Hasta La Gadget!

With Microsoft bringing on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 later this month, it’s no wonder why they’re looking to team up with as many partners as possible for the launch – and it appears that Barnes & Noble is next on the list. Today Barnes & Noble and Microsoft have announced a new joint venture – a subsidiary, even – called NOOK MEDIA LLC. This group will include Barnes & Noble’s NOOK Digital and College Businesses and the Microsoft Investment to Advance Digital Reading Experience group.

This new conglomeration begins with a $300 million dollar investment from Microsoft directly into NOOK Media LLC. They’ve announced – or re-announced, for some – the NOOK reading application for Windows 8, and Barnes & Noble’s CEO William Lynch has made it clear that they’re ready to bring their reading experience to “millions of Windows 8 users.”

Microsoft President Andy Lees noted that they’d be bringing “one of the world’s largest digital libraries” to Windows 8 devices galore with a new Windows 8 app. It would appear that Microsoft was impressed by Barnes & Noble’s recent launches in the UK and hopes to continue to work with them as they spread across the planet.

This investment, once approved, would make Microsoft’s $300 million investment in NOOK Media LLC a $1.7 billion post-money valuation in exchange for a stake in the company. With Barnes & Noble owning the remaining shares, Microsoft would control a 17.6% equity stake in the company. This deal has not yet been approved and requires review before any final decisions are made.

NOTE also that this is the continuation of a deal announced earlier this year when the original $300 million amount was first revealed.

Microsoft joins Barnes & Noble for NOOK Media LLC subsidiary is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
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The Acer Iconia W700 ,  a 11.6-inch tablet shown in June at Computex, is officially launching in the U.S., and it will retail on October 26 from $799.99 to $999.99, on the date of the public release of Windows 8.

The Iconia W700 packs some serious features including Intel Core i3 or i5 1.7 GHz processor, Full HD IPS 11.6 inch display (1920×1080), 4 GB DDR3 RAM, 128 GB or 64 GB SSD, 3-cell Li-Polymer battery (4850 mAh), two stereo speakers, Dolby audio,  HD 720p front camera and 5 MP rear camera with full HD 1080p video capture.

(more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Windows 8 tablets from Acer and Lenovo arriving in the second half of 2012?, HP ElitePad 900 Business Tablet with Windows 8 ,

Today, Acer officially unveiled the U.S. and Canadian availability, pricing and full spec list of its Iconia W700 Windows 8 tablet, which comes in three variants ranging in price from $799 ($749 in Canada) to $999, depending on hardware configuration. The tablets will ship on October 26, the same day Windows 8 is scheduled for its public release, which should provide us with an early look at how third-party offerings will perform in a market that’s yet to really be proven.

Acer’s Windows 8 tablets are designed to be full-powered computers in addition to portable devices, each boasting the ability to power three independent displays, and shipping with a cradle designed to hold the tablet at a variety of angles and orientations. They all come with the standard load-out of sensors, including an electronic compass, gyroscope and accelerometer, and manage a cold boot in just six seconds, according to Acer. A Bluetooth keyboard will make things easier for those who don’t like touchscreen typing, and there’s a Micro-HDMI to VGA adapter and protective case in the box.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the three W700 models and what they offer:

Acer Iconia W700-6691

• Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz Processor w/Turbo Boost up to 2.6 GHz
• 11.6″ 1920 x 1080 resolution LED backlit TFT LCD display w/ 10-point multi-touch screen
• 4GB of DDR3 RAM
• Intel HD Graphics 4000 w/128MB RAM
• 64GB SSD
• 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0
• 5MP, 1080p rear-facing camera
• 1280×1024, 720p front-facing camera
• 1 USB 3.0, 1 Micro-HDMI, 1 3.5mm headphone/mic jack
• Up to 9 hours battery life
• 17″ (L) x 3.28″ (W) x 9.25″ (H), 2.09 lbs

Acer Iconia W700-6465

• Intel Core i5-3317U 1.7GHz Processor w/Turbo Boost up to 2.6 GHz
• 11.6″ 1920 x 1080 resolution LED backlit TFT LCD display w/ 10-point multi-touch screen
• 4GB of DDR3 RAM
• Intel HD Graphics 4000 w/128MB RAM
• 128GB SSD
• 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0
• 5MP, 1080p rear-facing camera
• 1280×1024, 720p front-facing camera
• 1 USB 3.0, 1 Micro-HDMI, 1 3.5mm headphone/mic jack
• Up to 9 hours battery life
• 17″ (L) x 3.28″ (W) x 9.25″ (H), 2.09 lbs

Acer Iconia W700-6607

• Intel Core i3-3317U 1.8GHz Processor
• 11.6″ 1920 x 1080 resolution LED backlit TFT LCD display w/ 10-point multi-touch screen
• 4GB of DDR3 RAM
• Intel HD Graphics 4000 w/128MB RAM
• 64GB SSD
• 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0
• 5MP, 1080p rear-facing camera
• 1280×1024, 720p front-facing camera
• 1 USB 3.0, 1 Micro-HDMI, 1 3.5mm headphone/mic jack
• Up to 9 hours battery life
• 17″ (L) x 3.28″ (W) x 9.25″ (H), 2.09 lbs

Acer is also selling the W700 for the corporate market, backed by an extended two-year warranty and boasting Windows 8 Pro, with a price tag of $1,049.99. As the second largest PC maker in the U.S., it’ll be interesting to see how the company fares with its debut approach to the full-powered Windows 8 tablet market. We’ll have a full review coming later on the Iconia W700, but for now check out the gallery below.

Gaming peripheral manufacturer Razer isn’t backing down on its “Project Fiona” gaming tablet, despite keeping it locked away for the past nine months. The company is, however, assessing interest in the concept — first revealed at CES 2012 — by asking fans to “Like” its Facebook page. If the page exceeds 10,000 likes/shares within a week, CEO Min-Liang Tan says, “we’ll work on making the concept a reality and launch the product.” He also says Razer’s whittled down concepts for the device, though he’s open to “suggestions for specs, form factor, pricing, features,” and even “etc.” It doesn’t sound like it’ll make its previously planned “second half of 2012” launch window, but Razer says nothing’s changed on that front just yet.

As it stands, the device sports a 10.1-inch multitouch high def screen, an Intel Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor, an unknown (but allegedly beefy) GPU, and two nunchuck-esque controllers mounted to either side of the screen. It’s also said to run Windows 8 — make no mistake, this is a PC in the form of a tablet. But you still have the power to change it! Do us a favor and don’t request rear touch capabilities.

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Tablets, Mobile

Razer’s Project Fiona gaming tablet may see the light of day if enough of you want it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CEATEC, Japan’s largest annual electronics show, is winding down here on the outskirts of Tokyo. We’ve spent the past two days scouring the halls of the Makuhari Messe, digging up no shortage of concept cars, eye-tracking technologies and even the odd Windows 8 device. The star of the show may have been Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo, with its gaze-controlled prototypes and real-time translation app, but there were plenty of other gadgets on hand to peak our interest — even if many of them won’t make it to market anytime soon. Have a look for yourself by browsing our complete CEATEC 2012 coverage past the break.

Continue reading CEATEC 2012 wrap-up: concept cars, eye-tracking tech and motion sensors galore

Filed under: Announcements, Misc, Robots, Transportation

CEATEC 2012 wrap-up: concept cars, eye-tracking tech and motion sensors galore originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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