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ioSafe gives shocking demo of Thunderbolt Rugged Portable prototype (video)
Every year ioSafe has some absurd demo to show off just how tough its rugged hard drives are. They've already played with fire and peppered a portable model with buckshot. This year the company turned to an eight-foot tall Tesla coil and pointed its bolts of current at a prototype Thunderbolt model of its Rugged Portable -- which the company hopes to ship sometime in Q2. Unlike previous versions, this one packs dual SSDs in a RAID array for redundancy. After being blasted repeatedly with a million volts of electricity the drive still worked. Things got a bit hairy when the drive wasn't recognized at first, but CEO Robb Moore broke out the screwdrivers, cracked open the case and connected the SSD directly through a separate adapter. Turns out just the mainboard was fried, but the storage was still safe. A second Rugged Portable, one of last-year's models brought in by a member of the press, was also put to the voltage test and came through unscathed. Check out the video after the break. Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.
Fujifilm X-Pro1 interchangeable lens camera preview (video)
The interchangeable lens camera market grew by one this week, following Fujifilm's confirmation of its new X-Pro1. The 16 megapixel APS-C ILC may be in fact be a mirrorless model, but company reps prefer that you don't use "the M-word," insisting that the shooter stands alone in its own category as a "premium" interchangeable lens camera. And after spending an hour with the oversized, solidly-built ILC and viewing a variety of comparison samples, it's not difficult to confirm that the assessment may not be far off. The entire hands-on experience was in line with that premium claim -- from the white gloves we were required to use when handling the camera to the Japanese design lead taking care to make sure sample models were clean of markings and positioned just right, it's clear that Fujifilm is taking this launch very seriously, and you should, too. Join us past the break for an early CES look at what may very well be the sharpest mirrorless interchangeable lens camera to date.
Lenovo's IdeaCentre Q180 HTPC hands-on
Lenovo's IdeaCentre Q180 is touted by Lenovo as the world's smallest desktop PC. Coupled with a Blu-ray drive -- literally, using magnets to hold the Q180 to the drive and a USB adapter -- and an N5902 keypad the tiny IdeaCentre would make an amazing and unobtrusive HTPC. Powered by a 2.13GHz Intel Atom dual-core CPU the Q180 connects to your peripherals via HDMI, USB 3.0, or VGA. Full HD, check. 7.1 channel sound, check. Honestly, starting at $299, this 22 mm-thick box seems like an easy choice for somebody looking to get involved in this type of media storage and playback. Video and pics are just a click away.
Ben Heck guts an iCade to build iPhone gamepad, salutes CES in the process (video)
While the majority of the tech industry prepares to go all in on this week's CES madness, a certain Mr. Ben Heck's been busying himself with an homage to the Vegas event. In the spirit of consumer electronics, he's gone ahead and retrofitted a gamepad enclosure to Apple's iPhone. Using a modified circuit board taken from an iCade, Heck was able to craft a plastic enclosure and buttons, made with a 3D printer, to neatly surround the device and borrowed silicon. Click on past the break to watch Ben walkthrough what he does best, which is to say, not gaming.
Lumus see-through wearable display hands-on
Lumus was showing off two different types of wearable displays, the development kit -- or DK-32 shown above -- and the PD-18-4 a monocular version using the same technology. Driven by Lumus' patented Light-guide Optical Element, a micro-display pod, and the Optical Engine which projects light into the lens -- where it is reflected back to the user's eye via reflectors embedded in the lens -- the Lumus' DK-32 delivers a bright 720p 3D-capable display that only weighs 27 grams. The effect is really quite impressive, the colors are bright -- and adjustable using the display pod -- and images were surprisingly clear. But the best part, of course, is that while you're watching YouTube vids and walking about you'll avoid stumbling into objects and passersby. Also on hand was the monocle which was very much like something you'd see in a science fiction flick. With the PD-18-4 we checked out a nav program, some eye tests, and a phone UI mockup. We're stoked at what this development kit will make possible once it gets into the hands of some evil genius. Video and pictures are just past the break. Mat Smith contributed to this report.
Sprint Samsung Galaxy Nexus with LTE hands-on (video)
We were giddy with excitement when Sprint's VP of Product David Owens came onto our stage at CES 2012 and gave us the very first peek at its version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, one of the Now Network's inaugural entries into the world of LTE sometime in the first half of 2012. It's certainly a fair way to get the next-gen lineup started, we'd say. As was expected, the exterior of both phones are nearly twins, with differences only found in the branding and the inclusion of Google Wallet -- not to mention the exclusion of pre-loaded bloatware -- on Sprint's version. We got some extra hands-on time with the Nexus, but sadly weren't able to get too comfortable with it, as the phone is far from being a final product and still had early software builds. But we were able to get plenty of images and a video to show off below the break.Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Feedair Digital Ticker hands-on
Feedair is a USB-powered WiFi enabled digital ticker that will span emails and tweets (or anything else with an RSS Feed) to its old-school dot-matrix display. Controlled with an iOS or Android app, it's designed as an "unobtrusive display:" for those situations where you can keep a casual eye on a physical device or send messages to people who aren't au-fait with technology. Feeling it in the hand, it's machined from heavy aluminum and we could see this doubling as a paperweight for the right kind of office -- and a great way for your assistant to send you discreet messages during tedious meetings. Constructing a "vidget" (visual widget) is apparently very easy and the company's planning to court young developers to expand the capacity of the gear. Setting up the display to show Engadget's twitter feed took around 30 seconds, although in the process, the app froze out a few times, so it's not quite ready for prime-time just yet. The Feedair is expected to hit the shelves in March and cost around $50. Dana Murph contributed to this report.
Toshiba 13- and 7.7-inch tablet prototypes hands-on (video)
Thought you found out everything you could ever possibly need to know about new Toshiba tablets with the announcement of the Excite X10? Think again, sucka. Toshiba showed off two new prototypes on the showroom floor alongside the recently announced 10-incher. The devices are both in the too-early-to-be-named stage right now, so let's just call them the 13- and 7.7-inch tablets. In fact, that company isn't even sure it's actually going to bring either to market at any point -- according to a spokesperson, the Toshiba just brought them along to the show to gauge crowd interest in the form factors. Unfortunately, this being so early in the development process, the company didn't have many on hand. The two we spent time with wouldn't actually power on, though we were able to peep powered on units, though, sadly, they was hanging out behind pieces of glass. But even from that vantage point, the display on the 7.7 was a thing to behold, a really gorgeous AMOLED panel. The device is a nice size, as well -- it's extremely thin, with rounded corners and a border running around the entire perimeter, pressing up against the slightly convex textured aluminum rear. A small back facing cam sits on the top. Two small speaker grills sit on the bottom of the device, with a SD slot and microUSB port on one of the sides. It's really a terrific industrial design -- this is what those Thrive tablets should have looked like. We asked a Toshiba representative whether the bulky Thrives could peacefully co-exist with this kind of design, and he told us that it can indeed, as more of a budget alternative to these high end devices. The 13-inch tablet features a similar design, albeit much larger. Like the 7.7, it feels relatively light for its size, but there's just no way to hold a tablet that size in one hand. It really is extremely thin for a tablet of that size, as well. The company tells us that the slate it is intended for families, and really, at this size, it does feel a bit like a small TV. Check out a video of the devices after the break.
EmporiaCLICK hands-on at CES 2012 (video)
It may not turn the heads of anyone who needs the latest and greatest phone -- let alone most smartphone users -- but Emporia Telecom's not going after that market. Rather, the handset manufacturer is busy pushing out devices that appeal to the first-time phone buyer or anyone who doesn't need anything besides a simple phone that actually makes calls and sends messages. The EmporiaCLICK, which should be available this Spring for under $100 without contract, is the absolute epitome of the basic clamshell cameraphone, complete with large buttons, fingerprint-friendly exterior and a built-in one-click emergency button which will cycle through a list of five emergency numbers until somebody answers. Head on below to see the device in all its glory, as well as a video after the break.
EmporiaSOLIDplus at CES 2012 hands-on (video)
Emporia Telecom is looking to come to the Americas this Spring, and it's bringing a rugged beauty with it -- as long as you're not dead set on getting yourself one of them fancy smartphones. If so, keep on lookin', as Emporia's focusing on winning the hearts of basic / budget phone users all over. One of its first phones the company's bringing overseas with it is the EmporiaSOLIDplus, an IP67-certified candybar that can handle most things you throw at it -- heck, it could probably handle it when you're throwing the phone itself, though we certainly don't recommend you give it a test run anytime soon. The basic device is capable of calling, sending messages and that's ultimately about it. The phone will come as an unlocked GSM phone and is going to be available this Spring for an undetermined price. Pictures and video? Yeah, we have 'em below.
Samsung bringing its Series 7 Gamer to the US, we go hands-on (video)
We're going to get this out of the way up front: Samsung is showing off a lot of laptops this week at CES. Given how of the moment Ultrabooks are, we can see why Sammy would choose to highlight its Series 5 Ultras and redesigned Series 9. The emphasis on skinny PCs has been so fervent, in fact, that you might not have heard the company is bringing its first gaming laptop, the Series 7 Gamer, stateside. We're told Samsung is currently planning on offering just one configuration, with a Core i7 CPU, 2GB AMD Radeon HD6970M card, a 5,900mAh battery, JBL speakers and a 300-nit, 1080p display. For those who haven't seen this in action yet, it sports a backlit keyboard, with the all-important WASD keys conveniently highlighted in a different color, along with an analog dial for toggling power modes. On the outside, Samsung's logo glows with the help of an LED backlight, but disappears when the lid is shut. Expect it to hit this side of the Atlantic in April for $1,799, and in the meantime we've got hands-on photos and video, but sadly, no answer to that question for the ages: red or marigold yellow?
Dell's XPS 13 Ultrabook: IT-friendly, 128GB SSD and backlit keyboard standard, arrives in February for $999
You didn't think Dell was going to sit out the Ultrabook fad, did you? We'll never know exactly what the hold-up was, but whatever the company's excuse it finally has something to compete with the likes of the MacBook Air and ASUS Zenbook UX31. The company just announced the XPS 13, which weighs in at a shade less than three pounds (2.99, to be exact) and has a wedge profile that tapers from .71 inches to .24 (18 to 6mm). With a starting price of $1,000, it sports an aluminum lid and carbon fiber chassis -- a material we wish more Ultrabook makers would incorporate. Though it has a 13-inch screen, it's the kind of panel with bezels so narrow that Dell was able to build a chassis small enough for a 12-inch system. Put bluntly, expect this to be one of the most compact Ultrabooks around (though not the lightest).What's that? You want technical details too? At the entry level, it'll come with a Core i3 i5 processor, 128GB SSD, 4GB of RAM and backlit keyboard, though you'll also be able to upgrade to a 256SSD and either a Core i5 or i7 CPU (Sandy Bridge at launch, with Ivy Bridge to follow in a refresh later this year). Other specs include a 300-nit, 1366 x 768, Gorilla Glass display; Intel HD 3000 graphics; a 47Wh battery rated for up to eight hours; Bluetooth 3.0; and Intel's Smart Connect and Rapid Start technologies. As HP is doing with the Folio 13, Dell plans to sell this in both its consumer and business channels; accordingly, the machine will be offered with TPM, asset tagging, corporate images and custom BIOS to keep the IT guys happy. It'll be available at the end of February, but if you need to know as much as you can now, we've got hands-on photos below, along with impressions after the break.
Intel demos Lenovo-made Medfield IdeaPad K2110 tablet running Ice Cream Sandwich (eyes-on)
Intel's smartphone reference design wasn't the only Medfield-based device on display here at CES. Wandering around Chipzilla's sprawling demo area, we also spotted an unnamed, 10-inch tablet made by Lenovo. And unlike that handset, this is a product that will ship in more or less the form we're seeing it today. Unfortunately, though, we were strictly forbidden from actually touching the thing. For now, at least, we know what lies beneath that 1366 x 768 display. In addition to a 32nm low-power Atom processor, it has NFC, WiFi (natch) and a battery rated for 10 hours of active use and 30 days of standby. As with the smartphone, Intel is really keen on talking up Medfield's graphics muscle, and we were once again treated to a series of gaming and application demonstrations. Watch the video for yourself, but we couldn't for the life of us see any stutter in that app walk-through: both 3D rendering and gestures like pinch to zoom seemed silky smooth from where we were sitting. So, what say you? Impressed?
Intel demos Medfield-based smartphone reference design at CES (video)
There we go! Head past all the months-old Ultrabooks in Intel's CES booth, and you'll stumble across something less pedestrian: a reference smartphone, based on the chipmaker's Medfield platform. How it looks is irrelevant, really -- that chintzy, fingerprint-prone slab of plastic offers no hints as to what the Samsungs and HTCs of the smartphone world are going to create. What matters here is what's inside: this 4-inch handset packs a single-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2460 chip, XXM 6260 modem and Intel GMA graphics, along with your requisite WiFi radio, accelerometer, etc. (Intel had Gingerbread installed, though that'll hardly be current by the time Medfield starts shipping.) Though battery life will naturally vary by manufacturer, this particular device houses a 1,460mAh juicepack promising 45 hours of audio playback, eight hours of 3G voice calls, five hours of 3G browsing or 14 days of standby. At the same time, Intel was demoing Modern Combat 2, as you can see in that lead shot, and playing HD video playing through the phone's micro-HDMI slot. Look closely at those videos below, and you'll see the output is mostly smooth with some slight stuttering, though trust us when we say video playback and gaming were more fluid on the device itself. Have a peek below and judge for yourselves, and hopefully one day in the not-too-distant future we'll be able to size up the battery life situation too.
Fisher Price Kid Tough Portable DVR hands-on (video)
We're here at Pepcom Digital Experience where Fisher Price has just unveiled a slick piece of tech for the toddler and up set: the Kid Tough Portable DVR. Indeed, the unit looks and feel as though it were built to take a beating -- because it is. The high tech toy, available in either blue or pink, allows children and parents to record up to two hours worth of video. And if you find you're running out of space for that rerun of Yo Gabba Gabba!, there's a convenient microSD slot for increased storage of up to 32GB. The unit ships with a plain black dock that connects to a cable or satellite set-top box via composite cables. And, as with all things 21st century, the DVR has a 3.5-inch LCD touch interface for simple navigation and control, in addition to built-in stereo speakers, and a headphone jack for on-the-go use. The company's prepping this kid-friendly DVR for a May 2012 release, with the unit expected to retail for $150. We managed to grab a bit of hands-on time with the device, so hop on past the break for a video tour.
ASUS scooping out Ice Cream Sandwich to Transformer Prime now!
Have you been waiting -- nay -- yearning for a paper-wrapped serving of Ice Cream Sandwich for your Transformer Prime? Now is the time. As expected, ASUS has started rolling out the update to proud (though possibly lost) owners, like David, who was kind enough to send us a screenshot proving he his pride. Got your update yet? Go check, we'll wait. [Thanks, David]
EXOdesk hands-on
You've seen it shown off in poorly lit YouTube clips, now see in a poorly lit hands-on video from our favorite tech blog. The fine folks at ExoPC invited us up to their suite at the Trump hotel (which, by the way, smells exactly like you'd imagine Donald Trump does) to spend some quality time with their desktop extension. The core of the system is a 37-inch 10-point multitouch screen connected to a reasonably powerful laptop. But it's the software that's the real star. The tabletop computer is running the company's custom UI which is built on HTML5. Unlike other table-top computers, you're expected to use it alongside a traditional mouse and keyboard -- not in place of it. There's a dedicated EXOstore that's home to apps, also encoded in HTML5 and designed to run on any machine with ExoUI -- be it the EXOdesk, a tablet or standard desktop PC. In our short time with the desk, we were actually pretty impressed with its responsiveness and intuitiveness. As to be expected there are still a few kinks to work and some tweaking to be done -- but nothing that's an absolute deal breaker. The company plans to release a development kit sometime in the first half of the year, accompanied by developer hardware courtesy of Viewsonic. For a few more impressions check out the video and gallery below.
Motorola Droid 4 hands-on (video)
Fresh out of Motorola's oven is this Verizon Droid 4. Well, when we say "fresh"... anyway. From our brief hands-on just now, there wasn't anything too surprising with the software and performance from the 1.2GHz dual-core chip, but the hardware was almost top notch. We'd safely say that the physical keyboard is by far the best in the Droid series -- each key is neatly laser cut to give that even blue glow from the keyboard back light, and the tactile feedback was reassuringly comfortable. Alas, like its predecessors, the sliding mechanism isn't spring-assisted, so it'll take first-time users some getting used to with their thumb. On the bright side, the Droid 4 is lighter than the already-obsolete Droid 3 so it's less work for the hand. Stay tuned for pricing info, and take a gander at our hands-on video after the break for the time being.
Sony unveils new family of Handycams: HDR CX760V/B steadies your hand with balanced image stabilization (hands-on)
We hope you're in the market for a camcorder, because Sony's cranked out a pile of new models to capture your favorite moving moments of 2012. We were particularly taken with the HDR CX760V/B Handycam. Its Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization feature moves the entire optical block, which significantly helped to maintain image stability during our hands-on. There's ample storage, with 96GB already baked in, while, like the rest of Sony's Handycam range there's also a back-lit Exmor R sensor. The HDR XR260V/B manages full HD video capture, 8.9 megapixel stills, optical image stabilization, a wide-angle G lens capable of 30x optical zoom. Storage is provided by a 160GB hard drive. Other models arrives with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar and a 2.7-inch touchscreen, available in both 8GB (CX210/B) and flash storage-only (CX200/B) models. The CX190/B follows the same vein, although it's limited to manual controls. The TD20V/S packs two sensors able to record high-definition 3D content at 1920 x 1080, or 24.1 megapixel stills. The 3D lens can also manage 10x optical, while there's a built-in glasses-free 3D display to showcase your content immediately. 64GB should ensure there's plenty of space for the data-hungry content. The PJ760V/B (96GB) and PJ710V/B (32GB) forgoes the 3D bells and whistles in favor of a built-in projector. There's balanced optical steady shot and a wide-angle Carl Zeiss Lens. The projector itself is capable of expanding your content up to 100 inches. Sound quality is cared for by a 5.1 surround mic. The PJ580V/B (32GB), PJ260V/B (16GB) and the removable storage-only PJ200V/B lists similar specs, but carries the more standard optical stabilization. Prices aren't yet announced, but expect the family to arrive before the end of the summer. Zach Honig contributed to this report.
HP Envy 14 Spectre official: 3.97 pounds, NFC, Radiance display and glass chassis, arriving February 8 for $1,400
As far as product launches go, this one wasn't very subtle. Just last week, HP's PR team widely disseminated a brief video teasing a wispy laptop called the Spectre. We couldn't parse too many details for all the shadows and quick-cuts, but we gathered this much: it seemed to be thin, and far too sleek to be just another business-centric Ultrabook. Nope, it would be arresting, bold and highly stylized. And this time, it would be meant for mainstream consumers.Well, folks: we were right (except for the thin part, anyway). HP just unveiled the Envy 14 Spectre, and is billing it as a "premium Ultrabook." Which makes sense, since the laptop starts at $1,400, making it even pricier than the 13-inch MacBook Air (to say nothing of all those $900 ultraportables hitting the market). Above all, the company is justifying that price with a daring glass design, which HP insists makes the laptop more durable, not less so. In addition to cost, though, the trade-off to all that armor is some extra heft: the Spectre weighs in at 3.97 pounds and measures 20mm thick, making it the chubbiest 13-inch Ultrabook we've seen yet.So what does $1,400 get you, aside from a memorable design? We're told the laptop comes standard with a 14-inch, 1600 x 900 Radiance Display (hurrah!), Core i5-2467M CPU, 4GB of RAM, a nine-hour battery, backlit keyboard, carrying case and -- get this -- an NFC chip built into the palm rest for transferring URLs from your phone's browser. Other bells and whistles include Intel Wireless Display, HP's CoolSense technology, Beats, HP Wireless Audio, full copies of Photoshop and Premiere Elements and a two-year subscription to Norton Internet Security. Got that, guys? Upgrade options include a 256GB SSD and an extra 4GB of RAM, but other than that, what you see is what you get (and to be fair, you get a lot).The Spectre will go on sale in the US on February 8, continuing on to Canada, the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Chile and Mexico in March. For now, though, head past the break for a walk-through video and some early impressions from yours truly.
