Hasta La Gadget!

When the original Lenovo Yoga came out, everyone seemed to have the same complaint: when you flipped the screen over into tablet mode, you had to rest your hands against the keyboard on the other side. It didn’t matter that the keyboard automatically disabled; it felt awkward to press your fingers into flappy keys instead of a smooth surface. Well, Lenovo seems to have taken that criticism to heart: the company just announced the ThinkPad Yoga, a 12-inch, business-friendly model with a keyboard that flattens as you flip the screen back into tablet mode. How does this so-called Lift and Lock system work? Here’s the short version: as you flip the display over, a mechanical setup causes the platform between the keys to rise so that it’s level with the buttons. Meanwhile, the keys get clamped in place so you can’t press them. Finally, folding the screen over causes a set of feet to pop out so that there’s some buffer space around the keys when you place the “tablet” face-up on a flat surface (a handy thing when you’re working on grimy airplane tray).

As you can imagine, a design like this requires a reinforced hinge, along with extra space inside the chassis; for now, at least, Lenovo doesn’t know how to put a keyboard like this in a super-skinny machine, which is why you’re not going to find it on the new Yoga Pro, the replacement to the Yoga 13. At any rate, it’s not a perfect solution — you can still feel the individual buttons — but at least they stay put. Also, it works much more quietly than you might expect. To be fair, our expectations were low in that regard: when Lenovo first told us it was working on a self-flattening keyboard, we envisioned a machine with a noisy motor inside, similar to the failed Acer Aspire S5. After watching a demo, though, we were impressed by how little it creaks — and a Lenovo rep promised it would make even less noise by the time it ships.%Gallery-slideshow73559%

Filed under: Laptops, Lenovo

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Philips has just launched Cloud TV at IFA 2013, a service that’ll work on its latest Smart TVs including the hot-off-the-press Philips 9000 4K series. It’ll bring streaming of “hundreds of local, national, international and special interest channels” to 2012 or newer Philips Smart TV models. An app will also be available for those sets to scan all that content, most of which will be free. The company also announced Cloud Explorer, which will let you store your personal photos, video and audio by signing in to Dropbox or creating a new account through Philips. Both are now available in most of Europe and Russia, so if you’re pining for yet another cloud streaming or storage service, check the PR after the break.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD

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Philips, more known for its TVs and home appliances isn’t entirely new to the DJ game, but it’s certainly not the first brand that trips off the tongue when talking all things spin. Still, it’s IFA, and Philips is having a product releasing spree, which includes a renewed venture into this space with the M1X-DJ system. Essentially, the M1X-Dj is an iPad and iPhone dock (via lightning connection) with DJ platters and a mini mixer built-in. It’s compatible with Algoriddim’s ubiquitous Djay app, and supports Bluetooth streaming also. The speakers pumps out your mixes at 80 watts, and can run on regular D-size batteries should you want to take the fun outside. There appears to be a shoulder strap, too, perhaps making this the accordion for the iOS generation? We’ll find out in November when it comes out, costing 399 euros.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

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Source: Philips

We’re guessing that a few companies have been eyeing GoPro’s position at the top of the action-cam market with envy. That’s why Toshiba is launching the Camileo X-Sports, a boxy action camera that strongly takes after that aforementioned leading brand. The small, 94-gram (3.3-ounce) unit comes with a 2-inch LCD display, a 12-megapixel CMOS sensor and the ability to shoot 60fps video. There’s a 10x digital zoom paired with an ultra-wide angle lens, micro-USB and mini-HDMI ports and the battery promises to last 1.5 hours when shooting 60fps and over two hours at 30fps. It’ll also connect directly over 802.11 b/g/n WiFi to a nearby smartphone or tablet, so you can use the larger device as a viewfinder for your more arty powder shredding montages. The retail package will also come with a bundled waterproof casing, wristband remote control as well as several mounts, and will be available in Europe before Christmas for €250 ($330). %Gallery-slideshow79648%

Filed under: Cameras

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Acer may have beaten everybody to market with the first 8-inch Windows tablet, but we knew it wouldn’t be long before the other guys started catching up. Toshiba just entered the fray with the Encore, an 8-inch tablet that manages to be even cheaper than Acer’s W3. Like the W3, it runs on an Atom processor, but because Toshiba waited longer it got to use one of Intel’s new quad-core Bay Trail chips. What’s interesting, too, is that Toshiba apparently worked closely with Microsoft on this, not just in optimizing the tablet for Windows 8.1, but in making sure the tablet’s dual mics and 2MP front camera will be Skype-certified by the time it ships. The Encore arrives in early November – i.e., not long after Windows 8.1 ships. As for that price we alluded to, it’ll cost $330 with a category-standard 1,280 x 800 display and 32GB of built-in storage (expandable via microSD). Not bad considering the W3 hit the market at $380, and is still going for about $350 in most places. That leaves just one teensy question: what’s it like to use?%Gallery-slideshow79642%%Gallery-slideshow79615%

Filed under: Tablets

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