Lexmark OfficeEdge Pro5500

Any business inkjet had better be fast. The OfficeEdge Pro5500 one-ups the competition by being fast in scanning as well as printing. In our tests it photocopied a simple text document at a brisk speed of 6 pages per minute. When it came to our hardest scanning test, which uses a full-page color photo, the OfficeEdge Pro5500 took just 68 seconds--one of the fastest scan times we've seen here.

Dell XPS 15z

 
Unlike most other Dell laptops, the XPS 15z isn't highly configurable. You can't upgrade the slot-loading burner to a Blu-ray drive: Dell says that the system is too thin to have room for a slot-loading Blu-ray drive. The base model comes with a screen resolution of 1366 by 768, but for $100 more you can upgrade to a full 1920 by 1080. Aside from the full-HD display, Dell offers set configurations with 8GB of RAM instead of 6GB, a dual-core Core i7-2620M CPU, and double the graphics RAM, but most of those enhancements won't make a noticeable difference. Though our review unit was the full $1500 package with all of the higher-end options, the sweet spot is the base configuration plus full-HD screen for $1100.

Sony VAIO Z Series

The 13-inch VAIO Z is ridiculously thin and light. At 0.7 inch when closed, the body is about as thick as the thickest point on a Macbook Air, though the VAIO Z doesn't taper as Apple's ultraportable does. It's even lighter than the 13-inch Air, too, at 2.5 pounds. This is due in part to Sony's having made the body out of aluminum and featherweight, durable carbon fiber. It looks good, and it feels good. And despite the laptop's incredibly svelte size, Sony crams a full-voltage Core i5 or Core i7 processor into it. Our review model came with a Core i7 2620M and 4GB of RAM. It also carried a 256GB solid-state drive, and the combination powered the system to a very impressive WorldBench 6 score of 138--one of the highest scores we've seen for an ultraportable laptop. Amazingly, the battery lasted for 5.5 hours, about an hour less than the batteries on most recent ultraportables have managed, but quite impressive considering the horsepower under the hood.

Dell XPS 13

The version of the XPS 13 that I tested is the entry-level model. For $999, you get a Core i5-2467M with Intel integrated graphics, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive. For $300 more, you can upgrade to a 256GB SSD; and another $200 will boost the CPU to a dual-core Core i7. Our baseline configuration proved to be pretty zippy on its own, delivering a strong WorldBench 7 score of 136. Chalk that performance up to the SSD, which helps the system boot up in about 17 seconds and performs basic file operations very speedily. In our battery tests, the system lasted just a hair under 6.5 hours. However, that number drops precipitously if you crank up the screen brightness, which can get quite bright.

Vizio CT14-A2 Ultrabook

At first blush, the CT14-A2 seems mostly distinguished by its lack of features. Just two USB 3.0 ports are included, one on each side. A lone HDMI port is on the right side, providing the only video output port. The system lacks a wired ethernet jack, and doesn’t include a USB-to-ethernet adapter, as similarly thin Asus Zenbook UX31E. Perhaps the one absent feature that people might really miss, though, is a flash card reader.

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13

The Yoga scores 60 out of 100. This means that the Yoga is 40 percent slower than our baseline testing model, which has a third-generation Intel Core i5 desktop processor, 8GB of RAM, and an Nvidia discrete graphics card. The Yoga’s score of 60 isn’t great for a desktop, but the Yoga isn’t a desktop – it’s an Ultrabook. Its score is actually quite good for an Ultrabook – the only other Ultrabook we’ve tested on WorldBench 8 is the HP Envy TouchSmart 4 (57), which has the same i5-3317U processor as the Yoga, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive.

Huawei Ascend P2

Chinese phone manufacturer Huawei has unveiled a handset it claims has the world's fastest wireless speeds.

During a keynote event ahead of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona the company launched the Ascend P2, a phone that uses LTE category 4 to achieve network speeds up to 150Mbps.

The P2 is part of Huawei's fashion-focused product range and features a 1.5GHz quad-core processor and comes with 1GB of RAM. It runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and displays its wares using a 4.7-inch 720x1280-pixel display, which can reportedly be used even when wearing gloves, similar to Nokia's Lumia devices.

The P2 forms part of Huawei's effort to move away from being seen as a manufacturer of products for other brands and become a brand power in its own right.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung has invited journalists to an event in New York where it is believed the company will unveil the Galaxy S4 smartphone. The invite reads: "Ready 4 the show. Come and meet the next Galaxy" (emphasis our own). Reinforcing this understanding is the fact that Samsung unveiled several products at Mobile World Congress this week -- the annual gathering of mobile phone makers -- but no S4 was revealed. Less than a day later, an invite to the "Samsung Unpacked" conference was released to the media. The S4, which would be the successor to the popular S3, is rumoured to have an eight-core processor running at 1.9GHz, 2GB of RAM, a five-inch screen, will run Android 4.2, and have "at least" a 10-megapixel camera according to rumours on TechRadar. However, CNET claims 13 megapixels.

Transparent Speaker

It's tough to find speakers that blend with the decor in every room of a house, but one sound system aims to do just that.

The Transparent Speaker, designed by Swedish-based company People People, is a see-through glass box that highlights its black drivers — one 6.5-inch subwoofer and two 3-inch drivers. To adjust bass, treble and volume, simply turn the knobs on an aluminum control panel.

Anywhere Mouse

The grip of the small mouse is cumbersome and when you are commuting you really can’t use them. So in steps the Arc Mouse, one that you can use on any surface, including your jean-clad thigh! The curved ergonomics makes it possible for you to grip it well and use it on surfaces that may not be flat. 

iPhone 5-Spider

Designer Federico Ciccarese, however, envisions the same cellphones we've been using, just re-imagined. Instead of a touchscreen slab that's held in the palm, the "iPhone 5 new" features a curved design that's actually worn on the back of your hand. It's held in place by five slim and somwhat creepy "legs" which wrap between your fingers and around the wrist.

iRobot Mirra

Unless you're a five-year-old kid, there's nothing fun about dirt. It builds up everywhere and nobody really wants to clean it up. iRobot knows this. That's why it keeps spitting out fresh new robots to do all the dirt-ridden jobs we struggle to avoid.

The Massachusetts-based company started with robot vacuums for our dirty floors and moved onto robotic mops and even a tiny Scooba that will roll behind the toilet so you don't have to. It has a gutter cleaner, the Looj, that will fling muck out of the gutter and a collection of pool cleaners that will quietly and intelligently clean every square inch of your backyard swimming hole.

At CES 2013 in Las Vegas, the company will unveil a brand new pool cleaner, the iRobot Mirra 530. This is a more powerful (and more expensive) robot than the company's original pool cleaner, the Verro 300 HydroJet. That model, which lists for approximately $700, could clean an in-ground pool in 60-90 minutes,

The new Mirra (list $1,299.99 — compare it against what you pay your pool boy) has a far sleeker design, with huge wheels that hug the below-the-water-line surfaces of the pool. It uses a floating power cord, but otherwise utilizes the pool's own water to clean the pool. In fact, the Mirra filters the water as it cleans. At 70 gallons per minute, it's comparable to the Dolphin DX 5 pool cleaner.
Like other iRobot home-cleaner automatons, the Mirra 530 sizes up the pool and is fully aware of its environment. It makes multiple passes over the floor and walls of the pool, always avoiding entangling itself with its own power cord. A scrubbing brush cleans the surfaces while filters capture debris, according to a release, "as tiny as two microns."

Check out the video above for a look at the Mirra, which arrives in retail stores this spring, in action.

Panasonic 20-Inch 4K Tablet

After today's announcement of Panasonic's 20-inch 4K tablet, the company unveiled the enormous slab at its booth at CES 2013. We got a close-up look at this super-thin Windows 8 device, and we bring you this gallery along with all of its specs and particulars.

Panasonic told us this prototype is aimed at professionals who will be able to use a stylus to manipulate graphics in the cloud. This might be an excellent tool for professionals such as video editors, who will be able to trim and scrub their video clips on a timeline and share them with colleagues online.

The prototype tablet's 20-inch IPSa panel measures 18.7" x 13.1" x 0.4", and its display has a resolution of 3,840x2,560. It's a 230ppi screen that's similar to that of Apple's Retina display on its iPhones, tablets and laptops. It has a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 34207U vPro processor on board, but Panasonic wasn't more specific about its graphics processor, saying only they would be Nvidia GeForce.

This prototype has 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB solid-state drive. It's a multitouch panel, but can also employ a high-resolution digital pen by Anoto.

WheeMe Robot-Personal Massage Therapist

For most people, massage appointments are a luxury — a tradeoff between time and money, and relaxation. But one company aims to make massages more accessible by using a robot.

The WheeMe is a personal pint-sized massage therapist that "massages and caresses" as it rolls across your body, according to the device's official website.

Created by DreamBots, the WheeMe uses "tilt sensor technology" to steer itself on a surface without falling off or losing its grip. The robotic masseur runs on three AA batteries, and functions autonomously; just place it on your body to get started.

Cardboard Laptop Stand

This easy-to-create do-it-yourself (DIY) laptop stand will add some extra height to your screen, improve your computing posture and save you money. Building your own cardboard stand is simple.
 Once you've cut out your pieces, assemble them as shown to create your own stand.

HOT TUB BOATS

Remember the "HotTug", a popular post we did on the Jacuzzi Boat? Now a similar version by the name of "Hot Tub Boats" is available in the US. The boats are available for purchase or for rent, and include a joystick at the aft for steering, a built-in waterproof MP3 stereo system, 50-watt speakers that pop-up from the deck, and a 8´ hot tub with room for 6 bathers.

Mailbox

The first thing I did after becoming a smartphone owner in late 2009 was check my email. There were no new messages when I checked that morning, but that didn't matter: After years of using feature phones, nothing seemed more exciting to me than just having the option to check my email on the go. Over time, though, this proved to be more of a curse than a blessing to my email inbox.

I've never considered myself the most digitally organized person, but even I noticed my inbox spiral out of control after getting a smartphone as my friends and I started sending each other more messages and I forwarded myself more articles, tweets and reminders for work.

Within a few months, I went from having hundreds of unread messages at any given time to thousands. Even the best email apps on the market only made it easier to check and send messages, not to organize them.

That's why my ears perked up a couple months ago when I first heard about Mailbox, an as yet unreleased iPhone app from Orchestra — the startup behind the popular to-do list app of the same name — which promised to help users keep their inbox at zero by introducing a scheduling option for when to read and respond to incoming messages.

So for instance, you can opt to have a message resent to your inbox later that night when you get home from work or over the weekend when you have more time to respond.

Minimoog: Portable Synthesizer

What would modern music sound like, were it not for the synthesizer? Electropop wouldn't exist, Ellie Goulding would be an acoustic act, and the Beatles' Abbey Road wouldn't have as much pizzazz. While modular synthesizers existed and were used in music studios, it's the Minimoog — the first portable analog synthesizer and the first-ever electronic analog instrument, pioneered by Robert Moog — that changed the sound of music. It graced the music scene in the 1970s, introducing electronic sound modulations to the music-making process and dramatically expanding the kinds of sounds that could be produced by an instrument.

Robert Moog's (rhymes with rogue) company was known for creating theremins — early electronic instruments — but he moved into new territory when he developed the analog, monophonic synthesizer in the 1960s. This synthesizer makes wave forms by electronic means, and it plays one note at a time. Moog developed standardized modules for the synthesizer sounds and proposed a standardized scale of voltages — the Moog oscillators and keyboard, for example, have a standard progression of one volt per octave. He debuted his prototype at the Audio Engineering Society conference in October 1964 and began taking orders.

JuiceCAN Charger

It seems like you can't be too rich, too thin, or have too much battery power. That's where AmpTec's JuiceCAN can help, bringing you enough power to charge an iPhone 5 three times over. One of these cans can even charge up a power-hungry iPad a couple of times.

It works with anything that gathers power via a USB port, and this colorful device is scalable. That means you can stack these JuiceCANs into what the company calls a JuiceCane, giving you additional power when you need it.

Its stackable nature lets you add utility caps, which have myriad uses including USB ports, an LED flashlight and even, ahem, a vibrator.

This Indiegogo project is currently seeking funding, and it will cost you $33 to pick up one of these JuiceCANs. So far, the company is slightly more than $6,000 on the way to its $25,000 goal, with 33 days left.

Ivy Guide-The Pen Translates for You

Learning a new language comes with its difficulties, but three designers are looking to put translations right at your fingertips.

The Ivy Guide, a device that fits over pens and pencils, scans words and projects its translation directly onto the document. Check out the video, above, for more.

The scanner tip adjusts to any writing tool with a flexible sponge, and while pressing the translating button, readers can underline text. The word is then projected in the chosen language, and cleared by pressing again. The scanner connects to a USB for easy charging.

Designers Shi Jian, Sun Jiahao and Li Ke say the Ivy Guide will keep users in the habit of making marks and also create a continuous reading experience.

Though the device is currently in its concept stage, its creators hope to do away with the experience of heavy dictionaries or bulkier electronics.

Magic Wand - Programmable TV Remote

You know you have always wanted to be a wizard. But not one of those swish and flick wizards from the movies. You want to be the Dungeons & Dragons wizard - the party's controller. See that word there? CONTROLLER. It means you control the battlefield; you control everything! Sure, you're squishy and sometimes there's collateral damage when you let out a blast, but it's all in a day's work. As a wizard, you have a choice in implements, but everyone knows The Wand is the ultimate when you want to be an elite controller.

Our Wand may not make legions of kobold minions explode into flames, but it will learn up to 13 commands from your existing remote controls and map them to particular magical motions. Flick the wand from side to side to flip the channels, twist the wand to turn up the volume. A beam of light will shoot out the unicorn tail hair and magic will happen! The Wand can learn from any remotes in your house and once you master its 13 movements, you can mastermind a symphony of electronic enjoyment from the comfort of your couch. Then, and only then, are you an epic level controller.

Specifications

• Magic wand television remote for witches, wizards, and the occasional muggle
• 13 magical functions (the number one would expect in magic!)
• Learns from your existing remotes
• With a little practice, you can train yourself to do magic with household electronics
• Flip the channel with a flick of your wand, twist your wand to turn up the volume
• Compatible with almost all makes of TV, DVR, or really anything with a remote!

Transparent iPad

Here's a design concept for a transparent iPad by artist Ricardo Afonso that might seem far-fetched, but transparent screens are certainly not impossible. Just look at the exquisite thinness and beauty of this iPad concept. It's downright mysterious-looking.

What's the mystery? Well, where are the working parts of this wispy tablet? Apparently, they must be in either those top or bottom sections, which are opaque and seemingly large enough to accommodate iPad innards that are much smaller than those of today's tablets.

However, given the pace of miniaturization of the iPad, placing all its electronics inside those two tiny spaces is not completely impossible. One thing's certain: Battery technology will have to improve to fit inside those miniature confines.

Afonso created a digital 3D model of what he calls a "futuristic tablet concept based on the Apple iPad," and is selling his files on digital media supply company Turbo Squid's website.

We think this is an absolutely lovely design. It's not altogether impossible, either. If some of the technology inherent in transparent displays we've seen at the past few techno-trade shows are brought into fruition, this design might be possible by about the same time the iPad 6 rolls out.

Takara Tomy-Tablet or Smartphone Cleaner

Touchscreen devices have gone a long way in the first couple of years, but one problem has stayed the same: dirty screens. No matter how much you clean your smartphone or tablet, it only takes a couple of seconds of operation for its screen to become covered in greasy fingerprints.

Enter AutoMee S by Takara Tomy, a 2.75-inch screen cleaner that slides around your tablet's screen like a tiny Roomba.

The palm-sized bot is small enough to be used on smartphones as well, and smart enough not to fall over the edge of the device. Running on a single double AA battery, AutoMee S cleans the screen using special cleaning paper, which sounds good enough, although Takara Tomy doesn't guarantee it won't damage your device.

Ubuntu Phones

Ubuntu, the Linux-based operating system running on plenty of corporate servers, will arrive on smartphones in October 2013, according to the man leading the project. Developers will get access to the mobile OS in late February.

Mark Shuttleworth, CEO of Canonical, a company that provides services to companies that use Ubuntu software, had previously announced his company was taking Ubuntu to phones, but originally gave the target date of early 2014.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Shuttleworth said the first Ubuntu-based phones would be coming in October. Developers, however, will get their hands on the software as early as this month.

Why would anyone try to compete with the likes of Android and iOS, especially when there are already alternative OSes such as BlackBerry and Windows Phone? Shuttleworth believes Ubuntu phones will really solve a problem, letting users stream corporate software — even Windows desktop apps — right on their handsets as well as boot up the full Ubuntu OS when they're docked to a workstation.

That could make Ubuntu handsets very attractive to a set of corporate IT departments who already use Ubuntu on the desktop and back end. For security-conscious companies that are heavily Linux-based, Ubuntu might even be a better choice than BlackBerry.

Ubuntu isn't the only dark-horse mobile OS trying to fill a niche that the larger platforms have seemingly overlooked. Mozilla is vying for a spot with its Firefox OS, and there's also Tizen (formerly MeeGo), which has gotten limited backing from Samsung.

Epiphany onE Puck CellPhone Charger

Seeing that ominous red battery icon on your cellphone is a cause for concern, especially if you're nowhere near an outlet. A new device removes all worries by letting you charge your phone on the go using the beverage of your choice.

The Epiphany onE Puck uses a heat engine to power your phone. It's shaped — and acts — like a coaster. You place a hot or cold beverage on the surface and let your drink do all the work. Check out the video, above, for more.

The charger works best in extremes, so the colder or hotter the drink, the quicker your phone charges. Prototypes are available on Kickstarter for $115 and backers can get the choice to customize the charger with engraved text.

Its creators explain the technology is nothing new, since the onE Puck uses a Stirling engine. A fixed amount of gas is sealed inside and changes in temperature create pressure. Robert Stirling originally invented the engine in the 1800s, but Epiphany President Tommy Joseph says it can be used in new and innovative ways.

Joseph hopes the technology can eventually expand to power larger appliances and entire households. The company also plans to use the same system to improve water units and provide electricity.

Nexus 4 Wireless Charger

Google is finally taking orders for its Nexus 4 wireless charging accessory.

The Nexus 4 uses Qi wireless charging technology — the same stuff used by the Lumia 920.

This means that users can just set their device on a compatible charging mat (or in this case, an orb) and have the device charge by induction. That can be really convenient, especially for users who don't want to make their office or bedside table messy with too many cables or plugs.

Google announced it would be shipping a wireless charger for the Nexus 4 back when the device was announced last October. Nearly four months later, you can finally place an order for $59.99 from Google Play .

No word on when the charging orb will start shipping — Google just says "ships soon."

Moveo-Electric Scooter Folds Into Suitcase

Driving in the city can be a tricky business, and finding a parking space can be even trickier. Moveo, a scooter created by non-profit group Antro, is lightweight, electric and solves your parking problem because it folds up into itself and dragged on its wheels, like a piece of luggage. You can drive to work, then park your scooter by your desk.

The scooter weighs 55 pounds, so it is not the lightest of loads, but it is certainly portable. It only reaches speeds up to 28 mph and has a battery range of 21.75 miles. While this is not a vehicle for a road trip, it is certainly convenient for city-dwellers who zip from place to place and don’t want to waste time parking. The design is fully enclosed, so there is no chance of getting oil stains on your khakis, and unlike other folding scooters, it has a traditional full-back seat that is mounted on the chassis.

 Antro focuses on developing eco-friendly transportation. The scooter pictured is a fully functioning prototype, but the company needs to raise the funds to bring it to the masses. There are hopes to begin with a medium production line of 4,000 scooters per year, with potential growth to 15,000 scooters per year. They will cost between $3,600 and $4,600. The company plans on beginning production next year.

Volkswagen XL1

If Robert Zemeckis were making the Back To the Future films now, he would use the Volkswagen XL1 for Doc's time machine. Like the 1980s DeLorean, this car is what we imagine cars of the future to look like, except the XL1 acts like a car of the future, too.

It is silver, aerodynamic with gull-wings, camera-based mirrors, but most impressively, it burns less than one liter of fuel for every 100 km (261 mpg).

Using a plug-in hybrid system, the two-seater can travel 50 kilometers from just battery power, meaning there is zero fuel emission for that distance. To create the winning combination of fuel-efficiency and aerodynamics, the car had to be built incredibly light, so it only weighs in at 1,752 lbs., about half of a typical American midsize sedan.

The XL1 was presented as a concept car by the company several years ago, so it was a surprise to many that it is actually going into production, but it will be presented at the Geneva Motor Show in a few weeks.

There has been no information on the price of the car or how many will be released, but currently VW has permission to produce 1,000, so it is safe to assume that hey will not come cheap. No word yet on what happens when you reach 88mph.

Rhino Shield Smartphone Protector

A new Kickstarter campaign, from UK-based Evolutive Labs, is raising funds for a screen protector called the Rhino Shield — a patent-pending, "impact resistant" polymer that its designer says can withstand almost any type of damage.

The shield is comprised of six layers (pictured below) and, at 0.01 inches thick, it's roughly three times the width of a standard sheet of paper. The two innermost layers, called "impact dumping" and "dispersion" layers, work with the outer layers to absorb shocks when a phone or tablet is dropped.
Eric Wang, founder of Evolutive Labs and designer of Rhino Shield, is a Ph.D. candidate in material science and engineering at the University of Cambridge. He says he created the shield after several of his friends broke their own phone and tablet screens.

"I'm the only nerdy student my friends know," Wang, 27, told Mashable with a laugh. "So they'd always ask me if I had any ideas to prevent shattering glass. Since it's in my field of study, I eventually thought, 'Yeah, I can tackle this.'"

Wang says the principle behind the impact-resisting shield is a basic physics equation: pressure is equal to force divided by area.

"Because these 'dumping' and 'dispersion' layers work together, you can reduce the amount of force per area. And then, overall, you reduce the altitude of the force against the object."

CST-01- Thinnest Watch in The World

A Kickstarter project for CST-01, "the world's thinnest watch," collected more than four times its original fundraising goal with three days left to go.

Though it hasn't reached the Pebble level yet, CST-01 has more than 6,000 backers who've raised $907,755.

The flexible cuff watch is 0.8 mm thick and uses e-ink display. Its minimalist style means there are no buttons or knobs, so the base station does most of the work to charge the device and allow users to change to a 24-hour format. Check out the video, above, for more.

Magnets hold the stainless steel device to the charger but it only needs ten minutes to supply enough power for a month of use. You'd almost forget you were wearing it if you didn't want to keep looking at it, the creators say on their Kickstarter page.

After starting the fundraising in January, backers doubled the initial $200,000 goal within a week. Central Standard Timing, the company behind the project, explains the money will be used for improvements including making it as waterproof as possible.

The watch is available for preorder starting at $129 in white, black and rose gold.

EON17-SLX

When financial limits are tossed to the wind, you'll find laptops that offer higher-than-high-end components, opting for absurdly powerful processors instead of the slimmer, battery-friendly CPUs used elsewhere. You'll get not one, but two discrete graphics cards, and you'll see bells and whistles like nobody's business. You'll also pay through the nose. 

Rather than starting from scratch, Origin has built the Eon17-SLX in a generic black Clevo chassis. It's not particularly unique, especially since the same off-the-shelf body and lid will be used virtually unchanged in similar systems from other brands. The black metal and plastic construction weighs 9.2 pounds—already too heavy to carry around frequently—but it's weighed down further by a giant 3.8-pound power brick, bringing the total weight to 13 pounds.

Instead of a chiclet-style keyboard, like that seen on the Maingear Nomad 17, the EON17-SLX has a traditional layout with adjacent keys. The Windows key, which takes on extra importance with Windows 8, has been shifted to the right of the spacebar, which keeps it out of the way during games, but inconvenient for shortcuts. The backlighting, however, is anything but traditional, letting you adjust the brightness and color in three different zones of the keyboard, giving you seven different colors to choose from behind three different lighting zones. The mouse has been changed to a clickpad, complete with gesture support for Windows 8 along with the usual scrolling and zooming. A fingerprint reader just below the keyboard lets you log on and off securely and easily. 

Maingear Nomad 17 Ultimate

Gaming laptops may be pricey. They may be big, and heavy, and they may not be very portable. But the combination of powerful parts and flashy designs hold a special place in my heart, because the quest to make a competitive gaming machine translates into really powerful laptops that can be used for nearly anything. 

Despite the Nomad moniker, you won't be toting the laptop around with you every day. With the exception of the Razer Blade (2012), gaming laptops are far from portable, being loaded down with big cooling fans and larger power bricks. The Nomad 17 measures a beefy 2.6 by 16.8 by 11.5 inches (HWD) and weighs a hefty 8.1 pounds—10.25 pounds if you bring along the giant AC adapter. As a rule, gaming laptops are considered portable only when compared with their desktop counterparts.


Regardless, the Nomad 17 looks great, with a brightly colored lid and bold black racing stripes. Our review unit came in Rosso Scuderia Red, but Standard Black, Plum Crazy Purple, Alpine White, Vertigo Blue Mica, and Organic Green are also available options. And though it's a plastic lid, these are hand-painted, automotive-style paint jobs. And while the stripes may not make it go faster, they do make it look cool—an important addition to an otherwise unremarkable chassis.

The construction is largely plastic, with a wedge shape that opens up into two large cooling vents in the back. The chassis isn't quite as boxy as the Clevo-designed black box of the Origin Eon 17, but it's still pretty chunky. The Nomad 17 features a 17.6-inch display with 1,920-by-1,080 resolution, a matte-finish to prevent glare, and it looked great through all of our gaming and video tests. Joining the large LED-backlit 17-inch display are two Dynaudio stereo speakers and an integrated subwoofer, made all the better with THX TruStudio Pro sound.
 

MSI GT70 One-609US Dragon Edition

Like most gaming laptops, the GT70 One Dragon Edition is one big system. Measuring 2.17 by 16.85 by 11.34 inches (HWD)—similar to the Maingear Nomad 17 Ultimate—it won't even fit into the laptop compartment of most bags. With a weight of 8.29 pounds (10.45 pounds if you include the power adapter), carrying it around is a backbreaking proposition. You'll be able to take it with you to a LAN party, but this beast will be fairly stationary from day to day.


The chassis is primarily constructed of plastic, with a reinforcing layer of aluminum across the lid and palmrest. To really drive home the "Dragon Edition" tag, the silhouette of a coiled dragon is imprinted into the brushed crimson anodized aluminum on the lid and palmrest. The 17.6-inch display looks good with a 1,920-by-1,080 resolution IPS panel, though the viewing angles are only so-so, with shifts in color when viewed at an angle. For the gamer sitting dead-center in front of the screen, however, the display is excellent. And anti-reflective coating also cuts down on any distracting glare.

The keyboard, manufactured by SteelSeries, features multi-colored backlight. Different colors can be assigned to different portions of the keyboard, and several distinctive lightning patterns can be selected, letting you light up the board with a rainbow of colors. The keys themselves are chiclet-style and provide excellent feedback, but the layout could be improved. The QWERTY keyboard and the 10-key numeric pad aren't physically separated, and as a result, the arrow keys are crammed in between, resulting in a half-size Shift key to accommodate the Up arrow, and a half-size 0 key on the keypad. This is an especially puzzling design choice since there is ample room for all of the keys; there is an extra inch and half of space on either side of the keyboard.

Dell XPS 10

If you think you need to carry all of your digital files (especially videos and multimedia) with you at all times, stop reading this and go read a review for a more power user-oriented system. Still here? Okay, the Dell XPS 10 ($679.99 bundled with keyboard dock) has one of the longest battery life test results we've seen. You can use this convertible tablet on the longest flight in the world, and still have battery power left over to check your email when you land. An even better use would be for a busy student or business corridor nomad who rarely has a chance to plug in: 20+ hours of battery life means that you can stay connected all day and well into the night. 

The XPS 10 follows the now familiar hybrid tablet format. Primarily, it's a slate tablet, measuring a slim 0.36 by 11 by 7 inches (HWD) and weighing 1.36 pounds. Connected to its keyboard dock, the system grows to just under an inch thick (0.94 inch) while keeping its other dimensions, and the combo weighs in at 2.63 pounds.  

Like other tablets, the XPS 10 is constructed from magnesium alloy and has a soft touch finish. The screen is covered by seamless Asahi Dragontail glass, and has a five-point touch capability. (Asahi Dragontail glass is a strengthened glass competitor to Corning's Gorilla Glass.) The tablet latches to the keyboard dock easily, and can be removed just as easily by pushing a sliding tab on the keyboard dock hinge. When the two are connected, the XPS 10 looks and acts like a small laptop, with a comfortable keyboard and one-piece multitouch trackpad.  

Toshiba Satellite C875-S7340

The Toshiba Satellite C875-S7340 ($619.99 list) is a solid entry-level Windows 8-equipped laptop that belongs to Toshiba's value-oriented Satellite C series. 

Measuring 1.3 by 16.2 by 10.6 inches (HWD), the Satellite C875-S7340 isn't exactly a petite laptop, but its slim profile helps reduce unnecessary bulk. Moreover, its weight of 5.49 pounds is relatively light for its size. This can be attributed to its all-plastic chassis, which is decked out in what Toshiba dubs "Mercury Silver." Its glossy lid and textured palm rest make for an interesting visual contrast.

The black keyboard and touch pad, meanwhile, complement the silver finish. Rather than sporting the island-style keys that are currently en vogue, its raised keys abut one another in a manner reminiscent of older keyboards. While the absence of backlighting is forgivable at this price point, the same can't be said of the keyboard's shallow travel and noticeable flexing. Taken together, the effect makes for a less than ideal typing experience, especially if you need to type something longer than a quick email like, say, a term paper. On the plus side, though, the keyboard is offers plenty of real estate, so much so that it even includes a dedicated numeric keypad. The touchpad sports the same textured finish as the palm rest and supports the usual pinch, swipe, and rotate functions. 

Samsung D8000 Smart TV 55-inch

Samsung wowed us at Consumer Electronic Show 2011 when they showed off their latest generation of LED panels. But the picture quality and design elements of the television were secondary; it was the Smart TV dynamic that took centrestage. Here's where you find out if the D8000 is really smart or not.

The most striking feature of the D8000 is the almost non-existent bezel. We measured the bezel and it was just 1 cm wide. The TV as a whole is insanely thin.

Unlike most HDTVs in the market the D8000 comes in very stylish silver. The color really stands out and, coupled with the super thin bezel, gives the illusion of a 55-inch window.

Even the Samsung logo is illuminated but though this looks very cool to start with, it becomes a distraction after a while.

Overall, the build quality was sublime with very high quality plastics and steel used in the construction of the set.

Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i

Here at the NDTV Gadgets lab we've had a steady stream of iPod docks coming our way for review. We're not complaining though. This time round, we have the Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i. We have to say this has to be the most boring name in the history of boring names for gadgets.

Logitech are no design gurus and most of their products are as bland as they get and the same holds true for the Rechargeable Speaker S715i. The rugged black finish underscores the blandness of the design but, at only 1.5 pounds, it is definitely portable.

The speakers are quite wide which would definitely improve the stereo separation but, as a whole, the façade is reminiscent of the front grill of a sports car. Maybe a Chevy Corvette!

On the rear end of the dock we get a kickstand,which frankly feels a tad flimsy, and is quite unstable. The auxiliary port is also housed in the rear, which has a rubberized cover along side the power outlet. Notably there are twin backwards-firing radiators, which act like mid-range, drivers for an added bass thump.

The front end of the dock houses the 3-inch neodymium drivers and a pair of half-inch neodymium tweeters. We also get another pair of radiators on the front. All in all we have 8 drivers to push up the sound.

Sony Ericsson txt pro

The under Rs 10,000 phone category can be a bit dicey to decipher in today's market. For Rs 10,000, you can get an Android phone giving you a smartphone experience. But this experience is usually underwhelming and flawed in many ways. The sub Rs. 10,000 feature phones however seem to be basic enough to function as a mobile phone and usually pack in a few extras. Today we have amongst us the Sony Ericsson txt pro, which is a feature phone that costs Rs. 7,500. Can it satisfy your basic needs? Read on to find out.

One look at the device and you will be forgiven for thinking it is a toy. It is really small and has a 3-inch screen. The entire device is no bigger than the palm of your hand. It is, however, thick and feels extremely well built. Despite the good build the device is really light, weighing 100gms.

The review unit we received was black in colour but the device is available in pink and white as well. The body of the device has a matte finish which is great as it avoids the device from becoming a fingerprint magnet. The touch screen however registers fingerprints very evidently.

The reason the device is a little thick is because it has a slide out QWERTY keypad. The slider on the device is quite sturdy. It also has a distinct click every time you slide it open or shut. The backlit keys rest on a matte-finished silver surface. The keys may appear to be small at first and they are but you eventually get used to typing on them. The rear of the device has a plastic back that can be ripped open to reveal the battery slot.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V

Sony added a new egg to the Xperia basket by introducing the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V (pronounced as 'five'), a successor to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo. The major change is the lowered price and camera resolution. The phone now competes in the under Rs. 20,000 segment with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S, the LG Optimus Black and the Moto Defy Plus. The resolution is now 5MP instead of 8MP and hence the name Neo V. Read on more to find out if it actually outshines its rivals or is it just another rat in the Android race.

The review unit that we received was a gorgeous looking white with all the right curves in the right places thus making it look attractive. It feels decently light enough at 126 grams and fits comfortably in your palm as well.

The build however isn't that impressive. The plastic-y finishes attracted scratches quite easily at the back of the device. There is a constant need to wipe your fingerprints off the phone at all times, including the shiny plastic on either side. Opening the battery cover was a task in the first instance giving you a feeling that you might just drop the phone.

Sony Tablet P

In recent times, we've seen the tablet market overflow with devices claiming to be 'iPad killers'. Every other tablet just wanted to prove itself to be better than the iPad but while none have been better, only few such as Motorola (Xoom) and Samsung (Galaxy Tab 10.1) can claim to have come anywhere close.

On first impressions, the device looked like the Nokia communicator on steroids which isn't a good thing. The unique clamshell design is what caught our interest. The tablet folds right in the middle supported by two hinges on either side. The exterior is plastic-y with a silver finish that is quite capable of attracting scratches. The advantage of the design is that the screen remains protected at all times. Built solid, the Tablet P feels incredibly light at approximately 372g. The weight is evenly distributed and one won't feel tired holding it for longer durations.

Once you unfold the device, you get two 5.5-inch screens inches boasting Sony's TruBlack LCD technology. They however, do act as fingerprint magnets. There's a notification light that runs at the bottom. It flashes green for mail and social network notifications and changes colour to red to indicate low battery power.

Sony PlayStation Vita

Sony's PSP was a game-changer in the handheld gaming market. Though Nintendo reigned over this category for quite a long time, Sony stole its thunder in a flash. The PSP was the first handheld game device to use an optical disc format, the UMD (Universal Media Disc) and memory stick pro duo as its primary mode of storage. Over the years, the PSP hasn't changed much in terms of its form factor apart from getting a bit slimmer. But seven years on, Sony continues its PSP legacy with the PS Vita.

We received the Wi-Fi only version of the Vita inclusive of a 16GB removable memory card along with a PSN voucher code. This black beauty came buried in a hardbound white manual, which we thought was quite creative. Open the manual and each page defines a feature of the Vita that actually appears to be engraved into the manual. Further on, the pages list the games available for the device slowly revealing the Vita bit-by-bit. And after the pages end, you finally get a first look of the Vita and it was a breathtaking moment!

The first thing we noticed was the 5-inch OLED screen and the neatly laid out controls that are evenly distributed on either side of the screen. The left side houses a slightly smaller D-Pad with the primary analog stick sitting just below it. Adjacent to the stick is the left speaker. And further down, is the PlayStation Home button that takes you to the home screen when pressed.

Sony Xperia U

Ericsson, Sony seems to be eyeing the smartphone market with a new vigour and enthusiasm. Sony has recently launched three mid-range Android devices in the Indian market - Sony Xperia P.

In terms of the design, Sony Xperia U looks quite similar to Sony Xperia P and Sony Xperia S but draws more resemblance to the latter. It sports a 3.5-inch screen with 854x480p resolution. Just below the screen are the three standard Android touch buttons for back, home and menu.

What stands out in terms of the design of Sony Xperia U is that there is the illuminated transparent strip at the bottom. This strip can light up in various colours such white, blue, green, red, purple or yellow, depending on the theme that you choose. The colours in this strip also change automatically when you are browsing pictures or listening to music in accordance with the mood. Additionally, Sony Xperia U also comes with interchangeable bottom caps that can be set in black, pink, or yellow colours.

The smartphone looks sturdy despite being made up of plastic. It also features rubberised finish on the back. Coming to the specifics, the Micro-USB cum charging port is on the right panel, while the left panel houses the power button, which also doubles as the screen lock/unlock button, the volume rocker and the two-stage camera button. The 3.5mm audio jack is placed at the top panel while the back panel houses the 5MP camera.

The colourful bottom caps do add a dash of freshness in the overall design of the handset but they aren't much of an eye-catcher.

Nook HD

The Nook HD is one of several seven-inch tablets currently taking the world by storm. While the Google Nexus 7 was the first diminutive tab to really get tongues wagging, it was the launch of the Apple iPad Mini that really cemented the 7-inch slate as the latest tech must-have.

Launched alongside the 9-inch Nook HD+ and the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight, the Nook HD is set to go head to head with the Amazon Kindle Fire HD

Measuring 194 x 127 x 11mm and tipping the scales at just 315g, the Nook HD is lighter than the Kindle Fire HD and very slightly slimmer and narrower.

The back of the tablet is covered with a tactile, rubberised finish, while the front sports a raised bezel with a matte plastic feel. The result is a device that's very comfy to hold, even in one hand. However, the bezel does mean that the design doesn't look to too slick and it actually gives the impression of a separate (somewhat 'budget') casing - although you can't take it off, obviously.
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Sony RX100

The Sony RX100 has a huge one-inch sensor - the biggest ever stuffed into a pocketable zoom camera.But first, a history lesson.

For years camera makers worried about competition from only one source: other camera makers. But in the end, the most dangerous predator came from an unexpected direction: cellphones.

Today, more photos are taken with phones than with point-and-shoot cameras. On photo sites like Flickr, the iPhone is the source of more photos than any real camera. No wonder sales of inexpensive pocket cameras are going down each year.

Cameras in phones are a delightful development for the masses. If you have your camera with you, you're more likely to take photos and more likely to capture amazing images.

But in a sense they are also great for camera makers, which are being forced to double down in areas where smartphones are useless: Zoom lenses. High resolution. Better photo quality. Flexibility and advanced features. That's why, even if sales of pocket cameras are down, sales of high-end cameras are up.

Now you know why the time is ripe for the new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100. It's a tiny, pants-pocketable camera that will be available in late July for the nosebleed price of $650. Or, rather, won't be available. It will be sold out everywhere. I'll skip to the punch line: No photos this good have ever come from a camera this small.

The first reason is easy to grasp. The Sony RX100 has a huge one-inch sensor - the biggest ever stuffed into a pocketable zoom camera. That's not as big as the sensors in S.L.R.'s and other lens-swappable cameras. But it's about four times the area of the previous pocket-camera photo-quality champs, like the Olympus XZ-1 and the S100. (The RX100's shiny black metal body looks exactly like them.)

BeBook Neo eReader

Dutch company Endless Ideas thinks so and has introduced the BeBook eBook reader. As well as supporting a wide range of formats, including: EPUB, PDF (including Adobe DRM), TXT, HTML, RTF, MOBI, CHM, PDB, alongside JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP and TIFF image files, it has built-in WiFi, so you can download directly from a host of online books stores.

Weighing 298g, the Neo is light and at approximately the size of a paperback book, unobtrusive enough to carry around all day.

All navigation is performed using the circular four-way controller, which is set within bigger Menu, Next, Back and Prev controls, it takes a bit of practice before you stop accidentally pressing them instead of the navigation controls.

Getting online is fairly easy: click websites and select ‘Ebook Portal’ and the BeBook will scan for WiFi and you simply enter you key. In the UK choose between: Foyles, WH Smith and Blackwell online book shops, but this will change depending on the country you’re in. Annoyingly you have to re-select your WiFi network each time you go online, although you only have to enter the key once.

Obviously speeds will vary depending on your WiFi connection, but we found the web experience a bit slow. WH Smith takes well over 20 seconds to load and then we had to wait another 20 seconds to get through to the WH Smith eBook store.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is just a shade larger, thicker and heavier than previous models such as the Kindle 4 – and remains very manageable for one-handed reading.

The plastic housing feels more solid than before and the back has the same rubberised material as the Kindle Fire, adding warmth if little extra grip. One feature you might miss from earlier Kindles is the headphone socket: there’s no audiobook or Text to Speech on board. In a move that’s either eco or penny-pinching, a micro-USB charger costs £9.

Let’s cut to the chase: this is the best screen on any dedicated ereader. It’s sharper than rivals, the edge LEDs and light guide produce the crispest, most even illumination, and the choices of fonts, sizes, spacing and margins will please even the fussiest bibliophiles. The responsive touchscreen is the only questionable feature.

It’s great for highlighting text and navigating but makes it ridiculously easy to bump through pages by mistake – a ‘hold’ switch would make sense.

Galaxy Note II

Samsung India has dropped the price of its flagship smartphone the Galaxy S III, as well as the hot-selling phablet the Galaxy Note II.

Samsung Galaxy S III is now available in official retail stores across the country for Rs. 28,990, with the Galaxy Note II now retailing for Rs. 34,990. Some dealers have been spotted selling at even lower prices online as well as offline.

Samsung launched the Galaxy S III in India back in May last year for a MRP of Rs. 43,180. The phone comes with a 4.8-inch display and is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor alongside 1GB of RAM. It features a 8-megapixel rear camera as well as a 1.9-megapixel front camera. The phone shipped with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich but has since received the Jelly Bean Update.

XPAD X-1010 Tablet

Simmtronics has added another tablet to its XPAD range dubbed as the XPAD X-1010, which is now available in all leading stores along with various online retailers for Rs. 8,499.

A third tablet from the company, the XPAD X-1010 sports a 10.1-inch TFT LCD multi-touch capacitive display with a 1024x600 pixel resolution. The tablet runs on Android 4.0 and features a VGA front camera. There is no rear camera on the tablet.

Internally, the tablet is powered by a Cortex A8 1.2Ghz processor with 1GB DDR3 RAM. It has 8GB of internal storage and supports up to 32GB of expandable storage. The tablet offers multiple connectivity options including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HDMI.

Ports and slots on the tablet include a mini HDMI Port, 2 Micro-USB ports, earphone port, DC Jack and a microSD card slot. The XPAD-X1010 has a 5,600 mAh Lithium polymer battery with claimed 150 hours of back up and six hours of internet browsing time. The tablet measures 10.5x165x263 mm and weighs 610 grams.

Micromax Funbook P600

Micromax is all set to launch a brand new tablet in the Indian market. This tablet is dubbed Micromax Funbook P600 and is already retailing on the deal site Snapdeal.com for Rs. 9,499.

Micromax Funbook P600 sports a 7-inch capacitive multi-point touch screen. It is powered by Qualcomm MSM8225A ARM Cortex A5 1GHz dual-core processor along with 512 MB of RAM. The table comes with 2GB of internal storage (of which 0.96GB is user accessible) and can be expanded to up to 32GB through microSD card. Micromax Funbook P600 runs on Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system and it supports voice calling.

For camera, there is a 2-megapixel shooter in the front and back of the device. There is no mention on the battery that is in this device but the company claims, that it will give a talk-time of 10 hours, video playback time of 4 hours and standby time of 224 hours. Connectivity options include 3.5mm audio jack, 3G and Wi-Fi. Micromax Funbook P600 does not support Bluetooth connectivity.

Angry Birds Animated Cartoon Series

Rovio's popular bird slinging franchise Angry Birds has just about done it all from apps to books to merchandising to an Angry Birds 3D animated movie scheduled for 2016  and a Theme Park set to open in China as well. But now the Finnish gaming studio is also bringing an animated cartoon series based on the furious avian flock titled Angry Birds Toons.

George Stahl reports for Digits stating that in an interview to The Wall Street Journal, Rovio CEO Mikael Hed said that the company is looking at a long term future for the franchise and that it is looking at content and not growing distribution channels for the animated series.

He further mentioned that he sees the Angry Birds cartoon series akin to timeless cartoon classics like the Pink Panther or Roadrunner that people can relate to and understand decades down the line. The animated series will feature short animation episodes. The project is still under development and the only details available are that it should launch this spring.

Next Assassin's Creed title coming in 2014

The next iteration in the highly acclaimed Assassin's Creed franchise has been confirmed by Ubisoft, reports IGN. The French video game titan has also mentioned that it will feature a new protagonist, new time period and a new team working on the project as well.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said that the "all-new Assassin's Creed hero, within an all new team and time period" will be "another major leap forward for the franchise".

He further added, "It is the benefit of multiple teams working on multiple chapters of the product, each getting several years to make their versions of an Assassin's Creed game."

There is no word on which studio is going to develop the latest game in the franchise nor there are any details of whether or not it will be developed keeping in mind the next generation consoles.

Now that the word is out, we might expect Ubisoft to tease us with some possible game footage at E3 this year.

Windows Phone 8: Angry Birds Star Wars Hoth levels

Windows Phone 8 can now finally get the Hoth update for Angry Birds Star Wars. Rovio Entertainment had rolled out Angry Birds Star Wars for iOS, Android and devices on November 8, 2012. But the Windows Phone 7 (Windows 7.5 and Windows 7.8) and Windows Phone 8 users had to wait for a good one month to get this app on their mobile device.

However, this app for Windows Phone 8 only had Tatooine, the Death Star, and the Jedi Trials on Dagobah levels, while that of iOS and Android users had got the first instalment of Hoth update as well. Later, in January iOS and Android users got another Hoth update, while the Windows Phone users were kept waiting.

Thankfully, the Windows Phone 8 app that has been rolled out includes the last two previous Hoth releases, which means that one will get total of 40 new levels, in addition to some bonus levels. However, these Hoth levels will be locked by default and one will have to play the earlier levels of Tatooine, the Death Star, and the Jedi Trials on Dagobah lvels to be able unlock the new ones.

Samsung’s Dominance

Google has privately expressed concerns about Samsung’s dominance of the Android handset market, according to report in the Wall Street Journal.

Google’s concern about Samsung’s large market share allegedly led to Android boss Andy Rubin describing its investment in Motorola as a insurance policy to prevent the Korean phone maker from achieving total dominance of the market.

According to recent figures, Samsung controls 40.2 per cent of the global smartphone market. To compare, Apple’s accounted for 25.1 per cent, while its nearest Android-rival HTC accounted for just 6.6 per cent of total market share according to figures from IDC.

Google’s main concern, according to sources, is that if Samsung becomes any more powerful, it could start to force changes to Android that eat into its lucrative mobile-advertising revenues.

ZTE: Firefox OS-based Smartphone

ZTE has unveiled the world’s first smartphone to run Mozilla’s Firefox OS, the ZTE Open.

Targeted at young people and those with limited budgets, the phone features a 3.5-inch HVGA TFT touchscreen. It also comes with 256MB RAM, 512MB of ROM, and a 1200mAH battery.



It has a 3.2MP camera, and also supports Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi (b/g/n), and AGPS.  

Facial Muscle Tracking

Video games, like most other creative endeavors, require a large investment in time and money. To increase the odds of recouping costs and making a profit, game developers often use focus groups to see if the game is going in the right direction. Traditionally, that involves watching uninitiated people play the game with limited contextual information. Then, a series of questions are asked to gauge what the players liked and disliked. Now, Taiwanese researchers at the Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University are using electromyography (EMG) to track small muscle movements in the faces of the focus group members. From there, they can estimate how much fun, and how addictive, the gameplay is.


84 subjects, ranging in age from 19 to 34, were fitted with electrodes positioned to sense tiny movements in two facial muscles. The Corrugator supercilii, the “frowning muscle,” is used to detect negative emotions while the Zygomaticus major muscle is used to detect pleasure from laughing or smiling. With over 150 hours of data from facial expressions during gameplay, the research team was able to effectively rank how addictive each of the eleven tested games were.

Nvidia’s GTX Titan

In the past six years, AMD and Nvidia have traded graphics leadership multiple times. From 2006-2008, Nvidia held the pole position. AMD’s Radeon HD 4000 series chipped away at that standing, while the HD 5000 took it outright. Team Green reclaimed the lead at the high end of the market with the GTX 580 in late 2010, AMD snatched it back in January 2012.



Then, almost a year ago, Nvidia launched the GTX 680. The GK104 (codename Kepler) at the heart of this new card was far more efficient than the GTX 400 and GTX 500 families based on the Fermi GPU. It was smaller than AMD’s Graphics Core Next, drew less power, and delivered a higher price/performance ratio.

The dual-GPU GTX 690 and the lower-end GTX 670 and GTX 660 followed not long after. AMD has kept itself competitive with price cuts and aggressive game bundles, but Nvidia has been in the driver’s seat. Now the company is launching its new GTX Titan graphics card. Today, we’re talking about the $1,000 card’s features and capabilities — benchmark data and reviews are being kept under wraps until Thursday morning.