iPod Touch 4th Generation Teardown
September 10, 2010 by Subhash Pansare
Filed under Apple Gadgets, Gadgets, Techz News
We’d heard that the newest iPod Touch comes with a built-in vibrator for FaceTime notifications, but there was no such thing to be found when the gadget was torn down. And even worse? There was only 256 MB of RAM.
We certainly feel a bit ripped off after hearing about the lack of RAM in the device. While 256 MB is enough to keep things running smoothly, it’s rather disappointing when we remember that we could get a far more powerful iPhone for the same cost as an iPod Touch.
As far as everything else goes, here are the highlights of the teardown according to the guys at iFixIt:
*This is the easiest iPod Touch we’ve ever cracked open — a bit of glue and two tabs hold the front panel in place. We hoped that the insides would continue to be repair-friendly, but then found that the front glass and LCD panel were permanently fused together. This will prevent dust from getting beneath the glass, but unfortunately will also make repair more expensive.
* Like all other revisions of the iPod Touch, the battery is soldered to the logic board. This isn’t a surprise given the slim form factor of the iPod, but we wish Apple would make battery replacement easier, especially on a Touch that is now easier to open.
* Apple did add more space between the battery’s three solder points compared to the 3rd Gen Touch. This should make the soldering job a little easier when replacing the battery, as there’s less chance of accidentally bridging the contacts.
* The EMI shield is surprisingly heavy, weighing in at 11 grams. The entire iPod Touch is only 101 grams, meaning Apple has devoted more than 10% of the iPod’s weight to this metal EMI shield.
* Unfortunately, the rear-facing camera is only 960×720 resolution. That’s only about .7 megapixels, compared to 5 megapixels on the iPhone 4. Apple was forced to sacrifice still photo resolution in order to squeeze the camera into the Touch’s slim package. Going forward, we expect Apple to adopt improved micro camera technology as better cameras come to market.
* For those of you who are wondering, there’s no way the iPhone 4′s rear camera can be installed in the Touch.
* In a first for the iPod Touch line, the headphone jack is not soldered to the logic board. There’s also a liquid damage indicator on the bottom of the headphone jack, so don’t use your Touch to stir the coffee.
* This primary antenna is situated near the front glass panel. Its new location eliminates the need for the plastic “window” found on the 3rd generation Touch. There also appears to be a secondary antenna located on the headphone jack.
* Contrary to Apple’s initial claims on their FaceTime marketing page, the iPod Touch does not have a vibrator. Apple’s website has been updated to remove this claim.
You can check out more photos of the teardown over at iFixIt. [iFixIt]
Fujitsu announces LifeBook T580 with four-finger multitouch
September 9, 2010 by ruchika
Filed under Gadgets, Techz News
We haven’t spotted this one at IFA yet, but Fujitsu has taken advantage of the show to announce its new LifeBook T580, which it’s going so far as to call “slate-beating.” That apparently comes from the fact that it’s not only a convertible tablet PC, but one with four-finger multitouch. Unfortunately, that’s done on a 10.1-inch resistive touchscreen (complete with a stylus that can be tucked away), but the rest of the specs aren’t too shabby, and include up to a Core i5 processor, optional 3G and GPS, a promised eight hours of battery life, and plenty of business-minded security measures — all in a three-pound package. No word on pricing just yet, but you can expect this one to roll out in late November. Head on past the break for the complete press release, along with a quick demo of its multitouch capabilities.
New Smaller LIFEBOOK T580 Is The Gateway to Fujitsu’s Tablet Line Up
Slate-beating LIFEBOOK tablet PC combines touch screen mobility with the convenience of a keyboard
Munich – Fujitsu today introduces a new smaller fully featured tablet PC, the LIFEBOOK T580, measuring up with a 10.1-inch screen size. Leveraging Fujitsu’s 20 years of convertible PC experience, the slate-beating LIFEBOOK T580 squeezes full-size notebook features and technology into a smaller, lighter and lower-priced package.
Fujitsu’s LIFEBOOK T580 is the flexible alternative mobile working on a slate – removing the frustration of slow responses by packing much more processor power, and delivering convenient practicalities for all-day working, such as a keyboard, two USB slots, SD card and SmartCard readers, a webcam, and outputs for both VGA monitors and high-definition HDMI displays.
Weighing just 1.4kg, the new baby LIFEBOOK T580 converts from a notebook to a touch screen tablet PC with a simple twist of the unique bi-directional rotatable screen. This provides a full touch screen experience including support for four-finger multiple touch, and enables fingertip control for up to 14 different gestures, as well as touch-based double-tapping, scrolling, magnifying and rotating. A Dual Digitizer delivers the highest accuracy and pressure sensitivity when working with a stylus, and the Microsoft Windows® 7 operating system recognizes handwriting in 26 languages, plus voice commands.
Like all Fujitsu LIFEBOOK tablet PC Series models, the LIFEBOOK T580 is designed for mobile life. Even in direct sunlight, the screen display is bright and clear thanks to high-definition LED backlighting with an Ambient Light Sensor that automatically adjusts display brightness, while a smear-proof coating means no distractions from fingerprints.
Working outdoors or on the road no longer means compromising on connectivity as the LIFEBOOK T580 is packed with optional embedded 3G/UMTS (combined with GPS), WLAN and Bluetooth. The latest Intel® Core™ processor technology ensures a responsive and fast processing system. In addition, convenient buttons allow fast access to often used applications and provide an easy way to check remaining battery power. Security features include a biometric fingerprint sensor and Fujitsu’s Advanced Theft Protection solution.
Rajat Kakar, Vice President Workplace Systems at Fujitsu Technology Solutions says: “The new LIFEBOOK T580 is designed to be used primarily on the move – which is why there is no compromise on connectivity or usability. The new smaller size combines the portability of a slate with the added practicality of a tablet PC, giving LIFEBOOK users the best of both worlds.”
Underlining its advantage over slates, the LIFEBOOK T580 packs more disk space, more memory, more connectivity options, more security, and more than double the processing power. The LIFEBOOK T580 is the lowest-priced tablet PC in Fujitsu’s line-up. Exact pricing varies by region.
Fujitsu’s LIFEBOOK T580 will be available for all regions in late November 2010 and can be pre-ordered in the EMEA region from October 1, 2010.
For further information, please see:
· Pictures: http://mediaserver.ts.fujitsu.com/ms/go.cfm?folderid=2782&jumpfactor=6
Detailed specification : http://ts.fujitsu.com/products/mobile/tablet_pcs/lifebook_t580.html
– Ends –
About Fujitsu
Fujitsu is a leading provider of ICT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 170,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.6 trillion yen (US$50 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com
About Fujitsu Technology Solutions
Fujitsu Technology Solutions is the leading European IT infrastructure provider with a presence in all key markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, plus India, serving large-, medium- and small-sized companies as well as consumers. With its Dynamic Infrastructures approach, the company offers a full portfolio of IT products, solutions and services, ranging from clients to datacenter solutions, Managed Infrastructure and Infrastructure-as-a-Service. Fujitsu Technology Solutions employs more than 13,000 people and is part of the global Fujitsu Group. For more information, please see: ts.fujitsu.com/aboutus.
All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.
HP lists Photosmart eStation C510
September 9, 2010 by Gans022
Filed under Gadgets, Techz News
Now, we don’t have any confirmation that the two are one and the same, but we just caught wind of a very intriguing printer on HP’s website. The Photosmart eStation C510 is listed for $399.99 and, in addition to usual ink-plastering duties, has a detachable wireless 7-inch TouchSmart control panel for browsing content, printing (of course), and “brows[ing] the latest e-book bestsellers or old favorites.” It all sounds well and good, and if you ask us, it rings a very eerily similar chord as the eStation Zeen / Zeus from early August. If so, that’d make this touchscreen an Android 2.1 tablet with “significant” Nook integration for e-reading. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see what’s under the hood, software-wise. What say ye, HP, how about throwing us a press release yonder?
Update: And just like that, the printer has disappeared off the face of the internet, without so much as a cached Google page to its name.
Update 2: A trusted source tells us this printer is indeed the eStation Zeus of yore.
(via.: engadget)
Ubuntu 10.10 Beta Adds New Photo Manager, Improves Multimedia Experience
September 9, 2010 by Subhash Pansare
Filed under Softwares, Techz News
An early look at the next release of Ubuntu’s Linux desktop hit the web late yesterday. What’s in 10.10, or “Maverick Meerkat,” for desktop users? Besides app updates, there’s a new photo manager, improved multimedia controls, better Ubuntu One syncing, and more.
The full list of changes and new things is listed at the beta page, but what strikes us in a quick look at a live-booting beta (for which we recommend Unetbootin and a USB thumb drive) are the changes to Ubuntu One, the Dropbox-like syncing service that ties in Music Store purchases, personal files, settings, and other user data. There’s now a single, easier sign-on for Ubuntu One, and the look and feel are much improved. Same with the Ubuntu Software Center, which makes it easier to see the apps you’ve installed from the Center, as well as peek at popular and recommended apps.
As expected, Shotwell has replaced Fspot as the default photo manager, and it’s a step forward, if not exactly Picasa for Linux. The volume control in the system panel now has music player controls, too, and Rhythmbox and all the other default apps have seen their normal version upgrades and bug fixes.
Ubuntu 10.10 Beta is a free download that should install on most any system, though Macs require a bit of extra work. Tell us what you think of the early-stage Maverick Meerkat in the comments.
IBM claims world’s fastest processor with 5.2GHz z196
September 9, 2010 by ruchika
Filed under Gadgets, Techz News
Don’t blink — if you do, you may miss IBM‘s new processor. The company is boldly claiming that the chip within IBM’s new zEnterprise clocks in at 5.2GHz, making it the world’s fastest microprocessor. We’re sure this claim could be challenged on multiple fronts, namely by hardcore overclockers who have seen their own chips operate at much higher speeds with the help of liquid nitrogen. But IBM’s new silicon doesn’t require any complicated cooling; it’s just blisteringly fast.
Of course, this 5.2GHz chip won’t find its way into any consumer PCs anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean it won’t end up there eventually. The new chip will ship to mainframe customers starting on September 10th, and IBM says that the record-breaking speed is necessary for businesses managing huge workloads, such as banks and retailers, especially as the world becomes increasingly more inter-connected, data has grown beyond the world’s storage capacity, and business transactions continue to skyrocket.
IBM’s z196 Processor – Copious Cache, Now at 5.2GHz
The new zEnterprise technology is the result of an investment of more than $1.5 billion in IBM research and development in the zEnterprise line, as well as more than three years of collaboration with some of IBM’s top clients around the world. If you’re into details, the z196 processor is a four-core chip that contains 1.4 billion transistors on a 512-square millimeter (mm) surface. It’s manufactured using IBM’s 45 nanometer (nm) SOI processor technology, and it makes use of IBM’s patented embedded DRAM (eDRAM) technology, which allows IBM to place dense DRAM caches, or components, on the same chips as high-speed microprocessors, resulting in improved performance.
If you need more details, have a taste of this: “The core server in the zEnterprise System — called zEnterprise 196 — contains 96 of the world’s fastest, most powerful microprocessors, capable of executing more than 50 billion instructions per second. That’s roughly 17,000 times more instructions than the Model 91, the high-end of IBM’s popular System/360 family, could execute in 1970.” Pretty impressive, but there’s no published price for obvious reasons. We’re guessing it’s more than your house, or something close.
(vai.: Hot Hardware, IBM)
IBM to Ship World’s Fastest Microprocessor
-Blazing Speed to Handle Growing Number of Business Transactions as Global Connectivity, Data Proliferate AR
Armonk, N.Y. – 01 Sep 2010: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced details of the world’s fastest computer chip — the microprocessor in a new version of the IBM mainframe that begins shipping to customers on Sept. 10.
This world record-breaking speed is necessary for businesses managing huge workloads, such as banks and retailers, especially as the world becomes increasingly more inter-connected, data has grown beyond the world’s storage capacity, and business transactions continue to skyrocket.
For example, according to a study by Berg Insight, the number of active users of mobile banking and related financial services worldwide is forecasted to increase from 55 million in 2009 to 894 million in 2015.
Such trends are driving the need for innovation in systems that can help clients take advantage of them to provide new services and develop new business models. In response, IBM continues to invest in systems innovation — delivering workload-optimized systems with innovation in microprocessors, software and hardware.
The new zEnterprise technology is the result of an investment of more than $1.5 billion in IBM research and development in the zEnterprise line, as well as more than three years of collaboration with some of IBM’s top clients around the world.
z196 Processor
The z196 processor is a four-core chip that contains 1.4 billion transistors on a 512-square millimeter (mm) surface. The chip was designed by IBM engineers in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and was manufactured using IBM’s 45 nanometer (nm) SOI processor technology in the company’s 300mm fab in East Fishkill, N.Y. There were also major contributions to the z196 processor development from IBM labs in Austin, TX, Germany, Israel and India,
The mainframe processor makes use of IBM’s patented embedded DRAM (eDRAM) technology, which allows IBM to place dense DRAM caches, or components, on the same chips as high-speed microprocessors, resulting in improved performance.
The New zEnterprise 196
From a performance standpoint, the zEnterprise System is the most powerful commercial IBM system ever. The core server in the zEnterprise System — called zEnterprise 196 — contains 96 of the world’s fastest, most powerful microprocessors, capable of executing more than 50 billion instructions per second. That’s roughly 17,000 times more instructions than the Model 91, the high-end of IBM’s popular System/360 family, could execute in 1970.
This new IBM microprocessor technology has new software to optimize performance of data-heavy workloads, including up to a 60% improvement in data intensive(1) and Java workloads(2) Increased levels of system performance, in turn, increases software performance, which can reduce software license costs.
The new system offers 60% more capacity than its predecessor, the System z10, and uses about the same amount of electricity.
Energy efficiencies were achieved through advances in microprocessor design, 45nm silicon technology, more efficient power conversion and distribution, as well as advanced sensors and cooling control firmware that monitors and makes adjustments based on environmental factors such as temperature and humidity levels and even air density.
The combination of zEnterprise chip speed, memory, system reliability, availability, security and storage architecture provide an optimal environment for managing the world’s most demanding workloads.
Footnotes:
(1)-Up to 60% increase in total system capacity for Data managed with DB2 and IMS. As measured by IBM Large System Performance Reference (LSPR) workloads using z/OS® 1.11
(2)-Up to a 66% improvement in Java performance with Linux on System z. The improvement on z196 compared to z10 was measured using a single Java application that focus on a variety of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) application functions typically used in both client and servers.
Samsung’s Orion is the 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9
September 8, 2010 by Gans022
Filed under Techz News
We still consider Samsung’s Hummingbird application processor to be among the very best for mobile computers, but this morning Sammy itself is stepping up the charge to make it look real old real fast. The freshly announced dual-core Orion promises to whip us all into a frenzy of geek lust with “5 times the 3D graphics performance over the previous processor generation from Samsung,” 1080p video encoding and decoding at 30fps, embedded GPS, a native triple 
display controller, and on-chip HDMI 1.3a interface. Those last two bits mean you can drive two displays on your mobile device while feeding a third, such as a HDTV, all thanks to the one all-powerful chip inside. Availability for “select customers” is coming late this year, with mass production set for the first half of 2011. To say we’re looking forward to it would be a massive understatement.
Samsung Introduces High Performance, Low Power Dual CORTEXTM – A9 Application Processor for Mobile Devices
TAIPEI, Taiwan–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in advanced semiconductor solutions, today introduced its new 1GHz ARM® CORTEXTM A9-based dual-core application processor, codenamed Orion, for advanced mobile applications. Device OEM developers now have a powerful dual processor chip platform designed specifically to meet the needs of high-performance, low-power mobile applications including tablets, netbooks and smartphones. Samsung’s new processor will be demonstrated at the seventh annual Samsung Mobile Solutions Forum held here in Taiwan at the Westin Taipei Hotel.
“Consumers are demanding the full web experience without compromise while on the go,” said Dojun Rhee, vice president of Marketing, System LSI Division, Samsung Electronics. “Given this trend, mobile device designers need an application processor platform that delivers superb multimedia performance, fast CPU processing speed, and abundant memory bandwidth. Samsung’s newest dual core application processor chip is designed specifically to fulfill such stringent performance requirements while maintaining long battery life.”
Designed using Samsung’s 45 nanometer low-power process technology, Orion features a pair of 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 cores, each comes with a 32KB data cache and a 32KB instruction cache. Samsung also included a 1MB L2 cache to optimize CPU processing performance and provide fast context switching in a multi-tasking environment. In addition, the memory interface and bus architecture of Orion supports data intensive multimedia applications including full HD video playback and high speed 3D action games.
Samsung’s new application processor incorporates a rich portfolio of advanced multimedia features implemented by hardware accelerators, such as video encoder/decoder that supports 30fps video playback and recording at 1080P full HD resolution. Using an enhanced graphics processing unit (GPU), the new processors are capable of delivering 5 times the 3D graphics performance over the previous processor generation from Samsung.
For design flexibility and system BOM cost reduction, Orion integrates a set of interfaces commonly used in mobile devices to configure various peripheral functionalities. For example, with this processor, customers have the choice to use different types of storage including NAND flash, moviNANDTM, SSD or HDD providing both SATA, and eMMC interfaces. Customers can also choose their appropriate memory options including low power LPDDR2 or DDR3, which is commonly used for high performance. In addition, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver baseband processor is embedded in the processor to seamlessly support location based services (LBS), which is critical in many emerging mobile applications.
Orion features an onboard native triple display controller architecture that compliments multi-tasking operations in a multiple display environment. A mobile device using the Orion processor can simultaneously support two on-device display screens, while driving a third external display such as a TV or a monitor, via an on-chip HDMI 1.3a interface.
Orion is designed to support package-on-package (POP) with memory stacking to reduce the footprint. A derivative of Orion, which is housed in a standalone package with a 0.8mm ball pitch, is also available.
Samsung’s new dual-core application processor, Orion, will be available to select customers in the fourth quarter of 2010 and is scheduled for mass production in the first half of 2011.
PS3 modchip claims to finally allow backing up games without invasive console surgery (video)
September 3, 2010 by Subhash Pansare
Filed under Games, Techz News, Tips & Tricks
Who needs George Hotz anyway? A USB modchip for the PS3 has emerged from the mists this morning, purporting to allow the dumping of games onto nearby storage — the console’s internal HDD and external drives are both a-ok — as well as the subsequent playing of said games without the need for the original disc. Could it be the backup/piracy nirvana Sony loyalists have been awaiting for so long? Well, there’s a video showing the little USB device apparently working, and the PSX-Scene team say they have personally verified that it does what it claims to do, but skepticism remains advisable here. The PS3 has been a fortress of hacker unfriendliness, so we’d rather kick back, relax, and wait for some braver souls than us to do the testing. For now, the video awaits after the break.
(vai.:psx-scene.com, psjailbreak.com)
PS Jailbreak is a USB plug and play solution that installs in seconds, keeping your valid warranty seal in tact.
Easy to use installer and GUI takes you step by step.
Compatible with all production models FAT and SLIM. Supports all regions: USA, JAP, PAL and KOREA
PS Jailbreak disables forced software updates and will never brick your console.
Supports all games (it does not allow backups of bluray movies , dvd movies , or past consoles games)
Backup games to your internal hard drive or external hard drive through USB, and boot directly off GUI. Eliminating the need for expensive blueray burners and costly blank media.
Play backups off your hard drives 2x as fast as off the blueray drive. This eliminates lags and glitches to provide you with smoother game play.
Open up your console to a new generation of homebrew applications. Load homebrew apps/games off any USB hard drive/flash drive.
Fully updatable with new features/updates by connecting PS Jailbreak to any computers USB port.
For installation instructions and operation instructions please click here
PSGroove & ndash; Open Source PSJailbreak Code RELEASED!
September 3, 2010 by Subhash Pansare
Filed under Featured, Games, Techz News, Tips & Tricks
UPDATE: Tons of updates at end of post. This is it ladies and gentleman, the moment you have been all waiting for, cancel your pre-orders and start your engines – the PSJailbreak open source, free scene solution is out – PSGroove!
Now we can make our OWN PSJailbreak clone, and I am glad to say at a very cheap price . All you need is either a Teensy++ USB Development Board or AT90USBKEY, and follow
If you plan on ordering a Teensy++ know that it has shortages and even more quite soon:
Update, Tuesday, Aug 31, 5:41 PM: We have received a higher than usual volume of orders for this item, and we’re working to ship orders as quickly as possible. Current wait time is approximately 2 days. As of Tuesday 5:41PM these boards ARE IN STOCK. We have enough inventory to fill all pending orders! If we do run out due to high demand, we expect to have more available in approximately 2 weeks, and we will fill any backorders in the order they were received. If you want one of these boards, your best bet is to place an order now. Please understand PJRC is a small company and we are currently running about 2 days to fill orders, though we’re hoping to fully catch up soon!
From the readme of PSGroove :
This is the PSGroove, an open-source reimplementation of the psjailbreak exploit for AT90USB and related microcontrollers.
It should work on:
* AT90USB162
* AT90USB646
* AT90USB647
* AT90USB1286
* AT90USB1287
* ATMEGA32U4
… and maybe more.
This software is not intended to enable piracy, and such features have been disabled. This software is intended to allow the execution of unsigned third-party apps and games on the PS3.
PSGroove Git Repository can be found here (contains all the files you need and everything to get started + download):
http://github.com/psgroove/psgroove
[Download PSGroove here (Mirror)]
Thats it hacker, the power is now in your hands, the PS3 security has fallen and we have now opened the world up the world to homebrew! Get cracking on making your PSGroove, we will have a newb friendly tutorial soon!
You heard it here first at PS3Hax, stay tuned for more updates!
Update :
Know that the current build has booting of ISO’s features “disabled”, but do know there is a way to enable it , and will be available soon.
UPDATE 2 :
Here is the updated file to enable “backups”, just compile and your set :
[Download PSGroove w/Backup patch (Mirror)]
UPDATE 3 :
Here is the compiled version of PSGroove with Backup patch, all you need to do is FLASH and go- it should work on ALL boards (untested, but should work):
[Download PSGroove w/Backup patch COMPILED and all board support]
Update 4: Everyone hold on before you buy your boards, it seems that the code can be ported to the PSP and TI-84 Plus Calculator
UPDATE 5:
Various ports of PSP/iPhone/Android/Calculators are being worked upon, no time on when they will be ready. According to Mathieulh, a PSP port is possible. Boards are sold out almost everywhere, please post here where you find some in stock.
(Thanks to ps3hax.net)
HP Mini 210 and Mini 5103 officially announced with dual-core Atom power
September 1, 2010 by Subhash Pansare
Filed under Featured, Laptops, Reviews, Techz News
The HP Mini 5103 ultra-portable was a really nice netbook before but now it has some extra kick under the hood, with the addition of the Intel Atom N550 processor. The Atom N550 dual core Atom(see how good the N550 is..) processors was only just recently announced by Intel but already there have been multiple major manufacturers to show interest in putting products out with the chip. Some examples include the ASUS Eee PC 1015PEM and the Eee PC 1015PDG.
Now it’s HP’s turn to unveil the netbooks it will make available with the new 1.5GHz dual core Atom processors. First was the HP Mini 210 10.1-inch and then now it’s the HP Mini 5103′s turn for some attention. As you can see in the above picture the netbook stays consistent with it’s already existing design so if you were a fan don’t worry about any outer design changes.
The new Atom N550 addition to the isn’t the only cool thing about the 5103. This ultra-portable also comes with a mountain of options for creating a pretty cool mobile entertainment system. The 5103 can be outfitted with the Broadcom Crystal HD video decoder card which will allow this netbook to stream 720p and 1080p HD with ease. The netbook also can come with a HD 10.1-inch LED-backlit display. The six-cell battery that the 5103 can be configured with can produce’s up to 10 hours and 15 minutes of life.
Charcoal Color
Crimson Red Color
Lavender Frost Color
Luminous Rose Color
Ocean Blue Color
HP Mini 5130
HP Updates Mini Notebooks with New Colors, Stylish Designs
PALO ALTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–HP (NYSE:HPQ) today enhanced its award-winning portfolio of mini notebook PCs with new products that span consumer, business and education markets.
“With these additions to the HP Mini portfolio, customers have a broad choice of sleek companion PCs that allow them to stay more easily connected to the people and digital content that is important to them.”
With thin, striking designs, the new models are engineered to provide an unsurpassed customer experience:
-
The redesigned HP Mini 210, an affordable companion PC, gives consumers all-day computing, optional high-definition (HD) video playback(1,2) and a broad range of color options in a new slim and stylish design.
-
The HP Mini 5103, HP’s latest touch-enabled mini notebook,(2,3) is designed for students and mobile professionals alike. It incorporates the latest dual-core Intel® Atom processor and features an all-metal case in a new espresso color.
“HP Minis have no equal when it comes to industrial design, use of innovative materials and overall feature sets,” said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager, Notebook Global Business Unit, Personal Systems Group, HP. “With these additions to the HP Mini portfolio, customers have a broad choice of sleek companion PCs that allow them to stay more easily connected to the people and digital content that is important to them.”
HP Mini 210
The HP Mini 210 is the ideal companion PC for the mobile consumer, providing all-day computing(4) in an ultra-portable and stylish design.
Created for consumers who surf the web, check email, listen to music, and need access to friends, family or information while on the go, the Mini 210 includes built-in WLAN,(5) webcam, microphone and a nearly full-sized, island-style keyboard. It also is offered with the optional new dual-core Intel Atom processor N550, in addition to the Intel Atom N455 and N475 processors,(6) all of which support DDR3 memory.
Less than 1-inch thin and weighing 3.1 pounds,(7) the Mini 210 comes standard with an inline six-cell battery(2) that provides up to 10.75 hours of battery life(4) and fits flush, complementing the overall design.
The Mini 210 is available in a choice of five HP Imprint finishes: charcoal, crimson red, lavender frost, luminous rose and ocean drive.
An optional 10.1-inch diagonal HD display and optional Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Video Accelerator enables smooth 720p and 1080p HD content(1,2) playback and video streaming from popular websites, allowing users to experience their own personal multiplex. Dolby Advanced Audio delivers optimal playback for movies, music and gaming.
New software enhances the HP Mini 210’s multimedia experience :
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HP Media Suite provides one location to easily organize, store and play multimedia content such as music, photos and videos.
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Evernote note-taking software allows users to quickly capture and search for notes.
Additionally, HP QuickSync(8) makes it easy to automatically synchronize files with a home PC over a wireless connection. HP QuickWeb(9) allows users to access the web in seconds without booting up the notebook.
HP Navigator, included with the optional global positioning system (GPS),(10) provides general mapping, route planning, points of interest and voice-guided navigation.(11)
HP Mini 5103
With a starting weight of only 2.64 pounds,(7) the HP Mini 5103 is a full-performance companion PC designed for mobile professionals as well as K-12 and higher-education students. The HP Mini 5103 supports the Atom N550, Intel’s latest dual-core processor, in addition to the new Atom N455 and N475 processors,(6) all of which support DDR3 memory.
Available in standard or touch-enabled versions,(3) the HP Mini 5103 features a sturdy, lightweight, anodized-aluminum display enclosure with a brushed, espresso-colored finish. It also includes an optional handle for easy transport.(2)
The HP Mini 5103 features a spacious, functional, 95 percent of full size QWERTY keyboard plus a touchpad, providing an optimal experience for email, instant messaging and other text-driven applications.(12) The optional touchscreen allows users to work intuitively and quickly, through multitouch gestures, finger taps and swipes across the screen, providing easier navigation of applications, information and websites.(2,3)
The HP Mini 5103 features a large, 10.1-inch diagonal LED display, available in either WSVGA or HD resolutions.(1,2) When equipped with the Broadcom HD video decoder card, the HP Mini 5103 can play back high-resolution 720p and 1080p HD video content from the most advanced video websites.(1,2)
Customers can choose either a four-cell battery for lighter weight or optional six-cell battery for longer battery life.(2) When configured with the optional six-cell battery, the HP Mini 5103 delivers up to 10 hours and 15 minutes of battery runtime.(4)
The HP Mini 5103 also includes HP DayStarter,(13) a software program that allows users to get a head start on the day’s activities through a customized 12-hour calendar display that offers quick access to appointments and battery status, all while Windows® boots.
Accessories, pricing and availability(14)
Matching accessories are available for HP Minis such as durable, neoprene mini sleeves, which include a plush interior lining and help safeguard against everyday use. Matching mice include advanced 2.4 GHz wireless technology(5) for less interference and a longer range of operation. Prices for the accessories start at $19.99.
For the HP Mini 5103, the HP USB 2.0 Docking Station uses universal USB technology to pass through critical signals such as video and LAN and connect with peripherals such as a keyboard, mouse or printer. Since USB is a widely adopted industry standard, the HP USB Docking Station 2.0 is ideal for mini or notebook computers that don’t have an integrated docking connector. Users can simply plug the dock into the USB port and extend their mini or notebook capabilities for a true desktop experience.
The HP LAN and USB Travel Hub is an affordable, compact hub designed to go anywhere. Measuring only 2.36 inches x 2.36 inches, it fits easily into a carrying case, backpack or even a pocket. It also can be plugged directly into a notebook with the built-in USB 2.0 cable, enabling users to access up to four USB 2.0 ports and a RJ-45 LAN port.
The HP Mini 210 is currently available in the United States with a starting price of $329.
The HP Mini 5103 is currently available in the United States with a starting price of $399.
About HP
HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.
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HD content required to view HD images.
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Sold separately or purchased as an optional feature.
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Level of touch support varies by operating system.
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Battery life will vary depending on the product model, configuration, loaded applications, features, use, wireless functionality (including the wireless functionality) and power management settings. The maximum capacity of the battery will decrease with time and usage. See MobileMark07 battery benchmark www.bapco.com/products/mobilemark2007 for additional details.
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Wireless access point and internet service required. Availability of public wireless access points limited.
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Intel’s numbering is not a measurement of higher performance.
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Weight will vary by configuration.
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Requires Microsoft Windows.
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HP QuickWeb is accessible when the notebook is off in Windows XP, Windows Vista® or Windows 7-based systems; not supported from hibernation. Internet access required. Timing may vary depending on the system configuration. To enable the feature following the removal of the battery, reboot the notebook prior to subsequent use.
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GPS access requires an unobstructed path to multiple satellites. Performance may be affected if/when used inside of buildings, bridges or heavily congested metropolitan areas.
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Voice-guided route navigation is available for a 30-day trial at no additional cost and must be purchased at the conclusion of the trial to continue use of the feature.
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Mobile Broadband requires separately purchased wireless service contract. Check with provider for local availability and coverage.
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Requires Microsoft Outlook; HP QuickLook must be installed. User must opt in to activate feature.
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Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary.
Intel is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Microsoft, Windows and Vista are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected operational and financial results; and other risks that are described in HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2010 and HP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
Samsung Epic 4G now on sale at Sprint
August 31, 2010 by Subhash Pansare
Filed under Android Device, Techz News
We told you it was coming, now the Samsung Epic 4G is on sale at Sprint for a cool $249.99 plus two year life commitment. In other words, it’s time to let Sprint know whether this Galaxy S variant (with — gasp — working GPS) is worth the $50 premium over HTC’s EVO 4G. Well, is it?
Update: As usual, Amazon’s offering a discount showing a $199.99 listing for new contracts. It still shows a pre-order status (with 2-3 weeks ship time) but that’s likely to change any minute now.
