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ASUS' Intel CE4100 Companion Box with Windows Media Center Embedded, there and back (to the ether) again
Seriously, blink and you might've missed it. ASUS had its own Intel CE4100-powered companion box on display running what our memory recalls was Windows Media Center Embedded. We'd love to confirm for the 5 percent of our brain that's uncertain, but by the time we went back for pickup shots of the adjacent (and awesome) Acer box, it was already gone. (Did the RevoPad scare it of that badly?) At any rate, this ASUS device has no drives, but it does boast an ATSC antenna, component and composite video. It's slated for the first half of next year, though representatives weren't willing to talk price just yet. Some more pics in the gallery below. %Gallery-102066%
Razer building motion-sensing exercise peripheral using Sixense tech, handheld sticks slated for 2011 (video)
We're honestly not certain what it has to do with Intel, but here's some welcome news for the gaming and home exercise fronts -- Razer told the IDF 2010 crowd that the Sixense motion-sensing sticks it showed off at CES will finally arrive sometime "early next year." What's more, the company's been hard at work miniaturizing the one-to-one motion control tech into an exercise band, and while we've no word on when that's due or how much a "personal doctor" might cost, you can find a close-up (of a render, natch) after the break to see what it might look like (and video of the handheld sticks, if you're game).
Intel shows off WiDi-enabled Atom tablet at IDF 2010
Sure, Intel's big push for its IDF 2010 keynote this morning was the new Sandy Bridge architecture, but within the confines of one awkwardly-presented tech demonstration, we got a glimpse at "Project X." Which, as it turns out, is a pretty interesting Atom-powered development tablet with WiDi technology. From a video conference window projected against the wall, our man Shashi was pushing his slate's screen wireless to the HD set in the background as he showed off some Starcraft II recap footage. We're still on the lookout for the device somewhere on the show floor; if and when we find it, you'll be first to know. One more shot after the break.
DisplayLink aims for 'any device, any display connectivity' with USB 3.0
We'd heard back at Christmastime 2009 that USB 3.0-infused DisplayLink kit would be hitting shelves in 2010, and lo and behold, it looks as if someone is dead-set on keeping a promise. Here at IDF 2010, DisplayLink has come forward with public plans to gravitate towards "any device, any display connectivity" with its new USB 3.0 chip platform. The DL-3000 and DL-1000 single chip series are being introduced in San Francisco, with each offering integrated display and networking connectivity, HD video support and "third generation DisplayLink adaptive real-time compression technology that dynamically manages bandwidth, taking full advantage bi-directional throughput of SuperSpeed USB." The gist of all that? Thanks to SuperSpeed bandwidth increases, multiple full HD videos, high resolution graphics and networking data can be processed simultaneously, and there's even the potential to enable graphics delivery over gigabit Ethernet. Essentially, USB 3.0 has opened up an entirely new playing field for DisplayLink, and we're hoping that 2011 is the year that we finally put those resolution caps behind us on USB-enabled docking stations. We'll let you know if we hear more from the show floor -- much to our dismay, hardly anything is said about actual product implementation dates in the PR.
Intel: Sandy Bridge CPUs will ship in early 2011 (update)
(function() { var s = document.createElement('SCRIPT'), s1 = document.getElementsByTagName('SCRIPT')[0]; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = 'http://widgets.digg.com/buttons.js'; s1.parentNode.insertBefore(s, s1); })(); Digg We're live from the 2010 Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, where we've got an interesting tidbit of news -- those long-awaited and often leaked Sandy Bridge processors will "begin shipping in very high volume" early next year in both laptop and desktop PCs. Now called the "2nd Generation Intel Core processors," the new chips will feature Intel's new 32nm architecture for everything, including the integrated graphics processor and memory controller, which will hopefully reduce their power consumption even as the new hardware's not terribly friendly to overclockers. PR after the break. Update: Intel's on stage explaining a bit more about how Sandy Bridge works -- apparently the Turbo modes introduced in earlier Core chips (which dynamically clock individual processor cores based on how much thermal headroom they have) now works dynamically with the silicon's integrated graphics as well. Intel says it can actually exceed the TDP thermal envelope of a chip now to further overclock multiple cores at once, or switch off between overclocking graphics or CPU cores for differing workloads. See a few example images in the gallery below.%Gallery-102042%
Intel to show off Sandy Bridge at IDF next week, AMD counters with Zacate demo nearby
Now this is what you call a juicy standoff. Intel has announced that Paul Otellini will grace the stage at IDF next week with a demo of his company's next-gen CPU/GPU chip, codenamed Sandy Bridge, and not to be outdone, AMD has immediately retorted with plans to put its own Zacate competitor up on display -- at the same time, in the same city, but at a slightly different location. Both Zacate and Sandy Bridge meld general-purpose and graphical processing duties into one slice of silicon, consolidating the traditionally discrete CPU and GPU into a power-efficient do-it-all chip. You'll find details of where AMD's impromptu demo will be taking place after the break, whereas the Intel Developer Forum will probably be discoverable by the masses of bespectacled engineers trudging in its general direction. Boy, San Fran's gonna be one happening place next week!
Intel may finally be ready to embrace USB 3.0
It's September so that can mean only one thing in Intel land: IDF. The second of this year's Intel Developer Forums is this year preceded by speculation that the big blue giant's next motherboard reference design -- codenamed Cougar Point -- will include USB 3.0 support. Intel's relationship with the 3.0 interconnect standard can at best be described as strained, but motherboard and laptop makers haven't shied from integrating it into their wares and as the number of devices supporting SuperSpeed increases, it's becoming somewhat inevitable that Intel would have to play ball as well. At least until Light Peak shines its "instant obsolescence" ray onto USB cables next year. Then again, bear in mind China's Commercial Times has been wrong before, so let's not credit this as fact until someone with a blue name badge tells us so.
MeeGo Gone Wild! Features detailed, companies come on board at IDF 2010 (updated)
Wow, the MeeGo news is flying fast and furious today! Our first stop is the Intel Developer Forum, where a recent talk detailed feature lists for netbooks and handhelds running (presumably) 1.0. For the former, you can expect to see it rockin' Chrome (or Chromium), and overhauled social messaging, media, camera, email, and calendar apps. That's in addition to touch and gesture support. As for handhelds, Fennec with Flash support popped up on the slides (probably a carry-over from Maemo, since they already have Mozilla with Flash), VOIP (at least until the carriers get involved), instant messaging, social networking, location-based services, cloud data syncing, and portrait mode support -- not to mention "the Intel app-store framework that can be used to make branded 3rd-party app stores." But that ain't all! According to some freshly minted PR, the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco will be lousy with developers starting Wednesday when the Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit begins in earnest. To be announced at tomorrow's keynote are a host of companies that are throwing their lot in with the mobile OS, including: EA Mobile, BMW Group, Acer, Gameloft, Novell, ASUS, and more. Which is all well and good, but the question remains: when are we finally gonna get our hands on an LG GW990? PR after the break. Update: We added a couple shots of the very in-progress UI from Intel's slide show. See more after the break.
Intel adds Android to Moorestown compatibility list, wants to Atomize your smartphone
Alright, so this isn't the first time we've seen Android running on the x86 CPU architecture, but it's notable that Intel has ported the OS to run on its Atom CPUs with the specific aim of offering Android plus Atom smartphone combos. Such is the news that has emerged today at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing, which means Intel loyalists will have a second option in the smartphone sphere, beyond the already known Moorestown-powered MeeGo handsets. It would seem that Chipzilla is taking the ARM threat to its home markets seriously, and is launching a counter-offensive in the mobile space. As to when that will happen, Intel's bigwigs are saying they're still "on track for introduction during the first half of this year," meaning we'll be seeing (or at least hearing about) the vanguard of its attack by the end of June.
Entelligence: The Muddled MID market
Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide. There's a growing category of devices that fall in the space below laptops and above smartphones. It's not a new space, there have been various incarnations over the years, most recently Microsoft's Ultra Mobile PC devices, originally known as Origami. These days, Intel's the one talking about this space, pushing what it calls MIDs, or Mobile Internet Devices. Well that's all well and good -- but what's a MID? Frankly, MID is an Intel marketing term coined around 2008. In a 2008 Engadget post Intel's Dan Monahan described MIDs as having the following attributes: Consumer-class lifestyle devices Runs a 'lightweight" OS with quick startup like Linux Optimized for things like media playback and web surfing In 2009 (or so) Moorestown-based devices will be classed as MIDs only And Intel is aggressive about MIDs -- the company was showing off so many of UMID's devices at IDF last week you would have thought they were among Intel's most strategic and largest customers. But it's clear that the definition has changed over time, as the MIDs at IDF didn't match the specs Mr. Monahan talked about in 2008. These devices all ran Windows and were really scaled down models of netbooks. And although they were impressively tiny, let's be honest -- I'm really skeptical about the future of this class of device, Intel's aspirations aside.
Video: Hanvon / Hanwang's aluminum-clad tablet does Windows 7 multitouch
You know that tablet we keep waiting for? Well, here's something that looks very much like it, but for the Windows 7 operating system and purported Atom processor inside. This 8.9-inch, two USB port-sporting device can pull off multi-touch pinching and zooming -- albeit with a lag akin to wading through water -- and is outfitted in a rather becoming all-aluminum case. It could make for a pretty desirable movie-playing machine on the go, provided it has the battery prowess for such tasks. Chinese folks will know for sure pretty soon, with the release coming before year's end -- presumably just as soon as the company figures out which westernized version of its name to use. Check out the video after the break.
Engadget Podcast 164 - 09.27.2009
It's been a crazy week in news, and after a couple cross-country flights the podcast crew is together and ready to break it all down. Join Josh, Paul and Nilay as they take on Microsoft's Courier tablet concept and rumored Pink smartphones, dish on the HTC Leo and Windows Mobile, debate the finer points of net neutrality, and talk over the highlights from the Intel Developer Forum and the Tokyo Game Show. Yeah, there's a ton here -- grab a snack and tune in! Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller Producer: Trent Wolbe Song: Today Hear the podcast 00:02:34 - Microsoft's dual-screen Courier booklet emerges, isn't near production00:06:18 - Codex and InkSeine -- the roots of Microsoft's Courier?00:33:30 - Microsoft's Pink phones revealed?00:43:00 - HTC Leo looking confirmed for O2 UK debut, will be free on the right plan00:46:20 - Steve Ballmer talks 'three screens and a cloud' and more with TechCrunch00:50:00 - Ballmer: Windows Mobile 7 should have been out, like, yesterday00:55:58 - FCC chairman formally proposes net neutrality rules00:58:45 - AT&T, Verizon poised to fight FCC's net neutrality stance on the wireless front01:10:00 - AT&T's 3G MicroCell tested and reviewed by Charlottean: yes, it works01:13:56 - Intel announces Moblin 2.1 for phones01:18:07 - Dell announces Moblin Mini 10v at IDF (updated with pricing)01:17:25 - Video: Moblin 2.1 for MIDs and phones, sort of in action01:21:15 - USB 3.0 has a SuperSpeed coming-out party at IDF01:22:44 - Video: Intel's Light Peak running an HD display while transferring files... on a hackintosh01:28:40 - 13 PS3 motion control games confirmed for next year, motion-enhanced Biohazard 5 coming Spring 201001:30:03 - Nintendo finally confirms new $199 Wii price Subscribe to the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC). [RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator. [Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace Download the podcast LISTEN (MP3) LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG) Contact the podcast 1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com. Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
Video: Phoenix Instant Boot BIOS starts loading Windows in under a second
Phoenix is showing off a few interesting things at IDF, but the real standout is their new Instant Boot BIOS, a highly optimized UEFI implementation that can start loading an OS in just under a second. Combined with Windows 7's optimized startup procedure, that means you're looking at incredibly short boot times -- we saw a retrofitted Dell Adamo hit the Windows desktop in 20 seconds, while a Lenovo T400s with a fast SSD got there in under 10. It's pretty slick stuff, and it should be out soon -- check a video after the break.
Viliv S10 Blade netvertible hands-on at IDF
Viliv has one of the best-looking convertible tablets we've ever seen here at IDF, the new S10 Blade. It's actually quite striking in person -- it's thin and light, while still offering a convertible touchscreen and a decent keyboard. Sadly the version pictured here has a pretty slow single-touch resistive touchscreen and will be limited to Windows 7 Starter when it launches in November for around $570, but we're told that a multitouch resistive model will hit early next year with Windows 7 Home Premium for around $700. We'll see if that one has the functionality to back up these hot looks when it hits -- but for now, check the rest of the pics in the gallery. %Gallery-73941%
Video: Intel's Light Peak running an HD display while transferring files... on a hackintosh
Intel just did a pretty impressive demo of its new Light Peak optical device interconnect, driving a greater-than-HD display while saturating an SSD RAID all over one cable, but we couldn't help but notice the monster Frankenstein test rig on stage was running OS X -- looks like someone's violating their EULA! Video after the break.
Intel announces Atom CE4100 for insanely powerful cable boxes and Blu-ray players
Intel's CE3100 media chip has been behind some of the cooler demos they've done here at IDF, and it's just gotten a big brother, the Atom CE4100. As you'd expect, the big change is the replacement of the CE3100's Pentium M core with an Atom core, but this thing is actually kind of a monster -- it can decode two 1080p video streams with various high-end audio codecs, it adds MPEG-4 support and 3D graphics capability, and it can even capture uncompressed 1080p video. Of course, it's up to manufacturers and cable companies to actually put all this power to use, but Intel's promised us some hardware demos from partners -- stay tuned.
Video: Intel Tru2way server streams cable all over your house
Look, Moblin and MIDs and USB 3.0 are all well and good, but the real highlight of IDF is hiding in plain sight: it's Intel's CE 3100 Media Processor-based Tru2way DVR server, which has three digital cable tuners that can be streamed over a regular gigabit Ethernet or MoCA to any number of clients, ranging from other 3100-based set-top boxes to DLNA devices like laptops and even the PS3. It's seriously cool -- the clients all see the server's tuners as their own, so the experience is seamless, and since it all runs on the Tru2way stack, it doesn't matter what kind of client you plug in -- the three clients on the show floor were running interfaces from Intel, Comcast (Rovi), and Digeo. Of course, since it's a DVR, you can actually add more clients than tuners and have them play back recorded content while your other boxes use the tuners -- Intel was demoing XBMC on a Sony laptop connecting over DLNA and streaming a recorded program while a PS3 nearby ran a photo slideshow, all while the three cable clients streamed uncompressed HD video from the tuners. Intel says a number of cable companies are interested in deploying this stuff and that we should see things on the market in the next year -- we honestly can't wait. Check a video after the break.
Video: Moblin 2.1 for MIDs and phones, sort of in action
Although Intel made some waves yesterday with the announcement of the smartphone-capable Moblin 2.1 release, the reality here on the ground at IDF is pretty much status quo: phones and other connected devices based on the next-gen Moorestown mobile platform are nowhere to be found, and the actual products on the floor are the same chunky MIDs we've all come to know and ignore. But while the devices remain somewhat uninteresting, Moblin itself has some terrific potential from what we've seen -- there's deep location and social networking integration with a unified contacts list that works a lot like Palm's Synergy, standard Linux apps can be easily ported over and run without any fuss, and manufacturers and developers can even ditch the standard UI and develop whatever they want on top. It's definitely cool stuff -- we just wish Intel had given us this demo on a compelling hardware instead of an older Menlow-based Compal MID, you know? Video after the break.
UMID M2 hands-on at IDF
UMID's got a couple prototype M2s lying around IDF, and while they don't seem like the most stable or production-ready things in the world -- one of them booted straight to an all-white screen, while another had its logo stuck on by a doting booth attendant -- it's clear that this revision of the M1 will correct a few glaring flaws. The major fix is that there's now a regular USB port on the side, instead of the M1's goofy dongle, but we're also glad to see a 3.5mm headphone jack and a (tiny) trackpad with two mouse buttons flanking the screen. Yeah, it's still a quirky little MID, but hey, maybe that does it for you. We're not here to judge what you do with the gallery below.%Gallery-73773%
Dell announces Moblin Mini 10v at IDF (updated with pricing)
Dell just announced the first shipping Moblin netbook, a developer-edition Mini 10v that runs Canonical's Moblin Netbook Remix. No pricing info yet, but it'll go on sale tomorrow, September 24, on Dell.com. We're told they have units on the show floor for us to play with, we'll be back with way more details soon.Update: Dell tells us the Moblin Mini 10v will be $299 to start and available with the usual customization options, but that they're not really aiming it at consumers just yet -- the idea is to give Moblin developers best-of-class hardware to work on. That said, nothing's stopping you from snagging one tomorrow, since they won't be requiring proof that you're actually a dev. You sneaky Linux-loving dog, you.
