Amazing Inventions: March

The Taming of Tech Criticism
Evgeny Morozov points out the essential conservatism at the heart of most technology criticism.
—Brian Bergstein, deputy editor

Google Makes Most of Close Ties to White House
What is Google so afraid of that it spends so much time lobbying Washington?
—Brian Bergstein

A New Series of Water-Activated Illustrations and Games on Seattle Sidewalks Only Appear When It Rains
Citizens of the raintropolis that is Seattle are enjoying these technology-driven works of public art, which can only be seen when they’re wet.
—Kyanna Sutton, senior Web producer

Putting a Virtual Nose on Video Games Could Reduce Simulator Sickness
Researchers find that adding a virtual nose to your view from inside a virtual reality headset reduces motion sickness.
—Tom Simonite, San Francisco bureau chief

Rethinking the Brain
Criticism of billion-euro Human Brain Project was justified, says report.
—Antonio Regalado, senior editor, biomedicine

The War Over Who Steve Jobs Was
Interesting look at the conflict behind different biographical takes on Steve Jobs.
—Rachel Metz, senior editor, mobile

Drones Beaming Web Access Are in the Stars for Facebook
Is Facebook really just still trying to connect people? Skeptics beware.
—J. Juniper Friedman, associate Web producer

Mapping the Sneakernet
The idea of Internet access usually ignores the informal flow of information.
—Will Knight, news and analysis editor

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Saturday, February 28, 2015

Latest Samsung Ativ Book 9 lands March 1 for a pretty penny

We were pretty impressed with the 2015 Samsung Ativ Book 9 when we went hands-on with it at CES back in January, and now the laptop is at last going on sale.

The latest Ativ Book 9 will hit shelves this Sunday, March 1, at two price points: $1,200 (about £780, AU$1,530) for 4GB of memory and 128GB of solid state storage, or $1,400 (about £900, AU$1,800) for 8GB and a 256GB SSD.

Samsung says the Windows 8.1 laptop is its thinnest yet in the Book 9 line, and its slim, stylish design is certainly one of its selling points.

But it also packs a powerful Intel Core M processor, 2560 x 1600 resolution and 12.5 hours of battery life, making it a versatile little 12.2-inch book.

Worth the money? That's for you to decide this weekend.

We've asked a Samsung spokesperson for the 2015 Ativ Book 9's international release info, and we'll update you here if we hear back.

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