| Asus Launches Eee Box EB1037 with Bay Trail Processor, Nvidia 820M Graphics Posted: 31 Jan 2014 02:34 PM PST  A fanless PC that looks like a router
It doesn't take a monster system to run Microsoft Office or surf the web, hence why we're starting to see so many small form factor (SFF) PCs as of late. One of the newest SFF rigs to emerge is the Asus Eee Box EB1037, which is a mini-desktop system that looks like a router but is a full-fledged PC build around Intel's Bay Trail platform with a Celeron J1900 quad-core processor clocked at 2GHz. The Eee Box EB1037 also features discrete Nvidia 820M graphics with 512MB of onboard memory, up to 8GB of RAM, choice between solid state drive (64GB or 128GB) or hard drive (320GB to 1TB), 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GbE LAN port, 4-in-1 card reader, headphone and microphone ports, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and Windows 8.1. We mentioned that it looks like a router -- it measures 8.6 inches by 6.8 inches by 1.15 inches and weighs around 1.5 pounds. There are no cooling fans so it runs completely silent. Asus isn't worried about overheating since the Celeron J1900 is a 10W chip that doesn't generate much heat. The Eee Box EB1037 isn't offered in the U.S. just yet, though some overseas shops have it listed for around 270 euros (~$364 in U.S. currency). Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| 20 Best Android Games Posted: 31 Jan 2014 12:56 PM PST  20 games every Android user should play
While nothing can ever replace gaming with a keyboard and mouse on a killer rig, mobile games can be a godsend while you're in a waiting room, if, you've got the right games. Fortunately, we've compiled a list of the 20 best Android games. They range from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to Dots, Kami, and games like Space Team. There's something for everyone, and many of the games are available for free. Do you have a favorite Android game? Let us know in the comments below! |
| Best Buy Marks Down First Generation Surface Pro 128GB to $500 Posted: 31 Jan 2014 09:40 AM PST  Sale ends on Saturday
It hasn't even been a full year since Microsoft launched its first generation Surface Pro for $900, a price tag that undoubtedly scared off more than a few buyers. When we tested the Surface Pro, we came to the conclusion that it has "more than enough power for any casual computing need," though cheaper and lighter solutions made it a tough sell. If pricing is all that held you back, take note that Best Buy is currently selling the original Surface Pro for $500, which is $400 off its original retail price. Finding first generation Surface devices selling for less than the original retail cost isn't exactly a difficult task, but as far as sale prices go, this is the lowest we've seen the Surface Pro with 128GB go for. It's $99 less than what Microsoft is asking, which is currently offering it for $599 with a $50 credit on NFLShop.com. As a refresher, the Surface Pro sports a 10.6-inch display with a Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) resolution, Intel Core i5 3317U processor, 4GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, 128GB storage, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, front and rear-facing 720p cameras, and a few other items. It also comes with a stylus and integrated kickstand. If you're interested, bear in mind the sale price is only good today and tomorrow (Saturday). Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Microsoft's Update to Windows 8.1 May Boot Directly to Desktop by Default Posted: 31 Jan 2014 09:14 AM PST  One step closer to the Windows 8/8.1 you always wanted
There's a scene at the end of Stepbrothers where Brennan exclaims, "You guys finally came to your senses and got us something cool!" He was referring to pirate hats, crossbows, illicit magazines, and other swag uncovered in his and Dale's treehouse, but if Microsoft keeps tweaking Windows 8 the way it has been, desktop users far and wide will be shouting the same thing at Redmond. While nothing is set in stone, it's being reported that internal builds of Windows 8.1 Update 1 enable the boot-to-desktop option by default. We don't want to make a mountain out of a mole hill here, but bypassing the tile screen and booting directly to the desktop alleviates one of the concerns Windows 8 critics have with the touch-friendly OS. Of course, you can already enable this feature in Windows 8.1 -- a freely available update for Windows 8 -- but it's not checked by default. As minor as this may seem, it's actually a big step for Microsoft. The company's original vision was that its Metro environment would be a hit among users, and while it works well on mobile devices, desktop users haven't really embraced the tile screen, preferring to jump into the desktop environment. Microsoft's also been taking into account data that suggests most desktop users still use a keyboard and mouse. According to The Verge, other changes in Update 1 include shutdown and search buttons on the Start Screen, the ability to pin Windows 8 apps on the desktop taskbar, and a new bar on the top of Metro apps that gives users the ability to minimize, close, and snap apps. Still noticeably missing is the return of the Start menu. Microsoft brought back the Start button in Windows 8.1, but the Start menu is still a ghost of OSes past. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Twitter Buys 900 IBM Patents, Inks Licensing Agreement to End Infringement Dispute Posted: 31 Jan 2014 08:21 AM PST  Patent deal with IBM puts to rest previous litigation
Twitter, the popular microblogging service that's now a publicly traded company, no longer has to defend itself against patent infringement claims brought on by IBM. Rather than battle one another in court, Twitter went and purchased 900 patents and signed a cross licensing agreement with IBM. Financial terms of the agreement, which was inked last month and announced today, were not disclosed. Prior to filing for an initial public offering (IPO), Twitter owned all of nine patents and had 95 pending applications, a rather sparse amount compared to other tech titans. Twitter even acknowledged in a regulatory filing that its lack of patents could put a target on its back, and that undoubtedly played a role in Twitter's decision to hammer out a deal with IBM. "This acquisition of patents from IBM and licensing agreement provides us with greater intellectual property protection and gives us freedom of action to innovate on behalf of all those who use our service," said Ben Lee, Legal Director for Twitter. IBM is one of the go-to companies for these types of deals, having led the annual list of U.S. patent recipients for 21 years in a row. Image Credit: Flickr (Garrett Heath) Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Corsair Obsidian 350D Case, Intel Core i5 4570 Haswell, and More! Posted: 31 Jan 2014 07:59 AM PST |
| AT&T Files Patent to Limit File-Sharing Bandwidth Posted: 30 Jan 2014 03:11 PM PST  This may affect your file-sharing needs
AT&T has developed a Credits System for the purpose of limiting file-sharing bandwidth as reported by TorrentFreak. The telecom company filed a patent on September 12, 2013 that revealed consumers would be given a number of credits to be used when downloading data. In turn, the data would be checked to see if it is permissible or non-permissible. As to what is considered non-permissible, the patent states, "Non-permissible data includes file-sharing files and movie downloads if user subscription does not permit such activity. If the data is permissible, the user is provided another allotment of credits equal to the initial allotment. If the data is non-permissible, the user is provided an allotment of credits less than the initial allotment." The patent goes on to say that a consumer who uses up all of their allotted credits on an "unacceptable use" of bandwidth could be subjected to additional fees, the blocking of certain services, or even receive incentives to discontinue such practices like downloading or uploading large files. Recently the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the Federal Communications Commission did not have the legal power to enforce net neutrality laws on Internet Service Providers. The ruling has caused concern over potential abuse from ISPs. Should the Credits System feature be adapted, not just by AT&T but other ISPs, how much would this affect you and your file-sharing practices? |
