smartech

Care for one more tablet device? the kind that packs a 7-inch touchscreen and runs an Android 2.0 platform inside? in that case Compal would like to have a word with you. The reason, if you haven’t heard, is the company’s new Tegra-powered tablet, that recently introduced at the CES show in Vegas (by Nvidia) and looked like it has no problems playing any 1080p files, “stutter-free”. At this early stage, it would be hard to figure how much will it cost or when will it start shipping, but till then, bare in mind it packs a WiFi connectivity, along SIM card slot and microSD expansion, tucked with a non-friendly resistive touchscreen and an HDMI port to pump vids out.  More on that, later.

[via Gizmodo]

Truth is that holidays season can be very boring, tech wise, but here’s something that might catch your eye during this time of quiescency, as latest news apparently indicate the first netbook to include Google’s Chrome OS platform will presumably boast some nifty specs inside like NVIDIA’s Tegra chipset for graphics handling and Arm-based processor, instead of Intel’s popular Atom flavor. Other than that, the rumor suggests it would pack a 10.1-inch 1,280 x 720 resolution with multi-touch display(!), along 2GB of RAM, 64GB SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth, an integrated webcam and 3G connectivity module. Battery is claimed to offer 4 or 6-cells versions while buyers will be able to pick an optional GPS system as part of the deal, which suppose to be very attractive and stand at somewhere below $300. Stay tuned for a lot more to come.

Update: We hear that Google will be selling those netbooks directly. More on that, hopefully soon. Still, no official confirmation from Mountain View to these rumors.

[via Netbook News]

Yes, you’re probably fed up with all those mids and tablets we’ve been constantly pumping you, up and down, in recent months. But life, as you may know, still goes on and technology as you’ve already learned, keeps moving forward. One of those newbies – representing the new portable era – is ICD’s 16mm thick Vega Tablet machine, claimed to see light across the globe in the first half of 2010, packing either  7-, 11-, or 15-inch 1366 x 768 resistive touchscreens at your choice, with no visible price tags, seen in the horizon. Besides that, this slick Android 2.0-powered device features powerful NVIDIA Tegra graphics chipset, sitting next to 3G WWAN, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 connections, while memory is at 512MB DDR RAM and storage capacity stands at 512MB only. Battery will serve you up to 4 hours lifetime, as a microSD slot and USB 2.0 host are also being included. See you next, at the coming CES show, with further more details.

[Innovative Converged Devices]

While most Nvidia ion-based netbooks are scheduled to go live at the end of this year, HP seems to be the one to take matters into its own hands and be the first to hit the scene with a graphics-boosted netbook device. The model we’re talking about is the Mini 311, which recently showed up on HP’s online shop with an HD compatible 11.6-inch (1,366 x 768) display, Atom N270 processor, an integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and built-in VGA and HDMI ports for external image use. Microsoft’s Windows XP stuffed inside to handle this powerful system, while a near-full-size (92%) keyboard, three USB hubs and Altec Lansing speakers are all part of the deal. Starting price looks pretty attractive, at $399, but any add-on will set you back an extra cash. Thus, an Atom N280, Bluetooth and 802.11n will charge you $25 each, while white flavors are listed for another $20 and 3G WWAN connection is set for $125 more. Nevertheless, we still think it’s a good bargain, especially when it runs a 720p flash video flawlessly. See for yourself after the break.

Update1: It’s not that we needed any further proof to make us believe that HP’s Mini 311 netbook is capable handling advanced high-def media files better than others, but just in case, here are some facts – risen from LaptopMag’s benchmark tests – to maintain our claims: on the PCMark 05, the 311 has scored 1,917 points, that’s 500 points above the average, while the PCMark 06 review has given the 311 a 1,386 score, which is  1,200 on top of the ordinary and just about the same score as a MacBook Air. Very impressive, isn’t it?

Update2: If you have any plans on getting one, the guys at MyHPMini discovered interesting details from HP’s service manual. In general, the 311 will soon be out in different Windows 7  versions, including Windows 7 Starter, Basic, Premium, and Professional flavors. Additionally, you’ll also get a chance to upgrade your netbook and stuff inside cool specs like:

• NVIDIA ION, the FULL platform, only with Windows 7
• 1GB RAM (plus 1GB on-board ram), total 2GB
• 2GB RAM (plus the 1GB on-board), total 3GB
• 80GB Solid-State-Drive (SSD)
• 250GB Hard Drive, 5400rpm, only with Windows 7
• 320GB Hard Drive, 5400rpm, only with Windows 7

Now that’s what we’re looking for.

[HP]

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It’s only been three weeks, since our wondering eyes first came across Asus’ 120N Nvidia Ion-based netbook machine, hiding out in a much speculated Eee PC road map slide that popped out in the wild. And here we are, not so long after, talking about it as a certain thing, scheduled for release somewhere this Autumn with a $500 price tag range and a high resolution 12-inch panel (1,366 x 768). And if we’d all be speaking Chinese well, the 250GB hard drive that Asus has stuffed inside, sitting along with 2GB of RAM, Intel Atom N270 processor, 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11n WiFi connectivity, probably wouldn’t make us surprised – well, maybe this N270 CPU, which seems to be too slow for such an input. Stay tuned, it should be hitting Western shores, packed with a Windows 7 OS, in a month or so.

Update1: Look, the guys from Eee PC Italia just got their hands on Asus 1201N and 1201HA full specs list and shared them online. Basically, both netbook machines will presumably pack a 12-inch 1366 x 768 displays, while the 1201N, which suppose to be the strongest among the two, will include a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N330 dual core processor, 3GB RAM, NVIDIA ION (GeForce 9400M) graphics chipset and 320GB hard drive, as its entry level sibling, the 1201HA suppose to have a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 CPU, along with Intel US15W / GMA 500 graphics, 2GB RAM and 250GB hard drive. Hit the jump to read the rest, no prices or release dates available at the moment.

Update2: Apparently, Asus Eee PC 1201N is scheduled to be released in Europe somewhere towards the end of the year (AKA: December), with this Atom Dual Core 330 CPU, Nvidia ION graphics chipset and a 12.1 1,366 x 768 display  – all compiled with a Windows 7 OS. Prices are yet to be determined.

Update3: Looks like the 1201N is up in Italy earlier than expected, offered on sale for 500 Euros – huzzah!

Update4: Now it’s official, as Asus has finally released its ION-based Eee PC 1201N machine, with all those nifty specs and cool features we’ve managed to see earlier, which include that 12.1-inch 1366 x 768 LED-backlit display, together with a 1.6GHz dual-core Atom 330 processor, either 2 or 3GB of RAM and storage capacity at 250 or 320GB HDD at your choice. Furthermore, you get a six-cell battery and Windows 7 Premium edition, already loaded aboard and running on your shelves somewhere around December for only $499. Official announcement after the break (image courtesy of PCMag)

Update5: It seems the Eee PC 1201HA’s debut has finally arrived to the US, as Asus’ second 12.1-inch netbook, which sports a 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520, together with 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, WiFi, and 6 hours battery, is up on sale on Best Buy, this time for the lower price of $329.99 but with an XP flavor pre-loaded inside. Seven fanboys should be skipping to the 1201N versionto catch up with Redmond’s latest version.

Update6: And, looks like Amazon has the Asus Eee PC 120N listed for pre-order, starting at $499 which will buy you a 12.1-inch display with Intel’s 1.6GHz N330 dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM (up to 8GB), 250GB HDD, WiFi, Bluetooth and last but not least, Microsoft’s Windows 7 Premium edition, already loaded into it. For the UK readers out there, this same version, only with an ION-based chipset will show up on your local Amazon somewhere around January 2010, priced at £399 (about $660). Stay tuned.

[Via NetbookItalia]

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It’s here! Microsoft officially rolls out its highly rated Zune HD media player, and boy this thing looks good. Yes, we know, most details are pretty much known at this point, but still deserve a round of applause, aren’t they? And just in case you missed the buzz, those fancy shcmancy specs we get, include a beautiful 3.3-inch Gorilla glass 480 x 272 OLED capacitive 16:9 aspect-ratio touchscreen, which hides underneath a built-in HD Radio receiver, seating along with a wireless WiFi antenna connection and a fine batch of accelerometer sensors for landscape use. Excited? We are, but that’s not all, since Redmond has wisely tossed in Nvidia’s mighty Tegra processor, which is technically constructed from eight different sub processors inside, that flawlessly handle their tasks at a time. Now that’s a real beast, isn’t it? OH Yeah. Storage wise, you get to choose between 16GB or 32GB flash capacities that fairly priced at $219.99 and $289.99, respectively.

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With so many rumors and speculations floating around, it’s time to organize the latest details we know about the coming release of the Zune HD. Apparently, according to a Gizmodo tipster, the official debut is now scheduled to September 15th (one week past September 8th). In addition, both Zune HD 16GB and 32GB models are already available for a pre-order in Amazon and Newegg, priced at $219.99 and $289.99, respectively (requires a $25 deposit).  From what we know, the player itself will be equipped with a tiny impressive on-screen keyboard that brings up a nice small arch graphic whenever you tap a letter, to distinguish it from its neighbors (See image after the break). Other than that, the internet browser is claimed to be an Opera one, but we can’t be 100% sure, yet. Meanwhile, until things get more clear (and there’s not much time left), checkout the latest hands-on video from CrunchGear, or the Grand Tour video (courtesy of Tech Flash Videos), featuring Brian Seitz of Microsoft’s Zune team demonstrates the Zune HD. Hit the jump, to read the updates.

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While anxiously waiting for ION-based netbooks to finally show up in the market, Korean giant, Samsung, has already made it available for a pre-order, with its latest N510 netbook machine, which is expected to go live in Europe somewhere around September, priced at €499 (about $718), packing  an 11.6-inch 1 366 x 768 display, along with Atom N280 processor, 6.5 hours battery NVIDIA’s ION chipset, paired with 9400M graphics, to handle 1080p high-def videos smoothly. Other specs include expandable 1GB of RAM, 1.3 megapixels webcam, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI output, WiFi 802.11b/g/n connectivity, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR,  3 in 1 card reader slot and  160GB SATA II HDD. Stay tuned for more to come.

Update1: Apparently, Samsung’s desirable N510 ION-based netbook  will make its way Stateside somewhere around September for a whopping price of $599. Sometimes, you have to pay to be one of the first, experiencing top-notch technologies, eh?

Update2: The good guys at Netbooknews.de were kind enough to share with us some real photos of the ION-based Samsung N510 netbook they got to play with, moments before it goes life in Europe. But if images are not your cup of tea, they also added a short video preview, showing the powerful wonder sitting side-by-side next to another Samsung phenomena, the legendary NC10. hit the jump to take a look.

[Via Blogeee]

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We all know how much you’ve been anxiously waiting for Nvidia ION to start showing up inside netbook machines, boosting your HD capabilities to maximum level. Now, add yourself some crazy colors on top of it and get a Point Of View Mobii 230 netbook, packed  with a surprising Atom N230 processor (that mostly appears on nettops), together with a 10.2-inch 1024X600 display, an HDMI output, 1GB of RAM and 160GB HDD – All given a European price tag of €349 ($495). And when the company states our 1080p videos will surely run without stuttering and that DirectX 10 plus Shader Model 4.0 support are both included, a few more weeks of anticipation looks like a nerve racking.

[Via Netbook News]

Samsung is on the prep with its latest 11.6-inch N510 netbook, which suppose to make an official appearance somewhere next month with Nvidia ION chipset inside, along with some other goodies, including a 1.66 GHz N280 processor, GeForce 9400M graphics, an HDMI output, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, 802.11b/g/n WiF/ Bluetooth connectivity, 3-in-1 card reader, a 6-cell battery and that 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 WXGA display we earlier mentioned. Price is yet to be determined, although rumors claim it will run for around €570 ($799), which is clearly an expropriated tag for any netbook machine alive. Stay tuned.

[via netbooknews]

Apparently, more Tegra machines start showing up across the pond, equipped with strong accelerating chips and ultra high-def video support, fluently running 1080p media files through HDMI ports, built inside . One of those honored guests that recently spotted in Computex is Pegatron’s ARM-based Vivid netbook, which sports NVIDIA’s desirable Tegra chipset, along with integrated stereo speakers, matte-finish display, an  HDMI port, SD card reader and two USB slots to match the list. The Vivid also runs full FireFox browser and boasts friendly-internet shortcut keys on top of its keyboard for Yahoo!, Google, MSN, and Skype. Regretfully, there’s no word about price or availability as of this moment, but netbooknews has taken a short video of the pink edition, so head up after the cut and watch it.

[via Liliputing]

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So the new generation of netbook devices starts floating up at the Computex show in Taipei, with powerful HD video accelerators, the kind that easily can push 1080P movie files without choking around. And getting down to the details, one of the first alluring machines to show up in this category is the 8.9-inch Mobinnova élan, which houses the NVIDIA Tegra platform, along with WiFi / 3G connectivity and strong battery, providing up to 10 hours of use. Regretfully, we’re short of any further info regarding pricing or availability, but you can hit the jump, there’s a PR announcement, together with a Windows CE UI video, smoothly running on this unit. And with that kind of capabilities, imagine how Windows 7 will look like.

Update1: And in case you had your own personal doubts about NVIDIA’s Tegra capabilities, hit the jump to take a look how smoothly this powerful chip can handle 720p video trailers or even FireFox Flash operations, running on a full fledged screen display over WiFi – quite impressive isn’t it?

Update2: We’ve just added two more videos, featuring the new 8.9-inch Tegra netbook, along with Nvidia’s chipset itself and the new UI  it holds. Check it out after the break. (courtesy of netbooknews.com)

[via engadget]

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Great news from Lenovo, as the company officially announces the new IdeaPad S12, which is considered to be world’s first Nvidia Ion-powered netbook device and one of the only to join this category with an impressive 12-inch display, that easily can handle HD content and high-end gaming maneuvers , thanks to the staggering 1280×800 screen resolution, we barely can find among Atom-based machines, nowadays. With a next month scheduled release, our true excitement goes to the Ion chipset platform, that crams both Intel’s Atom 1.6 GHz processor and Nvidia 9400m graphics set in one tiny mote that flawlessly accelerates 1080p video decoding tasks and smoothly plays Blu-Ray high-def technology scenes without statering reactions. Other goodies you’d get for a starting price of $449, include a full-sized keyboard, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 4-in-1 card reader, VGA/HDMI outputs, WiFi, Bluetooth, three USB 2.0 sockets, ExpressCard slot expansion, 3-cell battery (6-cell optional) and 160/250/320GB HDD capacities to choose from – all operated by Microsoft’s Windows XP OS flavor. To learn more, checkout the full release after the break.

Update1: Hit the jump to watch LaptopMag video preview.

Update2: Checkout the videos from Notebooks.com after the break.

Update3: Looks like Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is finally up and available for purchase, starting at $499 for the base mode, which packs Intel’s 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU with 1GB of DDR2 memory VGA / HDMI outputs and all the good specs noted above, but even more important, it has Nvidia’s ION chipset that runs 1080p video playback smoothly. Hit the link to get yours.

Update4: It seems Lenovo is now offering the IdeaPAd S12 with a VIA Nano ULV 2250 processor and VIA Chrome9 HC3 graphics, optional to the usual Atom/GMA 950 configuration, with a starting price of $450 and 6-cell battery included.

Update5: Save the date,  Nvidia ION-based Lenovo S12 is finally out. The day is Thursday October 22nd, the place is Japan. The specs include a 12-inch 1280 x 800 display, 2GB of RAM, 250GB HDD, an HDMI port and multicard slot expansion. The price, ¥68,800 (about $755). What do we think? Too expensive at this point, but things will change on Western shores.

Update6: Now it’s official, the IdeaPad S12 is finally up on Lenovo’s online shop, listed in different configurations, as the Windows 7 edition runs for $599 and packs a 12.1-inch 1,280 x 800 display, along with a 1.6GHz N270 processor, a 250GB hard drive, a 256MB Nvidia Ion chipset, WiFi, Bluetooth, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, 6-cell battery, and that Windows 7 Home Premium edition, pre-installed inside.

[Lenovo]

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According to a tipster, Microsoft will presumably release a new Zune player with HD capabilities, somewhere this year. Naturally, we have no other details, nor any specs of the new device itself, but if this info is correct, and it sure looks reliable, the Zune 4th Generation should be available with a wide and sharp touchscreen, supporting high-def video and some other features, which you can find in the iPod Touch players. Stay tuned for more to come.

Update1: More uncertain specs show up across the cyber world, revealing a 16:9 AMOLED display with multi-touch usability (capacitive), joining the mini-HDMI output and the HD Radio feature, both bundled inside, along with a full HTML browser, to wirelessly surf the web. And while we have no special ability to determine “details accuracy”, you should take our word when we say it’ll be offered either in 16GB or 32GB capacities. However, In case you look for even more speculative rumors, Zune fanboys will also tell you the new HD device might support 3D XBox games, thanks to the integrated NVidia chipset, which we really hope to see included. Other than that, a worldwide release is said to take place somewhere around September, so stay tuned for real things to come.

Update2: May 12th 2009 – According to ZDNet, the next Zune / Windows Mobile device (AKA: Chassis 1) will feature a whole bunch of top-notch specs, including a 3.5-inch multi-touch display along with ARM v6+ processor, 1GB of RAM, OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics hardware, 3 megapixel camera, GPS navigation system, WiFi / Bluetooth connections, built in accelerometer and even Nvidia’s Tegra platform, integrated with TI’s OMAP 3  and “Qualcomm 8k” chipsets, to handle those strong requirements. Of course, these are just rumors, and we can’t take them that serious, although we do hold an opinion that Chassis 1 will be strong enough to match market demands.

[Via Engadget]

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MacBook 2008 event at Cupertino is over, and we get 4 major announcements from Apple, as follows:

• New MacBook laptop.
• New MacBook Pro laptop.
• New boosted MacBook Air laptop.
• New 24-inch Cinema Display.

It’s not that we were totally surprised from today’s new announcements. After all, there’s always a strange commotion, preceding Apple’s events, feeding us with rumors, and anonymous tipsters who emerge from the dark with some hidden images. Luckily, this time wasn’t different from others, as we were able to catch up with all the tidbits and leaked pictures, during those recent weeks. Hit the jump to read more about Apple’s novelties in a nutshell.

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We’re kind of expecting Nvidia to blow away with some new striking cards after AMD-ATI had released the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 graphic card. Although nothing is official yet, Albatron was kind enough to present the new GeForce 9800 GX2 at CeBIT 2008, so you can get a glimpse without the specs, price or availability, but don’t hold your breath to long, as we hear the launch date is somewhere later this month.

[via engadget]

Nvidia, a strong graphic cards manufacturer, wants to get a foothold in the mobile processors market with their new APX 2500 series, presented at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The company created the AMD11 750MHz chip with ultra-low power GeForce core, providing advanced graphic capabilities and 3D GUI rendering support. This top-notch features enabling to display up to SXGA resolution (1280 x 1024) and to embed 12MP camera sensors in cellphones, which means there’s aplenty to aspire for. The APX 2500 will be able to pack 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, quad-band GSM, WiFi, Bluetooth, composite/S-Video outputs and even HDMI. The chip is capable of running 720p HD video, smoothly, even when playing on a 60-inch LCD TV. To demonstrate this impressive capableness, Nvidia has created a reference design prototype, running a Windows CE OS and equipped with an accelerometer. The device can play more than 10 hours of HD video and a GUI coded in OpenGL ES 2.0. The chip is expected to go on full production between Q2 – Q3, and we say – WOW !!

 [via phonemag]

Check out the video after the break.

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