Hasta La Gadget!

It’s not the first time we’re run into CUPP Computing‘s unique ability to blend the x86 and ARM platforms into one device — at least in prototype form — and just before the start of Computex 2011 here in Taipei we got a chance to experience the company’s latest iteration called PunkThis. The product is meant to replace your computer’s 2.5-inch SATA hard drive with a board featuring a complete ARM-based system along with a mini-PCIe socket — the latter capable of accommodating a physically smaller SATA SSD to handle the missing storage for the x86 host. PunkThis is built around a Texas Instruments DM3730 1GHz ARM CPU with 512 MB of RAM and includes a WiFi radio, as well as connectors and cables to interface the board with existing video, audio, and USB facilities on the host computer (no soldering required).

The netbook we got to play with was running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) but was lacking WiFi support. It ran perfectly alongside Windows 7 which was powered by the existing Atom processor. Switching OS-es is just a hotkey away, and battery life is supposedly doubled when the main x86 CPU is shut down and the only the daughter board is operational. PunkThis also provides two microSD card slots — one for system storage used by the ARM-based OS (Android in this case), the other for mass storage visible to both environments (shared space). Pricing is supposed to remain below $200 and availability is expected in 8 weeks. That’s pretty hardcore, but with a name like PunkThis would you expect anything less? Feast your eyes on our gallery and peek after the break for our hands-on video along with the obligatory PR.

Continue reading CUPP PunkThis hands-on (video)

CUPP PunkThis hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA has been pushing its 3D Vision platform for a couple of years and at this year’s Computex it is looking to pull in more PC users with new wired LCD active shutter glasses. The original wireless specs rely on the same IR sync tech and battery power seen in glasses for many HDTVs, but these get power and data over a 10-foot USB cable. While that might not work for living room viewing, a single user application like PC gaming or watching a Blu-ray 3D on a laptop doesn’t suffer for the cable restriction. Besides foregoing the sometimes finicky IR sync these are also cheaper, with a $99 MSRP when they go on sale in “late June” compared to $149 for the wireless version. The company hopes the combination of a lower entry price and ability to be secured to the PC make it a viable option for gamers who may already have a compatible LCD and GPU, or gaming cafes that want to run a few Starcraft II tournaments in 3D — check the rest of the details in the press release after the break.

Continue reading NVIDIA’s new wired 3D Vision glasses give up some freedom for a lower price

NVIDIA’s new wired 3D Vision glasses give up some freedom for a lower price originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 May 2011 20:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PadFone. Well, as silly as it sounds, the name sure speaks for itself. Unearthed by our friends over at Pocketnow, this USPTO trademark document was filed by ASUS merely four days ago. Such timing suggests that this could very well be the final name of the company’s eccentric “pad or phone” combo, which is to be unveiled at Computex next week. As expected, no specifics are detailed in this application, but it does mention “electronic pens for computer touch screens” — possibly hinting that the PadFone will be compatible with N-Trig’s DuoSense or similar stylus technology.

Alas, that’s all we have for now until ASUS lifts the curtain on Monday, but let us point you to Notebook Italia’s brilliant mock-up to quench your thirst for the time being — we, too, suspect that the phone would slide onto the back of its companion tablet, hence the bump. That said, do bear in mind that this phone is already proven to be not as tacky looking, but is likely closer to a full-fledged Android handset. Anyhow, check out the artist’s impressions after the break.

Update: Oh hey, remember Windows SideShow? Good times.

Continue reading ASUS ‘PadFone’ to be the final name of the phone-docking tablet?

ASUS ‘PadFone’ to be the final name of the phone-docking tablet? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 May 2011 13:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We love teasers, but the wait can be unbearable sometimes. Luckily, all it takes is a tweak in the URL to uncover ASUS’ upcoming Computex teaser pics ahead of time, as discovered by our eagle-eyed reader Anas. As you might have already figured out, the image on the left — which just went live — seems to be just a reminder of the Eee Pad MeMO’s June launch, though the words “A Tablet That Jumps Out at You” could also imply a device bearing 3D functionality of some sort. Maybe ASUS managed to upgrade said 7-inch Honeycomb tablet just in time? We shall see.

But the real meat here lies in the remaining image, which is scheduled to close the loop on the “Pad or Phone” teaser campaign this coming Sunday. What’s new is merely the intriguing line “How about Both?” below the old text, accompanying the silhouette of what appear to be a large tablet and a smaller phone-like device. Could this mean ASUS is toying with the idea of an Atrix-like docking combo, except the lapdock is instead just a tablet? We could well be stretching here, but hey, ASUS does say it wants to “break the rules,” right? Stay tuned as we’ll find out more at Computex 2011 next week.

[Thanks, Anas A.]

Update: It should be noted that the phone-docking idea we’re referring to is not related to the MeMO and MeMic duo — look at the second pic closely and you’ll see that the smaller device has four Android soft keys, whereas the MeMic has different buttons. Check out the close-up after the break.

Continue reading ASUS to unveil a phone-docking tablet at Computex?

ASUS to unveil a phone-docking tablet at Computex? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 May 2011 23:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With all the talk of ASUS’s tablets recently it’s easy to forget the company also dabbles in graphics cards, some large enough to blot out the sun. We’ve got some details on its latest contestants for your PC gaming dollar, the MARS II and Matrix GTX 580 (above), and you might have to buy a new case just squeeze these unwieldy pixel-pushers inside. The Matrix will come in two flavors — standard and Platinum — both with 1.5GB of RAM and an enormous dual-fan cooling solution that eats up a jaw-dropping three PCI slots. But, hey, it should afford you some serious overclocking headroom. Though we’ve yet to seen any pics of the MARS II, the 3GB, dual-GPU behemoth is bound to be even more massive — we wouldn’t be surprised if ASUS had to provide a breakout box for whatever cooler it strapped to those pair of GTX 580 cores. Prices and release dates are still up in the air, but we’re sure all will be revealed during the official announcement at Computex. Check out the image after the break for more detailed specs.

[Thanks, Robert and Alexandre]

Continue reading ASUS Matrix GTX 580 and MARS II desktop graphics cards revealed, devour PCI slots

ASUS Matrix GTX 580 and MARS II desktop graphics cards revealed, devour PCI slots originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 May 2011 18:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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