Jury awards HP $3 billion in damages from Oracle
In yet another legal tussle between HP and Oracle, a jury has decided to award HP $3 billion in damages. The case stems from Oracle’s decision to stop developing software for HP’s Intel Itanium-powered servers in 2011, which HP says is a breach of contract between the two companies. Oracle’s argument has been that the Itanium processor was nearing end of life and it didn’t think there was a contract requiring it to support the hardware indefinitely.
Reuters reports that a judge decided there was a contract in 2012, and today the jury ruled on the amount of damages. For its part, Oracle plans to appeal both decisions (just like it’s appealing a ruling in its case against Google over the use of Java APIs in Android), saying HP and Intel “stopped developing systems years ago,” and that HP breached its own obligations. Until that happens we’ll be pawing through the Itanium Wikipedia page for quotes like “The Itanium approach…was supposed to be so terrific—until it turned out that the wished-for compilers were basically impossible to write.”
Source: Oracle, Reuters, USA Today
HP’s new touchscreen Chromebook is ready for Android apps
It’s no secret that HP loves making Chromebooks, and today the company is expanding its lineup with the future of Chrome OS in mind. Enter the HP Chromebook 11 G5, an 11.6-inch laptop which features a touchscreen, meaning it’ll support Android apps when Google rolls that service out later in 2016. Additionally, the new lightweight (2.51 lbs) Chromebook comes with an Intel Celeron N3060 processor and, according to HP, up to 12.5 hours of battery life. But the best part, perhaps, is that the 11 G5 will only cost $189 when it hits stores in October.
Source: HP
Your big-name PC may have a security flaw in its update software
Those problems with security holes in big PC makers’ software bundles? They might not be over yet. Duo Security says it found vulnerabilities in the update software for Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo. Some vendors were more secure than others in Duo’s testing, but all of them were insecure enough that you could launch a man-in-the-middle attack and run your own code. In the worst cases, they’d send update data without any encryption or validation.
Also, don’t think that you’re safe by springing for one of Microsoft’s cleaner Signature Edition versions of these PCs. Duo says that some of these models still have vendor update software, so you might be in the same boat as someone who bought the garden variety PC.
We’ve asked all five companies for comment, and we’ll let you know what they say. However, Duo adds that the research took place between last October and this April, which suggests that some of the holes might have already been patched up. Dell already said that it would tackle the eDellroot flaw that created a minor panic last year, for example. Even if there’s more fuss than necessary, though, this is a reminder that your PC’s operating system is only part of the security puzzle — you have to be mindful of third-party apps, too.
Via: International Business Times
Source: Duo Security
Backpack PCs will help you avoid VR cable catastrophe
HP revealed an arsenal of new gaming gear yesterday, but it had one more device up it’s sleeve. Another PC that’s part of the recently announced Omen line is a backpack machine that’s VR-ready. It’s still in development, so details are a bit scarce at this point, but the mobile setup packs a Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, up to 32GB RAM and everything else you’ll need to power an HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. There’s no word on the graphics card just yet, but a belt holds two batteries — one for the CPU and one for the graphics card.
As you might expect, battery life is pretty limited. In fact, HP says those batteries will only last for about an hour. However, you’ll be able replace those packs without having to shut the system down thanks to a smaller third battery. In terms of heft, the Omen VR backpack weighs under 10 pounds and offers a wireless display, mouse and keyboard for setup and troubleshooting. Since this device is still in the works, there’s no word on pricing or availability. If we had to guess, you’ll need to tap into your savings account when the time comes.
HP isn’t the only one with a VR backback though, as MSI also announced one as part of its Computex lineup. The Backpack PC (yes, that’s the name) carries an Intel Core i7 alongside a Nvidia GTX 980 graphics card. MSI is touting the benefits of “big movements and total immersion,” but it too is light on the finer details, especially pricing and availability. Back in April, Zotac put one of its mini PCs in a backpack to offer a VR-ready setup with Nvidia GTX 970, 980 or 980i graphics. There’s no word on price here either, unfortunately, but we could hear more at the event in Taiwan this week.
The goal with all of these machines is for users to be able to use a tethered VR headset without being anchored to a desktop machine. In theory, you can plug into one of these backpacks and walk around during the game or other VR experience. Of course, you likely don’t have a lot of room to roam in your living room, but places like the VR theme park The Void could be a spot where these devices see the most use. Either way, it beats cramming a computer into a regular backpack that will quite literally get you hot under the collar.
Source: MSI, The Verge
HP goes big on gaming with new Omen laptops and desktop
HP gave us a brief taste of the legendary Voodoo PC gaming brand with its Omen laptop over nearly two years ago. Now, the company is bringing the Omen name to all of its gaming hardware — a new lineup of laptops and desktops, as well as a 32-inch quad-HD monitor. On the laptop side, HP is going is going for more aggressive pricing, starting at $899 for the 15.6-inch model ($980 for the 17.3-inch model). And with its new Omen desktop, HP is aiming to be VR ready with enough power to run the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
While it’s nice to see Omen laptops at a lower price, HP had to downgrade the machines a bit to make that happen. (In many ways they’re more reminiscent of last year’s Pavilion gaming laptop.) The biggest difference: instead of aluminum unibody cases, the new laptops have plastic cases with a “black shadow mesh” design. And instead of multi-colored keyboard lighting, they only feature red lights. The laptops felt pretty solid in my brief hands-on time, though you’d never mistake them for a premium metal design. The hinges also felt a bit more wobbly this time around.
The Omen laptops now support up to NVIDIA GTX 965M graphics and sixth-gen Intel Core i7 processors. They can hold a maximum 16GB of RAM, and you’ll have the choice of up to a 512GB SSD or 2TB hard drive (some configurations also allow for combination of SSD and a traditional hard drive). As with many laptops today, you can also add in an Intel RealSense Camera for an additional cost.
As for that Omen desktop, it looks like… your typical mid-tower desktop. The brief bits of design accent are the brushed metal facade and red lighting on the front. Otherwise, it’s fairly ho-hum. At the highest end, you can configure it with an Intel Core i7-6700K processor, 32GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a 3TB standard hard drive. Naturally, you can also configure the desktop with NVIDIA’s new GTX 1080 Founder Edition card, or if you prefer AMD, a Radeon R9 390X. There’s also optional water-cooling, which could be helpful if you pick up an overclockable CPU.
Rounding out the motley crew of Omen products is a new 32-inch monitor with support for AMD’s FreeSync technology, which helps smooth out performance due to framerate variability. As I mentioned above, it’s a quad-HD display, which means it packs in a 2,560 x 1440 pixel resolution. While it’d be nice to see a 4K display from HP, quad-HD is also a far more sensible resolution for most gaming rigs. There’s no pricing for the Omen monitor yet, unfortunately.
The Omen laptops will be available on July 10 at Best Buy and HP’s website, while the desktop and monitor will ship in August.
The big news here, really, is the new branding. HP has offered powerful systems across several product lines over the year, but by focusing on the Omen brand, it gives consumers an easy way to know which machines are powerful enough for serious gaming.
HP’s new Tech Ventures arm looks to invest in emerging startups
The struggles of PC maker HP have been well documented, and the continued decline of the company’s main business isn’t helping. Even with new products like the super thin Spectre 13.3, a 3D-scanning Sprout PC and a crystal-studded smartwatch, HP is still looking to rebound. Today, the company announced the launch of HP Tech Ventures, a “corporate venture arm” that looks to invest in startups with “cutting edge technologies.” The new initiative will have teams in Palo Alto and Tel Aviv to go after the new companies in 3D transformation, immersive computing, hyper-mobility, IoT, AI and smart machines.
HP touts its 75 years of experience and patent portfolio as tools it can use to help aspiring entrepreneurs. It also notes that it has manufacturing and distribution partners in place, so it can help small companies scale quickly. HP Tech Ventures will be led by the company’s Chief Disrupter Andrew Bolwell to “foster an ecosystem of innovation.”
“With our global brand and broad reach into consumer and commercial markets worldwide, HP can help startups bring product to market, build their business and scale in the global marketplace as they grow,” explained HP’s CTO and head of HP Labs Shane Wall. Details are a bit scarce for now, but interested startups can reach out to the company via the Tech Ventures website.
Source: HP
The Wirecutter’s best deals: $20 off the Amazon Echo
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.
Logitech Type+ iPad keyboard case
Street price: $80; MSRP: $100; deal price: $61
Here’s the first price drop of the year on this iPad keyboard case from Logitech. This is the best deal we’ve seen on this product, beating the previous low from last spring by about $3.
The Logitech Type+ is the runner-up keyboard case pick in our guide on the best accessories for your iPhone, iPad, and more. Dan Frakes said, “Its folio-style design provides an impressive amount of protection, yet it’s thinner than most all-over-protection competitors. It has very good keys in a good layout, and it provides a nice array of dedicated iOS-special-function keys. And when you don’t need to use the keyboard, a seam in the top cover lets you fold the iPad over the keyboard to hold it tablet-style.”
Moto X Pure Edition 16GB smartphone
Street price: $350 (new); MSRP: $400 (new); deal price: $250 (refurb)
This refurbished deal through Best Buy comes in at $250, a full $50 under the best price we’ve seen on a new model of this phone, and $100 under the current street price. This deal comes with a 90-day warranty.
The Moto X Pure Edition is the customizable Android phablet pick in our guide on the best Android phones. Ryan Whitwam said, “You can choose from different colors and materials for the back, pick a metallic accent color, and even customize the startup message. It’s more comfortable to hold than other phablets despite its big, 5.7-inch LCD, plus it has a microSD card slot that it can adopt as internal storage. If you take a lot of selfies, we have still more good news: This phone has a front-facing flash paired with a wide-angle 5-megapixel camera.”
HP x4000b Bluetooth mouse
Street price: $18; MSRP: $35; deal price: $13
If you need a bare bones wireless mouse, this is the deal for you. This is the best price we’ve seen on this budget mouse, and it’s the first drop under $18 in over a year. It’s a previous pick, and there are some design problems, but it makes a great secondary or back up mouse for just $13.
The HP x4000b is our previous Bluetooth pick for the best wireless mouse. Kimber Streams said, “The HP X4000b was our previous pick for best Bluetooth mouse, but it has only three buttons and our panel had a variety of complaints about its design. It’s still the best option if you need a cheap Bluetooth mouse, but we recommend saving up for our the MX Master—or putting up with the wireless dongle of our main or portable pick instead.”
Amazon Echo
Street price: $180; MSRP: $180; deal price: $160
While about $10 higher than the best price we’ve seen, sales on the Echo tend to be rare so we consider $20 off the street price a worthwhile deal.
We’ll be recommending the Amazon Echo in a future guide. Here’s a preview of why we like the Echo, “Echo acts as streaming music player, personal assistant and smart home butler, all without making you pull out your phone every time you want to hear music, switch something on or check the weather forecast.”
Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.
HP’s smartwatch has Swarovski crystals and a see-through screen
The product of HP’s collaboration with American designer Isaac Mizrahi wouldn’t look out of place next to ordinary analog watches designed for women. It looks just like any other Swarovski-encrusted arm candy, which could be good or bad, depending on your preference. Only difference is that its glass is actually a transparent screen that can be activated by a dial. It connects to an iOS 8+ or an Android 4.4+ device via Bluetooth and shows you incoming calls, messages, emails and even the steps you’ve taken, thanks to its built-in pedometer. You can’t, however, use it to send voice messages, listen to music, pay for purchases or monitor your heart rate, among other features more robust smartwatches have.
Its battery can last for years if you just use it as an ordinary watch, but only five days if you use its more high-tech offerings.The “Engineered by HP” device’s watchface measures 42mm and is available in silver or gold-tone stainless steel. Its bands are interchangeable, but each color (black, white, sky blue, baby pink and light gray) will cost you an extra $40. The product itself will set you back $250 — not too bad if you just want a wristwatch with a handful of smart features.
Source: HP
Getting Christmas right was never this hard for my parents
The most my parents generally had to do for a Christmas present was remember to buy batteries. Okay, maybe I’m underselling their role. One year they got me a bike, and somehow kept it hidden from me until the big day. I would’ve been five at the time, and it was worth it, I’m sure. I don’t actually recall my reaction but it was probably joy interrupted by despair at being told I couldn’t ride it indoors. Some 25 years later, and I’ve spent what seems like a lifetime setting up Christmas presents this year.
My nine-year-old is getting his first proper laptop — an HP Stream 11 — and my five-year-old step-son is getting his first ever tablet — an Amazon Fire Kids Edition. The latter was up and running in no time. It came preconfigured with my Amazon account, so all I had to do was tell the tablet the name of the kid that’d be using it, how old he was, and what I wanted him to access, and we were good to go. Result! The laptop, though. The laptop has been an ordeal.
It arrived on Monday morning, and after work I diligently opened it up to login, update and set up all the necessary parental controls. After logging into my Microsoft account, I was quickly prompted to upgrade to Windows 10. “Glad I did this now,” I thought to myself.
Windows 10 took four hours to download. I’m not sure why — a 10GB download typically takes 20 minutes or so on my connection — but I survived. It was almost midnight by the time it had downloaded, but with some emails left to answer, I figured I may as well stay up for the installation. About 15 minutes in an error appeared.
“Windows needs more space,” it screamed.
“Why didn’t you tell me this four and a half hours ago?” I sighed.
Beneath the warning I had two options: use Disk Clean-up to free some space (I checked, it would’ve freed 2.6MB), or insert a USB drive with 10GB of free space. It seems to me that HP and Microsoft should’ve really thought about this beforehand. Either way, I didn’t have a USB drive to hand, so at 00:30, I gave in to the urge to sleep.
The next night, I opened the Steam 11, vitriol freshly spewed, ready to get this thing ready to be wrapped. The upgrade was pretty painless. About an hour later, and I was in Windows 10. On setting up my son’s sub-account, I was presented with an intriguing option.
Just told Windows 10 the user of this laptop will be a 9yo. It has a *great* suggestion on how to improve experience pic.twitter.com/itm2DhneHX
— Aaron (@AaronIsSocial) December 23, 2015
Checkboxes unchecked, I was ready to install Office. As a subscriber to Office 365 Home, this was going to be simple, right? I was signed into Windows with my Microsoft account, after all, and it has a valid license for Office 365.
I first typed “Office” into search, assuming it would be pre-installed or at least there’d be a quick downloader. Nope. I then clicked the “Get Office” button on the start menu, assuming it would offer me a download. Nope. Instead, I was presented with two options: buy Office, or try Office. Neither was applicable. I headed to the Windows Store and searched for Office. It wasn’t there. There was a link that kicked me into the browser, though.
From the browser, I logged, in, downloaded the installer, and started the setup. Away we go! Some 45 minutes later, I was presented with an error dialog:
Setting up a brand new laptop with Windows 10: Step 4 pic.twitter.com/ylXdsqdhcw
— Aaron (@AaronIsSocial) December 23, 2015
Great! Midnight again. Sleep again.
Fast-forward to Christmas Eve, and I diagnosed the issue. It was a simple enough fix — a quick cleanup job, the error caused by leftovers from upgrading the OS. Next, I opened up Word, activated Office, logged out, and into the profile I’d set up for my nine-year-old.
On logging into Word with his profile, I discovered he would have full access to the contents of my OneDrive. I’m not sure that him reading my Engadget articles is the worst thing in the world, but there are also a few legal documents and other correspondences that would be confusing for a kid. This was kind of my fault — apparently I had to invite him to use the account, and then set it up with his email instead of my own.
With that taken care of, all that was left was to leave him a soppy note, log out, and get with the wrapping. All told, the saga spanned four nights and took some eight hours or so.
I think he’s getting a bike next year.
Engadget giveaway: Win a 15.6-inch HP Envy laptop courtesy of AMD!
Tablets and smartphones becoming the norm, so it’s not unusual to find your laptop’s display accruing fingerprints out of habit, even if it’s not a touchscreen. This week, AMD is offering one lucky Engadget reader a chance to get all their devices on the same page with an HP Envy 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop. This Windows machine packs built-in Band & Olufsen speakers, 6GB of memory and 1TB of storage into a 0.93-inch-thick package. To keep everything purring along, there’s an AMD FX-8800P accelerated processor on board, part of the company’s sixth-generation A-Series line that boasts some serious performance. That means enough power to help you can cruise though family get-togethers with a little gaming and as many movies as it takes. All you need to do is head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this AMD-powered HP laptop.
- Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
- Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
- Winners will be chosen randomly. One (1) HP Envy m6 Notebook (m6-p051xx, $650).
- If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
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- Entries can be submitted until Dec. 18th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
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