| Alienware's M11x is no more, bigger is apparently better Apr 19th 2012, 08:02  While Alienware's revealed a trio of updated machines for its gaming laptop range, one device, the M11x, was conspicuously absent. Yes, the 11-inch gaming midget won't be getting the same attention and will be "phased out", according to Alienware at a recent press event. While the device was critically well-received when it launched, gamers were now apparently looking for greater keyboard space and a larger screen in their mobile gaming purchases -- and this went for battery-life too. Those looking for a small form-factor in their mobile gaming rig will have to step up to the hulking 14-inch M14x. Hey, don't get too upset -- at least there's now an optical drive option. Alienware's M11x is no more, bigger is apparently better originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Alienware refreshes M14x, M17x and M18x with new graphics, same old processors Apr 19th 2012, 08:00  Sure, they may look the same, but Alienware's decided to give what's going on inside its glowing gaming laptops a thorough refresh. Starting with graphics support, the 2012 update of the M14x, M17x and M18x will all be able to handle NVIDIA's 600 series graphics with GDRR5 memory, bolstered by support for the new PCI Express 3.0 -- which Alienware reckons will give double the bandwidth seen on version 2.0. Memory has been given a kick with 1600MHz dual channel memory now the base standard on all three customizable machines, starting at 6GB, up from 4GB in the older models. Capacity for the smaller M14x is locked down at 16GB of RAM, while the large M17x and M18x will be able to utilize up to 32GB. Additionally, these freshened-up models will pack Intel Core i7 processors -- but it's the Sandy Bridge kind. While an Ivy Bridge version is logically the next step, it looks like we'll have to wait for Intel to let its new hardware out to play before we see it in these gaming laptops. On the storage side, Alienware's keen to trumpet new support for mSATA technology, with the new storage medium capable of acting as either a boot drive to optimize Windows or as a caching drive for improved gaming performance -- we reckon the latter sounds like more fun. In fact, with the options of standard SSD, mSATA and more pedestrian storage drives, there's up to 23 different HDD options on the M18x alone. Customization-wise, the M14x also gets the new option of a built-in Blu-ray drive. Audio hasn't been ignored either, with Creative's new Sound Blaster Recon3Di High-Definition hardware folded into each of the laptops, with the same built-in speakers that got the Klipsch seal of approval last time around. Overall, it looks like there should be plenty to chew over in benchmark comparisons between the 2012 update and the models it replaces. Still, we can't shake the feeling that Alienware must be at least planning to upgrade its laptops elsewhere -- perhaps its worth waiting a little bit longer. Alienware refreshes M14x, M17x and M18x with new graphics, same old processors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Samsung adds 20.3-megapixel NX20, NX210 and NX1000 to mirrorless cam lineup Apr 19th 2012, 07:00  You probably know Samsung best as the mobile tech giant that it's exploded to become. The Korean company has also unleashed a blockbuster television or two in the past few years, along with some of the most gorgeous tablets to come out of the Far East. One area where Samsung has yet to dominate is the digital camera market, however -- the company pumps out some pretty innovative imagers, that for one reason or another haven't caught on like their Japanese counterparts, including those from the likes of Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Sony. Sure, Samsung's point-and-shoots could be labeled as gimmicky under-performers, despite their success in Asia, but its mirrorless cameras have been established as viable competitors in the fast-growing ILC market -- from a performance perspective, at least. What the firm really needs to gain share is a killer model with an incredibly competitive price -- an entry-level cam that comes in at, say, $499 with a decent kit lens. Sadly, there's no sub-$500 ILC in this latest bunch, with the NX20 priced at $1,100 and the NX210 set to retail for $900. The NX1000 has yet to get a price tag, though based on those first two flavors, we wouldn't be surprised to see it hit stores with a $700 sticker. There's more to these cameras than price -- well, there is and there isn't, depending on your needs -- but in a market with offerings as solid as the $600 Sony NEX-C3 and $1,100 Olympus E-M5, what Samsung really needs is a product that drops jaws not because of its high megapixel rating, but rather its very low price tag. The company has built a solid portfolio for 2012 -- all three NX cameras include the same 20.3-megapixel Samsung-manufactured APS-C CMOS sensor with an ISO range up to 12,800, 1080/30p video, an 8fps full-res burst mode, integrated WiFi and a 3-inch display, though body size, user interface and other features will differ. Join us past the break for a closer look at each camera. Continue reading Samsung adds 20.3-megapixel NX20, NX210 and NX1000 to mirrorless cam lineup Samsung adds 20.3-megapixel NX20, NX210 and NX1000 to mirrorless cam lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | HTC's J ISW13HT WiMAX smartphone slips out for KDDI, quickly takes cover Apr 19th 2012, 06:31  Ooh, what do we have here? Japanese site Sumahon!! (which means "smartphone" in good, old Nihon) reports that HTC posted details about a new WiMAX-capable phone for KDDI to join the carrier's WiMAX Samsung Galaxy S II -- the HTC J ISW13HT. The company apparently jumped the gun, though, as the page has since been unceremoniously pulled -- but not before the aforementioned site grabbed some screenshots. According to the tale of the tape, er, phone, from the site, the ISW13HT rocks Android 4.0 with a coating of Sense 4.0, a Snapdragon S4 chip, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage plus a microSD slot. One screen grab also states that the phone has a 4.3-inch qHD display. Sizewise, the handset is 66mm wide, 132mm tall and 10mm thick. Weight is listed at about 142 grams. A visit to the official ISW13HT page reveals a "page not found error" but that likely won't be the case for long -- that "Spring 2012" grab probably wasn't created for kicks. HTC's J ISW13HT WiMAX smartphone slips out for KDDI, quickly takes cover originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Sumahon!! |  HTC | Email this | Comments | |
