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Space shuttle fire sale! Free after $28.8m in S&H and some Congressional lobbying
Hey, you! Yeah, you! Come here and listen. Have you ever wanted to own your very own space shuttle? Of course you have, and now NASA is giving away one orbiters apiece to three lucky winners free of charge. All you need to do is follow these three steps: Be a qualified institution. Currently there's just 21 in the running, including the Kennedy Space Center and the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum. Possess the proper indoor facility to house the veteran astro-car in a climate-controlled environment. It should also have a big door since at no time can it be dismantled. Pay for shipping and handling. According to the Wall Street Journal, that entails having a runway in your backyard, strapping the shuttle to the back of a specialized 747 jet, and covering post-flight repairs. Estimated cost is $28.8 million. Should you meet the above requirements and manage to add yourself to the list of suitors, that gives you a 13.64 percent unweighted probability to nab one! Just because NASA picks you, though, doesn't mean you actually win -- and if that logic seems fuzzy, allow us to clarify with a quote from aerospace engineer and shuttle historian Dennis Jenkins: "Congress will immediately go into an uproar and un-decide for them." Tricky fine print, best of luck!
Shuttle's excessively thin XS35 nettop now shipping, 1080p Ion 2 graphics and all
It's been a long wait (nearly half a year, in fact), but Shuttle has finally transitioned the XS35 from a luscious HTPC promise into a retail reality. The 1.5-inch thick nettop is today rolling out to online retailers in the US and Canada, offering three preconfigured options to suit a variety of budgets. All come with built-in 802.11n WiFi, a dual-core 1.66GHz Atom D510 CPU, 5 USB ports, and a 4-in-1 media card reader, while the pricier two also include DVD-RW drives for good measure. The top XS35 spec gives you 500GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, a HDMI output, and the crowning glory of NVIDIA's scrumptious Ion 2 powering 1080p video playback. Newegg doesn't seem to yet have that SKU available, but it's priced the other two at $240 and $290, suggesting a price somewhere north of $300 for the complete package. Full press release after the break. Update: And sure enough, the Ion 2-equipped SX35 has also made its Newegg debut, yours for $380. Thanks, RatioTitle!
NASA TV launches full time HD channel July 19
Over the years, NASA has, from time to time, piped some HD of shuttle launches and other space related video via its satellite network, but starting July 19 it will be broadcasting 24/7. Beyond exclusive videos like shuttle launches, there will be a daily ISS update and plenty of file footage, all in MPEG-2 encoded HD. Media, cable and satellite providers should all have access so if it's not yet a channel in your area, you probably know who to call, or you can check out the webpage to see what direction you'll need to point that dish in.
Shuttle opens US pre-orders for pricey Core i7-based J3 SFF PC
Shuttle teased us just under a month ago with its Core i7-powered J3 desktop, and now that little bugger is finally up for pre-order in the States. The J3 5800P workstation is easily one of the most powerful small form factor PCs this planet has ever seen, boasting a six-core Core i7 980X Extreme Edition CPU, your choice of NVIDIA Quadro or ATI FirePro professional graphics, up to 16GB of DDR3 memory, room for two SATA hard drives, an optional Blu-ray drive, plenty of ports and a 500-watt power supply. Somehow or another, all of that fits into a chassis that measures just 8.5- x 7.5- x 13.1-inches, and if you've been looking to downsize without taking a hit in the performance department, you can finally do so starting at $1,899. The journey begins right there in the source link -- good luck keeping it below three large, Yes Man.
Shuttle unveils Core i7-powered J3 desktop, changes how you look at little PCs
Earlier in the month Shuttle unveiled a pair of serious little desktops, the J1 and G2, and teased about a third model that would knock all of our proverbial socks off in one fell swoop. That desktop is here and, well, our feet are bare. The J3 packs an Intel Core i7-980X Gulftown processor, about the fastest available for consumers today, and pairs it with NVIDIA's monster GeForce GTX 480. Shuttle isn't telling other details of the machine at this point (all will be unveiled at Computex in early June), but in a video after the break you can gaze upon its healthy stack of USB ports and stare longingly at its shapely cooling system as it spins about slowly shedding its clothing -- and its dignity.
Boeing X-37B autonomous space shuttle launched last night, due back 'whenevs'
Boeing's X-37B, the test craft that's been kicking around for the last decade or so, has finally made it into orbit. Formerly a NASA project, we've heard little about the thing since it passed into DARPA hands in 2004 -- and statements like those of the Air Force's Gary Payton don't help much: "in all honesty, we don't know when it's coming back for sure." How's that for autonomous? Also uncommented upon, yet tantalizing, are the military's intentions for the unmanned vehicle, which can remain in orbit 270 days at a time. Spy drone? Orbital weapons platform? Plaything for our future robot overlords? (Let's hope it's not the last one.) The success of the mission will depend on a couple things, namely: how the return trip goes (it should make it back to California's Vandenberg Air Force Base via autopilot... sometime) and whether the thing can be re-launched quickly enough. Ideally, the craft should be ready for another flight in fifteen days. Another test is planned for 2011. [Thanks, One Love!]
Shuttle gets serious with Pro Series, teases hexacore-ready SFF for June
Say hello to Shuttle's finest toaster-sized workstations yet. The G2 7600P (above right) is the AMD-loving variant that can be yours for $899 with a dual core 2.93GHz Athlon II CPU and low-end ATI FirePro or NVIDIA Quadro graphics options, or you can crank it up to a quad-core Phenom II X4 at 2.6GHz and up to 8GB of RAM. Switching over to the Intel channel -- with the J1 4100P, above left -- you'll find a pretty sweet $999 package built around a Core 2 Quad Q8300 running at 2.5GHz, as well as the option to upgrade to a super duper Radeon HD 5850 GPU. Should those specs be just that little bit too far from the cutting edge for you, heed Shuttle's teaser that a third Pro Series model is coming up this June, with an LGA 1366 socket that counts among its supported CPUs Intel's latest Xeons and the famed beast that is the Core i7-980X. Not bad, eh? Click past the break for the full press release.
Shuttle's X50V2 all-in-one barebones PC gets passively cooled, passively hits online retail
When you've got an entire desktop PC inches from your eardrums, it helps if the machine is dead silent... or as close to that dream as possible. That's why we're pleased that Shuttle's new XPC X50V2 -- last spotted wearing a toga -- is now on sale with a completely fanless design for silent cooling. Since CES, the all-in-one has also gained legacy parallel and serial ports (you know, for your Zip drive) and room for up to 4GB of memory, but hasn't lost any of its dual-core Atom D510 1.66GHz goodness or its school lunchbox charm. Though we haven't heard official word about US availability, Shuttle's domestic website places the MSRP at $400, and online retailers including Newegg already show the tethered touchscreen tablet in stock.
Shuttle's Ion 2-equipped XS35 shows off its slimline nettop credentials in hands-on video
In the market for a new HTPC? Then you'll probably be wanting the slimmest possible enclosure that can still fit an optical drive and the grunt to power through HD video. Set aside some of your attention for Shuttle's XS35, in that case, as this 3.3cm-thick slab of engineering contains an Atom D510 (yawn) paired with NVIDIA Ion 2 graphics (yay!), which should in concert deliver buttery smooth 1080p playback, whether through Flash or Blu-ray discs. The integrated optical drive can't run those fancy discs from what we know, but you could easily swap it out with a slimline BR burner, jack your favorite HDMI cable into the back, and have the perfect little movie box. It's passively cooled so there'll be no fan noise, and its price should be pretty endearing considering the aggressively priced competition from Zotac and Acer. See the XS35 in its metallic flesh after the break. [Thanks, JC]
Shuttle's XS35 nettop is 3.3cm thin, too nice to hide behind your HDTV
Nettops keep getting better, and thinner too if Shuttle's latest is anything to go by. It's the XS35, a 3.3cm thin affair packing a dual-core Intel Atom D510 at 1.6GHz and Ion 2 graphics with HDMI output for easy connectivity to your high definition display of choice. Somehow the company has also found room for five USB ports, VGA and discrete audio outputs, an Ethernet jack, and a card reader. It's passively cooled, so the only noise you'll hear will be the spinning platters of its 2.5-inch hard disk or the spinning of an optical disc, which yes somehow fits in there too (making it perfect for watching your Thunderbirds DVD collection). No price yet but it'll be on display at CeBIT in just a few days and shipping sometime in the second quarter of this year. %Gallery-86599%
Shuttle outfits X50 V2 and J series desktops with Clash of the Titans regalia
Are you a fan of epic, multidimensional cinema extravaganzas? Well, Shuttle wants to help you show off your fandom with these here limited edition Clash of the Titans tie-in machines. The new J series entertainment SFF PCs will come with the most appealing package, which includes the colorful front faceplate above, while the Pine Trail-packing X50 V2 will be preloaded with wallpapers and imagery from the forthcoming flick. We like to mock such blatantly commercial efforts, but if you really are into your Greek mythology and want a small computer that can fit Core i7 CPUs and dual-GPU setups (SX58J3), why not? Best of all, you can even win one of these, so after you've read the PR after the break, hit the source link to find out how.
Shuttle laptops hands-on
Shuttle's press announcement of its new mobile platform was accompanied by a booth's worth of demonstration units and we went over for a quick peek. What we saw was a selection of rather conventional looking machines -- certainly the new internal layout is not going to affect the way machines will look on the outside. There was an Atom N450 netbook in among the chunkier devices, which -- though they sported Shuttle branding and model names -- seem to be just sample machines to entice OEMs into picking up the Shuttle design. This was demonstrated best by the ridiculously creaky keyboard on one of the laptops and its hapless monitor frame. Closing and opening the lid led to the display casing splitting open (see here), which was as damaging to our love of Shuttle as it was to the unfortunate plastic. Update: Shuttle pinged us to say that those are definitely prototypes and as such the quality of the company's products should not be judged on their current state. %Gallery-82355%
Shuttle SPA and Micro SPA notebook motherboard standards launched at CES
Shuttle's just announced the SPA (Shuttle PCB Assembly) and Micro SPA notebook form factors to create a "new notebook ecosystem." The SPA currently covers 13-inch to 17-inch laptops while Micro SPA does 10 to 15 inches. This horizontal integration targets the small local OEMs as it would purportedly reduce production cost while simultaneously boosting green credit. Parts like fans, chassis and trackpad can be reused for new models or even just across one product generation -- you'll notice that all the ports and components are thus identically positioned, as pictured. While you question whether this will be just another another attempt headed to Mount Doom, Shuttle is confident as it's "standardizing the whole thing" rather than just one or two components. Word has it that several European vendors have already placed orders for a February launch, and US laptop fanatics will see SPA products in the following month. Anyone wishing to jump in can make minimum bulk orders of around 200 units and expect a two to three week production cycle in Shuttle's Taiwanese and Chinese factories. Press release after the break. %Gallery-82351%
Shuttle's Pine Trail-powered all-in-one PC debuts at CES
Shuttle was hell-bent on unveiling its Pine Trail-powered X50 V2 all-in-one this week, and finally that day has arrived. Featuring a multitouch display, Intel D510 dual-core processor, on-board GMA3150 graphics, a snappy handle, and a stand, this is like a large, misshapen tablet -- albeit one that's tethered to your breakfast nook by its power cord. If that weren't enough to keep the Shuttle fanboys happy, the company's J Series is back with a vengeance, including the entry level SG41J1 (Intel Core 2 Quad and X4500 graphics), SH55J2 (Intel Core i3 or i5), and the high-performance SX58J3, "designed for hardcore gamers and enthusiasts who require full throttle performance," with its Core i7 processor and support for ATI CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI graphics configurations. PR after the break.
Shuttle reportedly set to debut Pine Trail-based all-in-one at CES
It wouldn't be Shuttle's first all-in-one desktop (it debuted the X50 pictured above at last year's CES), but it looks like the company does have another, new and improved model on track for a launch at CES 2010 next month. More specifically, Fudzilla reports that Shuttle will have a Pine Trail-based all-in-one desktop of some sort on hand at the show, which will apparently be joined by a new J Series model in the company's XPC linuep. Unfortunately, details on either are still as light as can be, but Shuttle sure has raised expectations for itself this time around -- we'll just have to wait and see if it can live up to them.
Shuttle gears up for CES with 'we are not alien' campaign, ominous video
Shuttle isn't exactly a company known for aggressive marketing campaigns, but it looks to be changing its tune a bit in the lead up to CES, and it's not too hard to see who its target is. While the company's main website is still as bright and cheery as ever, the newly launched We Are Not AlienbWare.com is an entirely different tale, featuring an ominous teaser video that mixes Shuttle promos (and metaphors) in with footage from District 9. Of course, it is a teaser video, so it's light on any details, but Shuttle is apparently promising something fairly big for CES. Hit up the link below to check out the video for yourself, or if it's giving you fits, just hop on past the break and mash play.
Shuttle's H7 5800 packs Core i7 and all the trimmings into a small form factor PC
These days, Shuttle's particular brand of small form factor PC isn't as exactly stunning as it once was, but it's still fun to see just how much they can cram in there. Shuttle has taken its barebones SX58H7 Core i7 kit and is now offering it preconfigured with Core i7 Extreme processors, 6GB of RAM and GeForce GTX 285 graphics (With support for SLI or ATI CrossFireX). Unfortunately the base price for the H7 5800 is a silly high $2,149, and once you actually get to any of those previously mentioned trimmings, you're looking at around $4k for a computer. It might be slight technical feat, but we can't imagine Shuttle burning up the sales charts with this one. The barebones kit retails for $719.
Space is filled with violence in three new Black Prophecy screens
Reakktor Media have released three new Black Prophecy screenshots featuring Tyi fighters blasting about space and a human shuttle exploding rather... violently. We really wouldn't want to be in that shuttle, but what self-respecting space pilot jumps into a shuttle anyhow? No, you can expect to find us in a heavy fighter blowing up other shuttles.In all seriousness, Black Prophecy really does incite a kind of awe for sci-fi and space fans alike. The completionists out there who've sampled EVE Online's visual delicacies and plan to delve into Jumpgate Evolution like a duck through gold coins, are probably -- much like ourselves -- excited to see what precious jewels are to be discovered in the latest space shooter MMO to tempt out better senses.%Gallery-46991%
VIA Nano-powered Shuttle XS29F gets official
Well, Computex Taipei still hasn't formally kicked off, but it looks like it's close enough for VIA and Shuttle, who have now gotten official with that Nano-based small form factor PC that first surfaced earlier this week. Now dubbed the Shuttle XS29F, this particular version comes equipped with the low-power combo of VIA's Nano U1700 CPU and VX800 media system processor, along with support for up to 4GB of RAM, your choice of SATA II storage options, both VGA and DVI ports, four USB 2.0 ports and, perhaps most importantly, a maximum power consumption of just 50 watts for the entire system. That, as VIA helpfully explains in the video after the break, means the system can ditch all the usual fans and heatsinks and remain nearly silent during operation, not to mention let you save you a bit on your energy bills. Still no word on a price, sadly, but we're hoping Shuttle will be a bit more talkative once Computex opens its doors.
Shuttle goes low-end with VIA-powered ES series nettops
Shuttle's small form factor PCs aren't generally the lowest-end options around, but the company looks to be getting down to the basics with its new ES (or Embedded Slim) series nettops, which are apparently set to make their official debut at Computex next week. That of course means that complete details are still a bit light at the moment, but word is the nettops will pack your choice of VIA L or U series processors, the former of which clock in at 1.6GHz or 1.8GHz with some not so great power consumption, while the latter drops down to 1GHz and 1.3GHz with a TDP rating of just 5W or 8W, which also eliminates the need for a fan. No word on a price just yet, unfortunately, but Shuttle should be clearing that up, along with the rest of the specs, soon enough.[Via Electronista]
