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Sep 11

ViewSonic VSD220 Smart Display with Android 4.0 comes to US in October, dips to $399

You might remember ViewSonic’s slightly strange VCD22 Smart Display from our journey to Computex. If the sight of that 22-inch, Android-based all-in-one desktop set your heart aflutter, you’ll be glad to know the finished version is coming to the US as the VSD220 by mid-to-late October. It’s decidedly less portable what we saw in Taipei this June and strips out the battery we suspect most buyers wouldn’t have used. For better or worse, though, most everything else is the same: while we didn’t expect a change to the TI OMAP 4 processor, the VSD220 will be clinging to Android 4.0 instead of upgrading to Android 4.1 for its trip across the Pacific. The micro-HDMI video input, 1.2-megapixel front camera, microSD slot, three USB ports and Ethernet (yes, Ethernet) do help justify a space on the desk, especially for those who want a secondary display for another mobile device or PC. The VSD220 faces a stiff fight from traditional all-in-ones that don’t always cost much more — but we’ll at least get a price drop to a more palatable $399 in return for our patience.

Continue reading ViewSonic VSD220 Smart Display with Android 4.0 comes to US in October, dips to $399

Filed under: Desktops, Displays

ViewSonic VSD220 Smart Display with Android 4.0 comes to US in October, dips to $399 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Sep 2012 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 09

HP announces Spectre One desktop, three other all-in-ones

Posted in: Today's Chili

Didn’t you hear? All of HP’s top-shelf product consumer products will henceforth have the word “Spectre” in the name. So, it makes sense that the company would expand beyond laptops and release a futuristic desktop bearing the same branding. Indeed, the company just announced the Spectre One, a 23.6-inch all-in-one with a skinny design and nice-to-have features like NFC.

Though that aluminum frame and tilting 1080p display are pleasing to look at, the real story isn’t what the Spectre One has, so much as what’s missing. You see, in order to get the system down to 11.5mm thick, the design team had to forgo certain features you might otherwise expect — features like a TV tuner, touchscreen and even an optical drive. It’s a gamble, to be sure, but HP is betting that fashion-forward, tech-savvy users won’t really mind. (The jury is out on whether a Windows 8 all-in-one without touch is a missed opportunity.) In any case, HP did include four USB ports (two of them 3.0), HDMI input, an Ethernet jack, Beats Audio and a memory card reader, with optional discrete graphics and SSDs. The components are also easily serviceable via a back door, if tinkering is your idea of fun. Lastly, the One ships with a keyboard, Magic Trackpad-style wireless touchpad and two NFC tags, which can be assigned to favorite websites.

In addition to the Spectre One, HP also trotted out three other all-in-ones. At the mid-range, you’ll find the Envy 20 and 23, which have 20- and 23-inch screens, respectively, with 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. Rounding out the list, the company announced the low-end Pavilion 20, another 1080p system. Put simply, the two Envy systems have touchscreens, Beats Audio and will be offered with Ivy Bridge processors only; the Pavilion is non-touch, and will be offered with both Intel and AMD chips. Whichever you choose, HP’s old Magic Canvas UI for Windows is gone; in its place, the “Connected Suite,” which includes a mix of desktop and mobile apps for sharing photos, streaming music and remote access. Though the mobile applications work with iOS and Android devices, you’ll need a Windows 8 laptop on one end of the setup — specifically, an HP PC. That’s right: for now, at least, the software will only work on the company’s own computers.

The Envy 20, Envy 23 and Pavilion 20 will all be available on October 23rd, with the budget Pavilion going for $499 and the two Envys starting at $849 and $1,099, respectively. The Spectre One doesn’t arrive until November 14th, but when it does it will cost $1,299.

Continue reading HP announces Spectre One desktop, three other all-in-ones

Filed under: Desktops

HP announces Spectre One desktop, three other all-in-ones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 06

VIA EPIA-P910 stuffs 3D display support, quad-core into a Pico-ITX size

Posted in: Today's Chili

If there’s been a race in the Pico-ITX realm to catch up to full-size PCs, VIA just leapt ahead by a few bounds with the EPIA-P910. The tiny PC mates one of VIA’s 1GHz QuadCore E-Series processors with a VX11H media core to handle the kinds of tasks that would break just about any other system its size: stereoscopic 3D displays and DirectX 11 3D graphics are entirely within the realm of possibility. Likewise, there’s a surprising amount of expansion headroom compared to many of the P910’s similarly small counterparts, such as the 8GB RAM ceiling and support for both HDMI 1.4a and USB 3.0. You’ll need to get in touch with VIA if you want to find out how much it costs to work the new EPIA into an embedded PC, and it’s more likely to be headed to corporate buyers than to homebrew projects. We’re still looking forward to the shot of visual adrenaline, whether it’s in a mini PC or a store display.

Continue reading VIA EPIA-P910 stuffs 3D display support, quad-core into a Pico-ITX size

Filed under: Desktops, Misc

VIA EPIA-P910 stuffs 3D display support, quad-core into a Pico-ITX size originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 01:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 05

ASUS boasts about AiCloud features in new teaser (video)

Posted in: Today's Chili

Router, Rowter. However you say it, you probably need one, which is why ASUS is temping you toward buying one of its new AiCloud models. The new service is designed to unify your data across devices, letting you share and stream multimedia and documents from PCs to smartphones. You’ll also be able to store files online, remote control your PC from your tablet and create single-click download links to share with your friends. ASUS is so excited about the project that it’s released a new advert telling you all about it, which we’ve included for you after the break.

Continue reading ASUS boasts about AiCloud features in new teaser (video)

Filed under: Internet

ASUS boasts about AiCloud features in new teaser (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 22:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 04

Intel finishes crossing the Ivy Bridge with new desktop Core i3 models

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Intel has been staggering the rollout of its Ivy Bridge processors over the space of nearly half a year, starting with its higher-end quad-core chips; it’s finally time for the company to complete the story and ship some budget Core i3 desktop parts. The semiconductor giant is coy about the new roster at this stage, but it does promise both regular (s-series) and low-power (t-series) Core i3 chips at clock speeds between 2.8GHz and 3.4GHz. If the past is an indicator, the new components will be mostly or exclusively dual-core and lack extras like Hyperthreading — they will get Intel’s newer integrated graphics and other perks through the upgrade, however. Bulk pricing and other details haven’t yet been aggregated in one place, although we’re seeing that even the faster 3.3GHz Core i3-3220 is selling at retail for $130. We wouldn’t expect anything from Intel’s new offerings to break the bank.

Filed under: Desktops

Intel finishes crossing the Ivy Bridge with new desktop Core i3 models originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 04

Microsoft delivers Windows Server 2012, puts the enterprise on cloud 8

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Forget Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 is where it’s at… if you’re a corporate IT manager, that is. Microsoft has just posted the finished version of its suit-and-tie OS for immediate sale in download form. Not surprisingly given Microsoft’s big cloud push, the emphasis with the upgrade is on improving how well the software scales for internet hosting — the company wants one common backbone that can handle as little as a small e-mail server to large-scale Azure deployments and virtualization. Server 2012 is also defined by what you won’t find: while the Metro-style interface from the platform’s Windows 8 cousin shows its face in the Essentials version, it’s noticeably stripped down and goes away in the more advanced tiers. The real shakeup for some might just be the new price points, which drop the cost by a large amount for offices that don’t need more than a slice of what the all-out Datacenter edition has to offer. We’ll admit that most of our attention as end users will be focused on what happens several weeks from now, but if you’re one of those rare server operators that can’t wait to start testing a new OS release almost immediately, you’ve got a head start on most of us.

Filed under: Desktops, Internet, Software

Microsoft delivers Windows Server 2012, puts the enterprise on cloud 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sep 03

Sony Vaio Tap 20: Desktab PC

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Sony has introduced a new hybrid computer that is made significantly less bonkers by the touch-friendly nature of Windows 8. The Sony Vaio Tap 20 is an all-in-one “tabletop” PC: it has a keyboard and mouse and other standard desktop hardware, with a couple of additions: the 20″ 1600×900 display is a touchscreen. And it has a battery.

sony vaio tap 20 tabletop pc

As you can see the Tap 20 has an integrated kick stand at the back. You can prop it up at the usual eye-level angle for traditional desktop use, but you can also lay the display flat and use it like a gigantic tablet. The screen can recognize up to 10 points at once, and the computer will come with 20 multi-touch apps to play around with.

sony vaio tap 20 tabletop pc 2

Inside the Tap 20 will be Intel Core i3 to i7 CPUs, 4GB to 8GB RAM, 750GB to 1TB HDD and as I said, an internal battery. The battery is supposed to make it easier to transport the display around the house. Then again the display weighs about 11.5 lbs. I’m thinking Sony should have used the space to fit a discrete graphics card, instead of making-do with the Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated GPU. Below is a brief hands-on video taken by Pocket Now:

I wonder if the Tap 20 will turn out to be a consumer version of the Microsoft/Samsung Surface (now known as PixelSense), or if it will just be remembered as a gimmick.

[Sony via Gear Patrol]

Sep 03

AMD’s top-end Trinity desktop chip could cost just $130, the same as a budget Core i3

Posted in: Today's Chili

You can’t get a Core i3 on Newegg right now for much less than $130 — a sum that’ll put you almost at the bottom of the Ivy Bridge league with a dual-core processor, 3MB cache and HD 2500 (i.e. not HD 4000) integrated graphics. That’s why it’s interesting to see these leaked AMD Trinity prices over at retailer BLT. If they’re accurate, they indicate that the same amount of cash might afford a top-end Trinity A10 processor with overclockable 3.8GHz quad-cores, 4MB cache and vastly superior Radeon HD 7660D graphics. At the other end of AMD’s range, a dual-core A4-5300 APU could cost as little as $60. The only catch we can see — aside from the issue of accuracy — is that by the time these processors actually become available rival Intel may well have seen fit to adjust its own prices. In fact, Chipzilla just launched some new Ivy Bridge processors over the weekend that brought the cost of entry down to $117 — which goes to show that nothing stands still for long. Head past the break for some official gaming benchmark claims about the A10, or see More Coverage for extras.

Continue reading AMD’s top-end Trinity desktop chip could cost just $130, the same as a budget Core i3

Filed under: Desktops

AMD’s top-end Trinity desktop chip could cost just $130, the same as a budget Core i3 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 07:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 31

Lenovo IdeaCentre B340 and B545 bring all-in-one touch to Windows 8

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If you’re looking for the Lenovo style and grace and want 10-finger multi-touch action on an all-in-one beast of a computer this Fall, you’re in luck with the B Series. The Lenovo IdeaCentre B340 and B545 bring the heat with two giant displays – the B545 working with a 23-inch frameless screen and the B340 having a 21.5-inch screen which can also function as a high-def TV running independent of the PC’s OS. These are two odd beasts, that’s for certain – and certainly a good thing for the new Windows universe!

The B340 is the one of these two units that works with optional OneKey TV with the ability to turn the display into a high definition television with one button click. When you’ve got this function activated, you’re able to watch TV without powering on the PC at all – cool stuff! You’ll be working on a 21.5-inch Full HD touch-screen display with a collection of specifications that out-do this device’s predecessor, the B320, which was the first computer to have OneKey TV working on it.

This is the second – working with an independent hardware TV circuit board inside the PC to operate separate from the PC’s board. The B320 is also able to allow you to watch picture-in-picture so you can have your PC and TV on the screen simultaneously. As Lenovo notes, “this technology is the first hardware TV solution to be put into an all-in-one PC.

The B340 also has Dolby Advanced Audio V2 as well as NVIDIA GeForce 615 1GB/512M graphics with DirectX 11. You’ll be working with up to 8GB DDR3 memory at 1600MHz and you’ll have the option to have an integrated DVD reader/writer or Blu-ray Disc drive. This AIO can connect with Bluetooth 2.1 if you choose it to be able and you’ve got wi-fi connectivity as well. The IdeaCentre B340 and B345 will be available October 2012 starting at US $599.

Then there’s also the B545, a device which was available in April starting at $699 USD. This all-in-one PC has a 23-inch frameless screen with 10-point multi-touch for Windows 8 – in the near future, that is – as well as 3D vision. You’ll be working with this device in the very near future with up to Genuine Windows 8 as well as the AMD A10 quad-core processor under the hood. You can add on an integrated Blu-ray Disc drive. This device also has HDMI-out as well as HDMI-in with TV tuner – but not quite the same magic tech the B340 has with TV – separate stuff!

Check out the rest of our Lenovo coverage at IFA 2012 and stick around as the more pops up all week long – and over the weekend, too!

Aug 31

Lenovo announces IdeaCentre A520, B340 and B345 all-in-ones running Windows 8

Posted in: Today's Chili

If yesterday was the day Lenovo unveiled its new Android products, today’s the day it turns its attention to Windows 8: in addition to announcing a slew of laptops, the company introduced three IdeaCentre all-in-ones, all slated to go on sale in October when Windows 8 launches. Of these, the flagship is clearly the A520, with its tilting 23-inch screen that can lie nearly flat. Included in that press release, though, you’ll also find details about the B340 / B345, a smaller, more affordable desktop with a less flashy design.

Starting with the A520, it’s the little brother to the A720, which we first saw back at CES. Like the A720, it has a screen that can be tilted between 5 and 90 degrees, except this particular model has a smaller 23-inch display (compared with 27 inches for the A720). That 1080p display is of IPS caliber and supports 10-point multitouch. Under the hood, it can be configured with a Core i7 CPU, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 1TB of HDD storage and an optional Blu-ray player. If you need graphics horsepower, though, you might want to skip ahead to read about those B series models, since the A520 will only be offered with integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics.

Indeed, graphics might be a good place to start when we talk about the B340 and B345, since the GPU is the one thing that really separates them. Though both will be offered with a 1GB AMD Radeon HD7470A card, only the B340 will be available with a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce 615. Otherwise, you’ll find the same key specs on both models: a 21.5-inch (1080p) touchscreen display, with a choice of a Core i7 processor or AMD quad-core APU on the inside. The two are also VESA mount-compatible, and can be configured with optional TV tuners.

The A520 will sell for $999 and up, while the B series will start at $599. Again, both will arrive in October, at which point we should be neck-deep in Windows 8 PCs to review.

Gallery: Lenovo IdeaCentre A520