straight to your screens, instead of having to plug a separate set-top box into every television. Well, Samsung is about to ship the first TVs in the world that support the RVU protocol, the Samsung LED D6000, LED D6400 and LED D6420. When networked with DirecTV's RVU server (the first of its kind), the TVs will display the UI and features from the DirecTV box, with ability to pause live content, share DVR storage, and record up to five shows simultaneously. No word on cost for the sets, but can you really put a price on the future?
The Engadget Podcast Show livestream extravaganza starts at 8PM PST / 11PM EST!
Alright, the past two days have been insanity, meaning our live Engadget Podcast Shows have happened at an ungodly hour, no matter which end of the US you happen to live. Today is totally insane too, but we're going to take a break from the insanity to do an insane live show at 8PM Vegas Local Time (VLT), or 11PM EST, if that's more your bag. We can't promise to be any more coherent than the last two nights, but we can promise to be just as attractive and twice as argumentative. Don't miss it. The stream and the chat are after the break. Oh, and here are the last two shows, in case you missed them: Engadget Podcast Show 002 Engadget Podcast Show 001
Avatar Kinect in action: prepare to be mildly diverted
So, Microsoft doesn't have a press-ready demo of its new Avatar Kinect, but we at least got to see it in action today. To keep the unwashed masses lining up to try Kinect at the booth entertained, Microsoft has a comedian (dubbed "Mr. Kinect") controlling an Avatar with Kinect, heckling the queued-up folks with his digital puppetry. The good news is that he's working it from a seated position, the great dream of folks tired of standing up to get their motion gaming on. The bad news is that you only get control of your arms, face, and head -- you won't be walking around and punching your friends in the face, sadly. We saw a couple of settings -- sadly, not the AA-style setup we witnessed during the keynote -- which are pleasant but a little generic (like most of Microsoft's Kinect titles right now). The actual facial tracking and body tracking worked, but the motions seemed a little minimal. Kinect is obviously completely capable of great skeletal tracking, so we're hoping for a bit more expressiveness, but we're still early on, so things could always be tweaked a bit before launch. We did confirm that Steve Ballmer's Avatar appearance last night was a canned recording, so we are looking at software that isn't ready for prime time. Overall we think Avatar Kinect is a great idea, and an excellent way to show off Kinect's exclusive motion control prowess, we just look forward to a future where we have even more control over our Avatars -- isn't that the whole point of Kinect, after all? Let us free, Microsoft. We just want to be free. Check out some video of the setup after the break. %Gallery-113102%