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Alexandre Herchovitch dresses up HP Pavilion dm1 with golden doilies, higher sticker price

admin — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:02:03 +0000

Ask the most fashionable folks you know, looking good isn’t cheap — no surprise then, that playing dress up has put a premium on the HP Pavilion dm1’s price tag. Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchovitch has dolled up the ultraportable laptop with a lacy gold topcoat, applying the signature flair to the machine’s keyboard, palm rest and lid. The cost of style? About $1800, according to Notebook Italia, which buys you 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, a 500GB hard drive and 1.65GHz dual-core AMD E-450 brain. A pretty penny, considering the notebook’s Core i3 model can be had for a mere $600. Sure, Herchovitch takes the dm1 out of our holiday gift guide’s “on the cheap” section, but where else are you going to get a designer doily kicks?

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Toshiba Excite 13 redefines tablet size

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:47:24 +0000

Toshiba has just officially announced its new tablet line-up featuring several models, including the Toshiba Excite 13, an amazing 13.3″ tablet powered by the quad-core Tegra 3 chip from NVIDIA. I’ve played with the Excite 13, and I can tell you that it is obviously the most interesting one, not only because a thin 13.3″ (1600

What Does A Post-UDID World Look Like For iPhone And iPad Developers?

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 05:07:30 +0000

This past week has been a big wake-up call for the iOS developer community. The need to move away from UDIDs, or an ID scheme that many developers rely on to power advertising and store data about their users, took on extra urgency after Apple issued a few app rejections related to UDID use over the past week and a half. Even though Apple told developers that it would deprecate UDIDs about six months ago , the community hadn’t yet converged on a good alternative. There is a lot of misinformation right now. Because Apple often communicates policy changes through one-off app rejections instead of publishing a clear and transparent notice to everyone, developers get incredibly aggravated by rumors. While being super secretive stokes consumer appetite for Apple products, it’s a ridiculously awful way to operate a platform that 700,000 apps rely on. Chartboost, which does direct advertising trades between developers, sent out an e-mail last night saying that the stories about UDID rejections are &#…

iPad Sales May Reach 66 Million In 2012

admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:36:38 +0000

Following Apple’s announcement yesterday of the new iPad’s record weekend, which saw 3 million devices sold in three days, analysts are upping their predictions for the tablet’s market share growth over the course of the year. In a note to investors, Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray says the firm is now forecasting as many as 66 million sales of the new device in 2012, up from the earlier prediction of 60 million. Meanwhile, Shaw Wu of Sterne Agee is now predicting 60 million, up from 55 million. Regardless of the final outcome, the bottom line impact the device will have on the market was summed up in Munster’s bullish note: ”we believe the unprecedented ramp of the iPad over the past year is evidence that the tablet market will be measurably larger than the PC market,” he said. Munster is also forecasting that Apple will ship 12 million iPads this quarter alone to reach 66 million by year-end. By 2015, that number will reach 176 million, he says. Those figures stack up with other trends in the so-called “post-PC” era (a misnomer, really – it doesn’t mean “no PC,” as many assume). For example, Apple CEO…

Pioneer launches RMX1000 Remix Station, now no tune is safe (video)

admin — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:55:51 +0000

Pioneer has been dishing out its line of digital DJ tools for long enough that you’d hope it knows what the spinners want, and these days it seems that’s remixing tools. The RMX1000 is a new effects based unit, that looks like an evolution of the firm’s EFX range. It still cooks up those chops, rolls, and reverbs, but also has a companion “Remixbox” software, as well as studio-friendly VST / AU functionality. The software lets you overwrite the default set-up with one of your own, and there’s an SD card slot so you can leave yours at home, but still bring your settings to the club. Word is that pro DJ settings will be available for download, so nosey DJs can see how James Zabiela likes his high-pass filters. The effects themselves come in four flavors: Scene, Isolator, Release and X-Pad. Connectivity-wise it’s rocking a pair of RCA and 1 / 4-inch plugs for both in-and out-put, and there’s USB for the computer / MIDI hook-up. It’s set to land in June with a $1000 price tag, but in the meantime if you want to see if it’ll be worth your savings, hit-up the video after the break, or click the PR for the full specs.

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Pioneer DJ presents the RMX-1000: all the potential of software with the hands-on usability of pro-DJ hardware.

Pioneer is setting a new benchmark in pro-DJ equipment, with the awe-inspiring RMX-1000 remix station. Taking a totally new direction to effectors and samplers, the RMX-1000 is a three-in-one system comprising editing software, innovative performance hardware and VST and AU plug-ins.

Technological innovation is in Pioneer’s DNA. So only we could produce a remix station that not only manipulates the input sound, but also lets DJs produce new beats and sounds and trigger personalised samples on the fly. And, thanks to our Quantize function, they’ll always be in time with their sets.

The RMX-1000 serves up all the possibilities of studio effects and beatboxes, with the added physicality of pro-DJ equipment. Intuitive performance interfaces from Pioneer’s flagship mixers and effectors – such as the DJM-2000’s Isolator FX, the DJM-900nexus’s X-Pad and the EFX-1000’s multiple FX chaining – have been evolved and brought together into one unit.

Simplifying these concepts even further, the RMX-1000 uses intuitive DJ controls to manipulate several parameters in macro. Each effect has been designed to work in a totally unique way with the interface, for results previously only possible with hours of studio automation or robot-like performance skills.

While the unit is incredibly simple to operate, DJs can still create a totally unique sound with Pioneer’s remixbox™ editing software. remixbox allows DJs to completely customise the RMX-1000 hardware to their own performance style and load it up with their own banks of samples.

And, by saving their settings to an SD card, DJs can effectively take their own personalised DJ rig with them wherever they perform. Plus, Pioneer plans to upload internationally renowned DJs’ settings and samples to its website so DJs can give themselves a head start.

Using the RMX-1000 as a USB controller for the, included, RMX-1000 VST and AU plug-ins gives DJs the same hands-on feel they get with studio DJ mixes, saving them from hours of editing and breathing new life into studio productions.

The RMX-1000 will be available from May 2012 at a SRP of 599 GBP/699 EUR, including VAT.

Key features of the RMX-1000

1. Club quality and fully customisable remix station unit

The ultimate multi-use unit, the RMX-1000 can be used with mixers, CDJs and laptops in the booth, or with a PC in the studio for recording and producing.

With fully customisable settings, the RMX-1000 offers the kind of flexibility never before seen in hardware. The control parameters can be completely modified using the remixbox software included.

The hardware offers three ways to access settings. Default activates Pioneer’s intuitive factory settings. And User settings can be stored on the unit, or on an SD card to be taken along to the booth – DJs simply plug their SD card in to get immediate access to their personalised controls. And Pioneer plans to make settings from internationally renowned DJs such as Chuckie, Kissy Sell Out, Kutski, James Zabiela, Doorly and Laidback Luke available for DJs to download.

The unit’s user-friendly, intuitive controls are divided into four categories:

Scene FX

– The Scene FX wheel allows DJs to build up and break down tracks by combining ten types of effects.

– Use the top section to build up, adding effects like Noise, Echo and Spiral Up and the bottom section to break down, cutting sounds with effects like Crush Echo, Spiral Down and Reverb Down.

– Twist the central knob to move from Wet to Dry to add pitch and intensity to the effect that’s in play.

– Plus, two sub-parameter dials allow DJs to manipulate the Time and Resonance parameters for even more character.

Isolator FX

– Inherited from Pioneer’s high-end DJM-1000 mixer, the RMX-1000’s isolators allow DJs to change the main audio input’s rhythm and timbre using hi-, mid- and low-frequency bands.

– Plus, three effects are loaded into the dials for even more flexibility: Cut/Add, Trans/Roll and Gate/Drive.

X-Pad – with exclusive Pitch control

– DJs will be itching to get their fingers on the RMX-1000’s intuitive X-Pad. Evolved from Pioneer’s flagship mixer, the DJM-900nexus, the touch-sensitive X-Pad reaches new levels of ingenuity on the RMX-1000.

– DJs can instantly get involved with the unit’s drum samples by tapping the individual sample buttons (Kick, Snare, Clap and Hi-Hat), or by using the X-Pad to roll (repeat) the samples at different speeds.

– DJs can record their own beats and patterns on the fly by switching on Overdub, then use Roll and Mute to manipulate each sample in a variety of impressive combinations.

– The Quantize button snaps each tap of the sample pads to the nearest beat, so DJs always sound on time.

– And for truly unique performances, DJs can add up to 16 samples across the four sample banks, which they can instantly trigger and manipulate during live performance.

– For unprecedented flexibility on the fly, DJs can edit the sample banks through remixbox and even alter them during play.

– And, as if that wasn’t enough, the RMX-1000’s exclusive Pitch knob alters the pitch to add even more character to each repeated beat.

Release FX

– The DJ’s get-out-of-jail-free card, the Release FX allows DJs to elegantly and seamlessly exit complex effect combinations and return to the original track.

– Three modes with three customisable speeds – Spin Back, Echo and Break

Intel Capital Invests $21 Million In Swedish Eye-Tracking Tech Company Tobii

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:40:48 +0000

Intel is betting big on the future of human interfaces with a $21 million (143 million kronor) investment in Tobii, a Swedish company that has been working for years on eye-tracking laptops and other devices. A 10% stake, it implies a valuation of around $200 million for the 12-year-old company. In 2007 Tobii raised $14M, then in 2009 another $26.8M, and the $21M from Intel Capital continues that trend of steady R&D funding. The news, announced by co-founder and VP John Elvesjö and reported by Computer Sweden , comes on the heels of Tobii’s newest eye-tracking device , which was announced a week ago at CeBit. The timing probably isn’t a coincidence. Elvesjö noted that their plan was always to test at small scale in laptops and then expand into larger markets: cars, for instance, or perhaps mobile phones. Intel is a leader in desktop computing and servers, but it has been taken by surprise in recent …

Sandy Bridge E squashed into $3,000 Clevo P270WM gaming suitcase

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:32:04 +0000

If you thought Intel’s super-charged Core i7 CPUs were only for desktops, then AVADirect reckons it can change your mind. The company’s Clevo P270WM notebook comes strapped to the back of either a six-core i7-3930K or an over-sized i7-3960X, while still leaving plenty of room for dual GeForce GTX 580M graphics, a Bigfoot Killer WiFi adapter, three hard drives and four memory slots offering up to 32GB of RAM. Topping it all off is a 3D-capable 17.3-inch Full HD LED glossy display and backlit keyboard. The base configuration with the 3930K processor, single graphics card and 750GB HDD will set you back over $3,000, and if you have to ask how much the NVIDIA Quadro graphics option costs then you’re probably better off with something like this.

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Panasonic intros a pair of 12.1-inch Let’s Note Laptops

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:49:06 +0000

Panasonic Japan’s quirky range of chunky Let’s Note laptops has swelled by a factor of two, thanks to a pair of 12.1-inch units ousted today. The stock models come with a 1280 x 800 display (extra cash will get you a 16:9 1600 x 900 screen with a built-in 720p webcam). By default, you’ll get an Intel Core i5 2450M chip, USB 3.0, WiFi (and WiMax!), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, HDMI-out and on the SX edition, an optical drive. Build-to-order options include swapping in an SSD and a battery pack that promises an unbelievable (i.e. we don’t) twelve hours of life on the road. There’s no mention of when they’ll be available beyond “Spring,” nor any indication of the cost, so instead let’s think about that crazy circular track-pad, eh?

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Find Your Stolen Camera or Protect It First With GadgetTrak’s CameraTrace

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:04:13 +0000

If you got a digital camera for the holidays, or already own one, take a moment and write down the serial number. That way GadgetTrak’s new CameraTrace service can help you recover it if it’s ever stolen. Launching today , for a one-time fee of $10 CameraTrace lets you register your camera’s serial number. If you later report it lost or stolen, you’ll be notified by email if anyone else tries to upload photos from it. You can also search CameraTrace’s serial number database of 5 billion photos for free. Both tools could help you track down unauthorized uploaders and get your gear back. Camera thieves beware, there’s a new sheriff in town. The way it works is that almost all digital cameras imprint their serial number on the photos they shoot, which CameraTrace can detect when they’re posted online. Law enforcement can then be alerted to investigate. The official launch of CameraTrace comes after …

Razer delays its sexy Blade gaming laptop until January

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:02:29 +0000

If you were hoping to get one of those hot and powerful Razer Blade laptops before Christmas, we’ve got bad news for you: it’s delayed. Delayed at the eleventh hour because the company is swapping out the default 320GB hard drive with a 256GB solid-state drive.