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Twitch is helping create a new eSports league
Twitch's list of competitive gaming partnerships is growing at a rapid pace. Following deals with the folks behind Vainglory and Rocket League, the broadcasting juggernaut is joining forces with leading eSports platform Faceit to launch the Esports Championship Series. Essentially, it's a pro-league that follows how the business/organizational side of typical stick and ball sports are handled. For the premiere Counter-Strike series, there are 20 teams split between the United States and Europe and the ECS offers co-ownership of teams -- a first according to ECS.
ICE Computer shows off Trinity modular tablet concept, aims for Q1 2012 release (video)
First the ASUS Padfone, then the CMIT TransPhone, and now a third phone-docking tablet but with a little extra spice. Our latest contender comes from a Taiwan-based startup dubbed ICE Computer, who has just announced its partnership with ECS over its Trinity concept, a mobile display that lets you dock either a PC module or a smartphone (not necessarily an iPhone, let alone an iPhone 5 as reported by some sites; the dummy's just for show and convenience). From our quick chat with ICE product manager Jaryson Wu, we learned that the company's been working on this project for quite some time, though ike ASUS and CMIT, ICE also lacked a working prototype to show us. So the idea is simple: slide in a PC module or phone of your choice, and you have yourself a fully functioning touchscreen tablet that has an upgradable core -- that's one tick for environmental friendliness, and another tick for potentially more powerful upgrades. But that's not it, as ICE may also throw in USB 3.0 ports, additional internal storage, and even a fan inside the Trinity tablet, but that will depend on the clients' needs. Jaryson indicated that there are no plans to launch products under the startup's own brand, nor is it going to develop its own phone to go with the add-on any time soon -- we'll just have to wait and see what it'll deliver in the first quarter of 2012. Video interview after the break. [Thanks, @Stagueve] %Gallery-124949%
NATO seeks Second Life tenders
The NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Supreme Headquarters Allied Command Transformation is presently seeking tenders for the construction of a proof-of-concept site in a virtual environment. "The first scenario is to replicate a generic headquarters compound for a NATO operation. ... The second scenario will involve replicating the Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, USA. The only acceptable worlds that may provide a solution to this statement of work are Second Life by Linden Labs[sic], OLIVE by Forterra, or NEXUS by ECS." Actually, this part's a little confusing, because of the three virtual environments specified as 'acceptable', only one (Forterra's OLIVE) actually meets the minimum criteria given in the solicitation. NATO SHQACT acknowledges this in a subsequent clarification document, but is still seeking Second Life submissions anyway. As it stands, it doesn't seem like any existing Second Life developer can actually meet the stringent Defense Contract requirements in any case, and submissions close on the 8th of this month.
Video: ECS T800 netbook brings us to our knees with Android on 1GHz OMAP3
This is quite possibly a better Vaio P... you know, if it actually worked. This non-functional stunner of a prototype is sitting pretty at Computex, an event where OEMs (like Sony, HP, and Dell) shop from the latest ODM (like Foxconn and Compal) designs before tweaking for retail launch. Instead of taking chances with Vista overpowering an Intel Atom processor, however, the ECS T800 on display at Computex is destined to run Android on your choice of 800MHz OMAP3 3440 or 1GHz OMAP3 3450 TI processors. It measures in at 246 x 121 x 20-mm / 800-grams (1.76-pounds) and packs an 8.1-inch display, 512MB of memory, a 2.5-inch hard disk or SSD, and a pair of internal Mini-PCIe slots for WWAN cards. Regarding ports, we're looking at 2x USB 2.0, a 4-in-1 card reader, and an audio jack for your headset. Hey ODMs, we're interested (even if the case for Android on a netbook hasn't been clearly defined) especially if it can be offered for $99 or less through a subsidized carrier agreement. So who's going to bite first, huh? Maybe you Dell now that your Mini 9 netbook has been discontinued. Video after the break.
ECS plans a trio of netbooks, duo of all-in-one PCs for Computex
Oh look, it's nearly time for Computex, which means it's finally time for ECS to come out to play again. For whatever reason, it seems the aforesaid PC maker only pulls out the stakes for Taiwan's biggest consumer electronics show, and with the doors opening early next week, we're getting a sneak peek at what it'll be bringing to the mix. Not surprisingly, three of the five new machines are said to be of the netbook variety, with the other two being all-in-one desktops. 'Course, the whole lot will be humming along on Intel's all-too-modest Atom, though we are led to believe that at least one rig will get equipped with NVIDIA's promising Ion technology. The T10IL (shown left) is apt to steal most of the attention, boasting a thin-and-light frame that'll look awfully similar to ASUS' Eee PC 1008HA. The V10IL (shown right) is expected to be more of a vanilla type machine in terms of both design and specification, and the other guys are slated to be revealed at the show. You're tense with anticipation, aren't you?
Laptop makers and GSM Association team on Mobile Broadband branding plan
Laptops with built-in WWAN modems aren't anything new, but there's a hodgepodge of hardware and services available -- a situation the GSM Association is trying to simplify with the new Mobile Broadband standardization initiative. Sure, it's mostly an excuse to get another sticker on your gear, but companies like Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, Toshiba, Qualcomm and a bunch of carriers are on board to ensure that Mobile Broadband-certified machines will be ready and able to connect in some 91 countries around the world -- and what's more, they're committed to spending a cool billion dollars in the next year promoting MB as a "compelling alternative" to WiFi and WiMAX. That should be an interesting dilemma for the carriers that also run hotspot networks, but we've got a feeling everyone's happy as long as the sub fees keep rolling in.
ECS G10IL: Stateside September for $399
ECS has been teasing the netbook market for months now with its G10IL -- meticulously surveying the competition and batting its eyelashes at US consumers. Fortunately, LAPTOP was able to sit down with Henry Kwan of ECS to help bring the flirtatious cycle to a satisfying end. Accordingly, we now know that the G10IL will ship in 8.9- and 10-inch models with the latter most likely shipping to US soils. It'll be available at an entry-level price of $399 in September running Linpus Lite 9.4 Linux off an 8GB SSD. It'll also be configurable with XP on an 80GB disk and EDGE/HSDPA/HSUPA data for much more. No sentimental delusions of educating the world's children here, the G10IL is meant for serious business use only. How refreshingly direct ECS.
ECS' G10IL steps forward at Computex
Although it physically hurts to suffer the synaptic explosions required to slap out yet another netbook post, this one might actually be worth it. Laptop had the chance to go hands-on with the ECS G10IL at Computex and came away impressed by the 10.2-inch "Wind-esque" Atom-based ultra-portable. No price or dates were provided, although with a promised HSDPA data capability we're not expecting anything close to $300. Hit the read link for plenty of pics and video.
ECS' Atom-based G10IL gets more attractive by the minute
Upon initial inspection, we had a hunch the ECS G10IL would emerge as one of the most desirable of the low-cost lappies. Now that ECS has filled us all in on a few more pertinent details, we're feeling all the more sure of that assertion. According to new specifications loosed on the outfit's own website, we can look forward to a Diamondville, er, Atom CPU, Windows XP or Linux under the hood, a single RAM slot (up to 2GB), an HDD or SSD, 1.3-megapixel webcam, 4-in-1 multicard reader, a 8.2- / 10.2-inch glossy display and a 4- / 6-cell battery for good measure. Oh, and if you were wondering if Bluetooth and WiFi would tag along with the built-in HSDPA / HSUPA, the answer's yes (at least on the big fellow). So, does the G10IL have your attention now, or what?[Via DailyTech]
G10IL, the Eee PC killer from ECS, is actually killer
Perhaps the ECS G10IL could use some help in the naming department, but it certainly isn't having any trouble bringing a bit of class to the subnotebook market. In addition to those stylish good looks, the G10IL sports a webcam, HSDPA 7.2, three USB ports, Ethernet and a 56Kb modem (joy of joys!). No mention is made of WiFi or Bluetooth, but at least the former seems a given. Other details are slim, but the price is supposedly "sub-$500." Perhaps this "race to the bottom" won't be so horrible after all.
Acer / ECS looking to pick up Shuttle?
While this one may seem a tad out of left field, rumors are swirling that either Acer or Elitegroup Computer Systems could be fixing to pick Shuttle up if it decides to sell itself. According to an admittedly brief writeup at DigiTimes, ECS reportedly has a "good relationship with Shuttle," and is being named "by market sources as one of two potential buyers" with Acer being the second. Interestingly, "sources" at ECS purportedly insinuated that there "was no need to acquire Shuttle" in order to meet its strategic goals, and while spokespeople for Acer were tightlipped, it wouldn't be too far-fetched for the partnership-happy firm to ink yet another deal.
ECS to show off four new laptop series at Cebit
This month's Cebit show will mark Elitegroup Computer Systems' first new launch since its recent merger with Taiwanese manufacturer Uniwill Computer. ECS will bust out with 4 new laptop ranges, simply named the S, L, H, and G series. Each series is targeted towards a specific user and all four support both Windows XP and Windows Vista. Detailed specs are vague but we'll spit what we've got: The slim-design S series, with LCD displays ranging from 12.1-inches to 14.1-inches, sounds like ECS' standard fare for the everyday user. The 12.1-inch S20II packs in a Core 2 Duo processor, Bluetooth, and a built-in 1.3 Megapixel camera. For all you penny pinchers, L Series notebooks will be priced for the value shopper (so probably no monster performance or sweet innards here) and will sport screens from 14.1-inches up to 17-inches. Next, the mobile presentation crowd might fancy the adjustable swivel-necked G200 (pictured), which will kick off the G series. And finally, ECS will launch its new UMPC H series with the H70, boasting a 7-inch touch screen display (with stylus input), 4-in-1 card reader, and 1.3 Megapixel camera. Apparently, ECS' basket's been full with this new breed of lappies, so we certainly hope it isn't dropping the ball on its Classmate PC plans. [Via Pocket-lint]
