Hasta La Gadget!

The Internet of things — that nebulous term usually associated with interconnecting everyday objects in a meaningful way — is in the news again. Yesterday, Broadcom announced that it’s launching a couple cost-effective, power-efficient wireless chips geared towards appliances, home automation and wearable devices. The first SoC, BCM4390, incorporates a highly-efficient WiFi radio for embedded use in products such as weight scales, thermostats and security cameras. It fits into the company’s range of Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) chips. The second SoC, BCM20732, features an ultra low-power Bluetooth transceiver and targets devices like heart rate monitors, pedometers and door locks. Broadcom’s also contributing its Bluetooth software stack to the Android Open Source Project with support for both standard and Bluetooth Smart hardware. Does this mean our long-awaited smart toaster’s just around the corner? We sure hope so. Follow the source links below for more info.

Filed under: Misc, Wireless

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Source: Broadcom (1), (2)

The arrival of Windows 8 is a good excuse for the PC industry to flood the market with so much hardware, consumers will be blinded by so much choice. Acer’s jabbing its digits into your eyes with its new lineup of low-end desktops for the casual user. The ME micro towers will take an Intel Core i5 or I7, 2TB HDDs and up to 16GB of RAM. If you don’t have anywhere else to stash your smartphone, the chassis comes with a recess desk on top with a USB port for easy charging. Those looking for something a little less demanding can pick up an XC desktop, a space-saving unit that will take an Intel Core i3, a 1TB HDD and up to 6GB of RAM. Prices for the ME begin at $700, while the cheaper XCs will set you back a much more modest $400.

Continue reading Acer unveils space-saving ME mini tower and XC desktops for (low) power users

Filed under: Desktops, Acer

Acer unveils space-saving ME mini tower and XC desktops for (low) power users originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Is from Martin, who is looking for a hyper-efficient media streamer for his retro caravan. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“My partner and I are renovating a small ’70s caravan and would like a power-efficient media center/PC purely to watch our library of movies and TV shows. We’re in Australia, so getting hold of kit like the Raspberry Pi would be difficult, we’re looking for something that’s equally power efficient, even up to $300 AUD (around $310 USD). Cheers!””

That’s this week’s challenge, Engadgeteers — do you feel up for it? Can you help our southern hemisphere friends find a power-efficient HTPC for under $310 that won’t drain a retro-caravan’s batteries? Can we help these people turn the temporary home into a rockin’ media-streamin’ paradise? Hit us up in the comments if you’ve got some expertise to share.

Ask Engadget: Best sub-$310 power-efficient HTPC for a caravan? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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