Archivi giornalieri: 09/05/2012
Logitech Alert 750n adds wide-angle night vision for improved indoor snooping, we go hands-on
Unable to sleep soundly because of the lingering fear that someone’s rummaging around your living room? Logitech’s newest surveillance gizmo, the 750n Indoor Master System, should ease your worries, since it adds 130-degree night vision and illuminates whatever’s lurking in the darkness at a distance of up to 50 feet. Like Logitech’s older products, such as the Alert Master, the 750n records video at 960 x 720p, and it uses the same HomePlug adapter for installation. If you’re already feeding your paranoia with a Logitech Alert Master, you can upgrade to the night-vision capabilities with the 700n Indoor Add-On Camera. The products cost $300 and $230, respectively, and will be available before the end of the month, but you can join us after the break for our impressions.
Sony Xperia GX packs 13-megapixel camera and 4.6-inch HD display, joined by Xperia SX to offer LTE in Japan
Sony’s announced its first two LTE-capable phones for its Japanese customers — and there’s two of ‘em. The Xperia GX is up first, with a 720p 4.6-inch display squeezed in alongside a new 13-megapixel camera — a first for Sony’s mobile family, and presumably its new CMOS sensor. A 1.5 GHz dual-core processor ensures it should all tick along nicely, while the hardware design follows the curves of last year’s Xperia Arc, this time with a matte finish. The camera upgrade and huge screen makes a good case for this to be Sony’s new flagship device — mere months since the Xperia S debuted in Europe — and before the Xperia Ion has even had chance to launch in the US.
It’s joined by the Xperia XS, which Sony claims is the world’s lightest LTE capable handset, weighing in at just under 100g. It packs a smaller 3.7-inch screen with the same Mobile Bravia engine found on its bigger brother — and the rest of Sony’s recent handsets. It’s joined by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor (although there’s no specifics on what type just yet), a more standard 8-megapixel camera and it wouldn’t be a Japanese phone without infrared connectivity, mobile wallet and a mobile TV — they’re all built-in. Both phones will launch in black and white, and Android fans can rest easy, as they’ll both arrive with Android 4.0 installed when they hit stores in Japan this summer.
BlackBerry Curve 9320 now official: BB OS 7.1, 2.44-inch display, BBM button
The 9320 has visited more countries during its short gestation than some phones get to see in their whole lives, but it’s finally arrived. The specs are pretty much what we guessed, with the socially-focused BB OS 7.1 onboard, a 3.2-megapixel camera and typical Curve features like a 2.44-inch 320 x 240 non-touch LCD display, ‘super charged’ 1450mAh battery, FM radio and a small, lightweight 103 gram QWERTY form factor. Same specs, different day, but then there’s also microSD expandability beyond the 512MB RAM, which can’t be taken for granted, plus a new feature in the form of a dedicated BBM key on the side. As for the 9320′s cheaper sibling, the 9220 shown above, we’ve already been hands-on at BlackBerry World and spotted that one of its main sacrifices is the camera: it’s only 2-megapixels and there’s no flash. That’s all 11,000 rupees ($210) gets you.
HP refreshes its Pavilion laptops ahead of back-to-school season, intros six new models
You may have noticed that HP unleashed a torrent of laptops today, but at the heart of it all, even more crucial than those Ultrabooks and business laptops, are the notebooks Hewlett-Packard plans to sell to college kids during the all-important back-to-school season. This go-round, the company’s redesigned both its mainstream Pavilion dv series, as well as its entry-level “g” laptops, though the range of sizes (14 to 17 inches) is pretty predictable. In addition, the outfit also introduced the Pavilion m6, a slim 15-incher that isn’t technically an Ultrabook, but nonetheless joins a growing group of thin-and-lights with unexpectedly large screens. Throughout, as you’d expect, HP’s refreshed its laptops on the inside too — namely, with newer Intel and AMD chips, along with fresher GPUs. We’ve got a full break-down of specs, prices, design notes and availability details after the break, though we’ve also got photos and the full press release below if you’ve got some important study session to hurry to.
- Pavilion dv series. Starting with HP’s redesigned line of mainstream Pavilion dv laptops, these models have a more pared-down look, with recessed keyboards, soft-touch accents and some subtle chrome trim ringing the touchpad. (The Beats Audio branding, of course, hasn’t gone anywhere.) In addition to those Ivy Bridge CPUs, these will be offered with optional discrete graphics from NVIDIA. We’re also told the two larger models will make use of HP’s CoolSense technology, but for whatever reason the dv4 won’t. All three are hitting shelves June 20th, with the dv7 starting at $800 and and the dv4 and dv6 priced at $550 and up.
- Pavilion m6. Though HP isn’t using the word “Ultrabook” to classify the m6, it’s clear this guy is meant to compete with other affordable, 15-inch thin-and-lights, such as Acer’s Timeline Ultra series. For this particular number, HP went with an aluminum-clad design, featuring Beats, along with a subwoofer and optional backlit keyboard. On the inside, you’ll have your choice of Intel and AMD chips, and because this is a full-fledged laptop and all, it will be offered with discrete graphics, too. Pricing for the m6 hasn’t been announced yet; all we know is that it will go on sale sometime this summer.
- G series. And the parade of reserved-looking laptops continue. Though the g series has long been HP’s entry-level line, it’s fine-tuned this latest batch by erring on the side of simplicity. This time around, look for a recesessed “bowl” keyboard, beveled edges and a glossy finish whose fine pattern seems promising for masking fingerprints. The g6 and g7 will both be available on July 25th, starting at $450 and $500, respectively.
HP refreshes EliteBook line with five new models, Ivy Bridge and optional LTE
HP is in full-on laptop-unveiling mode, and the company’s business line isn’t getting left out — in fact, it has five new models — including an 11-incher, a first for this series. The boardroom-bound EliteBooks are making the step up to Ivy Bridge, but it’s also adding the option of LTE across the board. All models will ship with SRS Premium Sounds PRO and an optional 720p webcam. We have a complete breakdown of the models past the break, and you can find hands-on shots.
The 2170p is the first 11-incher in the EliteBook line, and weighs in at 2.9 pounds. It’s compatible with the same dock as HP’s w-, p- and b- series, so businesses that want to upgrade to newer EliteBooks won’t have to invest in new peripherals. So far, we simply know the processor is an ultra low voltage Ivy Bridge CPU, predictably coupled with Intel integrated graphics. Keyboard backlighting will be a customization option. The entry-level configuration will go for $999.
If the naming doesn’t give it away, the 2570p is an update to the ultraportable EliteBook 2560p. It has the same 12.5-inch display and weighs 3.6 pounds, making it slightly lighter than the 2560p. The 2570p is clearly the ‘tweener of the EliteBook series: more powerful than the 2170p but a step below the larger models. The 2570p will start at $1,099 and, along with the 2170p, will be available on June 22nd.
Moving on up, the 14-inch 8740p makes its official debut. We saw this business-rugged laptop last month, when a review leaked ahead of Intel’s Ivy Bridge launch schedule. The 8470p replaces last year’s 8460p, and it keeps the starting weight at 4.56 pounds. It makes similar claims about battery life as the previous model, too, promising 36 hours of runtime with both the extended battery and SSD. The 15-inch 8570p, a refresh of the 8560p, offers similar specs minus the display size. Both the 8740p and 8570p are available with dual- or quad-core Ivy Bridge CPUs, integrated graphics or an AMD Radeon 7570M graphics card with 1GB of dedicated memory and a choice of hard drives, SSDs and self-encrypting drives. Both models are also made to withstand the elements outside the office, and they pass MIL-STD 810G testing for dust, vibration and more. Both models will go for $899 starting on June 4th.
Last is the EliteBook 8470w workstation, available with a 14-, 15- or 17-inch screen. The 14-incher has AMD graphics, while the 15-inch and 17-inch versions have an NVIDIA GPU with 4GB of video memory — up from 2GB. HP retooled the trackpad and added a 50-percent brightness option to the backlit keyboard (for the 15- and 17-inch models only), but it kept the chassis from last year’s w-series workstations. Availability and pricing aren’t yet clear; HP simply says the 8470w will ship this summer.
HP unveils second business Ultrabook, the EliteBook Folio
We actually have one more EliteBook to introduce, and this time it’s an Ultrabook. The EliteBook Folio 9470m is ready to sidle up next to the Folio 13, HP’s first business-grade Ultrabook, as a higher-end option. The 14-inch Folio is thin and light, starting at 3.6 pounds, but the 0.75-inch chassis makes room for an impressive collection of ports, including USB 3.0, Ethernet, DisplayPort and VGA. Since this Ivy Bridge laptop is balancing its Ultrabook identity with a business classification, it features an embedded TPM security chip, a smart card reader, security lock slot, full volume encryption and a security screw. Pricing starts at $1,149, and HP will begin shipping in October. Skip past the break for the presser, and check out our hands-on gallery below.
HP refreshes its ProBook laptops for small businesses
HP’s already outed a bunch of business laptops today, but so far they’ve all been at the enterprise level, the sort of thing an IT manager would deploy on the order of thousands. But while it was at it the company also refreshed its ProBook lineup for small businesses — the sort of operations that likely don’t have an IT department running the show. For those folks, there’s the refreshed b- and s-series. Starting with the “b” lineup, it includes 14- and 15.6-inch models (the 6470b and 6570b), which have a magnesium-reinforced chassis with a coating designed to resist scratches and other signs of wear. Users can choose between integrated and discrete graphics, while the 14-inch version, at least, will be offered with Intel and AMD chips. (The 15-incher is Intel-only.) Other perks include Intel’s vPro management technology, HP 3D DriveGuard and optional 3G / 4G connectivity. The Intel-based models will start at $769, while the AMD-based 6475b will go for $669 and up. Expect these to land on June 4th. Meanwhile, the s-series (pictured) is available in a wider range of sizes (13, 14, 15 and 17 inches), with a mix of Intel and AMD chips. The existing s-series has also gotten a redesign, with aluminum casing and a spill-resistant keyboard. These laptops, too, will arrive June 4th, though they’re slated to start at a lower price of $589.
HP intros three Compaq desktops, two displays for the business set
In addition to all the laptops and printers HP announced today, it also has a few goodies for the cube monkeys out there. The company just outed a trio of three business-grade desktops, along with two monitors. First up, there’s the Compaq Elite 8300, which is aimed squarely at large businesses with IT-friendly tools like TPM, Intel’s vPro technology and remote management via LANdesk. The Compaq Pro 4300, meanwhile, targets small businesses with its compact form factor and features like HP’s Chassis Security Kit. The mid-size Compaq Pro 6300 aims to please both groups, with TPM protection, HP’s BIOS solutions and the same 15-month life cycle program offered on the higher-end Elite 8300. Regardless of the model, you’re looking at Ivy Bridge CPUs coupled with Intel’s most up-to-date integrated graphics. Expect the 6300 and 8300 to land on June 4th, priced starting at $579 and $679, respectively. You’ll have to wait a bit longer for the 4300, though: it’ll arrive in Asia on the 22nd, and make its way to the US sometime this fall.
As for those monitors, HP’s introducing one of the nondescript variety, and another with a touchscreen. Starting with the former, the Compaq L2206tm has a 21.5-inch (1920 x 1080) display with a VGA port, two USB 2.0 sockets and DVI output with HDCP support. Meanwhile, the finger-friendly Compaq LA2405x has a 24-inch, 1080p screen, along with VGA, DVI and DisplayPort output — not to mention, a pair of USB 2.0 ports. Either way, they both have a 72 percent color gamut, 250-nit brightness level and viewing angles rated for 170 degrees across and 160 degrees vertical. The multitouch LA2405x is available today for $269, while the L2206tm is coming June 4th for $279.
HP unveils Envy Spectre XT Ultrabook, other thin-and-lights in various sizes
What’s that? You’re hungry for more HP laptops? Good! Because we’re not nearly done yet! The company just expanded its line of Ultrabooks from two to five, and that’s not even counting this guy. And, the company also plans to sell so-called Sleekbooks — essentially, thin-and-light laptops that don’t quite meet Intel’s criteria for Ultrabooks. So what goodies to we have in store? First up, there’s the 13.3-inch Envy Spectre XT, whose all-metal body looks nothing like the glass-class clad Envy 14 Spectre we reviewed earlier this year. As with its big brother, the major selling point here is design — in this case, a 3.07-pound machine with a 14.5mm-thick profile. As for specs, you can expect an Ivy Bridge CPU, paired with a 128GB SSD and a battery rated for eight hours of runtime. Like the other Ultrabooks in HP’s stable, it makes room for a USB 3.0 port, HDMI and an Ethernet jack, and similar to other Envys it comes with full copies of Adobe Premiere Elements and Photoshop Elements, along with a two-year subscription to Norton Internet Security. We’re told the warranty on this Envy is one year, not two, but users owners do get a dedicated customer support line, for what that’s worth.
Samsung outs new Series 5 550P notebook in the UK, Ivy Bridge and numeric keypad onboard
We saw a lot of things back at CES, and from the PC makers, it was mainly new Ultrabooks. Samsung, however, did present a pair of “regular” notebooks, and it looks like they’re just about to stretch their legs in the UK. The Series 5 550P is available in 15- and 17-inch varieties, sporting 1366 x 768 and 1600 x 900 displays respectively. Calling the shots will be quad-core Ivy Bridge Core i7 chips supported by 8GB of RAM. Graphics are dished up by a 2GB GeForce GT 650M, and there’s a Blu-ray optical drive plus capacity for up to 2TB of storage. Like the Series 7, sound is handled by integrated JBL speakers complete with “Max Bass Boost” subwoofer — crikey! Lower specification models will also be available (swapping the Blu-ray for DVD, and using shared graphics) when they hit UK stores this month.
HTC EVO Design 4G for Boost Mobile hands-on
No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you — that’s the very same EVO Design 4G we reviewed late last winter when it bowed on Sprint’s lineup. Surfing along the carrier’s increasingly antiquated 4G WiMAX network, this handset’s getting a new berth on Boost Mobile priced at an affordable $299 for pre-paid customers. Much like its girthier Android cousin the EVO V 4G, the physical construction and internal specifications of this device have remained unchanged. It’s still packing a 4-inch 960 x 540 qHD display, single-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon S2, 1.3 megapixel front-facing / rear 5 megapixel cameras and 4GB of internal storage. So, for the price the prepaid carrier’s asking, it’s not a bad deal.
The phone is still just as pleasant to hold in hand, owing to a soft touch plastic back that’s broken up by a smooth piece of aluminum plating. Again, if you’ve seen its earlier incarnation, you know what you’re getting into, but there is a distinct difference here — a combo of Sense 3.6 and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Luckily for prepaid consumers, the phone’s set to launch sometime this June with that software combo pre-loaded; a sweet perk given its place on the lower end of the consumer spectrum. Hit up the gallery below for a further peek at this re-badged handset.
ASUS intros three new ROG TYTAN gaming desktops, Ivy Bridge on board
Those of you looking for a fresh, Ivy Bridge-powered gaming rig may want to look ASUS’ way. The Taiwanese outfit just welcomed a trifecta of new ROG TYTAN machines to its lineup, which include the CG8580, CG8270 and CM6870 — all sporting similar aesthetics as that CG8490 we showed you a while back. For starters, the higher-end CG8580 packs a quad-core, 4.6GHz Core i7-3770k CPU alongside a single-touch Turbo Gear button for overclocking, a twin 128GB SSD and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX680 graphics card. As for the CG8270 and CM6870, you can choose between Intel’s third-gen Core i5 or i7 for processing power, up to 16GB of RAM and, of course, a DVD or Blu-ray player. ASUS hasn’t given official pricing yet, but we’re sure that’s going to depend heavily on how souped-up you want your future gaming beast to be.
Audio-Technica unveils ATH-ANC9 noise-cancelling cans
Audio-Technica has been quiet on the noise-cancelling headphones front for some time, but today it announced a new set of sound-nixing cans, the ATH-ANC9. While earlier ATH models block out 85 percent of outside noise, the new version ups the ante to 95 percent. Also new are three Tri-Level Cancellation modes, each tailored to drowning out sound in a particular environment (airplanes, noisy office and libraries, for example). This over-the-ear set has 40mm drivers and an input sensitivity of 100 dB to make the music you choose to hear sound nice and clear. The ATH-ANC9 comes with two detachable cables, two adapters and an AAA battery. It’s available now for $349.95 on the Audio-Technica website and at other retailers. Get the full details in the presser below.
One-man Rocket EV hits over 200 mph in under 7 seconds (video)
You won’t be driving away in this by the end of 2012, but you can expect it to smoke the EV competition. Shawn Lawless and his Rocket drag bike managed to hit just over 200 miles per hour on . We could eke out a few more words about the 14.2-kWh battery, but we’d prefer to let the video do the talking — it’s right after the break.
