Hasta La Gadget!

Few villains enjoy a level of popularity as HAL 9000, which is why it’s not surprising that ThinkGeek’s newly released life-size replica of the computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey is already sold out despite its significant asking price.

The replica is based on “actual movie blueprints” and “original studio files.” I bet there were “geniune film documents” and “authentic cinema records” involved as well. The replica is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and of course has a red LED eye. It also speaks, cycling through 15 phrases taken from the movie. You can trigger its voice using the included remote control, but it can also be triggered by talking to it. The latter is way cooler, but don’t expect it to call you by any other name but Dave.

ThinkGeek is selling the replica for $500 (USD) each. I know you’re already throwing money at the screen and are raring to order the replica but as I said, it’s already sold out. ThinkGeek did say that it will be back in stock by January 15 so hold on to your money until then.

Mushkin is a company that has been offering computer hardware, specifically memory, for quite a while. The company is on hand at CES 2013 and has announced the launch of a new line of enterprise class SSD storage devices. The new line of solid-state drives is called the ProSpec series.

The SSD line uses the SandForce SF-2582 processor and is fitted with enterprise grade MLC flash NAND. The drives have a number of features designed specifically for the enterprise environment. The drives in the series use the SATA 3.0 6Gb/s interface and feature 128-bit AES encryption.

Mushkin promises random read and write performance of 80K and 42K IOPS respectively. The drives also promise sustained data transfer rates of 560 MB/s. The SSD series will be offered in capacities ranging from 100 GB up to 400 GB. The enterprise MLC flash NAND used inside the drives promises 10 times the write endurance level without file degradation compared to normal flash NAND.

Other features include TRIM support, SMART support, garbage collection, and wear leveling. The firmware is user upgradable and the drives are RoHS, FCC, and CE rated. Pricing and availability information for the line of SSDs is unknown at this time.

Mushkin launches enterprise class SSDs is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Panasonic has jumped on the 4K bandwagon, but not just in TVs: the company has a ridiculously appealing 4K Windows 8 tablet at CES, squeezing 3840 x 2160 pixels into a 20-inch frame. Officially a prototype, though one which Panasonic tells us is very likely to see production, the unnamed slate may not fit into your purse like an iPad mini, but it does have some compelling applications in graphic design, video editing, architecture, and more. Read on for our hands-on first impressions.

Panasonic’s claim that the 4K tablet is the “lightest and thinnest” in the the 20-inch category seems a little redundant, given the scarcity of rival machines, but the rest of the specifications hold muster. As well as the 230ppi 15:10 display there’s an Intel Core i5-3427U 1.8GHz processor and NVIDIA GeForce graphics keeping things ticking along, along with 4GB of RAM (up to 16GB supported) and a 128GB SSD.

Connectivity includes microSDXC, a single USB 2.0 port, WiFi a/b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.0; there’s also a front-facing 720p HD webcam, though the absence of a rear camera is unlikely to disappoint too many people given the whole thing weighs in at 5.3lbs and measures 18.7 x 13.1 x 0.4 inches.

The display itself supports ten-finger multitouch, but also an Anoto-powered digital pen that can be used to annotate documents, sketch, or generally make more precise edits. Panasonic had a few suggested uses for the slate, with one demo showing a live preview from a nearby DSLR, complete with editing tools, while another demonstrated how a pair of the 4K tablets could allow for collaborative work in different locations, each mirroring the changes made on the other. The crispness of the display is what engages you first, though, with Panasonic’s demo schematics ink-on-paper precise even when you got up close to the glass.

While you might not whip the 20-incher out in the line at the grocery store, there’s nonetheless a battery inside with a “healthy” 2hr runtime estimate; given the size of the screen, and the fact that most users will probably only ever rely on onboard power when toting the slate between rooms, that’s probably more than sufficient. It’s definitely a two-hander when carrying it, but it’s not ridiculously heavy.

Pricing and availability are still a mystery, with Panasonic coy about being specific on launch plans. Still, there’s definitely a drive to get the 20-inch tablet onto the market, and with 4K still not having much relevance in TVs – despite the plethora of sets supporting it at CES – out in the mainstream, this could be the best application for Ultra HD resolution so-far.

Panasonic 20-inch 4K Windows 8 Tablet hands-on is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Corsair has been a name in the computer accessory and peripheral market for a number of years. The company first made its reputation for creating some very speedy memory for enthusiast computers. Corsair also makes a number of USB devices such as flash drives and more. At CES 2013, Corsair unveiled a new mobile storage device called the Voyager Air.

The Voyager Air is an all-in-one wireless mobile drive and home network storage solution. The portable hard drive comes in capacities of 500 GB or 1 TB and has integrated Wi-Fi, a rechargeable battery, Ethernet, and USB 3.0. When connected to an Ethernet cable, the Voyager Air acts as network connected storage.

The integrated Wi-Fi means that the Voyager Air can also act as a wireless network hub and repeater. An internal battery promises seven hours of use per charge. Corsair also has apps available for computers and smartphones which will allow users to stream video from the Voyager Air directly to their devices. The 500 GB version of the drive will sell for $199(USD) and 1 TB version will sell for $229 when they launch this February.

[via Engadget]

Samsung may have focused on Smart TV in its CES 2013 press conference, but the company also had a pair of new lightweight notebooks – the Series 7 Chronos and Series 7 Ultra – to announce. Packing a 15.6-inch and 13.3-inch display respectively, the two new laptops offer up to 11hrs runtime and Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution displays, while throwing in a touch layer for 10-finger action, too.

The Chronos – shown below – runs Windows 8 on a Core i7-3635QM processor with up to 16GB of RAM and AMD Radeon HD 8870M 2GB graphics. There’s up to 1TB of internal storage, a 720p webcam, backlit keyboard, and 4Wx2 JBL speakers.

The whole thing is surprisingly lightweight, given it’s a 15-inch notebook, and the keyboard feels crisp and responsive. The brushed metal finish is suitably premium, but the display is incredibly glossy; true, we were playing with the Chronos in a well-lit hall, but even sunlight from a nearby window could prove more than distracting. It only gets worse when you start to add in greasy fingerprints, too.

As for the Series 7 Ultra, shown below, that runs a choice of Core i5 or i7 processors with AMD HD8570M 1GB graphics and up to 16GB of RAM. It opts for a 256GB SSD rather than an old-school hard-drive, though the smaller form-factor means it makes do with half the speaker power. Samsung will offer both touch and non-touch variants; both will have a backlit keyboard, which is usable despite the smaller size.

It’s a lightweight machine, with easily accessible ports – including USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 – and both HDMI and mini VGA. Samsung reckons up to eight hours can be squeezed from the battery, and there’ll be optional 4G LTE. The portability box is ticked straight off, then, and Samsung’s quoted 178-degree viewing angles work out to a screen you can see clearly, without inversions or blurring even if you’re sat off to one side of the notebook.

Unfortunately, Samsung isn’t talking pricing or availability for either the Series 7 Chronos or the Series 7 Ultra.

Samsung Series 7 Chronos and Series 7 Ultra hands-on is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.