LG's UX10 Windows 7 Tablet Emerges at Computex

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Should enter mass production soon

Qualcomm Snapdragon, NVIDIA Tegra 2 and Intel Atom are the main platforms expected to spawn tablet PCs and/or media slates this year. All compete against each other in terms of processing power, multimedia support and, most importantly, energy efficiency. On the other hand, the competition can be seen as going on between the ARM architecture, already in control of the smartphone and handset front, and the x86 architecture, whose main advocate, Intel, wants to finally bring it to the mobile segment.

Computex has already seen the Quanta Redvale, a Moorestown-powered slate running the MeeGo mobile OS. This device, of course, is far from being the only slate on display at the show, as it is made more than obvious by LG's UX10.

The folks over at Engadget managed to get some time alone with the 7200mAh battery-using electronic and also got a list of the basic specifications.

The LG UX10 is based on the Intel Atom Z530 central processing unit and boasts 1GB of DDR3 memory. It also features a micro-HDMI output, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, an SD card slot and a 10.1-inch LED-backlit capacitive touchscreen. Furthermore, a front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam will allow photos to be taken easily, as well as the use of online messenger services. As for the design itself, the slate is painted white on the back and black on the front.

Being built on an x86 chip, it is only natural that the operating system loaded onto the tablet be Microsoft Windows 7. Unfortunately, how long a battery life this slate has will have to remain a mystery, for now, at least. It is unclear when stores will see this device on shelves, but the report did offer the assurance that it would eventually happen, perhaps even sooner than later. As for pricing, no details are known at this time.

-[Read more>>]- LG's UX10 Windows 7 Tablet Emerges at Computex

ASUS Lamborghini VX6 Boasts Unannounced Intel Atom Dual-Core

12.1-inch laptop with 4GB DDR3 and NVIDIA ION

Among the things that Intel's dual-core CPUs will enable are netbooks with screen sizes larger than 10.1 inches. This also means that making a mobile PC that blurs the lines between netbooks and notebooks will be much easier to accomplish. ASUS has just confirmed this by unveiling the existence of the Lamborghini VX6 mobile PC, a netbook-sized laptop with better computing, graphics and memory options than one might expect.

The new laptop bears the name of Lamborghini VX6 and sports the Lamborghini logo on its white lid. Overall, the design seems quite stylish, though the insides may seem more unusual than intriguing. To be more specific, the CPU chosen to power the laptop is dual-core Intel Atom D525, with 1.83GHz frequency. This chip is paired with none other than the NVIDIA ION discrete GPU and a 12.1-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) with a native resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels.

What may come as a pleasant surprise is that, despite being intended as a more affordable ultra-portable multimedia device, the Lamborghini, to truly make sure that “those with the need for speed will be blown away,” actually has its own pair of USB 3.0 connectors. As for connectivity, ASUS did not shy away from implementing Bluetooth 3.0, Ethernet and WiFi. Finally, the amount of memory is unlikely to be frowned upon, since 4GB is more than enough for any multimedia file to be enjoyed to its fullest.

As is the case with most new arrivals, the Lamborghini VX6, pre-loaded with Windows 7 and equipped with high-quality Bang & Olufsen ICE Power stereo speakers, is on display at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan. Unfortunately, its maker decided not to give out any information on pricing and availability, though it did offer the assurance that the electronic would, eventually, make its official debut.

-[Read more>>]- ASUS Lamborghini VX6 Boasts Unannounced Intel Atom Dual-Core

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Announced by EA

Darker and more action-driven end to the Harry Potter video-game series

The next Harry Potter game has been unveiled by Electronic Arts. Following the story of the Deathly Hallows novel, the title will be split in two parts, probably to synchronize with the release of the two movies that are based on the book. It is developed by EA Bright Light Studio for the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360, the Nintendo Wii, the PC and the Nintendo DS, and the release window for the first part is the autumn of this year.

The developer is promising that this game will be more adjusted to the High-Definition gamer generation, boasting a darker tale and a more action-packed gameplay. Gone are the puzzles from the usual Harry Potter offerings, as wizardly combat will be the focus of this title. The screenshots that have been released by EA indicate that this is a cover-based third person shooter, akin to the very popular Gears of War series, only less violent to accommodate a family-friendly rating.

The Vice President of the studio, Jonathan Bunney, said that, “We believe we are creating a Harry Potter game that the HD console gaming generation will appreciate and enjoy. We have built new technology specifically to allow us to prove that magic is a truly potent force and, in this game, players will need to use all their skills if they want to survive.” This is in line with the books, as Harry's story does become bleaker and he is forced to prove himself in battle as a wizard in the last chapter of the series.

Like in the novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sees the young wizard engaged in a desperate quest to recover and destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes, small artifacts that keep the evil mage invincible. No longer a part of Hogwarts and with no Dumbledore to help him, Harry has to face and survive many dangerous situations during the course of the narrative, sometimes even without Ron and Hermione's help.

-[Read more>>]- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Announced by EA

Windows Live Messenger Hack Tool Is Actually Malware

Users need to steer clear of HackMSN.exe

A hacking tool advertised as being capable of enabling users to hack Windows Live accounts and grab Windows Live Messenger passwords is actually used by attackers to spread their malicious code. According to BitDefencer, HackMSN.exe will not only not permit users to recover Windows Live passwords, but will instead infect them will malware, namely the Backdoor.Bifrose.AADY.

“This piece of malicious code affects Windows platforms. The malware injects itself into the explorer.exe process and opens up a backdoor that allows unauthorized access to and control over the affected system,” BitDefender’s Ioana Jelea stated. “Moreover, Backdoor.Bifrose.AADY attempts to read the keys and serial numbers of the various pieces of software installed on the affected computer, while also logging the passwords to the victim’s ICQ, Messenger, POP3 mail accounts, and protected storage.”

According to the security outfit, the so-called Windows Live Messenger hack tool is being spread to an email campaign. Obviously, a social engineering tactic is employed in order to get unsuspecting victims to infect their machines with the Backdoor Trojan, in order to have their personal data stolen. Below is the message that attackers are using in emails designed to spread HackMSN.exe and Backdoor.Bifrose.AADY. It’s obvious from the various errors in the text that the email is nothing more but a part of a social engineering strategy to steal sensitive user data.

“We have a tool called Windows Live Messenger Password Recovery, this tool can be used to recover lost or forgotten passwords of Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail, Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger too,” reads an excerpt of the message employed to convince users to run HackMSN.exe and compromise their machines.

“This tool could be used by hackers to hack MSN passwords, it should not because Windows Live password hacking is illegal!. This tool is designed primarily for the use of the owners to hack their own Windows Live accounts when they forgot or lost their MSN password. This tool could also be used by forensic scientists to hack MSN password stored on the local system. This is only valid for those cases when after clicking the ‘Sign-in’ button in your MSN or Windows Live messenger you are able to login without having to enter your password,” it is added in the email.

-[Read more>>]- Windows Live Messenger Hack Tool Is Actually Malware

Demo Version of NCAA Football 11 Will Arrive on June 14

Ready for some college rivalries

EA Sports has announced that it plans to launch a demo of NCAA Football 11 on June 14 for those who own an Xbox 360 home console from Microsoft and one day later for those who enjoy their gaming on the PlayStation 3 from Sony. It's not clear what match fans will be able to sample in the demo, but considering how EA Sports has played this in previous years,
it's a good bet that the game on offer will be between the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide, in a repeat of the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.

EA Sports has worked on the motion control for NCAA Football 11, allowing for more realistic movement on the playing field, with more focus on the physical content between the players. The Pro Tak gang tackling system from Madden NFL 10 has been brought over and more blocking options have been introduced. A deeper Dynasty system is also being promised and a graphics update is also in the works, with referees appearing on the field and with team mascots popping up on the sidelines.

EA Sports is also working closely with ESPN in order to bring the visual style of its college football broadcasts to NCAA Football 11. The opening to the matches will be the same as on television and biographical and match data will be superimposed on the screen, giving players more information about the players and the teams.

NCAA Football 11 is set to be launched on July 13 on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 and the PS2. Tim Teebow will be featured on the cover of the new title. The game is seen as a preview of some of the changes that will also affect the much bigger Madden NFL franchise when it puts out another title in August this year. EA Sports promises more updates on the experience on its official NCAA Football blog.

-[Read more>>]- Demo Version of NCAA Football 11 Will Arrive on June 14

New Downloadable Titles for Nintendo's Consoles This Week

Fight for Sparta or destroy the Earth

Nintendo has announced this week's downloadable releases for the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo Wii. X-Scape and Hero of Sparta are available for purchase on the Nintendo DSiWare service. New offerings on the Nintendo WiiWare service also abound, with the launches of Ben 10 Alien Force: The Rise of Hex, Voodoo Dice and Robocalypse – Beaver Defense. The Wii's Virtual Console also gets a new classic title, Wild Guns, from the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

X-Scape sees players use an advanced battle tank called VIXIV to battle an evil empire throughout the galaxy and has an 800-Nintendo-DSi-Points price. Gameloft's Hero of Sparta is the mythical brawler that lets gamers fill in the shoes of Spartan King Argos and battle monsters like Minotaurs and Cyclops and can be purchased for 800 Nintendo DSi Points. A Topsy Turvy Life: The Turvys Strike Back is an interesting twist to Space Invaders that allows DS owners to control the aliens attacking the Earth and it is priced at 200 DSi Points

Ben 10 Alien Force: The Rise of Hex lets Wii owners take on 15 different levels using one of the ten characters with different powers and stats. The game has a steeper price, of 1,000 Wii Points. Voodoo Dice is a title that mixes action and puzzles in a 3D world and costs 1,000 Wii Points. The tower-defense strategy title Robocalypse – Beaver Defense is worth 600 Wii Points.

Wild Guns is a Western-themed SNES third-person shooter adapted for the Wii that features an impressive array of moves and guns. This release is available for 800 Wii Points. Also, Nintendo reminds its customers that Photo Dojo, the game that lets DS owners take photos of themselves and use them to create virtual karate masters, is still free until the 11th of June, after which it will cost 200 DSi Points.

-[Read more>>]- New Downloadable Titles for Nintendo's Consoles This Week