Fujitsu LH772 Lifebook

INTEGRATING tradition with modern design has produced good results, and that is what Fujitsu is doing with the new LH772 Lifebook.

Using the Takumi philosophy, Fujitsu pays attention to details, be it form or functionality. With the latest specifications, this notebook proves to be a worthy personal workstation despite competition from the iPads and other tablets.

The glossy pink review unit which I received suggests that this model targets trend-conscious consumers and promises loads of entertaining activities to boot.

I'd like to think the choice of the colour pink was inspired by the cherry blossoms, fusing the company's Japanese heritage in the design. The model also comes in black and white finishing, to suit users who plan to blend with the corporate culture.

COMFORT

The screen panel can almost tilt 180 degrees so you can enjoy the screen at a wider angle. The LH772 is no light weight, as it comes with a built-in optical drive, lots of ports and slots for connectivity convenience as well as unique built-in accessories like speakers, fingerprint reader and more.

The slanting keyboard panel is a gem, rising gradually from bottom towards the upper part, making it very comfortable to type while both hands rest on the palm rest space on the notebook.

The ergonomical design continues with the keyboard slanting slightly lower at the centre, so your fingers won't tire easily. The patterned surface of the lower panel reduces slipping and does not retain any fingerprints.

Fujitsu has come out with a signature design with the lower keyboard which curves out at the right hand side. It's called the F-line, as it resembles the letter F.

One of the most interesting features on this Lifebook model is the control wheel, a small crater at the lower right hand side of the LH772 that responds to touch. Just trace your finger around the jagged path around the wheel to turn the volume up or down. It feels like a real audio-visual machinery.

FACE RECOGNITION

The Omni-pass serves as a master password that can be used to encrypt files, secure the Lifebook and perform other secure options on various information from unwanted snoops.

This unique addition is convenient and safe and you won't have to worry about anyone getting to your personal files even if you lose the Lifebook.

Another interesting feature is Face Sense Utility. Working with a sensor, it recognises the user's face and halts tasks when it detects that the user is not in front of the screen for more than three seconds. This means you can go ahead for a break while watching a movie and the Lifebook will pause automatically. Or if you are working, your documents will not fall prey to snooping if you step out of your cubicle. It will resume the task automatically and swiftly as soon as it detects your face is back in front of the screen.

You can choose to play your DVDs or CDs on either the Windows Media Player or the Cyberlink Power DVD 10, with both giving you satisfying results. The Onkyo Box Speakers provide crystal-clear audio, a perfect accompaniment to the beautiful graphics that this Lifebook offers.

DIRECT UPLOAD

For aspiring YouTube artists, the Lifebook has a You Cam feature that comes with lots of fun tools to toy with.

One effect I love is the "raining confetti option" that senses my head movement. You can directly upload the video recorded on the You Cam to YouTube or Facebook and just wait for your five minutes of fame.

Though I did not get to test any graphics-intensive games on the Lifebook, I can imagine the joy of playing one on it with sounds effects blaring from the speakers and the LCD screen giving the best graphics experience.

The LH722 also has Anytime USB Charger mode, giving users the option to charge other devices only if the Lifebook is connected to an AC adaptor or charging using the Lifebook's battery. The mode also works when the LH772 is not turned on. The charging will stop automatically if the battery level is too low and goes into hibernation.

You can set your Lifebook to ECO Quick Mode that doesn't start up quickly but saves battery life, as opposed to Quick Mode that powers the Lifebook immediately but sucks more juice.

The entertainment-driven specifications, combined with the exhaustive security features, makes the LH722 Lifebook quite a catch. Fujitsu has managed to balance both design and performanc

10 Million Galaxy Notes Sold Globally

It is indeed a happy moment for Samsung. 
Image source: Samsung

Less than a year after its launch, the Samsung Galaxy Note managed to garner global sales of 10 million. While we predicted 8 months ago that the Samsung device would fare better than the Dell Streak, we did not expect it to have come so far since it remains a phone that either you love or hate. Its solid performance and beautiful HD Super AMOLED display are major plus points although its massive dimensions may be a deal breaker for consumers with smaller hands.

Samsung will be unveiling the successor to the Galaxy Note on 29^th August at its Mobile Unpacked event in Berlin. Some of its alleged specs include a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display, an Exynos 4 Quad processor and an 8-megapixel camera sensor. Will the sales of the Galaxy Note II outpace its predecessor?

There is a high likelihood of that happening if we look at recent sales numbers and reception towards Samsung mobile devices. The sales of its flagship model, the Galaxy S III, has hit 10 million units last month. In addition, Samsung has expanded the Galaxy Note branding into its tablet line-up with its Galaxy Note 10.1. We recently had a hands-on with the Samsung slate, which gave us a positive user experience. All seems to be going well for Samsung even as the company is currently embroiled in a legal battle with Apple over alleged patent infringement. 

Source: Engadget

Microsoft plans next-gen multi-touch stylus

Following Samsung’s use of the S Pen in its latest Galaxy S III smartphone, Microsoft is planning its next-generation stylus, according to a patent approved recently.

Besides touch sensors, Microsoft’s ePen will have a gyroscope, accelerometers and other sensors, said PCWorld.

For example, users of the ePen would be able to adjust the thickness of a line by virtually sharpening the digital pen with a twist, or turn it into an eraser using a different grip.

Apple 'to unveil mini iPad in October

Apple will unveil a new, smaller version of its wildly popular iPad in October after the release of the latest version of its iPhone next month, the All Things Digital website reported Sunday.

"First comes the latest iteration of the tech giant's hugely popular smartphone, which will be unveiled at an as yet unannounced event on September 12," the website said.

"Only after the next-generation iPhone is out the door and on sale will Apple announce the smaller iPad it's been working on," it said.

"That device, which is expected to have a display of less than eight inches (20 centimeters), will be uncrated at a second special event, which sources say is currently scheduled for October."

The 10-inch iPad has long dominated the tablet market, but faces a growing challenge from smaller models like Amazon's Kindle Fire, the Google Nexus 7 and the Samsung Galaxy.

Apple is expected to launch the miniature iPad later this year, with analysts saying it could allow the California-based company to again best its global rivals despite the death last year of visionary founder Steve Jobs.

The 8 Samsung phones Apple wants banned

                                                  Galaxy S2 T-Mobile

                                                      Droid Charge

                                                  Galaxy Prevail

                                                              Galaxy S2 AT&T

                                                        Galaxy S2

                                                            Galaxy S 4G

                                                       Galaxy S2 Epic 4G

                                                          Galaxy S Showcase

iOS 6 Reportedly Introducing New "WiFi plus Cellular" Feature

Source: AppleInsider

According to reports, Apple is introducing a new feature in iOS 6 called "WiFi plus Cellular". When enabled, your iPhone or iPad will automatically check the WiFi connection you are on and if it detects any loss of performance, it will then automatically switch to your cellular connection. This is useful especially if you are using free public WiFi and the connection starts to get bogged down.

However, it seems that this new feature is used mainly for syncing purposes for the time being as the list of "allowed apps" presently only includes: iCloud Documents, iTunes, Passbook Updates and Reading List.

Source: AppleInsider and hardwarezone.com

10-inch HTC Tablet to Make an Appearance at IFA 2012?

 

Image source: EVLeaks

It has been more than a year since HTC unveiled its first tablet, the Flyer and it seems that the Taiwanese company may make a comeback in IFA 2012 with a 10-inch tablet.

Images obtained by Twitter-based EVLeaks shows a possible 10-inch tablet with the HTC logo at the back. The HTC tablet sports an almost bezel-less design on its top, left and right sides, leaving the bottom with an unusually large bezel. The camera appears to be situated at the middle of the tablet, which is quite eccentric. 

Image source: EVLeaks

The image above shows the HTC tablet running on Google Android operating system. Based on the Settings icon, it should be running on Android 3.0 Honeycomb, which is weird considering the fact that most Android tablets released this year are powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. 

Moreover, we couldn't help but feel that the 10-inch HTC tablet look like a smaller version of Apple's iMac. Whether or not it will infringe on Apple's trade dress patent (on the iMacs if there are any) is another issue.

Sony is also rumored to be launching a new tablet, called the Sony Xperia Tablet. Leaked photos show a device with the unique form factor of the Tablet S. The Xperia Sony Tablet will run on NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor and powered by Android 4.0 or later.

Source: EVLeaks via Phandroid and hardwarezone.com

MSI Z77 MPOWER Built for Overclockers

Hate stock motherboards? Not satisfied until you push a board to the limit? Well then, we’ve got good news for you. MSI has just announced that its latest MSI Z77 MPOWER motherboards are built specifically to cater to enthusiasts overclockers.

The board comes with a new design which have been tested to run at a 4.6GHz CPU speed and the PWM is capable of supplying stable power even through long periods of time in low air-flow conditions. With the Twin Frozr IV based thermal design, the MSI Z77 MPOWER can withstand extreme loads in long duration overclocking tests.

Furthermore, the Z77 MPOWER comes with Multi-BIOS II to ensure that even if something goes wrong during your tweaks, you'll still have a working BIOS. Easy Button III provides onboard power and reset buttons, while V-Check Points allows you to accurately measure voltages for the CPU, integrated graphics, memory, and PCH.

To boost the durability, MSI also fitted the board with these Military Class III components:

• DrMOS II
• Hi-c CAP
• SFC (Super Ferrite Choke)
• Solid CAP

For more news updates on MSI, please click here.

More Details on Intel 'Valleyview' Atom CPUs Leaked

Intel plans to launch its next generation of Atom processors based on 22nm microarchitecture as early as Q4 of this year. According to CPU World, these 22nm chips are named 'Silvermont' and are intended to replace Intel's current generation of 32nm 'Clover Trail' chips.

(Image Source: computerbase.de)

According to CPU World, the details of the new Atom Silvermont processors were leaked by the German sitecomputerbase.de that discovered a leaked Intel document on a Baidu website. These next generation Atom processors are the heart of ValleyView that is Intel's new system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution. The name of the SoC platform is 'Bay Trail' but there was no mention of the fanless Atom platform called Balboa Pier when we reported about the new Atom processor in March this year.

Intel's ValleyView solution is expected to arrive in four flavors:-

• VV-T for portable devices
• VV-I for industrial use
• VV-D for desktop systems
• VV-M for netbooks

According to the block diagram above, the Silvermont CPU is expected to be a quad-core chip; however, there will be variants of the Bay Trial platform that will feature ValleyView SoCs in their single and dual-core SKUs, as well as quad-core versions. In terms of its graphics engines, our earlier report has been confirmed as the new Atom Silvermont processor will feature four onboard Intel 7th generation GPUs (Intel HD 4000) as well as a VXD392 IP core. Hence, the chip will support hardware decoding for a broad variety of video codecs. The leaked document also claims that 1080p video will run smoothly at 60fps, requiring less than 5-percent of CPU usage when coupled with chip's onboard GPUs processing capabilities.

The Silvermont processors will available in two types of packages:-

• 27mm x 25mm (Type-3)
• 17mm x 17mm (Type-4)

Type-3 chips will be optimized for embedded and automotive systems while the Type-4 ones are well-suited for low-power systems, running applications in virtual computing environments.

(Source: computerbase.de via CPU World, Imagination Technologies) and hardware zone.com

LG Optimus L9 Announced, Comes with Keypad that Adapts to User

Image source: LG

LG today announced a new member of its L-series lineup of smartphones, the Optimus L9. Based on its specs, the Optimus L9 should be the flagship model of the L-series. Some of its specs include: 

• Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich 
• 1GHz dual-core processor 
• 1GB RAM
• 4.7-inch IPS display 
• 5-megapixel rear camera 
• VGA front camera 
• 131.9 x 68.2 x 9.1mm
• 125g
• 2150mAh

While its hardware specs are nothing to shout out about, it's the software that deserves some highlight. The Optimus L9 has a language translator service, known as the QTranslator, which instantly translates words, phrases and sentences with a simple scan from nearly 44 foreign languages to 64 user languages. It relies on Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to recognize letters and uses an electronic dictionary or online translation engine to do the translation. 

The Optimus L9 also has the My Style Keypad function, which adjusts the key formation of the keypad according to whether the user is texting with one hand(right or left-handed) or two hands. Although little is known at this point about the My Style Keypad function, it seems to follow a similar concept implemented onBlackBerry (BB10)'s keyboard, where there is actually a second, invisible keyboard that alters the boundaries of each key so that you are actually hitting the keys that you intend to.

We've reached out to LG Singapore on its price and availability. We will update this section as soon as we have the information.

Read on for the full press release.

---

SEOUL, Aug. 29, 2012 – The LG Optimus L9 will continue the stylish L-Series lineup of smartphones with its global debut. Following the successful launches of the Optimus L3, Optimus L5, and Optimus L7 earlier this year, the Optimus L9 is anticipated to continue in the success of the L-Series emphasizing premium design heritage developed from LG’s design leadership.

Inheriting LG’s premium L-Style design philosophy, the Optimus L9 has a 9.1mm thin body with a slimming metallic streak and modern square style that offers a comfortable grip from its slim and stylish design. The largest-in-class 4.7-inch IPS display of the Optimus L9 offers clear and true-to- life images with incredible detail for comfortable viewing experience. The high-density 2,150mAh SiO+ battery allows users to enjoy the various new UX features all day long with maximized performance while retaining its incredibly sleek design.

The Optimus L9 was also developed to be a smarter smartphone through LG’s differentiated UX features, such as the QTranslator and My Style Keypad function along with the ever-popular QMemoTM.

The QTranslator function instantly translates not only words, but also entire sentences and phrases with a simple scan from nearly 44 foreign languages to 64 user languages. Using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, it recognizes letters upon scanning with the camera and utilizes electronic dictionary or online translation engine to translate words, sentences or phrases.

The My Style Keypad function comfortably adjusts the key formation of the keypad according to whether the user is texting with one hand (right or left-handed) or two hands. Lastly, the Optimus L9 will also include the QMemoTM, allowing users to capture, memo and share their ideas with others using their fingertip or handwriting.

“The Optimus L9 is a great smartphone that appeals to every consumer,” said Dr. Jongseok Park, President and CEO of LG Mobile Communications Company. “LG will continue to offer differentiated value through the Optimus L9 and strengthen our position in the smartphone market.”

source by hardware zone.com

6 Dec Hearing on Apple's Request to Ban Samsung Phones

Image source: AllThingsD

Judge Lucy Koh, the U.S district judge presiding over the Apple-Samsung case, announced in a written order that a 6th December hearing is set to consider Apple's request for an injunction against Samsung devices, and Samsung's appeal to overturn the verdict.

A preliminary hearing was initially set on 20^th September to consider the injunction. However, it has since been changed to cover Samsung's efforts to lift an injunction against its Galaxy Tab 10.1 after it has been revealed to not infringe on an Apple design patent. 

AllThingsD- “Having considered the scope of Apple’s preliminary injunction request, the additional posttrial motions that the parties have already filed and will file, and the substantial overlap between the analysis required for Apple’s preliminary injunction motion and the parties’ various other posttrial motions, the Court believes consolidation of the briefing and hearing on the post-trial motions is appropriate,” Koh said

The December hearing date may be a blessing for Samsung as it has more time to make engineering and software tweaks to the devices. If these measures fail to avoid litigation, they are unlikely to have much impact on Samsung's sales as the models are quite dated.

Source: AllThingsD

Zynga's Chief Creative Officer Leaves to Start Own Game Company

Zyngas’s Chief Creative Officer, Mike Verdu, has just confirmed that he is leaving Zynga to start his own gaming outfit which will focus on games for mobile platforms.

As Chief Creative Officer, Mike oversaw Zynga’s various game studios and also managed the company’s creative process. And although his departure follows closely a handful of other exits - most prominently, Chief Operating Officer John Schappert - Mike insists that the split was amicable.

Mike goes on to say that Zynga will be one of his company’s investors and that Zynga will publish his games on its third-party platform. He explains that his company will focus on mobile games, which is one of Zynga’s weak points, as the company has thus far struggled to adapt games for mobile devices - which relies on swiping and touch, rather than a mouse. He also says that he will continue to work closely with Zynga.

For more information and a copy of Mike’s goodbye post to Zynga, check out the source below.

Source: AllThingsD

New PS Vita Firmware Update Expands Functionality

Source: sony.com

The new firmware update version 1.80 for the PS Vita is rolling in some changes. First up it allows for use of the portable, handheld console as a controller for the PlayStation 3. This means that not only will gamers have the standard array of buttons and sticks at their disposal, they will also be able to make use of the touch screen for gameplay on the console titles they own, making the whole package similar to the Nintendo WiiU.

In addition, Sony also announced compatibility with certain titles from the PSOne (PlayStation One). A total of nine titles are officially available for the Vita namely Arc the Lad, Cool Boarders 2, Final Fantasy VII, Hot Shots Golf 2, Jet Moto, Syphon Filter, Tomb Raider, Twisted Metal 2 and Wild Arms. However Joystiq has found that extra PSOne titles Cho Aniki and Money Idol Exchanger can also be played on the PS Vita.

No news however on when we can expect new console hardware from Sony. You can try out the Ouya or theiOS GameDock in the mean time.

Source: Sony via Arstechnica and Joystiq

Hisense Pulse Google TV Box to Debut at IFA 2012

Image credit: Hisense and CE Pro.

One does wonder if it's commercially viable for hardware makers, like Sony for example, to be pushing Google TV media devices now that the search giant is peddling their own wares in the dark and spherical form of the Nexus Q. If you recall, Sony gave us a glimpse of the NSZ-GS7 sometime in March, equipped with Google TV as well. Although it has yet to arrive on our shores, the GS7 is already available from Amazon if you can't wait to get your hands on Sony's so-called Internet Player. But wait, there's more.

We understand that Hisense USA, a subsidiary of the head company (Hisense) headquartered in Qingdao China, has plans to launch their own Google TV box at IFA 2012. Known as Hisense Pulse, the media streamer will debut for US$99, and it'll make its rounds in North America sometime in November. Fans ofApple TV will undoubtedly be familiar with that price point. Measuring 4.5 by 1.4 inches, the Pulse will feature full plug-and-play capabilities, with all the goodies you might expect from a Google TV box, such as a Chrome web browser, Google Play (Google's app store), Search, TV and Movies and of course, YouTube.

"This box effectively bridges the gap to the latest in home entertainment, without the need for expensive hardware upgrades. Most people have at least one HDTV in their home and with the addition of a Hisense Pulse with Google TV, we offer the liberty of accessing not just TV, but a host of streaming content, web surfing and TV apps (such as Pandora Radio, CNNMoney, Motor Trend, and Thuuz) that are available in Google Play", says JoAnne Foist, Director of Marketing at Hisense USA.

Ports include HDMI, Ethernet, and USB slots, with the bonus of integrated Wi-Fi in its compact footprint. Also, this box is Full-HD capable, meaning it'll serve up resolutions from 480i right up to 1080p on your big screen. Supported video formats include H.264, MPEG-4, and AVC. Like Sony's GS7, the Hisense Pulse will be equipped with a dual-sided remote which features a QWERTY keyboard on one side.

We'll keep you posted should this little gizmo ever makes it way here.

Source: CE Pro and AVForums

LG Opens Game World for Convenient Access to Smart TV Games

LG has announced its new Smart TV game portal - Game World.

Image source: LG

Developed exclusively for its Cinema 3D Smart TV lineup, the portal provides an intuitive interface where users can conveniently search, purchase, and play game apps in both 2D and 3D. Many of the games can be played with LG's Magic Remote or with any third-party game pad.

The main menu displays a menu bar, which lists four categories - Featured, Top Chart, New, and Genre. The Featured category comprises some of the hottest games available, including games recommended by LG. Top Chart offers the most popular paid as well as freeware games. The New link lists the most recent games available in Game World while the Genre option gives access to game titles in categories like action, adventure, RPG, shooter, and strategy, just to name a few.

On top of that, there's also a tutorial with manuals and instructions for playing with a Magic Remote or a game pad, at the main menu at the Game World. The My Games section links users to all previously purchased games and displays a list of the most frequently played games, making it easy to find the next big hit. The titles available on Game World will consist mainly of family-friendly titles, with most titles being compatible with LG Magic Remote’s gestures and movement capabilities and many also playable in 3D.

Game World will be launched globally in the second half of this year.

Read on for the full press release.

---

BERLIN, Aug. 27, 2012 – LG Electronics (LG) today announced the launch of its new Smart TV game portal, Game World. Anticipating a new era of downloadable casual 3D games, LG developed Game World exclusively for its CINEMA 3D Smart TV lineup. The portal provides a user-friendly way to search, purchase, and play game apps – in both 2D and 3D – through an intuitive interface. Many of the games can be played with LG’s Magic Remote or with any third-party game pad.

“Game World is a wonderful source of games – especially 3D games – which are suitable for everyone,” said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Home Entertainment Company. “Many popular titles will be available along with games developed exclusively for LG CINEMA 3D Smart TVs. By making the most of the capabilities of LG 3D TVs, Game World will allow us to push the boundaries of 3D gaming and expand the market.”

A simplified user experience begins with the main menu, which prominently displays a menu bar listing four categories – Featured, Top Chart, New and Genre – for quick access to the contents. The Featured category comprises some of the hottest games available, including games recommended by LG. Top Chart offers the most popular paid as well as freeware games. The New link lists the most recent games available in Game World while the Genre option gives access to game titles in the following categories: action, adventure, arcade, puzzle, RPG, shooter, simulation, sports, and strategy.

The Game World main menu also provides a tutorial, with manuals and instructions for playing with a Magic Remote or a game pad. The My Games section links users to all previously purchased games and displays a list of the most frequently played games, making it easy to find the next big hit. The titles available on Game World will consist mainly of family-friendly titles, with most titles being compatible with LG Magic Remote’s gestures and movement capabilities and many also playable in 3D.

Game World will be launched globally in the second half of this year.

source by hardware zone .com

LG Unveils IPS Monitors for Graphics Professionals and Entertainment Enthusiasts

LG has revealed two premium IPS monitors, the EA93 and EA83, today at the IFA 2012.

Image source: LG

Designed to let users enjoy a variety of entertainment, the 29-inch EA93 has a aspect ratio similar to a typical movie theater screen. Capable of capturing 100% of the defined sRGB color space, the monitor delivers 300nits brightness for high quality and truer colors. The 4-Screen Split feature can divide the display into four segments, transforming the monitor into an advanced multitasking tool. The additional Dual Link-up function allows two devices to connect to the monitor concurrently, so sharing files from two devices is made convenient.

Specially engineered to handle graphics-intensive applications, the 27-inch EA83 comes with a WQHD resolution, offering ample screen real estate for power users looking to multitask and providing one of the widest color spaces available. Also, the monitor accurately reproduces 99% of the Adobe RGB palette, giving graphics professionals the precise colors they are looking for.

Visitors to IFA will be able to experience both the EA93 and EA83 IPS monitors first-hand at the LG Electronics stand in Hall 11.2 of Messe Berlin.

Read on for the full press release.

---

BERLIN – LG Electronics (LG) unveiled two new premium IPS monitors today at the IFA tradeshow in Berlin, the EA93 and EA83. The EA93 is designed to enjoy variety of entertainment and the EA83 is specifically crafted to handle graphics-intensive applications. The most noticeable feature on the EA93 is the cinematic screen, a 21:9 display – the same ratio used in real movie theaters –that works as a superb solution for home entertainment and multitasking. The EA83 lets consumers take advantage of Wide Quad High Definition (WQHD) resolution (2560x1440 pixels). WQHD offers ample screen real estate for power users looking to multitask and provides one of the widest color spaces available. The monitor accurately reproduces 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color palette, providing graphics experts with a superior level of imaging quality.

“Through continuous innovation of our IPS monitors, we are raising the user experience to a whole new level for home entertainment and graphic professional use,” said J.J. Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the IT Business Unit at the LG Home Entertainment Company. “The EA93’s immersive 21:9 cinematic screen and the EA83’s advantages when it comes to advanced graphics applications make these newest monitors compelling additions to our premium IPS monitor line-up.”

Ideal Multimedia and Multitasking Solution

The 29-inch EA93 boasts 2560 x 1080 resolution, and since the aspect ratio is identical to that of a typical movie theater screen, contents are shown just the way they were intended. But it isn’t only the size of the screen that makes the monitor so adept with multimedia, the EA93 accurately captures 100 percent of the defined sRGB color space, and the monitor delivers 300nit brightness for higher quality, more lifelike colors. Put simply, IPS technology plus a cinematic screen is the ideal combination for entertainment.

The extra-wide screen is also useful in work situations, helping to improve productivity. The 4-Screen Split feature can divide the display into four segments, transforming the monitor into an advanced multitasking tool. The additional Dual Link-up function allows two devices to connect to the monitor simultaneously. Sharing files from two devices at the same time - a PC and a smartphone - has never been easier.

Graphics Powerhouse

The EA83 was designed to be a comprehensive monitor solution for filmmakers, photographers, designers, and other graphics experts by providing a combination of superior resolution and lifelike colors. The WQHD (2560x1440 pixel) high resolution IPS monitor provides vivid picture quality while featuring one of the widest color spaces in its category. Expressing colors not available within sRGB, the EA83 is able to display 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color space and gives graphics professionals the exact colors they’re looking for. LG’s innovative IPS monitor is capable of producing images that are practically identical to their real-life counterparts. The EA83 ships with software and hardware color calibrators, enabling graphics professionals to ensure that the screen always displays the most accurate and natural colors.

Visitors to IFA will be able to experience both the EA93 and EA83 IPS monitors first-hand at the LG Electronics stand in Hall 11.2 of Messe Berlin.

source by hardware zone.com

Samsung Galaxy S III to be Available in Amber Brown and Titanium Grey

Going overboard? Samsung has officially announced a couple of new nature-inspired shades for its ever-so-popular flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III, bringing the total count of shades to six. Two shades were earlier shown - Garnet Red was an exclusive for AT&T customers since July; Sapphire Black was last seen making its appearance on Samsung's 2012 Olympics Facebook page and UK retailers' webpages. Now, we have Amber Brown and Titanium Grey to ogle at. Unfortunately, it's unclear where or when these colours will be available although Samsung made mention that the shades' availability will depends on different regions and carriers. 

Source: Samsung Tomorrow via The Verge

LG Optimus G Leaked, Possible Announcement at IFA 2012 (Update)

*Update: A few photos of the LG Optimus G leaked ahead of its expected launch at IFA 2012.

Samsung is not the only phone vendor that is cooking up a storm at the upcoming IFA 2012 with its Galaxy Note II. Apparently, LG is also said to preparing a launch of its next flagship model, the Optimus G at the event. 

According to Korean publication AsiaDaily, the LG Optimus G will be powered by a quad-core processor, 2GB RAM and runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It will sport a 4.7-inch IPS TrueHD display and a 13-megapixel rear camera. The Optimus G is reportedly coming with 4G LTE connectivity. 

The LG Optimus G is rumored to arrive in Asia sometime next month. The company is also alleged to be manufacturing the Optimus Nexus, one of the three upcoming Nexus devices which are expected to be launched later this year.

Source: AsiaDaily via GottaBeMobile, Androidmx.net

(Breaking news) Samsung Found Guilty of Copying Apple, Ordered to Pay Over $1 Billion in Damages

Jury: Samsung copied Apple, should pay at least $1.049 billion in damages

After a surprisingly short time in deliberations, the jury in the Apple v. Samsung case reached a verdict today. The nine jurors decided unanimously that Samsung had infringed on Apple's intellectual property, and while Cupertino won't be getting the more than $2.5 billion it asked for, it will be getting at least $1,049,343,540.

SAMSUNG WILL RECEIVE NOTHING

The jury didn't think much of Samsung allegations of infringement, either. They didn't feel that Apple had committed a single count of infringement — at least not anything that Samsung had demonstrated — against either Samsung's standards-essential or utility patents. As such, the company will be receiving nothing for its troubles.

It wasn't all gravy for Apple, however. The jury found that the company's legal team didn't prove Samsung had broken any antitrust laws or violated its agreements with the UMTS standards bodies. Still, it was a meager get for Samsung, considering the jury also found that Samsung couldn't have enforced its '516 and '941 3GPP patents against Apple due to "patent exhaustion" — in this case, the fact that Intel already has a licensing agreement with Samsung, and the company shouldn't be allowed to double-dip.

As the verdict was read aloud in the courtroom, things looked bad for Samsung from the start. The first item up was Apple's bounce-back patent — which the jury found Samsung had infringed with every single accused device. Things were similarly grim for the rest of the utility patent infringements, with the jury finding that the majority of the devices infringed. Things didn't get much better when it came to Apple's patent covering scrolling and two finger gestures. Almost every device was found to have infringed, with only the likes of the Ace, Intercept, and the Replenish escaping. Apple's tap-to-zoom patents didn't garner such overwhelming results, but the vast majority of accused devices were found to infringe here as well. As one final dig on the utility patent front, the jury found that parent company Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (SEC) had induced the other two entities named in the suit to infringe upon the three utility patents; again only a handful of devices escaped the inducement findings.

THE ATTACKS ON SUSAN KARE PROVED INEFFECTIVE

Things didn't get any better with the design patents. Despite Samsung's attack on Susan Kare's testimony, the company was found to have infringed the design patent for the iPhone's array of icons across the board. The D'677 patent did almost as well, with just the Ace being found to not infringe. The D'087 patent was the weakest performer for Apple, with just the Galaxy S, Galaxy S 4G, and Vibrant found to be infringing. Apple's iPad patents didn't hold up at all — neither of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 variants were found to have infringed Apple's D'889 patent. SEC was found to have induced here as well; only the Galaxy S II variants and the Tab devices escaped Apple's inducement accusations.

In the build-up to the announcement of the damages, one key finding was the issue of willfulness. Judge Koh could order that Samsung pay even more to Apple if the jury found its infringement was intentional — which it did for all three utility patents and both the icon layout and iPhone front-face design patent.

NOT A SINGLE APPLE PATENT WAS DECLARED INVALID

As the announcement ran on, the one saving grace Samsung could have hoped for was patent invalidity. If it had successfully proven that Apple's patents weren't valid in the first place, it wouldn't have had to pay anything — and Apple would have found itself with the value of its intellectual property significantly diminished. Again, the jury sided with Apple, deciding that not a single Apple patent was invalid.

THE JURY DIDN'T SEEM TO BUY APPLE'S DILUTION ARGUMENT

Apple did suffer a few setbacks, however. The jury decided that the unregistered iPad trade dress and the iPhone / iPad combination trade dress (consisting of the iOS icons and layout) were neither protectable nor famous. It was a strange decision, given that the jury had found infringement for the design patent covering that same iOS icon grid, but it took two areas of infringement off the table for Samsung. The jury didn't seem to buy Apple's dilution argument — Samsung was particular effective during testimony at attacking the notion — and found that only the Fascinate, Galaxy S i9000, Galaxy S II Showcase, Mesmerize and Vibrant had diluted the registered iPhone trade dress (it threw in the same phones along with the Galaxy S 4G when it came to dilution of the unregistered iPhone 3G trade dress).

APPLE STRUCK OUT ON ANTITRUST

Where Apple struck out was in its antitrust claims and argument that Samsung had violated its agreements with UMTS standards bodies by not disclosing the existence of standards-essential patents. Cupertino also failed in trying to prove that Samsung's patents weren't legitimate. Not a single patent was ruled as invalid, despite Apple's arguments to the contrary.

THE JURY MADE A MISTAKE

After the verdict was read there was a brief moment of reconsideration on the part of the jury and judge. Samsung pointed out that the original amount of damages awarded — $1,051,855,000 — didn't make sense because the jury had awarded money to Apple for devices it said hadn't infringed in the first place. After going back to reconsider the decision, the jury dropped the damages to the $1.049 billion figure.

The jurors left the courtroom without speaking to the media. Things may be over for now, but the next stage of legal machinations are already underway. A hearing about possible injunctions against Samsung products is set for September 20th, and Samsung has already vowed that "this is not the final word in this case." Still, with such a resounding win, Apple no doubt feels its legal pursuit of Samsung has been vindicated — and the decision will send shockwaves throughout the consumer electronics industry sure to effect both companies and consumers.

Matt Macari contributed to this report.