Casio G-Shock STB-100 Sport Watch hands-on: classic looks get smart

When you’ve got a design for a watch as ubiquitous as the Casio G-Shock on the market, you’re allowed to be late to the new technology party. This year Casio’s entry in the STB-100 comes in the form of Bluetooth 4.0 and a sports-tracking collection of bits and pieces in their slightly modified G-Shock design. While we’re not about to suggest this watch is in any way more all-inclusive than its smartwatch competitors from Sony, Samsung, Pebble, and the many others shown off this week at CES 2014, Casio still retains that built-in fan base they’ve cultivated for years.

Attaching itself to the iPhone alone, this particular sports watch is aimed at two groups - those that already own a G-Shock and want to expand their collection into the Bluetooth/smartwatch realm, and those that are looking for a sports-tracking device and don’t want to appear to actually be wearing one of these new-fangled “Smartwatch” thingies, so to speak. Casio has molded this device to look as naturally un-smart as any past model.

The iPhone app for the STB-100 - as they were showing off this week - is just about as bare-bones as a connected app gets. You’ll be able to control your music and track your steps in a variety of ways. You'll be able to track your running pace, time elapsed while running, distance traveled, and data for biking with its built-in cadence sensor.

For an Apple user used to listening to music on the go, this device’s control setup allows you to be able to press a button on your watch to switch music tracks, and that’s about it. Something rather similar to what you’re doing already with the wire connecting you to your earbuds, more than likely. One way or another, you’ll be able to skip a track.

At the moment it does not appear that Casio is doing just one whole heck of a lot with the data you’re getting,* but it does seem that they’ll be expanding their software soon - we’ll have to wait and see. Wait for the actual release of this device this year, that is.

*UPDATE: This watch will be connecting to Abvio’s Runmeter, Walkmeter, and Cyclemeter, as well as the app known as Wahoo Fitness. Casio is also working with other developers to expand this collection in the near future.

We’ll have to see how long it actually lasts when we get it wrapped around our own wrists. In black and gray or with a splash of fire red - with green accents, of course. Pricing and release information incoming - we'll let you know when we know!

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Ford Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication driving experience

Sitting in a parking lot across the street from the convention center was a driving demonstration from Ford. They were here at CES 2014 showing off the Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication technology, which is also referred to as V2V. Put in the simplest form, V2V is safety related. But to simply use the word safety without diving further into detail does it little justice.

As the vehicle-to-vehicle part of the name would suggest, this setup has the cars on the road sort of talking to each other. Basically, broadcasting signals and making sure they all know where the others are located. Ford was showing a how this setup can be used to help with blind spots, with blind corners and in times when the car in front of you makes a sudden stop.

They also showed how the V2V technology can help to protect you against someone running a red light. Before the driving began, it was made clear the demonstration wasn't making use of any radars, camera or lasers. Instead the cars being used were sending out signals using short range radio, DSRC, WiFi and GPS. The information being sent includes your current position, heading and speed. And for those worried about privacy, the data being broadcast is anonymous.

As we were told, this is basically about, "am I going to hit you or not." One of the key points we should make clear -- this does not take control of the car in any way. The driver still needs to be alert and still needs to hit the brake, or avoid moving over. The Ford V2V technology is a warning system that makes use of an audible sound, LED lights in the dash, an indicator on the side mirror and also with haptics located in the seat. To that point, the seat vibration will be narrowed down to the left or right side depending on where the potential trouble may be located.

Keeping in mind that we were being driving on a closed course with a group of three Ford vehicles, the demonstration provided did give us confidence this would be beneficial in a regular driving situation. There are some drawbacks though. For one you need to get this in cars, but there could also be an issue with overcrowding. Or maybe more accurately, with oversaturation of the network if you are in a congested area. Anyway, while you're not going to feel the vibration in the seat, the video sitting below will give you a better idea of how it works.

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Sony Xperia Z1 Compact hands-on

In the announcement of the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact, the company made a rather pointed suggestion - our best doesn't have to be our biggest. Working specifications that closely match those of the Sony Xperia Z1, this miniature device works with high-end processing power and a 20+ megapixel camera. Right next to the Xperia Z1, the Xperia Z1 Compact also looks like it's working with a display that's just as brilliant - as you'll see below.

This device has impressed us in a way that's not only based in the device itself, but in the idea that it'll open up a new trend for smaller smartphones through 2014. While users have been asking for smaller devices - like the Galaxy S4 Mini and HTC One Mini - to work with top-level power for some time, Sony delivers. They deliver in a variety of colors to boot!

This machine works with the ability to pair with the Sony Smartwatch 2, it's got a matching set of peripherals if you wish, and it's made with metal and glass. While we're still not too impressed with the fingerprint-magnet this device appears as right out of the box, we still come away impressed with the overall feel of the machine.

Below you'll find a number of example shots from this smartphone's back-facing camera. While you could keep in mind that we might not be working with final software here if you want, the photos already look pretty superior here before release.

When you've got glass and metal making up the vast majority of the build of a smartphone, the smartphone feels expensive. Better than expensive, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact feels like the company that made it took the time to perfect it, sculpting it to their own best-possible look and feel for release later this year. We'll be waiting to trade in our Z and Z1 right out the gate - not because they aren't awesome, but because this size is just about as ideal for our palm as it gets.

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Lenovo’s ThinkPad 8, hands-on with the ‘full PC’ in tablet form

Lenovo ThinkPad 8 is an 8.3-inch Windows tablet, which is touted as a “full PC in the Palm of your hands”. That’s a bold statement, and we’ve seen Windows tablets before that couldn’t hold up under the pressure. As Microsoft tries to find a true cross-reference OS, Lenovo tries to bring some true power to back it up. In Las Vegas at CES 2014, we got the chance for a quick hands-on with the new Windows tablet.

To start, the ThinkPad 8 is comfortable in-hand. The form factor is one we were suspect of, as Windows lends itself to a larger screen. Though screen size isn’t everything, it’s important when considering a Windows tablet, and we were just plain suspicious of the ThinkPad’s size. Comfortable to hold is one thing, a pleasure to use is the real benchmark, though.

Backed by an Intel quad-core Bay Trail processor, the ThinkPad 8 has a 2MP camera up front, and an 8MP shooter around back. Running Windows 8.1, and weighing just under a pound, the 8.8mm ThinkPad packs a lot into a small package. The screen is 1920 x 1200, making it more than capable of handling Window’s “metro” UI. In using the ThinkPad, we found ourselves happily surprised by what’s on offer, but a full PC?

Yes. The ThinkPad is, in regard to hardware, a full PC in a tiny package. While not the most robust Windows PC you can find (it’s still a tablet, after all), it gets the job done. The aluminum casing instilled a sense of confidence, and the responsiveness of the ThinkPad 8's screen and processor made it a pleasure to use in tablet form. Synced to a screen (we used Lenovo’s phenomenal 4K2K monitor), it actually becomes a very simple Windows PC. Again, not the top-end PC you might need, but for the professional on-the-go, it’s a true winner.

For consumers, this one offers even more utility. A PC wherever you go, whenever you want, without much compromise. Lenovo promises up to 8 hours battery life, which we sadly couldn’t task, but we’re not doubting that — yet. In our testing, we’d easily call this the best small Windows tablet on the market right now. We also really liked the Smart Cover Lenovo has for the ThinkPad 8, which is much like Apple’s offering. A neat flip-down corner wakes the rear camera, and brings quick shooting for those moments you just need to capture quickly.

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Buffalo MiniStation Air portable HDD gets 1TB of Storage for streaming media

Buffalo has announced an update for its MiniStation Air HDD for wireless media streaming at CES 2014. Previously the portable hard drive was available with 500GB of storage. The MiniStation Air has been updated with twice that much storage space.

Buffalo now has a 1TB version of the MiniStation Air portable HDD. The portable hard drive has an internal rechargeable battery that is good for nearly ten hours of use per charge. The portable hard drive also has enough connectivity for up to eight devices at one time.

That connectivity allows multiple people to connect to the drive to save data or to stream content stored on the drive. Buffalo says that almost any device can connect to and stream content from the hard drive. The MiniStation Air also has a built in USB 3.0 port for connecting to PCs or Macs.

The drive creates its own WiFi hotspot to connect wireless devices to available networks. The drive can stream content to any WiFi DLNA playback device. Apps for iOS and Android devices are available. The 1TB MiniStation Air will ship in March for $199.99.



SOURCE: BuffaloTech

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The Magic Contact plays music without the need for Bluetooth or NFC

The Magic Contact is a gem of a device we found here at Showstoppers this year. The device plays music, but doesn’t need a bluetooth connection. There is no need to make a clumsy NFC contact, and it amplifies sound as you move your device. How do they do it? Sometimes, the simplest things are the best.

By resting your phone on the base, the hears what is bing plead and simply amplifies it. There are four sensors embedded, which listen for the sound. From there, it simply feeds it to it’s speakers, positioned on the top sides of the device. Magic Contact is like the old record player that used a horn to amplify music.

Happily, there are no device restrictions, either. It works with any device because it simply listens and plays. You control the volume output by sliding your device, making muting or turning down volume easy. We tested it with several devices, and though we had an issue with our Nexus 4, that was quickly fixed by placing it on the device in portrait rather than landscape.

The Magic Contact is a simple, brilliant concept that blew us away with it’s ease of use. The sound projected from the device was as crisp as it would be on your mobile device, too. If you think something this subtly brilliant would cost a ton, you’d be wrong. The Magic Contact will only run you $35. Simple to use, and won’t break the bank. This might be the coolest thing we’ve seen at Showstoppers at CES 2014 yet.

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Lumus DK-40 hands-on: Glass put on notice

Lumus has brought its DK-40 wearable to CES 2014, showing off the new developer unit in public for the first time. The monocular headset is, like Google's Glass, an Android-powered wearable computer, but whereas Glass floats a small window for notifications and such in the upper corner of your eye, the DK-40 actually overlays a full VGA digital image over the right eye instead. We grabbed some hands-on time to see whether it lived up to our expectations from the original prototype we tried all the way back in early 2012.

The headset, on show at ShowStoppers, uses Lumus' new projector lenses, which now support VGA resolution and 25-degree field of view (versus, say, Glass' 15-degree). It's full color, but what makes it special is the fact that it's integrated into your line of sight: Lumus had a demo with different images "pinned" around the room, with the DK-40's six-axis motion tracking used to change the picture as you move your head around.

Some basic controls are on the bottom of the eyepiece - which also includes a 5-megapixel camera - but Lumus also has an Android app which works as a remote control. Still, the glasses are effectively self-sufficient: there's a full Android device built in, along with a battery that, app-depending, will run for up to four hours on a single charge. As with Glass, it's built into the right arm of the non-folding frames.

Lumus' approach has been a more subtle one than Google's, and has the benefit of supporting prescription lenses more readily too. The company - which has a history of providing optical systems for the Air Force to use in fighter jet HUDs, among other things - has a range of slot-in lenses which it could use to give those blessed with poor eyesight the same experience as those with 20/20 vision.

Even with the very basic demo apps, the DK-40 is mightily impressive. The eyepiece is clear when you want it to be, and bright enough to see detailed color images or monochrome signs when they're generated by the projector system. It's also surprisingly light, though obviously any production version from one of Lumus' (unannounced) hardware partners would probably differ.

We do at least know one partner. Meta, the start-up which has roped in "father of wearables" Steve Mann and augmented reality pioneer Steven Feiner, is using two of the eyepieces for its headset, as it tries to replace not only your phone but your laptop with a digitally immersive world.

Unfortunately, Lumus isn't going to be selling the DK-40 to the general public. When the first units go out in March 2014, they'll be headed to the company's initial partners to try to encourage developers to create apps for the platform. However, initial response has been so positive, the company tells us, it's considering another run closer to the end of the year, which will likely have broader availability.

How much it will cost is unclear, though last time we asked Lumus pointed out that it's very much early days for the system and so will be priced accordingly. We'd guess that means somewhere in excess of Glass' $1,500, though of course for a more advanced optical system.

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Neptune Pine, our hands-on with the biggest smartwatch we’ve seen

The Neptue Pine promises to bring more to your smartwatch experience than you might be ready for. The device, which comes with a readily detachable body, can do just about everything your smartphone can. Though smaller than your smartphone, it’s also much larger than any other smartwatch we’ve seen. That’s where it becomes a polarizing choice.

In our time with the Pine, we found it to be as expected. It was fairly snappy, which we expected from a device powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor.. The screen, though smaller than a phone, was easy to read and scroll through. Typing was surprisingly easy, and came in a bit smaller than an iPhone. For one handed pecking, we had no issue, a refreshing change when compared to others who try to offer the same.

The dual camera ensemble has some interesting use-case scenarios, but that got us think at how often we use our smartphones for video chatting. The answer, sadly, was not much, meaning the front facing cam is left to selfies.. We did like that should you want a better photo, you can simply snap the body from the band quickly and use the rear camera to snap a pic. The rear facing cam is 5mp, and that’s more than adequate for daily quick shots.

With the Play Store baked in, we’re not sure which apps we’d actually prefer to use with the Pine. Games are almost a moot point, but messaging is very doable. We don’t think reading documents on the Pine is something we’d like to do regularly, but it’s not obtrusive in a pinch. Calls? Well, at least we could rest our head in our hand, but a bluetooth headset is definitely more adept at keeping us in the know, on-the-go.

The size, though — it’s just plain polarizing. It could become tiresome, having such a big device strapped to your wrist. If you want an all-in-one, the Neptune Pine is the Cadillac of smartwatches, and sized accordingly. If you’re looking for something that can notify you quickly and easily, the Neptune Pine will probably overwhelm you.

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Omate TrueSmart smartwatch hands-on: SIM-toting shooter in the wild

After months of waiting and watching for the Omate TrueSmart smartwatch to appear in the wild, it’s finally appeared here at CES 2014. What we’ve got here is a smartwatch that takes the dream of a stand-alone device in smartwatch form and makes it a reality - there’s a SIM card in here. That center bit between the two massive physical buttons on the side of this watch is a camera, too - and not a half bad one, at that.

In this smartwatch you’ve got the ability to 3G/2G calls and data - a first for a smartwatch - making this device what Omate suggests is the “world’s smallest wearable smartphone.” While we’ve not had the opportunity to test out call quality or data speed - we’re in the middle of CES 2014, after all - we have gotten to take a few photos home from this machine’s 3-megapixel camera (upscaled to 5-megapixels by the software).

Below you’re seeing three examples of photos taken by the Omate TrueSmart. Keeping in mind that the software may not be finalized on this unit and that we’re certainly not in an optimal photography environment, this camera isn’t the worst we’ve ever seen. We’ll expect to see some improvement over the slightly dark/hazy results shown here before the final product arrives.

This watch works with a dual-core MediaTek processor inside clocked at 1.3Ghz (MTK6572), and we’ve found it to move relatively swiftly. Certainly not as instant a jerk left and right moving through each home screen as a smartphone from 2013, but certainly just as swift as this device’s competition.

The build quality on the Omate TrueSmart is quite nice. Nicer than we expected, for whatever reason , bringing a solid body and hefty watch strap to boot. You’ll certainly not be disappointed by this wearable’s heft, given its steel alloy casing and sapphire glass up front. The TrueSmart does seem relatively large compared to your average non-smart watch, but certainly no more bulky than the Samsung Galaxy Gear.

You'll also see the charging case for this device here - a solution we heard about before, here appearing very similar to the solution offered by the Galaxy Gear. This charging accessory sends power to the smartwatch through several pins, allowing the watch to keep its waterproof and dustproof grading by doing away with USB ports of any and all kinds.

Have a peek, and stay tuned as we check the final product out early this year - sooner than later, we hope!

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Sennheiser MM 30G in-ear headset offers in-line control for Samsung devices

In addition to the new MOMENTUM Ivory model, Sennheiser has introduced the MM 30G in-ear headset at CES today. The headset is aimed at Samsung's GALAXY owners, with support for the Galaxy S 2 and higher, as well as the tablets. There's a mobile remote control built into the headset, as well, offering simple control over the device.

The in-line control is a three-button remote that offers play/pause and the ability to take a phone call, such as could be the case for someone listening to music from their smartphone. The in-line remote also features volume control, so the audio level can be adjusted between calls and music without having to take one's phone out of a pocket or other inconvenient location.

Sennheiser is promising the MM 30G offers users "fantastic audio quality", doing so with dynamic phones that are, not surprisingly considering the manufacturer, bass-driven. Comfort was one aspect of the headset that Sennheiser paid particular attention to, with the canal design being implemented in such a way to allow for isolation from outside noises. There are small, medium, and large sizes available, as well, for choosing the right size.

The maker says the headset was designed specifically for Samsung's GALAXY devices, but there's no app that needs to be installed -- as such, it seems the headset will work with any mobile device, though it's possible the remote functionality won't work with other devices. There's no info on pricing and availability yet.

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Razer Project Christine eyes-on: up close with gaming’s modular future

This week we're being given the opportunity at CES 2014 to see Razer's newest product - Project Christine - up close, well before it hits the market in all its modular glory. This machine is what Razer intends to be their center for innovation in the modular computing environment, allowing users to upgrade and swap out bits and pieces with ease, however they see fit. Creating all the parts themselves, they've once again made clear that they'll be no stranger to the high-end PC manufacturing world through the future.

This system works with PCI-Express architecture to allow on-the-fly switching of components. This includes CPU, GPU, memory and storage options, these able to be upgraded with up to quad-SLI graphics as well as SSD and RAID storage options of many types. You’ll also find the ability to add I/O and power supplies of different kinds. You'll notice an NVDIAI GeForce GTX 780 under the hood in one display photo - heavy duty power.

In other words, it’s a system that Razer intends to give the to the world to make upgrading your PC as easy as it seems for those that are currently hardcore about it. Those that already swap out components in their gaming PC towers because they’ve been doing so since they realized that customizing their PC wasn’t scary will no longer be alone.

    ”Project Christine is a revolutionary new concept design that will change the way users view PCs. It will allow any user to build and customize his or her PC in any configuration without any prior technical knowledge.

    Further, as new upgrades come to the market, the same PC can be easily and quickly upgraded without additional technical assistance and without the fear of incompatibility or obsolescence. “ - Razer

The device as it looks today is a real monster. One card’s back works with two ethernet ports, four USB ports, four Thunderbolt ports, and four audio ports. You’ll find a couple of spots open for additional plugging, while the front side is full up . A lovely green LED glow emanates from this beast’s undercarriage while a smooth conformity ties the entire build together. This may be a modular design, but it’s not about to look like a mash-up.

This isn’t the sort of machine you’re going to want to have around your miniature children. While it does appear rugged in its heavy-metal coverings top to bottom, long bars instead of one single enclosed box means physically weak points. Of course most people will be putting this machine in a safe place away from wrestling kids and animals anyway, so no worries all around.

    • Fully modular design for perpetual, cable-less customization
    • PCI-Express architecture
    • Open operating system platform
    • Factory overclocked components
    • Self-contained modules with active liquid cooling and noise cancelation
    • Quad SLI capable
    • SSD + RAID 5 HDD Array
    • LED touchscreen control display

Each module in this design is self-contained, meaning you’ll not need to remove, move, and reattach cables left and right. You’ll be able to work with active liquid cooling and noise cancellation for drives - this, Razer says, allowing them to overclock components without voiding warranties. This machine is made to be both safe and quiet for next-level gaming and the optimization of processing power therein.

Have a peek at this beast above and below and let us know if you’re all about the next generation in plug-and-play. We’ll know more details in the release of this monster in the near future - for now it’s all TBD.

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Parrot Jumping Sumo leaps its way into stardom at CES 2014

Parrot has done it again, this time with their Jumping Sumo remote device. Unlike the civil drone, the Sumo rolls and tumbles, grabs as it leaps. It’s controlled via an app, and has a front facing camera for all kinds of shenanigans. For pure fun, the Jumping Sumo might take the cake at CES 2014.

It’s got two massive wheels on either side, which have a springy shock system of sorts. With something jumping around so much, you’re going to want a soft landing. The Jumping Sumo is made of a resilient plastic that felt more rubber than hard plastic. The team tells us it’s a special compound, which is made to withstand the impact naturally caused by big drops.

The front of the device has a menacing look, which was hard to grab in demonstration. With so much spinning and jumping, the Jumping Sumo was particularly hard to nail down. The front facing camera sits square in the middle, too, and relays back to the app, so you’re almost virtually driving it. A neat option that adds to the experience in a visceral way.

The rear “jumping” arm, which catapults the Sumo into the stratosphere, also has a grabbing mechanism, although that wasn’t on display. It’s mean tot fetch and retrieve, and the jumping capabilities only add depth to the trouble we can get into. And we will get into trouble, should we get our hands on one.

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Lenovo ThinkVision brings Android to your desktop

Looking for an Android desktop? Look no further than the Lenovo ThinkVision. Lenovo has built a gorgeous Android desktop, and it’s touch capable to boot. With a display the size of a small TV, the Lenovo ThinkVision is a step in a new direction. It might be the first time we don't want to use a keyboard and mouse combo on a desktop.


The 28-inch screen boasts a magnificent 3840x2160 resolution, or what Lenovo dubs 4K2K. Colors shine and even blacks look true to form. The touchscreen was responsive, too, and supports 10-point touch for those games or apps that require it. From a pure productivity standpoint, the Lenovo ThinkVision might be a good option.

It’s running the “next generation” NVIDIA Tegra chipset, which is probably the 4i. If you’re a KitKat fan, not to worry — this one has it. To round out the cool factor, it supports Miracast for wireless display support.

WiFi connectivity, Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC round out the quick-look at the feature set. The stand can go from zero to 90 degrees, too, so it’ll adjust to you in just about any form you like. It has Play Store support, making it the most brilliant Android desktop we’ve seen.

We’ll be bringing you more news from CES 2014, so be sure to stay tuned. If you like, feel free to bookmark our CES 2014 tag and check back often! The Lenovo ThinkVision is just the first in a long line of awesome devices and neat gadgets we’ll be bringing you all week.

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Lenovo ThinkPad 8 is a three-mode tablet with Quickshot cover

Tablets are a dime a dozen, something that makes room for tablets that take their time, in a manner of speaking. Such is the case with Lenovo's ThinkPad 8, and 8-inch tablet that is promised as offering a "full PC experience" while on the go. The small form-factor allows for easy portability, but the company says that the device's design is premium quality, including machine-cut aluminum and a unique Quickshot Cover.

The ThinkPad 8 can be used in Desktop Mode with a keyboard and external display, or in Tablet Mode, which is exactly what it sounds like. The idea is that professional users, which is Lenovo's target base with this product, can find uses for the device is any situation, whether they need something on the go or want to use it while parked in an office. A dock can be used for the latter, making it easier to use it as a regular desktop computer.

As mentioned, the ThinkPad 8 can be had with a Quickshot Cover, which is an interesting cover that allows the tablet to be convered into a third mode -- Tent Mode. With the Quickshot Cover, the user can take a picture by "peeling" back the cover to bring the 8-megapixel camera into view. This motion triggers the camera's app, making it easy to take a picture without completely opening the cover and manually launching the related software.

As far as specifications go, the ThinkPad 8 tablet comes with an 8.3-inch 1920 x 1200 pixels display. There's both microHDMI and Miracast for playing content elsewhere. Under the hood, this small Lenovo tablet has an Intel Bay Trail quad-core processor and up to 128GB of internal storage space. There's a microUSB 3.0 port, LTE, and Windows 8 Pro. The tablet will be available later this month for $449 USD.

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Griffin PowerMate Bluetooth revamps iconic dial as Mac controller

Griffin has brought the old PowerMate rotary controller back from the dead, snipping off the USB cable for the Powermate Bluetooth, a wireless version. Intended for video editors, digital artists, and anyone else who might want a physical control for their digital environment, the PowerMate Bluetooth defaults to volume and mute on your Mac - PC users are out of luck, sadly - but can be switched between different app presets by Griffin, or given user-assigned features.

So, out of the box there are iMovie and GarageBand presets, but the customization app allows the PowerMate to work as a scroll controller in Office documents, to perform macros if clicked, or anything else. Multiple PowerMates can be paired with a single Mac - it uses Bluetooth 4.0 - and as before there's a glowing blue base which lights up around the dial.

griffin_powermate_bluetooth_2That glow isn't just aesthetic. Using Griffin's software, it can be customized to pulse at different rates and in different patterns according to system notifications, such as new IM messages or emails.

The original PowerMate was simple - a large dial that also could be pressed as a select button, and which hooked up via USB - but it found quite the appreciative audience. The tactile, aluminum knob found itself installed into car dashboards as part of DIY infotainment systems, on coffee tables for HTPC control, and fitted into the walls of home-made smart homes.

Even after Griffin discontinued it, the eBay market for PowerMate controllers was always bubbling away. A quick check of the auction site shows various PowerMate sellers, with the peripheral commanding $30+ despite being more than a decade old.

The new PowerMate Bluetooth has some boots to fill, then, and it'll start trying to do that from this Summer, priced at $59.99.

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Qualcomm Ultra Sound NotePad: paper to tablet transfer in realtime

This upcoming week at CES 2014, Qualcomm is planning on demonstrating their Snapdragon 805 proccessor abilities out with several new technologies, one of which is Ultra Sound NotePad. Using this processor's abilities tied to this unique tablet (a developer test tablet, for the moment), ultrasonic sounds created by a digital pen are able to be picked up and transferred to replications of drawings done on a piece of paper directly down to an app. You might have to see this to understand what it's all about.

While previous solutions relied on the pen's ability to record, then transfer to an app at a later time, this solution transfers data in realtime. No longer will you have to write on the tablet itself or wait for your drawings to be processed from the pen to access them. Here you'll be able to make a drawing - or series of notes - on a piece of paper and have them instantly appear on the tablet nearby.

This will make an extremely interesting set of use-cases available to artists in the near future, that's for certain. Where before now the only solution for creating real paper-and-pen art visible on the computer was to scan your finalized work of art after it was made, this solution makes an instant double.

One perfect use-case for this technology will be for comic artists who otherwise have relied on multiple step processes to transfer their works from paper to the web. Many artists still rely on the sensations and quality delivered by working with real ink delivery to a piece of paper rather than moving in to a whole new world with digital stylus-to-screen bits like Samsung's S Pen technology (as seen in the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 most recently) or NVIDIA's newer Tegra Note Stylus technology - as seen most recently in the EVGA Tegra Note 7.
For a full-on delivery of how this Qualcomm technology works, we'll be heading to CES 2014 for an up-close experience. Stay tuned for our full CES 2014 coverage starting this weekend, Qualcomm included!





VIA: Android Central

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Samsung Galaxy S 5 tipped (by Samsung) to arrive at MWC 2014

In just a few weeks, it would seem, the next-generation Samsung Galaxy S 5 will appear to the world in a public announcement at Mobile World Congress 2014. This sort of announcement was commonplace for Samsung a few years ago - back when the Samsung Galaxy S, then the Samsung Galaxy S II, knocked out their own MWC-based announcements. Since then the company has taken to their own unique event releases.

As Samsung has only released very, very few devices on the large tech convention circuit over the past couple years, an announcement at the Barcelona-based event would be odd indeed. Word of this announcement's possibility comes from South Korea publication inews24 who say they've spoken with Samsung design director Dong-hoon Chang.

It's Chang, they say, that suggests that the next Samsung hero phone will appear at MWC with code-name "Milky Way Galaxy S5". That'd be some interesting flare to add to the series as well, to be sure.


We've also seen some rather wild-looking visions of what this device could be delivered as in pre-production drawings from Samsung itself earlier this week. What it would appear to be bringing is a device not all that different in size from the Samsung Galaxy S 4, but with a bit of curved glass up front and along the back.

It's likely the Samsung Galaxy S 5, whatever package it arrives in, will not be working with a curved display - only curved glass, if any curves are to be included at all. Meanwhile rumors of metals and plastics included in two separate versions of the handset also persist - keep tuned as we head to CES 2014 first, starting this weekend!






VIA: CTech

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AT&T fires back at T-Mobile with credit for T-Mo converts

Reports surfaced last month that T-Mobile had a plan to convert subscribers from other carriers. That plan involved paying some of the early termination fees for new subscribers to T-Mobile that ditched their current carrier. A source claimed that T-Mobile planned to pay up to $350 in credit to cover the early termination fees charged by other carriers for converts.

That plan didn’t sit well with AT&T who has made a preemptive strike against T-Mobile. A source claiming to be familiar with AT&T's plans for CES 2014 claims that the carrier will offer similar credit. The source claims that AT&T will pay as much as $200 in credit for subscribers that come over from T-Mobile.

Apparently, the conversion credit offer won’t be valid for those coming in from Sprint or Verizon. That would mean AT&T is specifically targeting T-Mobile customers. The $200 credit would also reportedly be in addition to the up to $250 in credit the user could get from trading in their old device.

T-Mobile has been making some interesting moves in an effort to lure customers from its larger rivals. Those moves included eliminating traditional phone subsidies. Another T-Mobile innovation called JUMP allowing the customer to pay an extra $10 per month to upgrade devices sooner.





SOURCE: Geekwire

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DreamTab tablet from DreamWorks and Fuhu heads to CES 2014

You might not recognize the name Fuhu unless you have kids that like tablets. Fuhu is the company that produces the popular kids tablet line called Nabi. Fuhu has teamed up with DreamWorks to produce a new tablet called the DreamTab.

The tie up between the two companies gives DreamWorks a new way to get its popular animated characters in front of children around the world. DreamWorks is the studio behind popular animated cartoons like Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung-fu Panda and more. The DreamTab tablet will make its official debut at CES 2014.

The tablet will hit stores this spring. Pricing hasn’t been hammered out just yet, but it is expected to sell for under $300. The tablet that lands this spring will have an 8-inch screen. The two companies are planning a 12-inch version as well.

DreamWorks says that it will be able to give kids a "new character moment" every day for the entire year via the tablet. The moments will include stuff like drawing lessons from DreamWorks animators and more. The tablet is also tipped to get tech allowing it to work with DreamWorks toys. The tablet will also have the ability to send instant messages and email. Fuhu promises about the same computing power as an iPad when the DreamTab is in parent mode.





SOURCE: NYT

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Lenovo Vibe Z is company’s first LTE smartphone

Lenovo, quite the busy bee for CES 2014, has introduced its first-ever smartphone with LTE support, the Vibe Z. With this super thin handset comes a variety of features, including gesture control and rapid speeds. Coming alongside this flagship offering are a few other models, namely the 6-inch S930 phablet, the so-called "tweener" S650 mid-range handset, and the 5-inch A859.

Lenovo has been making a diligent effort in the smartphone market, and with that comes a milestone of sorts for the company: the Vibe Z, a thin and fast handset loaded with custom software in addition to Android 4.3. With the Vibe Z comes a 5.5-inch IPS Full HD display with 20/20 Vision technology and 400 pixels-per-inch. There's a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Quad-core 2.2GHz processor alongside 2GB of RAM and up to 16GB of internal storage space. Unfortunately, there's no microSD expansion slot, so you'll have to make do with what is available, or cloud storage beyond that.

Around back the Vibe Z features a 13-megapixel camera with a 5-megapixel offering on the front of the device, as well Lenovo's Super Camera and Super Gallery apps. As far as the LTE connectivity goes, which is the Vibe Z's biggest bragging point, download speeds up to 150Mbit/s and upload speeds up to 50Mbit/s are offered. There's a micro-SIM card, as well as support for GSM/UMTS networks up to 2100. Other connectivity includes Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11ac Wi-Fi.

Beyond the Vibe Z, Lenovo has also shown off the S650, S930, and the A859. The latter among these stands out on its own, with Lenovo calling it an "all-around performance model". With this comes a 5-inch 720p IPS display and Android 4.2. The S650 is a mid-range offering with a 4.7-inch qHD IPS display, and the S930 is a higher-end phablet with a 6-inch 720p display. Both S-series and the Vibe Z have a rear cover that feels like fabric, as well as a silver body.

The Vibe Z will be available staring in February at $549+ USD, while the S-series handsets are available now at $229 USD and $319 USD, respectively. The S859 is available now starting at $219 USD.

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