Hasta La Gadget!

This week Dell has begun the final announcements of their Windows 8 devices in full, with no less than 10 machines ready for action this Fall. These devices aren’t all computers, of course, with a wireless touchpad and a monitor in there as well, but they’re all aiming in the same direction nonetheless. This update includes such gems as the XPS 10 tablet, Inspiron 15z, and the OptiPlex 9010 All-in-One with touch.

Dell will be attacking the PC world with a selection of products running Windows 8 at launch or fully prepared to work with Windows 8 with attachments. These include tablets, notebooks, and flip convertibles as well as accessories. Available for purchase starting this week – with delivery starting this week as well – are the following:

• XPS One 27 with touch – starting at $1599.99
• XPS13 – starting at $999.99
• S2340T multi-touch monitor – starting at $699.99
• TP713 wireless touchpad – starting at $69.99

This update also covers the entirety of Dell’s PCs and Precision workstations which has Windows 8 for pre-order available on the Dell online store. With Windows 8′s formal unveiling happening this week, we’re expecting orders to be shipped sooner than later. The rest of the items being priced today are available for purchase today online but will be delivered at a later date – not too long though, with Dell saying “in the coming days and weeks” as an estimated delivery window.

• XPS 12 – starting at $1,199.99
• XPS 10 tablet – starting at $499
• Latitude 10 tablet – starting at $649
• Latitude 6430u – starting at $899
• OptiPlex 9010 All-in-One with touch – starting at $1199
• Inspiron 15z – starting at $749.99 ($899.99 with touch)

Have a peek at the links embedded in the names of these units to see more information about each of them. The S2340T is a new unit which is indeed Dell’s first multi-touch monitor, it working with a 90-degree articulating stand and full Windows 8 functionality. The TP713 touchpad offers up more Windows 8 gesture and touch functionality with a full-touch surface.

The Latitude 643u is Dell’s first business Ultrabook. This unit works with lovely aesthetics on the outside and a highly manageable notebook on the inside, with durable features top to bottom. This unit works with wireless docking using WiGig technology, has all-day battery life, and is made to be hardcore, “having undergone a broader set of United States’ Military’s MIL-STD 810G standard tests than any other system in its class.” The Opti-Plex 9010 All-in-One is made for those with small desks and big business needs. You’ve got a multipoint touchscreen, fixed or rotating camera, and articulating stand – this unit is also optimized for Microsoft Lync.

The Inspiron 15z Ultrabook is being revealed with an optional touchscreen interface and a giant display. This unit measures in at less than 1 inch thick and has a shiny aluminum finish, made for those that want both a giant amount of space to work and a thin unit to do it in. Expect these devices to be hitting shelves immediately if not soon!

Dell opens Windows 8 device floodgates with pricing galore is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

With a net profit of just T$68 million ($2.3 million USD) this current reporting quarter, Acer appears to be having some pre-Windows 8 jitters. In this PC market that’s not doing particularly well no matter which way you spin it, it seems as though the imminent launch of Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system is having more than just a tiny effect on sales across the PC universe. Sales figures will be expanded upon later this week – on Thursday, the 24th, mind you, perhaps well hidden behind the Windows 8 launch event taking place that same day.

This update comes from Acer itself, though they’ve not accompanied the drastically lower-than-estimated third quarter net profit. Analysts with Thompson Rueters I/B/E/S quoted by Rueters had a mean estimate of T$756 profit for Acer, this an undeniably different ballpark than the company is quite obviously playing in. KGI Securities analyst Angela Hsiang spoke on the subject as well, noting that in conversations with the company, it was tax rates and exchanges that had a lot to do with the less-than-fantastic quarter.

“The lower-than-expected net profit was due to a forex loss of over T$100 million and a higher tax rate at 34 percent; previous guidance was around 20 percent.” – Hsiang

The second quarter of this year had Acer in at a net profit of T$56 million, while the third quarter of 2011 had them ringing in a net loss of T$1.1 billion. Needless to say, this business can be a little nerve-racking when it comes to reporting quarterly earnings to investors. Certainly an up-swing will be looked for in the near future with Acer’s investors if they’re not already pulling their hair out in patches.

Total revenue was also added to the report with a boost of 11.4 percent compared to a year ago in this 3rd quarter. Compared to the quarter before this one this year, consolidated revenue has gone down 5.6 percent, here now with T$104.4 billion. Now we must turn to Acer’s Windows 8 lineup to see how the business will fare in the consumer sector – onward and upward!

Acer Q3 2012 earnings show measly sum pre-Windows 8 launch is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Fans of the BioShock franchise are undoubtedly waiting for the next game in the franchise to launch called BioShock Infinite. That game is up for pre-order now and gamers who place their order at Gamestop will get a second game free of charge. The pre-order get you BioShock Infinite when it launches and a copy of another BioShock game that you can play right now.

That second game is a flash-based puzzle game called BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution. This little puzzle game was apparently made specifically for the Gamestop pre-order promotion. The game has players filling the shoes of the factory worker in the BioShock Infinite world who completes puzzles to support one of the two factions in the full game.

The game promises more than 50 levels to play. BioShock Infinite currently has a release date of February 26, 2013. That release date has already been pushed back in the past so more delays are always a possibility. What we know about BioShock Infinite so far is that the developers promise the new game will dwarf the original in scope and ambition.

The developers have apparently been working on the game for about four years. The original launch date was set as of October 16 with availability for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. The developers say that they have done things no one has ever done in a first-person shooter before.

[via Joystiq]

Gamestop offers BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution puzzler with pre-order is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Sony Online Entertainment has announced a new DLC available soon for the video game DC Universe Online. The DLC is called Home Turf and is the sixth downloadable content pack offered for the DC Universe Online video game. The DLC will be available in early 2013 for PC and PS3 players.

The download content adds customizable housing to the video game for the first time, allowing players to have their own lair. The download also adds in new customizable backdrops for combat as well. Players will be able to design their lairs and just about any way they can think of including the ability to fashion their space to be similar to the Hall of Doom or Watchtower.

The player spaces are also going to double as battlegrounds allowing players to challenge each other in one-on-one player versus player matches. The Home Turf content will also bring new missions and boss fights at four iconic locations within the game, including Stryker’s Island, Arkham Asylum, Steelworks and Ace Chemicals.

Each of the locations will have 10 new missions the players will be able to complete to earn Marks of Triumph. Those Marks of Triumph will enable players to upgrade their lair and unlock other benefits. Home Turf will be offered as a free download for Legendary members and will be available as paid content for free and premium players.

DC Universe Home Turf DLC gives players a lair is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Fujitsu’s Windows 8 touchscreen strategy isn’t solely centered on tablets; the company also has a 23-inch all-in-one PC, the Esprimo X913-T, which uses ultrasonics to figure out if you’re paying attention. The desktop offers Intel Core i3-3220T or Core i5-3470T processors and up to 16GB of memory, as well as a 1920 x 1080 display with 10-point multitouch for navigating through Windows 8′s Live Tile UI.

Storage is courtesy of up to a 750GB 5,400rpm HDD, or alternatively a 320GB 7,200rpm drive or 128GB SSD, with Intel HD graphics. Connectivity includes audio in, audio out, four USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, DVI, and gigabit ethernet, with WiFi an option along with a webcam and microphones.

As for the ultrasonics, Fujitsu has equipped the Esprimo X913-T with a sensor that uses reflected soundwaves to figure out if there’s someone in front of the screen. Then, like Samsung Smart Stay on the Galaxy S III, the display stays active even if nobody touches the keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen, but automatically locks when the user moves away. Facial recognition with the webcam can speed up the unlocking process too.

The 23-inch display is posable, and can be laid completely flat for those times you want to pretend you have a SUR40 multitouch table. No word on pricing at this stage, but Fujitsu says the Esprimo X913-T will go on sale from Windows 8′s launch next week.

Fujitsu Esprimo X913-T multitouch Windows 8 AIO packs ultrasonics is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.