Posts from: CES 2015
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Samsung SM951 PCIe SSD achieves 2.15GB/s read speed, sips on power

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Samsung unveiled today its new SM951 PCIe (M.2) SSD in a trio of different capacities – 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. The drive is not only quite small, but also freakishly fast with 2.15GB/s read and 1.55GB/s write speeds.

The SM951 uses a new 10-nanometer MLC flash technology, which makes it 50% less power hungry. In fact, the drive consumes just 2 miliwatts in standby mode. Read more »

This LG-Audi smartwatch runs webOS

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While LG probably has the most Android Wear smartwatches out of anyone out there, it has also quietly been working on a webOS based smartwatch. Made in collaboration with Audi (the kind where LG makes the watch and Audi gives it its name) this new unnamed smartwatch (model number LG-W120L) is quite an interesting design.

The design of the watch is similar to the G Watch R, wherein it has the same circular display, but with a few extra buttons on the side and a different finish for the watch. The specs are likely the same but it’s the software that’s new here. LG has created a custom version of webOS for the circular display of the watch and it looks quite a lot better than Android Wear. While the menus are still in the form of a list, the apps appear in a circular carousal that look much more at home on a circular display. Read more »

Mad Catz announces crazy new L.Y.N.X.9 gaming controller for Android

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Mad Catz has announced a new gaming controller for Android devices. Called the L.Y.N.X.9, this is by far the craziest design I’ve seen for a controller and looks like something out of a Transformers movie.

The similarities to Transformers don’t end in just appearance. The L.Y.N.X.9 is capable of transforming itself into various form factors, using supplied accessories. Read more »

Kingston’s latest memory cards are UHS-I Speed Class 3 with 90MB/s read speed

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Kingston introduced today microSD and SD cards under the UHS-I Speed Class 3 boasting some 90MB/s read and 80MB/s write speeds. This is great news for those who want to play and record 4K video without stuttering.

In fact, as per the SD Association’s latest specifications, the UHS-I U3 standard guarantees performance of at least 30MB/s read and write, and Kingston’s latest offering exceeds the standard Class 10 SD cards 9 and 8 times for read and write speeds, respectively. Read more »

Intel Compute Stick adds Windows 8.1 to any TV for $150

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Intel is staying close to emerging new technologies – the Internet of Things, smartwatches and now HDMI sticks. With the rising popularity of Google’s Chromecast and Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, Intel’s Compute Stick stands out with a complete Windows 8.1 with Bing copy for just $150.

The stick is powered by a quad-core Atom processor, not unlike the ones found in phones and tablets. Read more »

Qualcomm celebrating 2015 CES by giving away Samsung Note 4, HTC Desire Eye, Motorola Droid Turbo, and more

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To celebrate the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) happening this week in Las Vegas, Qualcomm has started a sweepstakes that allows US residents (age 18 older) a chance to win some really cool prizes. Dubbed Qualcomm #InventForBetter, the sweepstakes runs through Friday (4:00:00 pm PT) this week.

To enter, all you have to do is to sign into your Twitter account, follow Qualcomm, and then send a tweet expressing what you would do with a mobile device powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor, using the hashtag #InventForBetter. Read more »

Sennheiser updates Momentum headphones, launches two new wireless noise-canceling variants

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Sennheiser has updated its premium Momentum series of headphones. The current Momentum and Momentum On-Ear now feature improved design for better comfort as well as the ability to fold them for easier transportation.

Along with that, the company also announced two new wireless versions of the Momentum headphones. They feature the design improvements of the second generation models, but cut the cord and go for Bluetooth (aptX) to transfer the data. The headphones feature built-in controls to control your audio playback and calls, as well as NFC for pairing easily with your smartphone or tablet. On top of that, they also feature active noise-cancelation, which is not present in the wired models. Read more »

Mophie launches new Juice Packs for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

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Mophie’s line of Juice Pack-branded battery cases are quite popular, and today the company has unveiled a trio of new such offerings, tailor made for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. What’s more, all three are already up for pre-order at the Mophie website (although when they’ll start shipping is still a mystery).

The iPhone 6 gets two options, the Mophie Juice Pack Air and the Juice Pack Plus, while there’s only one Juice Pack available for the iPhone 6 Plus. Read more »

Razer launches Forge TV Android gaming console and Nabu X smartband

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Razer is getting out of its comfort zone for CES 2015. The gaming peripheral company announced an Android-based gaming console dubbed Forge TV. For good measure, Razer also revealed the Nabu X, a simple and affordable smartband with just three LED lights.

The Razer Forge TV is quite compact at just 4 x 4 inches and houses a Snapdragon 805 chipset with a quad-core 2.5GHz Krait 450 CPU, 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 420 GPU. Read more »

New Toshiba Encore 2 Write Windows tablets announced with Wacom pen support

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Last year Toshiba released a pair of tablets under the Encore 2 name. Both devices featured a slick body with rounded edges for better handling and a nice Satin Gold finish. Both tablets feature 1280 x 800 pixel screens in 10 and 8-inch form factors, respectively. They are powered by quad-core Atom processors and come with an array of connectivity options: 802.11n Wi-Fi, Micro HDMI and wireless display support.

In a recent announcement Toshiba revealed that it will now offer an improved version of the devices that include support for Pen input and are bundled with one, produced by Wacom. The extra input method is said to be very precise, with 2048 levels of pressure intensity and should offer an array of new possible features and uses for the next generation Encore 2 tablets, dubbed Encore 2 Write. Read more »

Sony unveils $1,200 Android-powered Walkman player with hi-res audio

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Sony’s once massive Walkman brand is still going, however the glory days are long gone. I’m not sure how much market there is for music players in general, Walkman or otherwise, but I can guess the market size for a $1,200.

It’s as high-quality as a pocketable player gets – it supports FLAC/ALAC (up to 96kHz/24-bit) and Bluetooth with SBC/LDAC hi-fidelity codec. Dual-band Wi-Fi is also available for DLNA playback. Read more »

Lenovo unveils Yoga 3 convertibles, ThinkPad Yogas and an 8″ Yoga Tablet

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Aside from the carbon ThinkPad X1, Lenovo also brought out new Yoga convertible laptops. The Lenovo Yoga 3 comes in 11″ and 14″ sizes, both powered by a 5th generation Intel processor. The signature move of the Yoga are the four modes – Laptop, Stand, Tend and Tablet – thanks to the hinge that opens all 180°.

The Windows Yoga line continues with an 8″ tablet that can use a pen instead of a stylus and three ThinkPad models that aren’t as portable as the Yoga 3 but pack additional features. Read more »

Lenovo unveils ultraportable 13.3-inch LaVie Z laptops

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After the announcement of the new iteration of the legendary ThinkPad X1 Carbon Lenovo has unveiled yet another addition to its laptop lineup. The LaVie Z HZ550 and HZ750 are 13.3 inch premium Ultraportables that promise superb performance in a slick, light and convertible body. According to the Chinese tech giant the two models are currently the lightest 13.3-inch convertible laptops on the market thanks to the special super-light Mg-Li (Magnesium-Lithium) Alloy used for their chassis. Each of them is built-around a special hinge, with a 180-degree field of movement on the HZ550 and a full 360-degree on the HZ750.

The two PCs are not only visually impressive, but also pack quite the punch in the specs department. Both are powered by Intel’s brand new 5th Generation, “Broadwell” processors. The higher-end HZ750 is equipped with an i7, while the HZ550 carries an i5 chip. The LaVie line boasts a set of mighty fine displays. The HZ550 comes with a 13.3inch LED (non-touch) Anti – Glare panel with WQHD resolution, while the HZ750 boasts a touch screen of the same size, available in either Full HD or WQHD. Read more »

Sony unveils a new stainless steel edition of SmartWatch 3, rolling out next month

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Just a few months after it went on sale, Sony has unveiled a stainless steel version of the SmartWatch 3, giving it a fashionable finish. The company said the wearable device will be rolling out globally from next month.

As it turns out, apart from the new look, the stainless steel edition is essentially the same as the original release. This means that it also features the same 1.6-inch, 320 x 320 pixel transflective LCD, Qualcomm processor, built-in GPS, and standard microUSB port charging. However, the water and dust resistance rating has been upgraded from IP58 to IP68. Read more »

Lenovo Vibe Band VB10 is official with E-ink display

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Lenovo is entering the wearable market with the Vibe Band VB10 – a smartband with a 1.43″ E-ink display of 296 x 128 pixel resolution. The Vibe Band can last up to 7 days with its display and Bluetooth always turned on.

What’s even cooler is the band’s IP67-certified wateproofing, as it can last up to 1M of water for maximum of 30 minutes. The band works with both Android and iOS smartphones and packs a slew of fitness tracking functionality. The Vibe Band can track steps, calories, distance and sleep. Read more »