Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, January 07, 2013

Sharp launches AQUOS Ultra HD panel for mid 2013

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/sharp-launches-aquos-ultra-hd-panel/

Sharp announced an AQUOS Ultra HD set at CES complementing the other TV launches for this year. Set to debut mid year, the 240Hz 4K panel will feature a 4K upscaler, active 3D with Bluetooth 3D glasses, built in WiFi and a subwoofer to boot. No word on pricing but we'll get back with that as soon as we're able.

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Continue reading Sharp launches AQUOS Ultra HD panel for mid 2013

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

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Sigma Designs's new EasyTV comes with Wireless Display

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/sigma-easytv/

You'd be forgiven for not knowing Sigma Designs' name, but it makes reference designs for plenty of other familiar names. It's outing a reference design for a new wireless dongle that'll help you share your smartphone's display on your HDTV in seconds. Powered by Qualcomm's Atheros AR6203 with 802.11n WiFi, the company is hoping to gain Miracast certification for the unit later in the year. Assuming, of course, that you don't just pick up a TV with such fanciful technology built-in.

Continue reading Sigma Designs's new EasyTV comes with Wireless Display

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless, HD

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Zotac refreshes ZBOX range with Ivy Bridge, dual WiFi antennas, improved cooling

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/zotac-zbox-id83-id42/

Despite the fact that Zotac's model number sequence appears to run backwards, the company's latest mini-PCs on show at CES appear to contain healthy upgrades relative to the ZBOX ID84 we saw in August. According to a brief report at Hot Hardware, the new range -- including the ID42 and ID83 -- will bring additions like dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, dual WiFi antennas for better reception and, most importantly, a cooling system that allows for more powerful processors up to a Core i3-3120M. Different configurations will come with either HD4000 integrated graphics or NVIDIA's GeForce 620, and can be purchased as barebones units or with RAM and HDD preinstalled. As for pricing and availability, we'll just have to wait and see --although early retailer listings suggest the Ivy Bridge ID83 could cost around £320 ($520).

Filed under: Desktops, Home Entertainment

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Source: Hot Hardware, Xtrasoft

Belkin announces WeMo Smart, coming to your coffee pot later this year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/belkin-announces-wemo-smart/

Sure, Belkin's WeMo technology handles outlets and such with an iOS companion app, but now the company is looking to leverage the system with household appliances. WeMo Smart will allow companies to leverage Belkin's apps and existing tech to add new features to their various wares. At CES, a partnership with Jarden Consumer Solutions (JCS) -- the outfit behind brands like Mr. Coffee, Sunbeam, Crock-Pot and more -- has just been announced that will bring the home automation tech to remotely program an monitor small appliances. From the looks of it, you'll be able to turn off the coffee pot after you get to the office should you leave your house in a frenzy. The first WeMo outfitted products are set to arrive later in the year.

Continue reading Belkin announces WeMo Smart, coming to your coffee pot later this year

Filed under: Household, Wireless, Software

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Alcatel intros the One Touch Idol Ultra, the 'world's slimmest phone' at 6.45mm (hands-on video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/alcatel-one-touch-idol-ultra/

Yes, there's a bit of a contest going on among smartphone manufacturers to determine which one has the thinnest device. As proof that Alcatel can play that game, too, the company has just jumped into the circle with its One Touch Idol Ultra, which measures 6.45mm at its thinnest point and ekes by the previous champ, the 6.55mm BBK Vivo X1. Alongside the One Touch Scribe HD, the device stands as Alcatel's flagship smartphone reveal at CES. Beyond thinness, the Idol Ultra boasts a 4.7-inch HD (1,280 x 720) Super AMOLED (read: PenTile) display, a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB RAM and Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Users will also find an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing counterpart, both of which record video at 720p.

In its push to make the Idol Ultra as thin as possible, Alcatel omitted expandable storage from the unit, and with only 8GB built-in, media hungry individuals will need to rely on cloud services. In terms of connectivity, the phone supports quad-band GSM and offers dual-band HSPA (7.2Mbps) in two different configurations: 900MHz / 2100MHz or 850MHz / 2100MHz. The phone is scheduled for availability this month in China for 2,799 RMB ($449). Sadly, the phone isn't destined to hit the US anytime soon -- Alcatel told us that the device couldn't get approved by the FCC due to its thin profile. So what did we think about this record-breaking handset? Hands-on photos are below, and after the break you'll find our impressions, a video and a full press release.

< strong>Gallery: Alcatel One Touch Idol Ultra hands-on