Acer Iconia W700 : Smart Design, Convertible Tablet

Acer Iconia W700 scheduled to be released on October 26, falls under the category of  Windows 8 tablets. Interestingly, this very day is Windows 8 launch day. Acer Iconia W700 comes with 11.6-inch, IPS 1080p Full HD display touch screen with a resolution of 1,920x1080 pixels. The device operates on Windows 8 platform, powered by Intel Core i3 and i5 Ivy Bridge processor, depending on your choice. 

Acer Iconia W700 tablet has three models with distinct flavours in the CPU and the Solid-State Drive. The first two has the same 64GB SSD, with an option of either the Intel Core i3 or the i5 processor. The latter is packed with 128GB of SSD storage and Intel i5 processor.

The W700 tablet features a Bluetooth keyboard and a docking cradle that lets you adjust the device at either 70 degrees or 20 degrees, depending on your convenience. The dock has 3 additional USB ports. 

Acer Iconia W700 tablet is equipped with 5MP rear camera, which is capable of HD video recording at 1080p, and a 1MP front facing web camera. The battery life on this device is expected to last up to 8 hours, with 7 hours of continuous web browsing. 

The price of Acer Iconia W700 starts at $799.99 for 64GB SSD and Intel Core i3 processor. The figure goes up around $999.99 for 128GB and Intel Core i5 processor.

Need For Apps: Most Wanted

We all know the importance of smartphones and devices in our lives. Literally speaking, they rule our world. We are so dependent on our gadgets that it's hard to imagine a day without it. Mobile phones, specially the latest smartphones are creatively designed and created to fulfill the niche of the modern day tech genre. Smartphones come packed with amazingly innovative features which are capable of handling stuffs which could only be done using a computer in earlier years.

Talking particularly about Smartphones; they have widen our contact with the world, broaden our thoughts, lightened our works, informative, and entertained us. But, what is that which creates a spark with this magical device?? Aahhaa... I am not talking about batteries...instead I am talking about mobile apps.

These apps provides additional features to your mobile phones. These apps doesn't come bundled with mobiles but have amazing features which can boost the performance and increase the capability of your phone. Here, we will reveal such interesting apps which will give an edge to your smartphones. We search these special apps among the thousands which are already available in Apple store & Google's Playstore and brings out the best with their review. So stay tuned and be informed as we dive into our quest to bring the latest news about gadgets and apps rolling into the market.

HTC One X+ : Rebuilt for Good

Last Tuesday HTC launched HTC One X+, a mighty successor to its best-rated Android phone – HTC One X. In simple terms, the One X+ is a super-upgraded One X. The name HTC One X+ is just the right fit for this beauty. I believe, the “+” symbol signifies all the new and renovated features the phone carries without actually modifying the look of the phone.

When you look at the device, you won’t notice any difference. The magic begins once you start playing with it. To begin with, the new HTC One X+ runs on Android 4.1 - Jelly Bean with an improved HTC's Sense 4+ UI, upgraded from Ice Cream Sandwich on HTC One X. The phone's 4.7-inch 1280 x 720p Super LCD 2 display remains the same as with the One X. 

The 8MP rear camera with LED flash also remains unchanged. However, features like One-press continuous shooting make it a completely new ball game. One-press continuous shooting is super snappy, capable of clicking 4 shots per second. HTC’s VideoPic feature allows you to shoot HD video and capture high-resolution photos simultaneously. The front camera gets an upgrade from 1.3MP to 1.6MP with better image processing and a timer.

Thanks to power of the new 1.7GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, the One X+ is 67% faster than its predecessor, which clocks at 1.5GHz. Be it multi-tasking or gaming, it’s smooth and seamless on the new HTC One X+. A credible feature of HTC One X+ is, the phone is PlayStation Certified; offering an experience you can’t resist.

Now, if you are worried about the battery on the One X, here is something you would love. Battery on the new HTC One X+ received a major facelift. Instead of 1,800mAh battery on the One X, it now has a 2,100mAh battery, which is expected to give up to 50% more battery life. 

If you are still fussy about the 32GB storage on the One X, I should say HTC One X+ is here to stay with an internal storage capacity of 64GB. However, there is a minor disappointment with no microSD option. 

HTC’s intention to make its best-rated Android phone even better is clearly visible. HTC One X+ is mightier, faster, efficient, and better than the One X. But, will it stand out among the major brands ruling the mobile market? We will testify it in weeks time.

iPhone 5 : Success Crippled by Complains

The record-breaking units of iPhone 5 being sold over the weekend, is a proof that the iPhone 5 has been eagerly anticipated by people around the globe. However, the celebration has been cut short by its users due some flaws they found with the new device.

While on one side, the iPhone 5 is bigger, lighter, thinner, and has a much faster A6 processor; many issues concerning the device cripple the other side. Apple has abandoned Google Map for its own Map application. Apple’s Map app has innovative features like Flyover and free turn-by-turn navigation with Siri integration. In spite of the adventurous attempt, Apple’s Map app has failed to satisfy its new users. According to the new owners of iPhone 5, many places have not been included into the Map app, and some places are wrongly mapped. Regarding this, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has apologised to its customers and assured of making the Maps better. 

The users have found flaws with the iPhone 5 camera. The images taken in bright light or an incandescent light has a purple hue effect on the photos. 

Apple has replaced the old 30-pin dock connector with the new smaller, reversible dock connector called Lightning. Unlike the old connector, which has 30 dedicated pins, the Lightning has only 8 pins, which means the new users should have new power cords and users won't be able to connect the new products with old speakers and other accessories. The solution to this is to buy an adapter, for which you have to shell out $29, plus $10 extra if you want a new cable with it.
iPhone 5 users have claimed that the new device is shedding its skin and is being scratched up exposing the silver colour of the phone's aluminum back cover, after few days of use.

Some users are concerned that the new iPhone is way too light. Others have reported that light from the screen appears to be leaking through the gaps of the antenna and the power button.

While these issues are plaguing Apple’s new invention, we can only hope Apple quickly fixes these glitches to retain their prospective, loyal customers.

Samsung Galaxy Note II: Defining a Niche in Itself

Over the years, Samsung has been consistently rolling out new gadgets one after another. After Galaxy S3, now it’s the turn of Samsung Galaxy Note II. Galaxy Note II is a successor to the original Galaxy Note with lots of new and updated features pumped into it.

The look of the Note II is similar to Galaxy S3 with curved edges for easy grip, physical home button, and two capacitive buttons for menu and the back button. Samsung Galaxy Note II has a 5.55 inch High-definition Super AMOLED display with 1,280 x 720 resolution.

The device runs on the latest Android OS - Jelly Bean, powered by quad-core 1.6 GHz Exynos 4 processor and 2 GB RAM for incredibly fast performance. The 3,100mAh battery on Samsung Galaxy Note II is expected to provide battery life of up to 10–12 hours. If the battery stands out as expected, it may well be the answer to the drainage problem with smart phones.

Galaxy Note II has an 8 MP rear camera which supports Full HD recording and playback at 1080p and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. Camera features like the ‘Best Face’ will make you yearning for more. Best Face feature usually works with group photos. This feature allows you to pick the best facial expression of individuals from a series of group photos taken and swap it into the picture of your choice.

The S Pen or the Stylus, as you may say is among the attention grabbing features of the Note II. The pressure sensitive S Pen is incredibly smart, it recognizes when the Pen is pulled out from the device and prompts you when it is kept away from the device.

Air View is another interesting addition to the Note II. Hovering or holding the stylus over the screen launches the quick preview function. It shows contents of your emails and folders without even tapping on the screen.

Samsung Galaxy Note II comes with 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB storage variants with an external storage expandable up to 64GB. Note II is available in marble white and titanium grey colours.

Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro before 31st January, 2013

If you thought, the current users of the previous versions of Windows OS will not be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro. Well, here is the big news we have been waiting for. Apparently, Microsoft has announced an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro. Everybody likes to try the new stuff and when the deal is as good as this, it gets itchy. Windows 8 Pro upgrade can be bought online for just $39.99, or if you prefer to buy it from retail stores, a packaged DVD version is available at $69.99.

If your current OS is Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP, you qualify for the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro. If you are proceeding to upgrade Windows 8 Pro on your PC, the best option would be to do it online. The Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant offers a simple step-by-step procedure to guide you all the way from purchase to installation.

The Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro offer will be available in 131 markets, and will end on 31st January, 2013. For more info, click here.

Google Nexus 7 : Small Size, Big Impact

Google's annual I/O developer conference in San Francisco concluded on a sweet note, with Google unveiling its first tablet, the "Nexus 7". It was obvious and rightly so, Nexus 7 is the first tablet to run on Google's latest OS (Android 4.1) Jelly Bean, with Chrome as its default browser.

Do you remember the 29 seconds mini ad about Galaxy Nexus Prime, with the tag line "Something Big is Coming"? Going by the size, it's not big, measuring 198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm in dimensions, but enough to make an impact. Nexus 7 sports a 7-inch Gorilla glass display with a resolution of 1280x800 pixels. The device is powered by 1.2 GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, with 12-core GeForce GPU, and 1GB of on-board RAM. Nexus 7 weighs about 0.75 pounds, which is light and comfy in terms of a hand-held device.

Nexus 7 tablet has an integrated 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Near Field Communication support. The device has a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera but lacks a rear camera. With "Project Butter" as we would expect the interface is much smoother and responsive. As per Google, the 4,325mAh battery is capable of 8 hours of active usage back up. With no microSD expansion slot, we are limited to internal storage only, which comes in 8GB and 16GB depending on the storage we prefer. Also, Nexus 7 home screen is limited to portrait view only.

For a $200 tablet that is fast, responsive, light and efficient; I would still bet on Google Nexus 7 tablet a total value for money. Nexus 7 is available for pre-order and will be hitting the stores in US, UK, and Australia anytime this month.

Windows Surface Tablets : Microsoft’s New Initiative

Microsoft is taking a big leap with the development of Windows 8. Last week we saw a series Microsoft’s creation, which will be available later this year. Microsoft’s Windows 8 Surface tablets demand attention at this juncture. The Surface tablets; Yes! 'tablets' because Microsoft is bringing out two versions of it. One version of Surface tablets will run on Windows RT and the other will run on Windows 8 Pro OS. We will learn the specifications of the two versions as we proceed.

Windows Surface tablet is a noble concept with options for Touch Cover and Type Cover, which in disguise are super-thin keyboards. Touch and Type Cover sounds familiar to Apples's Smart Cover, but it's the keyboard that separates it from Smart Cover. The magnetic cover for Surface tablet can be used both as a screen protection cover and as a keyboard. When you are done typing, simply flip back the keyboard to shut it off. 

The Touch Cover has a pressure-sensor pad, which detects keystrokes and is perhaps the thinnest keyboard at 3 mm. The Type Cover is slightly thicker measuring 5 mm, with button-depression physical keys. A minute but fine detail about the covers is that it would change the background screen colour depending on the colour of the cover the tablet is connected to.

Specifications of Surface tablet running on Windows RT:

Windows RT OS
Nvidia ARM Processor
Features a 10.6 inch ClearType HD Display with an aspect ratio of 16:9, made of Corning's latest Gorilla Glass
Weighs approximately 676 g and it's super thin at 9.3 mm
31.5 Watt-Hour battery energy
Connectivity - microSD card, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
32GB and 64GB storage capacity
Surface tablets have High-Definition Front and Back cameras

Specifications of Surface tablet running on Windows 8 Pro:

Windows 8 Pro OS
Intel's third-generation Core i Processor
10.6 inch ClearType Full HD Display
Weighs around 903 g and slightly thicker than the RT version at 13.5 mm
42 Watt-Hour battery energy
Connectivity - microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
64GB and 128GB storage capacity

The price and availability of this product is still unknown. The price is going to be a real factor for the success of these tablets. At this point, we can only wish the Surface tablets hit the market soon.

Windows Phone 8 : First Impression

Last week, we got a glimpse of Windows Phone 8, previously known as Apollo. The new Start Screen with Live Tiles and the Metro interface for Windows 8 OS are among the differentiating factors. Live Tiles on Windows phone 8 offers better flexibility and customization. Tiles can be resized into small, medium and large, thereby, providing the users the ability to incorporate more or less information on the Start Screen, depending on his/her choice. Although, large number of Tiles on the Start Screen might cause distractions; you are the 'Master' so you control the device.

Metro interface on Microsoft's new Windows 8 is designed to work on both tablets and PCs. This means Microsoft is trying to create a common platform for mobiles, tablets, and PCs. This certainly is a big relief for developers. Windows phone 8 is powered by multi-core processor, which allows apps to launch quickly, games to load faster, and to function swiftly across all platforms. This device includes a new Wallet feature with NFC support. Windows Phone 8 has in-built Nokia Maps into the Operating System, which also supports offline mapping.

With all the good things to come, there is a bad news for all the predecessors of Windows Phone 8. The existing users of Windows Phone, including Windows Phone 7.5 will not get an update to Windows Phone 8. Windows Phone 7.5 users will get to peek at Windows Phone 8 Start Screen with an update, but will be denied of other features. Well, I don’t know how the current users are going to handle this, but let’s hope the cards turn in your favor.

Windows Phone 8 will be arriving later this year, along with Microsoft's new Surface tablets (which I will be updating in my next post). Stay connected for more info on gadgets and stuffs.

Ultrabook : The Beginning of Future Computing

Lately, the word “Ultrabook” could be heard echoing from every corner of the computing world. We have heard of Notebooks, Laptops, Tablets, and iPads. Then, what is Ultrabook? How is it ultra distinct from other Notebooks and Laptops? If you are among those intrigued by this ultra computing machine, you are at the right place. By the end of this post, I am sure you will be grinning and hungry to be a proud owner of Ultrabook.

Before we begin, here is my understanding of Ultrabook. “Ultrabook is a next generation computing machine, which is much faster, smarter, secure, portable, lighter, innovative, and better performer compared to the existing Notebooks and Laptops.”

Ultrabook is inspired by Intel, with a vision to built higher-end type of subnotebook. In 2011, Intel shared the concept of Ultrabook at Computex and has set certain standards and norms of what an Ultrabook should be. Ultrabooks are designed to be super slim (usually less than 2.1 cm of thickness) and much lighter (usually less than 1.5Kgs or 3.3lbs). Ultrabook should be run by Intel Core i3, i5, i7 Sandy Bridge or Intel’s latest 3^rd generation Ivy Bridge Processor. Ultrabook should incorporate Intel integrated graphics, Intel WiFi and Bluetooth and should have SolidStateDrive.

Given below is an image of Acer Aspire S5 Ultrabook:

Intel has lined-up certain advanced features, which makes Ultrabook distinct from other Notebooks.

Quick Response : Flash memory lets you get quick access to your favourite contents in seconds.

Intel Rapid Start Technology : It enables you to begin where you have left off before on your Ultrabook in seconds.

Thunderbolt Technology : Connect and transfer data with other devices at lightning speed.

Intel Smart Response Technology : Launch your favourite files and apps, or the ones you use most, faster.

Intel Smart Connect Technology : This feature keeps your mails and social networks automatically updated, even when your Ultrabook is in sleep mode.

Intel Identity Protection Technology : Secures you from online identity theft.

Intel Anti-Theft Technology : Your data is the most precious thing in your computer. This feature helps you to protect your data even if your Ultrabook is lost or stolen, by disabling it from anywhere in the world.

Phew! There you have it, ‘The Beginning of Future Computing’. Ultrabooks are designed to be ultra-portable so that you can carry it wherever you go. Therefore, Ultrabooks have long lasting battery life that lasts up to 6 hours, once fully charged. Now, you must be wondering, what is the price of the super-computing Utlrabook? Well, Intel has set a target price for Ultrabooks to be below $1000. So, what’s the wait for when Ultrabooks are beginning to flood the Notebook market?

Toshiba Satellite U840W Ultrabook : World's First in the Making

Competition is surely drilling the best out of everyone and everything. For instance, consider Toshiba Satellite U840W ultrabook. Toshiba showed the world a one of its kind, the World's first 21:9 cinemascope widescreen display ultrabook. Toshiba Satellite U840W surely is attention grabbing. Let me guide you through some of the intriguing features Toshiba U840W ultrabook has in store.

Unlike most other ultrabooks in the market, which have 13-inch screens with an aspect ratio of 16:9, Toshiba Satellite U840W has LED backlighting 14.4 inches display diagonally with an aspect ratio of 21:9. The 21:9 screen eliminates the usually annoying black bars while watching videos. Black bars is a thing of the past; watch movies in full screen mode at a resolution of 1792 x 768p. The U840W ultrabook is created to thrill. Backing the wide screen, Toshiba U840W is decked with Harman Kardon speakers adorned with metal speaker grills, and SRS Premium for a 3D sound effect. If it's not thrilling enough a HDMI output allows to watch movies in a bigger display . In terms of entertainment, I would say a nice move.

Now, if you are thinking 'is it built just for entertainment?' Toshiba's split screen feature might be the answer. You might be aware of Windows 7's Aero Snap feature. Along with it, Toshiba has added its own app - the split screen feature which snaps the window into 2, with the standard 16:9 window on the left, and a 5:9 window on the right. If you are a multi-tasker, it’s all the more better. You can work on the standard 16:9 window, while staying connected with your friends on the sidebar.

The built and finish of this ultrabook is solid, detailed with a metal skin as if it is built for the long race. It's sleek and ultra-portable, measuring 368.5 x 200 x 20.8mm in dimensions. Toshiba Satellite U840W is powered by Intel's latest Ivy Bridge processor with 500GB HDD and a 32GB SSD for faster loading. The battery life is expected to give a lasting backup of 8 to 10 hours, a welcome gesture to do away with cables. Stay connected with Toshiba Satellite U840W ultrabook using an Ethernet port, Intel WiDi, HDMI, and three USB 3.0 ports, which includes facilities like sleep and charge and sleep and music.

Toshiba Satellite U840W ultrabook is expected to hit the market in the 3rd quarter, with price starting from £899 or approximately $1,383 in the UK. Stay connected for more and latest updates.

Samsung Galaxy S3 : Bigger and Better Smartphone Ever

South Korean Company - Samsung Electronics Co. has yet another achievement up their sleeves. Samsung unveiled its fresh creation Samsung Galaxy S3 in Europe this Tuesday.  Samsung arguably has set a trend on how a smartphone should be. Samsung Galaxy S3, the much hyped smartphone has nearly 10 million pre-orders which pretty much tells the story how big it’s going to be.

The first glance on the smartphone falls on its enormous 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED screen with a high resolution of 1280×720p. The phone has a gorgeous finish with smooth edges and sleek design which makes it pebble solid. This giant phone features an 8MP rear camera with AutoFocus, LED Flash, BSI sensor, with HD video recording at 1080p. It has a 1.9MP front camera with 720p resolution for video chat.

Samsung Galaxy S3 runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and is fed by powerful Exynos 4 Quad (1.4GHz) processor. Galaxy S3 is backed by 2,100mAh battery with optional wireless charging facility. The S3 has 1GB RAM and comes with 16, 32 and 64GB depending on the model and expandable upto 64GB through the MicroSD Card slot available. Samsung offers cloud storage of 50GB Dropbox for two years.

Samsung added some interesting new features on its new creation like the S-Voice feature. If you are obsessed with Apples’ Siri, S-Voice feature on the new smartphone does just that. Double-tab the Home button to bring in S-Voice, now you can record a phrase or a word to command the phone; for instance “take a picture.”

Another impressive feature is the Smart Stay, which controls the phone’s display from dimming when the phone is in use. The Smart Stay feature make use of the front camera which detects when the phone is being looked at, thereby keeping the display active when it is in use. Similarly, the Direct Call and S-Beam features are worth experimenting with.

As the verdicts stands out, Samsung Galaxy S3 has many new stuffs in the offing. While the new iPhone 5 is on the way, why not relish this gift now. For all the fans in India, Samsung Galaxy S3 will be launched in India as part of its Global Tour on 31st May, 2012 at 1:30 P.M. IST.