It was last year that Intel chose Computex, a computer tradeshow in Taiwan, to introduce its Ultrabook concept to the world. Twelve months later, 110-plus models are in the pipeline, which meant the Taipei Convention Center was overrun by skinny, lightweight laptops. Make that skinny, touch-enabled laptops. Between those new Ivy Bridge chips and Microsoft putting the finishing touches on Windows 8, this week’s show was nothing if not a five-day-long wedding between two tech giants: almost every device on display here was a vehicle for showing off Microsoft’s glossy new OS. At every turn, a celebration of touchscreen notebooks.

With more than 30 hands-on posts this week, we can see where one Core i5 laptop might look like the next, or how you might have failed to keep up with Jonney Shih’s rapid-fire product announcements. Now that we’re wrapping up here in Taiwan, though, we’re ready to take a step back and think about what it is we just saw. Whether you felt overwhelmed by our wall-to-wall coverage or just need to catch up, we suggest you meet us past the break for a quick recap of all the new Ultrabooks. Oh, and if you’re in the market for a new laptop, you can check your trigger-happy finger at the door. With few exceptions, we’re not expecting these to go on sale until the fall, when Windows 8 is expected to start shipping.

Continue reading The Ultrabooks of Computex 2012

The Ultrabooks of Computex 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here in the states, it’s just about time to start hitting the beach, and despite what you might have heard, not all of us here at Engadget are perpetually bikini-ready. In this week’s issue of Distro, we’ll follow our own Daniel Cooper on an eight-week quest to slim down before his summertime nuptials. In “Fitter, Happier” Daniel puts a series of fitness gadgets to the test to find out if machines really can make you a healthier, skinnier and, ultimately, happier human being. We’ll also bring you the best of Computex 2012, a look at gaming’s big three at E3 and give you our impressions of Microsoft’s latest Windows 8 preview, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X230 and Sony’s NEX-F3. Rounding things out, we’ll take a closer look at some of the biggest names in fit tech with “Eyes-On” and jog your memory with an early ancestor to the MP3 player in “Time Machines.” So hit the appropria link below and get to downloading.

Distro Issue 44 PDF
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Distro Issue 44 is here and it’s time to get fit! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You knew it was going to happen, but Microsoft Office 2010 has officially taken roost in the Windows Store, which is part of Microsoft’s next-gen OS known as Windows 8. What makes its arrival noteworthy, however, is the fact that the productivity suite marks the first of the traditional desktop applications available in the digital storefront. Integration leaves much to be desired, however, as you can’t actually make the purchase within the Windows Store. Instead, users are kicked over to Microsoft’s website, where they’re prompted to choose between different editions of Office, which range in price between $119 and $499. In other words, the latest “inclusion” is little more than a shortcut rather than a cohesive shopping experience. Still, if you like the idea of a full-fledged desktop productivity suite and LibreOffice simply won’t cut the mustard, it’s yet one more opportunity to plunk down some cash.

Microsoft Office becomes first non-Metro application within Windows Store originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 22:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google vowed that it would adapt Chrome to Metro back in March, and it’s just now providing its first real look at the Windows 8 revamp. Don’t expect a radical remake: it’s Chrome, just in Metro. Even so, the very first test releases will support charms for sharing and other cross-OS features, and they will obey Snap View for tablet-friendly Windows 8 multitasking. Metro support will come in the next Dev channel release for those using the Windows 8 Release Preview. Those of us leery of running a pre-beta web browser on top of a beta OS will have to wait some months to see the finished result. That patience should be rewarded through better touchscreen support and refinements to the overall interface, so by the time the dissenting among us are ready to toss Internet Explorer 10 aside, Chrome will be waiting with open arms.

Google gives a sneak peek at Chrome for Windows 8′s Metro UI, plans a test release soon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You think it’s easy up there on stage? Then just try shouting “ubiquitous cloud computing era” at the top of your lungs without sounding silly. It’s virtually impossible, as ASUS chairman Jonney Shih discovered 45 seconds into the video after the break. Fortunately, he quickly moved onto his company’s rather stellar array of Computex reveals, including the dual-booting Transformer AiO (which doubles up as the “world’s biggest tablet”), a couple of Windows 8 hybrids and the Taichi swiveller — not to mention some live performance art ten minutes before the end. If you’re the “Home C.I.O.” in your family, then it could be professionally negligent to miss this.

Continue reading ASUS Computex keynote now on YouTube: relive the excitement, the yelling

ASUS Computex keynote now on YouTube: relive the excitement, the yelling originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shortly after launching its Win8 Metro Testbed on Cupertino’s tablet, Splashtop’s bringing the Microsoft OS simulator over to the Android side. The app is essentially identical to that of the iPad, meaning it’ll give developers (or any other adventurers) a Windows 8 canvas to test out possible future applications on Redmond’s novel platform. That said, you’ll need to have a copy of the Release Preview installed on your PC, as well as a Google-certified slate sporting Android 3.1 or higher, with a “target” screen resolution of 1280 x 800 in order to kick things off. The Splashtop Win8 Metro Testbed will cost you $50, though the service has an ongoing promo which slashes half of the usual price. If you’re curious enough to dive in, you can grab the application now via Google Play — or, you could always check the video after the break while you’re thinking it through.

Continue reading Splashtop’s Win8 Metro Testbed comes to Android slates, keeps everyone happy

Splashtop’s Win8 Metro Testbed comes to Android slates, keeps everyone happy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s reset on its tablet game is going to require a fairly substantial push from manufacturers and developers alike, but according to Bloomberg, at least one respected company won’t be allowed to partake in the effort. Take this with a grain of salt, but it’s reported that HTC has been excluded from the development of Windows RT / Windows 8 tablets, apparently due to its lack of experience in the arena. This is all according to confidential sources, of course, which also claim that HTC “doesn’t sell enough devices,” as another reason for the decision. If the rumor is indeed accurate, talk about bad news for both parties — it’ll simply be one less troop to wage war against the mighty juggernauts from Cupertino and Mountain View. Perhaps HTC will ramp up its Android tablet efforts out of spite?

HTC reportedly excluded from next-gen Windows tablets, Microsoft doubts company’s ‘experience’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 18:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s second preview of Windows Embedded Standard 8 is available now. The latest version, typically used outside the standard office and home environs, throws in Kinect for Windows compatibility, as well as some gesture filters for arm-flailing interaction and NFC support. The preview now supports nine languages and requires at least a 1GHz processor, 1GB of system memory (2GB if you’re running a 64 bit system), a DVD drive and 7GB of space for the full install. Hit up the source for plenty more detail and the download itself.

Windows Embedded Standard 8 CTP2 ready to download now originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 03:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If Intel and Microsoft have been the royal couple of Computex 2012 (aka the world’s biggest Windows 8 Ultrabook tradeshow), AMD has been the third wheel. That doesn’t mean it’s opted out of the festivities, though. Nope, it’s chosen this week to show off its Trinity chips, and it even has its first Windows 8 concept device on display. The reference design, made by Compal, has the same form factor we’ve seen over and over again this week: an 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 tablet paired with a keyboard dock. The main differences are that it has a kickstand, and packs one of AMD’s Trinity A6 APUs. The chassis is on the chunky side, at a shade under 20mm, and the screen’s a fingerprint magnet, but then again, we don’t put too much stock in prototype designs; such details are subject to change.

Performance seemed smooth so far as we could tell, but then again, we haven’t had the chance to put it through its paces, streaming HD video or attempting anything of productive value. We wish we could tell you a bit about rated battery life, but alas, AMD isn’t ready to make any public claims just yet. As for the accompanying dock, the keyboard is far more spacious than what we’re used to. Want to see it in action? We’ve got a quick walk-through of the design, with photos and video below.

Continue reading AMD shows off its first Windows 8 concept tablet, we go hands-on (video)

AMD shows off its first Windows 8 concept tablet, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 01:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember that ASUS Zenbook Prime Ultrabook we previewed last week? Yeah, it’s outdated already, and you have none other than ASUS to thank. In addition to all the Ultrabooks and tablets the company announced later this week, it’s also showing off a touch-enabled version of the 11-inch UX21A we tested out. What can we say? The form factor makes sense, given that Windows 8 is on the way and Microsoft is the star of this year’s Computex. Other than that touchscreen, though, you won’t notice any differences in the hardware: it’s the same industrial design and backlit keyboard that you know and covet. And while the show floor is littered with touchscreen laptops, we will say that it’s an especially welcome addition here, since the Zenbook Primes are already endowed with some of the best displays on the market: IPS quality with 1080p resolution. Touch just makes it better — so long as you can live with the fingerprints. No word on when (or if!) this will be available, or whether we’ll see a 13-inch version. Considering this was built with Windows 8 in mind, though, we’d wager it’ll be a few months yet before we get clarification on all that.

Continue reading ASUS shows off a touchscreen Zenbook Prime Ultrabook, we go fingers-on (video)

ASUS shows off a touchscreen Zenbook Prime Ultrabook, we go fingers-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 01:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re looking for pricing, specs, availability and all that good stuff, then you’ve come to the wrong place. What we have here is a gallery of photos revealing Toshiba’s various concepts of what Windows 8 devices ought to look like. There’s a Transformer-style tablet with detachable keyboard dock — a form factor we’re seeing plenty of at Computex right now. There’s also a slider PC that looks rather like the MSI Slider S20 we played with earlier. Finally, perhaps the most conservative of the bunch is a clamshell laptop design with a touchscreen. So yes, as concepts go none of these are especially pioneering — but at least Toshiba will know it can’t dally in bringing its ideas to market and hitting a competitive price point.

Dana Wollman contributed to this report.

Toshiba unveils Windows 8 concept devices, details stay hidden originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 04:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sure Qualcomm has snagged quite the coup by sliding some of its dual-core S4 CPUs into the US-bound Galaxy S IIIs, but it’s not stopping there. The company just revealed versions of these chips will power connected HDTVs and set-top boxes as well as PCs and Windows 8 (including Windows Phone 8) devices. There’s four tiers of the upcoming processors: Prime, Pro, Plus and Play. S4 Prime is the smart TV platform that includes the MPQ8064 1.5GHz quad-core CPU with Adreno 320 graphics, while S4 Pro processors are ready to be the brains of Windows RT tablets, laptops and tablet / laptop combos. S4 Plus is the high-end smartphone experience we’ve come to associate with the Snapdragon brand, and finally S4 Play for more entry level mobile devices. Check after the break for more info on the chips in each family and details on what they can do, and our hands on with some S4 powered Windows 8 devices right here.

Continue reading Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU family expands past phones to HDTVs, tablets and Windows 8 PCs

Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU family expands past phones to HDTVs, tablets and Windows 8 PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sure Qualcomm has snagged quite the coup by sliding some of its dual-core S4 CPUs into the US-bound Galaxy S IIIs, but it’s not stopping there. The company just revealed versions of these chips will power connected HDTVs and set-top boxes as well as PCs and Windows 8 (including Windows Phone 8) devices. There’s four tiers of the upcoming processors: Prime, Pro, Plus and Play. S4 Prime is the smart TV platform that includes the MPQ8064 1.5GHz quad-core CPU with Adreno 320 graphics, while S4 Pro processors are ready to be the brains of Windows RT tablets, laptops and tablet / laptop combos. S4 Plus is the high-end smartphone experience we’ve come to associate with the Snapdragon brand, and finally S4 Play for more entry level mobile devices. Check after the break for more info on the chips in each family and details on what they can do, and our hands on with some S4 powered Windows 8 devices right here.

Continue reading Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU family expands past phones to HDTVs, tablets and Windows 8 PCs

Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU family expands past phones to HDTVs, tablets and Windows 8 PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funny thing about this year’s Computex. There are very, very few ARM-based tablets to be found. Most of the slates we’ve seen have been running Windows 8 paired with a PC-grade X86 Intel processor (and that’s not even counting all of the touchscreen Ultrabooks we’ve seen!). Well, Intel just dropped a number that confirms we haven’t been imagining things. Here at its press conference in Taipei, Chipzilla said more than 20 Windows 8 tablets with Intel innards are on the way, meaning those new slates from Acer, ASUS and Samsung are just scratching the surface. That just leaves one question: who’s next?

Intel: 20-plus Windows 8 tablets with Intel CPUs are in the works originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Funny thing about this year’s Computex. There are very, very few ARM-based tablets to be found. Most of the slates we’ve seen have been running Windows 8 paired with a PC-grade X86 Intel processor (and that’s not even counting all of the touchscreen Ultrabooks we’ve seen!). Well, Intel just dropped a number that confirms we haven’t been imagining things. Here at its press conference in Taipei, Chipzilla said more than 20 Windows 8 tablets with Intel innards are on the way, meaning those new slates from Acer, ASUS and Samsung are just scratching the surface. That just leaves one question: who haven’t we heard from yet?

Intel: 20-plus Windows 8 tablets with Intel CPUs are in the works originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yes, another Windows 8 tablet. After getting hands-on with some new devices from Acer, ASUS and Samsung, you might already having trouble telling one device from the other. You might even say the same about Lenovo, which is showing off an early-stage tablet here at Computex. The difference? We can’t remember the last time we saw even a Windows 7 slate by Lenovo. So when the company trots out one running Win8, it doesn’t just feel like a mandatory upgrade from one OS to another; it feels like Lenovo entering a new category.

Continue reading Lenovo demos ThinkPad tablet running Windows 8, we go hands-on

Lenovo demos ThinkPad tablet running Windows 8, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 00:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You wanted Windows 8 tablet / laptop mash-ups, you got ‘em! On the heels of some rather inventive product launches from Acer and ASUS here at Computex, Samsung is teasing a Win8 device of its own, the Series 5 Hybrid PC. For now, Samsung’s not sharing many technical details — we don’t even know the screen size! — but the concept, at least, is self-explanatory: this is a Transformer-like tablet that slots into an accompanying keyboard dock. In an interesting twist, though, this device doesn’t make use of your run-of-the-mill latch mechanism; instead, the slate attaches magnetically.

The Hybrid is rated for 10 hours of battery life and has a pair of 2- and 8-megapixel cameras. It also supports pen input, and will come bundled with the same S-Pen and S-Memo software used on the Galaxy Note 10.1 (but modified for Windows, of course). This might be a good time to clarify that unlike the 10.1 (or any other Galaxy Tab, for that matter), this is not an ARM-based slate, but rather, an X86 PC. This means, of course, that it runs full Windows 8, and not just the RT version. As it happens, Engadget had the chance to check out a prototype in advance of the launch, and it was running a two-watt Intel Clover Trail CPU. At the time, a Samsung rep told us the company was considering an ultra low voltage notebook-grade processor. Other possible specs: a 1080p display option, with some lower, unspecified resolution offered as well. Lastly, the early model we saw had a USIM slot, a microSD reader and a Superspeed USB port. Keep in mind, though, that all these details are subject to change.

Back when we got a sneak peek at the Hybrid, we handled a non-powered unit, and members of the press were not permitted to take photos or video that day. We can’t speak to the software experience, then, but we did find the build quality to be solid. If the idea of a magnetic hinge gives you the willies, this one seemed quite sturdy — we don’t see the slate slipping out of its cradle without any effort on the part of the user. At 747 grams (1.65 pounds) and 9mm (0.35 inches) thick, it feels denser than similar-looking products like the ASUS Transformer Prime, but then again, this is a fully functioning PC. Though Samsung won’t confirm the screen size, a quick once-over told us it measures between 10 and 11 inches diagonally, matching other Win8 tablets announced this week. For now, this blend of facts and educated guesses will have to suffice, but we’ll naturally hit you back with more particulars as we hear them.

Update: Samsung reps staffing the company’s Computex booth confirmed that the screen measures 11 inches.

Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Samsung teases Series 5 Hybrid PC, a Windows 8 tablet with magnetic keyboard dock and pen support (update: hands-on photos) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In addition to that Series 5 laptop / tablet hybrid, Samsung has one other goodie up its sleeve. The company is also teasing a Series 7 all-in-one PC, a desktop that we can only imagine was built to run Windows 8 (notice that those cheeky blokes in Sammy’s marketing department aren’t even showing a Win8 screen in that lone photo you see up there). As with the Series 5 hybrid, Samsung is revealing maddeningly little about specs. We do know it responds to both voice input and hand gestures — both uncommon features for a desktop, especially in that combination. We don’t even know the screen size or resolution, but we’re told this panel is capable of recognizing up to 10 fingers at once. Lastly, Samsung says the stand is made of metal and the display is slim, but you probably already gathered that. And that, folks, is all she wrote, but we’ll be sure to report back with more details between now and when this goes on sale, presumably sometime after Win8 ships this fall.

Zach Honig contributed to this report.

Samsung shows off Series 7 all-in-one PC with slim design and metal stand, stays mum on specs (update: hands-on photos) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer may be going on a full touchscreen blitz at Computex, but one thing it’s not doing is chasing others down the smartbook path. Talking with journos as Taipei’s big gala got underway, company chairman JT Wang said that ARM was too fresh-faced to be used in anything besides a tablet, at least until 64-bit ARM architecture speeds things up in earnest. Wang wasn’t too worried, though: Intel and Microsoft were recovering their “relationship” now that Windows 8 was providing a spark to reignite the love affair. That will leave Acer taking a decidedly different route than its Taiwan sibling ASUS, whose Tablet 600 carries more than a slight smartbook vibe. With ARM-based Windows 8 PCs not poised to arrive in force until early 2013, though, it will take some time before we know which course is wisest.

Acer turns down non-tablet ARM devices, player hates the smartbook game originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft may not be introducing a next-gen console at E3 this year, but it is teaching its venerable Xbox 360 some new tricks. SmartGlass brings AirPlay-style wireless technology to Xbox and Windows 8 by letting you send video from your tablet or phone to your TV. It then turns that second screen into an information window giving you data of the content you’re watching. Plus, it updates the info on your mobile device as the content on the TV changes. The app also enables peripheral controls for games you’re playing — so you can scroll through different plays on your tablet while playing Madden on your big screen, for example.

In addition to providing your peripherals with contextual awareness, the SmartGlass app turns your phone into a remote and trackpad for your Xbox, in case using Kinect and regular controllers aren’t something you’re into. So, you can pinch to zoom, move the onscreen cursor and scroll to your heart’s content in Xbox’s new web browser using your tablet or phone. When will we be seeing SmartGlass in living rooms? Unfortunately, not until this fall, so our liveblog photos of the app in action will have to suffice until then.

Follow our liveblog of Microsoft’s E3 keynote right here!

Continue reading Microsoft’s SmartGlass gets official: app brings AirPlay-esque streams to Android, iOS and Windows Phone

Microsoft’s SmartGlass gets official: app brings AirPlay-esque streams to Android, iOS and Windows Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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