As you might have guessed, the ViewPad E70 is most definitely a case of price leading functionality, with ViewSonic shaving away at the spec sheet in order to hit the expected $169.99 price tag. The single-core processor is the start of that, but we’ll also be looking closely at whether important things like the display are usable, or if the E70 is just another crap tablet.

The ViewPad E70 will arrive sometime in late Q1 2012. We’re hunting hands-on with the slate now, and will update later when we know more.

The dock has various ports that allow simultaneous connection to multiple devices. It has has three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, one HDMI port, one 3.5mm audio port, one gigabit Ethernet port, and two Thunderbolt ports that support daisy-chaining. Users can connect multiple USB devices, watch movies in Full HD 1080p, and transfer copious data in seconds.

And given the use of Thunderbolt technology, the Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock offers data transfer rates of up to 10Gbps bi-directionally. It is expected to ship in September at select retailers worldwide as well as on Belkin.com. The device is priced at $299.

Since you can’t exactly jab your fingers at your TV, a nine-button remote does duty for controlling the interface. There’s also Android’s voice-to-text for dictating emails, URLs and more. Squeezed into the remote is an accelerometer, for motion-controlled gaming, and you can reach around the back of your TV and tap your phone against the HDMI Dongle as it has an NFC chip too.

Streaming Netflix, Hulu and other video-on-demand services is the obvious use, but big-screen browsing and other multimedia playback are also on the cards. Android’s selection of gaming apps is increasing all the time, and the HDMI Dongle should have the grunt to keep up with most current titles.

Unfortunately, Always Innovating seems to have learnt from its struggles with the Touch Book hybrid tablet and has decided not to offer the HDMI Dongle directly. Instead, it will be licensing the design to others, with the first such example expected to go on sale this coming summer. Whether it will look exactly like this remains to be seen, though; Always Innovating is positioning the guts of the dongle as ideal for powering a tablet, too. The promise is that it will all be open-source, too.

Pricing is expected to be in the region of $79 upwards.

[via Engadget]

They are aiming to have a successful year in 2012 and with this announcement they are about to get off to a great start. The technology behind MHL isn’t extremely new and has been added to many smartphones and tablets throughout 2011. MHL is a rapidly growing mobile HD audio/video connectivity standard similar to HDMI that allows up to 8 channels of audio and full uncompressed 1080p video to be streamed over a 5-pin micro-USB/MHL port. What’s even better is Onkyo has added power output to the MHL standard on their AVR’s to allow devices to charge at the same time for uncompromised audio/video quality, and battery life.

Silicon Image’s InstaPrevue is a unique, value-adding feature that will make using Onkyo products even better. With InstaPrevue users will no longer have to channel through the various input and outputs on the AVR and instead will have a live preview to switch to the correct HDMI or other inputs visually. No more toggling down the list to get that Xbox fired up. While this is a great feature I sure hope most are able to do a simple task such as changing the input — otherwise you might need to hand that remote off to someone more qualified.

InstaPrevue also allows for a much quicker speed while switching inputs, something I’m sure many are familiar with. Onkyo has always pushed the envelope and been recognized for special features and top quality sound. They look to be right on track for 2012 and we’ll be live at CES to get a good look and what is next in Home Theater. For more on this announcement, read Onkyo’s Press Release.

So here’s what you do – you open the box, you take the base station and you plug the upright USB stick into it. You plug that base station in with the cord that powers it up, connect it to a power socket that is, then you connect it to your TV with the HDMI cord that’s included with the package. Next you pop the CD from the box in your Windows PC, and click through the installation process which takes less than 5 minutes, and you plug in the other USB stick and hit “OK” for all the drivers which instantly get installed without trouble. From here you click which mode you’d like to be in (I like extended display mode), and BAM. You’re in business.

Now all you’ve got to do is pull that window with Thor playing in it to the extra large and awesome display you’ve got in your HDTV, and you can have a great time continuing to browse your Thor-loving forums in the meantime from your couch. I’ve really truly been looking for such a simple solution to this first world problem of having to get up click a mouse each time I want a new file to play ever since I first got into the wild world of media centers. This means having a computer of some sort control what’s displayed on your television rather than using the cable and a remote control. Take command of your programming!

What you’ve got now is full access to anything you can pick up from the internet, displayed instead on your gigantic television, all controlled from your laptop. Or if you prefer, your PC sitting across the room. Think about this situation: you’ve got a couple of kids that want to watch a new YouTube video every time the last one has ended, but you want your PC to yourself. All you’ve got to do here is move your mouse out to the second display (your TV) and hit the play button instead of having to turn your display around and around per Johnny and Sally’s request. Freedom at last!

Have a peek at all the components above and below and pick the device up right this second (or grab it for your fun-loving PC owner friend or relative for the holidays, they’ll love you for it.) You can purchase the StreamHD at Warpia online for just $159.99 right now!

As with other thin-client style devices we’ve seen before, Cotton Candy is intended to work around the limitation of small screens on small gadgets. You might be able to remotely access your work PC from your phone, for instance, but you may not be able to see much of it on a phone-scale display.

Bluetooth is used for peripheral support while the dongle is plugged into a TV, and your smartphone can hook up wirelessly to act as a mouse or keyboard. When hooked up to a Windows, Mac or Linux computer, meanwhile, Cotton Candy can borrow their peripherals and present its own UI either full-screen or windowed. MPEG4 and H.264 video decoding is supported, at HD resolution, and there’s a special cloud interface to get you logged into your services.

FXI Tech reckon the Cotton Candy should be on sale by the 2012 holidays, with pricing expected to settle at around the $200 point.

The two models that exist on this Folio machine are in the cores: first there’s a 1.4GHz Core i3 for you low-enders, then there’s the 1.6GHz Core i5 that maxes out at 2.3GHz with Turbo Boost enabled. Pop this notebook open and you’ll find a backlit keyboard above a standard three-button touchpad while the left side has power, Ethernet, HDMI, memory card slot, and a USB 2.0 port, these alongside two tiny LED lights showing hard drive use and power on. Inside you’ll find 128GB of SSD storage and a cool 4GB of RAM, and this device features Dolby Advanced Audio (no Beats!) and the whole device is set to take some everyday wear and tear for sure.

Richie notes that “this is the most ruggedised Ultrabook I’ve come across so far” and we’re leaning towards trust in that statement. Having quite recently caught glimpses and hands-on with several HP Elite-level laptops this summer I can tell you right here: HP doesn’t mess around when it comes to reliable products that can take a lot of damage. In this Folio Ultrabook you’ll find a rubberized base and sides, a relatively stiff lid, and an overall opposite of delicate feel. Should be a solid package!

UPDATE: official word from HP has come down and a few more specifications can now be guaranteed. What you’ve got here is a 3.3-pound 0.7-inch tall ultrabook with a 13.3-inch 1366 x 768 pixel display, and will be released on December 7th, 2011. This ultrabook will run you a cool $900 USD.

[via Ultrabook News]

You can currently use this product with most Apple products, that being the iPod Touch generation 3 or 4, the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4G, and the iPad or the iPad 2. This means that, for example, if I were to have one sitting here in the living room, it would erase the need for me to transfer videos to the iPad where I’d normally be playing them from via HDMI to the HD television. Now all I’d have to do is zap the videos from my computer right over to the Wi-Drive, my iPad then instantly having the ability to see them then too. Simple! Have a look at the device here courtesy of Kingston:

This little beast is right around the size of your average smartphone at 121.5mm x 61.8mm x 9.8mm, and the folks at Kingston have let us know that compatibility with Android is right around the corner. You’ll be able to work currently with the iOS devices listed above as well as Windows 7, Vista, and XP, as well as Max OS X 10.5 and up, and Linux 2.6 and up. You get a one year warranty right out of the box, there’s an official iOS app in Apple’s App Store, and its rechargeable battery lasts up to four hours of continuous use.

Look like the drive for you? Find out about more ultra fabulous Kingston products by hitting our big [Kingston Portal], and you can see the rest of our hands-on videos from the event by heading to the portal for the [Pepcom Holiday Spectacular 2011]!

Silicon Image argues that seeing what’s coming through each connection makes far more sense than either “HDMI 1″, “HDMI 2″ and “HDMI 3″ or even customized labels for “CONSOLE” and “CABLE”. Manufacturers that pick up InstaPrevue, meanwhile, will be able to customize the appearance of each preview window, as well as change its size and the position it appears on-screen.

It will also be possible to integrate the windows with a custom UI, presumably opening the door to smart TV that shows local sources alongside internet streams and on-demand content in the same interface. No word on when we might expect it to show up on commercial sets, however.

For those looking to get into Android via a unique look at the Android operating system as it’s topped by one of the coolest 3rd-party user interfaces on the market, this is your device. The user interface you’re seeing here is not your average Android 3.2.x Honeycomb experience, instead being called Viewscene 3D, an interface designed by the same folks who developed SPB Shell 3D, a homescreen replacement app quick we’ve reviewed over on our sister site Android Community. ViewSonic worked with that development team to create a great looking out of the box experience with, again, what they’re calling Viewscene 3D. You’ll see the coolness of the look and controls in the hands-on video below.

This device is introduced to us amongst about a billion other rabid technology fans, so you’ll have to bear with the noise, but it’ll be worth it once you realize what you’re seeing here. ViewSonic presents a tablet with a 7-inch display at 1024 x 600 pixel resolution, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and a 1GHz single-core processor with 512MB of RAM. Along the side you’ll find all the ports you love so very well, that being a miniUSB, microUSB, power port, headphone jack, and microSD slot for expansion of memory by up to 32GB should you want to hold every single app you’ve ever downloaded at once.

You’ll be getting a 3 megapixel camera on the back, a VGA camera on the front for video chat, and the whole device is made of mainly plastic. This device will be available for the bargain price of 149 Euros or around $199 USD and will be released inside September of 2011.

Sound like the deal you’ve been waiting for?

Kim lets us know that the Galaxy S II series in the USA will indeed be running the newest version of Samsung TouchWiz UI, this, for those of you that don’t know, is a set of enhancements Samsung has added on top of Android so that their devices work in the way they see as most positive for the end user. What you’ll find is the Kim tells us about, first of all, the new cleanliness of TouchWiz, a brand new set of abilities you’ve got as far as resizing widgets, moving app icons to the pages you want, and even re-organizing your apps drawer to the order you like best.

One of the greatest things you’re going to find going on in this newest version of TouchWiz is a set of customizability options that up until now you’d have had to go to a 3rd party developer to get through a homescreen replacement app. If you have no idea what a homescreen replacement app is, you’re going to be EXTRA pleased by your ability to arrange your homescreens and app drawer the way you want it.

Kim also goes into Samsung’s Social Hub app briefly, showing us that we’re able to aggregate all of our social networks into a single feed list, each item able to be accessed at will. One single inbox for all of your social interaction. You can also view messages from social contacts in Conversation View allowing you to differentiate your exchanges from other friends and foes of yours, and Kim reminds us that Social Hub is included on every one of the different versions of the Galaxy S II as well.

Have a peek at the video and stay tuned to our [Galaxy S II] and [Samsung] hubs for more news galore this whole week – that’s right, we’re in Berlin as well for Samsung’s Unpacked event at IFA 2011 aus Deutschland – join us live as we broadcast on site!

Basically, the IR receiver dongle plugs into an adapter at the end of your HDMI cable, and shuttles the signal down to the IR blaster at the other end. Your stack of A/V equipment – whether cable or satellite TV boxes, TiVo or other DVRs, HTPC or Blu-ray players – can remain hidden in a cupboard or a “node zero” style central termination point, far away from line-of-sight with your remotes, and you don’t need to rewire to carry the IR signal separately.

CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) is used by certain A/V companies to allow for remote control signals to be passed between the TV and other components, and generally gets branded by OEMs: Sony calls it BRAVIA Sync, Panasonic calls it VIERA Link and Toshiba calls it Regza Link, for instance. Otherwise the channel goes unused, so InjectIR can take advantage of that spare wiring for its own purposes.

The benefit is that, unlike the manufacturer-specific solutions, you can use your existing remote and pair equipment from different brands. The CEC should be preserved over CAT5 extensions and switchers, and the IR repeater can be moved further away from the emitter adapter with a regular 3.5mm cable. The Sewell InjectIR is available now, priced at $44.95.

[via TechCrunch]

Measuring in at 60 x 118 x 14 mm, the SHOWWX+ HDMI uses a laser projection system which means no focusing is necessary: simply point it at a wall and get up to a 2.5m display. Resolution is 848 x 480, which isn’t going to do much justice to your Full HD movies but is at least enough for some YouTube style entertainment. Brightness is 15 lumens and contrast is around 5,000:1, and the HDMI input is HDCP compliant for protected sources.

In addition to the HDMI, there’s the usual component input for use with a regular TV output from a laptop, DVD player or iPod. With the right adapter, meanwhile, you can also hook up a VGA connection, though with many notebooks having HDMI these days we doubt many will need that. The user-replaceable battery is good for up to 2hrs runtime.

The MicroVision SHOWWX+ HDMI is currently available to pre-order, priced at $369. It’s expected to begin shipping imminently.

[via PicoProjector-Info]

Speaking with TechRadar on the situation, HDMI Org explained that there were several reasons why they’ve come to this conclusion for the cable. Each of these reasons is quite clear and at the moment it’s unclear as to why the cord was manufactured without first going through the necessary tests:

“The HDMI specification defines an HDMI cable as having only HDMI connectors on the ends. Anything else is not a licensed use of the specification and therefore, not allowed. All HDMI products undergo compliance testing as defined by the Compliance Testing Specification. The CTS clearly defines necessary tests for all products defined in the HDMI Specification. Since this new cable product is undefined in the Specification, there are no tests associated with this product. It cannot be tested against the Specification.” – HDMI Org

This move will reduce the cords currently in production to non-moveable units, while it does still appear that dongles with DisplayPort socket on one side and HDMI female receiver socket on the other side will remain in production for the time being. HDMI Org notes that this is because a licensed HDMI cord can be slotted into them. From what we understand, it is the absence altogether of an officially licensed HDMI cord that makes the HDMI to Mini DisplayPort Cables illegal.

HDMI Org does go on to note that it may be possible to license the now-illegal cords in the future:

“We do recognise that there may be a market need for a cable solution rather than a dongle solution. However, at this time, there is no way to produce these cable products in a licensed manner.” – HDMI Org

Harsh? Now when you consider the circumstances and the rules set clearly in stone, says HDMI Org. Rules is rules we suppose!

[via TechRadar]

Still, we’d expect that chip to be in place to drive that 1080p video recording. Other expected specifications include a 4-inch, qHD 960 x 540 resolution display, the same Android Gingerbread build – with MOTOBLUR – as recently pushed to the DROID X, and a reskinned launcher.

There’s also an HDMI port by the USB port, which does open to door to potential Webtop use as on the ATRIX; still, with the physical keyboard on the phone itself, perhaps that’s not such a pressing need. Still, being able to dock the DROID 3 into a multimedia docking station would be a neat touch. Still no word on launch date.

[via Android Community]

There’s LED backlighting, a 2ms response rate and 120Hz refresh rate – though obviously that’ll be halved during 3D playback – together with the usual, overblown dynamic contrast figure: 100,000,000:1 in this case. Acer also throws in a number of digital picture tweaking modes, though we’ve a feeling most image-sensitive users will leave them turned off.

The Acer HD274H will go on sale in the UK in May, priced at £499 ($826). No word on US availability or pricing at this stage.

Press Release:

Acer unveils the world’s first 27-inch FHD 3D monitor – HN274H with NVIDIA 3D Glasses

London, 27 April 2011 – TV broadcasts, movies, gaming, photography and even new learning applications: 3D technology unlocks an entire world of experiences. Experiences that can be best appreciated on a bigger screen. Acer, always at the forefront in offering technologically advanced solutions, now presents the HN274H, the first 27-inch 3D monitor in the world to support the HDMI®(dual link) 3D solution, enabling users to fully appreciate the array of possibilities brought by the stereoscopic technology.

Offering powerful and exciting graphics as well as top-notch technology, the HN274H 3D monitor is particularly well suited for thrilling gaming and action movies: the perfect solution for tech-savvy users and gaming enthusiasts.

Together with 3D technology, the HN274H display is rich of high-end monitor’s features, to ensure the best viewing experience. First of all, a large 68.6 cm (27”) LED backlit panel, ideal not only for gamers or video enthusiasts, but also for users who want to enjoy a great entertainment.

Stunning picture quality is given by an exceptional 100,000,000:1 contrast ratio, while the Full HD resolution (1920×1080) is perfect for 1080p Full HD applications and the 16:9 aspect ratio, is ideal to watch a movie with the same splendour of a theatre screen. The 120Hz refresh rate, essential for creating the 3D effect and a response time of just 2ms, the utmost in reactivity for real-time gaming complete the picture of really outstanding features.

The Acer 3D monitors come with built-in IR emitter to offer greater convenience. An integrated IR emitter means you can connect the monitor to a set-top box or Blu-ray Disc™ via HDMI and enjoy 3D broadcasting or the latest 3D movies.

The Acer HN274H is ideal for enhanced home entertainment. With the included NVIDIA® 3D glasses, featuring advanced active shutter 3D technology, combined with the monitor’s built-in IR emitter, you can enjoy your favourite movies or games with your friends, as multiple pair of glasses can be used simultaneously.

The HN274H combines high-end specs with a highly sophisticated design that easily blends into any environment. The graceful base has a rim in a contrasting color for a richer visual impact, while the teardrop-shaped power-key adds a cool touch of class. Convenient to use touch-sensitive controls and an intricate vent design give the monitor an all-round sleek look and feel.

The HN274H monitor falls under Acer’s range of EcoDisplay. These displays are specifically designed with an energy saving design, are mercury free and are made of easily recyclable materials. To ensure lower power consumption white LED backlighting technology was adopted, replacing the four lamp design with two lamps, for up to 68% power saving. In addition, LED lamps are mercury-free and safer for the environment whilst delivering better performance. Acer 3D monitors meet stringent industry standards and are compliant with RoHS (the EU directive restricting the usage of hazardous substances) and ENERGY STAR® requirements.
Lower energy consumption not only helps reducing costs but also preserves resources and the environment for future generations.

To ensure the best viewing experience, no matter what are your doing, the Acer HN274H monitor features cutting-edge display technologies.

Acer eColor Management optimizes image performance in common usage scenarios, delivering an improved, more enjoyable viewing experience. This feature allows you to quickly tailor the performance characteristics (brightness, saturation, contrast, etc.) of your monitor to best suit the visual content. Acer eColor Management, which includes a set of convenient scenario modes, is the result of comprehensive research to reveal the high-end features sought most by users. Psychological and technological studies were also carried out to determine the best method of implementing those features.

Acer Adaptive Contrast Management (ACM) dynamically adjusts the contrast ratio to achieve ultra-sharp images. Each scene is analysed to fine-tune images frame by frame and enhance colour quality, obtaining a dramatic improvement of gradation and detail, especially in dimmer and brighter scenes.

The Acer HN274H display series comes with a 2-year collect & return warranty and will be available in May for a SRRP of £499 Inc VAT.

The adapter supports up to 1080p and will work with the iPhone 4, iPad, iPad 2, and 4G iPod touch. With the thing plugged in you can use it to see anything on the big screen that is on the screen of your iPad. This sounds like a good way to watch Hulu Plus on your big screen.

The adapter supports up to 1080p content when used with the iPad 2. If you plug it into any of the other devices, it only supports up to 720p resolution. The adapter sells for $39 and you have to provide your own HDMI cable.

[via MacDailyNews]

There’s also four USB ports – three 2.0, and one 3.0 – along with up to 320GB of HDD storage and up to 4GB of DDR3 memory. As well as the AMD GPU there’s integrated Intel HD graphics with automatic switch-over, and a DVD burner.

WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and an HD webcam round out the main specs, and the C Series gets the same keyboard backlighting and instant-boot WEB mode as the S Series. No word on pricing at this stage, but the Sony VAIO C Series should make its retail debut from March 2011.

Press Release:

Light up your life with new 14” VAIO C Series

Colourful notebook PC with 3D output and stand-out looks to match your lifestyle

Stunning notebook PC with ground-breaking ‘light emitting’ translucent style option
High-contrast 14” (35.5cm) widescreen VAIO Display
HD web camera powered by “Exmor” for clearer, sharper video web chat
HDMI out (3D supported) for watching videos and games on 3D TV
Surf the Internet in seconds with one-touch WEB access

Seeing really is believing. With eye-grabbing looks that demand attention, the colourful new 14” VAIO C Series from Sony makes a dramatic lifestyle statement. It’s also a fully-featured notebook PC, with ample power to handle your day-to-day computing needs.

The latest VAIO C Series showcases a radical style direction by Sony that stands out from run-of-the-mill notebook PCs. A choice of fashion colours include two special orange and green ‘light emitting’ options. This audacious design scatters light along edges of the translucent PC lid and other key surfaces to create a dramatic glow effect.

Aside from ground-breaking looks, new VAIO C Series balances portability and performance to make light of everyday tasks – from emailing to editing presentations.

The high contrast 14” (35.5cm) real-wide VAIO Display with LED backlighting provides plenty of screen space for web browsing, photo viewing and document editing.

Night or day, new VAIO C Series is beautifully easy to use. Backlighting on the full-pitch isolation keyboard illuminates automatically for precise, accurate typing when the lights are low. There’s also a multi-touch trackpad, and an ambient light sensor that optimises screen brightness for a clear, comfortable picture in daylight or at dusk.

The integrated HD web camera powered by “Exmor” delivers a crisp, clear HD image for more realistic web chats and video calls.

With a touch of the handily-placed WEB button you’re powered up and online in seconds. Launching Internet access without a full boot-up, it’s a valuable time-saver for checking emails in a café or airport lounge. There’s also an ASSIST button that launches VAIO Care software, troubleshooting problems and keeping your VAIO in top condition.

14” VAIO C Series isn’t short on computing power and storage capacity to accommodate everyday multimedia and general computing needs. The latest Intel® Core™ i5 processor is matched by up to 320GB HDD space and 4GB RAM for comfortable multitasking with Genuine Windows 7® Home Premium installed.

Connectivity options include Bluetooth®, four USB ports (one USB 3.0 and three USB 2.0) and a new HDMI out (3D supported). Just connect your 3D TV to enjoy favourite 3D movies and games on the television screen.

Available as an option when you order VAIO C Series online, hybrid graphics switch automatically between performance and battery-saving modes to suit the task in hand. Other choices when you order online from Sony include CPU and storage enhancements to power up your VAIO.

There’s a colourful family of official accessories by Sony to complement the stand-out looks of the latest 14” VAIO Series. A curvaceously sculpted Bluetooth wireless mouse and funky keyboard skins are joined by a sleek carry pouch with a colour-coordinated lining to match your notebook.

The brilliantly styled new 14” VAIO C Series of notebook PCs by Sony is available from March/ April 2011 depending on country.

The higher end model HT-S5400 7.1-channel HTiB offers two extra audio channels for more audio control to enhance movie and gaming ambience. The audio channels can support Dolby Pro Logi IIz along with having superior audio DACs. The model also features a front panel USB port for iPod or iPhone connectivity.

The more affordable 5.1-channel HT-S3400 model omits a few features including the USB port, subwoofer pre-out, and Audyssey 2EQ.

On top of this, Onkyo also announces a new Remote Interactive Dock for iPod/iPhone, the DS-A4, which provides audio, video outputs, charging, and full function remote control.

The Onkyo HT-S5400 is priced at $599, the HT-S3400 at $379, and the DS-A4 at $139. All will be available in April.

[Via Onkyo]

Video demo after the cut

That means a proper look at the HDMI and microUSB ports on the bottom edge, along with the connectors for a docking station, together with the twin camera array on the rear. There’s also a brief show of the 3D playback mode in action, which confirms that it’s a basic anaglyphic system; LG’s bundled glasses will hopefully be a little more sturdy than the throwaway cardboard specs you used to get in movie theaters.

It all looks reasonably slick and pleasingly slim, though after news of Motorola’s XOOM costing $800+ we’re now more than a little cautious as to how much LG will be asking for its Honeycomb tablet.

[via Engadget]

There’s also Bluetooth, a full-sized SDHC slot and a microSDHC slot, up to 64GB of SATA SSD storage and S/PDIF digital audio. Other ports include four USB 2.0, one USB Device port and a serial port; Compulab say that more than one OS will be preinstalled out of the box, though don’t actually specify which platforms that will include.

Not bad for something measuring just 5.1 x 3.7 x 0.6 inches. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but Compulab expects the Trim Slice to be “priced higher than a streamer, but lower than a tablet” when it goes on sale in April.

[via TGSpot]

Press Release:

CompuLab is Introducing Trim-Slice – the first NVIDIA® TegraTM 2 based desktop

Haifa, Israel – 24-Jan-11 – CompuLab is introducing Trim-Slice – a miniature desktop computer powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2. With 0.6″ thick all-metal housing, Trim-Slice is CompuLab’s smallest and most energy-efficient computer to-date.

NVIDIA Tegra 2 integrates a 1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 and an ultra-low power GeForce GPU onto the same chip, making it the most powerful ARM based system-on-chip available today.
“Trim-Slice is designed to unleash the full potential of NVIDIA Tegra 2” said Irad Stavi, Director of Business Development at CompuLab. “Trim-Slice feeds the Tegra 2 with all the ingredients for supporting high performance CPU: 1 GB RAM, SATA SSD and dual SDHC for storage and GbE networking. Users can experience the outstanding multimedia capabilities of the Tegra 2 through full-HD HDMI, dual-head display and 5.1 channels digital audio.”

“CompuLab demonstrated many times over its expertise in power-efficient system design.” said Igor Vaisbein, Trim-Slice Project Manager at CompuLab. “The ultra-low power of NVIDIA Tegra 2 enabled designing Trim-Slice into a miniature form-factor with unprecedentedly low-power envelope while providing rich multimedia capabilities and PC-like user experience”.

High performance, low-power, rich I/O and miniature rugged design, position Trim-Slice as an attractive solution for a variety of applications – media player, IPTV, infotainment system, signage, gaming or even desktop replacement to name a few.

Trim-Slice differs from most other ARM based solutions by being a commercially available open platform for software developers.
“The software eco-system on ARM is evolving quickly” said Mike Rapoport, Director of SW Development at CompuLab. “The open-source community and ISVs need an ARM development platform that is versatile, open and powerful. Trim-Slice meets that by incorporating PC-like performance, memory, storage, display, I/O and networking in an open platform that allows installation of any supported OS and application. CompuLab will offer more than one OS working on Trim-Slice out-of-the-box.”
CompuLab will cooperate with ISVs that select Trim-Slice as a reference platform.

Specifications
• CPU: NVIDIA® TegraTM 2 Dual Core ARM Cortex A9 1GHz with integrated ultra-low power GeForce GPU
• Memory: 1 GB DDR2-800
• Storage :
o Full size SD (SDHC)
o Micro SD (SDHC)
o SATA SSD (up to 64GB)
• Networking:
o 1 GbE
o WiFi 802.11n + BT
• Display :HDMI 1.3 full-HD + DVI (dual head)
• Audio: Stereo line-out, line-in, 5.1 digital S/PDIF
• Video in: PAL/NTSC
• I/O:
o 4 USB2 ports (480 MBps)
o 1 USB device
o RS232 Serial port
• Extension: JTAG, 2 UARTs, SPI
• Housing: Fanless all-metal nickel-plated die-cast
• Dimensions: 130mm x 95mm x 15mm – 5.1” x 3.7” x 0.6”
• Power: 8-16V DC, 3W average
Availability
CompuLab expects to start accepting orders from Trim-Slice in April. “Trim-Slice pricing is yet to be finalized” said Mr. Stavi. “It will be priced hig¬her than a streamer, but lower than a tablet”.
Trim-Slice is guaranteed for long term availability of 5 years. It will be available in several configurations and will be offered to OEMs looking to re-brand the product.
About CompuLab
CompuLab is a leading designer and manufacturer of embedded computing products since 1992. CompuLab’s fit-PC line of miniature, fanless PCs – introduced in 2007 – positioned CompuLab as an industry leader in the field of miniature, fanless industrial PCs. CompuLab headquarters are located in Haifa, Israel with offices in St. Petersburg, FL.

There’s also a pair of DDR3 DIMM memory slots, two SATA 6Gbps ports, two SATA 3Gbps ports and a single PCI-E x16 slot. Ports include a bevy of regular USB 2.0, digital audio outputs, ethernet and VGA, along with the usual board headers. No word on pricing or availability at this stage, but this could be the basis of a particularly capable HTPC.

[via Expreview]

It’s not just a dumb LCD screen, however; there’s a pixel magnification mode which ofers an enlarged view of a selected portion of the Full HD image, together with a colour peaking function that highlights the edges of accurately-focused areas of the video image. Meanwhile there’s adjustable aspect ratio (16:9/4:3), volume, brightness, contrast, colour tone (phase), colour temp and auto dimmer.

A mono speaker – and headphone jack – together with a sun hood round out the main specs. No word on pricing, but the Sony CLM-V55 LCD video monitor will go on sale in March 2011.

Press Release:

Clip-on LCD monitor from Sony for HD video shooting with Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras 13 January 2011

CLM-V55 gives big, high-resolution view of video footage

• Clip-on LCD monitor attaches to DSLR camera
• Large (5″) WVGA panel offers superb high-resolution view while shooting HD video
• Tilt/swivel for comfortable viewing at any angle
• Colour peaking and pixel magnification for precise focus confirmation

A new clip-on LCD monitor from Sony gives DSLR camera owners a bigger, better view of their footage while shooting HD video.

The CLM-V55 is a portable video monitor featuring a high-resolution WVGA (800 x 480) (5”) LCD panel. Attaching easily to most Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras and compatible HD camcorders via the supplied adaptor, it displays video footage during shooting/playback with excellent clarity and a wide viewing angle.

The clip-on screen tilts and swivels to any angle for comfortable framing in any position – even self-shooting when you’re in the picture.

The CLM-V55 is loaded with pro-style features to help photo enthusiasts and videographers shoot high-quality HD video footage with their Interchangeable Lens Digital camera.

Pixel magnification mode assists with accurate focus confirmation, giving an enlarged pixel-perfect view of a selected portion of the Full HD image. It’s complemented by a colour peaking function that highlights the edges of accurately-focused areas of the video image.

An intuitive control wheel allows quick, positive adjustment of a wide range of monitor settings without interrupting shooting. Adjustable parameters include aspect ratio (16:9/4:3), volume, brightness, contrast, colour tone (phase), colour temp and auto dimmer. On-screen markers aid precise framing by giving precise indication of a TV’s 16:9 or 4:3 actual display area. The LCD monitor’s on-board mono speaker is complemented by a headphone jack for accurate audio monitoring during shooting.

The CLM-V55 attaches easily to a wide range of Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras from Sony and other manufacturers that support HD video shooting. The supplied adaptor simplifies mounting on any camera or HD camcorder that features an auto-lock accessory shoe or ISO shoe. Signal connection from camera to monitor is via the supplied HDMI cable, while power can be supplied using a battery pack or AC adaptor (both optional). The CLM-V55 comes with a detachable LCD hood for more comfortable viewing when shooting outdoors in bright sunlight.

The CLM-V55 LCD video monitor by Sony is available from March 2011.

To be honest, iPad support is only one string to the iXtreamer’s bow; it’ll work as a DLNA/UPnP streamer, play back 1080p HD video with 7.1 surround sound, stream internet radio, work as a TwonkyMedia server and as a standalone NAS or FTP server. There’s also Blu-ray ISO support, the ability to use your iPhone as a remote control, and a full on-screen UI.

It’ll also play FLV streaming video from online, opening the door to accessing on-demand content as well. The iXtreamer is priced at £159 ($247) from Advanced MP3 Players and is shipping now.

The Actiontec MyWirelessTV wireless HDMI adapter is designed to stream full 1080p HD video over your 802.11n wireless network, to multiple displays. The displays will need to be connected to the MyWirelessTV adapter to make use of the technology, though. Thanks to the Cavium WiVu technology that’s inside the adapters, they are compatible with the H.264 encoding, Dolby surround sound, HDCP 2.0 encryption, and it will be able to stream 3D video as well.

The companies say that the system has a 20ms or less latency from the source to whatever display you’re streaming it to. And that’s in a range of 150 feet. The adapters will be released later this year, and will come with one transmitter and one receiver. As for pricing, it’s suggested that it will be around $200.

Press Release

Actiontec’s MyWirelessTV™ Line of Wireless HDMI Adapters Features Cavium’s PureVu™ Processors for Dynamic, Low-Latency Performance

Leveraging Cavium’s WiVu™ Wireless Display Technology, Actiontec’s New Adapters Enable Full 3D HD Video Transmission Over Standard Wi-Fi

CES Unveiled 2011
CES Unveiled 2011:Cavium Networks, Inc.

LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cavium Networks (NASDAQ:CAVM), a leading provider of semiconductor products that enable intelligent processing for networking, communications and the digital home, today announced that Actiontec Electronics’ new line of wireless HDMI adapters feature Cavium’s PureVu™ video processors and WiVu™ wireless display technology. Known as MyWirelessTV™, this new product line from Actiontec enables pristine 1080p HD video transmission throughout the home with virtually no latency, thanks to Cavium’s industry leading Super Low Latency™ (SLL) technology. With these new HDMI adapters, consumers will be able to view 2D and 3D HD content from any HDMI source on any display anywhere in the home wirelessly.

“We are very pleased with Actiontec’s decision to select our PureVu video processors for its MyWirelessTV family of wireless HDMI adapters”
“When we were developing these new HDMI adapters, we chose to partner with Cavium because their team shares our vision of building innovative and differentiated products that provide the performance and ease of use that consumers demand,” said Dean Chang, president and CEO at Actiontec Electronics. “Cavium demonstrated a strong commitment to accelerating our development of this product. Their team’s commitment and dependability, has been an important element in this release, particularly because we’re launching directly into the consumer space where time-to-market, quality, pricing and performance determine success.”

Each MyWirelessTV kit consists of a transmitter and a receiver HDMI adapter. By simply connecting the transmitter device to any HDMI source, such as a Blu-Ray player, A/V receiver, STB or even a PC, users can transmit the content from that source over standard Wi-Fi and view it on any display that has a MyWirelessTV HDMI receiver adapter connected to it. Users can expand this network to include other HDMI sources and displays by simply adding more transmit or receive adapters. WiVu’s ultra low compression latency, along with its unique video quality of service features enable this transmission to be provided in a multi-room environment and a fully interactive fashion.

“We are very pleased with Actiontec’s decision to select our PureVu video processors for its MyWirelessTV family of wireless HDMI adapters,” said Manoj Gujral, VP and GM of Cavium’s Broadband and Consumer division. “Cavium’s standards-based WiVu technology contains all the necessary components to address the quality, security, scalability, and cost requirements of the emerging and rapidly growing home video distribution market.”

You’ll be able to play that footage back via the ViewPad 4′s HDMI output, too, and there’s WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 and GPS/A-GPS as well. No word on pricing – ViewSonic says that’s up to carriers – but it’ll apparently go on sale in the middle of the year.

[via Android Community]

Press Release:

ViewSonic Expands ViewPad® Line at CES

ViewPad 4 Offers Phone and Tablet Functionality in Hand-Held Package

LAS VEGAS, NV–(Marketwire – January 6, 2011) – CES 2011 ViewSonic Corp. (South Hall 30873), a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions, is extending its ViewPad line at CES 2011 with a brand new 4-inch tablet.
“ViewSonic’s heritage in display technology serves as a natural extension of our product expertise,” said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager for ViewSonic Americas. “We have been at the forefront of visual display technology for nearly 25 years, 10 of which have been spent in the tablet space. We are proud to extend our tablet legacy by expanding our ViewPad offerings to incorporate new solutions like the ViewPad 4 that put ViewSonic anywhere consumers share, play and connect.”
ViewSonic will now offer connected ViewPad solutions ranging from 4 to 10 inches, allowing consumers to select the ViewPad that works best for their needs. As part of this expansion, the company is introducing the ViewPad 4, an Android-based 4.1-inch WVGA touch capacitive device offering tablet power and performance — and a phone — all for carrying in your pocket. Based on a Qualcomm® MSM 8255, 1GHz platform, the ViewPad 4 offers full cell phone functionality bundled with HD 720p video recording, playback, upload and HDMI 720p display output. A 5-megapixel auto-focus camera and Bluetooth® 2.1 and 802.11 b/g/n wireless enable video telephony. Additionally, GPS / A-GPS functionality makes it easy to identify points of interest from anywhere. The ViewPad 4 will be available in the middle of 2011. Pricing will be dependent upon carriers.
Today’s growth of the ViewPad line complements the rest of ViewSonic’s tablet line being showcased at CES, including the ViewPad 7 and the ViewPad 10. Now available for purchase for an ESP of $459, the ViewPad 7 is a 7-inch Android 2.2-based tablet that combines a Qualcomm® MSM7227 600MHz processor with 3.5G data technology. With an 800×400 WVGA LCD screen in a lightweight, pocket-sized design, this device is one of the few 7-inch tablets to offer Android Google Mobile Services (GMS) for access to more than 100,000 Google apps and games along with Gmail, YouTube and more for a convenient entertainment solution that fits their mobile lifestyle. Teamed with built-in 3-megapixel, dual front and rear cameras, GPS/A-GPS, an integrated e-book reader, Document-To-Go functionality and an ultra long battery life of up to 10 hours, the ViewPad 7 ensures consumers can bring all their favorite multimedia content with them wherever they go.
ViewSonic’s 10.1-inch Wi-Fi based ViewPad 10 tablet offers the best of both worlds with dual operating systems, giving consumers a choice between Windows® 7 Home Premium and Google Android 1.6 within the same device. With a high speed Intel® Atom™ 1.66GHz processor and sharp 1024×600 LED backlit panel, this tablet is ideal for consumers that want to use Windows to view Flash-based content and Office programs, and Android for mobile entertainment. The ViewPad 10 is on track for availability in March for an ESP of $629, as scheduled.
For more information on this and other CES announcements, including hi-res images, please visit ViewSonic.com/ces2011/. For further information on ViewSonic and its products, visit ViewSonic.com or follow ViewSonic on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
About ViewSonic
ViewSonic® Corporation is a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions. ViewSonic develops, markets and supports a broad range of innovative products, including LCD TVs, computers, Tablet, LCD monitors, projectors, digital photo frames, digital signage displays and digital media players. For further information, please contact ViewSonic Corporation at 800.888.8583 or 909.444.8888; or visit ViewSonic.com.

There’s also a choice of WiFi b/g, WiFi b/g/n and optional 3G and Bluetooth 3.0, together with either 160GB or 250GB of storage. A webcam, mono speaker, up to 2GB of RAM and multi-function memory card reader round out the key specs, while ports include three USB 2.0, audio in/out, VGA and 10/100 ethernet, along with the HDMI.

Battery life is estimated at up to 3hrs with the 2200mAh 3-cell pack or 6hrs with the 4400mAh 6-cell pack. No word on pricing at this stage, but the Acer Aspire One 522 will launch in the UK come Q2 2011.

Press Release:

Acer Aspire One 522
Discover next generation HD experience

CES Las Vegas, January 7th 2011 – Acer multiplies its offer and enriches its best-selling family of netbooks, debuting the Aspire One 522 netbook designed to deliver a fresh and exciting user experience, by providing smoother HD multimedia enjoyment, creation and sharing, and greater multitasking performance.

The new Aspire One 522 skilfully combines a sleek and stylish look with outstanding performance to help users enjoy an all-round HD experience for enhanced content consumption anywhere. Equipped with an AMD Fusion Accelerated Processing Unit (APU), this netbook is ready for a next generation user experience and amazing HD Internet multimedia performance.

Users are increasingly focused on enjoying multimedia – movies, games, photos, videos – wherever they go. This is why Acer has equipped the Aspire One 522 with the new AMD C-50 APU, engineered to deliver rich, sharp and lifelike HD Internet entertainment and take advantage of today’s visual digital universe anytime, anywhere.

What’s more, the Aspire One 522 makes accomplishing any task, from HD movie playback to Internet HD video streaming to simply chilling out a delightful experience. You can go beyond simple internet browsing to experience full high-definition video over the web. But that’s not all. The new Aspire One 522 integrates AMD Radeon™ HD 6250 graphics to provide sharp HD video with support for the latest graphics standards including Microsoft® DirectX® 11, 1080p video output via HDMI®, real time image processing with auto color and contrast adjustment, and edge sharpening.

Everyday tasks, such as Internet browsing, streaming online HD video, emailing, chatting, photo viewing, document editing are efficiently performed by the Aspire One 522 that delivers multitasking capabilities, even with visually intense, high-definition applications. Support for fast DDR3 memory further helps tackling even more demanding tasks.

Thanks to HD playback capabilities, this netbook easily integrates into the home entertainment environment. And to provide a seamless experience, it is equipped with an HDMI port to easily connect to HDTV or video-projectors and share Hi-Def video content on a big screen at a larger 1080p resolution. Plus, you can take advantage of the 28 cm (10.1”) Acer CrystalBrite™ LED backlit high brightness display, flaunting 1280 x 720 (WXGA) resolution and 16:9 aspect ratio, to make the most of web chatting, browsing and video streaming.

Multiple connection options, including Wi-Fi, LAN and optional 3G or Bluetooth®, maximise your mobile experience and keep you in touch with all you care about. And, to chat live, capture photos or video-conference there are the built-in Acer Crystal Eye webcam and digital microphone.

Just about the size of a magazine, the new Aspire One is available in two colour options – Diamond Black and Green – and offers all the power you need in a thin and light design. The big keyboard for fast-paced comfortable typing is complemented by the multi-gesture touchpad, perfect for scrolling documents, rotating images, zooming and browsing, all with fingertip convenience.

This highly efficient netbook complies with Energy Star® standards and with RoHS and WEEE EU directives, regulating the use and disposal of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Plus, it’s also mercury free and ensures 22.2% power savings compared with standard netbook displays, courtesy of the LED backlit panels.

The Acer Aspire One 522 is expected Q2 in the UK, pricing TBA.

Video after the cut

At its heart, Razer reckons the Switchblade would have a new Intel Atom processor, along with mini HDMI, USB 3.0 and audio in/out ports. Owners would be able to create their own custom keyboard layouts, which would change between games, and the keys could support static images as well as animations.

Unfortunately this is all just a concept, though Razer’s press release does say they have physical hardware on show at CES 2011; you know we’ll be digging it out as soon as we can. Still, the company does say it will be “working with selected partners to design and launch products based off the Razer,” so something similar might eventually find its way to market.

Press Release:

Razer™ Announces New Mobile PC Gaming Concept Design

The Razer Switchblade powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor redefines Mouse/Keyboard Interface for mobile gamers with an all new ultra-sensitive multi-touch screen and dynamic tactile keyboard

Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, Nevada – January 6, 2011 – Razer, the world’s leading brand of high-end precision gaming products announced today the development of an innovative concept design, based on the Intel® Atom™ processor, bringing traditional PC desktop gaming to a portable form factor.

The new Intel® Atom™ powered concept model, codenamed “Razer Switchblade”, brings an evocative level of design to gaming by replacing the traditional mouse and keyboard interface with an ultra-sensitive multi-touch screen, dynamic tactile keyboard, and an intelligent user interface that adjusts the configuration and key layout on-the-fly based on game content and user requirements.

The Razer Switchblade concept was created from the ground up by Razer designers and engineers, in collaboration with Intel; focusing on enhancing the entire user experience of playing the extensive PC game library on a handheld device.

“The main problem with mobile PC gaming so far is that no one has been able to port the full mouse and keyboard experience onto a small size portable solution,” said Min-Liang Tan, CEO and Creative Director, Razer. “By combining adaptive on-the-fly controls and display, we managed to maintain the full tactile keyboard in a miniature computer while saving valuable screen estate.”

“PC Gaming continues to attract innovation with rich 3-D graphics, high definition video, and life-like animation,” said Brad Graff, director of gaming platforms for Intel’s Ultra Mobility Group. “The Intel® Atom™ processor, combined with Razer’s expertise in bringing gaming solutions to market, will help make it possible for consumers to have a powerful gaming experience in mobile devices.”

“With our established focus on human interface devices, moving the mouse and keyboard experience to the next level was a natural step.” continues Min-Liang Tan. “Razer isn’t just about bringing innovation to the PC, but creating products that will change the future of gaming. The Razer Switchblade is one such product.”

About the Razer Switchblade Concept

The Razer Switchblade Concept is a breakthrough portable gaming device model that allows gamers to play on the go without giving up the precision and control ordinarily possible on a desktop gaming system. Integrating a multi-touch seven-inch screen and an innovative tactile dynamic keyboard, the Razer Switchblade Concept delivers the full desktop experience in a netbook sized solution.

For more information, please visit: www.razerzone.com/switchblade

About the Razer Group:

Razer is more than just the world’s leading brand in high-end precision gaming products, perpetually defining the gaming and technology space. Founded in 1998 in Carlsbad, California, Razer is driven by the ceaseless pursuit for absolute precision and high usability in a distinctive, aesthetic design that will give gamers the edge they demand. With labs and offices in seven cities around the world, Razer dedicates user interface research and development to bring cutting-edge technology to each and every product. We live by our motto: For Gamers. By Gamers.

There’s also no dual-core processor, with the HTC instead using a single-core 1GHz chip that scored 1926 in Quadrant benchmarking. There’s 8GB of onboard storage – plus a 32GB microSD card that will apparently be bundled – and DLNA support along with HTC’s Navigation app.

An 8-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera round out the main specs, but we imagine we’ll hear all the details tomorrow. Unfortunately it seems LTE takes its toll on the battery; the leaky source who loaned the handset said battery life “does not seem too good”.

[via Android Community]

Video demo after the cut

The free app boots as soon as you hook up an HDMI cable to your TV or projector, and shows thumbnail previews of photos and video. You can control it via an on-screen directional pad, as in the image above, or Bluetooth-tether a remote, keyboard, mouse or Wiimote and use that instead; that saves you buying a lengthy HDMI cable and trailing it all the way over to the couch.

As well as basic media center functionality, Nokia Big Screen also plays karaoke videos with subtitles, allows for photo slideshows with background music, works as a screensaver, and more, all with a nifty UI. It’s a free download here.

Storage and RAM are also significantly increased over the artificially-limited Atom-based S100, with up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and up to a 750GB hard-drive on offer. There’s also WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth, together with USB 2.0, a multi-format memory card reader and VeriFace face recognition for easier logins.

OS is Windows 7 Home Premium and the whole thing weighs from 2.2lbs. It’ll go on sale from March 2011; no word on pricing at this stage, but it’ll be higher than the S100′s $329.99 starting price.

Press Release:

Lenovo’s Newest and Most Stylish Laptops Offer Something for Everyone in the New Year

New IdeaPad Portfolio Features Eye Popping Colors, Sleek Designs, and Impressive Performance at Consumer-Friendly Prices

IdeaPad Y470 and Y570 with Enhanced Experience 2.0 Offer Sub-10 Second Boot Times1

CES 2011, Las Vegas – January 3, 2011: Lenovo (HKSE: 0992) (ADR: LNVGY) today unveiled an exciting new lineup of IdeaPad laptops at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show, including the world’s fastest booting Windows 7 PCs1 – the IdeaPad Y470 and Y570. The new IdeaPad laptops — including models in the Y Series, Z Series, S Series, V Series and Lenovo G and B Series — appeal to a broad range of consumers with stylish, modern design characteristics, such as brushed metal covers and raised textures, and the latest technology for enhanced performance and entertainment capabilities.
―We’re very excited about our latest lineup of IdeaPad laptops – they are the industry’s newest benchmark for consumer PC design,‖ said Dion Weisler, vice president, business operations, Lenovo. ―We’ve enriched our portfolio with wow features such as sub-10 second boot times and sleek new industrial designs that deliver higher performance and a more compelling experience for consumers.‖
IdeaPad Y570d, Y570, Y470— High Performance Mobile Entertainment –
Lenovo’s new IdeaPad Y560d, Y470 and Y570 laptops sport high-performance processors and are packed with innovative tools and features that make mobile entertainment more realistic, fun and intuitive.
The entire new Y Series all feature the new Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7 standard, which enables users to start their PC on average 20 seconds faster than a typical Windows 7 computer thanks to Lenovo RapidBoot technology1. With optional Lenovo RapidDrive SSD technology, the new Y470 and Y570 laptops can boot in less than 10 seconds2, using an SSD and HDD storage to combine fast boot and application performance with affordable storage capacity.
Powered by the latest 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM processors (up to i7) with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and up to NVIDIA® GT 550M 1GB switchable graphics, these new notebooks are optimized for an on-the-go multimedia experience. They feature OneKey® Theatre II, which automatically maximizes advanced audio-visual settings at a touch of a button and SRS Premium Sound with JBL designed speakers, which provide users with a richer audio experience.
Consumers looking for the ultimate in entertainment, look no further than the Y570d, which boasts Nividia’s 3D vision capabilities. With the flip of a switch, users can bring entertainment to life by putting on the included 3D glasses to enjoy movies, photos and games.
IdeaPad Z570, Z470, Z370— Fashionable Multimedia Laptops
Lenovo’s Z Series laptops are designed for consumers who desire a PC with features that can keep up with their exciting lifestyle. On the outside, the IdeaPad Z470 and Z370 sport a cool futuristic ID design with a transparent cover in a selection of pop colors including fuchsia, sky blue and dark brown. For a more minimalist look, consumers can choose the IdeaPad Z570, which offers a high-end luxury appearance with its Accutype chiclet keyboard encased in a modern hairline and metallic effect panel.
On the inside, the Z Series are powered by the new 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM i7 processor with Intel l® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and feature Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7, so users never have to miss a beat while enjoying multimedia. Movies and internet TV can be enjoyed on the new Z Series with its high-definition (HD), 16:9 format widescreen (available in 13.3, 14 and 15.6-inch models), optional Blu-ray DiscTM drive, and Dolby® Advanced Audio for a stunning audio experience.
Featuring OneKeyTM Theater II – one-touch audio-visual optimization for clearer, brighter images and richer audio and SRS® Premium SoundTM audio enhancement, the new Z Series is the fashionable choice for those seeking entertainment.
IdeaPad S100, S205— Stylish Internet Companion Packed with Surprises
Lenovo presents two new additions to their ultraportable laptop offerings, the IdeaPad S100 and IdeaPad S205. The IdeaPad S205 is an 11.6-inch mini laptop featuring an ultra-slim design for easy portability and a stylish AccuType chiclet keyboard – designed to make typing more comfortable on smaller notebooks. With optional integrated 3G connectivity and long battery life, the S205 is the perfect companion for browsing the web in the home or on the go. It also comes with DirectShare, which lets users sync their files with another computer without connecting to the Internet.
The successor to Lenovo’s popular S10-3 netbook is the new IdeaPad S100, which features a 10.1 inch slim backlit LED display and premium AccuType keyboard. Weighing less than 2.2 pounds, the S100 will be available in a wide range of colorful options such as red, fuchsia, sky blue and black making it a great entry level portable computing option for those on-the-go.
IdeaPad V570, V470 and V370— Work Smarter and Faster
Who said work can’t be fun? Look sharp at the office and relax at home with the IdeaPad V Series notebooks — V370, V470 and V570 – which feature a crisp professional, look with an aluminum casing and cover, and a thin 21mm design. Designed for both consumers or small office and home office (SOHO), the V Series boasts all new 2nd Generation Intel® CoreTM processors, helping users blaze through work tasks with speed and accuracy. To help get the day going quickly, the V Series also offers Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows® 7 with Lenovo RapidBoot technology, which enables users to start their PC on average 20 seconds faster than a typical Windows 7 computer1.
To help guard what matters most on a laptop, the V Series feature robust integrated security tools to help preserve and protect users’ data. Security features include OneKeyTM Rescue System, for quick data backup and recovery and Lenovo Security Suite, a robust suite of security tools that will encrypt and protect users’ data from prying eyes. The V Series also comes with a Fingerprint Reader for bio- authentication using a finger as a password and a USB Port Locker to prevent unauthorized access to USB ports.
Lenovo G770, G570, G470, G575, G475 — Mainstream Affordable Notebooks
For consumers looking for the best value and essential mobile computing with the latest processor technology, Lenovo has expanded its G Series to include new 17-, 15- and 14-inch options. Sturdy, yet stylish, the G770, G570, G470, G575 and G475 laptops offer well-rounded features such as Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7 with RapidBoot technology, which delivers faster start-up and shutdown and optimized multimedia; Energy Management, which protects the long-term life of the battery; and OneKey Rescue System, which makes it easy for users to backup and recover data.
Lenovo B570 and B470— Essential PCs for Work and Play
Lenovo also announced several new models within its essential brand of affordable home computers, including the B570 and B470 for SOHO. Lenovo’s essential family of laptop and desktop PCs are intended for consumers who want the latest technology, including multimedia and security features, for use at the office or while relaxing at home. The Lenovo B Series are affordable notebooks for business and fun and include features and technologies that will increase user’s personal productivity so they can spend more time doing the activities they love. The B570 and B470 feature up to a 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 processor with Intel Technology 2.0, up to Genuine Windows 7 Professional, and Lenovo Enhanced Experience for Windows 7 with Lenovo RapidBoot technology, which delivers faster start-up and shutdown and optimized multimedia.
Pricing and Availability
The new IdeaPad S Series laptops will be available beginning in March 2011 starting at $329.99. The new IdeaPad Y Series laptops will be available beginning in May 2011 starting at $899.99. The new Lenovo B Series laptops will be available beginning in April 2011 starting at $499.99.
The new Lenovo V Series laptops will be available beginning in April 2011 starting at $599.99.

There’s also WiFi and, on the Via Tablet, three speakers. Vizio has carried over its HDTV UI to the two new mobile devices, in a push for range consistency, and there’ll also be support for a Vizio remote control app so that TV media can be managed from either the phone or slate.

Thanks to Vizio’s Via Plus Internet service, there’ll also be access to the smart TV features familiar from the HDTV line-up, including Netflix support. Both the Via Phone and Via Tablet will arrive in the US come summer 2011, with pricing yet to be announced.

[via Android Community]

The tablet features the same amenities we’ve come to expect. The device features integrated WiFi, and the tablet is made of a unique over-molded PVD stainless steel structured slim design. The display features a capacitive touchscreen (thankfully), and there’s a 1GHz processor controlling the show. There’s an HDMI out port, making sure you’ll be able to connect your tablet to an external display, if you want.

You won’t find Android 2.3, though, as the device is available with Android 2.2. The press release doesn’t make a mention of upgrade plans, either. The tablet is available right now from Archos.com. It has a price tag that will set you back $349.99. Check out the full press release below for more information.

Press Release

ARCHOS 70 internet tablet, the first android tablet with a 250GB HDD, will be on display January 6 – 9, 2011 at CES 2011, Las Vegas Convention Center – South Hall 2 Booth # 26425

Denver, Colorado – December 29, 2010 – ARCHOS, an award winning technology innovator and leader in the portable media player market today announced the availability of the ARCHOS 70 internet tablet, 250GB version in retail stores. The ARCHOS 70 internet tablet, 250GB version offers a unique over-molded PVD stainless steel structured slim and light design. It also features the latest technology high res capacitive touch screen, a powerful 1 GHz processor and high speed WiFi that allows PC like web-surfing. Although the tablet sports 250GB, it is still the slimmest and the lightest (7.91 x 4.49 x 0.55 inch – 14 oz) on the market and is now available for $349.99 MSRP at ARCHOS.com

The ARCHOS 70 internet tablet – 250GB is a connected mobile device with a sublime user interface, 3D Graphics accelerator and Wi-Fi connectivity. With Android™ Froyo compatibility as the user interface, this tablet comes with a full pack of connected apps such as a web browser and email application, flash 10.1, HDMI output connectivity, tethering via your mobile phone and home streaming from your PC capability.

“We are proud to be the first to release an android tablet that features a 250GB HDD” says Henri Crohas, CEO and Founder. “We strive to be the leader in the Android and Windows based tablet market by creating award winning innovative options at affordable prices.”

Connected Android™ tablet

As a Hi-def multimedia tablet, users will experience:

A huge storage capacity to store up to 250 movies
A full multimedia experience, with 720p HD video playback
Built-in web cam for chatting with friends and family
With the HDMI output function, you can view the full Android interface on your TV in High Definition, including all the apps, not only video playback like other tablets on the market
Play 3D games from your TV and use your tablet as the steering-wheel/control
Unique Android Multimedia applications designed by ARCHOS such as:
Movie information and cover retrieval in video file info dialog
3D animated photo frame with ability to display pictures from Facebook, Flickr and Picassa directly through WiFi
Music cover carrousel allows quick browsing of your music album covers
A lot of applications with Appslib to fit your lifestyle including games, books, music, social media, recipes, news and sports
This latest tablet is from a long line of ultra affordable and ultra portable internet, multimedia, wide screen and super-fast tablets released by ARCHOS. In 2010, ARCHOS released a 10.1 ‘’ tablet with capacitive touch screen. As a connected android device it offers a very fast web browsing and HD multimedia experience from a 10.1”high resolution screen. The rest of the line up includes Android based tablets ranging in size from 2.8” to the 10.1“.

For more information about the ARCHOS 70 internet tablet and other ARCHOS products visit www.ARCHOS.com

About ARCHOS

ARCHOS released the first pocket-sized HD-based MP3 player with the Jukebox 6000 in 2000 and since that time has revolutionized consumer electronics devices. The company invented the portable media player in 2003 and was the first to bring television recording, wireless and touch screens to Portable Media Players. ARCHOS has also introduced the Internet Media Tablet range – the 5, 5g and 7 – offering users instant, uncompromising access to the internet, media content and TV. Established in 1988, ARCHOS has offices in the Unites States, Europe and Asia. ARCHOS is listed on Euronext Paris, Compartment B, ISIN Code FR0000182479. www.archos.com

In fact, there’s a lot of tech you’d usually expected to find in a phone inside the D3, like an accelerometer and vibration feedback. There’s also a microSD card slot – augmenting 8GB, 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage – along with HDMI and USB 2.0 connectivity. It doesn’t look like Android Market access is included, but Cowon does throw in a Twitter and social networking app.

As you’d expect from Cowon, the list of supported file-types and codecs is huge, and includes 1080p Full HD support. No word on pricing at this stage, but audiophiles looking for an iPod touch alternative might find something here worth waiting for.

[via OLED-Display]

That includes 1080p MPEG 1/2/4, H.264 and VC-1 formats with ISO, AVI, MP4, MTS and various other file types supported. Audio doesn’t fall short either; Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD all make an appearance, with 7.1 surround sound on offer if you have the speakers for it.

Unfortunately, there’s no network connection – either wired or wireless – which means you can’t use the O!Play MINI as a DLNA streamer or access online video such as YouTube or Netflix. Still, it’s priced accordingly: €69 ($91) when it arrives in January 2011.

[via Eee-PC.de]

As for the chip inside, each of the C-50′s cores are clocked at 1GHz, but the power usage is measured at only 9W. The display measures in at 10.1-inches, and features a resolution of 1280×780. If you need better resolution, though, you can use the HDMI port to use an external display. The Aspire One 522 has a Radeon 6250 graphics processor under the hood, which supports UVD3 accelerated video decoding and DirectX 11. As far as battery life goes, it’s rated at just 6 hours. You’ll find only one speaker built-in, too.

Unfortunately, Acer doesn’t have a word on when, or in what parts of the world the Aspire One 522 will launch. A price tag hasn’t been attached to the new notebook, either.

[via Electronista]

In fact the spec sheet is impressive all round, with only the dual-LED flash – rather than Xenon – being a low point. It’ll supposedly record stereo audio and support auto-focus and macro shots, while there’s an optional WiFi-enabled microSD card for throwing wireless into the mixture as well. That memory card slot boosts the 4GB of onboard storage.

It’s ambitious stuff, and we can’t help but suspect that the Poco Pro is trying to do too much at once. A 14-megapixel CMOS sensor of the small size required to fit into a 85.6 x 54 x 5 mm casing is probably not going to be great at dealing with normal lighting, and the £200 price tag seems over-ambitious. Iain Sinclair is taking £100 ($154) deposits on the first units now, but we’ll wait until the reviews come through before getting over-excited.

[via Gizmag]

Unboxing video after the cut

It’s an unassuming box, and smaller than we imagined it would be. Measuring 70 x 45 x 8 mm, the only ports are a microUSB for power and micro HDMI for hooking up a TV. On the front is a standby/power button with a status LED. HTC bundle an HDMI cable along with a USB cable and regular USB power adapter; we prefer that to a fixed adapter, since it means you can use the same charger for your phone with the Media Link.

HTC Media Link Unboxing:

The Media Link uses WiFi to stream content from a phone, tablet, laptop or other DLNA-compliant device, and it can either hook up wirelessly to your existing home network or create its own WiFi network to which devices can link directly. HTC also offers an app for their phones to turn them into a remote control, though you don’t necessarily need it.

We’ll be putting the HTC Media Link through its paces in the best way we know how: boring friends and family with all the wireless media we can find from the various DLNA-compliant devices we insist on carrying around with us during the holidays. Will the Media Link’s appeal pale before our relatives scream for mercy? We’ll let you know in the full review.

There’s also a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, for stills and video calls, together with an HDMI port for hooking the Optimus 2X up to your HDTV. Internal storage is 8GB, but you’ll be wanting to slot a microSD card – up to 32GB in size – inside if you plan on making the most of the Full HD capabilities.

LG says the Optimus 2X will launch with Android 2.2 Froyo, with an update to 2.3 Gingerbread expected in due course. Even with the older version of Android, this is still expected to be one mighty powerful phone; we’ll just have to wait until the new year to find out exactly how much speed-freaks will have to pay.

[via Android Community]

Press Release:

LG LAUNCHES WORLD’S FIRST AND FASTEST DUAL-CORE SMARTPHONE

LG Optimus 2X with Tegra 2 Offers Top Multimedia Features for a Better User Experience

SEOUL, Dec. 16, 2010 — LG Electronics (LG) today unveiled the LG Optimus 2X, the world’s first smartphone with a dual-core processor. Along with more powerful multimedia features, the LG Optimus 2X’s high-performance Tegra 2 processor makes for faster, smoother web browsing and applications and lets users multitask with virtually no screen lag.

“Dual-core technology is the next leap forward in mobile technology so this is no small achievement to be the first to offer a smartphone utilizing this technology,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, CEO and President of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With unique features such as HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) mirroring and exceptional graphics performance, the LG Optimus 2X is proof of LG’s commitment to high-end smartphones in 2011.”

Developed by graphics processor powerhouse NVIDIA®, the dual-core Tegra 2 system-on-a-chip found in the LG Optimus 2X runs at a clock speed of 1GHz and boasts low power consumption and high performance for playing video and audio. Users will experience faster web browsing and smoother gameplay compared with single-core processors running at the same speed as well as instantaneous touch response and seamless multitasking between applications.

The LG Optimus 2X offers 1080p HD video playback and recording with HDMI mirroring that expands content on external displays to full HD quality. The LG Optimus 2X can connect wirelessly to any DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) compatible digital device such as HD TVs for a console-like gaming experience taking full advantage of the phone’s HDMI mirroring, accelerometer and gyro sensor. The smartphone also includes both rear- and front-facing cameras, microSD memory expandability, Micro-USB port and a hefty 1500mAh battery.

The LG Optimus 2X will be available in Korea next month with countries in Europe and Asia to follow. The phone will initially be released with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and will be upgradeable to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). The upgrade schedule will be announced in local markets in due course.

Key specifications:
􏰀 1Ghz Dual-core Processor (NVIDIA Tegra 2)
􏰀 4-inch WVGA screen
􏰀 8GB memory (up to 32GB via microSD)
􏰀 1,500 mAh battery
􏰀 8 megapixel rear camera and 1.3 megapixel front camera
􏰀 HDMI mirroring
􏰀 1080p MPEG-4/H.264 playback and recording

While onboard connectivity is minimal – though you do get plenty of pin-outs – you can add the P830-B I/O add-on-board to get a VGA port, gigabit LAN and two USB 2.0 ports. VIA Vinyl HD audio codec provides 6 channel, DTS capable audio with S/PDIF support, and there are two SATA ports.

VIA reckons the EPIA-P830 is ideal for embedded applications, but we can see it gaining favor among the DIY HTPC community. No word on pricing at this stage.

Press Release:

VIA EPIA-P830 Pico-ITX: Multimedia Prowess Meets Networking Versatility in the Smallest of Places

Latest Pico-ITX board offers incredible HD multimedia over HDMI plus dual Mini-PCIe slots for enhanced connectivity options, delivering the smartest, most connected Pico-ITX board ever

Taipei, Taiwan, December 15, 2010 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the VIA EPIA-P830 Pico-ITX board for advanced portable and network connected embedded applications. The VIA EPIA-P830 features the VIA Nano E-Series processor and the latest VIA VX900 media system processor with additional support for dual Mini-PCIe modules, bringing a wealth of 3G and wireless connectivity options.

“Modern enterprise environments in healthcare, logistics and fleet management require more connected and portable devices that don’t hold back on multimedia ability,” said Daniel Wu, Vice President, VIA Embedded Platform Division, VIA Technologies, Inc. “The VIA EPIA-P830 addresses these needs, creating the most complete Pico-ITX board on the market with great HD video performance and a variety of display and network connectivity options.”

The VIA EPIA-P830 extends the Pico-ITX form factor further than ever, using low profile expansion boards to provide easy on-board access to VGA, RJ45 and two USB ports plus dual Mini-PCie slots ideal for accommodating a range of Mini-PCIe modules.

The Ultimate Embedded Platform – VIA Nano E-Series & VIA VX900
The latest microprocessor platform from VIA is tailor-made for embedded applications, a potent combination that comprises the mature and optimized VIA Nano E-Series processor and the latest VIA VX900 media system processor. VIA embedded processor platforms have extended longevity support of up to seven years and offer the most compelling low power microprocessor design in the industry today.

The VIA Nano E-Series processor delivers out-of-order 64-bit processing that keeps in step with the need for raw performance while remaining within rigidly low energy, low heat parameters. The latest VIA VX900 MSP adds support for DDR3 memory, HD audio support, advanced display connectivity and a high performance hardware HD video decoder with the latest VIA ChromotionHD 2.0 video engine.

The VIA ChromotionHD 2.0 delivers advanced filtering and cutting edge post-processing to perform ultra smooth decoding of MPEG-4/AVC, H.264, MPEG-2, VC-1, WMV-HD, providing smooth playback of the most demanding multimedia titles at resolutions up to 1080p without incurring a heavy CPU load.

To learn more about VIA Nano architecture and the embedded focused E-Series processors, please go to:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/processors/nano/

For information about the VIA VX900 media system processor, please visit:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/chipsets/v-series/vx900/index.jsp

VIA EPIA-P830 Pico-ITX – Product Overview
Measuring a mere 10cm x 7.2cm the ultra compact VIA EPIA-P830 features a 1.2GHz VIA Nano E-Series processor and supports up to 4GB of DDR3 800/1066 SODIMM system memory. The highly integrated, all-in-one VIA VX900 Media System Processor provides flawless hardware acceleration for the latest HD video codecs at display resolutions of up to 1080p with very low CPU utilization. The VIA Chrome9™ HCM 3D integrated graphics core boasts full DirectX 9.0 support and a 128-bit 2D engine with hardware rotation capability.

The VIA EPIA-P830 uses a specially designed I/O add-on-board which supplements the native HDMI port to add a VGA port, a Gigabit LAN and two USB 2.0 ports. The VIA Vinyl HD audio codec provides 6 channel, DTS capable audio with S/PDIF support. Storage is provided via two SATA ports. On board pin headers provide support for 1 channel LVDS display support, an additional 5 x USB 2.0 ports, an LPC connector, SMBus connector, PS/2 support, audio jacks, LVDS, 4 pairs of DIO and two UART ports. A DC-in power connector is also provided.

To learn more about the VIA EPIA-P830 Pico-ITX board, please visit:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/embedded/ProductDetail.jsp?productLine=1&id=1310&tabs=1