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Samsung unveils a 43-inch version of its versatile Smart Monitor
Samsung has expanded its all-in-one Smart Monitor range with two new models.
The best multi-effects pedal for new guitarists
When I first started playing guitar way back in 1995 (or maybe it was 1994?) the idea of a digital multi-effects pedal was still pretty new. The Zoom 505 was the biggest game in town, if you wanted a pile of effects in a compact package for a reasonable price. It was also the first pedal I ever bought. But, if I'm being honest, a lot of the sounds you got out of it were not great. And it could be a little confusing to operate at times. Thankfully things have come a long way since the mid '90s.
Canon makes big strides with its fast-focusing mirrorless M5
Canon's 24.2-megapixel M5 is its best mirrorless camera yet, but is that enough? The company is playing to its strengths by giving the new model classic Canon DSLR-like styling and, finally, a 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder. It also has a new image processor and "Dual Pixel" AF that focuses five times quicker than before. However, the M5 is yet more proof that it entered the mirrorless camera game much too late. Unlike Panasonic and Sony models in the same price range, it lacks 4K video and makes do with 1080p, 60fps shooting instead. The DSLR-like body style is not its strong point either, compared to nicer-looking options from Fujifilm and Olympus. Still, it should appeal to Canon owners, who can use their existing lenses with an optional adapter, and it's interesting enough to at least give mirrorless buyers pause. However, Canon is going to need to advance its mirrorless program, stat, or it risks staying behind fast-advancing rivals. Aaron Souppouris contributed to this report. We're live all week from Cologne, Germany, for Photokina 2016. Click here to catch up on all the news from the show.
Canon's EOS M5 is a mirrorless camera with a DSLR feel
It's been almost a year since the debut of the EOS M3, arguably Canon's best mirrorless camera to date. And now the company is expanding its compact series with the M5, a high-end shooter with a DSLR feel to it. We're not saying it'll replace your DSLR, by any means, but the M3 does borrow a number of features from Canon's prosumer-focused 80D. There's the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus, for instance, which helps you track moving subjects accurately in video mode. Additionally, you have the same 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor and 100-25,600 ISO.
Samsung reveals new wireless streaming speaker, home theater system, portable stereo and two TV soundbars
Clearly Sonos, Samsung's been peeking at your Play:1 playbook. After introducing the Shape wireless streaming audio system and the M7 speaker mere months ago, the Korean company is now ready to reveal a new, smaller member of the family, the M5, at CES. This new model has only three drivers (down from the five inside the larger M7), but still packs the same wireless audio tech as its elder -- meaning it's controlled by the Shape mobile app, connects to your local network through a Shape hub wired to your router and automagically fits into your existing system, whether it's a multi-room or multi-channel setup. Additionally, Samsung's cooked up a connect box that hooks up with old school analog speakers and loops them into the Shape system so they can be wirelessly controlled too. Plus, Samsung's crafted a pair of Shape-compatible soundbars, the HW-H750 and the HW-H600. The H750 soundbar pumps out 320W of sound and is built to sit beneath the largest of TV's (curved or otherwise), while the H600 sound stand is designed so that smaller 32-55 inch TV's sit directly on top of it while it pumps out multi-directional 4.2 channel audio.
Acer Aspire V5 and M5 laptops will be available with touchscreens this month
Make no mistake, one of the biggest trends you'll see this fall is PC makers slapping touchscreens on their current machines so as to make them a little more Windows 8-appropriate. And Acer is no exception: the company is introducing touch-enabled versions of its existing Aspire V5 and M5 laptops, both of which will go on sale this month. Starting with the M5, it's the touch-enabled version of the M5 Ultrabook we reviewed earlier this year. Though the standard version is available in 14- and 15-inch screen sizes, the touchscreen model (aka the 481PT, pictured above) will only be offered with a 14-inch (1,366 x 768) panel. This, too, has a Core i5 CPU and 6GB of RAM, though its 500GB hard drive is paired with a 20GB SSD for faster boot-ups. Like the non-touch version, it's rated for eight hours of runtime. Surprisingly, even though it's classified as an Ultrabook, it manages to make room for an optical drive -- impressive, given its 0.81-inch-thick chassis is still relatively slender. Both machines will be sold exclusively at Best Buy in the US, with the regular M5 starting at $700 and that touch-enabled version going for $800. As for the budget-minded V5 series, the touchscreen will only be offered on the 14-inch version (the V5-471P). Max specs include up to 8GB of RAM and up to 750GB of HDD storage. (Either way, you get a 1,366 x 768 display, a Core i5-3317UB processor and your requisite Intel HD 4000 graphics.) That model starts at $750, though the non-touch models are priced at $500 and up.
Tesla Model S squares off against BMW M5 in drag race, gives EVs extra street cred (video)
We already know from our own experience that the Tesla Model S is a driver's car, with acceleration and handling you wouldn't expect from a big and quiet luxury sedan. There's still nothing like a drag race to help settle the matter. Automobile has pitted the upscale EV against one of its more conspicuous rivals, BMW's M5, with performance results that might surprise those who would expect a 500HP, twin-turbo V8 to regularly come out on top. While we won't spoil the full results of the showdown video after the break, let's just say that even the M5's relatively wide torque band can only do so much when the Model S' electric motor is always at its peak. BMW's car may be better overall for those who want to travel long distances outside of certain routes, or to enjoy a burly exhaust note -- but there has to be a certain thrill for Tesla drivers who know they can hang with the speed kings while helping the environment.
Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 review: an Ultrabook with discrete graphics (and an optical drive)
More Info Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 review Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 hands-on Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 Ultrabooks with Kepler graphics coming to the US for $680-plus The PC industry might have 100-some-odd Ultrabooks up its sleeve, but fortunately for restless tech reviewers like yours truly, they're not all cast from the same mold. As the year wears on, we'll see prices dip as low as $700, and a few will be offered with discrete graphics -- a nice respite from games handicapped at 30 fps. And, in some rare cases, you'll find machines that manage to achieve both. Enter the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 series, a pair of 14- and 15-inch laptops that start at $680, and, for an added premium, can be had with NVIDIA Kepler graphics. What's more, the 14-inch model we tested has a DVD burner, making it as much a full-fledged laptop as an Intel-approved Ultrabook. Accordingly, then, we'll be comparing it not just to other low-priced ultraportables, but to some budget mainstream notebooks on offer this back-to-school season. So how does it stack up? Let's see.%Gallery-161687%
The Ultrabooks of Computex 2012
It was last year that Intel chose Computex, a computer tradeshow in Taiwan, to introduce its Ultrabook concept to the world. Twelve months later, 110-plus models are in the pipeline, which meant the Taipei Convention Center was overrun by skinny, lightweight laptops. Make that skinny, touch-enabled laptops. Between those new Ivy Bridge chips and Microsoft putting the finishing touches on Windows 8, this week's show was nothing if not a five-day-long wedding between two tech giants: almost every device on display here was a vehicle for showing off Microsoft's glossy new OS. At every turn, a celebration of touchscreen notebooks. With more than 30 hands-on posts this week, we can see where one Core i5 laptop might look like the next, or how you might have failed to keep up with Jonney Shih's rapid-fire product announcements. Now that we're wrapping up here in Taiwan, though, we're ready to take a step back and think about what it is we just saw. Whether you felt overwhelmed by our wall-to-wall coverage or just need to catch up, we suggest you meet us past the break for a quick recap of all the new Ultrabooks. Oh, and if you're in the market for a new laptop, you can check your trigger-happy finger at the door. With few exceptions, we're not expecting these to go on sale until the fall, when Windows 8 is expected to start shipping.
Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 hands-on (video)
Acer's Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 laptops are hardly a mystery -- they've already been announced for the UK -- but until now we haven't had the chance to handle one in person. Luckily for us, then, both the 14- and 15-inch models are on display here at Computex, right alongside the similar M3 Ultrabook we reviewed earlier this year. Like the M3, they pack NVIDIA's Kepler-based GeForce GT640M graphics and can be configured with solid-state drives, but the M5's design is decidedly more polished, with a brushed metal finish, narrower bezels and backlit keyboard. Nonetheless, some things haven't changed: the keyboard layout is the same, as is the 1366 x 768 TN display and thin chassis, which measures around 20mm thick. No word on availability beyond what we already know, but for now enjoy the hands-on photos and comparison video.
Acer ships Aspire M5 Ultrabook to UK in June, Ivy Bridge and Kepler chips in tow
Acer made something of a splash when it trotted out its Timeline Ultra series of Ultrabooks at CES; those waves are just now hitting the shore with a full-on release in the UK under a tweaked Aspire M5 name. Both the 14- and 15-inch models are now known to be packing Intel's Ivy Bridge-era third-generation Core processors, and the "dedicated" video we heard about in January is NVIDIA's Kepler-based GeForce GT 640M, which we saw in the Timeline Ultra M3. Either new PC is still under 20mm (0.8 inches) thick with the option of an SSD, like the M3, but slapping the M5 badge on top means a much narrower display bezel, a backlit keyboard and other more upscale touches that show where your money's going. Picking the 15-inch model adds an optical drive along with a keypad for number-crunching. Mum's the word on exact specs and that all-important pricing, but those questions will be answered by the time the M5 hits British shops in mid-June. Now all that's left is to know when the new Aspire reaches the other side of the Atlantic.
Turtle Beach unleashes M-series mobile headphones, updates Ear Force gaming headset lineup
Last year, at CES Turtle Beach wowed us with its Ear Force PX5 wireless gaming headset, featuring customizable surround sound presets -- this year, the New York-based company is unveiling its first foray into "lifestyle" headsets with its new M-series, as well as updating some of its staple Ear Force gaming headsets. To start, fans of the X31 and X41 wireless Xbox 360 headsets will be pleased to learn about its new X32 and X42, respectively priced at about $100 and $160. The duo build atop their older siblings' 2.4 Ghz RF radio signals, operating over dual-band 2.4 / 5 Ghz WiFi using an included transmitter. While both of these native stereo headsets feature a similar design with 50mm drivers, the X42 notably comes equipped with Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound. Moving onto the PC front, TB is introducing an option for gamers on a budget with its $40 Z11. Much like the company's on-ear Z1, it's a bare-bones stereo headset, but notably, the Z11 opts for an over-ear design with 50mm drivers. Lastly, Turtle's trio of M-series headsets are perfect for those looking to talk trash on Call of Duty and command their favorite music playlists on their smartphone between frag sessions. The lineup consists of the in-ear M1s, on-ear M3s (seen above, and vaguely similar Nox Audio's now-defunct Specialist) and the over-ear (and PX5-like) M5s. Each headset features an Android and iPhone-compatible inline remote / mic, and they're set to sell from $40 to $60 when they hit shelves. While availability for all the goods has yet to be announced, Turtle Beach apparently has another "surprise" announcement planned for CES, and we'll be sure to let you know as soon as when do while we're there. For now, check out the gallery below to see all the goods in the flesh, and the press release after the break for more details.
DEC's M5 makes an honest living with WinMo in China
Our own Engadget Chinese had an opportunity recently to play with the DEC M5 -- a phone that bears a passing resemblance to HTC's Magic, granted, but does enough to differentiate itself in its own right. How? Well, for starters, the area below the screen is a smooth, tactile response-free tundra of nav and call buttons, and if you're looking for a trackball, you're going to be sorely disappointed. It also steps down to WQVGA resolution from the Magic's HVGA, though WQVGA really suits Windows Mobile just fine -- something we can't say for Android. It's got EV-DO, AGPS, a 3 megapixel camera, and WiFi, too, so really, DEC, we're going to let you slide right on by without the KIRF label here -- not to say anyone outside Asia will have an easy go at getting one of these anyhow.
NVIDIA unveils 12 Tegra devices, 25 days of music or 10 hours of 1080p video on single charge (updated)
You've read about it, maybe even dreamed about it in your fantasies of a Microsoft Pink smartphone drizzled with Zune media. Now we've got Tegra taking center stage at Computex with a dozen "mobile internet devices" powered by the Tegra processor, the "world's smallest and lowest power computer-on-a-chip" according to NVIDIA. Of notable importance, the latest Tegra press release contradicts the Mobinnova Elan release by claiming 1080p video playback is supported by Tegra, not just 720p. Something we saw for ourselves (and had confirmed by NVIDIA) during our hands-on with the Elan. Now, get this; NVIDIA is using the term MID unlike Intel uses MID even though the terminology is of Intel origin. Instead of referring to handheld devices for consumers, NVIDIA's MIDs are classed as Tegra-based netbooks and tablets. In other words, the 8.9-inch Elan is a MID. Ugh. Semantics aside, the platform is smokin' hot with promise offering the following benefits: 25 days of music or 10-hours of 1080p video playback on a single charge video games play at up to 46 frames per second GPU accelerated Adobe Flash animations (huzzah for Hulu!) always-on processors for instant access to the network 3G, WiFi, and WiMax solutions support Great on paper, but still not available for purchase. Rest assured, we'll be hands-on with more Tegra devices on the quick.Update: Tegra devices are expected to land before 2009 is through, priced around $200 or less with carrier subsidies.
Velocity Micro delivers NoteMagix M10 netbook and M5 UMPC
Answering the call for yet another netbook in the world is Velocity Micro, who has graciously provided us with the NoteMagix M10 (pictured) here at CES. The 10.1-inch machine includes a 4-cell battery for up 5 hours of usage, 802.11b/g WiFi, a 2.6 pound chassis, Windows XP running the show and a custom carrying case to really showcase its awesomeness. Never mind those trivial tidbits like CPU model / speed, RAM quantity and GPU type -- Velocity Micro clearly thinks you don't even need 'em. Moving on, we've got the even more portable 4.8-inch NoteMagix M5 UMPC, with packs a touchscreen display, full QWERTY keyboard, WiFi, Bluetooth, integrated 3G WWAN and 5 hours of battery life. Both machines should be available later this Spring for prices that are currently unknown.[Via NotebookReview]
Miller & Kreisel back from the dead, has new speakers to prove it
Fans of MK speakers, rejoice! After a small rough patch last year that saw the company use both sides of its "closed for business" / "yes we're open" sign, MK is showing signs of stability with product announcements. Based on their pro monitors, the MK Sound M-series includes the SB-8 and SB-12 subwoofers 8- and 12-inch cones, duh), M5 and M7 primary speakers, and the M-4T tripole surrounds (for when dipolar or bipolar surrounds just aren't diffuse enough). Naturally, all speakers are sonically and aesthetically matched, with 1-inch tweeters and 4-inch midrange drivers in the primary and surround channels (the M7 adds an additional 4-inch driver for a little more bass). If you're into accurate monitor-type sound, you might want to show some support for the new iteration of this mature brand.
