| Asus Now Taking Orders for Super Slim Zenbook UX305 Ultrabook Posted: 16 Feb 2015 10:36 AM PST  Premium looks at an affordable price tag
The newly available Asus Zenbook UX305 might be the sexiest 13.3-inch Ultrabook you can buy for $699. According to Asus, it's certainly the slimmest -- measuring just 0.48 inches thin weighing a mere 2.6 pounds, we won't argue that claim. But getting back to the price tag, Asus manages to cram a surprising amount of amenities into this svelte laptop without breaking the bank, including an In-Plane Switching (IPS) Full HD 1080p display. Other standard features include an Intel Core M 5Y10 dual-core processor, 8GB of LPDDR3-1600 RAM, 256GB solid state drive, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 720p HD webcam, micro HDMI output, three USB 3.0 ports (one is a charging port), audio jack combo, SD card reader, Asus SonicMaster audio system, 45Wh battery, and Windows 8.1. A quad-core chip would be nice, but that's still a decent collection of hardware and features for the money. It all comes wrapped in a solid aluminum chassis with a wedge-shaped design and diamond-cut highlights. Depending on how much you value aesthetics, it's worth pointing out that the Zenbook UX305 has a few design awards under its belt. "A refined new shape that incorporates the DNA of the classic ZenBook gives the UX305 a subtle new wedge design with elegantly-tapered and smooth diamond-cut edges that emphasize the sleek ultra-thin chassis. The full-size ergonomic keyboard features an improved layout for comfortable and accurate typing coupled with a large responsive touchpad that supports Smart Gestures for precise control of Windows 8.1," Asus says. "Continuing the long-established ZenBook tradition of combining performance with luxury, the gorgeous UX305 ultraportable, which weighs only 2.6lbs, is available in a sophisticated new Obsidian Stone color with ZenBook's signature spun-metal finish with its Zen-inspired concentric circle pattern," the company continued. If you're interested, you can order the Zenbook UX305 now direct from Asus for $699. Alternately, a model with a QHD+ (3200x1800) display will be available at a later date, though Asus didn't say for how much. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Intel Rumored to Delay Skylake Until Late August Posted: 16 Feb 2015 09:35 AM PST  Waiting on Skylake
Rumor has it that Intel is delaying the release of its 14nm Skylake desktop CPUs until around the end of August instead of late in the second quarter as originally scheduled. Keeping in mind that none of this is official -- Intel hasn't made any Skylake announcements that have to do with release dates -- a leaked slide earlier this month showed both Skylake-U (mobile) and Skylake-S (desktop) parts at the tail end of Q2. Both represent Intel's 6th Generation Core processor line and are considered "tocks" in Intel's alternating "tick-tock" release cycle (a tick is typically a die shrink of an existing architecture, while a tock is a brand new architecture). The desktop variant will require a new socket (1151) and will coincide with Intel's 100 Series chipset, which among other things will introduce a significant PCIe upgrade with more lanes. According to Digitimes and whatever sources it has within the motherboard industry, Intel has supposedly put to the word out to mobo makers about the delay. If true, it's expected to have a sort of domino effect by screwing with the production and shipment plans for a Haswell refresh and Broadwell-U for the second quarter of 2015. It could also delay the development of Broadwell chips with a 65W TDP. This will also impact PC sales in general. Vendors were hoping to show off Skylake systems at Computex 2015 in June, and this obviously puts a wrinkle into those plans. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Security Researcher Warns of Vulnerability Affecting Several Netgear Routers Posted: 16 Feb 2015 05:52 AM PST  Vulnerability traces back to Netgear's Genie application
A security researcher has discovered a vulnerability in several wireless routers made by Netgear that could give an attacker unauthenticated access, both locally and remotely. The vulnerability relates to a service that communicates with Netgear's Genie software, an accompanying program that provides a desktop (or mobile) dashboard so you can easily manage and monitor your router's settings and activity. Peter Adkins, the researcher who discovered the vulnerability, says the embedded SOAP service appears at first glance to be filtered, but is easily manipulated. "HTTP requests with a 'SOAPAction' header set but without a session identifier will yield a HTTP 401 error. However, a HTTP request with a blank form and a 'SOAPAction' header is sufficient to execute certain requests and query information from the device," Adkins explains. Since the SOAP services is implemented by the built-in HPPT / CGI daemon, it's possible for unauthenticated queries to be answered over the web, though only if remote management is enabled. If so, a "well placed HTTP query" is all that's required to interrogate and hijack an affected router, Adkins says. When Adkins contacted Netgear about the vulnerability, he was advised to email the company's support team, which he did. However, Netgear downplayed the issue and ultimately closed the support ticket, adding that there are built-in security issues that should keep the network secure. Adkins says he's confirmed the bug exists in Negtear's WNDR3700v4 (firmware v1.0.0.4SH and v1.0.1.52), WNR2200 (v1.0.1.88), and WNR2500 (v1.0.0.24). He also believes (but has not yet confirmed) it exists in at least four other models, including the WNDR3800, WNDRMAC, WPN824N, and WNDR4700. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Crucial BX100 250GB Solid State Drive, Intel Core i5 4590 Haswell, and More! Posted: 16 Feb 2015 05:09 AM PST  
Top Deal: Yes doctor, it's acting sluggish. No, there's no fever. Other symptons? Well, it's coughing. Actually, it's more like a clicking noise noise with occassional grinding. Oh, I see. No, it's never had a storage transplant before. So you suggest surgery? Hmm, well in that case, is there anything faster that's compatible? Interface type? It's SATA 6Gbps. Check out today's top deal, you say? It's for a Corsair BX100 250GB SSD for $89 with $1 shipping (normally $95 - use coupon code: [EMCANKP28])? Wow, 535MB/s reads and 450MB/s writes at that price does sound fantastic. And a three-year warranty? Groovy -- thanks, doc! Other Deals: G.Skill Trident X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200) Desktop Memory Model F3-2400C10D-16GTX for $135 with free shipping (normally $155 - use coupon code: [EMCANKP24]) Intel Core i5-4590 Haswell 3.3GHz LGA 1150 84W Desktop Processor for $190 with free shipping (normally $200 - use coupon code: [EMCANKP26]) Corsair HX850 850W SLI/CrossFire Ready 80 Plus Gold Certified Modular Power Supply for $130 with free shipping (normally $140 - use coupon code: [EMCANKP38] ; additional $30 Mail-in rebate) Western Digital WD Green WD20EZRX 2TB 3.5-inch Internal Hard Drive for $75 with free shipping (normally $80 - use coupon code: [ESCANKP33]) |
| Rumor: Google to Wrap up Development of 2-in-1 Chromebook in Q1 2015 Posted: 16 Feb 2015 04:15 AM PST 
Google-branded hybrid device is reportedly being developed by Quanta Computer Google is getting ready to give Wintel-powered 2-in-1 devices a run for their money with a Chromebook-tablet hybrid of its own and the device is expected to be ready by the end of this quarter, notorious rumor monger Digitimes said Friday in a report citing unnamed sources in the "upstream supply chain." Allegedly designed by Taiwan-based Quanta Computer, the rumored 2-in-1 Chromebook is said to feature a detachable screen that transforms into an Android tablet when detached. The device, Digitimes says, is a testament to the "dramatic advance" Google has made in integrating Android and Chrome OS — for long a stated goal of the company. The report adds that such integration could finally see Chromebooks gain a beachhead outside the United States, which accounts for over 85 percent of all Chromebook sales. Although the first 2-in-1 Chromebook will be a Google-branded device, the site says other vendors also plan to launch similar devices in 2015. If the report is to believed, Google and its chums are not the only ones working on 2-in-1 devices right not. Even Microsoft is said to be readying "an own-brand 10.6-inch Surface detachable 2-in-1 to promote Windows-based 2-in-1 devices" and fend off any future competition. Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
| Google Relaxes Project Zero Bug Disclosure Policy Posted: 16 Feb 2015 01:31 AM PST  Companies working on a fix can now apply for a 14-day grace period after 90-day disclosure deadline
The whole fracas over Google Project Zero team's disclosure of three Windows zero-day bugs before Microsoft could fix them may now be old news, but it seems to have done enough to get the former to revisit its bug disclosure policy. Google's bug hunters took to the official Project Zero blog on Friday to announce a number of key changes to their disclosure policy. While a large part of the blog post is dedicated to the importance of bug hunting and reporting programs having disclosure deadlines and how the outfit's own 90-day deadline is "reasonably calibrated for the current state of the industry", it ultimately concedes that Project Zero's disclosure policy, as effective it is (over 85% bugs fixed within 90 days), could do with a few improvements. The outfit says it has "taken on board some great debate and external feedback around some of the corner cases for disclosure deadlines" and come up with a few policy improvements. The most notable of these policy updates is the provision of a 14-day grace period after the original disclosure deadline has expired: "If a 90-day deadline will expire but a vendor lets us know before the deadline that a patch is scheduled for release on a specific day within 14 days following the deadline, the public disclosure will be delayed until the availability of the patch. Public disclosure of an unpatched issue now only occurs if a deadline will be significantly missed (2 weeks+)," reads the blog post. And don't you worry about Google having double standards (a concern we raised late last month): "As always, we reserve the right to bring deadlines forwards or backwards based on extreme circumstances. We remain committed to treating all vendors strictly equally. Google expects to be held to the same standard; in fact, Project Zero has bugs in the pipeline for Google products (Chrome and Android) and these are subject to the same deadline policy." Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
| HP Stream 7 Price Drops to $79 on Microsoft Store Posted: 15 Feb 2015 10:50 PM PST  Price includes freebies worth $95
The HP Stream 7, which was part of our massive holiday deals roundup last year, is now available at an irresistible price of $79 from the Microsoft Store. Not only is that 20 percent lower than the original asking price of $99, but the 7-incher's current price tag also includes a one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal worth $69.99 and a Windows Store gift card worth $25. As for the actual device, you will get what you pay for. Inside the HP Stream 7's nondescript frame, you will find a 1.33GHz (up to 1.82GHz) quad-core Atom Z3735G processor, 1GB of DDR3L-RS 1333 MHz RAM, 32GB eMMC, 802.11b/g/n (Miracast enabled), one micro USB 2.0 port, MicroSD slot, 2MP back-facing camera and 0.3MP front-facing camera. Further, the Stream 7 has a 7-inch HD IPS touchscreen (800 x 1280), and runs Windows 8.1 with Bing. Every which way you look at it, the Stream 7 is an absolute steal — especially compared to similar offerings from from Toshiba and Dell.
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