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HP's Pavilion x360 14 now comes with 4G LTE
HP's mid-range convertible favourite has been given a revamp.
HP’s latest x360 Chromebooks ship with universal stylus compatibility
HP has announced its updated x360 Chromebooks, which feature a 360-degree hinge, 4GB of memory and 32GB of storage. More notable, though, is the Chromebooks' compatibility with the Universal Stylus Initiative's standard. USI 1.0 enables stylus compatibility across any touchscreen device that has integrated the technology, meaning you'll be able to use the same stylus for your smartphone, tablet and touchscreen computer.
HP adds a wood option to its Envy laptops
Following on from the stylish business casual, leather-clad Spectre Folio, HP is showcasing its first convertible PCs with authentic wood paneling. In fact, it's sharing the alternate material option across Envy 13, Envy x360 13, Envy x360 15 and the bigger Envy 17. Naturally, these will all come with options for either the latest Intel processors or second-gen Ryzen mobile chips.
HP's Envy 17 laptop is ready for gaming and DVDs
HP is launching an updated lineup of Envy laptops with longer battery life, the latest Intel processors and the option of an AMD processor in some models. The 17-inch model even has some features that may appeal to gamers. None of these laptops are radical changes from last year's models, but they all represent a nice set of upgrades if you like HP's formula.
HP's low-cost Stream laptops now include a 14-inch model
HP is clearly having some success with its cheap-and-cheerful Stream laptops, as it's expanding them in a big, big way. It's refreshing the range with not only some under-the-hood upgrades, but a new model. The Stream 14 (above) effectively replaces the 13-inch version, delivering better performance and a more portable design despite the larger screen. It has faster 2x2 802.11ac WiFi, a 2016-era Celeron processor and a longer 10 hours, 45 minutes of battery life, but weighs less than the old Stream 13 at 3.17 pounds. You won't be blown away by its 4GB of RAM, 32GB of flash storage or 1,366 x 768 resolution, but the Stream 14 will also start at $219 when it arrives on September 7th. Not bad for a mid-size Windows 10 portable, we'd say.
HP Spectre x360 review: What happens when Microsoft helps build a laptop?
The Spectre x360 is HP's newest flagship notebook. It's also probably the closest you'll get to seeing Microsoft build its own laptop. You see, though the machine has Hewlett-Packard's name on it, HP designed it in close collaboration with engineers from the Windows team, optimizing everything from the fan noise to the screen's color gamut. The result is a well-built laptop with fast performance, long battery life and a nearly bloatware-free version of Windows. And at $900 to start, it undercuts almost all of its rivals. Is there anything not to like?
HP teamed up with Microsoft to build its latest flagship laptop
This isn't your typical laptop announcement post. The most interesting thing about the Spectre x360, HP's new flagship notebook, isn't its design, performance or even price. No, what's interesting about this laptop is that Microsoft helped build it. Over the course of a year and a half, the two companies met regularly to hash out everything from the BIOS, fan noise and wireless range, even obsessing over details like the screen's color gamut. The result is a well-built laptop that promises long battery life, fast performance and one clean OS install. If you've ever speculated about whether Microsoft might make its own clamshell notebook, this is probably the closest you're going to get. HP of course deserves much of the credit, but make no mistake: The x360 has Redmond's stamp of approval all over it.
Hands-on with HP's Pavilion x360 touchscreen convertible laptop (video)
HP just announced its Pavilion x360 convertible laptop, and was in the mood to show it off here at MWC 2014 along with its gigantic new VoiceTab phones. As we noticed earlier, the new devices bear a strong resemblance to Lenovo's Yoga convertibles, but start at a cheaper $399 price point. For that, you'll actually get a nice-looking device in dark silver or red that has a solid-feeling, mostly metal build. You can use it in regular laptop mode or flip the screen around and perch it on the table tent-style to use it in a more tablet-like fashion. As for performance, it's hard to tell with the brief time we had, but the Intel Bay Trail processor, lowish 4GB of RAM and mechanical 500GB don't exactly spell "speed." Nevertheless, it seemed to work well on basic tasks, and the 1,366 x 768 IPS touchscreen was bright and responsive. The red model will hit shelves on February 28th starting at $399 -- for more, see the gallery and video below.
HP's Pavilion x360 convertible has a low price, decidedly Yoga-like design
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Lenovo ought to be tickled right now. HP just announced the 11-inch Pavilion x360, and it takes more than a few cues from Lenovo's iconic Yoga design. Not only does it have a 360-degree hinge allowing it to be used in four modes, but HP is even using the same terminology to describe how it works (think: "stand mode" for when the keyboard is folded under, and "tent mode" when the machine balanced upside down). Also like the Yoga, the keyboard disables automatically when you flip the screen back into tablet mode. So how is it different? Cost, really. Whereas most Windows convertibles command flagship prices, the x360 starts at $400. (For comparison's sake, even Lenovo's mid-range "Flex" convertibles still cost $549 and up.) Of course, a lower price means lesser specs, which in this case include a Pentium-series Intel Bay Trail processor, a 500GB hard drive (no SSDs here) and a 1,366 x 768 display. On the bright side, the display uses IPS technology for wider viewing angles, and HP also included Beats Audio. So the sound quality, at least, might be better than what the Lenovos of the world have to offer. Three USB ports and a full-sized HDMI socket might further sweeten the deal for prospective buyers.
Droid X360 goes for the KIRF prize, antagonizes Microsoft, Motorola and Sony at the same time (video)
Can we establish a KIRF award for Most Likely to Invite Multiple Lawsuits? If so, Long Xun Software would have to claim the statuette for its Droid X360, at least if it dared set foot in the US. This prime example of keepin' it real fake is even more of a PS Vita clone than the Yinlips YDPG18, but goes the extra mile with a name that's likely to irk Microsoft, Motorola, Verizon and George Lucas all at once. That's even discounting the preloaded emulators for just about every pre-1999 Nintendo, Sega and Sony console. Inside, you'll at least find a device that's reasonably up to snuff: the 5-inch handheld is running Android 4.0 on a 1.5GHz single-core Quanzhi A10 processor, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of built-in space, a 2-megapixel camera at the back and a VGA shooter at the front. If the almost gleeful amount of copyright and trademark violation isn't keeping you from wanting this award-winner, you'll have to ask Long Xun for pricing and availability.
SanDisk makes 128-gigabit flash chip, crams three bits per cell, takes afternoon off
SanDisk has developed a chip that earns it membership in the exclusive 128-gigabit club. Not content with simply matching the Micron / Intel effort, SanDisk and its partner Toshiba claim their new memory uses 19- rather than 20-nanometer cells in the production process. Shrinking the size is one thing, but SanDisk's new chips also use its X3 / three-bit technology. Most memory stores just two bits per cell; cramming in another means fewer cells, less silicon, more savings, cheaper memory, happier geeks. Analyst Jim Handy estimates that the price per gigabyte for the tri-bit breed of flash could be as low as 28 cents, compared to 35 for the Micron / Intel equivalent. Full details in the not-so-compact press release after the break.
N-Control Avenger Xbox 360 attachment makes it look complicated, we go hands-on (video)
At first glance, the N-Control Avenger looks like the fevered dream of a quirky lunatic, destined for fame and failure as a legendary crapgadget. When one showed up on our doorstep, we were admittedly skeptical. Could a lever- and pulley-laden Xbox 360 controller clamshell really give us a competitive edge? Wouldn't all the extra bits and pieces only result in a cumbersome mess? Is this doodad really worth the $50 asking price? We went hands-on to find out, and boy howdy, were we surprised. %Gallery-126392%
Xbox 360 Update Preview Program begins anew, sign up for your sneak peek now
Once upon a time, the Xbox 360 dashboard looked like the picture above -- then, Microsoft blasted it with yearly updates to transform it into the warm, welcoming interface we've come to know and love. If you're already aware of that fact, then you may also know that a select group of lucky US gamers typically get to test out the latest revision months ahead of their peers, and today Microsoft's holding sign-ups for a new version that will include "an updated Xbox 360 disc format," whatever that might mean. You'll also get a free copy of Halo: Reach if your name is picked -- which, according to Major Nelson, is much more likely if you're paying for an Xbox LIVE Gold account -- so you'll probably want to dive through ancient email post-haste to find your Windows LIVE ID, head over to our more coverage link and give it a go. Let us know what those new discs are all about if you get in, eh?
N-Control Avenger Xbox 360 attachment gets a CES overview (video)
The scariest looking peripheral at CES 2011? Possibly. But for those looking to gain a split-second edge on the competition, the N-Control Avenger just may be the solution Xbox 360 gamers have been looking for. Announced just a couple of months ago, the company was here in Las Vegas to actually demonstrate a fully functional model. But simply, it straps onto your first-party 360 controller, adding triggers, straps, cables and all sorts of other contraptions that aim to give you improved alternatives to pressing buttons (while freeing your thumbs up to more accurately operate the analog joysticks). Enough talk -- hop on past the break to see how exactly this $60 shell gets down to business. %Gallery-113452%
Microsoft exec caught in privacy snafu, says Kinect might tailor ads to you
Microsoft's Dennis Durkin voiced an interesting idea at an investment summit last week -- the idea that the company's Kinect camera might pass data to advertisers about the way you look, play and speak. "We can cater what content gets presented to you based on who you are," he told investors, suggesting that the Kinect offered business opportunities that weren't possible "in a controller-based world." And over time that will help us be more targeted about what content choices we present, what advertising we present, how we get better feedback. And data about how many people are in a room when an advertisement is shown, how many people are in a room when a game is being played, how are those people engaged with the game? How are they engaged with a sporting event? Are they standing up? Are they excited? Are they wearing Seahawks jerseys?Needless to say, sharing this level of photographic detail with advertisers presents some major privacy concerns -- though it's nothing we haven't heard before -- but moreover it's explicitly against the privacy policy Microsoft presents Kinect users. "Third party partners use aggregated data to deliver Kinect experiences (games or applications), to understand how customers use their Kinect experiences, and to improve performance or even to help plan new experiences," the Kinect Privacy and Online Safety FAQ reads, but also "They are not permitted to use the information for marketing purposes such as selling you games or services, or for personalizing advertising" (bolding ours). In an email to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft flatly denied that the Kinect would do anything of the sort, whether via third-party partners or otherwise. "Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE do not use any information captured by Kinect for advertising targeting purposes," representatives wrote. Honestly, some of us at Engadget still think targeted advertising is kind of neat, but we know how seriously you take this stuff.
N-Control Avenger gives your Xbox 360 controller hair triggers (video)
We happen to like our existing Xbox 360 controller, squeaky triggers and all, and though we're eagerly awaiting an improved D-pad it hadn't really occurred to us that some might prefer an overhaul. N-Control, however, has done just that with this insane lever-filled shell, which wraps around the gamepad to provide simultaneous control over a host of inputs at once. The idea is that you'll never need to take your thumbs off the analog sticks to swap weapons or reload, because you'll just flick one of those weighted levers instead. You'll also apparently gain a split-second advantage over opponents on the draw since the contraption constantly applies tension to each of the controller's triggers, making them easier to press. For $60, the Avenger even comes with a tripod, which could be a good move on the company's part -- it looks like you might need one to hold the beast up. Video after the break.
Visualized: Kinect + night vision = lots and lots and lots of dots (video)
You know what you see when you flip on your Xbox 360, turn out the lights, and don a pair of night vision goggles? Dots. Lots and lots of little dots, courtesy of Kinect's infrared depth sensor. Judging by the videos that have been uploaded to YouTube, this is the kind of thing that will entertain the whole "hackey sack and Rasta hats" crowd for years to come, and to be honest, we're kind of digging it ourselves. Hell, we might even have to dig out that old Bob Marley black light poster. See for yourself after the break.
Microsoft Kinect ripped to pieces, found to contain chips on tiny green boards
If you ever doubted that Microsoft's Kinect was based on PrimeSense technology, you can leave those suspicions at the door -- iFixit's separated the twin-eye motion sensing camera into its constituent parts, and there's definitely PrimeSense silicon on board. To be precise, there's a PrimeSense processor that handles images from the color and infrared CMOS auto-focus imagers, a Marvell SoC to interface with those cameras,64MB of DDR2 memory and 1MB of flash plus an accelerometer of all things. (Perhaps game developers intend to break the fourth wall when you inevitably knock the unit off your TV.) Filled with four different kinds of security screws and a fair bit of glue, Kinect's a tough nut to crack. Seems like a small price to pay, however, when it's so wonderfully robotic underneath. Oh, and speaking of the Kinect -- don't suppose you've read our full review?
Get your Kinect launch coverage at Joystiq!
It's less than an hour away until Kinect drops in Times Square, as the motion-sensing peripheral is set to make its debut to a throng of freezing buyers. You know what that means -- our brothers-from-other-mothers at Joystiq are on the scene, chatting with folks that have sat for over two days waiting for the camera-equipped controller. Head on over for the full scoop!
Lessons in Bell Curves: 15-inch laptops still king, despite wealth of portable alternatives
Jimmy Eat World didn't concoct the masterpiece that is The Middle for nothing, you know. In yet another example of the middle muddying up the waters for everyone else, DisplaySearch has found that the vast majority of systems sold in America fall into the 15.6-inch category, despite the fact that many offer no gain in resolution over 12- and 13-inch ultraportables with 1,366 x 768 panels. The reason? For one, supply and demand. The sheer quantity of 15-inch machines on the market pushes prices south, and on days like Black Friday, rarely is any size as discounted as the tried-and-true 15-incher. The numbers here would show an even greater difference if the tablets were yanked, but what's made clear is just how little interest is being shown by the masses to the outliers. In fact, Laptop found that MSI is officially putting the kibosh on its plans to ship the 13-inch X360 stateside, and a number of other manufacturers are mulling similar decisions (though "off the record"). So, are you helping to jumble up the middle, or are you a loud-and-proud 5-percenter?
