Archives for May 2007
Intel mobile Metro laptop: RAZR-thin PC unveiled
Rory Reid, CNET.co.uk | May 26, 2007
Intel has been showing off a new laptop that by all accounts is the thinnest in the world. Codenamed the Intel mobile Metro, it's apparently less than 18mm thick--about 6mm thicker than a Motorola RAZR phone.
It's the result of a collaboration between Intel and US firm Ziba Design. Judging by these pictures, it's absolutely stunning. The working model will probably use Intel Centrino technology, although we're yet to discover what sort of chipset, processor, memory and storage will be employed. One of the few tech certainties is the inclusion of Wi-Fi.
The chassis, which weighs a mere 1kg, will be a champagne-colored magnesium alloy and dotted with subtle gold accents. Intel has also confirmed a clip-on folder for the laptop, which will feature a secondary display. This will use E-Ink technology, of the sort used in Sony's Reader, to prolong battery life.
We've no idea if or when it'll reach the market. Intel doesn't actually make laptops (just the bits that go inside them). So we reckon a company such as ASUS will take charge of building and selling it, as it did with Intel's Classmate PC.
We're pretty excited by it. Check out the pictures over at the photo gallery--you will not be disappointed.
Hands-on with Acer Aspire 5920: The BMW laptop
Rory Reid, CNET.co.uk | May 25, 2007
| Editors' note: The Aspire 5920 will be available in Singapore from May 30. At the same time, Acer claims it will also be the first vendor to offer Dolby Home Theater for virtual surround sound across its new range of consumer notebooks. |
The Acer laptop folks are nuts about cars. First they seared our retinas with their gaudy Ferrari laptops and now they're about to unleash the Gemstone series--which have been co-designed by BMW. Yes, the car people.
Rather than just stick a BMW badge on the lid, Acer has conducted seven months of market research to discover what constitutes a sexy laptop, then left the results in the capable hands of over 100 designers and engineers at BMW Designworks.
The resulting laptops are stunning, but not in a good way. We got our hands on the "King of Entertainment" Aspire 5920 model and we're really not feeling the design.
The glossy black lid is okay, but every laptop maker, his mum and his dog has one of these--so nil points there. They also get zero props for the granddad-pleasingly grey keyboard section. It looks white in the pictures, but believe us when we say it's greyer than John Major after a bout of autoerotic asphyxiation with Madame Whiplash. Our lawyers would like us to point out that this is a purely hypothetical scenario.
The next design faux pas is the USB port arrangement. There are three ports on the left side, which is fine, but we reckon the lone port on the right was stuck there by a petrol-head who knows nothing about laptops. The port sits about 1mm away from the DVD-ROM drive, so any standard-sized USB device physically prevents the drive bay from opening. The USB logo is even printed in the wrong place--above the DVD drive.
There are some touches we like, though.
The Webcam doubles as a sort of car door handle for opening the sexy 15.4-inch screen. Plus the shortcut buttons on either side of the keyboard are just like those on either side of a BMW car stereo. Ironically there's even a button that does absolutely nothing--like the dummy switches on cars that haven't got all the optional extras. We have no idea why they've included this--it makes you wonder whether there's something missing.
We can't grumble with the specs. The Aspire 5920 is Santa Rosa'd up to the eyeballs and packs a 2GHz Intel T7300 CPU, 2GB of 667MHz (not 800MHz unfortunately) RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card for gaming. There's even a Dolby-certified speaker system with a subwoofer underneath. It doesn't sound as good as in-car systems, obviously, but it's impressive all the same. We can't argue with the price, either--a measly S$2,698 (US$1,775) goes a long way to make up for the design car crash.
We'll have a review of the Aspire 5920 sooner than you can say sprochtung durch technik, or whatever they say in Germany.
Click for larger image
Asus to offer WM6 for current handhelds
John Chan | May 25, 2007
Not to be left behind, Asus has announced that it, too, will be upgrading some current models running Windows Mobile 5.0 (WM5) to Windows Mobile 6 (WM6) in July. The models included are the A626 and A696 PDAs as well as the GPS-enabled P535 PDA-phone.
The A626 and A696 were announced together with the P735 PDA-phone in April 2007, and both currently run WM5 Pocket PC Edition. It was earlier reported that Asus had no intentions to upgrade the OS on these two devices, but it seems there has been a change of plans--for the better. The P735 PDA-phone will be available from next week, and the initial shipment will already come with WM6, so no upgrade is necessary for that model.
This OS upgrade will take place in July. Users will then be able to download a file from the Asus Web site to update their handhelds.
WM6 is Microsoft's latest OS for mobile devices. Among its improvements is the ability to read and compose emails in HTML format. Click here to find out which other handhelds will receive upgrades to WM6.
LG scores four new 1080p TVs
Philip Wong | May 25, 2007
Hot off the press, albeit in sketchy detail, are four new LG 1080p flat-panel TVs. Segmented into two separate lines, they comprise a pair of the latest LB7RF-series LCDs and equal numbers of PY-family plasmas. All models are loaded with an updated 2007 XD Engine featuring integrated video upscaling and Full-HD 1:1 Pixel Match technology. We'll update you more on this technology when LG enlightens us.
The LB7RFs are also possibly the first of their kind based on the S-IPS panels commonly deployed in premium PC monitors. Renowned for their excellent viewing angle and strong color production, these are currently available in Asia only in the sub 40-inch categories, offered by Hitachi and Panasonic under their Alpha IPS series.
Pushing ahead with enhanced motion reproduction, LG is equipping its 60PY3RF plasma TV with 100Hz Drive technology, allowing it to achieve ultra-high refresh rates ideal for sports and action flick. It's unclear whether this is available on its 71-inch equivalent, though LG is throwing in a pair of HDMI and DVI jacks for digital video connectivity.
The 42LB7RF, 47LB7RF, 60PY3RF and 71PY1M are now available at S$5,999 (US$3,946.71), S$7,999 (US$5,262.50), S$19,999 (US$13,157.24) and a whopping S$45,999 (US$30,262.50), respectively.
More info here
USB Mini Fridge
Juniper Foo | May 25, 2007
This one's for those too lazy to get off their fat behinds even if the pantry's a hop away. This one-can wonder sips off USB power to cool your favorite canned drink right next to your PC. And if you're into harder stuff, it also hides that can of grog from your boss' prying eyes. According to Hong Kong e-retailer Brando, this mini fridge has an 8.5 degrees Celsius chill factor. But for US$33, you can wait long long if you think this'll freeze that room-temperature drink in a jiffy.
More images here
Via New Launches
Price: US$33
Availability: At Brando
Device: USB accessory
Specs: Internal LED light, Cools beverage from 5V USB power, temperature decreases to 8.5 degrees Celsius after 5 mins, 9.4 x 9 x 9cm, 362g, user guide
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