News aggregator
Samsung debuts X360 "lighter than air" ultraportable
Filed under: Laptops
Newsflash, Samsung: your (previously rumored) new X360 laptop isn't actually lighter than air. Also newsflash: it's still pretty special. Samsung shouted a resounding "me too!" today with its new X360 13.3-inch ultraslim / ultralight / ultraportable laptop. Weighing in at 2.8 pounds and measuring as thin as 0.66-inches (1.2-inches on the fatter end), the laptop is based on a Centrino 2 ULV processor and is built to compete. 1GB of RAM is standard -- there's room for up to 4GB -- and you can pick a 64GB or 128GB SSD, or opt for a 5400RPM 120GB HDD if you're feeling boring. Graphics come from X4500 integrated graphics, and the screen runs at 1280 x 800. The best and worst news comes with the inputs and outputs; Samsung didn't integrate an optical drive, but did find room for a 7-in-1 card reader, three USB ports, PCI ExpressCard/34, HDMI, VGA, LAN and a docking port. There's naturally WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR and a 1.3 megapixel camera. Battery life is specced at 6 to 10 hours, but we're guessing the upper end of that spectrum will add considerably to the weight. No word on price or availability, but as far as we know Samsung hasn't gone backsies on its "no computers for those dirty Americans" policy, so it looks like we're stuck with the other dozen or so similarly specced laptops out there.
Gallery: Samsung X360 press shots
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Samsung cranks out four UbiSync digital photo frames
Filed under: Displays
Samsung's dropping four new digital photo frames at IFA, and wonder of wonders, they're actually somewhat interesting -- particularly since they can all act as UbiSync secondary monitors for your PC. The 8-inch, 800 x 600 SPF-85H and SPF-85V and 10-inch, 1024 x 600 SPF-105P and SPF-105V all feature Samsung's usual piano black finish with hidden touch controls and an integrated speaker; the two V models have integrated 802.11 wireless and can pull photos off RSS feeds, FrameChannel, or Windows Live Spaces, while the two standalone units have 1GB of internal memory. The eight-inchers will be $129 and $199 when they hit in September, while the 105P will arrive in October for $199 and the 105V will come in at $289 in November.
[Via Digital Picture Frame Review]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
NVIDIA announces native SLI for Intel X58 chipsets
It may not have produced quite the onslaught of news that Intel's recent Developer Forum did, but it looks like NVIDIA's NVISION08 conference was at least able to pull one big rabbit out of its hat, with NVIDIA itself dropping word that it's going to allow Intel's X58 chipset to natively support SLI. For those not following the ins and outs of the NVIDIA / Intel relationship, NVIDIA had previously said that it would let its nForce 200 chip to be implemented by board manufacturers to allow SLI support, but that idea never exactly caught on, leading to this new, more accommodating solution. As PC Perspective reports, the native SLI support will also be far from limited, with motherboards with as few as two PCIe x16 slots and as many as four PCIe x16 slots able to support an array of SLI configurations, including a 3-Way SLI with a fourth graphics card for a PhysX boost. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Rumors of Steve Jobs' death greatly exaggerated
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
You have to figure that major news outlets keep obituaries on hand for all kinds of public figures and celebrities -- still, you can't help feeling a bit of a chill upon learning that notice of Steve Jobs' death mistakingly hit the wires yesterday afternoon. A slip-up at news outlet Bloomberg caused the lengthy obituary to roll across a number of screens before being pulled -- but not before a Gawker tipster was able to send off a copy to the gossip site. Under normal circumstances, this would probably come off as a random gaffe with minimal impact, but given recent reactions / over reactions concerning Jobs' health (thanks in no small part to his appearance at WWDC, pictured above), this comes off as a rotten-timed moment in journalistic and technical butterfingerism. We can only hope this didn't send too many investors into a tailspin -- we'd hate to see any War of the Worlds moments caused by something so silly.
[Via CNET]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Use Photoshop to Create Some Really Awkward Gadget Cross-Promotions [Photoshop Contest]
Sometimes, two companies decide that it would be advantageous to them both to release a product together. Sometimes it works well, like when Nike and Apple teamed up. Sometimes, it's a bit more awkward. For this week's Photoshop Contest, I want to see some really awkward cross-promotions. You know, like a Jimmy Dean Sausage Nintendo DS Lite.
Submit your entries in JPG, GIF, or PNG form with a FirstnameLastname.jpg naming convention to contests@gizmodo.com with "cross promotions" in the subject line by next Tuesday morning. On that afternoon, I'll post the three winners as well as the Gallery of Champions. Have fun, and get 'shopping! [Thanks for the idea, Thanassi!]
Trade panel agrees to take up Microsoft case
Leaked Apple Patent Filing is Full of New Multitouch Tech For a Mac Tablet [Mac Tablet]
Appleinsider has gotten their hands on a large patent filing from Apple that we haven't seen before, and it's loaded with plans for how a multitouch interface would work on a tablet Mac running full-blown OS X. It covers how small interface buttons will be handled, iPhone-like scrolling through lists, details on a full multi-touch keyboard, and a nifty pop-up scroll wheel. And on top of all that, it seems like it'll even work if you have freaky alien fingers! Let's take a closer look.
The full QWERTY keyboard above has provisions not just for multiple finger keystrokes, but for accepting inputs from all fingers of both hands for touch typing, including multiple key combinations like ctrl-alt-delete and shift/option commands.
As for solving the problem of the many places in OS X where tiny buttons may be difficult to tap (window control buttons, for instance), it looks like we'll see the same pop-up monocle zoom as the iPhone for getting a clearer view of what needs to get tapped.
And a virtual scroll wheel design element can pop up when needed, and be manipulated with single finger swipes, or moved around the desktop with a double-finger drag.
This seems like the most fleshed-out set of multitouch tablet tech we've seen from Apple. It's just a patent filing (dated April 15, 2008), but it seems like things are getting a bit more serious on the Mac Tablet front. And I maintain, being a patent filing illustrator has got to be one of the weirdest, if not best, jobs for someone handy with drawing.
More at: [Appleinsider]
Philips entertains your home with new Network Music Players
Filed under: Home Entertainment
On the audio front, Philips just launched a pair of Network Music Players, the NP2500 and the NP2900. They're color-screened followups to January's monochrome NP1100, and the NP2500 does audio out (including coaxial digital audio) just like is forebear, while the NP2900 (pictured) includes built-in speakers. The players work with internet radio, your PC's music library and some online music services like Rhapsody. No word on price or release date.
Gallery: Philips entertains your home with new Network Music Players
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Miss IFA Shows Us Her Jewels, and Her Philips and Swarovski Crystals Too [Ifa 2008]
newVideoPlayer("/missifa_gizmodo.flv", 520, 410,""); 
Ah Miss IFA, Miss IFA... Miss IFA with your—fake—red hair, Miss IFA with your—real—long legs, Miss IFA with your really big Philips and Swarovski Active Crystals... how much do we love thee? Let me count the ways.
One, because you put the "Miss" in IFA. Two, because of the way your sweet voice sounds when you tell us "zee Active Crystals Happy Laura USB memory bracelet iz not werking rait, sorry." It's like listening to a Valkyrie singing like an angel in a Wagner opera. But you don't make us want to invade Poland. And you know that's good, Miss IFA. Because invading Poland is wrong.
Anyway, don't worry about the 2GB Happy Laura or the Naughty Raymond. It's not your fault. Nothing is. You are the brightest and the fairest and the most beautiful of all the Miss IFAs out there. Yes, you are the only Miss IFA ever, but if there were four or five of them, I'm sure you will still be one of the most beautiful Miss IFAs. But I digress...
Where was I... Ah, three! Three, because we love how you wear that pretty pretty Breeze Bluetooth headset, with 5 hours of talking time. It would look nice on any girl, as a necklace or in her ear. And you are a girl, Miss IFA. That's why it just fits you perfectly. The white model looks great next to your red-dyed hair but, somehow, seeing the black one right there, hanging, makes our sugar underpants melt. Yes, Miss IFA, I'm wearing edible sugar underpants. Just to let you know, Jason gave me a pair for my birthday for when an occasion like this arose.
Four, because only your swan neck could wear that 2GB Crystal Chrome Moon USB memory key like you do, driving our eyes to prohibited places. OK, maybe not so prohibited, Miss IFA, but you know what I mean. Yes, you do.
So there you go. Not one, or two, or three, but four ways of loving you and your Philips Swarovski Active Crystals. And now we have to say farewell, Miss IFA. I'll let you go to your duties as the official face and soul of this fair that fills us all with joy. We shall meet again one day. No, really, I mean it. We should. And hopefully, you won't have copper hair then. And we would be wearing our business socks.
Jason too. [More IFA 2008 Coverage]
YouTube Finally Figures Out How To Make Money: Big Ads On Its Homepage (Michael Learmonth/Silicon Alley Insider)
Michael Learmonth / Silicon Alley Insider:
YouTube Finally Figures Out How To Make Money: Big Ads On Its Homepage — Take a good, long look at YouTube's (GOOG) homepage. You may not recognize it soon: The video site is trying out new ad format that will turn over a good chunk of the page to sponsors.
Sony's Thinnest Walkman Player Ever Has Active Noise Cancellation ... (Adrian Covert/Gizmodo)
Adrian Covert / Gizmodo:
Sony's Thinnest Walkman Player Ever Has Active Noise Cancellation, Song Suggestion Software — Sony's S-series Walkman is their new high-end digital audio player that is not only their slimmest player to date, but has active noise cancellation and the SensMe music suggestion engine.
Pro Gamers Are Doping Too [Shocking]
Not able to let cyclists and sprinters have all the performance-enhancing fun, pro gamers are apparently equally avid dopers, according to an interview Game Player Australia has with Alex Walker, the director of an upcoming World Cyber Games tournament. They stick him the hard question—what is the WCG doing to combat the growing problem of pro gamers gaining advantage by popping some uppers or hitting the bong prior to fragging? His answer: Um, what?
Says Alex:
Gamers can take all the drugs they like, as long as it's not happening in the actual tournament area. Nobody has the budget to bring in any form of anti-doping agency, let alone keep it afloat or professional enough to adhere to standards that would make it reliable. The scene isn't big enough or stable enough for any world agency to enforce it right now, let alone stop gamers from taking drugs.
And on the eternal question—do you play better on booze, weed, or uppers?
I noticed that you made a mention about people claiming they were better after having a bong or two. That's true. I've seen a number of players at national tournaments who came in "baked" (that's stoned for the uninformed) purely so they could play better. In most cases they did, although obviously they couldn't just pull out another joint midway through.
In one WCG, a player I knew took amphetamines an hour before his match to boost his reflexes. His team ended up losing the match, although it certainly had an impact - his performance helped his team to win one map out of three - it kind of hits home that only the really talented will come out on top in the end.
Players have been ejected from venues for drunk and disorderly conduct – I know one tournament overseas where a player was denied permission to go to the toilet, so in his drunken state he decided to urinate in a plastic bottle instead which got him ejected after he placed the bottle on a table in front of the admins
Man, pro gamers—what a party-down bunch! For anyone raised gaming in the hallowed halls of our nation's collegiate dorm rooms, this is surely ringing some bells. Good to know that if you unexpectedly rise through to the ranks to professional gamer status, you won't have to worry about getting narc-ed. [Game Player via Slashdot]
Web news aggregators rise despite papers woes
Philips' new Essence, FlatTV and Aurea LCD sets
Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment
While our primary drool allotment will be directed at Philips' new 8mm LCD concept, Philips also has some new for-realsies LCDs here at IFA potentially worth your time. Leading off the pack is the LED-backlit 42PFL9803 FlatTV (pictured), a 42-inch set with 128 segments of LED for a purported 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. The set runs at 100Hz, has a 17-bit "Color Booster" for a wide gamut, and even does a bit of 2nd gen Ambilight for good measure. Essence (42PES0001) is another 42-inch, 1080p display, but stakes its claim on thinness, measuring 38mm (1.5-inches) deep, and has a single cable running to a connectivity hub which doles out the audio, video and power. 100Hz and wide color gamut are all here. Finally, Philips is doing up a new generation of Aurea sets with new 37-inch and 42-inch 1080p displays, which offer up "Active Frame" transparent frames to reflect the Ambilight surrounding the set. The displays also offer 100Hz, 30,000:1 contrast ratios and 2ms response times. No word on price or availability for any of these, which is starting to sound like the official theme of IFA 2008.
Gallery: Philips' new Essence, FlatTV and Aurea LCD sets
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EU, mobile operators clash over call billing
Xbox 360 Goes Coin-Op [Arcades]
While the Xbox 360 arcade is ironically the least expensive version of 360, The Arcade Station T2 is the probably the most expensive...and it actually belongs in an arcade. Essentially an arcade cabinet housing an Xbox 360, the Arcade Station T2 features two controllers, memory card slots and system link gaming (which we're assuming means local multiplayer, not full LIVE access). Potentially bundled games could include Halo 3, FIFA 08, Assassins Creed and Devil May Cry 4, but players won't need to shove in more quarters every time Master Chief gets teabagged. This will be a pay-for-time unit. Bonus pic:
Currently in testing overseas, the officially licensed cabinet should be available in the coming months. And if it only ditched those controllers for a couple of high performance joysticks, we might just be tempted to score one for home use. [Kotaku]
Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 Fact Sheet (Microsoft)
Microsoft:
Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 Fact Sheet — An overview of the features and benefits of Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer 8. — Windows Internet Explorer 8 is the next version of the world's most popular browser that optimizes developer and end-user experiences to provide a window to the Web of online services.
Philips' 8mm thin 32-inch LCD turns the screws on Sony
This morning you saw what a 9.9-mm thin LCD from Sony looks like. Now it's Philips' turn to drop jaw. Albeit just a concept compared to Sony's ZX1 soon to be production TV, this 8-mm thin, 32-inch LCD with LED backlighting is done with the engineering and now waits for the suits to bring it to market. Two thin strips of Philips' own LumiLEDs -- 30 on top and 30 on the bottom -- are the secret sauce to this thin, Full HD mixture. According to Philips' "Senior Scientist," Dr. Giovanni Cennini, this 8-mm design will scale to panel sizes of 42-inches and probably higher. Better yet, these are the same panels Philips already uses, no extra tweaking required. So it's your move corporate, we're all waiting.
Gallery: Philips' 8mm thin LCD turns the screws on Sony
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NEC's new 12- and 15-inch touchscreen PCs are all screen, Atom-powered
Filed under: Desktops
These look to be aimed directly at enterprises and other no-frills applications, but we're still intrigued these new all-in-one touchscreen PCs from NEC. With Atom under the hood, 512MB or 1GB of RAM and a 80GB hard drive, you can pick between the 12-inch 12PNC-W2/B2 (white or black) or the 15PNC-W2/B2 (same), you won't be able to walk away with one of these tablet-style, but it sounds like the power draw will be akin to a laptop. The PNCs run XP Embedded or Vista Business for Embedded. No word on price.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Philips 8mm-Thin 32-inch TV Is Nice But Still a Prototype [Ifa 2008]
newVideoPlayer("/philipsultrathin_gizmodo.flv", 520, 410,""); 
Philips is working on their own ultra-thin backlighting technology. But compared to the absolutely stunning Sony ZX1 9.9mm-thin TV, the Philips 8mm 32-inch model is a) just too small and b) just a prototype. However, it looks like it uses a similar LED-in-the-corner backlighting technology. [More IFA 2008 Coverage]
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