| Dell unveils Inspiron 14z Ultrabook, multimedia-friendly Inspiron 15R and 17R Jun 5th 2012, 13:00  It's the season of the student-friendly Ultrabook, and Dell is no exception to the rule. The company may have released an Inspiron 14z last year, but it's now repurposing that name for its first Inspiron Ultrabook. The new Inspiron 14z starts at $700 and comes standard with a second-gen Core i3 processor, though Core i5 and Core i7 Ivy Bridge options are available. It weighs a sturdy 4.1 pounds, which is far from light for an Ultrabook, but optical media fans will be happy to know that the design includes a disc drive. Storage options range from a 320GB drive up to 500GB with a 32GB SSD. In addition to the new 14z, Dell is offering 13-inch version. The 3.8-pound Inspiron 13z will go for $600, and like the 14z it includes both Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge CPU options, along with the same storage configurations. Dell also has four new Inspiron R models to introduce. The R, to jog your memory, stands for performance, and these are clearly multimedia-centric machines. Starting at $550, the Inspiron 15R comes standard with an Intel second-gen processor (Ivy Bridge configurations are available), Waves MaxxAudio 3 technology and up to 1TB of storage. The $600 Inspiron 17R offers the same CPU options, plus a gigantic 17.3-inch display with a 1600 x 900 resolution. Dell is complementing those two systems with higher-end Special Edition versions. The Inspiron 15R Special Edition features an anodized aluminum lid, a Core i5 or Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor and an optical drive for the higher price of $900. And then there's the whopping Inspiron 17R Special Edition ($1,100), which features discrete graphics, boasts a backlit keyboard and is available with a 3D display. All the new Inspiron notebooks will be available starting June 19th. For now, you can check out our hands-on shots below the break. Continue reading Dell unveils Inspiron 14z Ultrabook, multimedia-friendly Inspiron 15R and 17R Dell unveils Inspiron 14z Ultrabook, multimedia-friendly Inspiron 15R and 17R originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Google Fiber GFHD100 'IP set-top box' breezes through the FCC, doesn't say where it's headed Jun 5th 2012, 12:19  The future of Google as a hardware manufacturer (beyond its purchase of Motorola) continues to be shrouded in rumor and mystery, but the GFHD100 box that just popped up in the FCC's database is very much a fact. As seen in the pictures, it's sporting a Google Fiber label which suggests it's a part of rolling out video services to the Kansas Cities, and also reveals it's being built for Google by Humax. The MAC address shown in the picture is registered to Google directly, while the test report calls it an IP-set top box, equipped with WiFi, IR, USB, Ethernet, HDMI input and output and an Ethernet / coax (we assume MoCA?) bridge, which sounds similar to the boxes favored by Verizon's FiOS. Unfortunately our only view of the device itself is from underneath so there's not much else to glean about its abilities or possible relation to the hardware Google has reportedly been testing around the country, but you can hit the source link below to dig through the documents yourself or check a close up of the label (we tried the QR code, it appears to be for registration but it didn't work) after the break. Continue reading Google Fiber GFHD100 'IP set-top box' breezes through the FCC, doesn't say where it's headed Google Fiber GFHD100 'IP set-top box' breezes through the FCC, doesn't say where it's headed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  FCC | Email this | Comments | | Toshiba intros 14-inch Satellite U845 Ultrabook, prices start at $699 Jun 5th 2012, 12:00  Remember that 14-inch ultraportable Toshiba teased at CES? At the time it was something of a novelty, this big-screened thing being marketed an Ultrabook, and the lack of any details only added to the mystery. Well, it's back, and it even has a name. Behold: the Satellite U845. This is actually one of two consumer-grade Ultrabooks Toshiba announced today, and it's clearly the lower-end model, given the $699 starting price. For the money, you get a 1366 x 768 display and a 500GB hard drive coupled with a 16GB solid-state drive for faster boot-ups. (You can also upgrade to a 32GB SSD.) We're told the entry-level configuration runs off a Sandy Bridge Core i3 CPU, but Ivy Bridge processors will also be available. Toshiba is shying away from revealing the exact weight, saying only that it's "just under four pounds." Whatever the exact spec, it meets Intel's revised Ultrabook specifications, and also makes room for a refreshing selection of ports: Ethernet, HDMI, VGA, two USB 2.0 sockets and one powered USB 3.0 connection. It's expected to go on sale June 24th, but if you're curious we've got hands-on photos for you to check out right now. Toshiba intros 14-inch Satellite U845 Ultrabook, prices start at $699 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Toshiba refreshes its Portege and Tecra lines, prices start at $1,179 Jun 5th 2012, 12:00  We've been hearing a ton about budget- and student-friendly Ivy Bridge laptops, but business notebooks are most definitely getting a refresh too. Today Toshiba unveiled its latest systems from the Portege and Tecra lines, all of which feature Intel's third-gen processors along with security features like a fingerprint reader and Toshiba Smart Client Manager for remotely keeping track of laptops on a network. On the Portege side of things, we have the Z930 Ultrabook and the R930 (read more about the Ultrabook here). The R930 sports a 13.3-inch screen and weighs 3 pounds, which is substantial enough to allow for an optical drive. Toshiba will offer the notebook with Core i5 and Core i7 Ivy Bridge CPUs, and the extended battery is rated for up to 14 hours. The base configuration of this Portege will go for $1,399, and it's available as of today. Toshiba's new Tecra systems are slightly larger, which the company says is preferred in the corporate world. The $1,199 Tecra R940 has a 14-inch display and a 2MP webcam, and it also offers discrete graphics. The notebook ships with either a Core i5 or Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor. The $1,179 Tecra R50 is quite similar in specs, the main difference being a larger 15-inch screen and a full 10-key keypad. Along with the Portege R930, these two laptops are on the market starting today. Continue reading Toshiba refreshes its Portege and Tecra lines, prices start at $1,179 Toshiba refreshes its Portege and Tecra lines, prices start at $1,179 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | SimCity Social finds a home on Facebook, destiny winks in approving fashion Jun 5th 2012, 11:33  Given that "City" is in the name, SimCity has always felt like a title in need of a social platform. Fast forward a score or so since its inception, and fate seems to have finally played out. SimCity Social was just announced at E3 today, bringing the heralded city-building simulator to a social network that's pushing a billion residents. The new game is being delivered courtesy of "a close collaboration between many talented people at Maxis and Playfish," and anxious gamers are told to expect "no set linear paths to follow." You'll be dealing with things like fires, crime and pollution, and will be able to make calls to help virtual cities take shape. You can hit the source link to get in-game items at launch -- or, you know, strive to become an actual mayor and make actual improvements in your community. No pressure. Continue reading SimCity Social finds a home on Facebook, destiny winks in approving fashion SimCity Social finds a home on Facebook, destiny winks in approving fashion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Joystiq | Facebook, EA | Email this | Comments | |
