Airbus A320 family to use Dell Latitude laptops for electronic flight bags

Airbus A320 to use Dell Latitude laptops for some electronic flight bags

Airbus isn’t putting all its eggs in one basket — or rather, one bag. While it already has a suite of iPad cockpit apps to assist pilots, the aircraft maker is hedging its bet with a deal to use Dell Latitude laptops as electronic flight bags on the A320 family. Crews will get the Latitude E6330 installed as a Class-2 device that can link up with the A320’s avionics; as you’d expect, the PCs will also ship with software for maps, manuals and weather. We’ve reached out to learn just which carriers are going this route, although possible expansion to other Airbus vehicles could make Dell a common sight at 36,000 feet.

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Source: Dell

ASUS ‘We Transform’ Computex teaser leaves us waiting for more teaser videos

ASUS 'We Transform' Computex video lets us know we can expect more teaser videos

Just like last year, ASUS is filling time before the Computex trade show by posting teaser trailers. Sporting a “We Transform” tag, its first one for 2013 features the spun metal casings, touchscreen laptops, convertibles, tablets and phones we’ve become accustomed to from the company. So what’s next? The video doesn’t appear to provide any hints — other than an oddly blacked-out tablet with stylus about 30 seconds in — however the press page linked below includes a countdown to ASUS’ press conference June 3rd, and blank spaces for four more videos to come. We’ll keep an eye out for anything else that fills in the blanks (US release info for the Transformer Book would do the trick), check the video after the break to “transform your expectations of technology.”

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Source: ASUS

Sony VAIO Fit notebooks target back-to-school sharers with NFC

Sony has revealed its latest entry-level VAIO notebooks, the VAIO Fit series, with a choice of 14- and 15.6-inch displays, 3rd-gen Intel Core processors, and the option of dedicated NVIDIA graphics. Kicking off from $649 for the VAIO Fit 14 and $699 for the VAIO Fit 15 – which have 1600 x 900 and 1920 x 1080 displays, respectively – the new Fit range also throw in features like NFC for easier transfer of content between notebooks and Xperia smartphones.

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For instance, tap your phone or tablet against your notebook, and you can push a website address from your laptop, or vice-versa, Sony suggests. The NFC can also be used as a way to quickly pair two devices via WiFi or Bluetooth, much as Sony has already done with its NFC-enabled smart TV remote controls.

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Meanwhile, there’s aluminum detailing on the Fit 14/15, an optional capacitive touchscreen, and Exmor R webcams. The Fit E-series models get plastic casings, with the Fit 14E and 15E having “big box” speakers, Sony says, while the 15E also gets a subwoofer.

The Fit 15/15E also accommodates a separate numeric keypad, though all the models have backlit ‘boards. NVIDIA GeForce graphics with up to 2GB of dedicated memory are optional, and there’s a choice of regular HDD, hybrid hard-drive, or SSD options. DVD and Blu-ray are also on offer.

Sony says the VAIO Fit 14 and 15 will hit shelves in mid-May, priced from $649 for the Fit 14 and $699 for the Fit 15, each available in black, pink, or silver. The Fit E 14E and Fit 15E will be offered in black, pink, or white, priced from around $549 and $579 respectively.

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Sony VAIO Fit notebooks target back-to-school sharers with NFC is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Sony launches a trio of VAIO Fit laptops in Japan

Sony launches a trio of VAIO notebooks for Japan

Spring is here, which means it’s high time that Sony refreshed its laptop line for the cool kids in Japan. The company is talking up a quartet of new VAIOs including the previously-reviewed Duo 11 as well as the unfamiliar trio of the VAIO Fit 15E, Fit 14 and Fit 15. Delving deep into that last model, the 22.5mm-thick unit comes with a 1,920 x 1,080 touchscreen display and runs the 64-bit version of Windows 8 on a 2GHz Intel Core i7-3537U CPU. Look deeper and you’ll find 8GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 1TB of hybrid storage as well as 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, NFC and an Exmor R webcam. The various models will filter into Japanese stores between May 18th and June 1st, with the stock Fit 15 setting you back 180,000 yen ($1,818).

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Source: Sony Japan (Translated)

Touch-notebooks to suck some tablet sting from Post-PC says NPD

A rise in convertible and slider touchscreen form-factors will offset the “post-PC era” slide of notebooks, but will be unable to fend off the full might of tablets, new research suggests. Tablet shipments will rise to 579.4m units by 2017, NPD DisplaySearch projections indicate, while traditional notebooks will drop to 183.3m units by the same point. However, a new breed of touch-enabled notebooks will step in to help arrest some of the slump.

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NPD suggests hybrids, sliders, and convertibles will all break into the segment, straddling the line between traditional portables and tablets by pairing QWERTY for text entry with a touchscreen. Although a minority niche in 2012, the projections claim touch-enabled models will outsell their non-touch counterparts by 2017.

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Helping that acceleration will be ultrabooks, NPD claims, which are most likely to gain touch-sensitivity. Intel has already confirmed that third-gen ultrabooks based on Haswell processors will require touch in order to be certified, though whether manufacturers will step beyond the traditional touchscreen-on-a-clamshell – or, indeed, if consumers will actually buy the more outlandish form-factors – remains to be seen.

Perhaps disappointing to Microsoft, the research company claims that Windows 8 has had a “limited impact on driving touch adoption in notebook PCs”; that, it suggests, is down to a paucity of apps that actually take advantage of the display technology.

Nonetheless, several manufacturers have attempted to integrate touch in interesting ways into their Windows 8 machines. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga, for instance, has a hinge with extra range, so that the keyboard can be completely folded back behind the touchscreen. Meanwhile, Acer’s Aspire R7 borrows elements from a tablet and from an all-in-one PC for its folding/twisting notebook.


Touch-notebooks to suck some tablet sting from Post-PC says NPD is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Acer Defines Touch and Type Experience with New Aspire R7

TAcer Defines Touch and Type Experience with New Aspire R7

At a press event held today in New York, Acer unveiled the Aspire R7, a revolutionary 15.6-inch notebook that will redefine the touch and type computing experience. Featuring a Full HD 1920×1080 touch screen, the Acer R7 was made for the new computing lifestyle, which increasingly combines touching and typing. With a repositioned keyboard and a revolutionary “Ezel Hinge” that moves the display forward and into different positions, the R7 makes the combination of touching the screen and using the keyboard more intuitive and natural. Its ergonomic design allows users to explore and determine their own preferred way to interact with technology.

he Acer Aspire R7 was introduced today with other new products, including the Acer Aspire P3 Ultrabook, Acer Aspire V Series touch notebooks and Acer Iconia Android tablets. The new line of Acer mobile products highlights the company’s focus on redefining the computing experience through progressive design.

As Acer’s Exclusive Retail Partner, Best Buy Customers who Pre-Order Will Receive the new STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME for PC for Free
Available May 17th, consumers who place pre-orders with Best Buy between May 3 and May 16, 2013 will also receive a free download of STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME for PC as part of Acer’s marketing partnership campaign with Paramount for the upcoming film, “Star Trek Into Darkness,” opening on May 17, 2013.

The Acer Aspire R7 lets consumers transform their notebook into the shape that best delivers an immersive content experience based on their usage needs. With four modes of operation, the R7 can easily be used as a traditional notebook, a table top pad, a display, or switched into “Ezel” mode, allowing the screen to float over the keyboard at various angles. This allows users to work where they want and how they want — seated or standing, at a desk or with it on their lap. The Ezel Hinge makes it easy to switch the display around, to touch or type while creating, browsing or sharing content. Dual hinge technology allows for single-hand switching between modes and keeps the display rock-steady when touched.

1. Ezel Mode – Reach out and pull the display closer, eliminating the need to reach across the palm rest and keyboard to use the touch screen. Just pull it up and out where it can be positioned in front of the keyboard, or float over it. By pulling the display close, switching between touchscreen, keyboard and touchpad is seamless.
2. Notebook mode – Slide the display back behind the keyboard, and you have a powerful, full featured Windows 8 notebook computer with a 15.6-inch Full HD(1) 1920×1080 touchscreen display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 6GB of memory, a 500GB hard drive(2), a 24GB SSD(3) and a full-size backlit keyboard. It also includes a volume control button, HDMI port, SD card reader, audio jacks, three USB ports, WiFi, Bluetooth and a convenient converter port supporting VGA, RJ45 and USB.
3. Display Mode – Flip the screen over and it’s positioned perfectly for watching a movie, showing photos or giving a presentation. Sharing and collaborating is simple, enjoyable and straightforward. With Acer’s proven dual-torque design, the screen flips easily yet remains rigid when touched.
4. Pad Mode – Simply pull down the touchscreen and lay it on top of the keyboard with the face up, and the Aspire R7 morphs into a pad, without giving up the robust performance of a notebook. The ergonomic 4-degree tilting angle makes it perfect for browsing, writing or drawing. It’s ideal for pure touch interactions like casual gaming, browsing, drawing, annotating and more.

Premium Sound
Offering a superior audio visual experience, the R7’s powerful features and high-definition display are complemented by a premium sound system with Dolby Home Theater v4 and four 8 watt speakers. Because of its transformative design, the audio channels automatically reverse when switching modes, so sound is always perfect.

In addition, Acer also relocated the placement of the dual microphones from the traditional notebook layout. Instead of positioning them on the LCD bezel near the webcam, they are placed along the front of the notebook, just under the spacebar. This provides for the best voice sound quality, and enhances the aesthetics of the touchscreen by eliminating the need for holes in the bezel.

Premium Design
In a manner befitting its revolutionary design, the Aspire R7 includes a unibody aluminum chassis, a beautiful brushed metal hinge, and an arched cover with very subtle curves and lines. The bottom features a soft touch finish for a secure grip, making it easy to grasp and carry.
Even the keyboard placement was reconsidered in the new design. Repositioning it closer to the body in front of the chassis makes typing more comfortable and as efficient and as fluid as possible. The keys fall naturally under the fingers, eliminating the need to hold the arms out and over the palm rest and touch pad in order to type. The travel of the keys was also considered in the design, ensuring it is deep enough to provide a perceptible tactile response when typing, so that using the keyboard is just as enjoyable as touching the screen.

Availability and Pricing
Best Buy is Acer’s exclusive retail partner. The R7-571-6858 has a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of of $999.99 USD(4). It will be available in stores and online for shipping on May 17th. Pre-orders can be placed now at www.bestbuy.com. Additional models and specifications will be announced in the following weeks.

Acer brings options galore to new Aspire V5 and V7 laptops (hands-on)

Acer brings options galore to new Aspire V5 and V7 laptops ships this month for $499 and up

Choice, you say? Acer’s newest laptop duo is offering that in spades. At a gala this morning in New York City, the company rolled out quite the arrangement of new kit — not the least of which was a revamped Aspire V5 and Aspire V7. The two lines ship with a 14- or 15.6-inch display, giving users the option of a 1,366 x 768 panel or a (highly recommended) 1,920 x 1,080 IPS panel; those seeking something even smaller will also find an 11.6-inch option in the V5 range, weighing just three pounds and measuring under an inch thick. The whole lot can be selected with dual- or quad-core chips from AMD and Intel, while select configurations are equipped with NVIDIA’s GeForce GT7XXM series or AMD’s Radeon HD8750 discrete graphics.

In essence, the V7 only differs from the V5 by adding a “silky touch” finish on the bottom, the “latest Intel CPUs,” optional SSDs and Intel’s Wireless Display (WiDi) technology. Both ranges offer the new Acer Converter Port, which aims to make the act of connecting to an external display, HDD, router, etc. a lesson in simplicity. The newfangled V series will ship at the end of the month with prices starting at $499, but you can bet that the model you’re really after will land far north of that.

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Source: Acer

Acer Aspire P3 convertible wants to replace your iPad and keyboard dock

Acer] has revealed its latest ultrabook, the Aspire P3, throwing Windows 8 into a touchscreen convertible as part of the company’s renewed focus on touch devices. Packing an 11.6-inch HD IPS LCD display, Core i3 or i5 processors, and up to six hours of battery life into a 0.77-inch thick notebook, the Aspire P3 looks at first glance like a regular laptop but – with the screen section pulled forward in what’s effectively a keyboard dock – can be flipped into a slate.

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In that orientation, the P3 can be used either with the fingers or with a stylus; Acer will offer that separately, though the case will have a slot to store it in-between use. Connectivity includes a USB 3.0 port, HDMI, and a headphone socket, and there are Dolby Home Theater speakers and a 720p HD webcam on the front.

Acer Aspire P3 ultrabook rear view

On the back, Acer has included a 5-megapixel camera. Inside it’s a choice of 60GB or 120GB SSD, and Acer says the Aspire P3 should wake from sleep in “only a few seconds.” The whole thing tips the scales at 3.06 pounds, and Acer is billing the P3 as ideal for those who might otherwise have considered a tablet – like an iPad – and a separate keyboard dock.

The Acer Aspire P3 runs full Windows 8 – not Windows RT – and is expected to go on sale immediately. It’ll be priced from $799.99 depending on specifications.

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Acer Aspire P3 ultrabook rear view
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Acer Aspire P3 ultrabook side view
Acer Aspire P3 ultrabook with keyboard left angle


Acer Aspire P3 convertible wants to replace your iPad and keyboard dock is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Acer intros Aspire R7, a laptop with an adjustable display like an all-in-one (update: video)

Acer intros Aspire R7, a laptop with an adjustable display like an all-in-one (update: video)

When Acer plans a global press event, asking journalists to fly in from twelve time zones away, you know it’s going to announce more than just some back-to-school PCs. The company just announced the Aspire R7, a 15-inch laptop whose display sits on a flexible “Ezel” hinge, allowing it to be pushed up and back so that it lies nearly flat — yep, just like an all-in-one desktop. Similar to the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga line, too, you can flip the screen all the way back so that it faces away from the keyboard, a feature that seems especially well-suited for giving presentations.

In terms of specs, Acer is being a little cagey, but we have learned the R7 has a 15.6-inch, 1080p display with a choice of Core i5 and i7 processors. The whole thing weighs in the neighborhood of five and a half pounds. Also confirmed: it’s up for pre-order now for $999, available exclusively at Best Buy in the US. We’re told it will ship May 17th. In the meantime, we’ve got hands-on photos below, and we’ll very shortly be adding some first impressions after the break.

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Lenovo unveils touchscreen ThinkPad S431, ships ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531

Lenovo unveils touchscreen ThinkPad S431, ships ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531

Lenovo is giving fans of professional laptop chic a treat today: in addition to shipping the ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531, it’s unveiling one more model, the ThinkPad S431. The new Ivy Bridge-powered system is closer to the Edge S430 in spirit, carrying a similar 0.8 inches thick chassis, an aluminum lid and a thin-bezel design that stuffs a 14-inch touchscreen into a small body. It does carry the newer Edge line’s unifying OneLink connector and gesture-friendly touchpad, although the svelter profile also involves some sacrifices — the S431 tops out at 8GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive, or about half what its peers can manage. The slimmer, touch-enabled design will also boost the asking price to $699 when the S431 ships in June, although the cost conscious can spring for the E431 and E531 today for a distinctly cheaper $599.

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Source: Lenovo (1), (2)