Hasta La Gadget!

Polaroid may not be the first name you think of when you imagine cutting-edge cameras, but the new Polaroid iM1836 joins a rarified club of Android-based snappers. Pairing Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with an interchangeable lens system of Polaroid’s own devising, the iM1836 shoots up to 18-megapixel stills and up to 1080p Full HD video, and does the same sort of wireless uploads – minus 4G – as Samsung’s Galaxy Camera.

In fact, the Galaxy Camera is the obvious comparison to make, though the two products do differ in key ways. First of all is price: Polaroid is asking $399.99 for the iM1836, unlike the $549.99 you’ll pay Verizon for a Galaxy Camera, and of course Samsung’s shooter doesn’t have swappable lenses.

However, the Polaroid’s screen feels a tad pokey in comparison to the expansive Samsung panel, being as it is 3.5-inches, and the prototype the company was showing showed a little lag at times. Nonetheless, it’s a full – and official – install of Android, so you get Play market access, Gmail for when you’re desperate to email from a camera, and Google+ with its useful auto-uploads.

As for the lenses, they twist off as you’d expect, and Polaroid will include a 10-30mm zoom lens in the box; a pancake will be the other initial option. The company actually includes the sensor in the lens itself, rather than in the body of the camera, which it says reduces the likelihood of damage when swapping, as well as producing better quality images as the sensor is closer to the lens. It also expects them to cost the same as the equivalent Micro Four Thirds lens, and they’ll be compatible with other Polaroid cameras that don’t run Android.

Expect the Polaroid iM1836 to hit shelves in Q1 2013.

Polaroid iM1836 Android interchangeable lens camera hands-on is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Today things are officially off and running with CES 2013, and what better way to start some announcements from HP then with a host of new Windows 8 PC monitors. HP has a slew of 5 new monitor series. They’ll be featuring impressive LED, IPS, and ProDisplay monitors on the showroom floor this week, and we’ve got all the details so read on below to find out more.

We’ll jump right in as they’ve just announced 5 different monitors this afternoon. The biggest of the bunch coming in at 27-inches is the new HP Envy 27 Monitor. This features a beautiful and vivid 27-inch IPS LCD panel with their thin blade bezel design. It’s also protected in edge-to-edge hardened glass for extra gloss and protection. It features built-in Beats Audio stereo speakers, and a full 1920 x 1080p HD resolution. The new 27-inch IPS Envy 27 hits the streets February 3rd for around $499.

Next since we’re talking about IPS displays is their new HP Pavilion 20xi-27xi IPS monitors. While not covered in hardened glass like the model above, the xi series features a similar edge-to-edge bezel free design with their blade technology. They’ll come in 4 sizes: 22xi, 23xi, 25xi, and 27xi and all have 1920×1080 Full HD resolution options. You’ll then get support via VGA, DVI-D and HDMI connectivity, while a smaller 20xi offers 1600 X 900 resolution with VGA. The IPS panels ensure 178-degree viewing angles and excellent colors. The new Pavilion xi monitors start at $129 and go to $339 for the 27xi. All available around the end of January.

Then for those on the go HP’s announced their new HP U160 15.6-inch LED Backlit Monitor. This unique display features a built in stand that doubles as a carry case, and is ideal for those on the go needing a portable monitor. Weighing in around 3.4 lbs and measuring only 1.02 inches thin, this should be a great choice for many. It’s expected to be available in January starting at $179 USD.

Next up is the HP x2401 24-inch LED Backlit Monitor (pictured below and also at the head of this article). This is another high end Beats Audio powered monitor, only it is 24-inches and comes with an LED display instead of IPS — so won’t be priced as high as the 27-inch monitor above. The X2401 features an MVA panel, not IPS, but still gives excellent 178 degree viewing angles and extremely inky black colors. This monitor also rocks a full 1920 x 1080p HD resolution 5000:1 contract ratio, and comes in a brushed aluminum finish. Oddly HP states it won’t be available until November, but will be priced at $249.

Then last but certainly not least is the new HP ProDisplay LED backlit line. These are more traditional monitors, and come in 18.5, 20, and 21.5-inch inch models. Respective names are P191 18.5-inch, P201 20-inch, P201m 20-inch, and P221 21.5-inch LED Backlit Monitors. These offer 250 nits brightness, 1000:1 contract, 3M:1 DCR, 5ms response time, and 170/160 viewing angles, so not quite IPS quality. These have the always welcomed 35-degrees of tilt adjustability and 90-degree pivot modes for multiple uses. I’d probably snag two P221′s and put them side by side. The new ProDisplay line will be priced at $129-179 based on size.

Surely we can expect big things from HP here at CES, and we’ll be running around trying to get pictures and videos of all their latest and greatest. Stay tuned for plenty more from CES 2013.

HP unveils a slew of new IPS and LED monitors at CES 2013 is written by Cory Gunther & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Lenovo notebook lineup is vast here at the start of 2013 at the Consumer Electronics Show, and what with the ThinkPad Helix offering a whole new way to work with a convertible PC, the Windows 8 era appears to be in full swing. With the ThinkPad Helix you’ve got not just a new tablet, not just a new Ultrabook, but a machine that acts as both with a third way to utilize the Windows 8 touch universe in a whole new way. Then there’s the IdeaPad Yoga 11S, an upgrade of the Yoga lineup from 2012, here bringing tiny lightning claps in a whole new set of colors, too, including Cotton Candy Pink.

ThinkPad Helix

With the ThinkPad Helix you’ll be working with a high performance Ultrabook with a detachable 11.6-inch tablet creating what Lenovo assures is “the thinnest full-function Intel 3rd generation Core tablet with vPro” on the market today. This machine weighs in at just 835 grams and works with “Stand Mode” unique to any sort of device in this class – in this case it means that you’ve got the device connected to its keyboard dock like normal, looking like a laptop, then you “Rip and Flip”. This means you detach the tablet from the base, turn it around, and attach it with the keyboard facing its back, standing it up like a pro, still able to use the ports along the keyboard dock’s sides.

This machine also has a five button clickpad – 20 percent more than any ThinkPad that’s come before it – as well as the brightest display in ThinkPad brand history. The ThinkPad Helix has a 1080p IPS display and works with optional 4G LTE connectivity, meaning your favorite mobile brands COULD be carrying it soon – we shall see! This unit also works with NFC – tap in! The ThinkPad Helix will be starting at $1,499 USD and will be available starting in late February 2013.

IdeaPad Yoga 11S

The IdeaPad Yoga 11S works with an 11.6-inch HD IPS display with 10-finger multi-touch capabilities as well as many abilities that’ve previously been available only on the larger Yoga 13. This machine has Motion Control abilities like a hand-swipe in front of its webcam to move through photos, videos, and documents. Using Lenovo Transition you can automatically open applications in full-screen mode when the device is in one of its three non-notebook modes.

These three modes outside the standard notebook mode are called tent, stand, or tablet – that’s flat with the touchscreen out, folded up like a tent with the touchscreen out, and backward with the touchscreen out as well. The IdeaPad Yoga 11S comes with the same exterior build (casing-wise) as the Yoga 13, but now pushing forth with fabulous new color combinations including Cotton Candy Pink, Silver Grey, and Clementine Orange. The IdeaPad Yoga 11S will be available starting at $799 USD beginning in June 2013.

Lenovo ThinkPad Helix and IdeaPad Yoga 11S revealed to flip for Windows 8 is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

You may have read the word “Tablet” in the title of this post, but this unit from Lenovo is actually called a “Table” because of its massiveness. This is the Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC, a machine that “can lie flat on any surface” with its 27-inch display for use by two or more people at once – perfect for multi-player games. This machine also works as a desktop machine, but because of the unique nature included in the gaming angle on this beast, Lenovo’s created a new word for the cross-over between physical and digital interaction: “phygital”.

The IdeaCentre Horizon works with Windows 8 and makes with the direct connections to games customized for unique play on this unit alone, including selections from the likes of Electronic Arts and Unbisoft. Not only will you be using the touchscreen display to work with the games included here, you’ve got a collection of special accessories to make use of as well. This machine comes with e-dice, four joysticks and strikers to make this a fully-immersive experience.

The software experience on this Table PC includes the Lenovo App Shop powered by Intel AppUp for multi-user excellence across thousands of downloadable games. You’ve also got exclusive access to a package of pre-loaded gaming experiences like Monopoly – and joystick-friendly games such as FishingJoy and Raiding Company. This machine is also being pushed forth with BlueStacks integration so you can work with Android apps, too!

“It’s exciting to see Lenovo continue to drive innovation and creativity in its new hardware designs. With the 27-inch display, touch UI and built-in battery, the Horizon Table PC enables a range of computing scenarios for Windows users, from PC productivity to social connectivity and family game play.” – Stephen McCall, senior director, OEM, marketing, Microsoft Corp.

This beast works with more than one mode, too, with its own “smart hinge system” turning it into a Lenovo “Aura”-toting machine, Aura being Lenovo’s own unique user interface over Windows 8, “[serving] as a great way to launch pre-loaded gaming and educational apps or download new ones from the online app store.” As Lenovo also notes: “This simple UI lets families play, learn or enjoy multimedia content together on one screen.”

Inside the Horizon you’ve got NVIDIA GeForce graphics, a 3rd Gen Intel Core i7 processor as well as Dolby Home Theatre v4 audio. Horizon is able to work with the optional “Horizon Multimode Table”, allowing the machine to change the height and angle of the Table PC, from flat to 90 degrees. The IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC will be popping up in early summer starting at $1,699 USD.

Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC makes family gaming gigantic is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Starting things off fresh for CES 2013, Lenovo has just announced a new lineup of touch-based devices running Windows 8. The company unveiled new additions to the IdeaPad U series of Ultrabooks and the Mainstream Z Series, as well as the new ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531 business-minded laptops.

Lenovo’s new IdeaPad U310 and U410 Ultrabooks are just 18mm thin and boast a wake-up time of just one second, thanks to Lenovo’s own Instant Resume technology. The new Ultrabooks come packing with up to a 3rd-generation Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce graphics with DirectX 11. The U310 will be available in March starting at $779, while the U410 will release in April starting at $850.

Lenovo also has shown off the new IdeaPad Z400 and Z500 laptops and are the latest additions to the company’s Z series. These machines are optimized for Windows 8’s touch-based UI, supporting 10-finger touch at any given point. Both laptops come with a 3rd -generation Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce graphics. The Z400 will come with a 14-inch display and will be available starting in March at $699, while the Z500 will feature a 15.6-inch display and will be released in April starting at $699 as well.

Lastly, Lenovo announced the ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531 (also pictured at the top of this article). They’re the first ThinkPad laptops to include the company’s all-new OneLink technology, which allows users to connect to various external devices through a single cable connection, thus eliminating cable clutter without compromising performance. The ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531 laptops also feature improved graphics and higher-resolution displays, as well as a five-button ClickPad that will let users control various Windows 8 features from the keyboard. Both models will be available in May starting at $499.

Lenovo ThinkPad and IdeaPad refreshed with an Edge at CES 2013 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.