Aug 23

China inches ahead of US in PC sales for the first time

Posted in: lenovo, market share, marketshare, PC, Today's Chili

We may be living in a “post PC” world according to some, but PCs are unquestionably still big business, and they’re now a bigger business in China than anywhere else. That’s according to the latest report from market research firm IDC, at least, which found that both PC sales and shipments in China inched ahead of those in the US for the second quarter — the first time that’s ever happened, and earlier than IDC had previously projected. In terms of hard numbers, that translates to sales of $11.9 billion in China (compared to $11.7 billion in the US), and shipments of 18.5 million units, which represents a 14.3 percent jump year-over-year (as opposed to a 4.9 percent drop to 17.7 million units in the US). Not surprisingly, Lenovo is the big winner in all of this — it’s both the top PC maker in China and the fastest growing one, with a market share just shy of 32 percent.

China inches ahead of US in PC sales for the first time originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 19

Thrustmaster unveils Ferrari F458 racing wheel and TH8 RS shifter, dares you to get fast and furious

Posted in: controller, gaming, Microsoft, PC, ps3, Today's Chili

Is that regular ol’ Xbox 360 controller leaving you unfulfilled after a marathon session of Forza Motorsport 4? Don’t fret, Thrustmaster has announced the launch of its Ferrari 458 (F458) Italia Racing Wheel for Microsoft’s gaming console. The 11-inch wheel features a rubberized grip to stay comfy, built-in metal paddle shifters, a Manettino dial for mid-lap adjustments and progressive resistance to keep you on the straight and narrow. Not wanting to leave PS3 and PC racers in its dust, the company also revealed the TH8 RS gear shifter — which connects to the T500 RS or the outfit’s other PC wheel controllers via USB. This bad boy lets you release your inner Michael Schumacher with either H-pattern or sequential configurations plus 360-degree rotation adjustment to tailor the gearbox to your liking. Both the TH8 RS and the aforementioned F458 will be hitting your garage… er, game room in October for $180 and $90, respectively. Check out the full PR for the pair after the break, and make sure you fasten your seatbelt.

Continue reading Thrustmaster unveils Ferrari F458 racing wheel and TH8 RS shifter, dares you to get fast and furious

Thrustmaster unveils Ferrari F458 racing wheel and TH8 RS shifter, dares you to get fast and furious originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 18

HP may spin off PC business, shift focus to software and services

Posted in: breaking news, business, earnings, hewlett-packard, HewlettPackard, HP, PC, rumor, Today's Chili, webos

HP LogoWord ’round the campfire is, HP may be prepping to spin off its PC business. Though Hewlett-Packard is the world’s largest computer company, desktops and laptops are a relatively low profit margin business. Obviously, there’s no confirmation yet that such a split will happen, but with the recent focus on tablets and smartphones, and CEO Leo Apotheker’s own admission that he’d like to expand into software and services, the move would make sense. According to Bloomberg the announcement could come as soon as today, during the company’s quarterly earnings call, where it’s also expected to reveal a $10 billion purchase of software company Autonomy Corp. We’ll be listening in live later, so check back this afternoon to see if HP sets its PC business free.

HP may spin off PC business, shift focus to software and services originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 18

ThinkFlood releases RedEye remote control app for Android, makes it even easier to sit around

Posted in: Android, android market, AndroidMarket, app, application, hdpostcross, honeycomb, laptop, mobile, mobilepostcross, PC, remote, remote control, RemoteControl, smartphone, tablet, Today's Chili, TV

Nearly two years after releasing their Red Eye app for iOS users, the convenience enthusiasts over at ThinkFlood have now brought the universal remote control to the Android community, as well. The app, which was released in beta a few months ago, allows users to remotely control their non-networked home theater, lighting and air conditioning systems from the comfort of their tablets, laptops or smartphones. Version 2.7.0 also brings plenty of customizable graphics and layouts, for those looking to add a more personal touch to their lives of leisure. Compatible with any device running Android 1.6 or later (including tablets running Honeycomb), the app features a built-in TV program guide that can be used with any display, but in order to take advantage of its other home theater controls, you’ll have to purchase networked ThinkFlood hardware products like RedEye or RedEye Pro (it’s not compatible with RedEye mini). If you’re interested in downloading the tool for free, check out the source links below, or click past the break for more details, in the full PR.

Continue reading ThinkFlood releases RedEye remote control app for Android, makes it even easier to sit around

ThinkFlood releases RedEye remote control app for Android, makes it even easier to sit around originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 18

Lenovo nearly doubles net profits in Q1 earnings report, not so certain about ‘mainstream’ Ultrabooks by end of year

Posted in: business, earnings, financial, lenovo, money, PC, price, Today's Chili
Lenovo‘s enjoying a bright and sunny Thursday in Hong Kong today, where the company has just unveiled a Q1 2011 / 2012 earnings report that’s full of rosy news. According to the report, Lenovo’s revenues jumped to $5.92 billion during the fiscal quarter, representing a 15 percent increase over last year’s figures, while net profits nearly doubled to $108 million (compared to $54.9 million last year). Global PC sales, meanwhile, nudged upward 23 percent — even at a time when most other manufacturers are seeing relatively sluggish growth. During an earnings conference call this morning, COO Rory Read provided a little insight into his company’s approach to the growing Ultrabook sector, while hinting at future price reductions. Speaking to reporters, Reed assured that Lenovo would “invest in innovation to be a leader” in the Ultrabook market, adding that prices for its MacBook Air competitors may reach “mainstream” (sub-$1,000) levels by 2012: “I wouldn’t say by the end of the year necessarily but…that’s definitely going to happen.” Head past the break for Lenovo’s financial summary, along with the full PR.

[Original photo by Cory Grenier]

Continue reading Lenovo nearly doubles net profits in Q1 earnings report, not so certain about ‘mainstream’ Ultrabooks by end of year

Lenovo nearly doubles net profits in Q1 earnings report, not so certain about ‘mainstream’ Ultrabooks by end of year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 17

Crytek decides to make CryEngine 3 free for developers

Posted in: free, Games, PC, sdk, Today's Chili

Games developers are being spoiled for choice recently with the engines they can experiment with and use free of charge. Unity is free to use, Unreal Engine has gone free to use, and now today Crytek has announced the rather delicious CryEngine 3 is now free of an up front payment too. Of course, the […]

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Aug 14

OEMs to spend more on semiconductors for wireless devices than computers in 2011

Posted in: PC, slate, smartphone, tablet, Today's Chili

Well, if you didn’t believe that we live in a post-PC world before, the latest report from IHS iSuppli should help persuade you. According to its research, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will have spent $55.4 billion on semiconductors for phones and tablets in 2011, as compared to just $53.1 billion on PC silicon. Of course, as the chart above shows, OEMs spent more money on wireless devices in 2008 and 2009. But, after an interlude of PC primacy in 2010, it looks like mobile’s where the money’s at for the foreseeable future — can’t say we didn’t warn you.

Continue reading OEMs to spend more on semiconductors for wireless devices than computers in 2011

OEMs to spend more on semiconductors for wireless devices than computers in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 06:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 12

IBM exec says PC is ‘going the way of the typewriter,’ kills our birthday buzz

Posted in: desktop, lenovo, market, PC, tablet, Today's Chili

Well, this is awkward. As the IBM PC celebrates its 30th birthday today, one of its original designers is already mulling the end of its reign. In a blog post penned this week, Mark Dean, IBM’s CTO for the Middle East and Africa, reflected on the dawn of the desktop era and looked forward to its seemingly inevitable demise.

“When I helped design the PC, I didn’t think I’d live long enough to witness its decline. But, while PCs will continue to be much-used devices, they’re no longer at the leading edge of computing. They’re going the way of the vacuum tube, typewriter, vinyl records, CRT and incandescent light bulbs.”

Dean added that he’s glad his company sold its PC business to Lenovo in 2005, as part of a move that, according to him, allowed IBM to position itself at the forefront of the “post-PC” era. No word yet on when the funeral rites will be held, but you can read the full post at the source link, below.

IBM exec says PC is ‘going the way of the typewriter,’ kills our birthday buzz originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 12

SteelSeries Sensei mouse points at the moon, we concentrate on its finger

Posted in: arm, game, mouse, PC, peripheral, processor, Today's Chili, usb
It’s been more than two years since SteelSeries unveiled its Xai and Kinzu gaming mice, but the peripheral maker has now returned with a brand new sword in hand — the sleek and presumably sage Sensei. The device, unveiled yesterday, is powered by a 32-bit ARM processor that can digest images at up to 12,000 frames per second and rocks up to 5,700 CPI, with a Double CPI option that extends to 11,400 DCPI, for users gaming across multiple screens. The ambidextrous controller also comes outfitted in a metal coating that won’t slip from your hands and connects to computers via a gold-plated USB. Best of all, PC gamers can use SteelSeries’ Engine software to customize their experience even further, with pre-set configurations and user profiles. The Sensei is slated for release next month, when it will retail for $90 (or €90). Click past the break for more details in the full press release.

Continue reading SteelSeries Sensei mouse points at the moon, we concentrate on its finger

SteelSeries Sensei mouse points at the moon, we concentrate on its finger originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 12

The Modern PC Turns 30

Posted in: Apple, desktops, Mac, Microsoft, PC, Today's Chili, Windows

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The revolutionary IBM 5150 landed 30 years ago today. It wasn’t the first device of its kind; Xerox PARC already had the Alto “home computer,” for example. But the success of IBM personal computers, particularly the 5150, was what would ultimately transform people’s opinions of computers and spur their adoption.

It would be difficult to overstate the role of the 5150. The PC grew so important and so influential in the years following its arrival that Time chose silicon over carbon in 1983 when it named the computer ”Machine of the Year”.

Today, we celebrate the IBM 5150 and nine other major milestones that helped the personal computer achieve its invaluable, and ubiquitous, place in society.

1981: The IBM 5150 Is Born

IBM launched the 5150 PC on Aug. 12, 1981.

It wasn’t much by today’s standards, or even yesterday’s. The 5150 featured a 4.77 MHz 8-to-16 bit Intel 8088 processor. It was less powerful than other processors available from Intel and Motorola, but those were thought to be “too powerful” for a PC. IBM also gave the 5150 a full 64 kilobytes of RAM — expandable to whopping 256 kB — one or two floppy drives (your choice) and a monochromatic display.

The 5150 was developed in less than a year by a team of 12 led by Don Estridge. The project was given the codename “Project Chess” — which we mention only because it sounds so cool — and built using off-the-shelf components.

Depending on how you configured your 5150, you’d shell out anywhere from $1,565 to $6,000 for one. That comes to $4,000 to $15,000 in today’s dollars. The success of the 5150 made the IBM PC the industry standard, and before long a whole bunch of “IBM compatibles” and clones jumped into the burgeoning PC market.

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See Also:
Dé Jà Vu Review
Hands-On With the IBM 5150, 30 Years Later
This Day in Tech
Aug. 12, 1981: IBM Gets Personal With 5150 PC


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