Thursday, October 18, 2012

OpenELEC-2.0 Linux distro released, turns your PC into an 'appliance-like' home theater device

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/18/openelec-2-0-linux-distro-released/

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If you're itching to park that AMD or Intel PC beside your TV as a dedicated home theater device, OpenELEC would like to offer up the first stable release of its Linux distro, version 2.0, for your consideration. The new build is now available for free (with the option to donate, of course), and the group behind it says that the installation takes less than five minutes and requires "zero Linux experience." Once you've done that, it'll be ready to serve your media needs in less than 10 seconds from a cold start, according to OpenELEC, with only a remote control needed to start surfing. The system updates automatically, including the XBMC V11 media core, and now includes PVR support, improved AMD functionality, CEC adapter compatibility, NFS, AFP, CIFS and SSH shares and Airplay / Airtunes support. If you're already Mac- or Windows-centric, an OpenELEC system will play well with all your existing media, so if you're ready to see how the Linux media crowd rolls, hit the source.

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OpenELEC-2.0 Linux distro released, turns your PC into an 'appliance-like' home theater device originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 07:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 12:48 PM

Acer Iconia Tab A110 reaches North America on October 30th for $230, faces a tough fight

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/18/acer-iconia-tab-a110-reaches-north-america-on-october-30th-for-230/

Acer Iconia Tab reaches North America on October 30th for $230, faces a tough fight

Acer hasn't had an easy mid-year: it trotted out the Iconia Tab A110 at Computex as a budget Android tablet that could still claim Tegra 3 speeds, only to watch the Nexus 7 arrive and leave virtually every other comparable tablet in a tight spot. It's North America's turn at the A110 this month, and the side-by-side looks aren't getting much easier. When the 7-inch Jelly Bean slate ships to the continent on October 30th, it will cost $230 in both the US and Canada for the lone 8GB version -- a better value than we see in Europe, but still a slightly awkward middle ground between an 8GB Nexus 7 at $199 and its $249, 16GB edition. We're guessing that Acer is counting on the microSD and micro-HDMI expansion to tempt would-be North American buyers away from a less flexible (if Google-blessed) rival.

Continue reading Acer Iconia Tab A110 reaches North America on October 30th for $230, faces a tough fight

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Acer Iconia Tab A110 reaches North America on October 30th for $230, faces a tough fight originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 12:48 PM

Acer unveils space-saving ME mini tower and XC desktops for (low) power users

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/18/acer-me-xc/

Acer refreshes

The arrival of Windows 8 is a good excuse for the PC industry to flood the market with so much hardware, consumers will be blinded by so much choice. Acer's jabbing its digits into your eyes with its new lineup of low-end desktops for the casual user. The ME micro towers will take an Intel Core i5 or I7, 2TB HDDs and up to 16GB of RAM. If you don't have anywhere else to stash your smartphone, the chassis comes with a recess desk on top with a USB port for easy charging. Those looking for something a little less demanding can pick up an XC desktop, a space-saving unit that will take an Intel Core i3, a 1TB HDD and up to 6GB of RAM. Prices for the ME begin at $700, while the cheaper XCs will set you back a much more modest $400.

Continue reading Acer unveils space-saving ME mini tower and XC desktops for (low) power users

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Acer unveils space-saving ME mini tower and XC desktops for (low) power users originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 12:48 PM

Sony Alpha firmware updates bring record button disabling on NEX-7, DSLR lens improvements

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/18/sony-camera-firmware-updates/

Sony Alpha firmware updates bring record button disabling on NEX7, DSLR lens compensation improvements

Sony's NEX-7 may be fast approaching its first birthday, but that doesn't mean the company's ready to give up on pushing out updates. The camera's first new firmware version, 1.01, should be hitting today, bringing with it the ability to disable the Movie Record button to avoid accidental taps (finally!), boosted image quality with a wide-angle lens, improved audio playback and expanded EV bracketing. An option to disable the EVF eye sensor doesn't appear to be included with this revision, unfortunately. Other updates hitting at the same time include E-mount lens firmware v.01 that'll enable NEX-5R/NEX-6 Hybrid AF functionality with older lenses, A65/A77 firmware v1.06 and A37/A57 firmware v1.03, both of which deliver the ability to enable/disable the movie record button while also adding a variety of lens compensation options for select Alpha optics. All of these updates should now be live -- head over to the source link below for the hook-up.

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Sony Alpha firmware updates bring record button disabling on NEX-7, DSLR lens improvements originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 5:47 AM

Leaked training videos peg Lumia 920 as AT&T exclusive for six months, shows off City Lens, wireless charging

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/18/Lumia-920-exclusive-for-6-months/

Leaked training videos peg Lumia 920 as an AT&T exclusive for six months, shows off City Lens, wireless charging

Itching for Nokia's latest piece of Windows Phone kit, but aren't ready to saddle up with Ma Bell? Get comfortable: according to a leaked AT&T training video, you'll have to wait six months for the Lumia 920's exclusivity contract to expire. The unofficial Windows Phone 8 flagship is due out next month, though mum's still the word on its actual ship date. The trio of videos also give AT&T employees a brief run down of Nokia City Lens, wireless charging and the handset's NFC features. If you simply can't wait until spring, Verizon and T-Mobile are serving up a pair of mid-range alternatives, the Lumia 820 and 822, respectively. Otherwise, head past the break to see the videos for yourself and test your patience.

Continue reading Leaked training videos peg Lumia 920 as AT&T exclusive for six months, shows off City Lens, wireless charging

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Leaked training videos peg Lumia 920 as AT&T exclusive for six months, shows off City Lens, wireless charging originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 01:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 5:47 AM

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