Razer Blade 2016 with upgraded specs unveiled at GDC 2016

March 17, 2016

Razer has launched another upgrade to its Blade laptop range at the Game Developers Conference 2016. The new laptop is lighter, more powerful and less expensive than its predecessor.

The new Razer Blade laptop comes in two configurations – a 256GB storage model at $1,999 (roughly 400,000 Naira), and 512GB storage model at $2,199 (roughly 440,000 Naira). The pre-orders have already started and the shipping is expected to start by April 2016.

According to Razer, the overall design of the Blade remains unchanged from last year. It however said it shaved almost a quarter pound of weight (bringing it down to 4.25lbs) off the CNC-machined aluminum chassis without compromising any structural integrity.

Both configurations of the new Blade are powered by Intel’s sixth-generation Core i7 processor coupled with a whooping 16GB of DD4 RAM.

This is further supported by Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 970M graphics processor with 6GB of VRAM. They also come in a 14-inch, 3200 x 1800 pixel IGZO touchscreen display.

Furthermore, the new Razer Blade laptop features a 2-megapixel webcam and built-in stereo speakers which are powered by Dolby Digital.

It measures 17.7×345.4×236.2mm, weighs approximately 1.9kg and is backed by a 70W/h rechargeable li-ion battery.

The gaming laptop is compatible with Razer’s Core enclosure for desktop graphics cards. It supports USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 connectivity along with Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth v4.1, and Micro-USB 3.0.

The laptop additionally comes with Chroma keyboard, which was featured in the company’s recently launched Razer Blade Stealth notebook. The keyboard includes backlit RBG keys displaying several colour patterns.

Razer has been making Blade laptops for three years and has always positioned them as sleek, stylish alternatives to the chunky gaming laptops other companies produce.

The new Razer Blade is no different: it’s even sleeker, more powerful, and offers more gamer-centric features than ever.

This is the fifth upgrade of the Blade laptop. It is not a marathoner as its battery isn’t very powerful. However it will suit gamers who want a portable machine that doesn’t compromise on power.

Dell XPS 12, XPS 13 high-end Laptops launched

Emmanuel

March 15, 2016

Dell has launched two new high end devices, the Dell XPS 12 and XPS 13 laptops in India with impressive display features.

The new Dell XPS 12 is a hybrid device and it features a 4K display. It has a starting price of Rs. 1,24,990 (that’s about 370,000 Naira) and will be sold exclusively in India from Dell.co.in.

The Dell XPS 13 on the other hand has a starting price of Rs. 76,990 (that’s approximately 230,000 Naira ). Both laptops are powered by sixth generation Intel ‘Skylake’ Core processors and will come in different configurations.

The XPS 12 according to Dell is the only hybrid computing device to offer a 4K (Ultra HD) display. The device is a 2-in-1 laptop that can also serve as a tablet.

Its keyboard side connects to the display part using a magnetic connection. It also comes with mobility base, which provides a full-size backlit keyboard, and precision touchpad for working on-the-go. The device also comes with a stylus.

The hybrid laptop sports a 12 inch screen, an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 5-megapixel front sensor.

The Dell XPS 12 is powered by Intel Core M5 processor, coupled with 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD. Other features include a USB 3.1 Gen 2 port and a 30Whr battery. It runs on Windows 10 operating system.

On the other hand, the Dell XPS 13 features a 13.3-inch full-HD InfinityEdge (1920×1080 pixels) with a bezel that is only 5.2mm thick.

The starting variant is powered by an Intel Core i3 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD. On board is also an HD webcam with two USB 3.0 ports. The Dell XPS 13 runs Windows 10 Home version.

Users also have the option to choose a higher variant of the XPS 13 for Rs. 1,34,990 (that’s around 400,000 Naira).

This variant features 6th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, 256 of SSD, and a display with FHD+ resolution (3200×1800 pixels).

The company says that the FHD variant of the Dell XPS 13 can last for up to 18 hours and 14 minutes under normal use.

Scientists Detect Mysterious Infrared Light from Space

Emmanuel

March 11, 2016

A research team of astronomers has detected strange infrared rays from space while using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the world’s largest ground-based facility for observations in the millimetre/submillimetre regime in Chile.

The researchers, from the University of Tokyo, After accumulating millimetre-waves from faint objects throughout the universe, said such objects are fully responsible for the enigmatic infrared background light filling the Universe.

The Universe looks dark in the parts between stars and galaxies, baffling scientists. Astronomers discovered that there is faint but uniform light, called the “cosmic background emission,” coming from all directions in space.

This background emission has three main components; Cosmic Optical Background (COB), Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), and Cosmic Infrared Background (CIB).

The origins of the first two have already been found. The COB comes from a huge number of stars, and the CMB comes from hot gas just after the Big Bang. Less is known about the origin of CIB, until now.

“The origin of the CIB is a long-standing missing piece in the energy coming from the Universe. We devoted ourselves to analysing the gigantic ALMA data in order to find the missing piece,” said Seiji Fujimoto, a member of the team.

The researchers analysed the vast amount of Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) data taken during about 900 days in total looking for faint objects.

They also searched the datasets extensively for lensed sources, where huge gravity has magnified the source making even fainter objects visible.

They discovered 133 faint objects, including an object five times fainter than any other ever detected. They found that the entire CIB can be explained by summing up the emissions from such objects.

Dust in galaxies absorbs optical and infrared light and re-emits the energy in longer millimetre waves which can be detected with ALMA.

“However, we have no idea what the rest of them are. I speculate that they are galaxies obscured by dust. Considering their darkness, they would be very low-mass galaxies,” Masami Ouchi, also from University of Tokyo, said.

New range of Dell Latitude Laptops and Convertibles launched in India

Jia Khan

March 10, 2016

Dell launched the latest Latitude 13 (7370) 7000 ultrabook and Latitude 12 (7275) 7000 2-in-1 tablet at the start of 2016, in Januray. The company launched both devices in India. The latest launch of Dell devices also featured a new range of Dell Latitude laptops.

According to Dell, Latitude 13 7370 ultrabook is the smallest business ultrabook in the 13-inches category. Dell Latitude 13 7370 was designed using carbon fiber and aerospace-quality materials.

Dell Latitude 13 7370 sports a 13.3-inch InfinityEdge display. The ultrabook features slim bezels. The laptop can offer QHD+ resolution. Under the hood, Latitude 13 7370 features 6th gen Intel processors up to Core m7, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

Dell Latitude 13 7370 is pre-installed with Windows 10. The laptop offers USB Type-C connectivity, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.1, Micro-USB 3.0 featuring the support for Thunderbolt 3, 4G LTE connectivity option and microSD card reader.

Dell has claimed that Latitude 13 7370 will offer up to 10 hours of battery life for the ultrabook.

On the other hand, Dell Latitude 7275 7000 flaunts a 12.5 inches 4K UHD display. The screen has been offered Gorilla Glass protection.

The device is driven by the latest Core M processor coupled with 4GB RAM. Innards of the device reveal 6th-gen Intel Core M processor, 512GB SSD storage and 8GB RAM.

The 2 in 1 devices offer an 8MP rear and a 5MP front lens. The device also included the Active Pen stylus as an optional.

The upgraded line-up of the Dell Latitude devices features Latitude 3000, 5000 and 7000 series laptops. All these devices have been custom made for catering the workplace or business requirements of the professionals.

The new Dell 27 Wireless and UltraSharp 27 Wireless monitors and Dell Thunderbolt Dock accessories featuring type C USB connectivity were launched alongside the latest laptops.

Besides the ultrabook and 2-in-1, Dell also launched the upgraded line of its Latitude that are aimed for workplace.

Dell even launched the devices with Ultra Sharp InfinityEdge displays. Finally, Dell Dock equipped with USB Type-C ports were also launched.

The price of the Latitude 3000 series starts at Rs 44999, Latitude 5000 series is priced at Rs 54999 while the Latitude 7000 series hangs a tag of Rs 64999.

Android N Developer Preview images with Multi-window, Data Saver and more now available

Jia Khan

March 10, 2016

The Android N Developer Preview is now available. In a surprising move, Google released the developer version of the new Android edition before the speculated time.

Quite a few changes appear in this latest version of Android. The most apparent changes are the native Multi-Window support and enhanced Notification.

For developers, Google has introduced various fresh APIs inside the Android N code. Updates for Doze are one of the many features of the latest Android N.

The multi-Window support enables different apps to be displayed side by side using the split-screen feature.

This feature will allow enhanced productivity as the users have the freedom to open more than one apps alongside each other. The feature will be most interesting in the Android TVs. Google describes the feature for Android TV as:

“activities can also go into picture-in-picture mode on devices like TVs, and is a great feature for apps that play video; be sure to set ‘android:supportsPictureInPicture’ to true to take advantage of this.”

Enhanced Notification implies that Android N is more focused on the avatars. Thus, a notification characterized by an image will allow the user to identify it readily.

Android N also introduces the new feature of Bundle Notifications, which resemble the ones in Android Wear. The bundled up messages and notifications allow readability and ease to the end-user.

Inline replies are another new feature of Android N thus allowing the users to respond quickly to the received messages.Unlike the popup window in Hangouts, the user will reply using the notification shade.

GoogleDoze for Android N has been updated to prevent the apps from accessing CPU even when the smartphone is in the pocket or rests on the desk. This feature is meant to enhance the battery life of your device.

Quick Settings tiles have also been updated for Android N thus ensuring more space. This will make the customization process easier. However, Google does not recommend using this feature for app launch.

“Quick Settings tiles are reserved for controls or actions that are either urgently required or frequently used, and should not be used as shortcuts to launching an app.”

Data Saver is the ultimate tool for the users of android devices, especially those who use the limited data plans. Android N will allow the users to employ this tool to optimize data usage by limiting the number of apps using mobile data when they are running out of the available mobile data.

Other interesting new features in Android N include Android TV recording, number blocking, call screening and direct boot options.

Android N promises to provide a wholesome experience to the Android users while providing the developers new options to enhance and improvise their apps.

IDC: Tablet shipments to fall in 2016, 2-in-1 devices to take the center stage

Jia Khan

March 9, 2016

Growth in Tablet shipment will become history this year according to IDC as consumers favour the more versatile 2-in-1 devices. Microsoft is expected to be a big winner as it had championed the category starting with the Microsoft Surface.

IDC, an American market research advisory and analysis firm has recently posted a prognosis for the tablet business and its chances of growth in 2016. IDC anticipates quite a few significant changes in the consumer trend in the ensuing months.

IDC says conventional tablet shipments will fall by 5.9% in the current year. IDC has listed the 2-in-1 devices as the reason behind the changing winds.

The concept of 2-in-1 devices is not a new one. However, the hybrid devices have undergone an extensive makeover recently, with latest products and offers being put forward by the established big wigs in the tablet industry.

In addition, the new entrants in the tablet arena, like Huawei and Alcatel, are also beefing up the competition.

The concept of form factor also seems practical as the users do not have to give up the functionality of the device.

On the contrary, they are being offered enhanced productivity on the move. The case of hybrid devices is specifically supported by the availability of speedy Windows 10 and x86 chips .

The forecast claims that in 2016, the market for detachable tablets will show an enormous 73% year on year growth. The shipments for hybrid devices are also expected to increase from 16.6 million in 2015 to over 63.8 million in 2020.

The flow indicates that more consumers will go for Windows 10 based devices. Android, on the other hand, is expected to retain its popularity till 2020.

Another important forecast is that the push for enhanced productivity will cause an increased attraction towards bigger devices. The market for larger 9-inches or over displays will be stronger.

Honda Amaze 2016 launched in India

Emmanuel

March 4, 2016

Auto firm Honda has launched the updated version of its compact sedan, the Honda Amaze 2016 in India with pre-orders starting from May 2016.

The diesel variants of the Amaze 2016 will be priced in between Rs 6.41 lakh and Rs 8.19 lakh (1.9 million naira to 2.4 million naira).

Its petrol variants are priced between Rs 5.29 lakh and Rs 8.19 lakh (1.6 million to 2.4 million naira) while automatic (CVT) variants will sell between Rs 8.19 lakh and Rs 7.19 lakh (2.4 million and 2.2 million naira).

When Honda launched the Amaze back in April 2013, it went on to become the firm’s top selling car. Its diesel variant especially took Honda’s sales figures to a new high.

In just sixteen months, Honda sold over one hundred thousand Amazes in India. President and CEO of Honda Cars India, Katsushi Inoue, said the firm is certain that the new Honda Amaze will be attracting even more consumers.

The changes made in the Amaze 2016 are mainly cosmetic in nature- a bit of nip and tuck which gives the car a fresh appeal. The vehicle sports an all new chrome grille along with new fog lamp bezels and revised bumpers.

Inside, it now comes with a new dash which is inspired from the forthcoming BR-V. There’s a new instrument cluster, a new touchscreen infotainment system, a bluetooth-enabled audio system and an automatic air conditioner.

There is no alteration as far as engines are concerned. The Honda Amaze will still be powered by a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine from the Jazz and the 1.5-litre 4-cylinder diesel motor.

The petrol engine makes 88PS of max power and 109Nm of peak torque whereas the diesel engine makes 100PS of max power and 200Nm of peak torque.

The engine will be mated to a 5-speed manual transmission however a CVT option will also be on offer.

Honda said airbags will be optional on all variants of the facelifted Honda Amaze and that it will be offered in a choice of six colours.

Microsoft opens Preorders for HoloLens

Emmanuel

March 4, 2016

Technology giant, Microsoft has announced via a blog post that pre-orders for the developer version of HoloLens, its new augmented reality headset is now open.

The Microsoft HoloLens is however available via invites at $3,000 (that’s about 600,000 Naira) with the first units expected to start shipping on March 30, 2016.

The Microsoft HoloLens is a custom-built wearable personal computer running Windows 10 operating system.

It is based on an undisclosed 32-bit Intel processor and a custom-designed Microsoft holographic processing unit (HPU) that processes data from multiple sensors.

The device sports an impressive list of sensors- there’s a 2 MP video camera and an inertial measurement unit (which means, a set of accelerometers, gyroscopes and maybe even a magnetometer).

Microsoft HoloLens also comes with one depth camera, four environment understanding cameras, four microphones, an ambient light sensor as well as mixed reality capture IC.

Since the mixed-reality headset does not use any markers or extra cameras to track movement that are located outside of itself, a sophisticated set of sensors inside it is absolutely required.

The HoloLens can track gaze, understand gestures and voice commands thanks to its sensors and underlying software.

Microsoft’s HoloLens is equipped with 2 GB of RAM (1GB for the processor and 1GB for the HPU) as well as 64 GB of NAND flash storage.

The device can connect to the Internet or other devices using Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1 LE wireless technologies.

In addition, the device also comes with a Micro-USB 2.0 port, a 3.5 mm audio jack and a surround sound system.

It can operate for two or three hours on one charge but it’s unlikely one wears it around all day. It can also charge while in use.

Additional development tools such as Visual Studio projects and a HoloLens emulator will be released when HoloLens devices start shipping, Microsoft said.

Microsoft at the moment seems to be focusing primarily on enterprises applications for the HoloLens. The company said it has already made progress with a variety of organizations to develop an ecosystem of apps for the device.

“We have introduced new partners like Volvo Cars, Autodesk Fusion 360 and have continued to make progress in our partnerships with Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic, Trimble, and NASA,” the company said in its blog post.

Strange Radio bursts from deep space hits Earth in clusters

Emmanuel

March 3, 2016

Scientists have revealed that they are getting readings of mysterious and powerful radio waves hitting the earth in clusters from deep space.

According to a study published in the journal Nature, existence of the pulses were discovered a decade ago and are believed to emanate from well beyond the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy,

It was previously thought that these so-called fast radio bursts (FRBs) – which can emit as much energy in a millisecond as the Sun emits in 10,000 years – were a one-off phenomena.

This is due to the fact that less than 20 have been detected since 2007, though more than 10,000 are suspected to occur every day. The new bursts are however different.

“Not only did these bursts repeat, but their brightness and spectra also differ from those of other FRBs,” said Laura Spitler, lead author and a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany.

Scientists had thought that the pulse originated from something like the collision of neutron stars, sending a shockwave of energy across the universe.

It is now thought that there could be two or more sources for the frequent radio bursts. Researchers predict that the multiple pulses could also come from an “exotic object” such as a hugely powerful, rotating neutron star.

Locating the galaxy from which the serial burst came would be “critical to understanding its properties,” said Jason Hessels, a co-author of the study and a professor at the University of Amsterdam.

Pinpointing the source could also tell astronomers how long it took for the waves to reach Earth, a voyage likely measured in billions of light years.

The finding adds to other strange discoveries about the fast radio bursts that seem to indicate that there may be something unusual causing them.

Scientists said last year that some of the messages appear to be coming in a pattern — one that could even be created by alien technology.

Asus ZenBook Series Laptops launched

Emmanuel

March 2, 2016

Taiwanese firm, Asus, has launched three flagship laptops in its ZenBook series – the UX305CA, UX303UB and UX305UA in India.

All three laptops come in Smoky Brown and Icicle Gold color variants with metal finish. They also have a very slim chassis, which measures just 0.7 inches.

The notebooks will be available for purchase starting Friday, March 4 from Asus Exclusive Stores and online retailers.

The Asus ZenBook UX303UB is an ultra-portable notebook. It sports a 13.3-inch LED backlit full-HD display (1920×1080 pixels) and a viewing angle of 170 degrees.

The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i5-6200U SoC clocked at 2.3GHz. This is further coupled with discrete Nvidia GeForce 940M and Intel HD Graphics GPU (2GB) chips.

There’s also a whooping 8GB of RAM (4GB built-in and 4GB DRAM DDR3L chip) on the laptop.

The Asus ZenBook UX303UB comes with a 1TB SATA hard drive, an HD Web camera. It has support for 802.11ac+Bluetooth 4.0 (dual band), three USB 3.0 ports, one Mini Display port, one HDMI 1.4 port for external video display, and a 50WHr battery. Its price starts at Rs. 71,490 (that’s about 216,000 Naira).

The Asus ZenBook UX305CA also sport the same screen features as the UX303UB. It is however powered by an Intel Core m3-6y30 SoC that can clock up to 2.2GHz.

This is further coupled with Intel Graphics 515 and 8GB of RAM (4GB on-board memory and 4GB system memory, according to Asus).

The rest of its features are same with the UX303UB save for a 44Whr battery, and a 256GB SSD. Its price starts at Rs. 55,490 (that’s around 168,000 Naira).

The Asus ZenBook UX305UA on the other hand is powered by an Intel Core i7-6500U SoC which is clocked at 2.5GHz. Added to this are Intel HD Graphics 520 and 8GB of DDR3 RAM. It also sports a 512GB SSD, 56Whr battery, two USB 3.0 ports, and one USB 2.0 port.

The rest of its specs are same with the UX305 CA. The notebook has a price tag of Rs. 74,190 (that’s around 225,000 Naira).

Commenting on the launch, Region Head – South Asia & India Country Manager of Asus, Peter Chang, said the the firm aims to deliver premium products at affordable prices.

“The Indian consumers are increasingly moving towards Ultrabooks and the featherweight ZenBook UX303UB is a real performer that redefines ultraportable segment with its svelte design. The UX303 not only offers a 360 degree ultra-fast computing experience, but also battery life that goes up to 7 hours on a single charge. Ultrabooks are made for users’ on-the-go and the UX303UB is a perfect device that gets that job done and will never slow the user down. With this, we want to make sure that we deliver the same premium computing experience with the performance they need, at a more affordable price point,” he said.

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