The USB 3.0 Promoter Group teased us with the prospect of a 10Gbps USB standard back in January, and it now has something to show for its work: the alliance has finalized its specification under the USB 3.1 name. While little has changed with the port format in half a year’s time, its completion lets AMD, Intel and others start work on chipsets that offer twice the bandwidth of USB 3.0 while preserving support for USB 2.0. There’s no public roadmap for the first USB 3.1 devices, although the first related developer sessions will begin on August 21st. Not that the Promoter Group is necessarily in a rush — while Intel’s Thunderbolt 2 will hit an even quicker 20Gbps this year, the new USB format is more likely to receive broad support.
Intel has dropped controversial plans to outfit its upcoming web TV set-top box with a face-recognition camera, admitting that a combination of privacy concerns and performance issues forced its hand. The original goal had been to use a combination of age, gender, and other identification features to track viewers of the web TV service and tailor advertising to suit; however, Intel’s web TV chief Erik Huggers told the WSJ, that’s now been abandoned, at least in the first-gen box.
According to Huggers, Intel Vice President and General Manager of Intel Media, the camera system did not work as well in low-light settings as the company hoped, a vital feature given the sort of environments in which people generally watch TV. Intel had never detailed its exact system, though concepts by the company had been demonstrated publicly built into set-top boxes.
The goal had been to endear Intel’s fledgling on-demand and live TV service to content owners, by promising them far more comprehensive viewer metrics on which promotional campaigns could be based. Whereas existing advertising takes a relatively blunt-brush approach to who is watching what, Intel’s system could have pinpointed demographics down to relatively narrow age brackets, tracked the gender of multiple viewers, and more.
Intel Web TV viewer-tracking demo:
That, coupled with on-demand access to different advertising content, could have allowed Intel to show tailored playlists of commercials depending on who was watching at any one time. The system could also have made suggestions for other shows the viewer might enjoy, based on their age and gender along with what they’d already been watching, in effect supercharging Netflix-style recommendations with demographic awareness.
Unsurprisingly, even with Intel insisting its eye-on-the-sofa would take a relatively vague view of who was watching, privacy advocates weren’t impressed with the scheme. Those privacy questions were another part of Intel’s decision to backtrack on the camera, Huggins conceded.
The as-yet-unnamed service – rumored to be dubbed Intel OnCue when it launches – is currently in testing in the homes of around 2,500 Intel employees, Huggins says. Despite rumored struggles to secure content licensing, which Intel has insisted will not affect a 2013 launch, the web TV chief is confident that the service will find favor among consumers, not least because of its comprehensive cloud DVR system.
That, it’s expected, will include full recording of all programming into a cloud-based store, with access to at least three days of retrospective viewing. Subscribers will be able to rewind any channel they choose should they miss something, even if they didn’t specifically mark it for recording.
Yes, we do know that Intel’s latest generation Haswell processors do not offer so much of a jump in speed and performance, but rather, it intends to deliver improved battery life to your notebook, and earlier this month, we did touch on a story about notebooks from Toshiba that will run on the Haswell platform. Well, as the calendar arrives at July 29th, here we are with word that Toshiba’s Satellite U and M range in the UK has received a refresh, with the Satellite U50t touted to arrive with a 10-point touchscreen display and Windows 8 as the operating system of choice, while the Satellite M50D and M50Dt will run on AMD’s latest APU processors and Radeon graphics.
The entire range that has been tipped for a Q3 release will ship alongside Intel’s fourth generation Haswell processors and HD 4400 graphics, although there is always the option of settling for NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 740M if you need that added graphical firepower (and have some cash to spare alongside, too). Other hardware specifications include Intel WiDi and Miracast technologies within, accompanied by a full-size HDMI port, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, a couple of USB 3.0 ports, and an SD memory card slot. Unfortunately, Toshiba has remained mum on its pricing details.
Intel has inspired another full refresh in Toshiba’s Satellite M and U laptop lines, this time bringing on touchscreen capabilities as well. Both notebook lines now work with up to 16GB RAM (2 x 8GB slots) and 39.6cm (15.6″) HD displays, kicking out up to 7 hours of battery life, the whole lot of them. They’re both coming with DTS Studio Sound audio enhancements across their speaker systems for loud, powerful music and media as well.
This line works with 2 x USB 3.0 ports, one of them working with Sleep-and-Charge. They’ve also got a single USB 2.0 port, one HDMI 1.4 with 3D TV support, and full-sized SD card slot. Inside you’ve got Bluetooth 4.0 technology as well as Miracast support for standardization in display mirroring. That comes with Intel Wireless Display technology as well.
The Toshiba Satellite U50t Ultrabook line works with 4th generation Intel Core processors for Ultrabooks paired with Intel HD Graphics 4400. This device works with a ten-point touchscreen display without option for a non-touch display, and comes in at 377.5 x 249.5 x 21.3mm. This unit comes with up to 1TB HDD and weighs in at 2.3kg at its lightest.
Meanwhile the Toshiba Satellite M range comes in three configurations: M50, M50D, and M50Dt. Users will have options for 4th generation Intel Core processors or the newest in new AMD APU processors, these paired with Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD graphics. That’s Intel HD Graphics 4400, NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M with 2GB VRAM graphics, or AMD Radeon HD graphics (this final option for AMD models only).
The Toshiba Satellite M family works with touchscreen abilities optionally, the whole collection paired with up to a 1TB HDD, weighting in at 2.1kg at least. Each of these notebooks is the same size as the U50t at 377.5 x 249.5 x 21.3mm.
The full range works with Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) as well as Gigabit LAN, so you’ll be connecting at full speed. Every notebook in this article is also being promised by Toshiba for the third quarter of 2013, prices unknown as yet.
The MacBook Air has already seen its glory day with a Haswell upgrade last month at WWDC 2013, but the MacBook Pro was disappointingly skipped over and still has yet to get the new chips. However, it’s reported that we may see new MacBook Pros come our way in October during Apple’s annual fall event.
According to a report from the China Times, says that refreshed MacBook Pros will make an appearance in October, based on reports from sources in Apple’s supply chain. Furthermore, the report suggests that prices will remain the same for the upgraded MacBook Pros, which has been an ongoing trend for Apple.
Intel’s new Haswell processors obviously offer faster speeds than the previous generation, but they also provide lower power consumption, which reduces the juice needed from the battery. We’ve already played around with the new Haswell-equipped MacBook Air, and it certainly boasts quite the battery-life improvement. The MacBook Pros should deliver similar results.
The new Haswell chips also come with support for 4K displays, which not come in handy now, seeing as how Apple doesn’t currently have any 4K products, but it certainly could come in handy down the line.
In any case, while today’s report of an October launch is merely just a prediction based on Apple supply-chain status, that seems like a good bet overall. Apple usually holds an event every fall to announce new products, and this coming fall could be a big one, with rumors of a new iPhone(s), iPad(s), and now MacBook Pros.
Intel teased us with the prospect of a fanless Haswell chip back at Computex, but it didn’t say just how it would achieve such a feat. Now we know: it’s introducing more energy-efficient versions of the Y-series Core processors that were announced earlier this year. The new chips consume as little as 4.5W in a typical scenario, letting them run in tablets and detachable convertibles without the fans needed by their 6W peers. Don’t expect blistering performance at this reduced power level, however. While Intel isn’t divulging clock speeds just yet, the 4.5W Y-series chips have the same 11.5W thermal design power rating as their 6W siblings — they’ll still need active cooling to perform at their best. The company also isn’t providing ship dates or naming customers, although it does promise that the extra-miserly Core CPUs should be available in the “coming months.” We have an idea as to who might be interested.
With the release of HP’s next-generation workstations in the HP Z230 Tower and SFF, the company brings a combination of compact bodies and energy efficient constructs to keep them current in today’s business environment. The HP Z230 comes in two main configurations, both of them with a set of possible configurations therein. Both units are being pushed at the same time as a series of Z Displays that’ll compliment their next-generation abilities.
The HP SFF (Small Form Factor) works with a body that’s a full 57% smaller than the Tower that shares its name. You’ve got a single 3.5-inch internal bay here, 1x 2.5-inch bay to keep it company inside, and a single internal/external 3.5-inch bay to boot. And just in case you need another, you’ve also got a single external Half-Height 5.25-inch bay as well. Expansion slots on this machine include 1 PCIe Gen3 x16, 1 PCIe Gen2 x4 slot/x16 connector, 1 PCIe Gen2 x1 slot/x4 connector, and 1 PCIe Gen2 x1 slot, the whole lot of the Low Profile.
With the Tower you’ll get six available drive bays, one of which is a versatile 2.5-inch HD bay for high speed solid state drive integration, along with optional external slim ODD bay. This optional bay allows rather easy installation of SSD Hard Drives for quick-changes and expansion. Expansion on this machine includes 1 PCIe Gen3 x16, 1 PCIe Gen2 x4 slot/x16 connector, 1 PCIe Gen2 x1 slot/x4 connector, 1 PCIe Gen2 x1 slot, and 1 PCI 32-bit.
Both of these devices work with 2x USB 3.0 ports up front alongside at least one USB 2.0 port and a headphone out. The Tower adds a single microphone in and a second USB 2.0 Charging Data Port. Both machines have 2 USB 3.0 ports on their back, 4 USB 2.0, and a variety of Display Ports – they’ve both got 1x USB 3.0 inside, these joined by 3 USB 2.0 ports under the hood as well.
The Tower in this family rings in at 15.7 x 6.7 x 17.4 in (39.93 x 17.04 x 44.25 cm) while the SFF is just 3.95 x 13.3 x 15.0 in (10.5 x 33.83 x 38.15 cm). Both work with Intel’s newest Xeon processor E3-1200 v3 family with choices for either 2D or 3D graphics. These units start at $999 USD for quad-core configurations and are expected to be available worldwide inside August of this year.
The Gateway team this week brings on not just a new set of desktop machines for students and families, but a set of Gateway NE Series notebooks as well. This series starts at 15.6-inch (1366 x 768) and ramps up to a 17.3-inch (1600 x 900 resolution) Ultrabright LED-backlit display, these models both working with the latest in Intel and AMD processors backed up by up to 8GB of DDR3 dual-channel memory. And the whole lot runs Windows 8 too, of course.
This line of notebooks brings on two built-in stereo speakers with full HD audio support. They’ve each got HD webcams to send your image out unto the earth as well, rounding out this system of student-friendly web chat with a full-sized keyboard and dedicated keypad.
ALong the edges of these notebooks you’ll find one USB 3.0 and a set of two USB 2.0 ports. There’s a full-sized HDMI port for video out to HD displays, while most models work with a real-deal super-muli DVD drive with M-DISC READY for what the company calls “proven permanent archival quality data.”
There’s a Gateway NE5 model coming in first with a 15.6-inch display that’ll be measuring in at just 1.0-inch thin. There’s also a Gateway NE7 with a 17.3-inch display at just 1.36 inches thin, this larger model starting at $449.99 USD while the smaller starts at $379.99 USD, while the full line works with a one year limited parts and labor warranty.
This week the folks at Gateway have brought back some heat in a collection of laptops and desktops for the 2013 business year. This new collection brings Haswell Intel Core processors as well as some ever-so-slightly thinned-down bodies in the notebook line while the desktop machines amp up largely on the inside – then there’s the Gateway One ZX, an all-in-one for students in a big way. Unassumingly simple looking, the lot of them.
Also included in this weeks gush of releases from the company, Gateway KX Series displays bring 19.5-, 21.5, 23-, 24- and 27-inch screens bring tilt capabilities from -5 to 25 degrees each. These models work with IPS, VA or TN panels while the whole lot work with three-year parts and labor warranties – and the lot of them starts at $99 this week. The desktop line exists in the Gateway One ZX, Gateway DX Series, and the compact Gateway SX Series.
The smallest of this collection exists in the Gateway SX Series and works at “a third of the size of standard desktops” with third-generation (not 4th) Intel Core i3 or AMD A Series processors and as much as 8GB DDR3 dual-channel memory. You’ll find a massive 8 USB 2.0 ports on this machine’s body if you’d like as well. This compact line starts at $529.99 USD.
The Gateway DX Series brings on features tuned for families and students looking for movies and videos as well as games. This is the entertainment beast, not so much for massive video processing and hardcore rendering – not that you couldn’t try, of course. Here you’ve got 4th generation (Haswell) Intel Core i5 or AMD A Series processors with up to 10GB DDR3 dual-channel memory and 1TB hard drives. You’ll find this series bringing on two USB 3.0 and up to 10 USB 2.0 ports depending on your specific model choice. This line starts at $398 USD and sits well inside the “mini tower” universe.
In the Gateway One ZX all-in-one desktop line you’ll find a lovely 21.5-inch Full HD Ultrabright LCD powered by a Intel Pentium Processor G2030 processor and 4GB DDR3 dual-channel memory. This unit is aimed squarely at the school-faring crowd and is suggested for use with “casual gaming” and student work galore. Inside is a 1TB hard drive, an optical drive (they’re not dead yet!) and built-in 2.5W stereo speakers with 2.1-channel surround sound support and high-def audio. This unit comes in at $529.99 in its most base configuration.
Gateway may live in the shadow of its parent company Acer, but it’s getting the spotlight today with refreshed versions of its entry-level PCs. New versions of its 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch NE Series laptops are slimmer than their ancestors, carry Kabini-based AMD A4 and A6 processors and offer up to 1TB of storage. Desktops remain largely the same on the outside, but there’s a few welcome tweaks on the inside. Although the small SX Series isn’t radically different, regular DX Series towers now have the option of a Haswell-era Intel Core i5 alongside recent AMD A-series chips; there’s also a new entry-level version of the One ZX all-in-one that puts a 3GHz Pentium behind the 21.5-inch LCD. Gateway is now shipping the two NE portables at baseline prices of $380 (15.6-inch) and $450 (17.3-inch), while the DX, SX and One Z lines respectively start at $298, $398 and $530. A KX Series of desktop displays is shipping at the same time, starting at $99 for a 19.5-inch screen.
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