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Triple Transformation with Transformer Book Trio

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Is it a notebook? Is it a tablet? Is it a... desktop PC? No, it's the Asus Transformer Book Trio, a device taking the 2-in-1 concept even further as an 11.6-inch Android tablet one can turn into a Windows 8 ultrabook via dock.

Transformer Book TrioSimilarities to Asus' myriad Transfomer devices are somewhat skin deep-- the device carries separate processors well as different OS installations inside the tablet and dock segments.

Thus, the Android-powered 11.6-inch 1080p display carries a 2GHz Atom Z2580 CPU, 2GB RAM, 64GB SSD and 19WHr batery, while the keyboard dock makes a standard Windows 8 ultrabook with a Haswell CPU, 1TB storage, an unspecified amount of RAM and 33WHr battery.

Switching between operating systems involves either pressing a button or undocking the display, and Asus insists users can synchronise data between Android/Windows 8 modes.

WSJ: Apple Shifts Supplier

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Once upon a time, Foxconn made virtually all iPhones and iPads in the world. But not any more-- The Wall Street Journal reports Apple is dividing the supply chain with another Taiwanese company, Pegatron.

iPadsThe Apple-Foxconn partnership came through "two leaders with a hero complex," the late Steve Jobs and Foxconn chairman Terry Gou. But current Apple CEO Tim Cook apparently finds the increasingly powerful Foxconn too difficult to control (due to incidents such as surprise component source changes), while Foxconn thinks devices such as the iPhone 5 too complex to make in the volumes Apple demands.

The WSJ also says Apple wants to diversify suppliers (or "shift risk diversification") after 2012 manufacturing glitches resulted in iPhones with scratched metal casings, as well as concerns over growing competition from the likes of Samsung.

Gesture Detection via Wifi

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University of Washington researchers propose a novel gesture detection technology-- WiSee, a system using regular wifi signals instead of cameras or sensors to detect control gestures, without need for line-of-sight.

WiseeThe technology measures the so-called "Doppler frequency shift" caused in wireless signal frequency by body movements. Such frequency changes are very small (several hertz compared to 5GHz wifi signals), yet UW says the technology identifies up to 9 different whole-body gestures through a clever algorithm measuring these slight shifts.

“This is repurposing wireless signals that already exist in new ways,” UW lead researcher Shyam Gollakota says. “You can actually use wireless for gesture recognition without needing to deploy more sensors.”

Samsung Intros Galaxy Tab 3 Models, S4 Mini

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Never let it be said Samsung is a slouch when it comes to new devices-- it announces a duo of Galaxy Tab 3 tablets and shrinks down the Galaxy S4 to 4.3-inch.

Galaxy s4 mini

Revealed at Computex 2013, the 8-inch model features a 1.5GHz Exynos dual-core processor, 1280x800 (189 PPI) display, 1.5GB RAM, 5MP rear and 1.3MP front-facing cameras, 4450mAh battery and either 16 or 32GB of internal storage.

The 10.1-inch option has similar specs, but with a 1.6GHz Intel dual-core processor and 6800mAh battery.

Both run on Android and should hit the market on Q3 2013

Mouse +Trackpad = VivoMouse?

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VivomouseAsus reveals what it meant with its "it'll move you" teaser at Computex 2013-- the VivoMouse, an unusually shaped wireless mouse with a circular desktop touchpad grafted on top.

Supposedly a "world first," the VivoMouse supports both Windows 7 and 8 with the touchpad handling both gesture and traditional mouse button duties.

The wedge-shaped design also allows one-handed handheld remote use, as demoed at Computex with the newly announced VivoPC model. Designed for living room applications, the VivoPC is just 56mm tall and features SonicMaster audio, 802.11ac wifi, x2 internal memory slots and a drive bay accommodating either 3.5- or 2.5-inch SATA 6Gbit/s HDDs.

Both Asus VivoMouse and VivoPC will be available from Q3 2013.

Go Asus

Go Asus Teaser

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