Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » septembre 2, 2011

BetaNews.Com (11 non lus)

Calm down, Final Cut Studio is back -- but for how long?

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 11:45pm CEST par Ed Oswald

In what is most certainly a move aimed to silence critics of Apple's move to Final Cut Pro X, Apple has quietly made available again the previous version, Final Cut Pro 7. It's going to take a little work in order to get it, though: you need to call 1-800-MY-APPLE to order.

Apple will not offer Final Cut Studio 3 -- which includes Final Cut Pro 7 as well as Motion 4, Soundtrack Pro 3, DVD Studio Pro 4, Color 1.5 and Compressor 3.5 -- in stores or online. There would be no discount for the old software either: it's still $999 for the package, or $899 for educational customers.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company released Final Cut Pro X in June, cutting the price of the new version to $299.99 and offering Compressor and Motion as $49.99 add-ons, all available through the Mac App Store.

Users of the software almost universally panned the release, in many cases accusing Apple of oversimplifying the application making it less useful in professional applications.

Betanews readers echoed these complaints.

"I am an editor with more than 25 years experience and compared to FCP 7 this is total crap. Sure it looks pretty and does some nice new tricks but as a pro this is not good," commenter danmarz wrote in a recent article. "My biggest gripe is I can't import previous projects, but there are many other problems that are too numerous to mention."

Barrettdb seemed to agree. "The real issue is the name, not the functionality. This is a completely new app. It is not an 'upgrade,' and that is why so many people are scathing."

Regardless, Apple's move feels more like a band-aid than a true fix. There are still no announced plans to continue to provide updates to Final Cut Pro 7, meaning users will be eventually forced to upgrade to Final Cut Pro X anyways.
ABBYY FineReader now supports popular e-reader formats

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 9:15pm CEST par Nick Peers

Moscow-based optical character recognition specialist ABBYY has released a major new update of its renowned OCR application. ABBYY FineReader 11 Professional Edition, which allows users to convert images or scanned documents into editable text, boasts improved processing speeds of up to 45 per cent thanks to a new black and white processing mode.

Version 11 also adds an ebook creation tool and direct support for OpenOffice Writer, plus incorporates a tool to improve the bulk processing of documents while promising to improve the accuracy when scanning and formatting complex documents.

The new black and white processing mode is joined by an improved Fast Reading mode, which ABBYY claims delivers results up to 70 percent quicker than its Thorough Reading mode. It also promises to scan and process Asian text 45 percent quicker than before too.

Complex documents containing charts, tables and other non-standard elements are now formatted more correctly thanks to FineReader’s Enhanced Advanced Document Reading Technology (ADRT), which preserves formatting and other critical elements whatever your choice of output format.

A new ebook creation tool supports EPUB and FB2 format, and can even send your finished ebooks directly to your Kindle account or electronic archive. The program also adds support for OpenOffice/LibreOffice Writer documents (ODF), allowing users to convert documents and images directly into editable ODF documents, complete with preserved layout.

With text processing up to 45-percent faster than the previous version, you can work through scanned documents more swiftly.

FineReader 11 also promises a more enhanced user interface, with improved Verification and Style Editor tools, while there’s a new Split Documents Tool that allows a mix and match of documents to be processed in bulk and then arranged into separate files.

The program also improves its handling of photos taken by cameras and smartphones, and has beefed up its image-editing tools to add new brightness, contrast and tonal tools to aid in improving the document’s subsequent processing. PDF conversion has also been improved, with file sizes capable of being compressed by up to 80 per cent smaller than the previous version with minimal quality degradation. There’s also a tool for exporting images in the DjVu format, which take up very little disk space.

ABBYY FineReader 11 Professional Edition is available now as a free trial with some minor feature restrictions, which will either expire after 15 days or when 50 pages have been processed. It requires a PC with 1GHz processor running Windows XP or later. The full version costs $170, or $100 as an upgrade from a previous version.
'I was on the Apple board until I couldn't stand it anymore'

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 8:26pm CEST par Ed Oswald

Former Google CEO and now Chairman Eric Schmidt offered some insight into his time on Apple's board to attendees of Salesforce.com's Dreamforce 2011 conference on Thursday, saying that while he was proud of his time with the company differences eventually caused him to leave.

Schmidt would not specify the reasons why he left the Apple board in 2009, although many believed it had to do with Google's involvement in Android. That is likely not entirely the reason: the search company purchased the rights to Android in 2005, and Schmidt joined Apple the following year.

"I was on the Apple board until I couldn't stand it anymore", he said.

Both companies have been slowly encroaching on each others turf. The most obvious battle is in mobile: Android vs. iOS. But there are several other areas where the companies are butting heads: Google through its moves into hardware, and Apple through its moves into advertising, for example.

Then Apple CEO Steve Jobs found that unpalatable and apparently a threat to his business, as his statement on Schmidt's resignation from the board states. "Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest", he said at the time.

Whatever truly may have led to Schmidt's departure is not exactly known, but it did not stop the Google CEO from praising Jobs for his work.

"What Steve has done at Apple is certainly the best performance of a CEO for over fifty years, maybe a hundred years. But not only did he do it once, he did it twice. We’ve all benefited from the tremendous innovation at Apple," Schmidt said.

At the same time, he pulled no punches in contrasting this with Microsoft and CEO Steve Ballmer, who have struggled in the spaces that Apple thrives in. "The difference is ability," he mused, causing some in the audience to snicker at what sounded like an obvious diss to Ballmer's leadership style.

He quickly corrected himself, though, adding "We're not talking about the people, but the corporations".
Google cuts security corners to gain market share

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 7:53pm CEST par Larry Seltzer

It has been obvious for some time that Google's app standards for Android are lenient to say the least. That's why Android is the favored platform for mobile malware. But it turns out that Chrome extensions are a huge, and similar problem that I'm beginning to really worry about.

When Android phones started coming out Google had a lot of catching up to do. Back then there was a lot of mindless talk about how many tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of apps a phone had. Obviously 200,000 apps is twice as good as 100,000, right? The way Google structured their app system for Android seems to me to be designed to maximize the number of apps by making it cheap and easy to create and distribute them. And this happens at the expense of security.

Everyone knows that lots of people jailbreak their iPhones, but if you don't your chances of installing a malicious app are pretty damn slim, near-zero I'd say. Apple tightly controls who gets into the App Store, which is the only way to get apps to users, and they do some checking. Furthermore, it costs $100/year to be a developer.

On Android it costs something like $20 to get an account to distribute apps through the Android Market, and many malicious apps have been found there. But even that trouble isn't necessary. Android embraces jailbreaking. Just go to Settings-Applications and check the "Unknown sources" box and then you can install apps from one of the many third-party app marketplaces.

There's another point about Android apps vs. iOS: Both must be digitally signed, but with iOS they're signed with Apple keys. On Android you are effectively required to use self-signing, which eliminates any authentication possibility for the signature process. (I say 'effectively' because you are required to have a 25+ year life span for the signature, and nobody can afford that kind of lifetime on a code signing certificate. As a result, the only thing the signature is good for is that Google can blacklist apps signed with it, but since self-signing is free this isn't any impediment.)

Attack by Extensions

This is old, bad news, but the other day I heard something which reminded me of it. At BlackHat a few weeks ago, Matt Johansen, a member of the WhiteHat Security's Threat Research Center, gave a presentation on hacking Google's Chrome OS. The key to hacking Chrome OS, as they did it, is to create a malicious extension. Chrome OS extensions are exactly the same as extensions for the Chrome browser. There's a Google Chrome Web Store where you can go to get more extensions (many of them very useful, like Angry Birds).

It turns out that extensions get full access to content in all tabs of the browser. This means that if you're using Gmail in Chrome (or Chrome OS) and have a malicious extension installed, the extension has access to all your mail and all your contacts. It can read them, it can write to the tab and show you fake mail, it can do anything. As Johansen said, even though those web pages may have no vulnerabilities in them, Chrome extensions make all of them fully vulnerable to cross-site scripting.

But surely you can't just put any old extension up in the market, right? The bar isn't very high. "A one-time developer registration fee of US$5.00 is required to verify your account and publish items". To test, WhiteHat Security created a test malicious app called "Malicious App" and published it in the store. As soon as they saw it was there and available to be downloaded they took it down. Point made.

The bigger point is that Google's philosophy seems to be that it's better to have a lot of market share with insecure products than lesser share with secure ones. The truth of this is becoming clear to many on Android, and now we know it too for Chrome/Chrome OS. How much longer can Google get away with this?

Photo Credit: alexskopje/Shutterstock

Larry Seltzer is a freelance writer and consultant, dealing mostly with security matters. He has written recently for Infoworld, eWEEK, Dr. Dobb's Journal, and is a Contributing Editor at PC Magazine and author of their Security Watch blog. He has also written for Symantec Authentication (formerly VeriSign) and Lumension's Intelligent Whitelisting site.
Data can be saved from your water-soaked computer

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 6:37pm CEST par Steven Brier

Irene's assault on the Eastern Seaboard earlier this week is just the beginning of what is expected to be another heavy season of hurricanes and tropical storms. What happens to your data if raging rains or flooding waters damage your computer? The electronics may be gone but your precious files are likely recoverable.

It’s tempting to turn that water-logged computer back on and see if anything can be saved. Don’t. The disk drives contain contaminants that can destroy the drive and all the data on it. You pose the greatest risk to your valuable data. Here's what you should or should not do instead:

Hard Disk Drives

* Never assume that data is unrecoverable.

* Do not shake or disassemble any hard drive that has been damaged.

* Do not attempt to clean or dry water-logged drives or tapes.

* Before storing or shipping wet media, it should be placed in a Ziploc bag or other container that will keep it damp and protect shipping material from getting wet. Wet boxes can break apart during transit causing further damage to a drive.

* Do not use software utility programs on broken or water-damaged devices.

* When shipping hard drives, tapes or other removable media to a data recovery service, package them in a box that has enough room for both the media and some type of packing material that allows for no movement. The box should also have sufficient barrier room around the inside edges to absorb impact during shipping.

* If you have multiple drives, tapes or other removable media that need recovery, ship them in separate boxes or make sure they are separated enough with packing material so there will be no contact.

Floppy Disks / Tapes

* Water-damaged tapes and floppy disks are fragile. If a tape is wet, store it in a bag so it remains wet. If a tape is dry, do not rewet it. Many data recovery services can unspool tapes and recover data.

* Floppy disks have so little capacity that they typically aren’t worth the expense of trying to recover.

CDs/DVDs

* CDs and DVDs are reasonably sturdy. Unless they had been sitting in a corrosive mix or are visibly damaged they can be cleaned and the data recovered.

* If they were on a spindle or stacked, and are now stuck together, do not try to peel them apart.

* Mix a solution of 90 percent clean (potable) water and 10 percent isopropyl alcohol. Soak the stack of CDs until they become unstuck. Wipe dry with clean, lint-free cloth if possible.

* To clean CDs or DVDs, rinse them in the water/isopropyl alcohol solution. If necessary to remove grime, wipe them again with cotton swaps or cloth soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Remember, scratches will cause loss of data, so be gentle.

* After cleaning, place CD in a functioning computer and copy any recovered data.

USB Flash Drives

* USB flash drives contain no moving parts. Unless physically damaged or corroded, the drives usually work. Ensure the drive is dry and clean (Use a Q-tip soaked in the alcohol/water solution to wipe the USB contacts) before using a water-soaked flash drive.

* If a drive has been physically damaged, some data recovery services will remove the flash chips and connect them to a new device in an effort to recover the data.

What Will Professional Services Cost You?

Data recovery is a two-step process. Flood-damaged devices need to be opened and cleaned in a clean room. Hard drives need to be functional, requiring data recovery services to keep a large inventory of obscure parts on hand. All of this is expensive.

Once a drive is functional, it is evaluated and the customer provided with a list of the files and the probability of recovering them. If the customer gives the go-ahead the data is then recovered, copied to CD, external hard drive or some other medium and delivered to the customer.

Hard Drive: The evaluation fees for hard drives run between $200 and $300, though companies such as DriveSavers and Ontrack Data Recovery often will waive that for hurricane or disaster victims. The recovery fees average is about $1,000 per hard drive, though the aforementioned companies often offer discounts.

Floppy: $100-$300, depending on damage. Discounts wll apply.

Tape: Cost depends on type of tape, amount of damage.

USB drive: Cost depends on amount of damage.

Contact a data recovery service before shipping them an item in order to get a job number, estimate and any special shipping instructions. Some services will ship a special case to the customer to be used for sending the drive.

DriveSavers: www.drivesavers.com (800) 440-1904
Ontrack Data Recovery: www.ontrack.com (800) 872-2599

Sources: IBM Crisis Response Team; DriveSavers, Inc.; Ontrack Data Recovery

Photo Credit: Carmen Steiner/Shutterstock

Steven Brier is a free-lance journalist and consultant focusing on the use of technology in the real world. He is s former New York Times editor and newsroom technology consultant.
Want something other than Mobile Safari? Try Dolphin Browser

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 4:55pm CEST par Mark Wilson

The choice of browsers for iOS is hardly overwhelming, so any new additions are always welcome. Dolphin Browser is the latest contender to vie for mobile Internet users’ attention and it has a number of unique features that make it well worth a look. The headline feature is support for gestures, but there is also desktop style tabbed browsing, an impressive smart address bar and space-saving sidebars that can be used to access bookmarks and app options.

There are already a handful of Safari replacements available, including the iOS version of Opera, so Dolphin is going to have its work cut out for it to stand out from the competition. The fact that the app is available free of charge certainly works in its favor, but it is the way the interface has been implemented, particularly the way in which you interact with it, and the intelligent use of available screen space that makes Dolphin Browser interesting.

Support for gestures means that valuable screen space that would otherwise be dedicated to navigation buttons can be reclaimed, and an all-important full-screen mode means that every millimeter of space can be used. This is particularly important at the moment for iPad users as there is only an iPhone/iPod version available; there is currently no universal app or dedicated iPad app at the moment.

The gestures make it easy to jump back and forth between pages as well as to the top and bottom of pages -- a much faster option than scrolling through lengthy web pages. There are a number of default gestures built in as standard, but you also have the option of creating your own. Taking inspiration from Opera, Dolphin Browser includes a Speed Dial feature for accessing common websites easily, and the idea is extended to the webzine component that can be used to quickly access your Facebook and Twitter accounts as well a news feeds.

Hidden sidebars can be called up with a simple swipe to the left or the right, with the former providing access to your bookmarks. A right hand swipe brings up the app’s toolbar where, amongst other things, you can configure program options. This is a refreshing change to the approach taken by other browsers, but the crowning glory of Dolphin Browser is the address bar. Autocomplete pulls in entries from your bookmarks as well as your browsing history and there is also a menu entry that makes it easy to perform searches; there are also handy buttons to add common domain suffixes.

You can find out more and download a copy of the app by paying a visit to the Dolphin Browser review page.
5 smokin' Android tablets launched this week

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 4:38pm CEST par Tim Conneally

As it stands right now, there are no fewer than 50 different Android tablets on the international market, many from competitors you've probably never heard of unless you regularly shop in Chinese electronics shops, so differentiation is of crucial importance.

At IFA 2011 in Berlin this week, quite a few new Android tablets were either announced or launched, and each of the top-tier manufacturers who debuted a new product seemed to have homed in on a specific quality that they've improved over previous generations or over their competitors.

Here's what we saw this week:

Samsung went for MORE SPEED

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 is a refresh of the 7-inch model the company debuted last year. While it did get bumped up in size and screen quality, the main improvements to the device are in speed. Instead of a single core 1GHz processor, it now has a dual-core 1.4GHz processor, and its 3G connectivity has been bumped up in speed to 21 Mbps HSPA.

HTC went for BIGGER SCREEN

When HTC debuted the pocketable Flyer earlier this year, I made the case that it would be an excellent cloud notepad.

But this week, HTC released a much bigger (and much more expensive) 4G tablet called JetStream.

It's got the same processor as the Flyer/View, but brings HTC up to the big tablet class and ditches Gingerbread for Honeycomb in the process.

Toshiba went for SLIMMER PROFILE

This week, Toshiba debuted its second Android tablet, the AT200, a 10.1-inch Honeycomb device that not only shaves off the excess girth of the Thrive (Toshiba's first attempt at Android tablets,) but it actually manages to be thinner than Samsung's Galaxy 7.7. Like the Thrive, the AT200 is rich in I/O, with a micro USB and micro HDMI jack for hooking into home theater systems and media players.

Lenovo went for LOW PRICE

Lenovo is still new to the Android tablet market, and in this humble journalist's opinion, didn't do such a great job making its new products exciting or memorable. However, with the new 7" IdeaPad A1, it is breaking in the easy way: by being the cheapest. At only $199 for its base model, the IdeaPad A1 will be the cheapest new Android tablet out there with a big brand name.

Sony went for UNIQUE DESIGNS

Sony, now somewhat late to the Android tablet game, opted to make a splashy design entrance with the Wedge-shaped Vaio S, and dual-screen clamshell Vaio P. Outwardly they are instantly memorable, and since Sony has a pretty commanding retail store presence, this visual impact is important.
Use these tools to get the Windows 8 look now

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 1:49pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Windows 8 is just around the corner and it seems that almost every week there details emerge about just what can be expected from the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system. With every new Windows that is announced, there follows a rush to mimic the look and features long before the software hits the shelves, and things are no different with Windows 8.

There are a number of skins and customization packs available that can be used to get the Windows 8 look, including Omnimo for Rainmeter, but if you prefer the idea of getting a little more hands on, there are a range of tools you can use to mimic the elements of Windows 8 you most like the look of.

While transformation packs have their place, they are a little impersonal and tend to present you with a standard set of options. Going down the manual route means that you can add and change precisely what you want. At the heart of any version of Windows is Explorer, so it makes sense to make this your starting point. Windows 8 brings the Ribbon that Office users have become familiar with, and this can be almost perfectly replicated using Styler and a suitable skin. Using the ribbon skin, Windows 8 toolbar goodness is not far away.

Windows 8 also features a re-designed Start button and this is something that has been difficult to tweak in the past. StartOrbz is a free tool that changes this, and used in conjunction with the Windows 8 Start Orb you can quickly and easily match the look of Windows 8′s button. There is also Windows 8′s new Metro interface to consider and by using Metro Home you can add customizable weather and date gadgets to your desktop just like in Windows 8.

If you would like a more involved desktop makeover to mimic Windows 8, Zetro VS may be just what you have been looking for. The skin closely replicates the flat look of the Metro UI and also includes a re-designed Start menu as well as Windows 8 desktop images. Whether you want to go the whole hog or not, you can use a great looking wallpaper from the latest beta of Windows 8 to brighten up your desktop. This isn’t the only Windows 8 inspired theme that is available, and you may also like to take a look at Aero Lite with Glass.

All of the customization options we have looked at so far enable you to change the way Windows looks once you have logged into your user account. But by installing Windows 7 Logon changer you can customize your computer right down to the login screen. This is something that would normally require tinkering with system files, but with this application installed, it is a simple matter of selecting an image by browsing from the program interface, or taking advantage of the context menu option that will enable you to select any image you would like to use.

Of course, there are plenty of other tools that can be used to take your desktop customisation even further -- there really is no limit to the level of personalisation you can achieve. However far you want to take it, you’re sure to be able to find something to keep you going until Windows 8 finally sees the light of day.
Android makes big gains in the post-Steve Jobs era

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 5:14am CEST par Joe Wilcox

Apple cofounder Steve Jobs has repeatedly talked about the post-PC era. But he resigned last week as Apple's CEO. The post-Steve Jobs era has come, and Android is doing just fine whipping iPhone in his absence. This week, comScore put Android's US smartphone share way up against iPhone's minuscule gains, and today Nielsen added supporting stats, including some startling buying intention trends.

"What?" You ask. "Jobs has only been gone a week". Yes, but as I explained over the weekend, his influence waned long ago. Tim Cook, while only CEO since Thursday last, has been running Apple since January. How's iPhone doing against Android, during the Tim Cook era? Certainly not bad, but not as well as many people believe. I was talking with a neighbor tonight about phones and he was sure that iPhone outsells Android. I hear this often.

The comScore and Nielsen data also impugns the Apple fanclub of bloggers and journalists who just months ago cried Android's doom based on wrong presumptions about Verizon iPhone. Late-June TechCrunch post "The Verizon iPhone Halted Android's Surge. The iPhone 5 Could Reverse It" reflects the kind of misinformation spread by Apple fanclubbers.

Android gained a stunning 5.4 points of share sequentially, based on smartphone subscribers, during the three months ended July 31, according to comScore. By comparison, Apple's platform grew by 1 point of share. That puts iPhone share at 27 percent compared to 41.8 percent for Android. For the same three-month period, Nielsen put Android smartphone share at 40 percent and iPhone/iOS at 28 percent.

Nielsen also measures buying intentions. Don Kellogg, Nielsen's director of Telecom Research and Insights, blogs:

"Among those who say they are likely to get a new smartphone in the next year, approximately one third say they want their next smartphone to be an iPhone and one third say they want an Android device. However, among those who say they are usually the first to embrace new technologies, “Innovators” or the earliest of early adopters, Android leads as the “Next Desired Operating System” – 40 percent for Android compared to 32 percent for iOS. (Survey respondents were asked several questions to determine their attitudes toward new technologies.)".

Android is unstoppable, unless something changes. Perhaps iPhone 5 will be so astonishing or people will find iCloud so remarkable, sales with soar. Cook could also show the kind of innovation in logistics that Apple showed in product design and marketing under his predecessor, such as take drastic pricing action when iPhone 5 ships. In May, I explained how Apple could stop the Android army's advances by cleverly pricing iPhone 4 after its successor ships. Follow the success of the iPhone 3GS, which AT&T sells for $49, and offer iPhone 4 or a 4S model for, say, $99. Globally. Free would be even better, with carrier subsidy, in some regions.

That's the kind of risk Cook should consider during the early post-Steve Jobs era. It's a trade-off of margins for marketshare but would open new categories of buyers for Apple, particularly in emerging markets. With respect to pricing and margins, Apple has long played it safe. Is it time for change?
Netflix shares plunge after Starz ends streaming contract

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 2:57am CEST par Joe Wilcox

Investors pounded Netflix in after-hours trading today, after Starz Entertainment cut off contract renegotiation. Netflix shares fell by 8.7 percent to $212.99. The stock had closed at $233.27. Starz content is a major anchor of Netflix's steaming service.

"Starz Entertainment has ended contract renewal negotiations with Netflix", Starz CEO Chris Albrecht says in a statement. "When the agreement expires on February 28, 2012, Starz will cease to distribute its content on the Netflix streaming platform".

While Starz is going it won't be gone for six months, so there's no immediate effect on Netflix or its customers.

Starz may be looking at the success of HBO GO as a future direction. "This decision is a result of our strategy to protect the premium nature of our brand by preserving the appropriate pricing and packaging of our exclusive and highly valuable content", Albrecht says. "With our current studio rights and growing original programming presence, the network is in an excellent position to evaluate new opportunities and expand its overall business". Controlling the streaming experience like HBO does -- where the media player and content is available exclusively to subscribers -- would be one alternative.

The timing couldn't be worse for Netflix, at least symbolically. Controversial price increases went into effect today. Netflix announced the price increases in mid July, and negative subscriber reaction was immediate.

More than 4,200 people responded to a Netflix pricing poll conducted by BetaNews. We asked Netflix subscribers how they would respond to the price increases:

* 58.44%: cancel account

* 26.49%: go streaming-only

* 8.38%: go DVD-only

* 6.69%: go DVD and streaming

Starz's exit could lead to even more people abandoning the service. I'll stick with Netflix steaming. Will you?
Lenovo Ultrabook moves in on MacBook Air's turf

Publié: septembre 2, 2011, 1:00am CEST par Ed Oswald

Aiming to fight Apple's MacBook Air on one of its primary advantages -- its size -- Lenovo on Thursday introduced its Ultrabook, claiming it is thinner than Apple's signature ultra-thin laptop.

Indeed, at .6-inches thick, the Lenovo Ultrabook U300S comes in slightly thinner than the Air's .68 inches. The laptop is part of a broader effort introduced by Intel in May to revive interest in laptops overall. The chipmaker is rightly worried about tablets, a device category Intel does not have a strong foothold in. Thus pushing these ultra-thin laptops has become a major part of its current business strategy.

Like the MacBook Air, the U300S uses a unibody construction. This allows manufacturers to shrink down the size of the casing while maintaining strength, and also reduces the weight of the laptop overall. The U300S weighs around 2.2 pounds, more than a half pound less than the Air.

Consumers will have the option of up to a 1.8GHz Intel Core i7 processor and 256MB of storage space using a solid-state drive; 4GB of DDR3 memory will come standard on the device.

Lenovo is also making some pretty hefty claims when it comes to battery life. It says the average user should be able to squeeze some eight hours of use, and a month on standby. The battery will also allow for rapid charging -- 50 percent of capacity in 30 minutes, the company claims.

While the U300S will come standard in a graphite grey casing, Lenovo says it plans to offer a limited edition Clemintine Orange model. Pricing starts at $1,199.99 and is slated to become available in November.