Samsung Series 3 hands-on

Samsung Series 3 11.6-inch model
We were strolling around the Metropolitan Pavilion, enjoying the sights and sounds of Digital Experience, when, lo and behold, we spotted a pair of unfamiliar laptops gracing the thick black tablecloth at the Samsung booth. What you see above is just one member, the 12.1-inch model to be specific, of the as yet unannounced Series 3 line. These budget friendly lappies are anything but cheap looking or feeling. The entire lineup has followed in the footsteps of the Series 9, opting for soft brushed finishes that are, at the very least, metal-esque. Gone are the shiny plastics that made your notebook look like evidence at a crime scene. At the bottom end is a 15.6-inch model sporting a dual-core AMD A4 CPU and (oddly) a glossy display.

If you want to wipe the reflective sheen from that screen, jump up a notch to the $599 Core i3-sporting version. The 15.6 models reach all the way up to a quad-core Core i7 CPU for $819 and all the Intel varieties pack WiDi (as do the 12.5-inchers). The other sizes (11.6, 12.1, 13.3, and 14 inches) all sport the same premium finishes, solid keyboards, and pleasant touchpads, while being expected to be easy on the wallet. There are still some details to be worked out, and not all specs or prices are finalized but, while we wait for the official PR to roll in, check out our hands-on with the 12.1-inch and 15.6-inch models below.

Samsung Series 3 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/hands-on-with-the-samsung-series-3/

Oliver Büdenbender Christa Eymann Ingrid Schur Emily Trautmann

Dodge is a space-shooter in which you have no weapons

dodge
Space-shooters are usually a fairly fiery affair, with many types of guns, weapon upgrades, power-ups and more. Dodge does away with all of that, while keeping the very essence of a space shooter: Dark background, fast action, and stuff blowing up all over the place.

Your vector-looking spacecraft is the fastest thing on the screen, most of the time. And as the header implies, you have absolutely no weapons; you can't get any, either. All you have is agility and maneuverability.

Your opponents shoot heat-seeking missiles at you; the missiles lock on and start tracking you. The trick is to dodge the missiles while putting them in the path of one of your enemies, thus letting them have a taste of their own medicine.

There are three types of enemies, at least in the first few levels: "simple" spaceships which fire slow projectiles, "tanks" which seem to be more serious and take more hits to destroy, and "circles." The circles simply explode, spewing twenty or thirty very fast projectiles. This sounds dangerous, but is actually great once you learn to use them; they are very destructive for tanks, and can even blow up other circles.

The soundtrack is very techno, but it meshes very well with this type of game. Intense fun!

Dodge is a space-shooter in which you have no weapons originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/01/dodge-is-a-space-shooter-in-which-you-have-no-weapons/

Birte Höß Kerstin Klos Dieter Schreiter Monika Kley

Acer Iconia Tab A500 getting Android 3.1 on July 5 in Germany

Acer Iconia Tab A500

Acer Iconia Tab A500 owners are now getting an idea of when to expect Android 3.1. According to Acers German Facebook page the update will roll out in Germany on July 5. Sadly, no other regions dates have been announced but we take the German roll out to be a good sign that the update will come to other regions soon, rather than later.

Source: Facebook; Via Electronista


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/_WY6rH-g13s/acer-iconia-tab-a500-getting-android-31-july-5-germany

Claus Rehberg Tobias Leinenbach Olga Kreibich Nathalie Donnerhacke

Vtech Handset/Headset Cordless Answering System LS6475-3 Review

One would have thought that with the shrinking of the land line telephone market there would be less product variety for cordless telephones.  Apparently Vtech doesn’t see it that way, and keeps coming out with new and interesting products.  The LS6475-3 incorporates several unique features, but are they really useful? Over the years I’ve upgraded [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/06/20/vtech-handsetheadset-cordless-answering-system-ls6475-3-review/

Edith Hupertz Heinrich Peller Viktoria Barz Emma Sauter

Voltaic Spark Tablet Case powers your pad with the Sun's rays

Voltaic Spark Tablet Case
Voltaic makes tons of solar-charging gear, from laptop bags to backpacks, but what are those living in a post-PC world to do? Well, the company just unveiled its Spark Tablet Case -- a thin, padded tote designed for your iPad or other slate that can generate 8-watts of power in sunlight. In addition to directly charging your iPad in about 10 hours, it can also bank the Sun's rays in a universal battery pack, for use when those fluffy things in the sky don't cooperate with your outdoor computing schedule. Optionally, the included V39 USB Battery can be charged (as you may have guessed) via USB, for extra insurance. The Spark is available now for $299 and extra battery packs can be had for $99. Check out the gallery below and the PR after the break.

Continue reading Voltaic Spark Tablet Case powers your pad with the Sun's rays

Voltaic Spark Tablet Case powers your pad with the Sun's rays originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/voltaic-spark-tablet-case-powers-your-pad-with-the-suns-rays/

Nathalie Füllgraf Janine Harrer Emilia Münchow Claus Rehberg

Windows 8 wallpaper available to download, Jupiter and Twin UI spotted

windows 8 wallpaper
With Windows 8 milestone 3 now up for grabs for select Microsoft Connect partners, it's inevitable that leaked bits and pieces will start popping up around the Web. In fact, the first "official" wallpaper image from the still-brewing OS is already making the rounds.

As you can see, it's got a similar feel to the good ol' Windows 7 default background, but features a more subdued smattering of cerulean hues. Those of you who want to use the Windows 8 wallpaper on your current desktop can download it from our file dump.

A few other details have been revealed, too. According to ZDNet's source, the Windows 8 Jupiter libraries and Twin UI are starting to take shape -- though all that's been located thus far are "[various files] scattered throughout the OS" and the aptly-named twinui.dll.

Windows 8 wallpaper available to download, Jupiter and Twin UI spotted originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/download-windows-8-wallpaper/

Claus Rehberg Tobias Leinenbach Olga Kreibich Nathalie Donnerhacke

How to Make a Clock Run for 10,000 Years

High on a rocky ridge in the desert, nestled among the brush, is the topmost part of a clock that has been ticking for thousands of years. It looks out over the ruins of a spaceport, built by a rich man whose name was forgotten long ago. Most of the clock is deep inside the mountain, below [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/06/10000-year-clock/

Jacqueline Kiesel Michel Rohr Hilde Baaden Hartmut Theobald