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IFA 2012: Lenovo Announces Ideatab Android Tablet Line

Jim McCarthy

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Aug 31, 2012

Lenovo announced a new Android-based tablet line called Ideatab. Read on for details.

Lenovo announced three new Android-based tablets: the Ideatab® S2110A, A2107A, and A2109A. These are Android tablets running Ice Cream Sandwich and are available in 7, 9 and 10” screen sizes. Here is the announcement:

Lenovo Announces Smarter, Slimmer Android Tablets at IFA

Latest Tablets Offer Optimized Multimedia Experiences at Attractive Price Points

IFA 2012, Berlin – August 30, 2012: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced that it has expanded its Ideatab® product line with the Ideatab S2110A, A2107A, and A2109A. Powered by the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system, the new product lineup provides smarter, slimmer tablet designs with a variety of multimedia options at attractive price points.

“The newest line of Ideatab products provides an option for everyone who wants to keep all of their favorite books, songs and movies at their fingertips, no matter where they go,” said Liu Jun, senior vice president, and president, Mobile Internet and Digital Home business. “Whether consumers crave a pocket tablet with 3G connectivity or seek a premium entertainment tablet for games and graphics, Lenovo has it, and at every price point.”

Ideatab S2110A

The Ideatab S2110A is a premium entertainment tablet with an optional detachable keyboard dock to provide a true PC+ experience that moves easily between the tablet and PC worlds. At just 8.69mm and only 580g, it is one of the thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablets available today. The tablet’s IPS (In-Plane Switching) screen with 178-degree viewing angle and unique 10-point multi-touch display is ideal for two-player gaming, and a Micro-HDMI port enables full HD viewing of 1080p on an HDTV. When attached to the keyboard dock, the S2110A delivers double battery life for up to 20 hours of activity, as well as an SD card reader and USB ports to connect a thumb drive, external hard drive or mouse. The S2110A is also equipped with a 5Mp, auto-focusing rear-facing camera and an LED flash, in addition to a 1.3Mp front-facing camera, 1GB memory, WiFi connectivity, and a textured back cover that provides a more comfortable grip.

Ideatab A2107A, A2109A

The Ideatab A2107A and A2109A are affordable tablets that offer essential entertainment, social media, and productivity capabilities—all protected by the same metal alloy roll cage inspired by Lenovo ThinkPad products.

At seven inches—the same size as a standard book page—the A2107A display is designed for on-the-go reading, Web browsing and email. The A2107A also provides hassle-free entertainment with two speakers, a micro-SD card, Bluetooth 4.0, a built-in FM radio, 720p HD resolution, and up to ten hours of active use. This 3G model gives users anytime, anywhere information access and fast A-GPS capability.

With a powerful quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 CPU and graphics card, the A2109A is an optimized entertainment tablet that features a 9-inch, four-point capacitive display with 1280×800 resolution, 1080p output via the tablet’s Micro-HDMI port, and two speakers with SRS TruMedia audio enhancement. At just 570g with a sleek metal shell backing, the A2109A also includes 1.3 megapixel front and 3 megapixel rear-facing cameras, dual microphones, GPS, a Micro USB port, and up to 16GB of storage with MicroSD card support up to 32GB.

Pricing and Availability

UK pricing and availability to be announced.

These look like really nice Android tablets. We’ll have to wait for pricing details as none were announced.

IFA 2012: Lenovo Announces New S Series Laptops

Jim McCarthy

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Aug 31, 2012

2

IFA 2012: Lenovo Announces New S Series Laptops

Lenovo announced three new thin S Series laptops at IFA 2012. Read on for details.

Lenovo announced three new thin S Series laptops at IFA 2012. All three run Windows 7 and can be upgraded to Windows 8, and sport AMD A8 or Intel Core i3 or i5 chips. Here is the Lenovo announcement:

Lenovo Ushers in New Affordable, Thin and Light S Series Laptops

Full-featured laptops feature ultraportable design with mainstream performance and price

RALEIGH, NC (August 30, 2012) – Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY), the world’s second largest PC company, has expanded its ultraportable IdeaPad® product line with the IdeaPad S300, S400, and S405 laptops. These affordable thin and light laptops strike a balance between portability and performance for consumers who want more computing power than a netbook, long battery life and a lower price point.

Measuring just 21.9mm thin (less than one inch) and weighing 1.8kg (less than four lbs), the S Series features a sleek exterior design with a stylish metallic finish powered by either 3rd generation Intel® Core™ or AMD A-Series processors. The S Series laptops combine comfort, simplicity and responsiveness to give consumers an affordable PC with quality construction and solid performance.

“As a global leader in the PC market, Lenovo’s success rests on our ability to deliver consumer-centric innovations in products that deliver a blend of mobility, performance and price,” said Bai Peng, vice president and general manager, IdeaPad Business Unit, Lenovo. “Customers don’t just want a functional product, though; they also want one that speaks to their sense of style and individuality. The new Lenovo IdeaPad S Series laptops give everyday consumers exactly what they need by matching small size and light weight with the power needed for everything from Web browsing to productivity tasks, all in an affordable package.”

Powerful and intelligent

Equipped with the latest technology, the Lenovo IdeaPad S300 and S400 laptops are available with Intel’s 3rd generation Core™ i3 or i5 processors, while the IdeaPad S405 is powered by an AMD A8 quad-core APU processor. Up to 500GB hard disk storage capacity (up to 1TB HDD in the S405) offers plenty of space to store music, movies and documents, and an optional 32GB solid state drive on the S400 and S405 can help speed boot time and application responsiveness. In addition, intelligent energy management features not only increase time spent between charges—up to 5 hours—but also protect the long-term durability of the battery.

All of the new S Series laptops feature Windows 7 Home Professional and will be eligible for the Windows 8 Upgrade Offer. Designed for Windows 8, the updated S Series’ intelligent touchpad gives users a more controlled experience when scrolling and zooming, while the AccuType keyboard with individual rounded keys provides a platform for comfortable and accurate typing.

Users can also take advantage of innovative ease-of-use features such as Lenovo Quick Start “instant on” functionality to get online in seconds. Even data protection is made easy with Lenovo’s OneKey™ Rescue System, which offers an amazingly simple and quick way to back up and restore data, recover corrupted system files and run a complete virus scan.

Slim and stylish multimedia companion

Less than an inch at their thickest point and weighing under four pounds, Lenovo’s new consumer laptops feature a contemporary design with a tactile metallic finish available in a variety of colors including, crimson red, silver grey and cotton-candy pink. With up to a 14-inch HD widescreen display, HDMI output, stereo speakers and Dolby® Advanced Audio™ v2 certification, the new S Series laptops offer premium features for immersive entertainment and multimedia activities.

Pricing and Availability

The Lenovo IdeaPad S300, S400, and S405 are available now, with prices starting at £349.

Here are product pictures for these laptops:

These are nice-looking laptops!

App Update: Amazon Kindle for iOS Updated to version 3.2

Apple
News

Andrew Edney

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Aug 30, 2012

2

I use the Amazon Kindle app on my iPad all the time, and it has just been updated to version 3.2.

Description

The Kindle app is optimized for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, giving users the ability to read Kindle books, newspapers, magazines and PDFs on a beautiful, easy-to-use interface.

You’ll have access to over 900,000 books in the Kindle Store. Amazon Whispersync automatically syncs your last page read, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across devices (including Kindle), so you can pick up your book where you left off on another device.

Get the best reading experience available on your iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch:
• Shop the Kindle Store by visiting Amazon for the largest selection of books people want to read: over a 900,000* books.
• *New*: Email PDFs & other documents to your new Send-to-Kindle e-mail address and we deliver them to your device. The documents are automatically archived in the Amazon Cloud and available for re-download on your iOS or supported Kindle devices. You can also read PDFs from Mail, Safari, or by transferring them from iTunes.
• Get free book samples – read the first chapter free before you decide to buy.
• Customize your reading experience by choosing the background color, font size, and either portrait or landscape format.
• Instant dictionary word lookup. Tap and hold a word to view the definition. Use the Google and Wikipedia links to get more information.
• Search inside the book to find a character, topic, or section you want to revisit.
• Simply tap on either side of the screen or flick to turn pages.
• You can also read your Kindle books on your Kindle, Kindle Fire, Kindle Touch, PC, Mac, Android-based device, and Windows Phone 7-based device. Our Whispersync technology syncs your last page read, notes, bookmarks, and highlights across devices, so you can pick up where you left off.

What’s New in Version 3.2

• Adjustable Margins (iPad): Choose from three layouts for your preferred reading experience.
• Rapid Highlights: Quickly mark important passages for handy reference later.
• Improved Brightness Control: Refined the brightness slider to be more responsive and optimized font hues for better viewing.

Download from the Apple App Store

IFA 2012: Toshiba introduce the Satellite U940 Ultrabook running Windows 8

Andrew Edney

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Aug 30, 2012

1

IFA 2012: Toshiba introduce the Satellite U940 Ultrabook running Windows 8

Today at IFA Toshiba presented the Satellite U940 as a new member of its Ultrabook range, and yes it’s running Windows 8.

This sleek and elegant silver-coloured model is a good choice for those who are searching for a portable yet powerful Ultrabook but also value a display that measures 35.6cm (14.0’’) in diagonal.

The high-performance Satellite U940 has the latest CPUs and graphics for Ultrabooks on board. It will be available in the fourth quarter of 2012 in Europe.

Usability and power on the go
Due to the power of the third generation Intel processors for Ultrabooks and dedicated graphics, the Satellite U940 provides a smooth HD multimedia experience on its 35.6cm (14.0’’) display. It also allows for playing graphic-focussed games and handles advanced office applications. The slim chassis accommodates powerful stereo speakers enhanced by SRS Premium Sound 3D for a rich sound experience. The new Toshiba Ultrabook comes with either a fast, silent and highly shock resistant SSD of up to 256GB or with a HDD of up to 1TB, which is supported by a 32GB SSD for fast responsiveness and quick boot time.

Wide selection of ports and interfaces
Although it is only 20.9mm thick, the Satellite U940 has a wide selection of full-size ports and interfaces on board; amongst them HDMI, Ethernet LAN, and two USB 3.0. One USB 3.0 features Sleep-and-Charge support to charge smartphones or MP3 players while the laptop is turned off. High-speed wireless connectivity including WLAN, Bluetooth and Intel Wireless Display leaves nothing to be desired.

Elegant and slim looks
The Satellite U940’s considerable feature set is packed into a sleek, elegant and yet durable silver-coloured casing featuring a mix of textured finishes. The Satellite U940’s weight starts at just 1.7kg depending on configuration.

Specifications

· 35.6cm (14.0’’) HD LCD with LED backlight, 200 CSV, 1366 x 768 pixels
· CPU: third generation Intel® processor for Ultrabooks
· Graphics: Intel HD 4000 or NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M with Optimus and 2GB VRAM
· RAM: up to 16GB DDR3 (1,600MHz)
· 2.5’’ SATA HDD up to 1TB + 32GB SSD or SSD with up to 256GB
· WLAN (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, Wireless Display 3.5
· 2x USB 3.0 (one supports Sleep and Charge), 1x USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet LAN, SDTM Card Reader, microphone in, headset out
· Camera: 1.0MPixel
· Sound: stereo speakers enhanced by SRS Premium Sound 3DTM
· Weight: starting at 1.7kg
· Dimensions: 339.8mm x 238.3mm x 20.9mm
· OS: Windows 8 (64 bit)

IFA 2012: Toshiba announces Satellite U920t convertible Ultrabook running Windows 8

Andrew Edney

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Aug 30, 2012

3

IFA 2012: Toshiba announces Satellite U920t convertible Ultrabook running Windows 8

Today at IFA, Toshiba announced the new convertible Ultrabook Satellite U920t running Windows 8.

It combines the ease-of-use and performance of a laptop with a tablet’s great wake-up responsiveness and usability. The 31.8cm (12.5’’) touch screen transforms easily from laptop to tablet mode. The Satellite U920t is a new alternative for users who want a versatile
mobile computer in an extremely compact form. It offers the best of both worlds: for content consumption, the convertible Ultrabook can be operated in tablet mode to take advantage of touch support with Windows 8, while for additional tasks which require a lot of typing, the
laptop mode is a welcome option. Thanks to the development partnership with Intel Corporation, the U920t is equipped with Intel Sensor Solution, which manages all the environmental status such as acceleration, magnetic bearing, angular velocity, and ambient light around the machine. Beyond that, the Satellite U920t starts up within seconds and offers quick wake-up responsiveness.

All about the display

This versatile new hybrid is based on an innovative display mounting. It allows fast, easy conversion from laptop to tablet. The 31.8cm (12.5’’), wide-viewing angle touch screen with LED backlight supports five-finger touch input and displays pictures in high quality with a
wealth of colours. The display is protected by a scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass front with anti-fingerprint coating.

Great design backed up with great power

Powered by the third generation of Intel processors for Ultrabooks and the latest Intel HD Graphics 4000, the Satellite U920t can handle sophisticated computing tasks. The embedded SSD with a storage capacity of up to 256GB and an especially fast data transfer speed
contribute to an excellent mobile working experience. The SSD creates no noise or heat, is highly resistant to shocks and is very power efficient.

Small in size, big in connectivity

The small and very portable Satellite U920t offers a full-size port layout including HDMI, two USB 3.0 ports and a SDTM card reader. It also has WLAN and Bluetooth 4.0 on board for fast wireless access to networks and connections to peripheral devices. The support of
Intel Wireless Display technology allows the wireless streaming of any content to the large screen of a compatible TV. The convertible Ultrabook has two cameras embedded: a front-facing camera with 1.0MPixel with Ambient Light Sensor and another one on the rear side featuring 3.0MPixels with Auto Focus. One of the USB ports supports Sleep-and-Charge functionality to charge connected smartphones, MP3 players or other portable electronics even when the Ultrabook is switched off.

Elegant magnesium chassis

The Satellite U920t combines a silver-coloured magnesium casing with high-quality elements on the palm rest; the lower section is midbrown with a woven texture finish. The keyboard with its matt, black tile keys and LED backlight further compliments the design of this convertible Ultrabook.

Specifications

· 31.8cm (12.5″) LED Backlight IPS display with 300 NIT for better viewing angle and colour
saturation plus 5-point touch input, 1,366 x 768 pixels
· Anti-finger coating on scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass
· Latest generation Intel Ultrabook chipset and graphics
· RAM: up to 8GB DDR3 (1,600MHz)
· SSD with up to 256GB
· WLAN (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, Wireless Display 3.5
· 2x USB 3.0, Sleep and Charge, HDMI, SDTM Card reader, Audio combo jack (microphone
in/headset out)
· Sensors: GPS, Gyroscope, Ambient Light, Magnetometer, Acceleration, Intel® Sensor Solution
· Camera: 1.0MPixel (front), 3.0MPixels (rear)
· Sound: stereo speakers enhanced by SRS Premium Sound 3D
· Weight: starting at 1.45kg
· Dimensions: 326.5 x 213 x 19.9mm
· OS: Windows 8 (64 bit)

Toshiba’s new convertible Ultrabook will be available during the fourth quarter of 2012 in Europe. No word on price as yet, so watch this space.

We got some hands-on time with one earlier today so expect that up soon!

ASUS announces Vivo Tab and ASUS Vivo Tab RT Windows 8 devices

Andrew Edney

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Aug 30, 2012

0

ASUS announces Vivo Tab and ASUS Vivo Tab RT Windows 8 devices

ASUS yesterday announces two incredible new tablets intended to run Windows 8. First unveiled at Computex in June, the ASUS Vivo Tab and ASUS Vivo Tab RT (formerly known as the ASUS Tablet 810 and ASUS Tablet 600 respectively) open up a new world of mobile possibilities and transform expectations about what tablets can do.

With a name taken from the Latin verb “to live”, Vivo is designed as a constant companion that blends the familiar elegance of ASUS tablet design with Microsoft Corp.’s new touch-enabled Windows 8 operating system.

Vivo has a dual-purpose design that combines a high-resolution multi-touch Super IPS+ display with a detachable QWERTY keyboard dock to provide a great Windows 8 experience. ASUS TruVivid technology with Corning® Fit Glass gives improved colour clarity and superior scratch resistance, while the keyboard not only transforms Vivo into a convenient clamshell ultraportable, but also provides a secondary battery for prolonged mains-free use.

With an 11.6” screen backed by high-precision Wacom digitiser stylus technology, the Vivo Tab is designed with productivity in mind, while the ultra-light Vivo Tab RT is ideally suited to entertainment on the go. Get more done, enjoy new experiences and connect with others in exciting new ways — Vivo makes it all possible.

ASUS Vivo Tab

The ASUS Vivo Tab features the Next Generation Intel® Atom™ processor and has 2GB RAM with 64GB eMMC (embedded multimedia card) user storage. An incredible Windows experience makes it a smart choice for professional and personal use. With support for 1024-level Wacom digitizer for precise work and navigation, ASUS Vivo Tab maximizes productivity and provides the best input experience.

Key to the Vivo Tab’s recipe for Windows 8 is the supplied mobile dock. This instantly transforms the tablet into a compact clamshell ultraportable, complete with full QWERTY keyboard, trackpad, two USB ports and second battery for extended use away from the mains.

The 11.6” display with a 1366 x 768 resolution uses Super IPS+ technology to deliver superior visual clarity both indoors and out, and its 10-point multi-touch is complemented by Wacom digitiser stylus technology for high-precision stylus input and a more natural writing experience.

Despite its compact dimensions and ultra-thin 8.7mm and 675g profile, the Vivo Tab still delivers superlative sound quality, thanks to the same SonicMaster technology used on ASUS’ award-winning notebooks. High-quality photographs can also be captured with the 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, along with a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video chats. The Vivo Tab also features a built-in NFC sensor, enabling the device to easily sync with other NFC-enabled devices.

ASUS Vivo Tab RT

The ASUS Vivo Tab RT has a slim and light profile that’s 8.3mm thin and 520g light. It features the NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor and 12-core GPU for outstanding mobile graphics performance, along with 2GB RAM and 32GB eMMC user storage. Supplied with Windows RT, tablet users with entertainment in mind will find a great partner in the Vivo Tab RT.

The Vivo Tab RT also has the same innovative Transformer design as the Vivo Tab and is supplied with its own mobile dock that provides a QWERTY keyboard, track pad, USB port and built-in battery.

Windows 8 apps, games and movies will look incredible on the Vivo Tab RT’s 10.1” display with 1366 x 768 resolution and Super IPS+ technology, while ASUS SonicMaster technology ensures top-quality audio. The Vivo Tab RT has the same high-quality front and rear cameras as the Vivo Tab too, making it an excellent all-round multimedia performer. It also features a built-in NFC sensor, enabling the device to easily sync with other NFC-enabled devices.

AVAILABILITY
First wave launch for Windows 8 GA – although no price information was given yesterday.

We got to see them up close after the press conference so watch this space for more shortly.

Hands-on with the Sony VAIO Tap 20 All-in-One PC

Andrew Edney

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Aug 30, 2012

0

Hands-on with the Sony VAIO Tap 20 All-in-One PC

Last night at IFA Sony announced their new VAIO Tap 20 All-in-One PC, and after the press conference we got some hands-on time with it.

The VAIO Tap 20 is designed to be used as large flat screen or in a normal desktop type position – and it works well in both actually. The touch screen was very responsive and it was easy to change the position of the screen when needed, so even the kids will be able to do it.

It even has the new Windows 8 Logo on the front and back.

We hope to have one for a proper review soon, so watch this space. And as with all the other Sony products from last night there are no prices as yet!

So what do you think of the VAIO Tap 20? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Note II

Andrew Edney

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Aug 30, 2012

0

Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Note II

Last night at IFA Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy Note II and after the press conference we got some hands-on time with it.

The Galaxy Note II

The Galaxy Note II is slimmer than its predecessor and slightly taller as well. It still fits fairly well in your hand, although it’s still quite a large device, but the screen quality is beautiful.

The New S Pen

One of the new enhancements for the Samsung Galaxy Note II is the S Pen, It certainly does feel better to use and easier to do things with.

I really liked the original Galaxy Note and I have to say that after using the Note II for only just a few minutes I was impressed. The new S Pen does make all the difference and some of the new apps are great. I really liked Air View, which is the feature then enables you to view something by hovering hovering over it – for example, I can see all the information from a calender entry by hovering instead of opening it.

Fear not if you have the original Galaxy Note as Samsung promised during the press conference that an update to Jelly Bean and some of the new apps will be coming very soon.

No specifics on price yet or which carriers will have it, but expect news soon as it will be released in October.

So what do you think of the Samsung Galaxy Note II? Is it a device you might buy? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Activision Announces Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Care Packages

Gaming

Jim McCarthy

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Aug 30, 2012

0

Activision Announces Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Care Packages

Activision announced pre-order options for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, including two care packages. Read on for details.

Activision is releasing Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on November 12th, 2012…and now you can pre-order. In addition, you can pre-order a version with one of two care packages, one of which includes a quadricopter!

Here is what Activision announced today:

Today, we reveal the Call of Duty: Black Ops II exclusive “Care Package,” “Hardened Edition” and “Digital Deluxe Edition.” These Collector’s Editions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC offer a variety of digital content and physical bonuses.

All the information on what each version contains is listed below:

CARE PACKAGE (Xbox 360/PS3):

· Call of Duty: Black Ops II

· Remote Controlled MQ-27 Dragonfire Drone – Command cutting-edge technology, exclusively for this once-in-a-lifetime combat collection.

· Nuketown Zombies Bonus Map – Battle hordes of Zombies in this beloved 1960s nuclear neighbourhood.

· Nuketown 2025 Bonus Map – Re-live the close quarters chaos of this classic fan-favourite map re-imagined in a 1960s visionary depiction of the “model home of the future.”

· Collectible 2-Sided SteelBook – Limited edition game case featuring exclusive artwork.

· (2) Challenge Coins – Limited edition challenge coins that serve as your key to exclusive digital content.

· Weapon Camo – Rank-up in style with an exclusive multiplayer weapon skin.

· (2) Player Card Backgrounds – Liven up any killcam with two exclusive player card backgrounds, inspired by Nuketown 2025 and Zombies.

· Official Call of Duty: Black Ops II Soundtrack – A digital copy of composer Jack Wall’s epic in-game score with theme by Trent Reznor.

· Xbox LIVE CLAW Avatar Prop – An exclusive avatar prop, deployable to a dashboard near you.

· Xbox LIVE Zombies Avatar Costume – Show off your pride with an avatar costume built exclusively for fans of the Call of Duty undead.

(PlayStation 3 versions include a dynamic multiplayer theme of the Turbine map as well as a dynamic Zombies theme that shows off Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies)

HARDENED EDITION (Xbox 360/PS3):

· Call of Duty: Black Ops II

· Nuketown Zombies Bonus Map – Battle hordes of Zombies in this beloved 1960s nuclear neighbourhood.

· Nuketown 2025 Bonus Map – Relive the close quarters chaos of this classic fan-favourite map re-imagined in a 1960s visionary depiction of the “model home of the future.”

· Collectible 2-Sided SteelBook® – Limited edition game case featuring exclusive artwork.

· (2) Challenge Coins – Limited edition challenge coins that serve as your key to exclusive digital content.

· Weapon Camo – Rank-up in style with an exclusive multiplayer weapon skin.

· (2) Player Card Backgrounds – Liven up any killcam with two exclusive player card backgrounds, inspired by Nuketown 2025 and Zombies.

· Official Call of Duty: Black Ops II Soundtrack – A digital copy of composer Jack Wall’s epic in-game score with Theme by Trent Reznor.

· Xbox LIVE CLAW Avatar Prop – An exclusive avatar prop, deployable to a dashboard near you.

· Xbox LIVE Zombies Avatar Costume – Show off your pride with an avatar costume built exclusively for fans of the Call of Duty undead.

(PlayStation 3 versions include a dynamic multiplayer theme of the Turbine map as well as a dynamic Zombies theme that shows off Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies)

Check out this video and note the quadricopter! If I did not already have a Parrott AR Drone 2.0, I’d be tempted.

You can pre-order here. Check it out!
Pre-Order Call of Duty: Black Ops 2!

IFA 2012: Sony Announces VAIO Tap 20 All-in-One PC

Jim McCarthy

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Aug 30, 2012

1

IFA 2012: Sony Announces VAIO Tap 20 All-in-One PC

Sony announced the VAIO Tap 20, a 20” all-in-one designed around Windows 8. Read on for details.

Sony announced a nice all-in-one today, called the VAIO Tap 20. Designed around Windows 8 and sporting a 20” touchscreen monitor, this looks like an interesting product. Here is what Sony announced:

Entertainment-centric touch PC brings everyone together

New-style PC for the entire family with multi-touch panel

Unique adjustable stand for comfortable computing in any position: lay-flat, tilting or desktop-style

Built-in battery gives portability around the home

Unique multi-user apps including Family Paint and Fingertapps Organizer

Now everyone can share exciting media experiences with VAIO Tap 20 from Sony. It’s the fresh concept in home computing that’s a tabletop PC and so much more.

The versatile VAIO Tap 20 is designed to leverage the intuitive ease of Windows 8, opening up exciting new possibilities to interact with apps and your media collection.

Portable, battery-powered VAIO Tap 20 fits right into any living space – from bedrooms and kids’ play areas to the kitchen or garden. Lay it on a coffee table and let everyone join in games on the large multi-touch screen. Flip out the in-built stand and tilt VAIO Tap 20 at a comfortable angle for ‘lean back’ photo/movie editing by touch operation, browsing and entertainment. Or stand it upright and use as a fully-functioning desktop PC. It’s easy to work on documents, browse the web or check emails with the supplied wireless keyboard and mouse.

The 20” panel offers clear, bright images with a wide angle of view. Responsive 10-point multi-touch operation lets the whole family join in simultaneously with multi-player games. Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 by Sony ensures crisp, natural movie viewing with fine details and fluid on-screen movement.

Step up to rich, powerful audio that’s a revelation after the small, weak speakers of ordinary laptops. Generously-sized stereo speakers are partnered by an on-board subwoofer that boosts low frequencies for solid, thumping bass. S-Force Front Surround 3D technologies by Sony ensure a vibrant, room-filling soundtrack – whether you’re playing games together or watching movies. Using Sony’s own signal processing technologies, ClearAudio+ mode lets you enjoy high quality audio that’s beautifully optimised for the music you’re listening to.

Incorporating several of Sony’s own signal processing technologies, ClearAudio+ mode lets you effortlessly enjoy audio quality that’s distinctly Sony. With one simple operation, you’ll experience sound with ultimate clarity and presence across a wide audio spectrum, from deep lows to crisp highs.

VAIO Tap 20 comes with a choice of apps that are optimised for the powerful multi-touch capabilities.

Family Paint lets two people draw, paint and sketch simultaneously from opposite sides of the large multi-touch screen then share the results with one touch on Facebook or Twitter. Fingertapps Organizer makes child’s play of keeping everyone’s agenda up to date. The friendly calendar view lets family members add sticky notes, scribble notes and see at a glance what everyone else is up to.

VAIO Tap 20 makes it easier than ever to connect with other home devices and share your content.

Through Sony’s One-touch function, you can easily and instantly enjoy music and photos across an array of NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled Sony devices. Simply touch one device against another, and immediately establish a wireless connection without the need for any Bluetooth or Wi-Fi set up. For example, it’s easy to continue listening to music stored on your VAIO through Bluetooth® headphones or speakers with One-touch function.

You can also enjoy full access to millions of songs and themed radio channels at any time via Sony Entertainment Network’s Music Unlimited service.

Expand your entertainment experience even further with three new apps by Sony that are available for free download.

The ‘Music’ application lets you enjoy your music collection with superb quality thanks to ClearAudio+ mode.

The ‘Album’ application makes viewing, sorting or sharing pictures and videos fun and intuitive. Simple sharing lets you ‘throw’ or stream personal photos, video content and more to enjoy on DLNA compatible large screen TVs.

Both applications let you ‘throw’ or stream personal photos, video and music content to enjoy on DLNA compatible large screen TV and audio systems.

‘Socialife’ is a unique application that organizes your social and information world. View, sort and manage all your SNS and news feeds through one stylish user interface, alongside your friends’ feeds and posts. Mark interesting articles for later reading when you’re not so busy. Based on what your friends are reading, Socialife also points you to other popular topics and even suggests content that you might like.

IFA 2012: Sony Announces Updated Xperia S Android Tablet

Jim McCarthy

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Aug 30, 2012

2

Sony announced a new Xperia S Android tablet today at IFA 2012 in Berlin. Read on for details.

Sony’s Xperia S Android tablet is being updated. Sony announced today that the Xperia S is available for pre-order on 30 August and is expected in stores by September 7th Here is the announcement:

The new Xperia Tablet S from Sony: a place for your imagination to play

Slim new aluminium body and splash-proof design

Built-in universal remote with time-saving macro programming

Personalised profiles for family and visitors with Guest Mode

Wide range of accessories including unique keyboard case

It’s the stylish, intuitive tablet you’ve been waiting for. Joining the Xperia family of mobile devices from Sony, the Xperia™ Tablet S takes centre stage in your living room, connecting the family with an exciting world of entertainment experiences.

The Xperia brand delivers mobile experiences that enhance user enjoyment through design, cross-device connectivity and network services. By introducing a tablet device under the Xperia brand, Sony now lets users enjoy a seamless experience between the immediate convenience of an Xperia smartphone and the immersive entertainment experience of an Xperia Tablet. Common user experience across the devices further enhances overall usability and intuitiveness.

Thinner and lighter than the original Sony Tablet S, the Xperia Tablet S is crafted in premium materials for effortless good looks and comfortable handling around the home or on the move. Running a speedy NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor and Android 4.0.3 operating system, it’s got all the power you need to enjoy your favourite media, apps and games.

Don’t keep all the fun to yourself: the new Xperia Tablet S is made for sharing around the home with family friendly features. ‘Guest mode’ lets you create individual password-protected profiles for family members and visitors. Set wallpaper, icons and apps access to make the experience truly personal and safe for everyone in the household.

The splash-proof Xperia Tablet S is designed for real-life use around the home and outdoors. There’s no need to worry about water spillages if you’re checking a recipe in the kitchen with wet hands or the kids are handling it with sticky fingers.

A full range of accessories makes the Xperia Tablet S an even more perfect match for your lifestyle. Personalise your Xperia Tablet S with a choice of colourful covers, stands and docking solutions. With the unique leather keyboard case you can add a full physical keyboard to your tablet without adding any extra bulk.

Let the Xperia Tablet command your whole entertainment set-up from the comfort of the sofa. The infra-red universal remote control is enhanced with a new Macro function that stores a time-saving sequence of commands for instant recall. Ask your Xperia Tablet S to switch on your TV, cable box and home entertainment system, select inputs, adjust volume and more. Everything’s executed at a single touch, and up to six macros can be named and stored.

The Xperia Tablet S is a great multi-tasker. Sony-unique ‘Small Apps’ let you do more – like changing channels or adjusting volume while you’re browsing the evening’s TV programme choices online.Add your favourite widgets to ‘Small Apps’ and make it your personal multi-tasking tool.

Incorporating several of Sony’s own signal processing technologies, ClearAudio+ mode lets you effortlessly enjoy audio quality that’s distinctly Sony. With one simple operation, you’ll experience sound with ultimate clarity and presence across a wide spectrum from deep lows to crisp highs.

The Xperia Tablet S is your gateway to a world of entertainment experiences. Brand-new media applications combine the best of Sony’s technologies and connect to a variety of services.

The ‘WALKMAN’ application automatically compiles a list of your Facebook friends’ “liked” songs, as well as related discographies. ClearAudio+ mode always ensures rich, satisfying sound – whatever you’re listening to. The ‘Album’ application lets users view, sort and share pictures and videos captured with their Xperia Tablet across an intuitive user interface. The application can also consolidate users’ photos posted on social media sites like Facebook to allow easy commenting. Video content can be enjoyed with high picture and sound quality using the ‘Movies’ application.

The three easy-to-use applications also let users throw their personal picture, video content and more to enjoy on DLNA compatible large screen TVs.

Store your photos and videos in the cloud for any time, any place sharing with PlayMemories Online.

Through Sony Entertainment Network services, you can enjoy the latest movies, music and personal photos with a single account. Full access to millions of songs and themed radio channels at any time via Music Unlimited service are available. Purchase or rent on-demand hit movies and TV shows any time you want to with Video Unlimited.

Browse the exciting range of dedicated content for PlayStation® Mobile at PlayStation® Store, opening this autumn (NB: where service is available).

The Reader application lets you purchase and read favourite digital books. You can also manage your bookshelf across multiple devices, including the Sony Reader eBook device and Xperia smartphone.

Available for download, ‘Socialife’ is a unique application from Sony that organises your social and information world. View, sort and manage all your SNS and news feeds through one stylish user interface, alongside your friends’ feeds and posts. Mark interesting articles for later reading when you’re not so busy. Based on what your friends are reading, Socialife also points you to other popular topics and even suggests content that you might like.

Here are some product pictures.

Quad-core Tegra 3, Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich, IR blaster functionality to act like a universal remote and a very attractive package makes the Xperia S an interesting product if you are in the Android tablet market.

IFA 2012: Samsung Announces New All–in-One

Jim McCarthy

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Aug 30, 2012

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Samsung announced a new all-in-one computer today at IFA 2012. Read on for details.

Samsung announced a new all-in-one PC today at IFA 2012. Powered by a Core i7, with either a 1TB hard drive or a 64GB SSD and with a Radeon graphics card, this is a well-equipped all-in-one. Here is the Samsung announcement:

SAMSUNG UNVEILS ITS NEW ALL IN ONE PC AT IFA 2012

Powerful performance packed in a stylish slim design – AIO PC Series 7 exclusively pre-loaded with master chef Jamie Oliver recipes
London, UK – 29^th August, 2012 – today Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, unveiled its brand new All-In-One PC Series 7. Building on the premium aspects of the Samsung Series 9 Notebook, the new All-In-One (AIO) PCs inherit Samsung’s advanced engineering craftsmanship with high finish and stylish design.

As well as high performance, the new Samsung AIO PC Series 7 has been crafted to deliver an entirely new AIO PC experience. Driven by a 3^rd generation Intel^® Core^™i7 processor, 8GB RAM, dedicated AMD Radeon HD graphics and a WQHD display with resolution of 2560×1440, the new AIO PC Series 7 embodies innovative sense recognition features such as 10-finger multi-touch control and hand gesture commands.

Graham Long, Vice President Corporate Sales & IT Solutions, Samsung UK and Ireland, said: “The All-In-One PC market carries enormous growth potential by taking convergence technologies to the next level. The new All-In-One PC Series 7 lives up to the true promise of all-in-one, incorporating many exciting hardware and software features to offer a maximised home entertainment experience.”

Samsung All-In-One PC Set for Unlimited User Experience

With the upcoming new Windows 8 platform, demand for All-In-One PCs is expected to increase further as AIOs will have stronger performance and features, and they are expected to replace the existing desktop PC in the market. To provide users with these benefits, Samsung has perfected not only the hardware but also the software aspects to offer never seen before experiences.

Intuitive Touch Function and Wider Look

For an unlimited premium user experience, Samsung AIO PC Series 7, has been equipped with a 10-finger multi-touch screen. This technological leap, in interactivity, surpasses traditional two-finger multi-touch by providing full touch control using all ten fingers on an AIO PC. Its enhanced sensitivity enables users to enjoy the full capabilities of the latest entertainment applications or perform complicated content editing. Users can pinch to zoom on content or rotate images, and scroll through pages with complete ease using 10 multi-touch functions. To enjoy its full capabilities as a home entertainment system, the new AIO PC has a viewing angle of 178 degrees* vertically and horizontally, which makes activities such as watching a movie that much better.

Gesture – It couldn’t be easier

To further expand user benefits, the new AIO PCs also have five hand gesture recognition features. These let users control the device with just a flick of the wrist from up to a metre away, perfect for enjoying home entertainment or cooking, for example. Swipe right or left to turn the pages of an e-book or cooking recipe, or rotate your palm clockwise or counter-clockwise to change the volume while watching a movie. You can simply close your hand to click on an option in a program and stop watching a movie by just waving your hands. These features definitely offer more convenience to consumers.

The True Performer

Power and performance are ensured with a 3^rd generation Intel^® Core^™ i7/i5 processor and 8GB RAM. A powerful AMD Radeon HD 7850M graphics processor, Blu-ray drive, and up to 1TB HDD and 64GB SSD ensure content in a wide array of formats is readily available in no time, and enable seamless playback, editing, creating and saving of content.

To further expand the true all-in-one experience, the new devices are equipped with 14-Watt speakers while Tweeter and Dolby sound deliver rich sound quality in any environment.

Also the latest WQHD display featuring 2560×1440 resolution delivers crisp, clear and all-encompassing viewing experience. Users are now able to fit more windows into a single screen without compromising on scale. Browsing online while simultaneously watching a movie is no longer an issue.

Samsung PC Exclusive: Jamie Oliver Recipes

Samsung has secured an exclusive app from Jamie Oliver that will be pre-installed on all its new Windows 8 machines. The app features a range of recipes from the chef that can be controlled using hand gestures, meaning users can swipe through the instructions without getting dirty hands on their PC.

Timeless Design

Accentuate your home with a modern and minimalistic look. Samsung’s AIO PC Series 7 are clutter-free and have space-saving design, featuring a uniquely stylish metallic arch stand, an ultra-slim display with a durable metal edge, and an edge-to-edge glossy black screen. These elegant new AIO PCs add a premium look to any living space or office.

Check out the product pictures! This product is very thin and really looks high-end.

They did not announce a screen size, and I’d like to see pricing, but this looks like a worthy entry in the all-in-one market.

Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Camera

Andrew Edney

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Aug 29, 2012

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Tonight at IFA, Samsung announced their new Galaxy Camera running Android 4.1. After the press conference we got a little hands-on time with it.

The Galaxy Camera is lightweight and comes with a a very long zoom! It was easy to navigate the menu options because it was Android. In fact, it didn’t feel like using a camera at various points. I think Samsung might be onto a real winner with this one, especially as you will be able to upload your pictures and edit them easily!

Accessories

There were also a few accessories on display:

We look forward to doing a full review in the near future. No word yet on price either so watch this space.

So what do you think of the Samsung Galaxy Camera? It certainly looks good and has a great spec. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Hands-on with the Samsung Ativ Smart PC running Windows 8

Andrew Edney

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Aug 29, 2012

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Hands-on with the Samsung Ativ Smart PC running Windows 8

Tonight at IFA, Samsung announced their Ativ Smart PC and Smart PC Pro running Windows 8. We were there and after the press conference we got some hands-on time with the Ativ Smart PC.

The major feature of the new Samsung Ativ Smart PC is that it is both a laptop and a slate, depending on what configuration you have it. The screen and the keyboard are held together with magnets, making it very secure.

The screen is lightweight and can easily be held in your hand. It is also very thin!

Windows 8 was very responsive, and we look forward to testing it out in a full review soon.