AMD reveals G-Series X embedded chips, drops a little ARM-powered bombshell

AMD Targets High-Growth, Embedded Markets with New AMD Embedded G-Series System-on-Chip

High performance, energy-efficient quad-core x86 design fuels Surround Computing era

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 23, 2013 - DESIGN West - AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced at DESIGN West the new AMD Embedded G-Series System-on-Chip (SOC) platform, a single-chip solution based on the AMD next-generation "Jaguar" CPU architecture and AMD Radeon™ 8000 Series graphics. The new AMD Embedded G-Series SOC platform further signifies a strategic push to focus on high-growth markets outside the PC industry, with an emphasis on embedded systems.

Embedded systems are increasingly driving intelligence into new areas of our lives across smart TVs and set-top-boxes to interactive digital signage and informational kiosks. This supports greater productivity and connectivity and is expected to be a strong driver for Surround Computing, an area of substantial growth in the computing industry. Among the forces that are enabling this next generation computing era are single-chip, SOC solutions that offer smaller size, higher performance and more energy efficient processors.
The AMD Embedded G-Series SOC platform sets the new bar for SOC design offers up to 113 percent improved CPU performance compared to the prior generation AMD Embedded G-Series APU, and up to 125 percent advantage compared to the Intel Atom when running multiple industry-standard compute intensive benchmarks.1 For embedded applications, the new platform also includes support for DirectX® 11.1, OpenGL 4.2x and OpenCL™ 1.22 that enable parallel processing and high-performance graphics processing, yielding up to 20 percent graphics improvement over the previous AMD Embedded G-Series APU and greater than 5x advantage over Intel Atom when running multiple industry-standard graphics-intensive benchmarks.

"We have built a treasure trove of industry-leading IP in processors, graphics and multimedia, along with the infrastructure to combine these building blocks into unsurpassed, embedded SOC solutions," said Arun Iyengar, vice president and general manager, AMD Embedded Solutions. "With a 33 percent smaller footprint 4, low power consumption and exceptional performance, the new AMD Embedded G-Series SOC sets the bar for content-rich, multimedia and traditional workload processing that is ideal for a broad variety of embedded applications."

The new processor family offers superior performance per watt in the low-power x86-compatible product category with 9W – 25W options5. It includes:
• enterprise-class Error-Correction Code (ECC) memory support,
• industrial temperature range of -40°C to +85°C and available with dual or quad-core CPUs,
• discrete-class AMD Radeon™ GPU, and
• I/O controller.

The AMD Embedded G-Series SOC combines dedicated resources that enable exceptional performance with shared resources to help reduce power consumption and die space, and provides developers the flexibility to leverage the same board design and software stack for a variety of applications due to the scalability of the new SOC design. The discrete-class graphics integrated into the AMD Embedded G-Series SOC power applications that previously required a separate graphics processor, while the addition of new CPU architecture for the Embedded G-Series SOC platform allows deeply embedded or "headless" systems, which are used in environments without a screen, monitor or input device and do not require a graphics solution.

"As the Internet of Things permeates every aspect of our life from work to home and everything where in-between, devices require high performance, I/O connectivity, and energy efficiency in smaller packages," said Colin Barnden, principal analyst, Semicast Research. "With this new AMD SOC design, the AMD Embedded G-Series platform offers the perfect mix of high performance, a small footprint, low-energy use, and full I/O integration to enable smaller form factor embedded designs, cool and efficient operation, and simplified build requirements. AMD has leapfrogged the competition by combining the power of an X86 CPU, and the performance of AMD Radeon graphics with the I/O interconnect all on a single die."

The AMD Embedded G-Series SOC supports Windows Embedded 8 and Linux, and is designed for myriad embedded applications including industrial control and automation, digital signage, electronic gaming systems, SMB storage, IP-TV, medical and network appliances, set-top-boxes and more. AMD will ship the AMD G-Series SOC platform with general availability in the second quarter of 2013, and target applications with a comprehensive ecosystem of industry-leading embedded solution providers supporting and/or announcing market-ready products powered by the AMD Embedded G-Series SOC.

Developer Support and Product Features:
Developers working with the AMD Embedded G-Series SOC can implement remote management, virtualization and security capabilities to help reduce deployment costs and increase security and reliability of their AMD Embedded G-Series SOC-based platform through:
• AMD DAS 1.0 featuring DASH 1.1
• AMD Virtualization™ technology
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 support

Next-generation CPU core
• Next-generation "Jaguar" core with innovative, new shared L2 Cache
• Enterprise-class feature of ECC and fast memory support

Excellent AMD Radeon™ graphics performance per watt
• Enhanced Universal Video Decode (UVD) 3 hardware acceleration (H.264, VC-1, MPEG2 etc.) and new video encode capability not available in previous AMD Embedded G-Series APU
• Power efficiency enhancement with clock gating to contribute to overall lower power consumption

Advanced GPU enables parallel processing and high-performance graphics
• Heterogeneous computing for industrial control and automation, communications and other processor heavy applications: OpenCL enables CPU and GPU parallel processing, which benefits applications development in these areas
• Graphics (DirectX 11, OpenGL) and dual independent display; high-resolution support for a superb visual experience
• Expands software development options and extends application lifetime with advanced graphics APIs

Ideal platform for low-power and high-performance designs
• For Industrial Control and Automation: low-power and heterogeneous computing advantage enabled by the integrated GPU deliver more than 150 GFLOPS of compute performance over and above the compute capability of the x86 CPU cores6
• For Digital Signage: eye-catching, high-definition multimedia content delivery connected through a variety of display technologies (DP, HDMI™, VGA, LVDS)
• For Electronic Gaming Machines: dedicated hardware acceleration engines for video decode (UVD) and encode (VCE) as well as digital content management (SAMU)
• For SMB storage: high-performance SOC in a small form factor with a myriad of integrated USB and SATA I/O enables a fan-less design, reducing system cost

Supporting Resources
• Visit the AMD Embedded G-Series SOC platform site
• Visit the AMD Embedded Solutions blog
• Watch a summary video about the AMD Embedded G-Series SOC
• Get technical support at the AMD Embedded Developer Support site
• For more AMD Embedded products, visit the AMD-Based Embedded Product Catalog

About AMD
AMD (NYSE: AMD) is a semiconductor design innovator leading the next era of vivid digital experiences with its ground-breaking AMD Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) that power a wide range of computing devices. AMD's server computing products are focused on driving industry-leading cloud computing and virtualization environments. AMD's superior graphics technologies are found in a variety of solutions ranging from game consoles, PCs to supercomputers. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

AMD GX-415GA scored 209, AMD G-T56N scored 98, and Intel Atom D525 scored 93, based on an average of Sandra Engineering 2011 Dhyrstone, Sandra Engineering 2011 Whetstone and EEMBC CoreMark Multi-thread benchmark results. AMD G-T56N system configuration used iBase MI958 motherboard with 4GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. AMD GX-415GA system configuration used AMD "Larne" Reference Design Board with 4GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. Intel Atom D525 system configuration used MSI MS-A923 motherboard with platform integrated 1GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. All systems running Windows® 7 Ultimate for Sandra Engineering and Ubuntu version 11.10 for EEMBC CoreMark. EMB-37

2 OpenCL 1.2 currently supported in the following operating systems: Microsoft Windows Vista; Microsoft Windows 7; Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 7; Microsoft Windows 8 classic mode; Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 8; Linux(Catalyst drivers). OpenGL 4.2 currently supported in the following operating systems: Microsoft Windows Vista; Microsoft Windows 7; Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 7; Microsoft Windows 8 classic mode; Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 8; Linux(Catalyst drivers). Ongoing support options TBA.

3 AMD GX-415GA scored 864, AMD G-T56N scored 724, and Intel Atom D525 scored 162, based on an average of 3DMark06 1280x1024 and PassMark Performance Test 7.0 2D Graphics Suite benchmark results. AMD G-T56N system configuration used iBase MI958 motherboard with 4GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. AMD GX-415GA system configuration used AMD "Larne" Reference Design Board with 4GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. Intel Atom D525 system configuration used MSI MS-A923 motherboard with platform integrated 1GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. All systems running Windows® 7 Ultimate with DirectX 11.0. EMB-38

4 Calculation: AMD G-Series SOC FT3 BGA package dimension 24.5mm x 24.5mm = 600.25 mm2 SOC; AMD G-Series APU FT1 and Controller Hub two-chip platform: 19mm x 19mm + 23mm x 23mm = 890 mm2; 33% improvement. EMB-40

5 The low-power x86 microprocessor class includes: GX-420CA @ 25W TDP (scored 19); GX415GA @ 15W (25), GX217GA @ 15W (17), GX210HA @ 9W (20), G-T56N @ 18W (12), G-T52R @ 18W (7), G-T40N @9W (14), G-T16R @ 4.5W (19), Intel Atom N270 @ 2.5W (20), Intel Atom D525 @ 13W (9), Intel Atom D2700 @ 10W (12) & Intel Celeron G440 @ 35W (5). Performance score based on an average of scores from the following benchmarks: Sandra Engineering 2011 Dhrystone ALU, Sandra Engineering 2011 Whetstone iSSE3, 3DMark® 06 (1280 x 1024), PassMark Performance Test 7.0 2D Graphics Mark, and EEMBC CoreMark Multi-thread. All systems running Windows® 7 Ultimate for Sandra Engineering, 3DMark® 06 and Passmark. All systems running Ubuntu version 11.10 for EEMBC CoreMark. All configurations used DirectX 11.0. AMD G-Series APU system configurations used iBase MI958 motherboards with 4GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. All AMD G-Series SOC systems used AMD "Larne" Reference Design Board with 4GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. Intel Atom D2700 was tested with Jetway NC9KDL-2700 motherboard, 4GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. Intel Celeron system configuration used MSI H61M-P23 motherboard with 4GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. Intel Atom N270 system configuration used MSI MS-9830 motherboard with maximum supported configuration of 1GB DDR2 (per http://download.intel.com/design/intarch/manuals/320436.pdf,) and Intel GM945 Intel Atom D525 used MSI MS-A923 motherboard with platform integrated 1GB DDR3 and integrated graphics. EMB-36
6 Calculation based on performance of GX-420GA GPU running at 600MHz = 0.6 GHz. 0.6 x 256 FLOPs = 153.6 GFLOPS. EMB-43

This document contains forward-looking statements concerning AMD, the timing and features of AMD's future products, the ability of AMD to win in embedded segments with new APU SOC products in 2013, the benefits from AMD's new technology partnerships and the timing of future products that incorporate AMD's products, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are commonly identified by words such as "would," "may," "expects," "believes," "plans," "intends," "projects," and other terms with similar meaning. Investors are cautioned that the forward-looking statements in this document are based on current beliefs, assumptions and expectations, speak only as of the date of this document and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Risks include the possibility that Intel Corporation's pricing, marketing and rebating programs, product bundling, standard setting, new product introductions or other activities may negatively impact the company's plans; the company may be unable to develop, launch and ramp new products and technologies in the volumes that are required by the market at mature yields on a timely basis; that the company's third party foundry suppliers will be unable to transition its products to advanced manufacturing process technologies in a timely and effective way or to manufacture the company's products on a timely basis in sufficient quantities and using competitive technologies; the company will be unable to obtain sufficient manufacturing capacity or components to meet demand for its products or will not fully utilize its commitment with respect to GLOBALFOUNDRIES microprocessor manufacturing facilities; that customers stop buying the company's products or materially reduce their operations or demand for the company's products; that the company may be unable to maintain the level of investment in research and development that is required to remain competitive; that there may be unexpected variations in the market growth and demand for its products and technologies in light of the product mix that the company may have available at any particular time or a decline in demand; that the company will require additional funding and may be unable to raise sufficient capital on favorable terms, or at all; that global business and economic conditions will not improve or will worsen; that demand for computers will be lower than currently expected; and the effect of political or economic instability, domestically or internationally, on the company's sales or supply chain. Investors are urged to review in detail the risks and uncertainties in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2012.

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Purdue University's ReadingMate makes the classic reading-running combo a little easier

Universities aren't just places for students to cut classes and enjoy themselves before eventually embarking on careers. They are also places where problems get solved, like the one facing runners who find it hard to read on the jog. That bane is the focus of a group of researchers at Purdue University, who are working on a system called ReadingMate, which moves text on a display in reaction to the bobbing head of a runner to stabilize what's being seen. The screen is sent information from a pair of infrared LED-equipped glasses, but it's not as simple as shifting text in time with head movement -- your eyes are performing corrections of their own, so the words dance slightly out of sync with your noggin to take this into account. It's performed well in testing, and could have applications beyond the gym, such as in heavy machinery and aircraft, where vibration can hamper reading ability in important situations. Those uses make the most sense -- we don't often find ourselves eager to attack that next Twilight chapter during a near-death treadmill experience.

Via: Gizmag

Source: Purdue University

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By: Unknown On 9:56 PM

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Intel NUC review: a little desktop PC that holds big promise

More Info Intel enters mini-computer fray with Core i5-powered NUC Intel's Core i3 NUC mini-system bares it all for IDF (hands-on video) Intel's NUC mini-PC internals exposed, available for around $300 in early December

The name says it all. Late last year, Intel quietly introduced the Next Unit of Computing (NUC): a miniature, barebones desktop PC that represents a modern take on the traditional beige box. The NUC sits a mere two inches tall and comes nestled within a 4-inch square chassis. It also retails for just shy of $300. Don't let its diminutive size or price fool you, though. The Core i3 system is speedy, stable and more than capable of handling day-to-day computing tasks. Yes, it's a hell of a departure from the noisy monstrosities we lusted after just a few years ago. And it's a lot quieter, too.

Before you get too excited, though, let's temper that enthusiasm just a bit. As with any bare-bones kit, you'll need to install your own memory, storage, wireless networking components and operating system. In other words, unless you're willing to get your hands a bit dirty, the NUC isn't for you. And then there's the question of its price, which becomes a lot less tempting once you factor in the laundry list of necessary components. So, is the NUC deserving of its "Next Unit of Computing" title? Let's explore this question together.Intel NUC reviewSee all photoswhen.eng("eng.galleries.init")

Hardware

If you've ever longed for a computer that kicked legacy technologies and power-hungry components to the curb, the Intel NUC will come as an incredibly refreshing piece of hardware. It's a minimalist contraption that includes only the bare essentials needed in a modern desktop computer. We're talking SSD storage, integrated graphics, HDMI video and just a smattering of ports -- more on that in a minute. Given the NUC's small enclosure, it can even be mounted to the back of a monitor or television with an included VESA bracket. The entire system is powered by an external 65W adapter, but curiously, the kit doesn't include a power cable. You heard that right... you'll need to add a cloverleaf-style cord to your shopping list; otherwise you'll be out of luck when it comes time to fire up the computer. Seems a bit Scrooge-like, if you ask us.

The Intel NUC is based on the company's third-generation of Core i3 processors. That is to say, we're looking at an Ivy Bridge setup. The dual-core 1.8GHz processor (i3-3217U) is of the low-power variety that you'd typically find in laptops and comes soldered to the motherboard. Naturally, Intel HD 4000 graphics is part of the mix, and is integrated into the CPU itself. Expansion is limited to a pair of DDR3 SO-DIMM slots (16GB max), one full-size mini PCIe slot that supports mSATA SSD drives and one half-size mini PCIe slot that's perfect for WiFi and Bluetooth. Thankfully, wireless antennas come pre-installed in the NUC.

Despite the NUC's modern internals, its naming scheme is as archaic as it gets. The Core i3 system comes in two varieties: the DC3217BY and the DC3217IYE. Needless to say, if Intel wants to get serious about the NUC, it'll need to put friendlier names at the top of the to-do list. Fortunately, we can do a better job. On one hand, you have the NUC Thunderbolt, which combines a single HDMI port and one Thunderbolt port that can be used to drive a secondary display (up to 2,560 x 1,440). Alternately, the NUC Ethernet provides two HDMI ports and, you guessed it, a gigabit Ethernet port. Both systems offer three USB 2.0 ports (two on the rear, one up front), and a Kensington lock port. Since the system lacks dedicated audio output, you'll need to ensure that your monitor features built-in speakers. If you find yourself needing other ports, such as USB 3.0, Firewire and the like, you can always snag a port replicator such as the Thunderbolt Express.

While you're probably more interested in connectivity than colors, it's worth mentioning that the NUC Thunderbolt features a red top panel that's made of plastic, whereas the NUC Ethernet sports a black top panel that's fashioned out of aluminum. Regardless of version, both NUC models are plain, plasticky affairs that place function ahead of aesthetics. It wouldn't surprise us to see Intel put a bit more effort into the NUC's industrial design in subsequent iterations, but it's clear that the current generation is geared toward the hobbyists that are more interested in the system's inner beauty.

Setup

Speaking of inner beauty, if the NUC appeals to you, then prepare to fall in love. Not only is the motherboard an engineering marvel, but the system is also so easy to build that you might just get a bit misty-eyed after it's all said and done. In our experience, the entire process took under 10 minutes, which included a generous amount of time merely admiring Intel's handiwork.

Put simply, so long as you're comfortable installing RAM, you'll have no trouble building a complete system from the NUC. To install the wireless module, you'll merely attach the pre-routed pigtail antennas, place the card in the lower mini PCIe slot and screw it down. Then rinse and repeat for the SSD, which is situated above the wireless card and secured onto a standoff on the motherboard. After that, snap in two sticks of RAM and replace the bottom cover, which is secured by four screws. It's frighteningly effortless, and it sure beats the mess of cables that you'd be forced to deal with in a typical desktop setup.

Naturally, the components that you select will play into the NUC's overall performance and final price. We chose to configure ours with 8GB of Crucial DDR3 RAM, a 32GB Crucial m4 mSATA SSD and an Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 wireless card, which provides both WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. If you're looking to run Windows 8, keep in mind that you'll really need a minimum of 64GB storage -- simply because the OS is a glutton for space. Speaking of Windows, it's a relatively big-ticket item that adds another $100 to the cost of a fully furnished NUC. Needless to say, you can also swing for a free Linux distribution and spare the expense. To give you a better idea of what a completed NUC will set you back, we've compiled a theoretical shopping list from NewEgg.

Intel NUC with components (from NewEgg) Intel NUC $299.99 Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 $31.99 Crucial DDR3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1600MHz RAM $77.99 Crucial m4 64GB mSATA SSD $84.99 C2G 27400 power cord $3.99 Windows 8 System Builder $99.99 Total $598.94

Once properly outfitted, it's easy to see that the NUC isn't a budget computer. Not that it deserves to be positioned as one, but it's important to lose any rose-colored visions of its $300 price tag. At the minimum, you can plan on its price effectively doubling, and even then, you'll need to chase down a keyboard, mouse and display.

Lastly in the setup process, you'll need to snag the OS of your choice and then load it onto the NUC. Since the machine lacks an optical media drive, this final step is a bit more labor-intensive than your typical PC build, but it's manageable nonetheless. Assuming you don't have an external DVD reader handy, your best bet is to install an OS via a USB drive. If you're looking to install Windows, you'll need to grab a utility from Microsoft known as the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. Despite its name, the software also works for Windows 8, and is needed to create a bootable flash drive from an ISO file of the Windows install disc.

As a word of caution, if you choose to install Windows 8, then you must purchase Windows 8 System Builder. Even though Microsoft's product packaging makes no mention of it, all other versions of Windows 8 -- whether purchased at a retail outlet or as a download -- are merely upgrade copies. Also adding to the complexity, Windows 8 System Builder can only be purchased as a DVD, which means you'll need to buy the disc merely to convert it to an ISO file for use with Microsoft's utility. Needless to say, Microsoft could make the process a lot easier by selling Windows 8 System Builder on flash drives.

Performance and impressions

The NUC is, without a doubt, a snappy little devil. Granted, we regularly test laptops that are more powerful, and the system's integrated HD 4000 isn't ideal for gamers (delivering 14 fps at 1080p in Euro Truck Simulator 2, for instance), but when it comes to running Windows 8 and day-to-day computing tasks, the NUC's an absolute pleasure. Applications are always quick to launch, fullscreen 1080p video plays effortlessly and web browsing is wonderfully smooth. Given our components, the NUC was able to bring up the Start Screen from a cold boot in approximately 11 seconds, which is common among systems with SSD storage, but comes as a breath of fresh air nonetheless.

PCMark7 3DMark06 3DMark11 3,625 4,855 E1153 / P627 While the NUC did get a bit warm during our benchmark tests, it was only under these conditions that the fan noise rose above ambient level. The system is otherwise wonderfully quiet, and even when playing 1080p video, you'll need to place your ear within inches of the system to hear the fan -- and yes, this holds true even with the sound muted.

Perhaps you've been eyeing the NUC as a secondary computer. Say, in the living room? The NUC's small size, low noise levels and ability to effortlessly process 1080p video suggest it might be an ideal HTPC, but the system still has a few limitations. First, SSD storage remains fairly expensive and limited in capacity, which means that you'll need to access your personal content either over a network or from an external hard drive. The NUC's lack of expandability also comes into play, eliminating the possibility of adding a TV tuner card. Naturally, you could always snag an external unit, but once you begin adding other devices to the mix, the computer's small size begins to lose its appeal. The system also lacks niceties such as IR capabilities and dedicated audio output, which would provide extra utility in the living room. On the upside, the NUC is a fantastic system for playing emulator-based games on the big screen.

Later this year, we can look forward to Intel's release of chips based on the Haswell microarchitecture. While we're expecting to see a slight bump in speed for the CPU, the fourth generation of Core processors will bring a sizable performance boost to the integrated graphics chipset. No release date has yet been made official for Haswell, but it'd be entirely logical for Intel to update the NUC as part of its refresh. With that in mind, if you're currently on the fence about the NUC, it could very well be an update worth waiting for.

Wrap-up

Now, it's time to address the question that we put out there at the very beginning of this review: is the NUC really deserving of its "Next Unit of Computing" title? Absolutely. The NUC stands as proof that traditional, mid-tower PCs deserve to go by the wayside for the average consumer. The system is speedy, small, power-efficient and quiet. It strips away years of legacy cruft and provides only the essentials that most users need to be productive and have a rewarding computing experience. Sure, the ultramodern approach may be unsettling to some, but we saw similar hesitation when the floppy drive and optical drive were cast aside, and these upheavals are certain to continue. So long as you're willing to accept the inherent tradeoffs of such a minimalistic computer, the NUC provides excellent incentive to roll up your sleeves and build your next PC.

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By: Unknown On 10:44 PM

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Jack of all trades: Tempo Smart Calendar does a little bit of everything

SRI International Spin-Off Tempo AI Announces Smart Mobile Calendar

Next-generation personal assistant from SRI International spin-off finds everything needed for upcoming meetings and streamlines routine tasks

MENLO PARK, Calif. – February 13, 2013 – Today, Tempo AI, an SRI International spin-off venture, introduces the Tempo Smart Calendar for iPhone, a cutting-edge personal assistant application centered on a person's day. The Tempo Smart Calendar is a mobile productivity app that analyzes data from a user's mobile calendar and applies artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance meetings and events throughout the day. It finds and neatly organizes everything needed to be fully prepared, such as contacts, emails, and related documents, and puts them in context. In a single tap, anyone can complete common tasks, saving time and reducing stress.

Using Tempo Smart Calendar is like having a personal assistant prepare for what's next – not only providing the right information, but anticipating and understanding what a user intends to do with it. With details in the event summary, it is simple to quickly find information, eliminating the issue of hunting around other apps, email or the browser while trying to complete a simple task such as finding a meeting agenda or someone's phone number. Tempo will fill in the gaps and suggest locations, contacts, emails and documents, even if only minimal details are added to meetings and events. Life is full of the unexpected, so in a single tap send attendees a running late notification or stay on top of delayed flights.

"The calendar is where life happens, and Tempo gives people more control over their day by enhancing their calendars in a meaningful way," said Raj Singh, founder and CEO of Tempo AI. "We've designed the experience to reduce the noise that's often associated with virtual assistants that push information to users out of context or intent. Tempo surfaces information and actions in your calendar in the context of the people you know, the places you are going, and the information you'll need."

Until now, mobile calendars have stagnated as simple digital representations of paper calendars, which causes a lot of friction and hassle for users because there is no context for any of the information in their calendar. It's like having a dumb calendar on a smartphone. Tempo is the first intelligent mobile calendar that harnesses powerful virtual personal assistant technology to provide context and streamline actions. The more Tempo is used, the more fine-tuned and personalized it becomes because it learns and recognizes patterns to make better suggestions.

In the Tempo Smart Calendar, routine tasks are done with the fewest possible taps because Tempo knows what is trying to be accomplished. With one tap, without ever leaving the calendar, Tempo can do an amazing variety of tasks, including but not limited to the following:

•Dial into conference calls – Tempo handles the passcodes
•Review emails that pertain to specific meetings and events
•Open related documents – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDFs, etc.
•Find the exact location even without an address
•Get driving directions, nearby parking, and estimated drive time
•Reach attendees via phone, email or text
•Send a pre-populated "running late" email or text
•Check flight status
•Browse attendees' LinkedIn profiles
•Scout locations with Foursquare and Yelp
•Post birthday messages to Facebook

The Tempo Smart Calendar leverages SRI International's immense investment and advancement in artificial intelligence research and semantic technology. For decades, SRI International has pioneered technology advancements that are part of our daily lives, including the mouse, interactive computing, the Internet and, more recently, the Siri virtual personal assistant. Tempo is the newest breakthrough virtual personal assistant that will fundamentally change the way people manage their day and simplify their life.

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By: Unknown On 8:31 PM

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Hulu Plus gets 'Kids Lock' feature on iPad, enhances the experience for little ones

Hulu Plus gets 'Kids Lock' feature on iPad, enhances the experience for little ones data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 278};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20460709' !== '') ? 'bsd:20460709' : ''; var postID = '20460709'; var modalMNo = '93319243', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"",channel:"us.engadget",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,engadget.com,joystiq.com,massively.com,tuaw.com,switched.com,techcrunch.com",prop1:"Engadget",prop2:"",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"",mmxgo: true,disablepipath:true,mmxtitle:"us.engadget" + " : "}); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("10000669",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319243", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu ReviewsEventsPodcasts Engadget Show Buyers Guides Features SagasVideosGalleriesStoreTopicsHD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") Hulu Plus gets 'Kids Lock' feature on iPad, enhances the experience for little ones HDByEdgar AlvarezpostedFeb 13th, 2013 at 5:39 PM 0

Hulu's Kids Lock has already been implemented on Android, and now it's time for the children-tailored, itty-bitty feature to make its way to iOS -- well, at least to the iPad. It's rather simple, really: Kids Lock essentially comes in the form of a virtual button on the app, allowing parents -- or whoever's in charge -- to easily secure their tiny loved ones into the Hulu Kids experience. Meanwhile, getting back to the TV shows and movies watched by the bosses of the house is fairly uncomplicated -- all there's to do is enter the account password and bam, all is golden and everyone can go back to watching Parenthood. Aside from Kids Lock, v2.7 doesn't add too much more, save for a few bugs being fixed and some backend enhancements to make Hulu's iOS application more stable overall.

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Source: Hulu Plus (iTunes)

Tags: app, hdpostcross, hdpostmini, Hulu, HuluPlus, iOS, kids, KidsLock, minipost, update

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By: Unknown On 8:28 PM

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NERF Rebelle hands-on: foam arrows and AR for secretly vicious little girls

Look, we loved what Hasbro did with Lazer Tag last year. But, let's be honest, that thing was pure testosterone. We're not saying the ladies couldn't get down, but the alien-blasting AR solo games weren't exactly designed with little girls in mind. Rebelle ditches the lasers for NERF arrows and slaps a supposedly female-friendly coat of purple and pink paint on the whole thing. While the blasters still operate without the optional Mission Central App cradle ($15), it's once you get the whole kit together that things really start to fall into place. The attachment lets you drop in an iPhone (4, 4S or 5) and fire up the free companion app. (And don't worry Google fans, an Android version of the app along with a universal mount are also in the works.) Rather than focus on solo games and individual competition, the Rebelle Mission Central app encourages kids to form squads and compete not just for supremacy over their friends but also for in-game perks, like accessories for their avatars. Those virtual personas can be completely customized, allowing girls to fully embrace their secret agent fantasies.Of course, you can also document your foam-arrow battles and share them.

The blasters themselves are pretty standard NERF fare and all some basic variation on a crossbow design. The rotating barrel Crossbow ($25) has a pump-action and a rail for installing the cradle, a feature that's not on some of the smaller models like the pocketable, single-shot Sneak Attackers. The other model currently slated for cradle compatibility is the Heartbreaker Bow ($20), which sticks with a more traditional bow and arrow design and has a dash more wickedness to the design than some of the other blasters. The whole Rebelle line is expected to hit shelves in the fall -- so little brothers beware.

NERF Rebelle hands-onSee all Source

By: Unknown On 10:00 AM

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IDC: iPad loses a little marketshare, still dominates global tablet sales in Q4 2012

Tablet Shipments Soar to Record Levels During Strong Holiday Quarter, According to IDC

31 Jan 2013
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., January 31, 2013 – Worldwide tablet shipments outpaced predictions reaching a record total of 52.5 million units worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2012 (4Q12), according to preliminary data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker. The tablet market grew 75.3% year over year in 4Q12 (up from 29.9 million units in 4Q11) and increased 74.3% from the previous quarter's total of 30.1 million units. Lower average selling prices (ASPs), a wide range of new product offerings, and increased holiday spending all acted as catalysts to push the already climbing tablet market to record levels.

"We expected a very strong fourth quarter, and the market didn't disappoint," said Tom Mainelli, research director, Tablets, at IDC. "New product launches from the category's top vendors, as well as new entrant Microsoft, led to a surge in consumer interest and very robust shipments totals during the holiday season. The record-breaking quarter stands in stark contrast to the PC market, which saw shipments decline during the quarter for the first time in more than five years."

Apple's iPad once again led the market, and the firm's shipment total of 22.9 million units was exactly in line with IDC's forecast for the period. A strong iPad mini launch, plus availability of the fourth generation full-sized iPad, led to solid 48.1% shipment growth over the same quarter last year. However, strong competition in the market led to Apple's market share declining for a second quarter in a row (down to 43.6% from 46.4% last quarter). Number two vendor Samsung experienced 263% year-on-year growth, shipping nearly 8 million combined Android and Windows 8 tablets during the quarter to grab 15.1% of the market, its same market share total from the previous quarter.

Amongst the other top 5 vendors, Amazon and Barnes & Noble both saw their market share increase sharply as new products gained traction during the holiday season. Amazon shipped more than 6 million tablets during the quarter, increasing its share to 11.5%, up from 8.3% the previous quarter, with year-over year growth of 26.8%; Barnes & Noble shipped close to a million units, increasing its share to 1.9%, up from 0.7%, despite a year-over-year growth rate of -27.7%. Meanwhile, number four Asus saw its share slip from 7.8% to 5.8% despite continued strong shipments of its Google-branded Nexus 7 tablet and the highest year-over-year increase in the top five at 402.5%. Microsoft entered the market during the quarter with its Surface with Windows RT tablet, but failed to reach the top five after shipping just shy of 900,000 units into the channel.

"There is no question that Microsoft is in this tablet race to compete for the long haul. However, devices based upon its new Windows 8 and Windows RT operating systems failed to gain much ground during their launch quarter, and reaction to the company's Surface with Windows RT tablet was muted at best," said Ryan Reith, program manager, Mobile Device Trackers at IDC. "We believe that Microsoft and its partners need to quickly adjust to the market realities of smaller screens and lower prices. In the long run, consumers may grow to believe that high-end computing tablets with desktop operating systems are worth a higher premium than other tablets, but until then ASPs on Windows 8 and Windows RT devices need to come down to drive higher volumes."

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By: Dilusha On 5:57 PM

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CE-Oh no he didn't!: Steve Ballmer calls Dropbox 'a fine little startup'

Microsoft is no stranger to industry flak, but it's always better to give than to receive, right? Steve Ballmer thinks so, and in a recent Bloomberg interview, he took a second away from talking up the new Office 2013 to smite Dropbox, saying that the 100 million users it boasts "sounds like a pretty small number to me." He recovered slightly by adding "I'm not beating on Dropbox," only to follow it with the finishing blow: "They're a fine little startup and that's great." We doubt anyone else would call Dropbox a startup at this point, but Microsoft's chief can't be seen complimenting a SkyDrive rival now, can he? After having to defend the user stats for Redmond's Yammer, he was also quizzed on the undying native Office for iPad rumor, to which he had "nothing to say," apart from "we'll see what we see in the future." If these snippets aren't quite enough, then head to the source link for the full interview. Ballmer may be a little less shouty these days, but it's good to know he's still capable of delivering the odd high-caliber burn.

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Via: The Verge

Source: Bloomberg

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By: Dilusha On 5:31 PM

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Force a Little Christmas Cheer on YouTube Trolls with This Festive Censorship Browser App

This story will display in ...Dec 22, 2012 5:00 PM  

YouTube comments can be an unmoderated wilderness full of ill-will and lame obscenities the likes of which, well, the likes of which you've seen in YouTube comments. Maybe you're used to it, maybe you don't dare drift that far down the page for fear of losing yourself in the inanity. YuleTube can help change that by making those gift-giving comments elfin' festive.

Obviously this is just a variation on the old switcheroo, but when it hits home, the results can actually be pretty funny. It's available on Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, so unless you're on Internet Explorer (sorry) you can set it and forget it and you'll be in for a pleasant little surprise and maybe a chuckle or two the next time you scroll down past a video and catch some tough guy talking about how much he just wants to hug your mother.

Peace on Earth? Fat chance. Faking it in YouTube comments of all places? Surprisingly easy. [Yuletu.be via TechCrunch]

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By: Dilusha On 9:07 PM

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Hitman: Absolution Review - Agent 47 is Back for a Little Killing

Hitman: Absolution is a wickedly smart, darkly enjoyable video game, one that's as generous to players as its protagonist is merciless to his victims. You'll stab, strangle and shoot your way through level after level, sometimes grimacing, sometimes scowling, sometimes laughing. When all is said and done, you'll probably need a shower.

To play Absolution is to view the world through the eyes of a psychopath, a remorseless killer who snuffs out life with the the efficiency, precision and emotion of a fine German automobile. Just about everyone in this grotesque place is in need of a good killing, and hawk-faced murder machine Agent 47 is the man for the job.

Absolution picks up the Hitman story where the last game in the series, 2006's Blood Money, left off. Let's pause before we talk about the story: Yes, the last Hitman game was released more than half a decade ago. That's a long time between sequels, even in the relatively slow-moving video game world. But that extended time in development likely accounts for a lot of what makes Hitman such a sprawling, interesting game.

Absolution keeps consistent with the general setup of past Hitman games: At the start of a level, 47 is given a target, and he must make his way through the level by any of a number of possible routes, eventually cornering and eliminating his target. When you think about it, that's not so fundamentally different from most games?there's a boss, and you must make your way through a level in order to take him down.

The key difference, then, lies in the many paths Hitman allows players to take to success. Each level is a mini-sandbox that begins at a default state, where any hostile characters are unaware of 47's presence, and he has some freedom to sneak (or just walk) around and get the lay of the land. A city courthouse, a bustling Chinatown fireworks show, or a run-down, flooded hotel?each one presents a unique set of obstacles between the player and his or her target.

WHY: Hitman: Absolution is a sprawling, satisfying game that offers dozens of vicious possibilities with each new scenario. Hitman: Absolution

Developer: IO Interactive
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC (Reviewed)
Release Date: November 20

Type of game: Violent, pulpy stealth game centered around sneakily assassinating lots of very bad people.

What I played: Completed the single-player in about 21 hours, played a few more hours of single-player on a higher difficulty, and a couple hours of contracts mode.

My Two Favorite Things

Pulling off a miraculous escape thanks to panicked improvisation.Contracts mode is a smart success, a clever way to get the most out of the game's large levels.My Two Least-Favorite Things

Cheap gay jokes and lazy misogyny mar an otherwise enjoyable script.The game's only real "boss" encounter is a weird quicktime event that should've been cut.Made-to-Order Back-of-Box Quotes

"They'll never see me coming in this chicken suit."
-Kirk Hamilton, Kotaku.com"Someone farted, and Hitman smells it. He will deal with whoever dealt it."
-Kirk Hamilton, Kotaku.com"I killed a guy with a bong. No, like, I kiled him with the bong."
-Kirk Hamilton, Kotaku.com

The thrill of Hitman is that it offers so much freedom. There can be as many as a dozen possible ways to assassinate a target, and few things are more satisfying than getting away with an assassination unseen, particularly if luck and improvisation were involved. (They frequently are.) Hitman diehards, a sadistic coalition of which I consider myself a member, have nothing to fear from Absolution. The game embraces the hardcore, open-ended aspects of the series?Blood Money in particular?with welcomely anachronistic aplomb.

After several years of ever-shortening AAA game-lengths, Absolution feels massive, almost humorously generous. The story begins in Chicago (more games set in Chicago please!), leaping from a posh lakeside manor to a seedy hotel to a breathless The Fugitive-style police chase all over the nooks and crannies of the city. It then hops to rural South Dakota, where the levels get even wilder?a swinicidal weapons-testing lab, a crowded city courthouse, small-town streets, a mob BBQ, and so many more. Several chapters in the story are set in fully realized areas that see maybe 10 minutes of action?they're only there to enhance the atmosphere and further the plot. In this age of streamlined game design, Hitman: Absolution frequently feels like an indulgence. It's a welcome one.

The story is pure b-movie hogwash that involves 47 turning on his employers to protect a young girl who may be a genetically engineered supersoldier like him, capable of great and terrible power. (She may even be bald like he is: That sure looks like a wig, anyway.) The narrative is never more than an excuse to let our anti-hero garrote his way through exotic locations, one stashed body at a time.

The world of Hitman: Absolution is a right nasty one, and often it feels like the game's trying too hard. This is a dark place, where men are pigs with sex-offender eyes and women are either scantily clad wank fantasies, psycho killers, nuns, prostitutes, or some combination of the four. 47 is his usual fart-smell-faced cypher self, but the young girl he's protecting could have easily been so cool?part Hit-Girl and part Mitsuko Souma, a killing machine in a schoolgirl dress. And yet she's relegated to the role of helpless MacGuffin for all but a brief, stilted cutscene. It feels like a waste.

Aspects of Absolution channel the instagram-filtered funk of HBO's smutty vampire series True Blood, but the game has little of that show's hedonistic joy. Once you look past the blood and tits, Absolution often feels cold, calculated, and vaguely creepy. The leather-gloved choking, S&M fixation and light, doth-protest-to-much homophobia evoke European torture-porn more than they do southern-fried pulp. As I played, I couldn't quite shake the feeling that behind the awesome kills and brazenly sexualized violence lay a clinical, heavy-lidded observer who, having designed this funhouse, finds it enjoyable in a different, darker way than I do.

It feels appropriate, too, that a good deal of Absolution's story involves a man named Dexter. Agent 47, with his sociopathic tendencies and effortless ability to rack up a body count, stands right next to the secretly psychotic protagonist of Showtime's long-running serial killer series. Both Dexter Morgan and Agent 47 get a pass for the awful things they do, largely because they do those things to bad, bad people. But while Dexter smartly toys with the morality of the thing, teasing at the humanity of its monster of a main character, Hitman blithely embraces darkness with next-to-no subtext or ambiguity.

That's not to say that the writing is bad, just inconsistent. In fact, the dialogue is frequently spirited and well-performed. At its strongest, Absolution feels like a gritty modern-day Western, with 47 re-imagined as a taciturn frontier anti-hero: A man in black, walking toward a church, holding a pistol. TV fans will likely pick out the voices of Deadwood alums Powers Boothe and Keith Carradine, Boothe purring his way through an otherwise overblown role and Carradine lending a sinister glint to a ridiculous cornpone killer.

Many of the levels are jammed with shoulder-to-shoulder civilians, and Hitman: Absolution sports some of the most convincing, enjoyable crowds I've encountered in a game. Those crowds are greatly enhanced by some wonderfully written ambient dialogue?these writers know exactly how to capture the rhythm of a one-sided cell-phone conversation, to the point that I stopped evading the cops in a crowded Chicago train station just to sit back and listen. Playing Absolution so soon after Assassin's Creed III is a lesson in how crowd-stealth should feel, and how to believably render the chaos of a dense urban scene.

If you can get around the story's squickier edges (as I was able to), you're in for a hell of a good time. This game takes everything that worked in Blood Money and makes it work better, while adding more-complex artificial intelligence, easier-to-use tools, and new mechanics smartly borrowed from other stealth games.

Absolution feels like a gritty modern-day Western, with 47 re-imagined as a taciturn frontier anti-hero: A man in black, walking toward a church, holding a pistol.

Absolution gives players a great deal of credit, and you're free to approach any situation any way you like. In one level, you're tasked with killing three doctors in a research wing. You could head in guns blazing and take them down (theoretically, of course?outright combat is improved from past Hitman games, but remains looser and less satisfying than stealth). You could also lure them into a dark area, kill them, and stash their bodies. Or, best of all, you could take advantage of the environment to lay any of a number of unique traps for them, making each death look like an accident before walking out unscathed.

The most deadly tools in 47's arsenal isn't his trademark Silverballer pistols, they're his outfits. Hitman games are all about dress-up: Choke out or kill a guard or a scientist and you can quickly don his outfit and fool anyone who isn't wearing the same outfit. (For example: Put on a guard's outfit and other guards will see through it, but construction workers won't. Vice-versa if you put on a construction worker's outfit. This makes rare and unique outfits more valuable.) The costumery makes the game much more reactive and fun than it would've been as a pure stealth game. It also appeals to my inner collector?most every level has at least one bizarre unique costume that, if unlocked, can make 47 difficult to spot AND funny-looking.

Absolution is very much a "video game," if that makes sense. It requires a good deal of suspension of disbelief, but in this case that's a good, often great thing. The artificial intelligence is flexible and a lot of fun to square off against, but it's still obviously artificial. The systems are all transparent, and the game goes to great lengths to make sure you understand each one. That means that on normal difficulty, you can kill a guy, be spotted, then hide for a minute, and everyone will go back to their regular daily deal without, you know, freaking out about the fact that their co-worker is lying dead right there. The costumes, too, never feel all that believable: Yes, a 6'3" bald man with a sliced barcode on the back of his head is lumbering, hawk-eyed, through a group of guys who presumably work alongside the dude whose clothes he's wearing. Nope, no one notices. But it makes the game work, and it's a lot of fun, so who cares?

As I mentioned earlier, Hitman: Absolution borrows smartly from several other big stealth games. The biggest lift is 47's "Instinct" ability, which is accessed using the right shoulder button. It operates similarly to Batman's detective mode in Arkham City, and is perhaps even closer to Adam Jensen's see-through-walls augmentation in Deus Ex: Human Revolution. With instinct, enemy characters light up gold, even through walls, and players are therefore able to plan out strategies on the fly with a much greater chance of success. Thankfully, instinct doesn't make the game too easy?it just makes it more fun. And, if you're a true purist, you can turn it off on the highest difficulty.

With instinct activated, trails of fire will appear in front of enemies to indicate the path they'll be following. In one level, I was stuck crouching just out of a guard's line of sight when suddenly, a path of flame lit up right next to me. I could see the other guard coming up the stairs to enter the room, and he'd be upon me in seconds. I had to act fast, so I quickly stood up, ducked my way past the nearer guard and into a packed lobby before blindly choosing a door and BARELY making it to safety. It was a real thrill.

Hitman: Absolution is another game that inspires stories, where you'll debrief with your friends to figure out how they accomplished different goals, and what wild things happened along the way. Each area has a number of assigned "challenges" that show a picture, or a name, along with a cryptic hint about what you're supposed to do. It's a smart, subtle way of encouraging you to plumb each level's depths without giving away too much of what you're supposed to do (e.g. there's a "master poisoner" challenge that lets you know that poisoning is possible without telling you what to do). Completing challenges nets you experience that unlocks new, upgraded abilities, though to be honest I never really felt the impact of any of these upgrades in the game. As with the past games, a perfect "Silent Assassin" score is a reward unto itself, and dedicated players will have hours of fun dissecting the many areas and figuring out how best to exploit their nooks and crannies.

While Absolution doesn't come with versus multiplayer, it does come with a very smart asynchronous online component that will likely greatly enhance its lifespan. Called "Contracts" mode, it allows players to use the existing levels to devise their own assassination challenges, targets, and constraints, and see if other players can pull them off. It's a great idea, and well-executed. After all, the magic of Absolution lies in the malleable AI and the sprawling, multi-tiered levels. As I played through the story campaign, I couldn't help but feel like I was missing a huge chunk of each level as I went. Contracts mode greatly mitigates that feeling.

Creating a contract is a good deal of fun, too?you can't make a contract unless you yourself can pull it off. That means you'll start the level, with all of the AIs set in motion, and then kill any non-civilian character in any way you see fit. The game will then record what you did, how you did it, and what you were wearing. If you, say, kill a cook, hide his body, and make it out undetected, the contract you create will use those circumstances to award bonus points. You can also directly challenge your friends to beat your contracts, which will doubtless keep a lot of Hitman players coming back well past their first playthrough.

When it gets cooking, Hitman: Absolution evokes the feeling of a deadly, measured dance. It's a constant tango between you and the computer, with each party alternately taking the lead through arenas that constantly shift, re-set, and upset expectations. It's outsized and ambitious, drunk with freedom; vulgar, offensive, yet clever and respectful.

A world this rotten, this far beyond redemption, could do with a little killing. Who better to do it than you?

Republished with permission.?Kirk Hamilton is a contributing editor at Kotaku.

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By: Dilusha On 1:57 PM

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Nokia Lumia 920 review: Windows Phone 8 and (a little bit of) camera magic

It's been almost a year to the day since we reviewed Nokia's first Windows Phone and now we're staring at its second-generation flagship, the Lumia 920. Since the Lumia 800, Nokia's taken a pretty big role in improving Windows Phone's standing in a crowded (but lucrative) smartphone battlefield. While it may be sharing the spotlight with the new HTC 8X,

By: Dilusha On 1:58 PM

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