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Archos 101 XS vs. Asus Transformer TF300 vs. Slider

Thanks mostly to Asus, keyboards and tablets are kind of a thing. It started with the first Transformer, continued with the Slider, and Asus hasn't really looked back since then. And why should it? The Transformer line has been very good to the company, even if the actual keyboard costs up to $150 extra (in addition to the tablet). The Slider isn't as popular, and its prices start at nearly $500.

So there's definitely room for a cheaper Android tablet/keyboard combo. Enter Archos. In November the company will launch its 101 XS, a $400, 10.1-inch … Read more

Sony makes Xperia SL official

If you're thrilled by Sony's Xperia S, then you have another reason to get excited. The company has just revealed plans for an Xperia SL phone, which sees the Xperia S and raises its 1.5GHz CPU up a notch to 1.7GHz. Of course, both phone's processors are last-generation Snapdragon S3 chips, which while technically dual-core, are roundly trounced performance-wise by Qualcomm's current Snapdragon S4 processors. … Read more

Lenovo intros new Ivy Bridge ThinkPads, including X1 Carbon ultrabook

If you're looking for "new and exciting" regarding Lenovo's newest ThinkPad laptops, you'll have to hone in on the small details. For instance, Lenovo's latest lineup of third-generation Intel Core i-series processor ThinkPads have adopted the more modern raised keyboards that have been seen on models such as the ThinkPad Edge and X1.

Beyond that and some additional port additions -- the inclusion of built-in 4G wireless on certain models -- the biggest news is the tease of the new ThinkPad X1 Carbon, a 14-inch ultrabook that's a sleeker update to last year's somewhat clunky X1 laptop. These new ThinkPads are also compatible with Lenovo's new third-generation docks, which include USB 3.0 ports. … Read more

George Harrison's DB5 sells at auction for $547,400

Somebody lucky car collector is going to have a great Christmas this year. An Aston Martin purchased by the late George Harrison in 1965, was sold at auction in London on Wednesday for more than half a million dollars.

According to the auction house, Coys, the winning bid went to an anonymous Beatles and Aston Martin fan from Houston, Texas. The purchaser plans to use the DB5 to raise money for Christian causes, Coys reported in a press release.

The DB5 wasn't the only car formerly owned by a member of the Fab Four this year. In February, John … Read more

Asus Eee Pad Slider review: Not a 'pure' tablet experience

Thanks to their slim designs, touch screens, and light weights, tablets have taken off in the last few years as a popular alternative to Netbooks and, in some cases, even laptops.

Unfortunately, a tablet screen isn't the most ideal environment for typing. By including a built-in keyboard, the Asus Eee Pad Slider attempts to offer a solution to this problem. But does the inclusion of a keyboard defeat the purpose of owning a thin, light, and cool-looking media device?

Obviously, there's more to a tablet than its looks and ergonomics. Available apps, services, and functionality are just as … Read more

Crave giveaway: 24-inch Toshiba HDTV, plus Blu-ray player

Editors' note: The rules have changed slightly for this week's giveaway. Facebook component now included.

First off, two congratulations are in order. One goes to Nick C. of Chalfont, Pa., who won a Joby GorillaMobile Yogi and GorillaMobile Ori for iPad 2 in last week's Crave giveaway. The other goes to Josh B. of Metairie, La., who scored a $300 gift certificate to DIY site ShirtsMyWay the week before last.

And now, onto this week's giveaway!

Or should I say giveaways? One lucky winner will score a 24-inch 1080p Toshiba SL415U LED HDTV and a Toshiba BDX2200 Blu-ray player.

Normally this combo would cost you $478.99, but we're giving it away gratis. So, how do you try to win? Well, if you've participated in this contest before, the rules have changed a bit, so please read them carefully. … Read more

Khronos aims to ease coding for audio, video hardware

The Khronos Group today released updates to two interfaces designed to make it easier for programmers to tap into the power of computing hardware.

First is OpenSL ES 1.1, an interface for C programmers to use sound hardware on mobile devices. The interface abstracts technologies such as graphic equalizer processing, reverberation or 3D spatial Doppler effects, playback and volume controls, and audio data recording.

The purpose of the interface is to liberate programmers from having to recraft their applications each time a new device arrives with a different, often proprietary interface. Khronos released profiles tailored for phones, music players, … Read more

Half-scale classic cars for half-pints

So maybe you can't actually buy the pint-sized Volkswagen Gol concept featured last week (and with a top speed of 17 mph, who'd want to?) but what would you say to a half-scale Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, Porsche Speedster, or Jaguar E-Type?

These tiny Pocket Classics roadsters feature working lights, turn signals, horn, and, most importantly, a 110cc gasoline engine with a three-speed automatic transmission. On models that don't come with the optional speed limiter, top speed is 46 mph. Of course, there's no word on how long it would take to reach that speed or how … Read more

Three groovy sounding turntables

Sound & Vision magazine's Michael Trei recently tested three turntables: the Rega Research P1 ($395), Music Hall mmf 2.2 ($449), and Technics SL-1200MK2 ($699). And guess what: the most expensive turntable wasn't the best-sounding one!

Mike's an old friend and a major turntable guru in his own right. His knowledge of all things analog runs deep, and he regularly sets up finicky high-end turntables for the rich and famous, including the president of a major record company, here in NYC. Mike set up the VPI Classic turntable I bought last year.

The three turntables covered in his report, the Rega, Music Hall, and Technics are all excellent, but I was more interested in the belt vs. direct-drive aspect of the reviews. The Technics is a long standing DJ favorite, for its powerful, direct-drive motor, which is a big plus when you're back cueing and scratching records. Direct-drive 'tables never wowed the high-end crowd, they favor belt-drive turntables. The appeal is mostly based on the fact that the belt "decouples" the motor from the platter. So whatever noise and vibration the motor makes as it spins aren't directly transmitted to the platter, and therefore to the record. No wonder the vast majority of turntables sold to audiophiles are belt-drive designs.

Mike may be a hard-core audiophile, but he's not closed-minded about direct-drive turntables, and in fact owns a Technics direct-drive turntable (and many belt-drives as well).… Read more