Asus To Launch Swivel-Screen Windows 8 Ultrabook

Asutek Computer is prepping up a new notebook, having combined features of both ultrabooks and tablet PCs. The upcoming Asus ultrabook will feature swivel-screen design and come equipped with Windows 8 OS, which Microsoft plans to unveil in September 2012.

The Asus ultrabook is designed to offer users the best of Microsoft Windows 8's new touchscreen tablet experience with an integrated Windows desktop interface.As part of Intel's ultrabook promotion, the new netbook will combine features of ultrabooks and tablet PCs. The swivel-screen based device will be announced in partnership with Intel at the upcoming 2012 Computex Taipei event, reports Digitimes.

Borrowing design ideas from Intel, one of which suggests a swivel-screen enabled device, the upcoming Asus tablet PC will attract users once Ivy Bridge launches in May 2012. Reportedly, it is also expected that the demand for ultrabooks will gain momentum once the Ivy Bridge launch happens next year.

For those, who are eagerly expecting Android-based Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, here's another device to look forward to in the coming year.

To self-diagnose, spit on an iPhone

HANDHELD gadgets could one day diagnose infections at the push of a button by using the supersensitive touchscreens in today's smartphones.

Many believe that in the future collecting samples of saliva, urine or blood could be performed using a cheap, USB-stick-sized throwaway device called a lab-on-a-chip. The user would inject a droplet of the fluid in the chip, and micropumps inside it would send the fluid to internal vessels containing reagents that extract target disease biomarker molecules. The whole device would then be sent to a lab for analysis.

But Hyun Gyu Park and Byoung Yeon Won at the Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology in Daejeon think touchscreens could improve the process by letting your phone replace the lab work. Park suggests the lab-on-a-chip could present a tiny droplet of the sample to be pressed against a phone's touchscreen for analysis, where an app would work out whether you have food poisoning, strep throat or flu, for example.

The idea depends on a method the pair have devised to harness the way a touchscreen senses a fingertip's ability to store electric charge - known as its capacitance. The capacitive sensitivity of touchscreens is far higher than what is needed to sense our fingers as we play games or tap out tweets. "Since these touchscreens can detect very small capacitance changes we thought they could serve as highly sensitive detection platforms for disease biomarkers," says Park.

So the pair began proof-of-concept tests to see if the touchscreens in our pockets could play a role in diagnosing our ailments. First they took three solutions containing differing concentrations of DNA from the bacteria that causes chlamydia and applied droplets from each to an iPhone-sized multitouch display. They found that the output from the screen's array of crisscrossed touch-sensing electrodes could distinguish between the capacitances caused by each concentration using droplets of only 10 microlitres (Angewandte Chemie International Edition, DOI: 10.1002/anie201105986).

The technology is not yet able to identify individual pathogens but Park sees the display's ability to differentiate between concentrations as a first step towards this.

However, before the idea can be rolled out the built-in software on touchscreens that eliminates false-touch signals caused by moisture or sweat would need modifying. Park also plans to develop a film that can be stuck on a touchscreen to which the biomarkers will attach. "Nobody wants direct application of bio-samples onto their phone," he says.

"This is potentially possible," says Harpal Minhas, editor of the journal Lab On A Chip. "But any changes to current production-line touchscreens would need to demonstrate huge financial benefits before they are implemented." And DNA sequencing, rather than concentration measurement, is more likely to be necessary for disease diagnosis, he adds.

Thermal imaging camera for soldier's smartphones

Cameraphones could be heating up with thermal imaging sensors (Image: Tony Mcconnell/Science Photo Library)
Smartphones are already all-purpose, do-everything tools for civilians. Could they soon fulfil the same role for soliders? DARPA wants to take a step in that direction by shrinking thermal imaging cameras to fit into soldiers' phones.
Thermal imaging shows how the world looks at infrared wavelengths of 8 to 12 micrometres. At those wavelengths, people, warm-blooded animals, and operating engines glow brightly against the cooler background of plants and soil. Firefighters use thermal imaging cameras to identify dangerous hot spots. Soldiers use them to check what might be lurking in the brush, especially in dim light.
But today's thermal imaging cameras are big and expensive: standard military versions resemble binoculars and cost thousands of dollars. Civilian models used by firefighters and contractors cost $1000 or more and may weigh a few kilograms. Key problems are the high cost, large size, and power requirements of the infrared-sensitive sensors needed to record images at wavelengths about 20 times longer than visible light.
To overcome those problems, DARPA is paying Raytheon Vision Systems $13.4 million over three years to develop ways to make the sensors small and cheap enough to be integrated into phones. Soon every US soldier could have a thermal imaging camera in their back pocket.

AMD Radeon HD 7900 'Tahiti' snapped

While both GPU camps are hard at work at next-generation DX11.1 (hopefully) graphics cards, AMD’s flagship card, codenamed ‘Tahiti’ was snapped a few days back and today we have a much clearer shot of the card’s PCB, without the heatsink.

Shaping up nicely

Looking at the card, we can now say for certain than AMD will use a 384-bit memory bus, which is evident from the 12 memory chips on board. We also get a clearer shot of the die this time around. The card will most likely feature 1.5GB of GDDR5 memory, although the frequency is still unknown. It will also sport a 5+1 phase PWM for better power management. The die itself is exposed much, like other AMD cards and quite unlike Nvidia who use a heat spreader over the die. We also see two CrossFire connectors, which mean it would be compatible with a four card configuration.

Possible pic of 'Tahiti Pro'

The second picture reveals two 6-pin connectors, instead of the previously snapped 6 plus 8-pin connectors. This could very well be a lower-end variant of Tahiti, a HD 7950 if you will. This also means the TDP should be much lower. That’s all we have for now, but at least we know this much is certain, AMD is making good progress and hopefully are on schedule for a 2012 launch.

Happy Holidroid Contest: Weekend Trivia Challenge

If you’re unsure what this whole "Holidroid Contest" thing is all about, be prepared to get excited. From November 24th through December 25th, Phandroid is giving away a Kindle Fire every single day along with other great prizes like the Galaxy Nexus Galaxy Tabs, JAMBOX, SmarTouch Gloves, Android Phones, Android T-Shirts, Seidio Vouchers and more. Read our announcement post for details.
Yesterday’s Winner
Yesterday’s winner will be announced shortly. We are still going through the numerous video submissions from yesterday’s contest. But we have more to give away. The following is up for grabs:
Amazon Kindle Fire
The Kindle Fire could be this holiday’s hottest product: at only $199 it’s not only one of the most  affordable Android tablets, it’s also one of the best. That’s a killer combination. With a beautiful UI, great battery life, carefully curated apps/games, and an amazing array of media options thanks to Amazon’s Digital Content Ecosystem... the Kindle Fire is a sure win. Good luck winning one in our contest, but at only $199 it’s probably worth buying one just in case!

Samsung Stratosphere

Verizon’s 4G LTE network, a Super AMOLED display, and slide-out QWERTY keyboard put a world of power at your fingertips with the Samsung Stratosphere.  A special shout out to Radio Shack for providing this great device for our giveaway. If you don’t take home the prize be sure to check out their great selection of smartphones online and in-store.

Isotoner SmarTouch Gloves

Every single holiday season these SmarTouch smartphone gloves are consistently one of my favorite gift giving items. They eloquently solve one of the most fundamental problems a tech lover faces: using your device in cold weather. Wearing gloves usually prevents your touchscreen from working: take your phone out, take your glove off, use your phone, hand gets gold, shove phone in pocket, rush to get glove on. NO MORE! Isotoner’s SmarTouch gloves, designed in my colors and sizes for both men and women, has technology that passes the electrons your body gives off, through the gloves, onto the capacitive screen and allowing it to work. VOILA! Seriously. It works. Trust me. Try it... and you’ll love them forever.

Seidio $30 Voucher

With so much smartphone use comes battery drain. Thankfully, Seidio makes some awesome extended batteries that fit many smartphones, allowing you to get longer battery life with the same device. No more toting around a charger everywhere you go: just snag a Seidio and call it a day! Seidio also makes cases, holsters, and other great accessories for your smartphones.Check them all out here.

Today’s Contest Rules/Regulations:

Can you answer the following Phandroid trivia question the fastest?
This year there are plenty of Android items on the wish list. Though I arguably missed the mark last year (we all do once in a while), I named one new Android gadget a holiday hit for 2010. What was it?

• First person to correctly answer the above question wins the day’s prize pack
• Sign up for a free account at AndroidForums.com
• Visit this thread on AndroidForums.com and post your answer
• IF YOUR POST HAS BEEN EDITED AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON, THAT ENTRY WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED AND YOU WILL NEED TO SUBMIT A NEW ENTRY TO QUALIFY FOR CONSIDERATION
• Read our Full Official Rules for information about eligibility
• This isn’t required but if you want to be nice… Visit Amazon.com by clicking here before you do your holiday shopping because you love us!

Looking for a great gift? Don’t forget about our Holiday Gift Guide!
Tomorrow’s Contest:
We’ll be giving away a Kindle Fire, Smartouch Gloves, $30 Seidio Voucher, and a JAMBOX from Jawbone! You never know when we will be posting our trivia challenge so check back early and often!

Intel pulls the plug on several LGA 1366 and 1156 CPUs

With too many SKUs and different generation processors still in the market, Intel is finally doing some spring cleaning (more like winter cleaning) with their CPU line-up as well as some of their older chipsets. Before Ivy Bridge hits the streets next year, the company is clearing their inventory to make way for the new arrivals. CPUs like Core i7-860, Core i7-930, Core i7-950, Core i7-960, Core i7-980 and the Core i7-990X, which are based on the LGA 1366 platform will reach EOL on June 29, 2012. The fate awaits LGA 1156 CPUs like the Core i3-540, i5-650, i5-660, i5-670, i5-680, i7-860, i7-870 as well as the Pentium G6950 and G6960. Tray SKUs, however will still be available till December 7, 2012 or till supplies are depleted.

Out with the old, in with the new

LGA 1366 was first introduced in November 2008 and has been able to hold its own till today against newer CPUS like Sandy Bridge and AMD’s Bulldozer. Intel’s recently launched Sandy Bridge-E based on the LGA 2011 socket will replace the LGA 1366. Socket 1156, on the other hand had a shorter shelf life, since it was introduced in a September of 2009, only to be replaced by LGA 1155 or Sandy Bridge at the start of this year. Along with the CPUs, Intel also plans to retire H55, P55 and H57 chipsets.