| Canalys: PC and tablet shipments hit new high in Q2 with Apple in the lead, HP next in line Aug 1st 2012, 17:45  Wondering how the industry fared in the second quarter of 2012? Shipments in the PC sector, which in Canalys' book includes tablets, were higher than ever, totaling 108,708,780 units globally. iPad sales put Apple in the lead, with more than 21 million devices shipped (this figure also includes desktops and notebooks) in Q2, compared to just over 13 million during the year-ago quarter, representing a massive 59.6-percent year-over-year growth. HP, which led the way in Q1, has fallen to the second-place spot, with nearly 13.6 million shipments during the quarter ending yesterday, followed by Lenovo with about 13.2 million, Acer with nearly 10.7 million and Dell with roughly 9.7 computers sold. Manufacturers like ASUS and Samsung are represented in the substantial "others" category, which totals about 40.6 million devices. There's no question that the iPad is behind Apple earning the number-1 slot, and with the upcoming Windows 8 launch, those figures could shift drastically the next time around. Click on through to the source link below for the full Canalys breakdown. Continue reading Canalys: PC and tablet shipments hit new high in Q2 with Apple in the lead, HP next in line Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablet PCs Canalys: PC and tablet shipments hit new high in Q2 with Apple in the lead, HP next in line originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Canalys | Email this | Comments | | Philips' Mini Hi-Fi System lets you dock iPhones, spins them into turntables Aug 1st 2012, 17:18  The iDevice clique's had no shortage of options when it comes to choosing DJ-friendly gear. Now one of the latest peripherals to enter the spinning market is Philips' Mini Hi-Fi System, which boasts a modest 300W total output power and offers a cozy turntable canvas that has docking room for a couple of iPhones -- in theory, iPod touches should be okay to fit as well. Furthermore, the beat-inducing apparatus is also compatible with that rather popular djay application for iOS, making it easier to mix, scratch and blast all your favorite tunes in one place. Philips launched this Mini Hi-Fi add-on a while back, but today it's finally placing it up for grabs in the UK for a hefty £300, or about $470 if you're this side of the Atlantic. Be sure to click on past the jump to quickly gaze at a largely appealing pic gallery. Filed under: Cellphones, Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals Philips' Mini Hi-Fi System lets you dock iPhones, spins them into turntables originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink  Gizmodo | Philips | Email this | Comments | | US Cellular launches Motorola Electrify 2 today for $180, Defy XT on August 3rd Aug 1st 2012, 16:29  With the launch of the Atrix HD a couple weeks ago, Motorola's looking to continue building momentum by launching two new devices on US Cellular this week. First up is the Electrify 2, the obvious followup to the regional carrier's version of the Photon 4G. Available online beginning today and in stores tomorrow, the new Electrify will feature Ice Cream Sandwich, a 4.3-inch ColorBoost panel, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Kevlar backing, an 8MP rear camera capable of taking 1080p video capture, decently thin profile (8.4mm) and a splash guard similar to what we saw on the Atrix HD and Droid RAZR. While USCC's site tells us that pricing may vary by location, it looks like the Electrify 2 is going for $180 after a $100 mail-in rebate and the obligatory two-year commitment. The second device in Moto's arsenal is the Defy XT, due to launch on August 3rd. We've seen this model land in other parts of the world, but this is the first time it's hit a major mobile operator in the US (unless you count Republic Wireless as a contender). The Defy XT is a bit more on the rugged side, featuring an IP67 durability rating, a 3.7-inch FWVGA (854 x 480) display with Gorilla Glass, Android 2.3, a 1,700mAh battery, 5MP camera with 720p video record, 1GHz CPU and 512MB RAM. We're still waiting to hear back from US Cellular on the pricing, but we anticipate it to be in the mid-range. In the meantime, the press release is below for your general perusal. Continue reading US Cellular launches Motorola Electrify 2 today for $180, Defy XT on August 3rd Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless US Cellular launches Motorola Electrify 2 today for $180, Defy XT on August 3rd originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | | Email this | Comments | | Microsoft confirms Windows 8 has been released to manufacturing, OEM partners now have final code Aug 1st 2012, 16:09  RTM. To the everyman, those three letters may not mean much. To those waiting with bated breath for Microsoft's next operating system, it's a huge milestone worth celebrating. Microsoft has today confirmed that Windows 8 has been released to manufacturing, enabling its OEM partners to grab the final code and begin implementation on systems that'll be tempting you mightily starting on (or around) October 26th. If you're curious about the specific rollout details, here goes. Starting August 15th, devs will be able to download the final version of Windows 8 via their MSDN subscription, and IT pros testing Windows 8 in organizations will be able to access the final version of Windows 8 through their TechNet subscriptions. On August 16th, customers with existing Microsoft Software Assurance for Windows will be able to download Windows 8 Enterprise edition through the Volume License Service Center (VLSC). Also on that day, Microsoft Partner Network members will have access to Win8. On August 20th, Microsoft Action Pack Providers (MAPS) receive access to the goods, while Volume License customers without Software Assurance will be able to purchase Windows 8 through Microsoft Volume License Resellers on September 1st. Update: Microsoft has just affirmed that starting today, any qualifying business in a supported market can now submit a Metro style app for Windows 8. Boom. Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablet PCs Microsoft confirms Windows 8 has been released to manufacturing, OEM partners now have final code originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | The Windows Blog (1), (2) | Email this | Comments | | Mavizon Mavia tracker reaches pre-order at last, makes best friends of cars and iPhones Aug 1st 2012, 16:00  Remember Mavizon's plans for its Mavia car tracking device (formerly the AutoBot) from almost two years ago? The company promised availability sometime in 2012, and we're here in earnest with the car companion ready for pre-order. The business model has changed significantly since 2010, however. It's a cheaper $169 up front for the Bluetooth cellular OBD-II peripheral -- $99 for the first hundred through the gates, or $299 for a two-pack -- but the full tracking service will cost $5 a month, or $49 every year. Those who do make the leap can get a look at their car's vital signs as well as set up geofenced notifications, track long-term performance and receive impromptu driving directions to a friend's coffee shop check-in. The first batch of Mavia units should arrive within several weeks, we're told, and should have both browser- as well as iPhone-based apps waiting in the wings. Continue reading Mavizon Mavia tracker reaches pre-order at last, makes best friends of cars and iPhones Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Transportation Mavizon Mavia tracker reaches pre-order at last, makes best friends of cars and iPhones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Mavizon | Email this | Comments | | John Carmack-endorsed Oculus Rift VR project hits Kickstarter, developer kits start at $300 Aug 1st 2012, 15:56  We heard late last month that the John Carmack-endorsed Oculus Rift VR headset would be hitting Kickstarter any day now, and it turns out today is that day. The project has just launched on the crowd-funding site with a goal of $250,000. To reach that, the team (led by company founder Palmer Lucky) is offering a variety pledge options, starting with posters and t-shirts for $15 and $25 (or $10 for a simple thanks), and of course the headset itself that is initially only being offered as a developer kit. It will set you back $300, which also includes a copy of Doom 3 BFG, and is expected to start shipping in December (signed kits and a complete bundle are available as well). Those that act fast can also snag one of 100 unassembled prototype kits, which run $275 and ship a month earlier in November. Despite that developer-only status, though, the project is already off to an impressive start -- it's raised over $50,000 as of this writing. You can find the usual video overview of the project after the break. Update: The 100 prototype kits are now sold out, and the project itself has already sailed past the $100,000 $150,000 mark. John Carmack also clarified on Twitter that he's not "backing" the project in any official capacity, only endorsing it as a "wonderful advancement in VR tech." Continue reading John Carmack-endorsed Oculus Rift VR project hits Kickstarter, developer kits start at $300 Filed under: Peripherals, Wearables John Carmack-endorsed Oculus Rift VR project hits Kickstarter, developer kits start at $300 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Kickstarter | Email this | Comments | |
