HP wants to add augmented reality to its Elite x3 smartphone, and it's looking at Microsoft's HoloLens as one way to do it.The Elite x3, which runs Windows 10 Mobile, was scheduled to ship last month starting at US$699.99 but has been delayed. HP believes the smartphone has the horsepower to be a PC in a pinch. It might also become an AR device that could be used in enterprises.Universal Windows applications made for the HoloLens AR headset will work on smartphones, and they could be used on the Elite x3, said Michael Park, vice president and general manager of mobility at HP.The Elite x3 won't do AR right out of the starting gate, but it will eventually, Park said.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
There aren't many shockers when it comes to storage capacity, but try this one on for size: Seagate has announced a 60TB SSD that may ship as early as next year.Seagate showed the drive at the Flash Memory Summit in Silicon Valley on Tuesday. It called it a "technology demonstration," which means there could still be a few kinks to work out.But if Seagate can deliver as planned, the drive would have close to four times the capacity of the largest SSD available currently, Samsung's PM1633a SSD.The drive will be aimed at servers and flash arrays, where it could help meet the growing demand for storage fueled by mobile devices, online video and the emerging internet of things.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Intel's lightning-fast Optane SSDs and memory won't be limited to PCs featuring the company's own chips, but could work with PCs based on AMD processors as well.Intel wants to make adoption of Optane easy for makers of PCs and servers regardless of the chips they use, said Rob Crooke, senior vice president and general manager of the company's Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group, in an interview. Optane is a brand name for a new class of storage and memory that could make PCs significantly faster. It is based on a technology called 3D XPoint, which Intel claims can be 10 times faster than flash storage and DRAM.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Lenovo is developing an SSD storage board with a monstrous 48TB capacity, and the company plans to release it by the middle of next year.The board is basically a collection of high-capacity SSDs. It provides an efficient way of cramming more SSD storage into computer slots, instead of using individual drives.The 48TB storage capacity will fit in a space for two standard 2.5-inch storage drives. That's significantly more storage than available in two Samsung PM1633A SSDs, which are now the largest capacity SSDs at 15.36TB and will fit in the same slots.Lenovo, known more as a PC and mobile device maker than a storage company, is developing the board in its research labs. Companies like Seagate, Toshiba, NxGn Data, and Amphenol are helping Lenovo develop the technology, part of a program called Project Spark.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Intel won't be the only company gearing up to sell super-fast SSDs based on the new 3D Xpoint storage and memory technology; other storage companies will also offer them with technology provided by Micron.
Micron detailed its 3DXpoint plans Tuesday at the Flash Memory Summit conference in Santa Clara, California. Intel and Micron are taking divergent paths to bring 3D Xpoint to customers. Intel will sell its own 3D Xpoint SSDs and memory DIMMs, while Micron is partnering with well-established storage companies to sell 3D Xpoint SSDs.
SSDs and DRAM will run much faster with 3D Xpoint, which essentially unifies storage and memory. Intel claims 3D Xpoint will be 10 times denser than DRAM, and it has shown the technology being 10 times faster than current SSDs.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
See the gadgets athletes are using at the Rio OlympicsImage by IOC/David Burnett/ContactThe 2016 Rio Olympics is finally getting underway and there'll be no shortage of tech at this year's event. Athletes use all kinds of gadgets to help them train and stay fit, from heads-up displays used by cyclists to jump trackers worn by the volleyball team. Here's the a few of the gadgets that have made it to Rio. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
After Microsoft released an anniversary update of Windows 10 for PCs, a version is now available for the popular Raspberry Pi 3 developer board.The Anniversary Update is for Windows 10 IoT Core, a slimmed-down version of the OS for Raspberry Pi 3 and other developer boards. Users develop gadgets, robots, drones, and other smart devices with Raspberry Pi 3.The update has new features, as well as performance and application-support improvements, Microsoft said. It also provides an easier installation experience.Beyond Raspberry Pi 3, the Anniversary Update will also work with the MinnowMax, Raspberry Pi 2, and DragonBoard 410c developer boards.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Lazy people will love Windows 10 and its ability to automate home tasks, and the operating system's smart-home credentials are getting a serious boost with a recent internet of things pact.Microsoft wants to put Windows 10 at the center of smart homes. The company wants users to be able to tell the operating system's Cortana voice assistant to switch on a light, open a door, release food for a cat, and even check the contents of a refrigerator.For Windows 10 to be successful, the OS will have to work with a wide range of smart home and IoT devices, and that goal has taken a big step forward thanks to a recent agreement between standards bodies the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) and the Thread Group. The two organizations will work together on improving interoperability between smart home and IoT devices.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Windows 10 was expected to save the slumping PC market, but it hasn't. PC shipments are still declining, and people haven't bought new hardware just to get Windows 10.But the Windows 10 Anniversary Update has features that will make new hardware desirable. Moreover, the period to upgrade for free to Windows 10 from older versions has ended, and analysts believe people will buy a new PC instead of shelling out $119.99 to $199.99 for a Windows 10 license.PC makers hope for nothing more than the death of Windows 7, which some users -- especially businesses -- have been hanging on to. Companies like Lenovo and HP are slowly getting rid of lingering Windows 7 Professional PC models, which will ultimately force holdover users to Windows 10. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Toshiba's been lagging in the race to raise storage capacity in solid-state drives, but has taken a step forward with its new 7.68TB ZD6000 SSD.
The new drive is the highest-capacity SSD announced by Toshiba to date, up from its prior high of 4TB.
But it's still way behind Samsung, which started shipping a 15.36TB SSD earlier this year.
The ZD6000 is exactly half the size of Samsung's highest capacity drive, but Toshiba could exceed 8TB soon. It's a matter of cramming more chips in a drive, and Toshiba has the manufacturing technology to make that possible.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Toshiba's been lagging in the race to raise storage capacity in solid-state drives, but has taken a step forward with its new 7.68TB ZD6000 SSD.
The new drive is the highest-capacity SSD announced by Toshiba to date, up from its prior high of 4TB.
But it's still way behind Samsung, which started shipping a 15.36TB SSD earlier this year.
The ZD6000 is exactly half the size of Samsung's highest capacity drive, but Toshiba could exceed 8TB soon. It's a matter of cramming more chips in a drive, and Toshiba has the manufacturing technology to make that possible.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Remembering passwords can be a headache; instead, why not log into your computer with a scan of your eye?The hardware and software to make iris scanning a key feature is now reaching smartphones and PCs. The process is simple: An infrared scanner on a device will scan your iris, and verify its authenticity against encrypted information stored on the device.It's a notable feature in Samsung's Galaxy Note7 smartphone, which was announced on Tuesday. The smartphone has an iris scanner -- used to log in -- on top of its screen.There's an uneasy feeling about the flash of light projected into your eye, but experts believe iris scanning is a more secure form of biometric authentication than fingerprints.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Remembering passwords can be a headache; instead, why not log into your computer with a scan of your eye?The hardware and software to make iris scanning a key feature is now reaching smartphones and PCs. The process is simple: An infrared scanner on a device will scan your iris, and verify its authenticity against encrypted information stored on the device.It's a notable feature in Samsung's Galaxy Note7 smartphone, which was announced on Tuesday. The smartphone has an iris scanner -- used to log in -- on top of its screen.There's an uneasy feeling about the flash of light projected into your eye, but experts believe iris scanning is a more secure form of biometric authentication than fingerprints.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
There's a lot to like in Samsung's new Galaxy Note7, which will ship on Aug. 19.
The sharp screen is accentuated by a slight curve on the edges that makes the device easy to handle. It has a snappy, 64-bit processor, and it can rock games and virtual reality with the companion Gear VR headset. Samsung's attention to smaller details makes it a fine device. Here are seven things you need to know about Note7:
Many similarities with Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
The Galaxy Note7 is a large-screen version of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, with a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440-pixel display. The USB-C port is an improvement over S7's micro-USB 2.0 ports. Common features include a 12-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front camera, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth and wireless charging. The Note7 is pre-loaded with Android 6.0.1, weighs 169 grams and is 7.9 millimeters thick. It has 64GB of internal storage and an SD card slot.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
It took a while, but the hot Pokemon Go mobile game is now working on smartphones with Intel chips.Initially, the app wasn't compatible with Intel-based smartphones. Concerned users put up a petition, which had 42,606 supporters, requesting Niantic Labs -- the developer -- to make the game compatible with x86 smartphone chips.In response to the user backlash, Niantic Labs and Intel worked together to make the app compatible with x86 smartphones.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Many computer users have upgraded from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10 as part of Microsoft's free upgrade offer, which ends on Friday.After Friday, holdovers who want to upgrade from Windows 7 will have to shell out US$119.99 to $199.99 for a Windows 10 license.But for those who'd rather buy a new PC, Windows 7 laptops and desktops will still be available with the flexibility to upgrade to Windows 10 for free.PC makers HP, Lenovo, and Dell have stopped selling PCs with home editions of Windows 7. However, they are still selling PCs, loaded with Windows 7 Professional, that can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for free.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Intel's RealSense 3D camera technology was the star of last year's Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco. Along with robots and drones that used RealSense to "see" the world around them, CEO Brian Krzanich showed the first prototype smartphone to incorporate the technology.The phone went on sale in January for US$399, along with a software kit that allowed developers to built augmented reality applications using RealSense and Google's Project Tango platform. It put Intel on the front edge of mobile AR, a technology that's now having its breakout moment thanks to Pokémon Go.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Microsoft is rolling out a change in minimum hardware requirements for Windows 10 PCs and mobile devices, and expects hardware makers to comply in order to make their devices more secure.Starting Thursday, PC makers should include a hardware-based security feature called TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 in Windows 10 PCs, smartphones and tablets.The TPM 2.0 feature will be beneficial for users as it will do a better job of protecting sensitive information on a PC. A TPM 2.0 security layer -- which can be in the form of a chip or firmware -- can safeguard user data by managing and storing cryptographic keys in a trusted container.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Microsoft is rolling out a change in minimum hardware requirements for Windows 10 PCs and mobile devices, and expects hardware makers to comply in order to make their devices more secure.Starting Thursday, PC makers should include a hardware-based security feature called TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 in Windows 10 PCs, smartphones and tablets.The TPM 2.0 feature will be beneficial for users as it will do a better job of protecting sensitive information on a PC. A TPM 2.0 security layer -- which can be in the form of a chip or firmware -- can safeguard user data by managing and storing cryptographic keys in a trusted container.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
After months of delays, Lenovo's first laptop with an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen is now shipping, but it's unclear whether the PC maker will bring out additional OLED models anytime soon.The ThinkPad X1 Yoga with a 14-inch OLED screen is now shipping for US$1,682, which is a premium price compared to the same model with a conventional LED screen, priced at $1,394. Both laptops have Intel Core i5 Skylake processors.The laptop has the largest OLED screen available. HP's Spectre x360 Convertible Laptop and Dell's Alienware 13 gaming laptop have 13.3-inch OLED screens.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Agam Shah