Gadgety News

We’ve all seen multi-screened laptops before, but Asus has topped that by going the same route as their latest keyboard and have gone and squeezed two whole computers into one laptop!

The M50 concept houses 2 puters with separate processors and storage but one battery.

There’s the usual full size screen for the more powerful uses, while the smaller part of this machine’s split personality is displayed on a 4.3inch widescreen where a trackpad would normally be.

Asus is calling the laptop an “instant internet device” and I kinda get where they’re coming from.

You can jump online, check emails and send text messages from the quick booting small computer.  You can also go through your usual widgets (Calendar etc).

I’m not entirely clear just how powerful the smaller computer will be, but it comes into its own by minimising processing and battery drain when playing videos or displaying pictures - you’ll be able to watch videos for 12 hours on the full size screen from just a single charge.

If and when more info comes to light I’ll be sure to let you know

A mini puter shoved inside a keyboard?

That’s what Asus seems to have acheived with their latest typepad.

The standard keyboard that comes with the Eee Top is real nice to use but this wireless offering with a 5-inch touch panel, solid state drive, Wi-Fi, ethernet and connectivity for just about every screen around the house is something else.

That 5-inch touchscreen can be used for shortcuts, media browsing and use as a virtual mouse.

As this is just a prototype at the moment, ASUS were cagey about its potential for market availability but here’s hoping that this kind of ‘all in one’ appears soon

Asus, bouyed by the apparent success of their brown upmarket wunderkind, the S101, has decided to bring out a successor.

The S121 comes with the usual smattering of netbook specs such as the Intel Atom CPU, 1GB RAM and choice of OS……………

But the S121 also throws in WiFi-N connectivity and some upgrades compared to its S101 older sibling such as the 12.1” screen and it is expected to come with hybrid SSD/HDD storage and a full sized keyboard.

It’s still has the “exquisite” brown clothes which looks as though it might be a deeper hue than the S101’s.

I’m still on the look out for the price and availability (please comment if you happen to be privy to such details).  Til then I reckon you should keep around £500 to one side if you’re looking to purchase.

Asus via New Launches

Yet another iPod dock…….and I’ve known about this one for about a month or so thanks to the FCC and their usual leakage

So why should I be writing about this new one from ASUS - just because the AIR3 sound system has gone all official like?

Well, there’s that interet radio that it comes with - that’s pretty cool right?

ASUS is also bigging up the AIR3’s audio prowess, noting that it utilises a Texas Instruments Class-D amplifier and HDSS (High Definition Sound Standard) certified drivers.

The unit is also packing S-Video / composite video outs and supports UPnP (Universal Plug n Play) sharing via 802.11b/g WiFi or Ethernet.

Don’t forget about the useful auxiliary input and built-in weather forecast display that pulls down updates from the interwebsphere.

ASUS state that this dock/radio thingy is fully compatible with all iPods and iPhones except the little Shuffle.

In typical form ASUS fails to mention price or release date - if it is priced realistically then I think they’re on to a winner

Asus AIR3 Specs

Well, the first lot of Asus Eee Top’s have hit the UK and even though I’m digging it at the mo I’m gonna hang on a while longer.

I’ve chatted about the 15.6-inch Eee Top before and, as far as I can tell, the touchscreen PC looks a decent bit of kit. 

You get a budget PC-based alternative to the iMac with a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of memory, 160GB hard drive, Wi-Fi, 1.3MP webcam, stereo speakers, plenty of connectivity plus Windows XP for your OS.

Don’t forget you still get a keyboard and mouse so can navigate your way round even when your hands are covered in jam.

But if you think that the 15.6 inch screen is letting down the whole package there is good news on on its way.

According to Asus CEO Jerry Shen, the  Eee Top is being outsourced to Quanta Computer, which will be producing new 20-inch and 22-inch models for 2009.

And this aint no limited edition. Five million of the things will be produced in the next couple of years - so says Mr Shen.

If you’re cool with the 15.6 model Eee Top you can grab one from this month for around £399.

When Asus mentioned that they were gonna produce an Ultra Mobile PC that was going to be priced somewhere around the €500 mark I thought to myself, “well it had better be good”

Well, they’ve  done it and the Asus R50A is actually shipping at €1,475!

It’s up to whether you think that a pocket PC that runs Windows Vista with a 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor, a gig of RAM, a 32GB SSD hard drive, a 5.6” screen at 1024 x 600, three USB ports, a microSD slot, a wireless keyboard, and an external DVD reader / writer is worth the cash.

You get hooked up to all the good stuff via 802.11 b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, and 3G.

All in all it reads like a netbook but in a hand held stylee.

If you wanna earn those Geek-Points and have the cash - well, why not eh?
Pocketables

Asus, the name behind the popularity of Netbooks and no frills computing pioneers are set to put a stop to the smaller models.

If you’re after an Asus netbook with a screen smaller than 10-inches you’d better get your skates on!

The president of Asus has confirmed the company is intending to get rid of its older and smaller Eee PC models in favour of larger and more recent models such as the 1002HA model and S101. And it has no plans to unleash anymore netbooks with a display size of 10-inches or under.

The phasing out of the smaller models begins with the introduction of a $200 model for our American cousins.

My mind is still boggled as they created this niche and broke through - perhaps they’re quitting whilst they are ahead. Perhaps they can’t see longevity in this market.

Ah, remember the positive and forward thinking of last year……….those long summer days….

What do you reckon?

Tech Digest

Personally the thought of a brown laptop does not thrill me in the least.

But the Asus Eee PC S101 actually manages to make that brown casing not look so bad close up.

If you’re already gasping for this “mocha” coated chunk of Eee PC goodness you’ll be pleased to know that it comes loaded with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom chip, 1GB of memory, 32GB of solid state storage (split between a 16GB SSD and the rest via SD card), a 10-inch 1,024×600 res display, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a copy of Windows XP.

It weighs in at just 1.06Kg and measures a mere 266×192×38mm.

It’s gonna cost you somewhere just shy of £500 though.

Those lucky folks over at UMPC Fever managed to get their grubby little mits on one of these and have published what can only be termed as an extremely in-depth report.

They start from staring at the classy black cardboard box right up to a loving close up of the hinge.

You’re excited; I can tell.

Go click on this now!

You got £400 and would like a touch-screen desktop puter?

How about this little thing from ASUS.

Another machine from the ever increasing Eee range is finally showing signs realisation thanks to a pre-order page hosted up at Play.com.

The all white slab packs a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, 15.6-inch LCD, Windows XP Home, a 1.3-megapixel camera, built-in stereo speakers, WiFi, a range of ports and an integrated graphics set.

The current release date is set for November 20th, though we all know how those go.

Slap down £399.99 ($685) and you should get one in just over a month.

Here’s another first!

Asus have created the G71 which is claimed to be the world’s first Intel Quad Core gaming notebook - armed as it is with the new Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX9300.

As well as the processor, this machine has an added boost thanks to the removal of the overspeed protection so gets more processing power and better abilities to multitask.

Users can chose from three different processor speed settings using the Direct Console 2.0 interface.

The same interface also includes controls for Direct Messenger, enabling communication utilities such as Instant Messaging, meeting and email notifications.

“The G71 delivers a total gaming experience in a highly portable package, with an emphasis on audio clarity and stunning graphics performance”, says Asus.

You also get a 17-inch Crystal Shine display with a quick response time of 8ms, powered by the Nvidia GeForce 9700M GT GDDR3 512MB graphics card.

On the keyboard, there are the expected gaming hotkeys and the chassis of the G71 also features a funky programmable lighting system.

The G71 features up to 4GB of memory as well as packing in dual hard disk drives of up to 1TB (2 lots of 500 GB).

Phonics comes out via the Altec Lansing speakers and there’s also Dolby Home Theater, and a 2.0-megapixel webcam.

The G71 should be making an appearance during the first week of November for around $2,999.

Softpaedia

Check out this logo!

16 companies have teamed-up for a GSM Association-led initiative to make mobile broadband a recognisable standard - nothing makes things more real than a logo

The team’s aim is to create a bunch of “always-connected mobile broadband devices delivering a compelling alternative to Wi-Fi”.

The first phase will see it pre-installed on laptops in 91 countries.

Launch participants include 3 Group, Asus, Dell, ECS, Ericsson, Gemalto, Lenovo, Microsoft, Orange, Qualcomm, Telefónica Europe, Telecom Italia, TeliaSonera, T-Mobile, Toshiba and Vodafone.

So - some big names in there.

The GSMA-created “Mobile Broadband service mark” is designed to help consumers easily identify a “ready to run” mobile broadband device.

More is promised from the initiative including “a whole range of previously unconnected devices – from cameras and MP3 players to refrigerators, cars and set-top boxes.”

Asus’s Eee Box mini desktop is a sweet mini PC but it is missing that optical drive.

If you love the spinning silvers then shout hurrah! for Acer is about to launch its own mini PC - and this one’s got Blu-ray!

The X3200 is a mini desktop with lots packed into that small frame: in addition to the hi-def compatible drive, there’s an HDMI for lashing it up to a TV or projector, a quad-core AMD processor, Nvideo GeForce 8200 graphics chip, up to 4GB of memory and up to a terabyte of storage.

I can’t help but suspect that the price is gonna be a tad more than the £200 asking price of the Eee Box.

Acer (via TechRadar)

If you’re looking for a fully kitted out Skype Video  phone with an “easy-to-use, icon-based interface” - you’ll need the Asus Ai Guru SV1.

It has a 7-inch LCD, integrated VGA webcam that will hook up to 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi or ethernet to a router, and even runs from a battery so it’ll let users chat for 20 minutes without mains power.

It’s the first Skype vid-phone, and you’ll be able to buy one for anyone that hasn’t got a puter - or those that enjoy wandering around as they chat - for $299.

Have a looksee at the press release:

Taipei, Taiwan, September 18, 2008 – September 18, 2008 - ASUS today unveiled the AiGuru SV1, the world’s first Skype Certified™ videophone dedicated to unlimited video calling over the Internet. Boasting a large 7″ display and a built-in webcam, speaker and microphone, the WiFi-capable videophone lets users make unlimited video calls for free to other Skype users without the need for a computer.

Its simple-to-use, icon-based interface and intuitive button layout take the complexity out of Internet calling - making it easy for anyone to make and receive Skype-to-Skype video and voice calls. Users can even join voice conferences, making the ASUS AiGuru SV1 an inexpensive, all-in-one voice and video conferencing solution for small businesses. Furthermore, the ASUS AiGuru SV1 also allows users to make and receive calls to and from fixed and mobile lines at really cheap rates.

“The AiGuru SV1 is Skype’s first foray with a partner into the videophone category,” said Jonathan Cristensen, Skype’s general manager, mobile and hardware devices. “With more than 25% of Skype-to-Skype calls including video, we know that video is fast becoming a mainstream way for people to communicate. The videophone offers the benefits of video calling to a much wider audience, allowing friends and families to share their worlds face-to-face without being tied to a computer.”

Free Calls Whenever, Wherever and Forever
With the ASUS AiGuru SV1, free unlimited video and voice calls can be made to anyone on Skype. Whether it’s a father, child, or business colleague receiving a video or voice call, they do not have to be using a videophone; as long as they are connected to Skype - via a computer or a Skype-enabled device - the call will always be free. This enables people worldwide to make Skype-to-Skype calls either at home or the office whenever the need or mood strikes, without having to worry about cost. ASUS AiGuru SV1 users looking to make outgoing and receive incoming calls to and from fixed and mobile lines can subscribe to one of Skype’s popular unlimited calling* subscriptions or purchase Skype credit to make outgoing calls at www.skype.com

Great Video and Voice Communications Experience
The ASUS AiGuru SV1 is designed specifically for video calling and is equipped with a large, high-resolution 7″ TFT LCD and an integrated webcam, for the best video calling quality. The ASUS AiGuru SV1 also features a built-in microphone and speaker supporting exceptional sound quality. Users who wish to have privacy during their calls can use a standard mini-jack headset and microphone.

Easy to Set Up and Easy to Use
The ASUS AiGuru SV1 offers the quickest and easiest way to make free video calls - at no point is a computer or additional software required. Users can get up and running in three simple steps:
1. Connect to a broadband connection, either wirelessly or via an Ethernet cable
2. Sign-in with an existing Skype name or create a new one
3. Start video calling

The videophone is as easy to use as it is to set up. Its icon-driven user interface and clean, clearly labeled button layout are designed to be immediately intuitive to users.

With its WiFi capability, small footprint and rechargeable battery power system, the ASUS AiGuru SV1 also offers convenience in its portability. The user is neither tied to a wall socket nor a computer during use, which means the videophone can be moved from room to room without hassle, and without interrupting or dropping a call.

Availability
The ASUS AiGuru SV1 will initially be available for pre-order on September 18, 2008 in Europe and North America from Skype’s online shop (www.skype.com/shop). It will be on sale at the beginning of October 2008 priced $299.95/€249.95/£199.95. The videophone will be available in retail outlets in the Asia Pacific region later this year.

*Unlimited calling: All calls are subject to Skype’s fair usage policy which is set at 10,000 minutes per month (which equates to more than 5 hours of calling per day). Unlimited calls to landlines in up to 36 countries worldwide are included. Calls to premium, non-geographic and other special numbers are excluded.

Specifications
Key Skype features

- Skype-to-Skype video and voice calls
- Call fixed lines and mobiles with Skype credit and/or subscriptions
- Online Number (SkypeIn™) – allows anyone to reach you on Skype
Presence
- Call forwarding
- Skype Voicemail
- Participate in voice conference calls (as a guest only)

Interface
Wireless: 802.11 b/g
Wired: 10/100Mb Ethernet port

Protocols
DHCP/Static IP/PPPoE

Dimensions
202 mm (L) x 123 mm (W) x 253 mm (H)

Weight
1.6 kg

Display
800 X 480 pixel 7″ TFT LCD

Camera type
Built in Webcam CMOS (640 X 480 pixels)

Audio
Integrated Speaker
Internal Microphone

Power supply
AC Adaptor: 12V/3A

Battery life
Talking Time : 20 minutes
Standby Time : 30 minutes

Battery charging time
2 hours

Operating distance
Wireless: 50 m (actual transmission distance may vary depending on operating conditions)

Keypad and buttons
- Power button
- Volume keys
- 5-way navigation (Up, Down, Left, Right and Select keys)
- Menu key
- Back key
- Call key
- End key

I/O connectors
- 3.5 mm Headphone jack and Microphone jack
- RJ-45 connector
- USB type A connector
- DC Jack
- Battery connector

[Asus]

Asus looks to be prepping a Touch Screen mobile phone of their very own by the looks of this Omnia-esque blower.

It seems to be sporting a large (WQVGA or WVGA) touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera, a trackball for non-touch navigation, and the predictable 3G radios / WiFi.

There’s all sorts of speculation on the Windows Mobile Power User Forum regarding the rest of the specs.

We’ll all just have to sit tight until Asus feels that it’s the right time for us to be given the wisdom.

wmpoweruser

Hello there!

I’ve been snooping around to find some more info about the very cool looking EeePC.

Not only did I find something, I found a whole bunch of press photos!

Thanks to EeePCNews.de we have all these and more to feast our eyes upon! :0)

If all that wasn’t enough go and check out their Flickr set ;0,

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy back in March I mentioned the quite astounding gaming pc that is the ARES CG6150.

Yup, the gaming machine that should see Alienware and Voodoo puters hiding behind the couch and wetting themselves.

Well - they can have a 10 second start and run to mummy as Asus has just officially announced its release! Alriiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!

You want tip-top stuff for shooty-shooty-kill-kill? Check this out:

For you delectation and delight we have an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 (overclockable to 4.0GHz if one so desires) processor, NVIDIA’s nForce 790i Ultra SLI chipset, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a 3-way SLI setup with GeForce GTX280s, up to 4TB of HDD space, a Blu-ray optical drive, twin gigabit Ethernet jacks, two power supplies and a custom liquid cooling arrangement.

Ok, so the date hasn’t been fixed yet or how much overtime you’re gonna have to do to afford this monster - but hey…….you’re interested right?

Crave have got an Eee PC 901 and Acer Aspire One in the same room. Once they’d met and sniffed at each other for a while they were unleashed to see who would come out top dawg.

There was much love for the Eee PC 901’s £319 price tag and 8.9-inch screen.  Also the 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM and 20GB solid-state hard drive along with 20GB of free online storage were given the nod of approval.

They point out that the Acer Aspire One has a wider range of configurations that start at a pocket-friendly £220.

The One also has an 80GB mechanical hard drive and an optional 3G module for surf-anywhere Web access.

Battery life and keyboards may be the deciders.

I like the Eee but have yet to get my mits on an Aspire One so what do Crave say?

Click the clicky thing for their gallery and words of wisdom.

Crave

Hurrah!!

Asus has officially announced that the Eee Box PC is coming to this fair isle.

It will come with Windows XP Home and has an 80GB hard disk drive, Intel Atom 1.6Ghz CPU, 1GB DDR2 memory, and a built-in card reader.

Thanks to the Asus “Express Gate” fast boot gubbings the machine can be up and running in 7 seconds.

With Wi-Fi 802.11n wireless standard and quiet (26dB) computing the Eee Box’s energy-efficient performance claims to reduce power consumption by up to 90% so this PC will be a hit with the eco warriors.

On the subject of saving the planet Asus says the Eee Box is made with only “earth-friendly” materials for reduced CO2 emissions and conforms to RoHS and WEEE standards.

It is said to be as slim as a paperback novel and aimed at users who want a “stylish, low-power computer with a minimal footprint”, the company says the Eee Box will replace today’s “bulky and boring PCs”.

Pricing and exact availability is yet to be confirmed but keep coming back so I can letcha know :0)

I know how much you lot love the EeePC but now Acer’s Aspire One has finally gone all official!

Could this be the One to tempt you away from Asus? (see what I did there?)

So the full specs are as follows:

• 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 LED-backlit display
• 1.6GHz Atom N270
• 512MB DDR2 SDRAM (expandable)
• 1.3 megapixel camera, SDHC and multi-format media readers
• 802.11b/g, Ethernet, three USB 2.0, VGA, and 3.5mm audio out
• One free mini PCI slot for WWAN
• 80GB hard drive (with XP) or 8GB solid state (with Linux)
• 2.5 or 5 hours on 3 or 6-cell batteries in XP model, 3 or 7 hours on Linux
• 1kg (2.2 pounds)

Word is that you should be able to get your mits on one this month in blue or white (with black, red, and pink models coming soon).  You folks over in the states should see it released later this year.

Look to be coughing up £199 for the Linux model, and £299 for the XP one.

El Reg

It’s all happening at Asus!

As the rumblings predicted the range has now been beefed up with the Eee PC 901, 1000 and 1000(H).

All these new models will have Intel’s 1.6GHz Atom CPU under the hood and screen sizes now range from 8.9 inches for the 901 to 10 inches for the 1000 and 1000(H). All nice so far :0)

They’ve also added “Super Hybrid Engine technology” - this increases battery time up to 7.8hours! Not 8 or 7.5 ya hear!!??!!

I’m liking the sound of the next bit:

You also get 20GB of online web storage space.  So you no longer have to cart around a bag full of memory sticks or ruin the idea of portability with an external HDD!  Brilliant! :0)

For the more fashion lead of you there will be an ”Infusion” of cover patterns in ”tasteful designs” and “vibrant colours”. Hmmm…….