Samsung to offer Galaxy S III Developer Edition with unlockable bootloader on Verizon

Following criticism regarding Samsung and Verizon Wireless’s policy for the bootloaders of its devices, Samsung announced that it will offer an unsubsidized Galaxy S III smartphone compatible with Verizon’s network that includes an unlockable bootloader. The handset will be offered directly through the South Korean company’s website and will feature the same specs as the locked Galaxy S III — a Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM and 4G LTE connectivity. The Galaxy S III Developer Edition will be available in the coming months for $599. Additional information follows below. 

Who is this for?

Samsung and Verizon Wireless recognize that there are many enthusiasts and professional developers that are interested in customizing their device with third-party ROM software. Unlocking the bootloader can put the stability of the phone in jeopardy; therefore, only experienced developers should attempt to unlock the bootloader.

What about the other carriers?

Other versions of the Galaxy S III are sold with a user-unlockable bootloader as a standard feature. Those models are available directly from the respective carriers.

Where can I buy the Galaxy S III Developer Edition?

The Developer Edition will be sold online directly from Samsung. When the device is available for purchase, it will be sold through the Samsung developer portal at developer.samsung.com for $599.

Why is Verizon Wireless’ version locked?

Depending on the device, an open bootloader could prevent Verizon Wireless from providing the same level of customer experience and support because it would allow users to change the phone or otherwise modify the software and, potentially, negatively impact how the phone connects with the network. The addition of unapproved software could also negatively impact the wireless experience for other customers. Unlocking the device also voids the warranty.

Has Samsung always unlocked the bootloader on its phones?

While not all previous Samsung Android devices have had an easily unlockable bootloader, all of our other current Galaxy S III flagship lineup, and all Nexus-branded devices, support the standard bootloader unlocking procedure.

What happens if I load custom software and damage (“brick”) my phone?

Problems caused by unlocking the bootloader and installing custom software will not be covered by the warranty. Problems with third-party and customized bootloader software can cause irreparable harm to the Galaxy S III. Users interested in performing these actions should proceed with caution and at their own risk. Out of warranty Galaxy S III Developer Edition devices will be serviced directly through Samsung, and service charges will apply.

[Via Engadget]

Tags: Galaxy S III, Samsung, verizon wireless Dan joins the BGR team as the Android Editor, covering all things relating to Google’s premiere operating system. When he isn’t testing the latest devices or apps, he can be found enjoying the New York City nightlife.

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News360 app for iPad gets major overhaul

Over the last eight months, the team behind the popular News360 app has been working day in and day out on a complete overhaul of the company’s iPad application. Like similar apps, News360 condenses the Web and makes it easier for users to discover news stories across a wide range of topics. “It’s no surprise that dozens of companies are sprouting up solely to tackle the problem of content overload,” said Roman Karachinsky, CEO, News360. “But no one has quite been able to figure it out yet. So we took a brand new approach, and put to work some of the brightest minds in the business. Using machine learning and AI to understand how people relate to content, these classically trained linguists, mathematicians, data scientists and geeks created a platform that accurately predicts what you’ll be interested in before anyone else. It’s a real-time stream of every story you need to prepare yourself for the day ahead.” The redesigned News360 app is available now for free in Apple’s App Store.

Samsung to offer Galaxy S III Developer Edition with unlockable bootloader on Verizon

Following criticism regarding Samsung and Verizon Wireless’s policy for the bootloaders of its devices, Samsung announced that it will offer an unsubsidized Galaxy S III smartphone compatible with Verizon’s network that includes an unlockable bootloader. The handset will be offered directly through the South Korean company’s website and will feature the same specs as the locked Galaxy S III — a Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM and 4G LTE connectivity. The Galaxy S III Developer Edition will be available in the coming months for $599. Additional information follows below. 

Who is this for?

Samsung and Verizon Wireless recognize that there are many enthusiasts and professional developers that are interested in customizing their device with third-party ROM software. Unlocking the bootloader can put the stability of the phone in jeopardy; therefore, only experienced developers should attempt to unlock the bootloader.

What about the other carriers?

Other versions of the Galaxy S III are sold with a user-unlockable bootloader as a standard feature. Those models are available directly from the respective carriers.

Where can I buy the Galaxy S III Developer Edition?

The Developer Edition will be sold online directly from Samsung. When the device is available for purchase, it will be sold through the Samsung developer portal at developer.samsung.com for $599.

Why is Verizon Wireless’ version locked?

Depending on the device, an open bootloader could prevent Verizon Wireless from providing the same level of customer experience and support because it would allow users to change the phone or otherwise modify the software and, potentially, negatively impact how the phone connects with the network. The addition of unapproved software could also negatively impact the wireless experience for other customers. Unlocking the device also voids the warranty.

Has Samsung always unlocked the bootloader on its phones?

While not all previous Samsung Android devices have had an easily unlockable bootloader, all of our other current Galaxy S III flagship lineup, and all Nexus-branded devices, support the standard bootloader unlocking procedure.

What happens if I load custom software and damage (“brick”) my phone?

Problems caused by unlocking the bootloader and installing custom software will not be covered by the warranty. Problems with third-party and customized bootloader software can cause irreparable harm to the Galaxy S III. Users interested in performing these actions should proceed with caution and at their own risk. Out of warranty Galaxy S III Developer Edition devices will be serviced directly through Samsung, and service charges will apply.

Acer Aspire One AO756-2623

The new Acer Aspire One AO756-2623 small laptop model is an inexpensive 11.6-inch cross-over between a netbook and a full-power ultraportable.

The AO756-2623 packs the Intel Celeron 877 ultra-low voltage processor, with performance ranking between the Intel Atom processors and ultraportable- and ultrabook-use Core-series ULV chips. For example, in PassMark CPU benchmark, the dual-core “Sandy Bridge” Celeron 877 scores 1,470 points on average, while for the top-of-the-line netbook-use Atom N2800 scores 723 points. On the other side, the entry Intel Core i3-2357M “Sandy Brdige” model for ultrabooks and ultraportables achieves a score of 1,671. The result closer to the i3 than Atom is expected, since the former two have similar specs and a thermal design power of 17W, while the N2800 consumes only 6.5W, generally resulting in better battery life.

Unfortunately, battery life estimation for the Acer AO756-2623 or product reviews aren’t available. The Li-Ion battery used is a four-cell unit with a 2,600mAh capacity, so the run time is very likely lower than on the six-cell powered netbooks and ultrabooks.

The screen resolution is 1,366 x 768 pixels, so you will have the same working area like on the full-size notebooks with the same resolution, but on a smaller panel.

The processor and its integrated Intel HD graphics are accompanied by 2GB of DDR3 memory and a 320GB hard drive.

Design-wise, the AO756-2623 sports the latest chassis shape with a chiclet keyboard, a one-piece trackpad, thin profile measuring 1.1?, and a weight of 3 pounds, making the laptop fairly easy to tote around. The area around the keyboard is matte, while the lid is a glossy one. This particular model comes in Ash Black color.

Besides portability, the best selling point for the laptop is its price of only $250. It puts the AO756-2623 in the netbook price range and its way cheaper than the standard ultraportables, not to mention the ultrabooks. At the time of this writing, this laptop is probably the best choice for budget-minded small laptop shoppers and the best netbook alternative.

Acer AO756-2623 Specifications

Display: 11.6? 1366×768, glossyProcessor: Intel Celeron 877 dual-core with 1.4GHz clock speed and 2MB L3 cache, no Hyperthreading supported, 17W TDPGraphics: Intel HD integratedMemory: 2GB DDR3, expandable to 8GB, two memory slotsStorage: 320GB 5,400rpm HDDOptical Drive: NoWebcam: Yes, uknown sensorAudio: stereo speakersNetwork: 802.11n Wireless, Ethernet LAN, no BluetoothInput: chiclet keyboard, multi-touch one-piece trackpadPorts and Slots: 3 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, SD/MMC readerBattery: 4-cell 2,600mAhDimensions: 1.1? x 11.2? x 8.0?Weight: 3.04 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)Warranty: 1-year

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Qisda reports year-high revenue for June

Qisda reports year-high revenue for JuneJulian Ho, Taipei; Alex Wolfgram, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]EMS provider Qisda has reported June consolidated revenues of NT$7.24 billion (US$242 million), up 4% on-month but down 3.99% on-year. Accumulated revenues during the second quarter were NT$20.63 billion.

The reported June revenues were the company's highest so far for the year. Qisda said the increase is due to returning demand in the LCD TV industry along with growing demand for portable devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs.

Qisda has also been receiving orders from new customers and has been improving costs and efficiency. Qisda said its new high-efficiency LED backlighting models, displays and projectors have attracted new customers and that it expects to be bring in even more customers in the future with more added-value products.

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LDK equipment supplier files for arbitration

LDK equipment supplier files for arbitrationNuying Huang, Taipei; Jackie Chang, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]LDK's equipment supplier JYT Corporation recently requested arbitration that LDK pay CNY789,600 (US$124,208) and losses in interest rates of CNY38,400 and all fees occurred during their lawsuit. In addition, JYT also asked LDK to pay CNY313 million and losses in interest for terminating an equipment supply contract.

LDK has been in the news due to its alleged financial troubles.

JYT's first-quarter 2012 revenues showed a sequential decrease of 80%. This also affected one of JYT's suppliers, Sichuan Injet Electric. Injet Electric recently filed applications to be listed in China's stock exchange but was denied, according to China media reports. Injet still has CNY7 million of uncollected accounts receivable from JYT.

Industry sources noted that this case has been the most symbolic case in China.

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586 million LTE smartphones to be shipped globally in 2016, says MIC

586 million LTE smartphones to be shipped globally in 2016, says MICEDN, July 6; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]Global shipments of LTE, either TDD or FDD, terminal devices are on the rise along with increasing deployment of LTE networks around the world, and the global shipment volume of LTE smartphones will keep growing to 586 million units in 2016, the Chinese-language newspaper Economic Daily News (EDN) cited forecasts by the Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC) under the government-sponsored Institute for Information Industry as indicating.

MIC: Global shipments of LTE terminal devices, 2012-2016 (m units)

Other terminal devices (e.g. network interface cards and routers)

Source: EDN, compiled by Digitimes, July 2012

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Largan may hit record revenues in 3Q12

Largan may hit record revenues in 3Q12Erica Yen, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]Largan Precision, a Taiwan-based maker of lens modules used in phone cameras, will begin to ship lens modules for use in 8-megapixel rear cameras and 1.3-megapixel front cameras of a new version of iPhone in July and is therefore likely to see its consolidated revenues for the third quarter of 2012 hit a quarterly record, according to industry sources.

Due to decreased shipments of lens modules, Largan saw second-quarter consolidated revenues of NT$3.338 billion (US$113 million), a drop of 8.31% on quarter, the sources indicated.

Largan has been competing for orders from China-based vendors, with such orders accounting for about 10% of its January-June 2012 consolidated revenues, the sources said.

Largan: Consolidated revenues, June 2012 (NT$m)

Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, July 2012

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China-based telecom equipment vendors poised to launch enterprise tablet PCs, says IBM Taiwan

China-based telecom equipment vendors poised to launch enterprise tablet PCs, says IBM TaiwanMiranda Chuang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]While international vendors are preparing to launch Windows 8 consumer tablet PCs later in the second half of 2012, China-based vendors of telecom equipment are poised to launch enterprise models specifically for business use, in 2013-2014, according to IBM Taiwan.

As competition in the global consumer tablet market is unlikely to change in the short term, IBM Taiwan recommends Taiwan-based vendors step into the enterprise segment with China as the target market.

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IC designers look to steady demand from feature phone sector

IC designers look to steady demand from feature phone sectorCage Chao, Taipei; Steve Shen, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]Despite increasing popularity of smartphones, demand for feature phones still remains steady in China and other emerging markets, and this will help drive revenue growth at Taiwan-based IC design houses in the third quarter of 2012, according to industry sources.

The latest market data shows that global shipments of feature phones posted an unexpected sequential gain in the second quarter of 2012, indicating that demand for feature phones has not been squeezed out completely by the rise of smartphones, commented the sources.

Some Taiwan-based IC design houses have also landed more windfall orders recently, since top-tier handset solution vendors have shifted their focus to the entry-level and mid-range smartphone segment, resulting in a balance in the supply and demand of chipset solutions for feature phones, pointed out the sources.

ILI Technology, a vendor of small- and medium-size LCD driver ICs and touch controller ICs, saw its revenues grow 8.6% on month and 62.2% on year to NT$885 million (US$29.6 million) in June, buoyed by demand from the feature phone sector, the sources indicated.

Driver IC vendor Sitronix Technology is expected to report revenues of NT$460-480 million for June, which will be the company's highest monthly figures for the past 24 months, the sources estimated.

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India market: Smartphones account for 25% of sales value in 1Q12, says CyberMedia

India market: Smartphones account for 25% of sales value in 1Q12, says CyberMediaDaniel Shen, Taipei; Steve Shen, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]Sales of handsets in India grew 9.1% on year to top over 50 million units in the first quarter of 2012, with smartphones accounting for 5.3% of total sales in terms of shipment volume and 25% in terms of sales value, according to CyberMedia Research.

Samsung Electronics ranked as the top vendor in India's smartphone segment with a 40.4% share, followed by Nokia with 25.5% and Research in Motion (RIM) with 12.3%, said the market research firm.

Nokia and Samsung have been prevailing in the entry-level to high-end smartphone sectors in India, since prices of their smartphones vary enough to cover all segments of the market.

Samsung launched seven smartphone models in India in the first quarter with prices ranging from INR7,500-27,000 (US$136-490), CyberMedia indicated.

With respect to the feature phone market in India, Nokia ranked top with 21.8% share, followed by Samsung with 10.7% and Micromax with 6.4%. Feature phones are priced at INR5,000 on average in India.

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MediaTek announces revenue gains for June

MediaTek announces revenue gains for JuneMOPS, July 6; Steve Shen, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]MediaTek has announced consolidated revenues of NT$7.845 billion (US$262.46 million) for June, up 2.5% on month and 16.4% on year, according to a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE).

Second-quarter revenues of NT$23.44 billion represented a sequential 19.5% growth from the previous quarter, which met with the company's guidance for a 14-20% growth.

For the first half of 2012, revenues amounted to NT$43.06 million, increasing 5.5% from a year earlier.

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HP m6-1045dx

The HP m6-1045dx has a similar model number to the recently overviewed m6-1035dx, but these laptops are pretty much different in many aspects.

Although the HP m6-1045dx and 1035dx have the same 15.6? screen size and shape since both belong to the new Pavilion m6 series, the former comes in silver color, while the latter is black. But, the differences are much more pronounced in internals. The m6-1045dx is based on Intel’s 3rd Generation Core i5-3210M “Ivy Bridge” dual-core processor with a PassMark benchmark score of 3,853 points, while its black counterpart is built around the AMD “Trinity” Quad-Core A10-4600M processing unit, scoring 5,067 points. The i5's integrated graphics is from the HD 4000 series, whereas the A10 packs the Radeon HD 7660G, delivering much better graphics performance than its Intel counterpart, according to Notebook Check. So in terms of performance, the 1045dx appears to lag behind the 1035dx, which is a little bit odd since the models are priced at $729.99 and $649.99, respectively, and both have the same power consumption of 35W. Furthermore, the official battery life estimation is up to 8 hours and 45 minutes for the Intel and up to 9 hours for the AMD variant, so the 1035dx is also better here, at least on paper.

True, the Pavilion m6-1045dx does have slightly better other core specs, such as the 750GB hard drive and 8GB of RAM, up to 640GB and 6GB on the 1035dx. Other extras on the Intel variant are WiDi technology for wireless video streaming, Bluetooth, and a built-in fingerprint reader.

Both aluminum-clad Pavilions weigh 5.3 pounds and are 1-inch thin and both include keyboard backlight.

HP m6-1045dx Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch LED-backlight glossy at 1366×768 pixelsProcessor: Intel Core i5-3210M dual-core 2.6-3.0GHz, 3MB L3 cacheGraphics: Intel HD 4000Memory: 8GB DDR3Storage: 750GB 5,400rpmOptical Drive: DVD writerWebcam: HP TrueVision with micAudio: stereo speakers and subwoofer, Beats AudioNetwork: 802.11n wireless, Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth, Intel Wireless Display (WiDi)Input: Chiclet keyboard with numeric pad and backlight, multi-touch trackpadPorts and Slots: 3 USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, media card readerBattery: Up to 8 hours and 45 minutesDimensions: 14.9 x 9.9 x 1 inchesWeight: 5.3 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-year

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Amtran reports increased revenues in 2Q12

Amtran reports increased revenues in 2Q12Julian Ho, Taipei; Alex Wolfgram, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]Amtran Technology, a Taiwan-based ODM of LCD monitors and TVs, has reported NT$15.2 billion (US$502 million) in second-quarter consolidated revenues, a 46% on-year increase, due to returning remand in North America.

In June alone, the company reported NT$5.6 billion, a 64% year on year growth and an 11% growth over May. Amtran said there have been increasing LED TV sales over the last few months and that it is optimistic about the third quarter with its new 39-inch direct-type LED TV to be launched in order to compete with Samsung Electronics.

Amtran's 39-inch model will give the company an edge in the market as it will pose challenges with 37- and 40-inch models, according to industry sources. The company is also in discussions about a possible 50-inch model that could tackle 46/47-inch and 55-inch TV models, added sources.

The company is also optimistic about its investment in Vizio and its injection of new LCD TV models that are expected to do well in North America. More so, Vizio hopes to take advantage of promotions during the Summer Olympics along with government subsidies for energy-efficient products that include TVs that have recently been distributed by the governments in both Taiwan and China.

Amtran plans to focus more on value-added TVs that have LED backlighting, 3D displays and Internet connectivity functions and expects the LED penetration rate to rise during 2012, according to industry sources.

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HTC posts flat revenues for June

HTC posts flat revenues for JuneMOPS, July 6; Steve Shen, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]HTC has posted consolidated revenues of NT$30 billion (US$1 billion) for June, which were on par with May, according to a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE). The monthly figures represented a decline of 33.4% from a year earlier.

Second-quarter revenues reached NT$91.03 billion, which met with the company's revised guidance of NT$91 billion set for the quarter. For the first six months of 2012, revenues amounted to NT$158.83 billion, decreasing 30.5% from a year.

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SSDs may replace HDDs to become mainstream storage in 3-5 years

SSDs may replace HDDs to become mainstream storage in 3-5 yearsEric Lin, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]The large earthquake in northeastern Japan in March 2011 and flooding in Thailand in October 2011 resulted in short supply of hard disk drives (HDDs) and therefore pushed up prices for a while, according to Digitimes Research. In contrast, the average price of solid-state drives slipped 50% in the first half of 2012, making SSDs more competitive in price against HDDs. While average storage costs for HDDs stayed at US$0.09/GB, SSDs dropped to US$0.80/GB.

In addition, growth in total storage capacity for HDDs has been decreasing, while demand for SSDs has kept increasing due to fast growing use of smartphones, tablet PCs and ultra-thin notebooks.

SSDs have potential to replace HDDs to become the mainstream storage medium in 3-5 years, Digitimes Research forecast.

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HP, Dell to launch 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet PCs in 4Q12

HP, Dell to launch 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet PCs in 4Q12Monica Chen, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Dell will launch 10.1-inch Windows RT tablet PCs equipped with processors developed by Texas Instruments and Qualcomm respectively in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to supply chain makers.

In addition to the two US-based brand vendors, Lenovo, Toshiba and Asustek Computer are all preparing to release Windows RT-based tablet PCs.

Meanwhile, although Acer is preparing to release Windows 8-based tablet PCs, the company currently has no plans to launch Windows RT-based models in 2012, while Sony and Samsung Electronics are turning conservative about developing Windows RT-based tablet PCs, according to the two firms' current component supply status.

The sources pointed out that both Windows 8- and Windows RT-based tablet PCs are expected to be priced starting from US$599 and could go as high as US$1,000, while the machines' major competition will be Apple; however, the sources hope the tablet PC competition will no longer revolve around price and instead attract demand from enterprise users and consumers that are used to the Windows operating system and its strong software compatibility.

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Radiant reports record high revenues in June<em> </em>

Radiant reports record high revenues in June Rebecca Kuo, Tainan; Alex Wolfgram, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]Radiant Opto-Electronics, a Taiwan-based maker of backlight units (BLUs), has set a new all-time record high in revenues during June at 7.68 billion (US$257 million), giving the company accumulated revenues at NT$21.3 billion during the second quarter.

Radiant reported 9.78 million in notebook shipments, up 1.3 million units from May along with 80 million CCFL shipments and 5.83 million small- and medium-sized panel shipments.

In addition, the company's backlighting and spare parts shipments both saw record highs, with backlighting at 12.31 million units and spare parts at 4.19 million.

Radiant's June consolidated revenues were a 10.96% on-month increase and are expected to increase in the third quarter with growing tablet, smartphone and PC demand.

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Taiwan June CPI up slightly

Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES, Taipei [Friday 6 July 2012]Taiwan's June 2012 consumer price index (CPI) of 109.27 (2006 as base year) rose 0.64% on month and 1.77% on year, while the corresponding wholesale price index (WPI) of 110.52% decreased 1.06% on month and 1.70% on year, according to statistics released by the Directorate-General Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) on July 5.

For January-June 2012, the average CPI of 108.03 and average WPI of 112.24 rose 1.47% and 0.45% respectively on year, DGBAS indicated.

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Kinko June revenues down sequentially

Kinko June revenues down sequentiallyMOPS, July 6; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]Kinko Optical, a Taiwan-based maker of molded glass optical lenses, on July 6 reported consolidated revenues of NT$585 million (US$19.5 million) for June, slipping 2.14% on month but rising 22.54% on year. January-June consolidated revenues of NT$3.155 billion grew 22.28% on year.

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Chilisin posts 12% sales growth in 2Q12

Chilisin posts 12% sales growth in 2Q12Patty Wang, Taipei; Steve Shen, DIGITIMES [Friday 6 July 2012]Chilisin Electronics, which makes inductors and power chokes, has announced consolidated revenues of NT$935 million (US$31.3 million) for the second quarter of 2012, increasing 12% from the previous quarter.

For June alone, revenues amounted to NT$292 million, down 9% on month but up 1.6% on year. The company attributed the sequential decline to inventory checks at clients.

Industry sources expect Chilisin to post a gross margin of over 20% in the second quarter of 2012 due to a relocation of its production lines of its plant in China. First-quarter gross margin stood at 18.2%, an improvement of 3pp from the previous quarter, according to company data.

Chilisin is conservative about the business outlook for the second half of 2012 due to global economic uncertainty, said the company, adding that its order visibility currently extends to only 1-2 months.

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Dell Inspiron I15RSE-6167BK

 

The Dell Inspiron I15RSE-6167BK is one of the Special Edition models from the recently released laptop maker’s 15R 2012 series for consumers.

Unlike the standard plastic-clad Inspiron 15R, the Special Edition sports anodized aluminum palm rests and lid with precision-etched honeycomb design. In addition, the SE has a full HD 1080p display instead of a 728p one, a dedicated video card, and keyboard backlight.

Since this a newly launched laptop, it’s not surprise that it comes with the latest computing technology. The Dell I15RSE-6167BK is built around the quad-core 3rd Generation i7-3612QM processor and the AMD Radeon HD 7730M 2GB video card, so it’s a higher-end configuration. The included i7 CPU is an entry quad-core model, since Intel has in its product line faster chips from the same family, such as the 3720QM and 3820QM. But, even the lower-end i7 part delivers respectable computing potential with a Passmark score of 7,927 points. It beats its i5 counter part, the i5-3210M with 3,654 points, by a large margin, with the almost twice better result.

The Radeon HD 7730 is a basic part from the 7700 series, based on the latest GPU technology by AMD called Graphics Core Next. For more info about the graphics card you can check out this page on NotebookCheck, which shows that the 7730 is in 3DMark 11 benchmark about 13 percent faster than the older Radeon HD 6770M and 10 percent slower than Nvidia’s GeForce GT 640M.

Other than CPU and GPU, the entertainment-oriented Dell Inspiron I15RSE-6167BK packs 8GB of DDR3 memory, which is more than sufficient for virtually any computing task and multitasking, as well as a spacious 750GB hard drive. The HDD is not only big, but it also spins fast at 7,200rpm. The included optical drive is a DVD burner.

The 6167BK configuration costs $950.

Dell Inspiron I15RSE-6167BK Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch 1080p, TrueLife – glossyProcessor: 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3612QM – quad-core 2.1GHz default and up to 3.1GHz via TurboBoost, 6MB cacheGraphics: AMD Radeon HD 7730 2GB (most likely DDR3 type)Memory: 8GB DDR3 1,600MHzStorage: 750GB at 7,200rpmOptical Drive: DVD burnerWebcam: 1MP with digital microphoneAudio: 2 x 2W stereo speakers, Waves MaxxAudio 4.0Network: 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Ethernet LAN,Input: chiclet-style backlight keyboard, no numeric pad, multitouch trackpadPorts and Slots: 4 x USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4a, VGA, 8-in-1 media card readerBattery: 6-cell 48WHr Li-Ion batteryDimensions: 1.3 x 14.9 x 9.9 inchesWeight: 6.1 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-year

View the original article here

HP g7-1368dx

 

The HP g7-1368dx from the Pavilion g-series budget notebook line is a desktop replacement machine with a 17.3-inch display, the A6-3420M quad-core processor with Radeon HD 6520G integrated graphics, a 500GB hard drive, and 4GB of RAM.

Except the screen and dimensions, the specifications of the HP g7-1368dx are almost identical to those of the 15.6-inch g6-1d98dx. The former doesn’t have only a larger screen diagonal, but also the resolution is 1600×900 instead of 1366×768. The trade-off is a bulkier and heavier case than on the g6. The g7-1368dx measures 6.1 lbs, almost one pound heavier than the 5.2-pound g6. So, it isn’t easy to tote the 17.3-incher around. However, thickness of both notebooks is 1.4 inches.

In addition, the g7-1368dx likely has a shorter battery life, since larger screens consume more power and both systems ship with 6-cell batteries.

We said the specs are “almost” identical, because the g7 has built-in Bluetooth, which lacks on the g6 model.

Anyway, the Pewter-colored 1368dx is a good solution for laptop shoppers looking for a larger than standard screen size and affordable price. The notebook costs $430 and is $50 more expensive than the 15.6? variant.

For more info on performance of the A6-3420M and its graphics, you can check out the related overview of the g6-1d98dx. You can also take a look at an Intel i3-based 17.3? config, the g7-1338dx.

HP g7-1368dx Specifications

Display: 17.3-inch LED-backlight 1600×900 resolution, BrightView (glossy)Processor: AMD Quad-Core A6-3420M “Llano”, 1.5-2.4GHz, 4MB L2 cacheGraphics: AMD Radeon HD 6520G integratedMemory: 4GB DDR3Storage: 500GB 5,400rpmOptical Drive: DVD burnerWebcam: YesAudio: Stereo speakers, SRS Premium SoundNetwork: 802.11n wireless, Ethernet LAN, BluetoothInput: keyboard with numeric pad, multi-touch trackpadPorts and Slots: 3 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, multi-in-one media card reader,Battery: 6-cellDimensions: 1.4 x 16.2 x 10.6 inchesWeight: 6.1 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-year

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Asus U47A-BGR4

 

The Asus U47A-BGR4 is one of the U47 configurations and it has arrived in the US market recently.

The elegant silver aluminum-topped 14? slim-bezel notebook which belongs to the thin-and-light category. The Asus U47A-BGR4 in particular is powered by the 2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2640M processor, although Asustek officially says the U47 comes with the 3rd Gen. Anyway, the i7-2640M has better specs than the i5 chips, but on the other side it has only two cores whereas the most of the i7 CPUs have four. The i7-2640M has 4,091 PassMark score, while the fastest 2nd Gen i5 scores 3,836. However, if you want the 3rd Gen i7 variant, there are U47 models with the dual-core i7-3520M, which leaves the other CPUs behind with its 4,791 points. Apart from the CPU-only power, the newer chip has the integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, replacing the much slower HD 3000, so in the graphics field the performance boost is significant.

The 4.4-pound U47A-BGR4 comes with a 750GB 5,400rpm hard drive, but this notebook series is also available with the same HDD capacity, but increased 7,200rpm rotational speed. RAM amount is respectable 8GB and unlike many laptops from the thin-and-light category, this one does have a built-in DVD burner.

When compared to some other configurations, the BGR4 has a few extras, namely Intel Wireless Display technology and Bluetooth.

Asus U47A-BGR4 Specifications

Display: 14-inch 1366×768 pixels, not specified if it’s glossy or anti-glare
Processor: 2nd Generation dual-core Intel Core i7-2640M (2.8-3.5GHz, 4MB L3 cache)
Graphics: Intel HD 3000 integrated
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1,333MHz, two memory slots
Storage: 750GB at 5,400rpm
Optical Drive: DVD burner
Webcam: 0.3MP
Audio: Stereo speakers, Realtek Audio
Network: 802.11n Wireless, Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth 4.0, WiDi (Intel Wireless Display)
Input: Chiclet keyboard, no numeric pad, multi-touch one-piece trackpad
Ports and Slots: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, HDMI, 3-in-1 media card reader
Battery: 6-cell, not speficied if its 5,200mAh or 5,900mAh
Dimensions: 12.9 x 8.86 x 0.98-1.21 inches
Weight: 4.4 pounds
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
Warranty: 1-year or 2-year (different by country)

Link: bit.ly/Ma7ywp

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Dell XPS 15 L521X

 

The Dell XPS 15 laptop for 2012 wears L521X model name.

The XPS 15 L521X 0.91-inch thin aluminum notebook with a 15.6-inch screen competes against the HP Envy 6, MacBook Pro 15, and other thin and stylish laptops. It comes with the 3rd Generation Intel Core processors. The offered Ivy Bridge CPUs include the dual-core i5-3210M and quad-core i7-3612QM, with Passmark scores of 3,654 and 7,927 points, respectively. Graphics is displayed on a 15.6? 1080p 350-nit display with edge-to-edge Gorilla glass, with help of Nvidia’s GT 630M or 640M dedicated video cards. The notebook has up to 1TB of traditional HDD storage and up to 16GB of RAM. The specs reveal that the laptop is offered with additional miniCard SSD with 32 – 128GB capacity for faster system boot ups and resumes, as well as a built-in DVD burner or Blu-ray combo drive. The battery used in the 2012 XPS 15 is a nine-cell 65WHr unit instead of a usual six-cell one, and the notebook also has optionally built-in Trusted Platform Module.

Regarding design, the Dell XPS 15 L521X is mostly covered with silver machined aluminum. It’s curiosity that silicon is used for the base of the notebook in order to provide a cooler operation. The soft-touch paint-topped palm rests are made of magnesium and the keyboard has black chiclet keys with backlight. The keyboard is spill-resistant, which is a plus and not so common on entertainment notebooks, and it’s accompanied by a glass touchpad with no physical click buttons.

Since it’s multimedia oriented, one would expect the L521X to have a premium sound system, but it comes with 2 x 2W stereo speakers only, with no subwoofer. However, Waves MaxxAudio 4 technology is there to enhance the sound.

The prices start at $1,300.

Dell XPS 15 L521X Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch 1080p, 350-nit brightness, Truelife (glossy)Processor: 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3210M (dual-core, 2.5-3.1GHz, 3MB cache) or i7-3612QM (quad-core, 2.1-3.1GHz, 6MB cache)Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 630M with 1GB GDDR5 VRAM or GT 640M with 2GB GDDR5 VRAMMemory: Up to 16GB DDR3 1600MHz MemoryStorage: Up to 1TB hard drive at 5,400rpm or up to 750GB at 7,200rpm, miniCard SSD 32-128GBOptical Drive: DVD writer or Blu-ray Combo drive, slot-loadWebcam: 1.3MP, dual array digital microphonesAudio: Stereo speakers 2W x 2, Waves MaxxAudio 4Network: 802.11a/g/n wireless, Ethernet LAN, Bluetooth 4.0, Intel Wireless DisplayInput: Backlit chiclet-style spill-resistant keyboard; glass multi-touch trackpadPorts and Slots: 3 x USB 3.0, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, 3-in-1 media card reader,Battery: 9-cell 65WHr Li-Polymer batteryDimensions: 0.91? x 14.6? x 9.8?Weight: Starting at 5.8 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-year

The whole Dell XPS laptop line is oriented toward entertainment and multimedia use. The current generation of 15.6? XPS notebooks include the standard-sized L502x and the XPS 15z with a 0.97? thin profile.

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Dell XPS15-1591

 

The Dell XPS15-1591 is one of the lower-end models from the 2012 XPS 15 L521X 15.6-inch premium notebook series.

The configuration in question boasts the 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3210M dual-core processor which doesn’t deliver such great performance like the same notebook available with the quad i7-3620QM. In Passmark benchmark test, the i5-3210M is more than twice less powerful than the i7 with 3,654 versus 7,927 points, but in real world use the i5 is more than sufficient for day-to-day tasks and media playback and creation.

For most of the consumers, the video card name NVIDIA N13P-GV, listed in the XPS15-1591 specs sheets at some retailers, may be confusing. The N13P-GV is actually the codename of the Nvidia GeForce GT 630M, which includes 1GB of GDDR5 memory and belongs to the previous-gen “Fermi” GPU family. Other than the 630M, the latest XPS 15 is also offered with the faster GT 640M 2GB GDDR5 based on this year’s “Kepler” family, so in this field the 1591 config again uses a lower-end component. Both video cards have a 128-bit memory interface and are capable of playing many of the latest game titles at low-to-mid detail settings at lower resolutions. However, the 640M is based on the newer energy-efficient technology which delivers a better performance-per-watt ratio.

No matter which GPU is used, all of the XPS 15 configurations ship with a full HD screen, which is protected by a seamless piece of Gorilla Glass and has an above average brightness of 350- or 300-nits, depending on source of the specifications.

Storage space and RAM are in entry class when compared to other configurations and provide a capacity of 500GB and 6GB, respectively. But, the HDD spins at 7,200rpm, up from the usual 5,400rpm rotational speed and is supplemented by a 32GB mSATA solid state drive for fast Windows boot-ups and resumes.

One of the selling points of the Dell XPS15-1591 for multimedia enthusiasts is the included Blu-ray Combo optical drive, instead of the commonly used DVD burner. Another non-standard feature on the notebook is Intel WiDi technology for wireless video streams to external monitors and TVs.

The Dell XPS15-1591 is priced at $1,200.

For info on its design and other details and options you can check out our post about the whole XPS 15 L521X line, while for the full specs of the particular model you can take a look at the list below.

Dell XPS15-1591 Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch 1080p glossy, 350-nit brightness according to Dell.com, 300-nit according to BestBuy.com, Gorilla edge-to-edge glassProcessor: 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3210M (dual-core, 2.5-3.1GHz, 3MB cache)Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 630M (N13P-GV) with 1GB GDDR5 VRAMMemory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHzStorage: 500GB HDD at 5,400rpm, 32GB mSATA SSDOptical Drive: Slot-load Blu-ray Combo driveWebcam: 1.3MPAudio: Stereo speakers, Waves MaxxAudio 4Network: 802.11a/g/n wireless, Ethernet LAN, Bluetooth 4.0, Intel Wireless DisplayInput: Backlit chiclet-style spill-resistant keyboard; glass multi-touch trackpadPorts and Slots: 3 x USB 3.0, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, 3-in-1 media card readerBattery: 9-cell according to Dell.com, 6-cell according to BestBuy.comDimensions: 0.91 x 14.6 x 9.8 inchesWeight: 5.9 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-Year

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HP Envy 15t-3200 (2012, Ivy Bridge)

 

The HP Envy 15t-3200 is the newest version of Hewlett-Packard’s 15-inch premium consumer notebook PC, packing the 3rd Generation Intel Core “Ivy Bridge” processors.

Design of the Envy 15 remained the same. The MacBook Pro-like Windows laptop has a slick silver aluminum body with a 1.1? thickness, red-accented analog volume rocker housed on the right side, a red line surrounding the black chiclet keyboard with backlight, and a dark gray lid. Rounding off on-body bits, there’s also a spacious one-piece trackpad while the display is covered with edge to edge glass. So, the notebook still uses the design refreshed back in late 2011, as well as display options including a 1366×768 panel or a full HD IPS one.

Internal specs-wise, the configurable HP Envy 15t-3200 can be purchased with the 3rd-gen Intel Core i5-3210M with two cores or the quad-core i7-3610QM, i7-3720QM, and i7-3820QM. Graphics is powered by the 1GB Radeon HD 7750M GDDR5 and the system is backed by DDR3 1600MHz memory, up to 16GB. The i5 CPU is sufficient for day-to-day tasks and multimedia, with a Passmark score of 3,795, while for media creation and gaming we recommend one of the i7 chips scoring more than 8,300 points. Speaking of gaming, the Radeon 7750M is a mid-range GPU from the recently unveiled Graphics Core Next AMD line. According to multiple 3D Mark 11 benchmark tests, the GPU paired with one of the i7 “Ivy Bridge” chips scores between about 2,000 to 2,200 points. With these results, the 7750M deliver performance similar to the Nvidia GeForce GT 640M.

Internal storage consists of a single drive, either with up to 1TB of mechanical HDD capacity or up to 300GB in solid state drive variant. It’s weird that the Envy 15 as a top-of-the-line entertainment notebook by HP doesn’t provide any Blu-ray drive option. Customers are offered with DVD burner as the only choice.

However, the laptop packs a powerful internal sound system with six speakers, subwoofer, and Beats Audio technology, as well as a 720p web camera, Intel Wireless Display technology, and support for up to two external displays via HDMI and DisplayPort.

The HP Envy 15t-3200 currently starts at $1,100 and the company also offers a 17.3? “Ivy Bridge” version for $1,250 and up.

HP Envy 15t-3200 Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch 1366×768 Brightview or Full HD Infinity (IPS), glossyProcessor: 3rd generation Intel Core i5-3210M (dual core, 2.5-3.1GHz, 3MB L3 cache), i7-3610QM (2.3-3.3GHz, 6MB L3 cache), i7-3720QM Processor (2.6-3.6GHz, 6MB L3 Cache), i7-3820QM Processor (2.7-3.7GHz, 8MB L3 Cache)Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 7750M with 1GB GDDR5 dedicated VRAMMemory: 6 – 16GB DDR3 1,600MHz, 2 DIMM slotsStorage: Up to 1TB at 5,400rpm, up to 750GB at 7,200rpm, up to 750GB hybrid HDD at 7,200rpm, 256GB or 300GB solid state driveOptical Drive: DVD burnerWebcam: 720pAudio: six-speaker sound system, subwoofer, Beats AudioNetwork: Wireless-N, Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth, optional Wireless DisplayInput: chiclet keyboard, auto backlight adjustment, no numeric pad, multi-touch trackpadPorts and Slots: 3 x USB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort, dual headphone out, 2-in-1 card readerBattery: 8-cell Li-Ion, up to 10.25 hours according to specs, up to 9 hours according to product descriptionDimensions: 14.96 x 9.6 x 1.11 inchesWeight: 5.79 lbsOS: Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or UltimateWarranty: 2-year

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ASUS A73E-AS31 17.3″ Laptop PC

 

The Asus A73E-AS31 is an everyday-use laptop PC with a remarkable screen size of 17.3 inches. Although the screen resolution is non full-HD, topping at 1600×900 pixels, the panel does provide more space on Windows desktop, in web browser, and other apps than notebooks with the most popular screen diagonal of 15.6 inches.

The included dual-core Intel i3-2350M processor runs at maximal 2.3GHz. If you want more computing performance when required by software, you should take a look at laptops with some of the i5 and i7 chips with TurboBoost technology which dynamically overclocks the default CPU speeds. In any case, the i3-2350M is faster than all popular Intel Pentium processors and competes against mid-range AMD A-series quad-core chips.

Passmark CPU Benchmark Scores

Intel Core i5-2410M – 3362
Intel Core i3-2350M – 2,954
AMD A8-3550MX APU – 2,779
Intel Pentium B960 – 2,127

However, its integrated on-CPU graphics, the Intel HD 3000, doesn’t shine in terms of 3D performance, so you can expect to have any serious gaming frame rates on the Asus A73E-AS31.

The laptop also has 4GB of DDR3 RAM and an above average spacious 750GB HDD.

Asus’ laptop is made of Mocha brown-colored plastics, with anti-slip texture on the lid and a finish resembling brushed metal on the palm rests which sit below a full-size black chiclet keyboard with numeric pad. True, the product belongs to the 2011 lineup, so  comparable 2012 Asus laptops will deliver a more modern look when they hit the market soon, but also higher price tags.

The Asus A73E-AS31 is inexpensive, with a current price of $530 at Amazon.

ASUS A73E-AS31 Specifications

Display: 17.3-inch HD+ (1600×900)
Processor and Graphics: Intel Core i3-2350M (2.3GHz) with Intel HD 3000
RAM: 4GB DDR3 1,333MHz
HDD: 750GB at 5,400rpm
ODD: DVD burner
Audio: Stereo speakers by Altec Lansing,
Webcam: 0.3MP
Networking: Wireless-N, Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth 3.0
Ports and Slots: 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x VGA, 3-in-1 media card reader
Battery: 6-cell
Dimensions: 15.2 x 10.2 x 1.4 inches
Weight: 5.72 pounds
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
Warranty: 1-year standard plus 1-year Accidental Damage Protection

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HP m6-1035dx

 

Today we will take a look at the HP m6-1035dx notebook. It’s an AMD powered model from the latest Pavilion m6 series, featuring a 15.6-inch display size and a slim aluminum design.

The main difference between the HP m6-1035dx Pavilion and other models are its core components. The laptop comes with the AMD Quad-Core A10-4600M Accelerated Processor with AMD Radeon HD 7660G graphics from the chip maker’s latest “Trinity” processor family. Other CPUs used in the m6 systems are the lower-end AMD Quad-Core A8-4500M coupled with the dedicated AMD Radeon HD 7670M video card in some models and the Intel Core i5-3210M dual-core CPU which is by default paired with the HD 7670M.

Here’s a quick PassMark comparison of the available CPUs and GPUs on the Pavilion m6:

AMD A10-4600M quad-core 2.3-3.2GHz, 4MB L2 cache: 5,223 pointsAMD A8-4500M quad-core 1.9-2.8GHz, 4MB L2 cache: 4,474 pointsIntel Core i5-3210M dual-core 2.6-3.0GHz, 3MB L3 cache: 3,654 pointsRadeon HD 7660G (A10-4600M): 653 pointsRadeon HD 7640G (A8-4500M): no data available, it very likely slightly slower than the 7660GAMD Radeon HD 7670M 2GB dedicated: 854 points

According to these results, the m6-1035dx should be faster than other models, except in the graphics department where systems with dedicated graphics have advantage.

Other than the AMD “Trinity” APU, the laptop has 6GB of DDR3 memory, a 640GB hard disk drive at 5,400rpm, and a DVD burner. The official battery life estimation is up to nine hours, which is exceptional if it’s accurate. But, nine hours is the most likely achieved with the lightest possible laptop use and lowest screen brightness.

It’s worth noting that this system comes with keyboard backlight, which is not present on every model. It comes in black color, whereas a silver chassis is used on some other configurations.

The HP m6-1035dx is priced at $600.

HP m6-1035dx Specifications

Display: 15.6? LED-backlit 1366×768 pixelsProcessor: AMD Quad-Core A10-4600M 2.3-3.2GHz, 4MB L2 cacheGraphics: AMD Radeon HD 7660G on-CPU graphicsMemory: 6GB DDR3Storage: 640GB 5,400rpmOptical Drive: DVD writerWebcam: HP TrueVision with micAudio: stereo speakers and subwoofer, Beats AudioNetwork: 802.11n wireless, Gigabit LAN, no BluetoothInput: Chiclet keyboard with numeric pad and backlight, multi-touch trackpadPorts and Slots: 3 USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, media card readerBattery: Up to 9 hoursDimensions: 14.9? x 9.9? x 1?Weight: 5.3 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-year

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Dell I15R-2106SLV

 

The Dell I15R-2106SLV, one of the Inspiron 15R 5520 configurations, is now on sale. It packs the 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3210M processor, which is a middle-of-the-road model in the latest 3rd Gen “Ivy Bridge” CPU line. Scoring 3,913 PassMark points, the dual-core i5-3210M is way slower than the quad-core i7-3612QM with a score of 7,730 in the same benchmark. But, the i5 is sufficient for routine computing tasks, as well as media creation and it’s still faster than the 2nd Gen i3-2370M (3,242 points), which can be found in some other Inspiron 15R 5220 configurations. A newer CPU generation usually means a longer battery life, and that’s the case here also. According to the official data, the battery life is more than 6 and a half hours long. True, that run time is likely achieved with heavy use of battery saving system options, so you can expect less autonomy in the real life.

The CPU is a mid-range one, but storage space and RAM memory are maximal for this notebook series, with capacities of 1 Terabyte and 8GB, respectively.

For more info on the design and features of the I15R-2106SLV, you can check out the overview of the whole 15R 5520 line. Here we can say the model in question comes in Moon Silver color. If you are interested in a 5520 notebook, but want to see brushed aluminum instead of plastics on it, you can check out the Special Edition Dell Inspiron I15RSE-6167BK.

Normally, the former is cheaper, with a $650 price tag.

You can take a look on the full specs list for the 2106SLV below:

Dell I15R-2106SLV Specifications

Display: 15.6? glare-type at 1366×768 pixels, 200-nit brightnessProcessor: 3rd Gen Intel Core i5-3210M dual-core (3M Cache, 2.5-3.1GHz)RAM: 8GB DDR3 1,600MHzHDD: 1TB at 5,400rpmODD: DVD burnerAudio: Stereo speakers, Waves MaxxAudio 3 technologyWebcam: 1MPNetworking: 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet LANPorts and Slots: 4 x USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4a, VGA, 8-in-1 card readerBattery: 6-cell 48WHr Li-Ion battery, “up to 6 hours and 33 minutes”Dimensions: 14.88” x 1.18?-1.34? x 9.92?Weight: 6.1 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-year

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Dell Inspiron 15R 5520 Overview

 

The Dell Inspiron 15R 5520 is the newest version of the company’s 15.6-inch mainstream notebook for consumers.

The successor of the 15R 5510 comes with a completely overhauled design and new processor options, but the switchable lid is still present, allowing users to change display panel’s rear size to their liking with various lid design choices available. What’s also new is presence of USB 3.0 technology. The notebook has a rounded appearance and it somewhat resembles the design of the premium-class XPS laptops. However, the Dell Inspiron 15R 5520 is still only a budget notebook made of plastics and without a dedicated video card option. But, it does look nice, at least on the Dell’s product pages. We have noticed that the keyboard appears to be identical to the one used on the previous model.

 

The laptop is currently offered with both 2nd “Sandy Bridge” and 3rd “Ivy Bridge” Generation Intel Core processors, namely the dual-core i3-2370M, dual-core i5-3210M, and i7-3612QM with four cores. RAM amount choices are 6 and 8 Gigabytes, while for data storage customers can have up to 1 Terabyte of capacity.

The 15.6? 1366×768 display is True-Life, which means glossy.

The standard-sized 15R 5520, measuring 1.34? in profile and weighing about six pounds, has enough room to accommodate a DVD burner or optionally Blu-ray player or writer. The camera has a 1MP sensor, the speakers are stereo, and there’s an HDMI port besides four USB 3.0 connectors.

You can purchase the notebook now via the manufacturer’s website, but it is also expected to hit the shelves of various retailers soon. The starting price is $549.

The Dell Inspiron 15R 5520 is a kind of an important notebook model, since its 15.6? inexpensive class is the best selling on the market and Dell is still one of the biggest notebook vendors, despite a decline of their market share.

Dell Inspiron 15R 5520 Specifications

Processor and Graphics: 2nd Gen Intel Core i3-2370M dual-core (3M Cache, 2.4 GHz), with Intel HD 3000 graphics; 3rd Gen Intel Core i5-3210M dual-core (3M Cache, up to 3.1 GHz) or i7-3612QM quad-core (6M Cache, up to 3.1 GHz), with Intel HD 4000
RAM: 6GB or 8GB DDR3 1,600MHz
HDD: from 500GB to 1TB at 5,400rpm
ODD: DVD burner, Blu-ray Combo, Blu-ray writer
Audio: Stereo speakers, Waves MaxxAudio 3 technology
Webcam: 1MP
Networking: 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet LAN
Ports and Slots: 4 x USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4a, VGA, 8-in-1 card reader
Battery: 6-cell 48WHr Li-Ion Battery
Dimensions: 14.88” x 1.18?-1.34? x 9.92?
Weight: 6.05 lbs or more
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
Warranty: 1-year

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Toshiba Satellite C855

The Toshiba Satellite C855 is the latest version of the value-class C-series 15.6-inch laptop.

Packing the Intel Pentium, Celeron, Core i3, and Core i5 processors from the 2011 “Sandy Bridge” CPU family and without a dedicated video card option except the entry-level AMD 7610M 1GB on one of the offered configurations, the C855 is rather oriented toward money savings than performance computing, which is one of the main selling points of the Satellite P and S series. The Toshiba Satellite C855 isn’t as classy looking either, with plastics as dominant material used instead of aluminum on the P and S Satellites. It is available in a choice of red, white, black or silver gloss finishes with a stylish crossline pattern, textured palm-rest and tiled keyboard.

However, the C855 offers plenty of storage with up to 1TB of space which is the maximum for all single-HDD laptops on the market today. RAM memory capacity is 4 or 6 Gigabytes, depending on configuration. As expected, the screen resolution is widely used 1366×768 pixels and the screen coating is glossy.

With its starting weight of 5.1 pounds, the notebook is on the lighter end of the affordable 15.6-inch category. Thickness measures 1.3 inches and the battery life lasts for up to 5 hours and 30 minutes.

When it comes to connectivity, there’s a standard set of ports and slots including HDMI and USB 3.0, as well as Wireless-N, Ethernet LAN, and Bluetooth.

The only review we have found so far for the C855 is by Trusted Reviews. They find the notebook to have a solid built, practical and unsurprising design, and capable of completing casual computing tasks. The main downside is the mediocre keyboard with shallow and slightly indistinct key action.

Toshiba Satellite C855 Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch 1,366 x 768 TruBrite (glossy)Processor: Intel Celeron B815, Intel Pentium B950 and B960, Intel Core i3-2350M and i5 -2450M, all with dual cores, “Sandy Bridge” generationGraphics: Intel HD and HD 3000 integratedMemory: Up to 6GB DDR3 at 1,333MHz, two memory slotsStorage: Up to 1 Terabyte at 5,400rpmOptical Drive: DVD burnerWebcam: 1.0MP HD Web Camera (1,280 x 800) with built-in microphoneAudio: built-in stereo speakers with SRS Premium Sound HDInput: Chiclet keyboard with numeric pad, multi-touch trackpadNetwork: Wi-Fi 802.11n, Ethernet LAN, optional BluetoothPorts and Slots: 1 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, multi-in-1 card readerBattery: lithium-ion, up to 5,5 hours measured in Mobile Mark 2007Dimensions: 14.96 x 9.53 x 1.32 inchesWeight: 5.07 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-year

You can check out how one of the models look like in the unboxing video below:

Toshiba also offers an AMD version of the notebook, called the C855D.

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Toshiba Satellite S855

The Toshiba Satellite S855 is the 15.6-inch member of the new S-series family. The company has on offer the budget Satellite C and L series and the “performance” P series, while the S Satellites offer fashionable style and is aimed at entertainment enthusiasts.

The elegant brushed aluminum-topped design of the S855 in Ice Blue color is complemented with a spacious trackpad surrounded by a chrome-like edges and a black raised tile style keyboard. The notebook’s 15.6-inch screen is a glossy one, which generally speaking does suffer from glare, but on the other side gives better contrast and more vivid colors when compared to the anti-glare displays. That’s Toshiba’s unsurprising choice, since watching movies is an important purpose of the notebook. For some users, it might be disappointing that this laptop doesn’t have keyboard backlight, which is present on the 2012 P-series.

Not all specifications of the Toshiba Satellite S855 are known. The company has announced that the S-series will include the 3rd Generation Intel Core processors or the latest AMD chips, with AMD dedicated graphics as an option. However, we have found only two models on the US market – the S855-S5254 and S855-S5264, both with the 3rd Gen Intel Core i7 3610QM quad-core processor, 8GB RAM and a 1,366-by-768 pixel resolution. It is not known if there will be higher-res models available, but we don’t think so, because Toshiba usually sticks to 768p panels on the 15.6” consumer notebooks. The former model runs on the Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics and has a 750GB hard drive, a DVD burner, and $800 price tag, while the latter comes with the AMD Radeon HD 7670M 2GB GPU, 1TB HDD, and a Blu-ray combo drive. It costs $950.

The laptops have stereo speakers with SRS Premium Sound HD technology, HDMI and VGA video outputs, a pair of USB 3.0 and a USB 2.0 port, Bluetooth, and a multi-in-one media card reader.

The battery life is up to five hours on the S855-S5254 and up to four hours and 38 minutes on the S855-S5264.

The notebooks weigh about five and a half pounds and measure 1.14-1.31 inches in profile.

Besides the 15.6-incher, Toshiba also plans to release the notebook in the more compact 14? and desktop replacement 17.3? form factors.

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Sony SVE15115FXS Vaio

The Sony SVE15115FXS from the consumer-oriented Vaio E laptop series is one of the middle-of-the-road configurations, touting a 15.5-inch display, the 3rd Generation Intel Core i5 processor, integrated graphics, 6GB of RAM, and a 750GB hard drive.

Sony’s Vaio range is well known for its nice design, even on the non-premium models, such as those belonging to the E-series. With a 1.39? thick chassis, the laptop uses the new “wrap” design, which you can see on the included images. The material used for the body is plastics, but there are also models in the 2012 E line with aluminum lids. However, the SVE15115FXS has one premium-like on-body feature – a backlight keyboard, with light emphasizing both key letters and key borders for an accurate typing experience.

This particular configuration in sliver color is focused not only on day-to-day computing tasks but also media creation, while for gaming the integrated HD 4000 is not an optimal choice. The 4000 is way better than the previous HD 3000, but lags behind many AMD and Nvidia video cards in gaming tests. For that, Sony has on offer configurations with the AMD Radeon HD 7550M mid-range dedicated GPUs with 1GB or 2GB of VRAM.

The used i5-3210M processor from the latest Ivy Bridge family generally outranks the corresponding 2nd gen i5s in benchmarks, but for more computing power you can check out some of available models with the i7-3612QM quad-core. The above average amounts of RAM and HDD capacity, 6GB and 750GB, add more value to the notebook, priced at about $680 and at that price point you can hardly find a laptop with a backlight keyboard.

Sony SVE15115FXS Vaio Specifications

Display: 15.5-inch 1366×768 LED-backlightProcessor: 3rd Generation Intel Core i5-3210M dual-core 2.6-3.0GHz, 3MB L3 cacheGraphics: Intel HD 4000 integratedMemory: 6GB DDR3 1,333MHz (4GB + 2GB), expandable to 8GB, support for 1,600MHz RAM availableStorage: 750GB 5,400rpm HDDOptical Drive: DVD writerWebcam: 1.3MP Exmor sensorAudio: Stereo speakers, xLOUD and Clear Phase technologyNetwork: 802.11n wireless, Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth 4.0Input: Chiclet keyboard with backlight, numeric pad, large multi-touch trackpadPorts and Slots: 1 x USB 3.0, 3 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, 2-in-1 card readerBattery: 400mAh, up to 5.5 hours battery lifeDimensions: 1-1.39? x 14.65? x 9.99?Weight: 5.97 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-year

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Lenovo IdeaPad Z580

The Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 is a 15.6-inch model from their 2012 Z-series entertainment notebook line.

The IdeaPad Z580 is powered by the latest 3rd Generation Intel Core processors, but the notebook is currently also offered with the 2nd-gen Core chips. There are various configurations available with the 3rd Gen “Ivy Bridge” i7-3612QM quad-core or the 2nd Gen “Sandy Bridge” i5-2450M and i3-2370M dual-core CPU models. All of the available models ship with the Intel HD integrated graphics only, but Lenovo has announced that the notebook will also sport the Nvidia GeForce GT 640M 2GB dedicated video card. RAM and HDD capacity go up to 8GB and 1TB respectively, while the optical drive options are DVD burner or Blu-ray combo.

Design-wise, this at-home laptop solution offers a quite different exterior depending on model. Some configurations have brushed-aluminum lids in gray color, while the other Z580 models come with white or red plastic LCD back. In both cases the base is made of plastics and the keyboard used here is the AccuType, with a numeric keypad on the right of the main keyboard area. That’s a chiclet-style keyboard with ergonomically shaped keys. A turn off for some is maybe absence of keyboard backlight. In Lenovo’s notebook portfolio, that feature is reserved for select models in the more premium IdeaPad Y line.

No matter what material is used on their lids, the IdeaPad Z580 notebooks have 1.4-inch thick profiles and weigh about 5.8 pounds. It’s probably a little too heavy to take around with you on daily basis, but on the other side it’s a standard weight for a laptop of this form factor.

Besides the new core components and overhauled design, the Z580 brings connectivity improvement over the Z570, thanks to the USB 3.0 technology instead of 2.0.

According to Lenovo, the battery life for models with integrated graphics is up to six hours.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 starts at $559.00.

Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch 1366×768 VibrantView, glossy, LED backlight, 200-nit brightnessProcessor: Intel Core i3-2370M (2 cores / 4 threads, 2.4GHz, 3MB cache) or i5-2450M (2 cores / 4 threads, 2.5GHz-3.1GHz, 3MB cache) or i7-3612QM (4 cores / 8 threads, 2.1-3.1GHz, 6MB cache)Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 on systems with i3-2370M and i5-2450M, HD 4000 on systems with i7-3612QM, Nvidia GeForce GT 640M 2GB option expectedMemory: Up to 8GB DDR3 (1,333MHz on systems with i3-2370M and i5-2450M, 1,600MHz on systems with i7-3612QM)Storage: Up to 1TB at 5,400rpmOptical Drive: DVD burner or Blu-ray ComboWebcam: 720p 1MPAudio: Stereo speakers 2 x 2W, Dolby Home Theater, micNetwork: 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet LAN, optional WiMAX, optional WiDiInput: AccuType keyboard with numeric pad, one-piece multi-touch trackpadPorts and Slots: 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, 5-in-1 media card readerBattery: 6-cell Lithium Ion, 48Whr, max. 6 hours of battery lifeDimensions: 14.8? x 9.6? x 1.3? – 1.4?Weight: 5.84 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-year

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Samsung NP700Z5C-S01UB Overview

This is an overview of the Samsung NP700Z5C-S01UB. It’s a 15.6-inch laptop with above average specifications, but also higher price.

Besides its components are higher-end, $1,000 NP700Z5C-S01UB comes with the newest of them. The main computing is done on the 3rd Gen Intel Core i7-3615QM quad-core processor running at 2.3GHz or up to 3.3GHz if needed. Graphics is managed by NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M with 512MB of GDDR5 video memory. There is no info on Nvidia Optimus technology on this laptop, but we strongly assume it’s there. Thanks to Optimus, the laptop can run on the Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics which is located on the CPU die, but if more graphics calculations are needed, the more powerful GeForce GPU takes over the task. RAM has a capacity of 8GB and it runs at fast 1,600MHz, while for storing files the notebook packs 1TB hard drive. What’s interesting regarding this notebook is presence of 8GB of on-board flash memory, which is common in the Ultrabooks, but not in the standard laptops. The memory is called ExpressCache and is used for faster system responsiveness and speedier boot-up of Windows.

Unlike most of the 15.6-inch laptops with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels, the Samsung NP700Z5C-S01UB comes with a 1600×900 panel, also providing a high brightness of 300cd/m². The screen is an anti-glare one.

Another “above-average” feature is the notebook’s battery. Instead of a usual 6-cell unit, the laptop packs an 8-cell one. Samsung bravely claims the battery life on this system is up to “9 hours and 12 minutes”, whereas on the six-cell 15.6? laptops in its class it is about five hours.

Going further down the list of extras, we encounter its backlight keyboard, Intel Wireless Display technology, USB 3.0, a 1.3MP camera, and Bluetooth 4.0.

All of these features are encased into a silver aluminum 1? thin chassis, rounding this classy looking and capable laptop. The price of $1,000 is expensive considering so many capable notebook models averaging at about $500, but the latest CPU and graphics, large RAM and HDD, and all of the above mentioned extras, are good reason for the purchase.

Samsung NP700Z5C-S01UB Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch HD+ (1600×900) 300-nit brightness
Processor: 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3615QM quad-core, 2.3-3.3GHz
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 630M 512MB GDDR5 + Intel HD 4000 (Nvidia Optimus very likely)
RAM: 8GB DDR3 1,600MHz
HDD: 1TB at 5,400rpm, 8GB of ExpressCache flash memory
ODD: DVD burner
Audio: Stereo speakers 2 W x 2 with sub-woofer
Webcam: 1.3MP
Networking: Wireless-N, Gigabit LAN, Bluetooth 4.0, Intel WiDi
Ports and Slots: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 4-in-1 media card reader
Battery: 8-cell lithium-polymer, up to 9h and 12min of run time
Dimensions: 14.2? x 9.3? x 0.94?
Weight: 5.3 pounds
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
Warranty: 1-year standard

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Toshiba Satellite L855

The 15.6-inch Toshiba Satellite L855 is an inexpensive laptop line, but it’s still positioned a level higher in the hierarchy than the C855 with the same screen size.

Toshiba advertises the Satellite L855 as an ideal well-sized laptop for everyday computing, aimed at students, light gamers, PC shoppers with a family, as well as small or home-based businesses. The L855 comes with the 3rd Generation Intel “Ivy Bridge” processors, but there’s also legacy 2nd Gen technology offered on the lowest-end configuration. The maximal amount of RAM is up to 8GB for the 2nd Gen-powered models and up to 16GB for those with the 3rd Gen chips. Please note that this overview is for the L855 only which currently ships with the integrated Intel graphics only, while AMD CPU-based variant with dedicated AMD video card options has been also launched and it’s called L855D. The storage space goes up to 1 Terabyte and this multimedia focused notebook provides Blu-ray Combo and Blu-ray writer choices besides the default DVD burner option.

Among the most noticeable on-body changes when compared to the previous L755 is the new textured trackpad, set apart from the rest of the case with a large bezel. Basically, the L855 has the same shape as the recently overviewed Satellite S855, but the former has a case made of plastics with textured finish, while the latter sports brushed aluminum. These two are basically the same laptop, but the S855 is a kind of a higher-end variant, offered only with the quad-core Intel processors and with optional AMD dedicated graphics. Back to the design, the default chassis color choice for the L855 is Mercury Silver, but there are also Corsa Red, Cobalt Blue, and Tuxedo Black and the keyboard is a chiclet-style one. Toshiba says the chassis is fingerprint-resistant and slim, with a profile measuring 1.31 inches.

The speaker bar is located below the screen and the stereo speaker sound is enhanced with SRS Premium HD technology.

When it comes to ports and slots, the Toshiba Satellite L855 is a pretty much standard 2012 mainstream notebook offering USB 3.0 technology and HDMI.

The Toshiba Satellite L855 starts at $480. It can be configured according to a customer’s choice at ToshibaDirect.com or purchased as a preconfigured model at the same official store or via various retailers.

Toshiba Satellite L855 Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch TruBrite (glossy) with LED backlightProcessor:
2nd Generation Intel Core dual-core i3-2370M 2.4GHz 3MB L3 cache,
3rd Generation Intel Core dual-core i3-3110M 2.5GHz 3MB L3 cache, i5-3210M 2.5-3.1GHz 3MB L3 cache,
3rd Generation Intel Core quad-core i7-3610QM 2.3-3.3GHz 6MB L3 cacheGraphics: Intel HD 4000 integratedMemory: Up to 8GB DDR3 1,333MHz with i3-2370M, up to 16GB DDR3 1,600MHz with other CPUsStorage: Up to 1TB at 5,400rpmOptical Drive: DVD burner, Blu-ray Combo, Blu-ray writterWebcam: 1MPAudio: Stereo speakers, SRS Premium Sound HDNetwork: Wireless N, Gigabit LAN, optional Bluetooth 4.0Input: chiclet keyboard with numeric pad, no backlightPorts and Slots: 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0, HDMI, VGA, multi-in-one media card readerBattery: 6-cell Li-Ion 48WhDimensions: 1.14?-1.31? x 15.0? x 9.5?Weight: Starting at 5.5 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: 1-year warranty

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Lenovo B575 – 1450ALU

At a Black Friday-like price of $300, Best Buy is selling the Lenovo B575 – 1450ALU 15.6-inch notebook PC, featuring the AMD E-Series E-450 processor.

The E-450 1.65GHz dual core Fusion chip includes the Radeon HD 6320 graphics, and is paired with 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium, DVD burner, and 1366 x 768 LED-backlight screen. The included chip is sufficient for everyday web browsing, email, and document editing tasks, as well as for 1080p videos thanks to a built-in HD video decoder.

The 5.2 pound 1.3-inch thick B575 has a 0.3MP web camera, HDMI, Wi-Fi, four USB ports, and a 6-in-1 media card reader, so it’s a fully equipped laptop.

Since it’s basically an entry business-class system, it has a fingerprint reader and appropriate simple design with sharp edges and matte black surfaces.

If you add to that its quality AccuType chiclet-style keyboard with ergonomically curved keys, the Lenovo B575 – 1450ALU doesn’t look cheap at all.

Lenovo B575 – 1450ALU Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch 1366×768 LED-backlightProcessor: AMD E-450 1.65GHz Accelerated Processing UnitGraphics: AMD Radeon HD 6320 IntegratedMemory: 4GB DDR3Storage: 320GB 5,400rpmOptical Drive: DVD burnerWebcam: 0.3MPAudio: Stereo speakersNetwork: 802.11n wireless, Gigabit Ethernet LANInput: AccuType keyboard, touchpad with physical buttonsPorts and Slots: 4 x USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, VGA, 6-in-1 media card reader, fingerprint readerBattery: 6-cellDimensions: 1.3? x 14.9? x 9.9?Weight: 5.2 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: parts: 3-year limited, labor: 1-year limited

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Lenovo B570-1068BAU

We have reported recently about the AMD-powered Lenovo B575 – 1450ALU budget laptop for business users, and today we will take a look at an Intel-based variant, the Lenovo B570-1068BAU.

Both 15.6? laptops come with 4GB of RAM and a 320GB of hard drive space, which are expected amounts at the sub-$350 price point, but the B570-1068BAU packs the Intel Pentium B960 dual-core 2.2GHz processor instead of the AMD E-450. If you compare the two, you’ll find that the B960 is way better when it comes to the raw computing power, but the E-450 has better integrated graphics if you put it against the B960's Intel HD IGP. Overall, for day-to-day business and home computing tasks, the B960 is a batter choice, if you exclude gaming.

Despite its extremely cheap nature, the $330 B570-1068BAU does provide some good features such as a built-in fingerprint reader and HDMI, but Bluetooth and USB 3.0 technology are missing. However, a webcam is there and it features a basic 0.3MP sensor. Another extra feature is the included 3-year warranty for parts, up from the usual 1-year.

If you prefer a streamlined professional look rather than a glossy consumer design, the B570 can easily be the best buying choice in its price range. Of course, you can’t expect ruggedness, performance and features of the ThinkPad series, but the B570 will suite almost every computing need in home, office, and small business environments.

Lenovo B570-1068BAU Specifications

Display: 15.6-inch 1366×768Processor: Intel Pentium B960 dual-core at 2.2GHz, 2MB L3 cacheGraphics: Intel HD integratedMemory: 4GB DDR3Storage: 320GB 5,400rpm HDDOptical Drive: DVD burnerWebcam: 0.3MPAudio: Stereo speakersNetwork: Gigabit LAN, Wireless-N, no BluetoothInput: AccuType chiclet keyboard with numeric padPorts and Slots: 3 x USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, memory card reader, fingerprint readerBattery: 6-cell Li-IonDimensions: 1.3? x 14.9? x 9.9?Weight: 5.2 poundsOS: Windows 7 Home PremiumWarranty: Parts 3 years, labor 1 year

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Linux distributions that can run on an MK802 Mini PC

The MK802 is a tiny computer that looks like a USB flash drive, and which ships with Google Android 4.0 and sells for around $80 or less. It’s designed to be something you can plug into a TV to surf the web, watch video, and play games on the big screen.

But over the past few weeks, we’ve also seen a number of Linux-based operating systems ported to the MK802. That’s because it’s very easy to load an operating system onto a microSD card and boot from that card. Pop it out and the MK802 will run Android again.

 

Software development for the MK802 is still in the early phases. There’s no Linux support for the Mali 400 graphics chip, for instance. But there are already a number of surprisingly useful versions of Linux that can run on the MK802, offering 720 and 1080p screen resolutions, support for Firefox and Chromium web browsers, office suites, and all sorts of other popular Linux software.

Basically, you can pick up an MK802 for $80 or less, plug in a TV, mouse, and keyboard, and you’ve got yourself a fully functional, low power computer that’s not particularly fast, but which also isn’t nearly as slow as you’d expect it to be.

The MK802 has an Allwinner A10 ARM Cortex-A8 processor, 4GB of storage, and is available with 512MB or 1GB of RAM.

The folks at the Rikomagic UK and Miniand forums have been working hard to port different Linux distributions to the MK802. These are all disk imagees which you can run from a microSD card.

Here are some of the Linux distributions that are currently available for the MK802.

Miniand Lubuntu 12.04 – This is a version of Ubuntu 12.04 with the light-weight LXDE desktop interface. It also includes the DroidMote server, which means you can install DroidMote Client on your Android phone or tablet to use it as a remote control for Ubuntu.Miniand Ubuntu 12.04 and Xubuntu 12.04 – You can also find builds using the default Ubuntu 12.04 Unity desktop environment and the light-weight Xfce environment. Neither of these builds includes DroidMote yet, but you can download and install the server app manually.Toby Corkindale’s Linary 12.06 armhf build – This version of Ubuntu uses technology that should speed up performance on the Allwinner A10 chip. The installation instructions are a little more complicated, though.Rikomagic Lubuntu 12.04 – This build includes a number of tweaks including a fix for WiFi performance, a working Chromium web browser, and the ability to access the MK802's internal storage.Puppy Linux – Puppy is a light-weight operating system designed to run well on older computers with slow processors and small amounts of storage and memory. I found that a version for the Mele A1000 set-top-box works pretty well on the MK802.Fedora 17 – Fedora is probably one of the most popular Linux distributions that’s not based on Ubuntu or Debian. Now it’s also available for the MK802.

You can load any of these operating systems on a microSD card following our instructions for preparing an Ubuntu 10.04 installation. Just use the disk image for your operating system instead of Ubuntu 10.04.

Some of the disk images are prepared for MK802 Mini PCs with 512MB of RAM, and others for models with 1GB. If you try to use the wrong version for your device, you might notice garbled graphics on your display, making the operating system all-but unusable.

You can fix that problem using suzuke’s uboot switcher utility before preparing your microSD card.

If you want to switch between 720 and 1080p output, there’s a pretty easy method for doing that too.While using a 1080p screen resolution will allow more content to fit on the screen, and may work better with some monitors or televisions, some users are reporting that the MK802 performs more quickly when using 720p resolutions.

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Mozilla is (nearly) ceasing development of Thunderbird email app

Thunderbird is probably the most popular open source email, calendar, and contact management app. It’s basically an open source answer to Microsoft Outlook, capable of running on Linux, Mac, and Windows computers.

But desktop email clients aren’t as popular as they once were, with many email users just logging into Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail using the web interface.

So it’s probably not a huge shock to see that Mozilla has decided to focus on web and mobile projects such as the Firefox browser and Firefox OS in the future and decrease emphasis on Thunderbird.

 

TechCrunch obtained a memo to Mozilla staff explaining the decision. A formal announcement is expected Monday.

Mozilla isn’t necessarily killing off Thunderbird altogether. The software will still be available for download, and it sounds like the developers are looking for a way to continue providing security and stability updates while devoting fewer resources to the project. But it sounds like we should expect any major new features for Thunderbird… at least not from Mozilla.

As open source software, it’s possible that Mozilla could encourage greater community development, or even hand over governance of the project to another organization. I could imagine Canonical, the Linux Foundation, or GNOME or KDE taking over development and keeping the software alive. But I could also see Thunderbird fading slowly into oblivion over the years as it becomes slowly obsolete.

Personally, it’s been years since I’ve used a desktop email client or calendar app. But I’m also always a little uncomfortable relying solely on web apps. If your web mail provider decides to change the user interface or shut down their service altogether, there’s little you can do about it. But if you use a desktop app you have more control over your saved messages, notification settings, and layout.

What do you use for email? Are you disappointed in Mozilla’s decision, or are you surprised to learn that Thunderbird was still under active development at all?

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Equiso Smart TV: $69 Android powered PC-on-a-stick

A company called Equiso is throwing its hat in the Android-powered Smart TV/mini PC space. Equiso is running a Kickstarter campaign to raise at least $100,000 to produce and distribute a device it calls the Equiso Smart TV.

If you pledge $69 you get a little stick-sized device that looks like a USB flash drive. But under the plastic chassis is a 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A5 processor, Mali 400 graphics, 512MB of RAM, and 8GB of storage.

It runs Google Android 4.0 and includes access to the Google Play Store for apps, music, and movies.

 

The Equiso Smart TV features 802.11n WiFi,  a USB port for a mouse, keyboard, or other accessory, and an HDMI port for plugging in a TV or monitor.

The specs look familiar, and I wouldn’ tbe surprised if the Equiso Smart TV is based on the same design as the CX-01, a similar device that’s already available for as little as $53.

But Equiso isn’t just slapping its name on a Chinese product and attempting to sell it in the US (although the company is almost certainly doing that). The company also plan to offer a few value-added features.

One of the things that sets the Equiso Smart TV apart from similar devices such as the MK802 is that Equiso will include a wireless keyboard with an accelerometer, gyroscope, and QWERTY keyboard on the back with your $69 pledge.

If the company exceeds its fundraising goals it may also improve the specifications, offering 1GB of RAM, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, and 16GB of storage.

Equiso hopes to start shipping the Smart TV in August, with free shipping to customers in the US and $15 shipping overseas.

Overall the Smart TV looks like a pretty nifty product for the introductory price. It’s not clear how much Equiso will charge for the device after the Kickstarter campaign ends.

It’s also not clear if the Smart TV will be quite as versatile as the MK802, which has proven to be a pretty decent little Linux computer as well as an Android smart TV device.

via Slickdeals

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Deals of the Day (7-06-2012)

The Archos 35 Home Connect is kind of what you’d get if you crossed an Android smartphone with a clock radio.

It’s an Android 2.2 device with a 1 GHz processor, a 3.5 inch resistive touchscreen, and built-in speakers. It’s meant to be used around the house and can function as an alarm clock, internet radio or video device, or digital photo frame, among other things.

The device was never very expensive, launching last year for $150. But today you can pick one up from Adorama for $115.

Today’s roundup of deals also includes some pretty good prices on other items that have been hot recently including the MK802 Mini PC and Motorola Laptop Dock.

stuff

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus sales ban lifted… for now

Today in as the lawsuit turns, a US federal judge has temporarily lifted the temporary injunction that prohibited Samsung from selling the Galaxy Nexus smartphone in the US. Got that?

Basically, Apple says Samsung’s phone infringes on some of Apple’s patents. The case hasn’t actually gone to trial yet, but last week a judge ruled that Samsung couldn’t sell the phone pending the outcome of that trial. Today an appeals court decided that the Galaxy Nexus can be sold in the US. For now.

This could all change again once the appeals court actually hears arguments both sides and issues a more permanent ruling (which could stay in effect until the full trial… maybe).

 

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is Google’s flagship Android phone at the moment. Google worked closely with Samsung on the design, and it’s one of the only phones that ships with an unmodified version of Android, just the way Google designed it.

Google recently stopped selling the Galaxy Nexus through its website, but plans to offer it again after releasing some software tweaks to get around Apple’s patent infringement lawsuit.

The Galaxy Nexus is expected to be available from the Google Play Store again next week… when it might ship with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean rather than Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Update: Google is selling the phone again, but it now has an estimated ship date of 2-3 weeks.

You can still pick up the phone from Newegg and some other retailers. Even when a temporary injunction is in effect, it doesn’t prevent stores from selling through remaining inventory. They just can’t place orders for additional units.

via The Verge

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Android 4.1 UI is different for 7, 10 inch tablets

Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was the first version of Google’s mobile operating system designed to run on phones and tablets. But it doesn’t look exactly the same on both devices. On a phone the notification bar is at the top of the screen, while on a tablet it’s merged with the task bar at the bottom.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean also has different layouts for phones and tablets — but there’s also a new variant: a user interface for 7 inch tablets.

When Google started handing out Nexus 7 tablets at the Google I/O conference recently, early owners noticed that the 7 inch tablet seems to have a phone-like user interface. Some folks even took steps to tweak the software to display a more tablet-like UI.

But Computer World checked with Google and found out that the Nexus 7 doesn’t actually use a phone layout. Instead, it uses a new layout designed for 7 inch tablets.

Tablets with larger displays will use the same interface that we’ve seen on tablets running Android 3.0 and later. But 7 inch tablets will have features drawing from the earlier Android phone and tablet designs.

The notification bar is at the top of the screen, and if you use the default home screen app, your home screen is stuck in portrait mode.

But when you use the Gmail app in landscape mode you’ll see a multi-pane view with a list of messages or labels on the left and the body of your email messages on the right. Other apps designed with multiple panes should work the same way.

Now that there are three different Android layouts: phone, 7 inch tablet, and 10 inch tablet, you might think Android’s so-called “fragmentation” problem will get worse. But Google’s developer tools for Android make it possible to code apps that automatically change their layouts depending on the screen size.

So most Android apps should be able to run on phones or tablets with large or small screens.

What’s a little less clear is what Android 4.1 will look like on tablets with less common screen sizes. While most Android tablets have 7 or 10 inch displays, there are also models with 7.7, 8, 8.9, and 9.7 inch displays. When they run Jelly Bean will they look like the Google Nexus 7? Or will they look like a larger tablet such as a Motorola XOOM?

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New Ubuntu image for the MK802 is pretty usable

The MK802 may not be a super computer. But for under $100, the PC-on-a-stick make a surprisingly decent little computer. It ships with Google Android 4.0, but we’ve already seen that it can run Ubuntu, Fedora, and other Linux-based software.

Now Andy Kirby at Rikomagic UK has compiled some of the best Linux tweaks into a new disk image for the MK802. The result is software that transforms the MK802 into a pretty useful mini PC.

 

With an Allwinner A10 processor and just 512MB to 1GB of RAM, the computer isn’t exactly a speed demon. It struggles to handle YouTube video playback, for instance.

But it is fast enough for basic web browsing, document editing, and other simple tasks. It also boots reasonably quickly and feels a lot like using a computer that’s maybe 5 or 6 years old and which probably cost a lot more than an MK802 when it was new.

Kirby’s software is based on Lubuntu 12.04, a version of Ubuntu using the light-weight LXDE desktop environment. It includes fixes for WiFi that had been affecting some users, and allows the Chromium web browser to access the internet without any tweaks.

The software includes working audio, supports the full 1GB of RAM on versions of the MK802 that have that much memory, and allows you to access the 4GB of storage built-into the MK802, even though Lubuntu actually runs from a removable microSD card.

Unfortunately there’s still no hardware video acceleration for the Mali 400 graphics in Linux, which is part of the reason YouTube video playback is choppy.

Once you’ve downloaded the disk image from the Rikomagic UK forums, you can follow our instructions for loading it on a microSD card. Just scroll down to the section about installing Ubuntu 10.04, but use the new disk image instead.

Since Kirby’s software was prepared for the 1GB version of the MK802, the video output might look garbled on your TV or monitor. You can fix that by downloading suzuke’s uboot switcher from the minand forums and following the instructions for changing the uboot image before preparing your microSD card.

Note that wherever you see “image” or “uboot” in the instructions, you should actually type in the full name of the files you’re using. So in this case, once you have all the files in the correct folder, this is what you’d type:

uboot-switch.exe lubuntu-1204-rikomagicuk.img uboot_512m.bin

Kirby’s version of Lubuntu uses a set display resolution of 720p rather than 1080p, because he thinks the computer is faster at that resolution. But if you’d like to switch to 1080p output, that’s pretty easy to do.

Interestingly, this is the first 720p version of Linux that I’ve tried on the MK802 that displays properly on my Dell monitor. I’ve had overscan issues with other operating systems, which means that my monitor didn’t display the edges of the operating system properly. Kirby’s software solves this problem somehow.

The MK802 is available from a number of vendors for around $80 or less. In4Dealz is also offering the little computer for $60 for the next week.

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