Why Your Next Laptop Won’t Be Just a Laptop

Your next laptop is probably going to be a lot more than just a laptop. Touch screens are spurring wild new designs in a category called convertibles. So will your next notebook flip, rip, double or roll?

Let’s think of this historically; your old laptop opens and closes. Or maybe you have a tablet with a single, standard touchscreen.  But the introduction of touchscreen recognition in the Windows 8 operating system has computer manufacturers trying to combine those two devices in inventive new ways.

Lenovo Yoga 11S
We saw the start of this innovation last year with the Lenovo Yoga, and now they’ve just announced a more sophisticated little sister – the Yoga 11S. It’s an 11-inch laptop running a full version of Windows 8, but its double-jointed hinge lets you open it all the way up and flip it over into a tablet. Retail price: $799.

Lenovo Helix
From the flip, we move to the rip. Also from Lenovo – the Helix. It flips over like the Yoga, but you have the option to rip the screen out into a stand-alone tablet. It is fully touch capable and has a built in Wacom stylus. Lenovo says it will run for 5 hours in stand-alone tablet mode or 10 hours if docked. Bonus: when docked, a fan system can cool the CPU, allowing the device to overclock itself and run a little faster – that’s awesome.  Available in February; $1499.

MSI Slider
MSI presents a totally different design: the MSI Slider.  It runs a full version of Windows 8 on an Intel Core i5 processor, but it seems like it’s primarily designed to be used as a touch tablet. When you want a keyboard, you slide the screen back and up. The keyboard is at the front of the underlying dock, so there’s no place to rest your palms and wrists, but if you only want a keyboard occasionally, this might be the design choice for you. Available by March, 2013; $1,099.
ASUS Transformer All-In-One
ASUS is going in a totally different direction with one of its convertibles. The Transformer All-In-One looks like a desktop PC running Windows 8. But the 18-inch screen can be pulled from its stand to function as a massive Android tablet. Imagine putting it on your lap to play Plants vs. Zombies or stream a movie. Whoa! ASUS says that in this tablet mode, the battery will last 4-5 hours. Price TBD.
Lenovo Horizon 27
Another big statement in convertibles is the Lenovo Horizon 27. This 27-inch touchscreen tablet runs Windows 8 with a wireless keyboard and mouse. You can prop it up on your desk for a 16:9 display or put it on a rolling stand so it lays flat. As my colleague Joanna Stern says, it’s a tablet that turns into a table. Sure, you could prop a bowl of cheerios on it while streaming your favorite videos, but the more practical idea is for meetings where people would stand around the tablet and collaborate. $1699.
ASUS Taichi
ASUS announced the Taichi hybrid earlier, but we’re seeing it for the first time here at CES. It’s a dual screen notebook. So you can use it as a notebook when open, a touch tablet when closed, or two people could use it at the same time when open, one on the notebook side and one on the tablet side – it would look a little like a game of battleship.  I can’t completely imagine this being useful in the home setting, but I could absolutely see this being a tool in some retail or professional environments, for presentations or as a tutoring tool.  Price TBD.

Intel Haswell Chips
One development for convertibles and ultrabooks alike is the announcement Monday of a new family of chips from Intel. Code-named Haswell, these new 4^th generation Intel Core processors are all about reducing power consumption to improve battery life. Their aim is to double existing battery life up to 13 hours in some devices. An Intel spokesperson told us they expect to see a dozen new devices with these processors starting to roll out by March of 2013.

Android Devices And Tablets
Finally, this year will provide a boom in Android tablets. The theme so far has been lifestyle and budget.  NVIDIA shook things up early when they announced their entry into gaming devices, called Project Shield, which plays Android games. It has a console-quality controller complete with D-pad, face buttons, and triggers. It packs powerful speakers and can stream video over Wi-Fi.

Appliance maker Dacor has a $7500 oven that has an Android tablet “baked in.” They say it adds a ton of connected features to the oven – and about $1000 to the price tag.

On the other end of the spectrum, Coby has a $149 Android tablet. Alcatel has two Android tablets for less than $200.  And Acer has confirmed a $99 Android tablet called the Iconia B1 that’s aimed pretty squarely at newbies and kids. Polaroid has gone whole hog for the under-12 set, releasing a $149 “Kids Tablet” loaded with goodies for the aspiring digital photographer or videographer.

Check back for more CES coverage or like us on Facebook to get the must-see consumer tech developments delivered to your newsfeed.

[Related: Transparent TVs and Bendable Phones: CES Rumor Roundup]

NASA Eyes Wild Plan to Drag Asteroid Near the Moon

Capturing a near-Earth asteroid and dragging it into orbit around the moon could help humanity put boots on Mars someday, proponents of the idea say.

NASA is considering a $2.6 billion asteroid-retrieval mission that could deliver a space rock to high lunar orbit by 2025 or so, New Scientist reported last week. The plan could help jump-start manned exploration of deep space, carving out a path to the Red Planet and perhaps even more far-flung destinations, its developers maintain.

"Experience gained via human expeditions to the small returned NEA would transfer directly to follow-on international expeditions beyond the Earth-moon system: to other near-Earth asteroids, [the Mars moons] Phobos and Deimos, Mars and potentially someday to the main asteroid belt," the mission concept team, which is based at the Keck Institute for Space Studies in California, wrote in a feasibility study of the plan last year.

Space agency officials confirm that NASA is indeed looking at the Keck proposal as a way to help extend humanity's footprint out into the solar system. But the assessment is still in its early stages, with nothing decided yet.

"There are many options — and many routes — being discussed on our way to the Red Planet," Bob Jacobs, deputy associate administrator for the Office of Communications at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., told SPACE.com via email. "NASA and the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are giving the study further review to determine its feasibility." [NASA's Spacecraft for Asteroid Missions Revealed (Photos)]

Enabling manned exploration of deep space

In the Keck plan, an unmanned probe would snag a 25-foot-wide (7 meters) near-Earth asteroid, then haul it back to lunar orbit for future study and exploration.

Its developers see the mission as a way for humanity to get a toehold beyond low-Earth orbit, allowing our species to hone techniques and acquire skills that manned missions to more distant destinations will require.

For example, the robotic mission would help develop the precision flying techniques demanded by a manned mission to a near-Earth asteroid. Further, study of the captured space rock could teach researchers how to efficiently extract water from asteroids — a resource that could be an off-Earth source of radiation shielding and rocket fuel for journeying spacecraft.

"Extraction of propellants, bulk shielding and life support fluids from this first captured asteroid could jump-start an entire space-based industry," the Keck team writes. "Our space capabilities would finally have caught up with the speculative attractions of using space resources in situ."

Up-close examination of a captured asteroid would also yield insights into the economic value of space rock resources and shed light on the best ways to deflect potentially dangerous asteroids away from Earth.

Overall, the potential benefits of the mission are huge, the Keck team says.

"Placing a NEA in lunar orbit would provide a new capability for human exploration not seen since Apollo," the report reads. "Such an achievement has the potential to inspire a nation. It would be mankind’s first attempt at modifying the heavens to enable the permanent settlement of humans in space."

NASA's new spaceships

Human exploration of deep space beyond the moon is a NASA priority. In 2010, President Barack Obama directed the agency to get astronauts to a near-Earth asteroid by 2025, then on to the vicinity of the Red Planet by the mid-2030s.

To make all of this happen, NASA is developing a crew capsule called Orion and a huge rocket known as the Space Launch System. The Orion-SLS combo is slated to begin flying crews by 2021. The first unmanned Orion test flight is expected in 2017.

The space agency is also developing a new Space Exploration Vehicle for astronauts bound to explore a near-Earth asteroid. A prototype of the new vehicle, which could feature a rocket sled and "pogo stick" device for docking with an asteroid, coul dbe tested at the International Space Station in 2017, project officials have said.

11 marketing words no one wants to hear in 2013

Samples are helpful. Demos are often effective. But what is the primary tool used to convince potential customers to buy?
Words.
Whether spoken or written, words make sales happen.
Or not.
Too many salespeople (and marketers and advertisers) use the same words to describe their products and services. Pretend I'm a potential customer or client.
Here's how I react when you use the following words:

"Customer focused."
Talk about redundant; should you be anything but customer focused?
If your goal is to imply that other providers are not customer focused, tell me how: Faster response time, greater availability, customized processes or systems... tell me in concrete terms how you will meet my specific needs. (If you don't know my needs and therefore can't address them, shame on you.)

"Best in class."
There are two problems with that phrase: Who defined your "class," and who determined you were the "best" in it?
My guess is you did.
Still, maybe you really are that awesome. So prove it. Describe your accomplishments, awards, results, etc.
As a customer I don't need best in class, I need best for me--so tell me, in objective terms, how you can provide the best value for my needs.

"Low-hanging fruit."
You say, "We'll start with the low-hanging fruit." I hear, "We'll start with really easy stuff you are too stupid to recognize or too lazy to do yourself."
No one wants to hear they have low-hanging fruit. Just describe, in cost/benefit terms, how you prioritized your list of projects or activities.

"Exceed expectations."
That's admirable goal, and one every business should aspire to, but exceeding expectations is an internal goal. Tell me you will exceed expectations and exceeded expectations instantly becomes my expectation. (I know that's kinda Zen.)
Tell me what you will do, every time. If you consistently pull that off, I'll be delighted.
Always let the customer judge whether you go above and beyond.

"Unique."

The ever-increasing pace of commoditization means few products or services have no like or equal for long. If I'm considering hiring your firm or buying your products, "unique" (like "exclusive") sounds good but describes nothing.
Instead tell me, in concrete terms, how you are better.
"Value added."

This term is often used to imply I'll get something for no or very little incremental cost. That means what I will receive isn't value added--it's part of the overall deal.
So tell me the deal, explain all the options and add-ons, and help me figure out how I can take full advantage of what you provide.

"Expert."
Margaret Thatcher once said, "Power is like being a lady; if you have to say you are, you aren't." Show your expertise instead.
"Social media expert" often reads as "We have Twitter and Facebook accounts and even know how to use them!"
"Implemented social media campaigns for ACME that generated..." lets potential customers evaluate your level of expertise and your suitability for their needs.

"Seasoned."
Experience is only a partial indicator of expertise. If you're a contractor you may have built 100 homes... but that doesn't mean you did a good job.
Any reference to experience should immediately quantify that experience.

"Exceptional ROI."
We all seek a return on investments and we all love a great ROI. But without access to my numbers you can't accurately calculate my ROI. Therefore your estimates are either theoretical or based on another customer's results. Either way, I know your estimates are incredibly optimistic and that my results will definitely vary.
"Provides an exceptional ROI" reads as "...you're a terrible businessperson if you don't do this."
Show the costs, don't hide anything, and trust me to calculate my own ROI. If I'm not smart enough to do so, I probably don't have purchase authority anyway.

"Partner."
Long-term business relationships are great, but we will never be partners because while your hand will reach into my pocket, my hand will never reach into yours.
Still, maybe one day I will see you as a quasi-partner... but that's something I will decide on my own based on your performance, not on your marketing.

"Turn-key."
I love a turn-key solution as much as the next guy, but few solutions truly are.
No matter how comprehensive the offering I always wind up participating more than I was led to expect, so when I hear "turn key" I'm naturally skeptical... that is, unless you thoroughly break down what you will provide and what my participation will be, both during implementation and after.
Turn-key is in the eye of the beholder.
The customer is always the beholder.

Exclusive: U.S. nuclear lab removes Chinese tech over security fears

LONDON (Reuters) - A leading U.S. nuclear weapons laboratory recently discovered its computer systems contained some Chinese-made network switches and replaced at least two components because of national security concerns, a document shows.

A letter from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, dated November 5, 2012, states that the research facility had installed devices made by H3C Technologies Co, based in Hangzhou, China, according to a copy seen by Reuters. H3C began as a joint venture between China's Huawei Technologies Co and 3Com Corp, a U.S. tech firm, and was once called Huawei-3Com. Hewlett Packard Co acquired the firm in 2010.

The discovery raises questions about procurement practices by U.S. departments responsible for national security. The U.S. government and Congress have raised concerns about Huawei and its alleged ties to the Chinese military and government. The company, the world's second-largest telecommunications equipment maker, denies its products pose any security risk or that the Chinese military influences its business.

Switches are used to manage data traffic on computer networks. The exact number of Chinese-made switches installed at Los Alamos, how or when they were acquired, and whether they were placed in sensitive systems or pose any security risks, remains unclear. The laboratory - where the first atomic bomb was designed - is responsible for maintaining America's arsenal of nuclear weapons.

A spokesman for the Los Alamos lab referred enquiries to the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, which declined to comment.

The November 5 letter seen by Reuters was written by the acting chief information officer at the Los Alamos lab and addressed to the NNSA's assistant manager for safeguards and security. It states that in October a network engineer at the lab - who the letter does not identify - alerted officials that H3C devices "were beginning to be installed in" its networks.

The letter says a working group of specialists, some from the lab's counter intelligence unit, began investigating, "focusing on sensitive networks." The lab "determined that a small number of the devices installed in one network were H3C devices. Two devices used in isolated cases were promptly replaced," the letter states.

The letter suggests other H3C devices may still be installed. It states that the lab was investigating "replacing any remaining H3C network switch devices as quickly as possible," including "older switches" in "both sensitive and unclassified networks as part of the normal life-cycle maintenance effort." The letter adds that the lab was conducting a formal assessment to determine "any potential risk associated with any H3C devices that may remain in service until replacements can be obtained."

"We would like to emphasize that (Los Alamos) has taken this issue seriously, and implemented expeditious and proactive steps to address it," the letter states.

Corporate filings show Huawei sold its stake in H3C to 3Com in 2007. Nevertheless, H3C's website still describes Huawei as one of its "global strategic partners" and states it is working with it "to deliver advanced, cost-efficient and environmental-friendly products."

RECKLESS BLACKBALLING?

The Los Alamos letter appears to have been written in response to a request last year by the House Armed Services Committee for the Department of Energy (DoE) to report on any "supply chain risks."

In its request, the committee said it was concerned by a Government Accountability Office report last year that found a number of national security-related departments had not taken appropriate measures to guard against risks posed by their computer-equipment suppliers. The report said federal agencies are not required to track whether any of their telecoms networks contain foreign-developed products.

The Armed Services committee specifically asked the DoE to evaluate whether it, or any of its major contractors, were using technology produced by Huawei or ZTE Corp, another Chinese telecoms equipment maker. ZTE Corp denies its products pose any security risk.

In 2008, Huawei and private equity firm Bain Capital were forced to give up their bid for 3Com after a U.S. panel rejected the deal because of national security concerns. Three years later, Huawei abandoned its acquisition of some assets from U.S. server technology firm 3Leaf, bowing to pressure from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The committee evaluates whether foreign control of a U.S. business poses national security risks.

In October, the House Intelligence Committee issued an investigative report that recommended U.S. government systems should not include Huawei or ZTE components. The report said that based on classified and unclassified information, Huawei and ZTE "cannot be trusted to be free of foreign state influence" and pose "a security threat to the United States and to our systems."

William Plummer, Huawei's vice president of external affairs in Washington, said in an email to Reuters: "There has never been a shred of substantive proof that Huawei gear is any less secure than that of our competitors, all of which rely on common global standards, supply chains, coding and manufacturing.

"Blackballing legitimate multinationals based on country of origin is reckless, both in terms of fostering a dangerously false sense of cyber-security and in threatening the free and fair global trading system that the U.S. has championed for the last 60-plus years."

He referred questions about H3C products to Hewlett Packard. An HP spokesman said Huawei no longer designs any H3C hardware and that the company "became independent operationally ... from Huawei" several years prior to HP's acquisition of it. He added that HP's networking division "has considerable resources dedicated to compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements involving system security, global trade and customer privacy."

8 Surprising Job Interview Mistakes

You probably shouldn't do this.Among the hundreds of candidates you're probably competing with for a job, many are going to commit one of these interview mistakes. Good thing you won't.
1. Your Twitter Feed Is Lame
"I always look at potential employees' Twitter feeds," says Alison Brod, president of Alison Brod PR. "I know it's informal, but a stream littered with u's and luv's makes you look 12 years old- definitely not hiring material." Other stuff to avoid: tweeting during work hours, always talking about social plans, and swearing. What's good? Smart retweets and mentions of industry players. "A recent candidate's feed mentioned a few clients we rep," says Brod. "It was clear she cared about the industry. She got the gig."
2. You Overused Your "In"
Employers expect candidates to use connections to get their foot in the door. But a recent survey by Michigan State University found that 32 percent of large companies have received résumés from parents on behalf of their kids-a major no­-no. "It looks like your parents are more invested in the job than you are," explains Roy Cohen, author of The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide. Have your mom or dad or whoever make the initial intro, then send your own e­mail or make a phone call saying that you'd love to connect.
Related:Job Interview Questions You Need to Know
3. You Inflated Your Digital Footprint
FYI: Saying you're skilled in MS Office is like saying you're a pro at checking your voice mail. It's a given, so don't oversell yourself. You're not "social media savvy" just because you tweet. So does everyone. "I see so many résumés that list 'social media' as a skill, then I find out that the candidate's just using Facebook," says Brod. Unless you have experience in analytics, viral campaigns, or managing an account with more than 100,000 followers, don't go there.
4. You Were Too Friendly
It's okay to LinkedIn or Google your interviewer before your meeting-chances are, he or she did the same to you. It's a great way to gather some basic intel that can help break the ice when you meet. But be cautious about how you use that information. "I once mentioned to a candidate that I noticed she'd played volleyball in college and that I had as well," recalls Mike Indursky, president of the spa chain Bliss World. "She responded by asking my height…then made me stand nose-to- nose with her to see if I was lying." Keep it professional, even if the convo crosses over into personal territory.
Related:9 Fool-Proof Ways To Save Money in 2013
5. You Have a Lot of Baggage-Literally
Leave anything you don't need at home. "A candidate came into my office holding these enormous shopping bags," says Indursky. "It made it seem like our interview was just another stop in a day full of errands." It also makes you seem disorganized and unprepared. And save the latte for after the interview. "If you show up with coffee, I feel like you think I'm there to entertain you," says Suzanne Gleason, area manager at the recruiting firm PeopleShare. "Plus, I'm jealous I don't have one."
6. You Praised the Perks, Not the Position
Even if you've landed an interview at a company with Google worthy extras, refrain from mentioning the awesome cafeteria or cool vibe and focus on the stuff that they'll actually pay you to do. "I want to hear how your interests and talents line up with the job description," says Gleason. Home in on one thing in the job description you'd truly excel at, and play that up.
Related:The Best Beauty Products That Won't Break Your Bank
7. Dressed to Impress
Sites like renttherunway.com make it easy to score a killer interview outfit. But looking so great can backfire if you're not careful. "I had a candidate plop down her clutch on my desk at the beginning of the interview," recalls Jess,* a media executive in New York City. "She obviously wanted me to see it. I felt like she was using the purse to prove herself because she wasn't confident in her talent." By all means look polished, and wear designer duds if you want, just don't be obvious about it (even if you're interviewing in the fashion industry-they'll notice, trust us).
8. You Spoke Too Soon
Wait until you've at least left the building before calling anyone to share how things went. "One candidate was on the phone in the bathroom and was overheard talking about how she just nailed the interview," says Shara Senderoff, CEO of internship search site internsushi.com. It came off as cocky, and we never called her back."