| Archos Undercuts Chromebook Market, Unveils Android-based ArcBook for $170 Posted: 13 May 2014 10:05 AM PDT  Basically a netbook with Android running the show
You may have thought that netbooks had vanished from the modern era, but that's only partially true. Nobody really cares about Windows-based netbooks anymore, but would they buy one built around Android? Archos is determined to find out with its ArcBook, a 10.1-inch laptop running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. We've seen low cost Android laptops before, but according to Archos, the ArcBook is the world's first Android netbook with a touchscreen display. The capacitive touchscreen display sports a 1024x600 resolution and is powered by a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor clocked at 1.2GHz. Other specs include 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage expandable via a microSD card slot,, two micro USB 2.0 ports, a full-size USB 2.0 port, 3.5mm audio jack, bulit-in Wi-Fi, a pair of speakers, and a front-facing camera. There's a full keyboard and trackpad to play with, which you can use to work with the preinstalled Office Suite 6 productivity software. You can also access Google Play. Look for the Archos ArcBook to ship in June for $170. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| SanDisk Unveils Self Encrypting X300s Solid State Drive Series Posted: 13 May 2014 08:38 AM PDT  SanDisk's first attempt at offering a self encrypting SSD
If you take a look at SanDisk's product portfolio, you'll find a range of memory and storage devices, including various solid state drives. However, one thing you wouldn't have found prior to today is a self-encrypting SSD line. With the introduction of the SanDisk X300s, the company now has one to offer corporate environments in need of secure storage -- healthcare and financial services are two industries that come to mind. SanDisk's X300s family leverages TCG Opal 2.0 and Microsoft Encrypted Hard Drive hardware-based encryption, coupled with a new SSD administration dashboard for easier audit and compliance management, the company says. The drive line utilizes AES 256-bit FIPS 197 certified hardware crypto engine to enable full-disk encryption without the performance penalty that software-based encryption can introduce. It also features advanced power management with DEVSLP low-power mode, enabling Microsoft InstantGo, a connected standby feature that keeps data on certified hardware in sync while the device is asleep. "Businesses of all sizes want computers that are reliable, secure, built to last and are easy to support remotely," said Kevin Conley, senior vice president and general manager, client storage solutions at SanDisk. "For the enterprises that deploy hundreds or even thousands of laptops, it's essential that their IT departments be able to centrally and securely manage these devices. The X300s, designed with SanDisk's world-class flash, helps corporate IT leaders not only deliver the heightened performance and lower TCO that flash is known for, but also addresses data protection and security needs, without business disruption. " The X300s comes in two form factors -- 2.5-inch 7mm and M.2 2280 single-sided, with capacities of 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. In terms of performance, the drives offer up to 520MB/s sequential reads and up to 460 sequential writes, depending on the model (PDF). Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Adventure Gaming Legend Tim Schafer Plays 'Day of the Tentacle' and Offers Commentary Posted: 13 May 2014 08:15 AM PDT  Revisiting a classic 20 years after its release
Like many old school gamers, I cut my teeth on adventure games and have many fond memories of titles put out by LucasFilm/LucasArts back in the day. I spent many hours trying to solve puzzles in games like Maniac Mansion and its sequel, Day of the Tentacle, which came out nearly 21 years ago. If you have a lunch break to spare, sit back and watch as Tim Schafer plays through part of Day of the Tentacle while offering insight into the game's design. Big props go to our sister brand, PC Gamer, for the heads up on this one. The YouTube video embedded below is Part 1 of Tim Schafer playing through the game, which he says he hasn't touched since the 1990s. What's even more interesting than the blast from the past you get from seeing the game is the fairly steady stream of commentary. According to PC Gamer, this was originally intended as bonus content for the Double Fine Adventure documentary, but the first part of a continuing series is now online for everyone to see. It's a rare look inside gaming, especially this long after a game's launch, and you'll learn things like why the development team decided to include the original Maniac Mansion inside the sequel, who inspired the characters in the game, what Schafer and his co-workers thought about adventure games being made by the competition, and plenty more. Here it is: Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Lenovo Gets All Business Like, Launches ThinkPad 10 and ThinkStation P300 for Suits Posted: 13 May 2014 07:41 AM PDT  A pair of new products aimed at business users
Lenovo, the world's largest supplier of PCs, added two new products to its portfolio today, both of which are intended for business users. They include the ThinkPad 10, a 10-inch premium multimode business tablet, and the redesigned ThinkStation P300, an entry-level workstation with an "intuitive new purposeful design" that's supposed to be easy to carry and deploy. Starting with the former, Lenovo said it constructed the ThinkPad 10 using premium aluminum and Gorilla glass. It can be used in four different modes -- Tablet, Stand, Laptop, and Desktop. The latter configurations require an optional ThinkPad Tablet Dock or USB 3.0 docking station. Other features include a quad-core Intel Atom processor, 2GB or 4GB of RAM, 64GB of 128GB of internal storage, 2MP front-facing camera, 8MP rear-facing camera, and Windows 8.1 64-bit. Moving on, the ThinkStation P300 no longer sports a "bulky handle." Instead, it uses red touch points and an extended lip design in the front and back to make it easy to carry. On the inside, it's available with the latest Intel Xeon E3-1200v3 product family as well as 4th Generation Intel Core processors and ECC memory support. The ThinkPad 10 will be available in June starting at $599; the ThinkStation P300 will also debut in June and starting at $729 in tower and SFF models. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Toshiba TransMemory 16GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive, WD 4TB HDD, and More! Posted: 13 May 2014 06:37 AM PDT  
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