Hardware

Dell has announced plans to launch its first 'Chromebook', a laptop using Google's Chrome operating system (OS). Dell's Chromebook will offer unique online storage features, including access to Wyse PocketCloud. Chromebooks are budget-priced laptops ... designed for people who mainly use their computers for working and surfing online. The devices run an OS that's effectively an enhanced version of the Chrome Internet browser. Because most of the actual processing work is done on Google computers, the hardware requirements of the Chromebook, and in turn its price, are much lower. Not having a full ... (view more)

Here's a lousy way to spend a weekend: searching through the garbage dump for a hard drive containing roughly $7.5 million in bitcoins . That's the lot of poor James Howells, a Newport, England, man who accidentally threw the hard drive away. ... Howells purchased about 7,500 bitcoins back in 2009, when the Internet currency was still in its infancy. Now, each bitcoin is worth an astronomical $1,000 USD, meaning Howells' bitcoin collection is worth about $7.5 million. "Totally Forgot About Bitcoins," Man Says Problem is, Howells -- who works in information technology (IT) -- purchased ... (view more)

A new study finds the iPad Air boasts some impressive display technology -- but its high-definition 'Retina' screen is not quite as impressive as the display built into Amazon's new Kindle Fire HDX tablet computer. The tests were carried out by ... DisplayMate Technologies, which examined the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX tablet and Apple's new iPad Air . The Air, which was unveiled by Apple at an October 22, 2013, press event, is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor, the iPad 4. DisplayMate also took a look at Google's newest tablet, the Nexus 10. Kindle Fire HDX Boasts Best-Ever Tablet Display ... (view more)

Dell has confirmed that, due to a manufacturing fault, an unknown number of laptops shipped with an unpleasant smell. Many users who complained about the odor likened it to cat urine. The problem affected the Latitude E6430. The first complaints ... appeared online this past June, with one person insisting their laptop smelled "as if it was assembled near a tomcat's litter box." (Source: dell.com ) The stink was so bad that one customer who used his laptop for business said he no longer dared switch on the machine for fear of grossing out his clients. At first Dell approached the issue on the ... (view more)

Miss your pets when you're away on vacation or those long, dull business trips? Well, there may now be a way to keep in touch with your little critters. PetChatz is a two-way video system that can also be used to dispense scents and treats. ... PetChatz, which is about half the size of a desktop computer tower, plugs directly into an electrical outlet -- preferably one near ground level, where dogs, cats, iguanas, and other domesticated animals can access it. In the middle of the device is a screen the size of a smartphone display. When plugged in and remotely connected through WiFi to a home ... (view more)

Not willing to compromise when it comes to your home router? For those of us who stream a lot of music and video content or play demanding video games online, reliable and fast networking equipment is a necessity. That's why it's hard not to be ... impressed with Netgear's new Nighthawk AC1900 Smart WiFi Router (Model R7000), which appears to be the fastest router on the market right now. Serious Hardware for Serious Streamers The Nighthawk is part of Netgear's attempt to establish an in-demand piece of hardware using the new 802.11ac wireless networking standard. This device is powered by ... (view more)

Security experts say you should never use the same password twice. But for many of us that means having to remember a dozen or more different sets of login data. But what if your devices could identify you by your heartbeat? That's the idea behind ... Nymi, a new wristband developed by Toronto, Canada-based firm Bionym. According to reports, the wristband replaces passwords by identifying the wearer through electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors. In other words, a wearer's heartbeat is used to communicate authentication to a wide range of devices. Unique Heartbeats Make For Foolproof Security The ... (view more)

Looking for a laptop with battery life that lasts throughout the work day and all evening? Lenovo's new ThinkPad T440 uses dual batteries to achieve that feat. The 14-inch ThinkPad T440 comes in two versions -- the base T440 and the premium T440s. ... The former starts at just $899 and is available with Windows 7 or Windows 8. New ThinkPad Features Next-Gen Hardware Specifications The T440 weighs in at 1.76 kilograms, making it one of the lightest sub-$1,000 laptops on the market. For extra cash buyers can upgrade to a 1600 x 900 touchscreen display. The T440s, meanwhile, starts at just over $1, ... (view more)

Tired of having the battery in your favorite wireless mouse die just when you need it most? Then you might be interested in hardware maker Logitech's newest wireless mouse, the G602, which reportedly boasts a 1,400-hour battery life. According to ... Logitech, the G602 runs on two standard AA batteries. To hit that 1,400-hour limit, Logitech says the mouse uses a special "Endurance Mode". However, if precision is the name of the game, users can flick a mechanical switch on the device to engage "Performance Mode," though this sets the battery life back to about 250 hours. Performance Mode Designed ... (view more)