UMPC takes Skype to another level

The Eee PC seems to have a giant bull's eye on its back, but that is to be expected. By redefining the ultramobile market, it has become the standard by which new entrants in the market are measured. The latest UMPC to try its luck is the Sungjut TangoX Nano, whose design and specifications look all too similar to the Packard Bell XS20.

But it has two new tricks up its sleeve. Though it is not a convertible tablet like the LifeBook U1010, the TangoX Nano sports a touchscreen to complement the pathetically small touchpad at the bottom. Another interesting feature is a removable Skype phone located at the side of the display which can be used for VoIP.

Running on a VIA 1.2GHz processor and 1GB of RAM, this UMPC is no powerhouse but more than capable of most productivity tasks. The 7-inch 800 x 480-pixel resolution screen is a little disappointing, as more than a few Webpages are optimized for 1,024-pixel width. No needs on price or availability yet, but this is one baby will be keeping track of.

Via Akihabara News

New MacBook Pro takes a dive on battery life? Well, no

Some conflicting accounts are coming out of the Web-o-sphere about Apple's revamped MacBook Pro laptops. At the heart of the controversy are reports that the new 15- and 17-inch Pro models have taken a nosedive on battery life, despite the inclusion of allegedly power-saving Intel Penryn processors.

Both Ars Technica and Gizmodo pointed out that Apple's own numbers on how long the battery should last in a 17-inch MacBook Pro have changed with the new models--going from more than 5 hours to only 4.5 hours.

There are actually a couple of different things going on here, all of which add up to new MacBooks that should last just as long as their predecessors, if not a little longer.

Apple says it's changed the way it reports battery life. It used to report numbers from three stock battery life tests: A so-called "highway" test designed for maximum battery life; a DVD playback test (similar to what CNET uses); and a wireless productivity test.

Apple's Anuj Nayar tells us the company used to publish all three scores on its site, but highlighted the highway test. Now, the highway test and DVD playback tests are out, and the wireless productivity test is the new default. So looking at Apple's older numbers is a bit like comparing you-know-what to oranges.

On the other hand, the new Penryn processors and optional LED backlit display (17-inch Pro only) should offer some advantages in battery life.
Read more »

Apple updates MacBook, MacBook Pro lineups

Apple updated its MacBook and MacBook Pro lineups with Intel's Penryn processors, while bringing multitouch trackpads to MacBook Pros.

The MacBook Pro is available with Core 2 Duo (Penryn) processors at up to 2.6GHz and up to 6MB of cache memory. Storage options have been revised to include up to a 300GB hard drive. In addition, Apple has added Nvidia's GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor with up to 512MB of video memory. The 17-inch model now gives you the option to upgrade the LCD to an LED-backlit unit for S$160.50 (US$105.59). That feature is still standard on the smaller 15-inch model.

The MacBook Pro will also now include the multitouch trackpad, first introduced with the MacBook Air. The trackpad lets users rotate photos and browse Web pages using gestures such as pinch, rotate, and swipe.

A MacBook Pro with a 15-inch display, 2.4GHz processor, 3MB of L2 cache, and a 200GB harddisk lists for S$3,088 (US$2,031.58). The 17-inch model, with a 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo chip, 6MB of L2 cache, and a 250GB hard drive is priced at S$4,388 (US$2,886.84), according to Apple store.

The MacBook misses out on the multitouch trackpad, but the prices of the three baseline models stay the same while the configurations get CPU and hard drive bumps. The S$1,988 (US$1,307.89) and S$2,288 (US$1,505.26) models now come standard with 2GB of RAM. The S$1,688 (US$1,110.53) MacBook includes a 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo (Penryn) processor, 1GB of memory, and a 120GB hard drive (up from 80GB). The S$1,988 (US$1,307.89) model gives you a 2.4GHz chip, 2GB of memory, and a 160GB drive (up from 120GB). The S$2,288 (US$1,505.26) black model now comes with a 250GB drive (up from 160GB).

One thing Apple did not announce--at least not yet--is an iPhone software developer kit that it had promised for sometime in February.

CNET Reviews' Matthew Elliott contributed to this report.

Via CNET Crave

A Zero-G Watch to Defy Xtremes

If you thought only cockroaches, ants and bees would survive a nuclear holocaust, here's something else to add to the rarified list--Zenith's Defy Xtreme Zero-G Watch. Its makers have apparently imbued this timepiece with the powers of Superman since it not only defies gravity (being accurate even in extreme gravity), it's waterproof down to 1,000ft. You can read about the technology behind this feat at the Web site. Did we mention it's only US$500,000? Yes, that's five zeros. Nothing wrong with your eyes.

As for bodywork, it's armored in a blackened titanium body, with a titanium strap sporting Kevlar inserts, and 294 ultra-complicated parts. Unfortunately, even if this Zenith defies the worst that nature can throw at it, it's doubtful the wearer of this watch will be concerned by then about its timekeeping accuracy.

Thanks to Uncrate

Separated at birth: Onyx, Haier phones

We thought there was something familiar about this phone from a new UK company called Onyx, and our eagle-eyed colleague Kent German spotted the reason why: It looks remarkably similar to the "Elegance" handset introduced several months ago by Haier, the Chinese company of household appliances fame.

Haier, interestingly enough, described its version as a "lipstick-case-sized luxury phone" while Onyx is marketing its "Liscio" for the compact convenience of its 3.5-inch-long handset--perhaps accurately reflecting the difference in high-end standards between the two markets. It would be difficult to label this as a luxury phone in the West, for example, when it lacks a camera and other features that have become pretty much standard these days.


The phone does have an MP3 player, FM radio, Bluetooth, and a microSD slot, but Newlaunches says its display is only 1.10 inches wide with an eyesight-straining 96 x 96 resolution. The thing we'd worry about most, however, is texting--it's hard enough to do on a tiny handset, and that weird keypad would definitely slow us down even more.

Via CNET Crave | Picture credit: Onyx and Haier

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