General Gaming Article

Miracast Dongle in the Works at Microsoft

Posted: 24 Aug 2014 06:50 PM PDT

Spotted in recent FCC and Wi-Fi Alliance documents

With the recent addition of Miracast wireless screencasting functionality to Windows Phone devices, that rumored Surface-branded Miracast dongle we first heard about back in May was already beginning to make a lot of sense, but now a couple of sites have unearthed some fresh evidence that puts the existence of such a device beyond all reasonable doubt.

It has now emerged that a Miracast dongle, known only by the model number HD-10, recently stopped by both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Wi-Fi Alliance. According to documents published on the FCC and Wi-Fi Alliance websites and discovered by the folks over at Windows Phone Daily and Nokiapoweruser, the HD-10 is a Microsoft-developed Miracast dongle that will be manufactured by Foxconn.

With Microsoft widely expected to announce a couple of Lumia mobile devices at its upcoming IFA press event in Berlin on September 4th, we won't be surprised if this dongle also ends up getting officially unveiled there. Also, we fully expect this device to support Windows PCs as well; however, it remains to be seen whether it will carry Surface branding as previously rumored.

Image Credit: drwindows.de

Note: The above image is alleged to be that of a Surface-branded Miracast dongle but the claim hasn't been confirmed.

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Acer Enters Chromebox Fray with $180 CXI

Posted: 24 Aug 2014 03:40 PM PDT

Powered by an Intel Celeron 2957U processor

The netbook revolution was, at the time of it inception, an all-Linux affair, with there being plenty of talk of Linux finally emerging as a serious alternative to Windows in the eyes of mainstream PC users. However, all such talk quickly disappeared when the first Windows-running devices invaded the segment and made it their own in no time at all. Tablets may have derailed the netbook bandwagon, but Linux has managed to claw its way back into contention in the laptop segment with Google Chromebooks. Now, if the search engine giant has its way, its Linux-based cloud OS could end up replicating that same success in the desktop category as well.

Google hopes do this with inexpensive Chrome OS -based PCs like the upcoming Chromebox CXI, which has a starting price of just $179.99. The base model packs a 1.4GHz Intel Celeron 2957U processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB SSD, dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Gigabit Ethernet, four USB 3.0 ports, and an SD card slot with support for up to 32GB external storage. For an additional $40, you will be able to get one with double the RAM.

When the diminutive CXI (165x130x33mm) goes on sale in the U.S. and Canada sometime next month, it will be the first device of its kind from Acer's stable. It will join a handful of similar offerings from the likes of Asus, Samsung and HP.

Apart from standalone Chromeboxes, Google also offers a $1,000 Core i7-powered Chromebox for Meetings bundle.

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