Microsoft Xbox

Microsoft to boost Xbox One GPU performance by making Kinect optional

The Microsoft Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4 have a lot in common when it comes to hardware. In fact, the specs are almost identical, save for the GPU where the PS4 holds the clear advantage. When these consoles were still the “next generation,” it was debatable how much impact that difference would have. Now that the next gen has become the current one, Sony looks to be in a very good place — some of the cross-platform launch titles look better and are running at higher frame rates on the PS4. Microsoft is reportedly swinging into action with a patch to give the Xbox One’s graphics a little boost at the expense of Kinect.
At the heart of both the PS4 and Xbox One is a semi-custom AMD APU. This 28nm part features an 8-core Jaguar CPU and a Radeon 7000-series GPU. The Xbox’s GPU is similar to the Bonaire core from the Radeon HD 7790, an entry-level PC graphics processor. The PS4, meanwhile, is rocking the mid-range Pitcairn core like you’d find in a Radeon HD 7870. Even though the Xbox One GPU is clocked a little higher, it can’t keep up with the PS4 in terms of raw power.
To make matters worse, game developers working on the Xbox One are coding with one hand tied behind their backs. Microsoft requires that all games reserve 10% of the GPU’s capacity for the Kinect, even if the game doesn’t use it. That’s split up into 8% for the Kinect video features and 2% for Kinect voice. In an effort to give a boost to its console, Microsoft is expected to issue a system patch that removes the requirement that games save that 8% for Kinect video.
By reducing the horsepower dedicated to Kinect, Microsoft might be able to realize frame rate improvements immediately after the system is patched. In one recent embarrassment, the frame rate of the new Tomb Raider title was found to be only 30 fps on the Xbox, but 60 fps on the PS4. This is something that an 8% bump in GPU power could help with.
Since frame rate is an average measurement, the Xbox One might only be hitting 20 frames for a short time when heavily taxed, but could shoot up to 40 or 50 fps when there’s less going on. Those times when the frame rate drops will stand out because it gets close to the edge of what our brains perceive as fluid movement. The PS4, way up there at a 60fps average has considerably more breathing room. Even squeezing just 8% more out of the GPU could help the Xbox keep the frame rate out of the danger zone.
This is one of those “every little bit” situations. While an extra 8% of GPU performance isn’t going to bring the Xbox One to parity with the PS4, developers can still do some amazing things with limited resources. Games tend to become more advanced the longer each console generation drags on. If the Xbox is already having issues keeping up with launch titles, Microsoft might be in for a bumpy ride. Pulling a little more GPU power from the Kinect is a smart move, but it’s little more than a stopgap.

MICROSOFT

Microsoft slashes prices on Windows 8.1 tablets, achieves near-parity with Android devices

 

We’ve known since IDF that Intel intended to put pressure behind Bay Trail’s sales volume by aggressively positioning the tablets across both Windows 8.1 and Android, but it seems Microsoft doesn’t want to be left behind — or undercut. The company has made significant slashes to prices on multiple devices in the Microsoft Store — the 32GB Dell Venue Pro has dropped from $299 to $229, while the 32GB Lenovo Miix 2 and Toshiba Encore (also 32GB tablets) have fallen to $249, from $299.
Dropping the Venue Pro to $229 actually puts Microsoft in the unusual position of going head-to-head against the $229 Google Nexus 7 (2013), but offering twice the storage (32GB versus 16GB). While Windows 8 has been roundly chewed up for offering far less than maximum capacity once the OS and restore files are accounted for, the 32GB Dell Venue 8 will still have 4-6GB more practical storage available than the Nexus 7 device.
The tablets themselves are powered by the Intel Bay Trail Z3740D, the same chip inside the Asus TransformerBook T100. While more expensive, the T100 also sports a larger screen (10.1 inches), a removable dock, and up to 64GB storage). Having used it extensively, I can say that the performance of this solution is surprisingly good — it far outstrips Clover Trail, and the integrated GPU is capable of handling many tablet games.
No, the Venue Pro 8 doesn’t have the Nexus 7′s 1920×1080 screen, but the 8.1-inch display on the Venue Pro still hits a PPI of 186. That’s higher than a conventional desktop monitor, even if it isn’t quite “Retina” quality (though as always, that’s a relative term and depends on viewing distance).

Microsoft is clearly trying to boost the visibility of its own Store (it’s selling the Dell Venue 8 Pro for a lower price than Dell itself). Still, this move also aligns with some of Intel’s priorities. The chip manufacturer has stated that its goal is to dramatically drive new tablet adoptions in 2014 with strong offerings in both the Windows 8 and Android ecosystems. If prices like this stick around, we’ll see Windows selling at head-to-head parity with Android throughout the year, at least at the upper end.
Whether this will finally spark adoption of x86 and Windows devices in the tablet space is an open question, but I think the path is clearer for Intel than Microsoft. If Intel can build equal-players for both products, OEMs will adopt a certain volume of x86 hardware, and customers who see equivalent battery life and performance won’t necessarily care either way. Intel’s own marketing funds go a long way towards helping that outcome. Microsoft, in contrast, still has to build support for its own anemic ecosystem — an altogether trickier proposition for a company still playing catch-up 15 months after its next-generation operating system was released. But Bay Trail really is a much better tablet chip than what we’ve seen in previous generations

LAPTOPS

Best laptops for engineers: When work requires a real workstation

Along with gamers, engineers pose one of the toughest design challenges for laptop makers. Engineering applications crave memory, graphics horsepower, and large screens — all hurdles in designing stylish, lightweight laptops. The result is a necessary tradeoff between performance and convenience. While not every engineer will make the same compromises, there are a few laptops that stand out for use by engineers, depending on their specific needs.

So what is the best laptop for an engineer? Here are a few great options, one of which will get the job done for you.

Lenovo ThinkPad W540

For those used to lugging a typical portable workstation “brick” the new Lenovo ThinkPad W540 may be a breath of fresh air. While not lightweight compared to a business laptop, at just under 5.5 pounds and just over an inch thick, it is not much larger than a MacBook Pro. Under the hood it can be configured with a variety of 4th generation (Haswell) Core i7 processors — ranging up to the 4930MX capable of 3GHz (3.9GHz  Turbo). It can also be stuffed full with up to 32GB of RAM and a 2880×1620 high resolution display. As befits a laptop designed for heavy-duty graphics, it features an Nvidia Quadro K1100 or K2100 discrete GPU.
Oddly for a Windows machine, the W540 doesn’t offer an HDMI or Displayport video output, opting instead for VGA and Thunderbolt ports. That may be a turnoff for those who don’t want to invest the extra time and effort in Thunderbolt peripherals. However, for those who need the ultimate in expansion capability, and want Thunderbolt’s high-speed 10Gbps transfer rate, it may be just the thing. For everyone else, fortunately, the W540 offers plenty of USB ports (2x USB3.0 and 2x USB 2.0). Automatic switching between integrated and discrete graphics helps the W540 claim a more-than-respectable 6+ hours of battery life (users are reporting around five hours).
As befits a ThinkPad, it comes with Intel’s vPro and a fingerprint reader. The system ships with Windows 7 Pro, so for Windows 8 haters, there’s no need to fret. However, if you want the latest version of Windows you’ll need to upgrade it on your own. W540 pricing starts at $1600 for an entry-level model with a 2.4GHz (3.4GHz Turbo) i7-4700MQ CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive.

HP ZBook 15 and 17 Mobile Workstations

Having made its reputation selling to engineers, HP is a natural when it comes to shopping for a portable workstation-class laptop. If accurate color and rugged construction are high on your list of requirements, the HP ZBook 15 with 15-inch display (or the larger and heavier 17-inch version the ZBook 17) will fit the bill. The tradeoff is a slightly heavier and larger machine (6.2 pounds for the 15-inch version) than the similar ThinkPad W540, even though specs are similar. The ZBooks also don’t offer the ultra-high-resolution display of the ThinkPad W540, but their 1080p displays are top notch and feature HP’s DreamColor technology.
Thunderbolt is also a feature on these models, allowing the connection of up to four displays. Unlike the ThinkPad, it also has a Displayport in addition to a VGA port. It also includes vPro and a fingerprint reader, along with a docking station connector on its underside. CPU options range up to the Core i7-4900MQ, clocked at up to 2.8GHz (3.8GHz Turbo), and it can be ordered with either Windows 7 Pro or Windows 8 Pro. Reviewers loved almost everything about the machine, except for its sub-four-hour battery life. The HP ZBook 15 is priced starting at $1650.

Dell Precision M3800 or XPS 15 Touch

While Dell’s flagship Precision M4800 goes head to head with beefy models like the ThinkPad W540 and ZBook 15, I’m focusing here on the new, lighter Precision M3800. The M3800 promises workstation power in a svelte 0.71-inch, 4.15-pound package. It has many of the newest bells and whistles, including an option for a QHD+ display, fourth-generation Core i7, Nvidia Quadro discrete graphics, and an mSATA slot to go along with its spinning hard drive.

Gorilla Glass covers the multi-touch screen — it’s still a bit of a novelty in the mobile workstation category, but valuable if you order the machine with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. The option for dual SSDs allows for maximum performance if you put them in a RAID0 configuration or allocate your swap and temp drives carefully. Like the other machines we’ve looked at here, Nvidia’s Optimus technology provides automatic switching between integrated and the discrete Quadro graphics. The M3800 is priced starting at around $2000. For those who don’t need the Quadro graphics and dual drives, the new Haswell-equipped Dell XPS 15 has almost identical specs otherwise.

Oppo N1 CyanogenMod edition review: Pure mind

Introduction

Trying out new things is in Oppo's DNA. The Find 5 was a clue, the N1 is the hard evidence, that the up and coming Chinese maker will never miss an opportunity to surprise and try to amaze. You know who else has a different perspective on things? CyanogenMod developers. So what happens when you put the two together? You know the answer to that one - a real challenger to the Nexus. But let's not jump the gun, shall we?

Oppo N1 CyanogenMod official photos
The CyanogenMod initiative has been around for ages in tech chronology, but until very recently nobody even considered getting the custom Android ROM on mass-produced phones. At least not until Cyanogen was set up as a proper company with a vision of the future and a dedicated staff to fulfill it - not just a bunch of enthusiasts writing code for the devices they own.
CyanogenMod is based on stock Android and builds on it with features and ideas contributed by the community. It's the end user that matters, not the top brass, who more often than not have their own agendas.
Oppo and Cyanogen are a match made in heaven for everyone who wants their droid to feel truly different - in terms of both hardware and software. The custom OS was originally offered on a limited edition of the Oppo N1 but the ROM is now readily available and promising better performance, prolonged battery life and a slew of extra features on top of the pure Android look.
What's more to ask? Check out the full set of features below.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support; penta-band 3G with HSPA
• 5.9" 16M-color 1080p Super IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 373ppi
• Android OS v4.3 Jelly Bean with CyanogenMod 10.2; Android 4.4 KitKat is on its way with a CyanogenMod 11 update
• Quad-core 1.7 GHz Krait 300 CPU, 2 GB RAM, Adreno 320 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chipset
• 13 MP autofocus camera, 206° module rotation; dual-LED flash; HDR, long exposure (up to 8 seconds), remote shutter
• 1080p video recording @ 30fps with HDR mode, continuous autofocus and stereo sound
• Touchpad on the back
• Dual-band Wi-Fi ac/a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA; Wireless TV-out (Miracast)
• GPS with A-GPS
• 16GB/32GB of built-in storage
• microUSB 2.0 port, USB on the go support
• Bluetooth v4.0
• NFC
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• 3610 mAh battery
• Accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
• Premium aluminum and polycarbonate finish
• O-Click Bluetooth Remote Control in the package

Main disadvantages

• Non expandable storage
• No LTE
• Non user-replaceable battery
• Hefty and big device, near impossible to operate single-handedly
• Snapdragon 600 is no longer flagship-grade

On the outside, the Oppo N1 running CyanogenMod is the same device. There are no special marks to differentiate it from its ColorOS-running sibling, neither are there any novelties about the hardware inside. The N1 with CyanogenMod is powered by the same Snapdragon 600 chipset, which while no longer Qualcomm's top dog, is by no means lacking in power.
Oh well, similarities with Nexus devices aren't purely coincidental, then. They didn't use to have the most powerful processing and graphics either - they simply delivered the pure, bloat-free experience certain users value above all else. The CyanogenMod-ded Oppo N1 builds on that with some unique features like the 13MP rotating camera module, rear touchpad and the impressive battery inside.

CyanogenMod Oppo N1 at HQ

First leaked pictures of Windows Phone 8.1 notification center

It's no secret Microsoft is working on the Windows Phone 8.1 update that is supposed to bring notification center and intelligent voice assistant among other features. We've heard rumors and seen lots of alleged shots before, but today we finally get a glimpse of the real deal.
The leaked photos show the settings of the upcoming notification center and are from an early test build of the WP 8.1

As you can see you can assign four quick toggles (Cellular data, Brightness, Wi-Fi, Airplane mode are the ones on the shot). There is also a checkbox for access the notification center from the lockscreen. Then there are the notification services you want to enable - emails, messages, etc.
It seems Microsoft is going to put everything the modern droids have in the notification center, instead of bringing it feature by feature as some of the competitors did.
Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to be unveiled at the annual BUILD conference in April and released soon after on all WP8-running devices

Samsung Galaxy s5

Photo presumably taken with a Samsung Galaxy S5 surfaces

Okay, we know that the following rumors might sound strange and hard to believe, but the image below, presumably of someone's finger covering the camera's lens, could have been taken with a Samsung Galaxy S5. The mysterious photo has been posted online some 20 days ago via Flipboard, an app that Samsung's recent Android phones come with out of the box, by a user called @123fliptest. Obviously, we're not being treated to a photographic masterpiece, but that's not of any importance right now. What's really interesting is that the image has been taken with a Samsung device model SM-G900-V, according to the embedded EXIF data. Allow us to remind you that the Samsung SM-G900 and its variations are believed to be different versions of the yet-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy S5, and the G900-V is supposedly the model bound for Verizon. 

Photo allegedly taken with a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S5

Digging further into the photo's EXIF data shows that the original image has a resolution of 5312 by 2988 pixels, which suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S5 could come with a 16MP camera. However, note that the image has been captured at an aspect ratio of 16:9, which might not be the native aspect ratio of the phone's camera sensor. Therefore, assuming that the Galaxy S5 could actually be equipped with a standard 4:3 sensor, then the actual resolution of the phone's camera could be about 21MP. 

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to be announced in February or March of this year, and that's when we'll learn whether or not the highly-anticipated device is masked behind the aforementioned model number. If that's the phone you're looking forward to, you might want to check out our Samsung Galaxy S5 rumor round-up.

source: @123fliptest via @evleaks

 

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