Another big news to come to you at the CES 2014 from Alienware

Alienware has announced it will be working with Valve to create the first Alienware Steam Machine.

While details are scarce at this stage Dell subsidiary Alienware has said that it will be creating a gaming machine that remains small, like the X51, but doesn't compromise on power. It aims to feature the console in the living room saying it will have: "A sleek design which is both distinctively Alienware yet unobtrusive in a media cabinet".

As you can see from the image doing the rounds online the unit looks great. It's 8-inches long and 3-inches high, according to The Verge. It will deliver full 1080p gaming to your big screen - something even next gen consoles are only just introducing. With an Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU it should pack plenty of gaming grunt. The Verge says: "With four USB 3.0ports, HDMI input and output, Gigabit Ethernet and optical audio out, the machine doesn't have the connectivity of a giant desktop, but it has all the ones you'd need to route it into a home entertainment system."

The custom built chassis will provide optimal thermal and acoustic management, says Alienware. Hopefully it will be quiet and cool enough to sit comfortably behind a screen or hidden in a closed cabinet without distracting gamers from the big screen experience.

The Alienware X51 desktop will be available as a Steam Machine and the AlienWare Steam Machine will be a separate device. Both will be available in late 2014.

Intel are trying to change the way we see computers and the game players

Intel has big plans for the future of computers, and gaming plays a central role in them. The company believes that computer games have the capacity to be one of the most intuitive forms of entertainment, and to that end, want to make use of highly accurate 3D cameras to track user input for the games of tomorrow.

At CES 2014, Intel's main presentation discussed the future of computing and spanned everything from productivity to education. Gaming was only one facet of the new face of computing, Intel's representatives explained, but it was an important one.

Intel demonstrated three games and showed how precise and intuitive controlling each one could be, even for non-gamers. The first game, "Hoplites," challenged an Intel representative to use her hands to guide a legion of Greek soldiers across a treacherous lava pit.

MORE: It's Dangerous to Go Alone: The History of 'The Legend of Zelda'

By gesturing in midair, she could grasp the hoplites in her fingertips, bounce them off of her palm or simply let them fall to their deaths. A later level had her shielding the hoplites from a hydra's flames by making a protective closed fist around them.

The second game, a 3D pinball simulator, was not quite as exciting. An Intel representative controlled apinball machine from behind-the-paddles rather than top-down perspective. The controls looked responsive as the representative gesticulated in and out, weaving his hands in multiple directions. The simulation itself was somewhat dull and repetitive, though.

The final game was more of an action title, as a third representative took control of a flying superherocharged with destroying an invading alien spaceship. Waving his hand from side to side was sufficient to move the character, while thrusting his hand toward the ship unleashed a powerful attack.

Although other motion control peripherals such as the Microsoft Kinect can accomplish similar goals, Intel claims that its technology will set itself apart both in its depth perception and the precision of its camera.

Kinect titles tend to use a lot of side-to-side motion rather than back-and-forth, and can only track a user's skeletal movements. Intel asserts that its cameras will track entire appendages and limbs, like the representative's fine finger motions while playing "Hoplites."

Other companies, Nintendo and Microsoft chief among them, have claimed to open up gaming to the masses with intuitive motion controls. These companies have had varying degrees of success, so Intel's case is hardly hopeless. Given hardcore gamers' distaste for motion controls, however, it's hardly a sure thing, either.

New system for your cars from google

The battle to control your car's smart functions has begun – and Google has teamed up with some big guns in an attempt to make Androidthe go-to platform for in-car apps.

Today, the company announced that it has formed the Open Automotive Alliance withGeneral Motors, Honda, Audi, Hyundai andNvidia. The group will work together to promote a common, purpose-built, Android-based platform for in-car entertainment, and says the first cars equipped with it will be on sale by the end of 2014.

The OAA's press release is light on specifics about the platform itself, but says it wants to make in-car technology “safer and more intuitive for everyone”, and that the modified version of Android “will allow automakers to more easily bring cutting-edgetechnology to their drivers, and create new opportunities for developers to deliver powerful experiences for drivers and passengers”. The OAA also says that it's keen to recruit more car manufacturers and technology companies to its cause.

Google's announcement comes after Apple has already begun integrating Siri into cars, while Ford's Microsoft-designed Sync app system is available in several of the auto giant's models.

Who will win the Tablet Market in 2014

Samsung is definitely ruling the roost in theAndroid smartphone segment, through the terrific sales of its iconic Galaxy range of devices – including their flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S4, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. We had reported earlier that Samsung is apparently increasing its arsenal and wanting a larger share of the tablet market pie. As rumor would have it, Samsung is planning to launch 4 new tablets in the first quarter (January to March) of this year.

However, Samsung doesn't have an equivalent iconic tablet brand. The Korean manufacturers' strategy in most of 2012 had been to release tablets in every possible size under the sun, and monitoring which tablet sizes would catch on with the end-users. If the figures released by web-content creation company OnSwipe are anything to go by, this strange strategy of Samsung has reaped dividends for the Korean giant.

The data released by OnSwipe shows that Samsung tablet users who visited OnSwipe sites grew by 50% between Christmas 2012 and Christmas 2013. Figures also revealed that iPad visitors to OnSwipe grew by just 20.4% over the same period. The ASUS made Google Nexus 7 visitors aggregated an impressive growth of 33.8% whereas the Amazon Kindle registered a meagre growth of just 19.5%.

Samsung has stated that they expect to sell close to 100 million tablet devices this year, which is an impressive target considering the fact that last year Samsung has managed to sell around half this number. To reiterate, of the 4 tablet devices expected in the first quarter of this year, it can safely be assumed that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite (SM-T111) would be among these four new devices. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite aims to be the cheapest Samsung tablet and is expected to be priced at around 100 Euros (approximately 138 USD). Though there is no clarity on which the other three tablets would be, going on the basis of speculation we might finally get to see the much rumored 12.2 inch Samsung Galaxy Note (SM-P900).

We would definitely like to see Samsung taking a lead and trying to best the Nexus 7 in terms of specs and affordability. Let us know your views in the comments below.

The post Would Samsung Rule the Tablet Market in 2014? appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

The big MWC news from samsung, it's the all new am more powerful S5 announcement of release

Concept Phones is known for their beautiful renderings of new phones that are about to be released, before any actual photos are leaked or released. These designs are generally drawn up based on patent drawings filed by the company, in this case Samsung and were warded just this December by the U.S. Patent Office. These patents related to Samsung's new Galaxy S5, which should be coming out sometime early in 2014 – possibly announcing something at MWC 2014.

We know from rumors that the new Galaxy S5 will be made from new materials and probably sport a 5.25-inch display. Rumours originally had a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440, but benchmarks seem to indicate a Full HD display – this is something we should find out at MWC 2014. The Concept Phone designer says the display “will be slightly curved to the right.” The frame will be made from aluminum, but the back will have the faux leather look of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Based on the patent filings, the rendering looks like it could be very close – and let us hope so as it is a beautiful looking device and something that I believe will help silence some of Samsung's critics. My only disappointment is the size of the speaker and that its placement on the back of the Concept Phone design. Additional Galaxy S5 rumors point to a 64-bit processor, 16MP ISOCELL camera, 2MP Front Facing Camera (for video chatting and selfies), 3GB RAM, no word of if they will stick with the Snapdragon 800, but it most certainly will have Android 4.4 KitKat. There is also a rumor that Samsung will be announcing a newExynos chip at CES 2014 in Las Vegas, a chip that could find its way inside of the company's Galaxy S5.

Based on the patent filings they also did some concept designs of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, and the concept design uses a 5.9-inch edge-to-edge display, a 20MP Camera with a 3MP FFC Camera. They are guessing it will have 32GB or 64GB of Internal Storage, a microSD Card slot, S-Pen on board, all packed into a metal body.

PLEASE understand that these are simply concept drawings based on U.S. Patent filings by Samsung, but these are the closest thing we can look at until Samsung or someone else leaks some legitimate photos. Let us know what you think of these renderings on our Google+ Page – do you like them and what would you like to see changed.

The post Newest Concept Renderings of Galaxy S5 and Note 4 Based on Patent Leaks appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

Can smart watches be replaced? No but you can improvise

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Unless you have been living under a rock these past few months, you probably know there is a battle going on in the new “wearable” mobile devices category- from eyewear to wristwear. Although not the first, Samsung's Galaxy Gearsmartwatch rekindled the interest to get asmartwatch out to market, as LG, Sony, Microsoft, Google, Apple, Qualcomm, etc. race to release a better device than what is already available…and let us not forget our friends at Pebble, who also have a smartwatch out.

It looks like some fellows on Kickstarter have come up with their own version of a “watch” that you wear on your wrist, called Smartlet, and their solution for “syncing” to your smartphone – bypass the watch and simply wear your smartphone directly on your wrist – the heck with the “middle-person,” go straight to the smartphone. I have to laugh, and I do apologize, but the Smartlet was designed by a self-proclaimed iPhone user that said:

“Ever since the iPhone was introduced in 2007, it has been our go-to device–always in our hands and on our minds. But, while over time the iPhone has evolved to become lighter and faster, nothing was being done to make it more integrated, useful, or wearable. The future wasn't coming fast enough, so we sought to create it.”

I never knew that a smartphone was supposed to ever be a “wearable” device other than in my pocket or in a clip-on case. However, these guys felt that a wearable smartphone is cool – I sure wish I could wear my Galaxy Note 3 on my wrist. The pictures below will give you an idea how Smartlet works to hold your iPhonein place – either under or over top of your coat sleeve. It is a very simple device that allows you to easily remove your device so you can text message with two hands or make a private phone call, however, when you are done, you can quickly slide it back in place for that “on your wrist” experience. They said that, “the design was driven by three core goals: convenience, style, and security.”

So far, there are less than 100 backers and they have raised less than $3,000 of the $30,000 goal with only 19 days to go. The estimated delivery date, if all goes well, is May 2014. For a $5 pledge you will get a “high-five,” and for $29 or more you can get a “first-production-run” Smartlet in the color of your choice. For $39 or more, you get a “first-production-run” Smartlet, as well as one additional band in the color of your choice. It appears that it comes in black, white, and red to compliment your attire.

Let us know on our Google+ Page what you think about this concept – if one was ever made for your Android device would you consider purchasing one? Maybe I will have to purchase an iPhone just to use as my smartwatch.

The post Smarlet: New Kickstarter DeviceTo Replace Smartwatch appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

Galaxy Note tablet ? arrrm not now but over at the CES of 2014 it will be and it will be called the Galaxy Note Pro.

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That came after a giant banner outside of the Las Vegas convention centre confirms our suspicions: Samsung has plans to launch a new Galaxy Note tablet at CES 2014, and it will be called the Galaxy Note Pro.

The banner snapped by Android Central doesn't give a specific screen size for the Galaxy Note Pro, but if the rumours and FCC filings hold true it will reign in at a whopping 12.2-inches. An alleged photo of the tablet from last year showed a faux-leather back on the tablet, like the Galaxy Note smartphone line. (Key update below)

According to specification leaks, the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean tablet will allegedly boast a speedy quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front camera, and 32GB of storage. As for the 12.2-inch display, it will have a pixel density of 2560 x 1600, making for an incredibly sharp experience.

The banner hanging in the Las Vegas heat also mentions a Galaxy Tab Pro. SamMobile reported in December it will come in two screen sizes: 8.4- and 10.1-inches with 16GB of storage out of the box. (Update:EvLeaks has tweeted a press photo of both.)

All of the speculation and leaks are set to be cleared up at Samsung's press event on Monday at 2pm PST. Pocket-lint will be live bringing you the latest news and first impressions through our Samsung hub.

Update: Notorious EvLeaks has posted alleged specifications for both models. The 12.2-inch Galaxy Note Pro will reportedly have an S-Pen, LTE capabilities, 8-megapixel rear-camera, 2-megapixel front-camera, 3GB of RAM, 32GB/64GB of storage, 9500mAh battery, and Android KitKat.

The Galaxy Tab Pro will come in three versions according to EvLeaks: 8.4-, 10.1-, and 12.2-inch. Past S-Pen and overall design, specifications remain the same as the Note Pro.

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