My Taptu doesn't update content in the background

Updating Streams and Performance

My Taptu doesn't update content in the background (and therefore doesn't chew through VGP-BPS13 Battery your phone's battery life), but it's easy to get all your streams up to date just by gently shaking your device. You can also refresh VGP-BPS13A/B Battery content by clicking the Options button to the right of each stream. Refreshed content loaded instantly, but additional articles we scrolled right to access were slow to load over 3G. In addition, the Popular section of the StreamStore was so slow to load over VGP-BPS13A/S Battery 3G at first we thought it was supposed to be blank with a search box up top. Performance was zippier over VGP-BPS9 Battery Wi-Fi.

Heat

After streaming a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, the K52Dr's touchpad warmed up to VGP-BPS8 Battery 88 degrees and the left palm rest felt warmer, particularly when the notebook was on AC power. The underside of the unit reached 98 degrees, VGP-BPS9A/B Battery which is just under our 100-degree threshold of what's considered uncomfortable. Asus boasts that its Power4Gear "automatically adjusts fan speeds for quiet computing and prolonged battery life." In action, this meant an off-putting, varying start and stop VGP-BPS9/B Battery vibration when using the touchpad or keyboard.

Verdict

Down the road Taptu will allow users to mix their own content streams, which will add much more utility. VGP-BPS9/S Battery And the company also has plans to roll out an iPad version of My Taptu. But the most important change Taptu needs to make is to VGP-BPS8A Battery get rid of its forced-branding, which the company promises will happen with the next release. Assuming My Taptu ensures that the user's voice is always heard first, we think time-crunched news hounds will find a lot to like about this VGP-BPS2 Battery app.

Design

The glossy dark brown plastic lid of the 15 x 10 x 1.4-inch Asus K52Dr is sleek eye candy. VGP-BPS2A Battery However, with continued use it gets smeared with fingerprints that would delight only the CSI team. On the front panel, visible even with the lid VGP-BPS2B Battery closed, are six pinhead-sized LED lights for AC power, battery charge, Wi-Fi, caps lock, num lock, and hard drive activity.

The black-on-black finish camouflages the touchpad recessed on the palm rest, and only the white keyboard characters (visible only in ambient light) VGP-BPS2C Battery offer any contrast. The high-tech sleekness of the K52Dr's chassis belies its 6-pound weight, though this machine is on an even vgp-bps21a/b battery keel with other notebooks in its size and price range, such as the Dell XPS 15 (6.2 pounds).

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Keyboard and Touchpad

The chiclet-style keyboard and number pad on the K52Dr was slightly mushy but not uncomfortably so. The wrist rest area has a VGP-BPS13A/B Battery ridged, fabric-like plastic surface that spreads across the touchpad. While the layout is mushy, it is also slightly slippery. There are no dedicated VGP-BPS9 Battery programmable special function keys, and the half-size FN keys may be difficult for users with larger fingers.

The left-middle placement of the 2.8 x 1.8-inch touchpad VGP-BPS10 Battery seems more a hindrance than an asset. For any touch typist, the chances are good that in the trackpad's default setting, the cursor will unexpectedly drift to another part of the screen or inadvertently launch an unwanted command. The included Palm Proof technology VGP-BPS9/B Battery is supposed to prevent inadvertent cursor movements, but it didn't. Adjustments made with the Elan Smart Pad control panel helped VGP-BPS9/S Battery some, but the cursor still bounced around and there was no apparent hardware or software way to turn off the touchpad.

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What makes a good multimedia notebook? As you get over $800, it should have snappy performance, discrete graphics, and enhanced Toshiba PA3534U-1BRS Battery audio capabilities, plus a design that will turn heads. The Asus K52Dr ($814 on Amazon) delivers only some of these ingredients. While this toshiba pa3535u-1brs battery machine wraps a capable triple-core AMD Phenom processor and a 1GB ATI graphics card in a distinctive brown chassis, it falls flat in good battery other areas.

The 15.6-inch glossy 1366 x 768 screen on the K52Dr displayed not-quite-crisp images hp battery for games and DVD videos, and viewing angles at 45 degrees were marred by the glossy screen reflections. Video from Hulu.com played fluidly with no noise, but dell battery again the image was slightly gauzy.

The Altec Lansing SRS speakers, located between the notebook's clamshell hinges and just below the screen, consistently sony battery produced a tinny, trebly sound you would expect from a netbook. Whether it was the playback of a guitar-heavy rock track or the audio from a DVD video, apple battery the sound was surprisingly unexceptional, especially considering the price tag of the Asus K52Dr. Headphones are suggested for better quality acer battery audio.

Hasbro’s device will have plenty of new content to work with

Hasbro’s device will have plenty of new content to work with, including what’s expected from the vgp-bps21a/b battery 3D television networks of Discovery, Sony, and IMAX that are scheduled to debut next year. Also, 3D apps will be available in the App VGP-BPS13 battery Store, you may be able to find virtual travel experiences, like the one being made in collaboration with LA Inc., the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, to create visits to the Wax Museum and the Santa Monica Pier. Whether adults want to hold up VGP-BPS13A/B Battery a viewfinder with their iPhone inside to watch these has yet to be seen

Toy giant Hasbro recently announced plans to bring 3D to iPhones and iPod touches through their VGP-BPS9 Battery new handheld device, the My3D. This binocular-shaped toy comes with a slot for sliding in your Apple device. Looking through the eye-piece VGP-BPS9/B Battery gives the viewer a 3D-like effect. Hasbro promises the device can deliver a 360-degree experience with 3D gaming, virtual travel experiences, and entertainment content for both children and VGP-BPS9/S Battery adults



Is there really a cure for information overload? Taptu hopes that its new social news aggregator app VGP-BPS9A/B Battery for iPhone and Android is the answer, which combines multiple streams of content in one place. My Taptu doesn't deliver a thinkpad r61 battery magazine-like experience like the competing Flipboard, but for now that app is limited to the iPad and you're capped at 21 sections of content. And while Pulse News Reader is available for iPad ($1.99) and iPhone (99 cents), you're limited to 60 and 20 content thinkpad t400 battery sources, respectively.

The more straightforward and free My Taptu supports at least 200 streams, and its unique mixed thinkpad t500 battery topic streams cover your favorite topics from multiple angles. Unfortunately, right now you have to make some trade-offs to get this thinkpad t61 battery convience. Are they worth it?

Streams and Mixed Content Topics

By leveraging a lot of the work Taptu has done with mobile search, this app offers single streams of content from well-known thinkpad t60 battery brands (USA Today, Wired, The Huffington Post, InStyle, etc.), which are easily accessible in the app's built-in StreamStore. If you don't see a provider thinkpad t60p battery you like, type it into the search box, and My Taptu will find it. Even if the site you're looking for doesn't have a mobile version, the app thinkpad r60 battery will optimize its content to create a stream.

One of the best features of this app (on paper) is how easy it is to share content via e-mail, Twitter, or Facebook just by clicking the thinkpad r60e battery right-facing arrow in the top portion of the screen. However, My Taptu gets a little heavy on the self-promotion here. For example, when thinkpad x60 battery sending a tweet the app uses a Taptu URL, as opposed to using a standard link shortener like bit.ly.

Worse still, when you publish a story to Facebook, My Taptu thinkpad X60S battery adds the text "Found in My Taptu" before the headline when you post the content to your news feed (see screenshot below).

What makes My Taptu stand out are the mixed topic streams that aggregate content from multiple sources. For example, when we Lenovo 3000 v100 battery visited My Taptu's StreamStore within the app and selected NFL, a stream popped up on the home screen that displayed headlines from The New Lenovo 3000 v200 battery York Times, NBC Sports, The Boston Herald, and Fox Sports. Taptu says its editorial team curates these topics with the help Lenovo 3000 n100 battery of advanced algorithms that emphasize mobile-friendly sites. Topics range from News, Sports, and Tech and Gadgets to Arts & Entertainment, Travel, and Lenovo 3000 n200 battery Celebrities

Want to change the order of streams? You'll need to tap the gear icon in the top left corner and then select Manage My Streams. Lenovo 3000 c200 battery On that screen you can drag streams wherever you like (pictured right). We'd appreciate this functionality right on the home screen, where Lenovo 3000 y410 battery you could just press and hold a stream and then move it. However, this might get unwieldy when you have a dozen or more hp compaq 6510b battery streams.

Interface

The main page of My Taptu presents a grid of tiles with headlines inside and the name of the category above each hp compaq 6710b battery stream (Tech & Gadgets, NFL, Twitter, etc.). Scrolling further to the right on any given stream while on the main page presents 25 to 30 more article hp compaq 6715b battery thumbnails you can click on, and you can keep scrolling right to load more stories. If you want to check out different streams, just scroll up and hp compaq 6715s battery down. Overall, this interface is fairly intuitive, but we sometimes scrolled across when we meant to go down.

When you click on any given story, you'll instantly see a preview of the article. You can then open the full story within the My Taptu app hp compaq 6720s battery (which uses the Safari browser) or bookmark it for later. Conveniently, Bookmarks gets its own hp compaq nx7300 battery stream.

There's no way to edit or disable this feature so everything you post to Facebook will have this hp compaq nx6125 battery obtrusive branding. Some users might avoid the app altogether for fear of lending the impression that they're spamming their friends or dell studio 17 battery followers.

The good news is that My Taptu says it will remove the "Found in my Taptu" branding hp battery when it releases the next version of the software (1.1), which should be available by the end of

Social Streams

My Taptu's social networking functionality goes good battery beyond sharing articles. The app lets you add dedicated streams for Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin, and if your friend or follower's post has a link embedded, My Tapu will load a preview beneath the update. Well, at least the app tries to load a preview. Over AT&T's 3G dell battery network, our iPhone 4 sometimes took 20 seconds or more to fill in the preview. Unfortunately, at least for now you can't reply to social networking posts apple battery within the app. It's for reading and sharing only.

Well look at that. Dell’s getting close to releasing its combo tablet and a netbook in one

Today Notion Ink posted a bevy of updates to their blog, and included in this information vgp-bps21a/b is a tentative promise that Adam lovers could have one in their hot little hands by Christmas Day. The timing depends on the FCC, apparently, but if PA3534U-1BRS Battery all goes according to schedule customers will be able to pre-order the tablet in early December. Notion Ink CEO Rohan Shravan further promises that if they can’t make the Christmas delivery, then they will ship around the CES time frame. The blog dell studio 17 battery says that online ordering will be available “in most of the countries,” which isn’t terribly specific, so we’ll have to see when the order form goes up.

We just reviewed the CherryPal CherryPad, a $188 7-inch slate that runs Android 2.1 and includes VGP-BPS9 the official Android Market. However, the CherryPal company cut corners by using a resistive touchscreen, employing a proprietary docking VGP-BPS9/B connector rather than micro USB, and eschewing front or back cameras. We could certainly live without the cameras or the standard USB connector, but the difficult-to-tap screen and overall sluggish performance are serious challenges to overcome, as VGP-BPS9/S is a bug that sometimes prevents downloading from the Market.

Well look at that. Dell’s getting close to releasing its combo tablet and a netbook in one. We first VGP-BPS9A/B saw this device back at IDF in September and while this flipping tablet is a far cry from the convertible PCs we’re used to seeing with Lenovo thinkpad r61 battery swiveling side hinges and bulky screens, it’s still running Windows 7. There’s nothing wrong with Windows 7 on a netbook, but it hasn’t quite panned out as a strong tablet OS just yet. Regardless, the Dell Inspiron Duo certainly looks impressive and, Lenovo thinkpad t400 battery with a 10.1-inch screen and an Atom processor, it should run well too. Based on the official video below, the Inspiron Duo seems to Lenovo thinkpad t500 battery have a skin over Windows 7 in tablet mode, so that should help usability.

Perfect for trips to class or trips to the great outdoors, this Lenovo thinkpad t61 battery sleek and simple budget backpack is meant to tackle the forest or the urban campus. The padded shoulder straps make carrying a 14-inch laptop easy. Available in Carbon, Ember, and Limestone, the bag also incorporates a blinker light Lenovo thinkpad t60 battery pocket for night riding

The iP39's brushed aluminum sides look at home in any campus apartment kitchen, and the compact Lenovo thinkpad t60p battery speaker/dock leaves room on your student's counter so he can groove while he makes ramen. Dual kitchen timers and an Lenovo thinkpad r60 battery easy-to-read LCD ensure hisr meals won't overcook, and the microwave-style membrane buttons are easy to clean

External storage never looked so good. The Iomega Skin collection, which comes in three models--Knock Out, Radical, and Red Hot--sports IBM thinkpad r60e battery custom graphics that ooze hip to college students everywhere. This 500GB hard drive comes with the company's standard Drop Guard Lenovo thinkpad x60 battery Protection, as well as a whole suite of useful apps. It also comes with a three-year warranty.

Amazon's summer update to their popular eReader slimmed down IBM thinkpad X60S battery the device's profile, improved the e-Ink screen, and split the brand into two models: one with 3G and Wi-Fi, and one with just Wi-Fi for a lower price. dell studio 17 battery Whichever you choose for your college student, they will have access to one of the largest selections of new and popular eBook titles and textbooks. The Kindle's new design doesn't skimp on comfort, while offering eight font sizes and three typefaces. Plus, your dell studio 1737 battery student will love how quickly the device quickly turns pages.

In a sea of big-screen superphones, the iPhone 4 stands out. That's because its Retina Display is dell studio 1535 battery actually superior to the competition, with a sky-high resolution of 960 x 640 and incredible viewing angles (great for gaming and watching movies).dell latitude e5500 battery This gorgeous metal-and-glass wonder has access to more than 200,000 apps, including an unmatched selection of games that your college student will love. A sharp 5-MP camera that works well in low light, HD video recording, dell latitude e6400 battery and the ability to make FaceTime video calls with other iPhone 4 and new iPod touch owners (and Mom) solidify this smart phone as dell latitude e6500 battery AT&T's best.

Worse still, the screen isn't very durable. CherryPal was kind enough to send us a replacement after dell latitude e4300 battery our first review unit's screen cracked while being transported in a laptop bag. We would suggest investing in a 7-inch dell vostro 1510 battery case.

The CherryPad has a spring-loaded microSD card slot on its bottom side, but it doesn't come with a card. You'll have to bring dell vostro 1310 battery your own if you want to supplement the tablet's 2GB of internal storage. Instead of a micro USB port, the CherryPad employs a Dell inspiron 1545 battery proprietary docking station port and bundles two wires, a docking port to USB cable and a docking port to wall charger cable. Unfortunately, if you lose Dell inspiron 1525 battery either of these cables, you may have difficulty getting a replacement

The 7-inch, 800 x 480 screen provided sharp images, but with muted colors. Even at 100 percent brightness, pictures seemed Dell latitude d630 battery extremely dull, though things looked a bit more colorful when we were sitting in a apple battery dark area.

Video playback was smooth and noise-free, both when we played a standard AVI file off our memory sony battery card and when we played a 720p trailer of Skyline from YouTube. Despite the dull colors, viewing angles were decent enough for a second person to peer at the dell battery screen a 45-degree angle.

The single mono speaker is one of the worst we've ever heard on any mobile device. Both when hp battery playing videos and when listening to an MP3 of The Heavy's "How You Like Me Now," the sound was tinny to the point of vibrating. We would shy away good battery from the max volume setting.

Even those who visit Google

Even those who visit Google.com to search may be disappointed to know that you VGP-BPS13 can only see the first search result above the fold. As you can see in the screen shot above, there’s so much space taken up by auto suggestions that VGP-BPS13A/B there’s only enough room for the top entry to appear on the screen, though you can scroll down to see more results. This holds true whether you’re in landscape mode with a physical keyboard out or in portrait mode using the virtual keyboard. In landscape mode VGP-BPS13A/S with virtual keyboard, there’s no room at all for Google instant results.

With the feature enabled, users can type into the search box on the Google home page and VGP-BPS9 watch as the search box moves to the top of the screen and a set of results appears below and updates as they keep typing in the query. As VGP-BPS8 with Google instant on the desktop, you do not need to hit the Search button for results to appear.

Google Instant, the Google feature that shows search results as you type, has come to mobile. Today, the company announced VGP-BPS9A/B that uses of iOS and Android 2.2-powered devices are able to get Google instant simply by pointing their mobile web browsers to Google.com and clicking VGP-BPS9/B on the link which says “Instant (beta) is off: Turn On.”

We tested the new Google Instant for mobile on a VGP-BPS9/S Motorola Droid running Android 2.2 and found that it works as advertised, but isn’t all that convenient, because it only works from within the Google web site. If, like us, you most often enter your search queries directly into the browser’s address bar or into the VGP-BPS8A search box that appears when you hit the magnifying glass button, you won’t see this new feature.

Targeted squarely at the highly mobile, Acer's new 11.6-inch Aspire TimelineX 1830T-68U118 has a VGP-BPS2 lot of punch for its size. Though a little on the pricey side compared to its tiny netbook cousins, the $899 1830T comes well equipped with a VGP-BPS2A much faster processor than the 11-inch MacBook Air (a 1.4-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo) and gobs more storage space for $100 less. It also lasts longer on a charge, providing more than 6 hours of runtime. Best of all, you get all this goodness in a trim and attractive business-casual VGP-BPS2B design that will look equally at home in the conference room or the student library. Still, is this svelte performer worth the premium over other 11-inch VGP-BPS2C Windows ultraportables?

Heat

The 1830T was one relatively cool customer on our VGP-BPS21A/B heat tests. After playing a Hulu video for 15 minutes, we measured 85 and 87 degrees at the Aspire's touchpad and between the G and H keys respectively. That said, we recorded a higher 95-degree temperature at the center of the undercarriage. Still, that didn't quite trigger VGP-BPS21A our heat alarms, since we consider anything over 100 degrees to be toasty.

Design

Weighing in at a featherweight 3 pounds (the same as its predecessor), this newly refreshed 1830T is also just VGP-BPS21B over an inch thick. That's beefier than the 11-inch MacBook Air (.11 to .68 inches), but it's a breeze to slip this machine into a bag and tote around town. The 1830T vgp-bps21a shares other design accoutrements with its forerunner. You'll find a similar fingerprint-resistant black cover featuring a texturized surface, making for a better grip by damp hands between tense meetings and lectures.

Flipping open the 1830T reveals its glossy black vgp-bps21b battery bezel, which is unfortunately prone to prints, and its matte black keyboard set in brushed gun-metal gray aluminum. Though it boasts a sizeable six-cell battery, the power source doesn't protrude behind the laptop and won't prove to be a hindrance or snag vgp-bps21 stray cords.

The Aspire's 1.3-megapixel webcam is standard fare. Colors looked a bit washed out but pa3535u-1brs battery video performance was adequate. The bundled Acer Crystal Eye software does allow you to change the resolution, shoot video, snap dell studio 17 battery quick pics, and alter various video processing vectors such as contrast, gamma, and hue.

Ports and Webcam

On the left side of the 1830T you'll find a VGA port, power connector, and USB port. As with the previous model we reviewed, vgp-bps13/b there is an HDMI v1.3 port here as well. With it you'll be able to output HD video to your HDTV. On the right side are headphone and mic jacks,VGP-BPS13 two additional USB ports, plus a Kensington lock slot and Ethernet. To activate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a keyboard shortcut is provided (no VGP-BPS13A/B physical switches are offered).

Keyboard and Touchpad

Almost identical to the previous 1830T, this refresh sports the same flat square-style keys crafted with a deliberately rough VGP-BPS9 surface for additional texture. Even so, this does not make up for the somewhat shallow key travel and mushy feel when typing. Also,VGP-BPS10 the keyboard layout, while close to full-size and an accomplishment for a laptop of this small stature, feels a bit cramped. Still, both left and right shift keys are large enough and you can use the 1830T pound out larger hp battery documents when necessary.

The touchpad is on the petite side at 2.5 x 1.3 inches. sony battery Compounding the problem of tiny input area, the pad appears virtually invisible against the brushed-metal styling of the wrist rest. Fingers also don't slide well against its textured surface. This resulted in a number of uncertain swipes and scrolling errors on good battery our part. Even so, the touchpad supports multi-gesture pinch and zoom motions, which comes in especially handy apple battery when web surfing.

Kensington KeyFolio Bluetooth Keyboard and Case for iPad

This keyboard lets you type much faster than you can with touch-typing VGP-BPS13 while protecting your tablet, but is it worth $99?

When the iPad first came out, there was a lot sony VGP-BPS9/B Battery of speculation as to whether it could replace a full-fledged notebook. However, many came to realize that, without a keyboard, it was difficult to type longer documents. Enter the Kensington KeyFolio, a Bluetooth keyboard built into an iPad case. Will this $99 accessory Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery let you leave your laptop behind?

Design

From the outside, the KeyFolio looks like an elegant iPad case--which in fact, it is. It's made sony VGP-BPS9 battery of black faux leather with white stitching. Flip over the cover, and you reveal its second function as a wireless keyboard.

The keyboard is covered in a rubber membrane sony VGP-BPS9/S battery that protects it from spills and prevents the screen from getting scratched. A few ridges above the keyboard let you adjust the angle of the iPad, but in doing so, it covers the Pairing button. There's no way to secure the iPad to the keyboard, so the KeyFolio has to Vostro 1510 Battery be used on a flat surface such as a desk; putting it on our lap caused the iPad to fall backwards.

The case weighs just over one pound, which is light in the grand scheme of things, but, when Inspiron 1545 battery coupled with the 1.5-pound iPad, this combo weighs almost as much as the Asus Eee PC 1015PEM.

Performance

Pairing the KeyFolio with the iPad was easy. Simply Dell Latitude E6400 Battery turn the keyboard on (there's a small switch on the right side above the keys), and press the large Connect button on the top. A message will appear on the screen asking you to type in a code on the keyboard to complete the pairing.

The keyboard on the KeyFolio is about the same size as one you'd find on a netbook. However, it's not nearly as good as, say, the Vostro 1710 Battery Toshiba Mini NB305. The rubber membrane was soft to the touch, and in general, we found the keys responsive. In fact, they Vostro 1720 Battery were a bit too responsive; we found that we would often accidentally type the same letter twice in a row until we figured out just how much pressure to apply.

We found the KeyFolio, like early netbook toshiba PA3534U-1BRS Battery keyboards, to be slightly irregular. For example, in order to make room for arrow keys, there's no right Shift key. (For touch typists, that's a dealbreaker right there.) Also, the quote button is not in its usual place between L and Enter--only the Colon key Sony VGP-BPS13A/B Battery is there. Until we realized this, we found ourselves writing things such as "I;m" instead if "I'm."

However, we like that Kensington reversed the function keys; that is, media controls and volume Dell GD761 Battery can be accessed without having to press the Fn key first. Also, the F5 key can be used to bring up the on-screen keyboard, which is nice when you don't want to use Kensington's

The KeyFolio's battery is rated to last 90 hours; that's a lot of typing. When--or if--it runs low, you can recharge it using the microUSB port on the side.

Verdict

The idea that you can take just a tablet good battery with you on business trips is an intoxicating one, as it would free up weight battery and room in your carry-on. The $99 Kensington KeyFolio makes this dream a reality. However, the keyboard's misplaced keys (and missing right Shift key), the inability to use it securely in one's lap, and oversensitivity are real turn-offs. The KeyFolio is certainly better than nothing, but you may want to wait until something better comes battery along.

Smile! Hands-On With the Most Candid Camera, the Looxcie Wearable Camcorder

To all you fanatic live bloggers, You Tubers, Tweeters, and Facebookers, the Latitude 131L Battery ultimate device to capture every second of your life has finally arrived. Today, Artiman Ventures launched the Looxcie, a $199 wearable camcorder that loops over the ear like a Bluetooth headset. In conjunction with an Android app, it allows users to capture short clips and immediately share and publish those videos on the web using the Looxcie smartphone application.

We wore the camera VGP-BPS9/B Battery around for a few days to try it out, and see how well it worked capturing the mundane and extraordinary.

Except for its obvious white boom extending forward, the camera looks like an oversized Bluetooth headset

. Still, it has a sleek spy-tech aura, like something you might see in Mission: Impossible. For sure, you won’t catch anyone unawares: We certainly got more than our share of odd looks from people as we wore it on the street. Overall the headset was comfortable, but over extended periods VGP-BPS9A/B Battery of time and movement from walking, the device would slip off and often needed readjusting.

Aside from its design, the Looxcie device is novel in that the camera is constantly recording, so users never have to worry about missing a key event. When a moment you want to remember occurs, a press of the instant clip button on the top of the device captures the last 30 seconds of video and stores it as a permanent clip. Using the free Android app, users can also immediately share their clips by email. For the most part, sharing instant VGP-BPS9 battery clips was easy to do but, occasionally the app crashed while saving the clip and was never sent. Also, we sometimes received an error message saying the clip was too big to be sent. Looxcie told us that these were beta issues, and would be resolved. The company also says that it will add a feature where you can instantly share your clips to Facebook and You Tube.

The video quality is average–HVGA (480×320) resolution at 15 frames per second; most smart phones capture better quality video. The camera can record up to 5 hours of footage, and can store hundreds of 30-second VGP-BPS9/S battery clips on the device. As a nice bonus, the camera is also a Bluetooth headset and allows you to answer calls and keep recording video at the same time

The accompanying Looxcie smartphone app (we installed it on a Samsung Vibrant) also turns the phone into a viewfinder, remote control, and editing tool for creating clips up to 30 minutes in length. The application is simple and user-friendly: It was easy to scroll though video footage and make our own custom-sized clips. The viewfinder is particularly helpful because you can also use it to turn the recorder on and off without having to fiddle with the record button on the device, and it good battery can be used to adjust to headset to make sure it’s level.

The camera works best in bright, well-lit areas such as the outdoors. Even though the camera adjusts automatically to different settings, it doesn’t capture nighttime or dimly lit areas very well. We also found that if we recorded while walking around, video was somewhat battery choppy and shaky. Also, while wearing the camera, we got a false sense that we were recording exactly what our eyes saw; when we looked back at the footage, objects we thought were in frame were off to one side or another.

Speakers and Microphones

The sound system on the pebble 5920 is composed of two speakers hidden under Latitude 131L Battery a stylish grill located above the keyboard and a subwoofer built in the underside. The combination produces acceptable results that are well above average for notebook sound. However, having a Dell notebook with a subwoofer in the past I expected a more impressive leap out of a newer notebook. The attached Realtek sound driver has an abundance of options and settings though.

Having a volume dial is a good thing, but the dial sony VGP-BPS9/B Battery has no feedback nor resistance which makes it move at the slightest touch and hard to set to the right volume. It also lacks a "stop point" so you can't know when you reached the top/lowest point unless you are using the on-screen volume display. Its location in the front under the lower "lip" means it isn't easy to reach when the notebook is resting on your lap. Likewise with the headphone ports location at the front which always strike me as prone to stress damage.

For video conferencing Acer included a built-in VGA web cam into the lid handle with built-in microphones on each side. Nothing Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery spectacular but all in all not bad for a 15" notebook

Keyboard, Touchpad and Media Controls

The weird looking keyboard is on par with today's average, however, it has a noticeable amount of flex in the right shift area which should not appear in a modern notebook of that size and weight.

The even surface touch pad is responsive and easy to use thanks to the texture sony VGP-BPS9 battery and wide aspect ratio, it's so wide I sometimes found myself inadvertently moving the cursor. Fortunately, you can switch it off and on with the designated FN+F7 combination. Acer managed to squeeze in a third middle button that is supposed to act as a four-way joystick for quick scrolling and navigating.

As expected from a media notebook there sony VGP-BPS9/S battery are plenty of shortcut buttons on the keyboard sides for turning the wireless communication on/off, launching a web browser, email client and the Acer arcade. The right side has a blue backlit media player touch panel.

On Acer's behalf, it looks like the entire palm rest area, keyboard, touchpad and buttons are made of solid non-painted plastic which hopefully means it will not wear off after a while. You may think this gray hue isn't attractive but on the bright side it will look gray even years from now. Add (or subtract) a point for that.

Ports and Features

The 5920 spec list continues with a rich selection of ports: quite an achievement with the back profile blocked. Again I wish some Dell Vostro 1510 Battery of the ports (like LAN and video ports) were in the back.

Software

The amount of bloatware preinstalled with the notebook was quite bearable, but let's take a closer look at Dell Inspiron 1545 battery Acer's "empowering technology." Contrary to what you might think, pressing the "empowering" button does not turn you into a strong black woman, instead it opens a nice looking control panel with an assortment of Acer utilities designed to help beginners take control of their laptop:

* eNet for networking management

* ePower for battery optimization

* ePresentation for external display

* eAudio controls the Dolby home theater sound effects

* eDataSecurity protects data with passwords and encryption

* eLock limits access to external storage

* eRecovery backs up and recovery of data (as well as creates factory restore disc)

* eSettings for system information and settings

Along with there "empowering" tools Acer includes Arcade deluxe, a media control center. All in all it's not a bad package for the novice user, even if there is no real technology here and the name is plain silly. No points awarded because we are not Latitude E6400 Battery about competition when it comes to bloatware.

XP compatibility

This is a new review category I made up. Nevertheless, in a world of Vista-only notebooks it is useful to know whether you'd be able to run your favorite proven OS on your new 5920. Well, you can and quite easily as the supplied Vista drivers are compatible with XP. Thanks to some tips from NBR forums members the install process was even easier, updating the bios to the latest version allowed switching the SATA interface to IDE. Then it was a simple XP install using an old XP SP2 disc. Surprisingly the laptop worked quite well (webcam included) even Thinkpad T61 Battery before I installed the Acer drivers. I have yet to find a way to get XP working in SATA ACHI mode which might be the cause of the HD Tune test results.

Performance and Benchmarks

A distinctive advantage of the 5920 is the Nvidia 8600m GT video card, while not the DDR3 version it's still one of the fastest 8xxx GPU available at the time of the review and certainly the top in the 15.4" form factor segment. In addition, it comes in a MXM II slot with easy access, another high point Latitude E5500 Battery in the specification. Playing games proved once again that even the low T5250 was not the limiting factor in this setup, meaning you don't have to spend money on a higher CPU for that purpose alone.

Having two identical 5920's I was able to pit them against each other it those benchmarks, one running XP Home SP2, the other keeping the original Vista Home premium install.

Heat and Noise

Having so many ports limits the air vent to Latitude E6500 Battery the lower left side, and the lid design comes back to haunt us as it limits the space allocated for the back vent profile. The result is somewhat warmer than appreciated inner idling temperatures with the CPU hovering at 50+ °C and the GPU in the 60°C area.

Under load the left side gets noticeably hotter with the GPU peaking to 90 °C and once freezing on me. The notebook might be designed to handle that amount of heat but I'm still uncomfortable with that. Both machines exhibited erratic fan behavior which would come on at full power for a short burst every few seconds. I'd much rather have it work constantly at a low rpm, keeping the notebook cool and quiet as the fan is silent by itself.

I couldn't find a way to enable speedstepping in the bios. NHC doesn't show the CPU to throttle down while CPU-Z shows only 33% slowing to Latitude E4300 Battery 1000Mhz and SpeedFan wouldn't control the fans. The 8600m GT driver will not allow throttling down on DC power either, nor to downclock the GPU speeds.

This is where a proper ePower management should have let me control the fan operation Latitude E5400 Battery and speed as well as enable an aggressive CPU and GPU throttling. It has some sort of CPU power options but I have not seen any big difference. All points melted down.

Battery Life

Interestingly the XP unit reported an estimate of 3:04 hours on a full good battery and maximum screen brightness loosing about one percent battery power every two minutes idling, while the Vista unit reported an extra hour with a 4:10 hours estimate. Yet another unfulfilled promise by Windows Vista.

Conclusion

Despite its many flaws the Acer Aspire 5920 is one of the best buys today thanks to its rich specification, wealth of features and relative low price. I believe a proper new bios would solve the fan issue and CPU management, and a new Nvidia driver should let us use powermizer to reduce GPU heat. That leaves us waiting for a decent LCD panel from Acer or getting one of those LCD films to enhance the blacks. Like its name suggests, the Acer 5920 gemstone is truly a diamond in the rough and with battery a bit of polishing would shine.

Pros

* Best bang for the buck

Cons

* LCD bright but not brilliant

* No sufficient CPU/GPU throttling

* Annoying fan

Asus UL20FT-A1

A relatively powerful Core i3 processor, brushed metal lid, and comfy keyboard make Dell Latitude 131L Battery this ultraportable worth a look, but it's frustrating to use.

Believe it or not, there was a time when 12-inch ultraportables weren't just considered supersized or supercharged netbooks. It was its own laptop category, mostly populated by business machines for road warriors. The Asus UL20FT-A1 focuses more on entertainment, thanks to features such as Altec Lansing speakers, and there's no question that this laptop has enough speed to be your primary work-and-play PC. You also get a stylish sony VGP-BPS9/B Battery brushed aluminum lid and comfy keyboard. But is that enough to justify its $629 price when you can get the 12.1-inch EeePC 1215N netbook for $130 less?

Design and Ports

Handsome but somewhat unassuming, the UL20FT weighs a light 3.4 pounds and features a sturdy and classy brushed metal casing. You won't have Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery to worry about fingerprints marring this notebook. The EeePC 1215N is the same weight, but its all-plastic chassis doesn't feel quite as sturdy. Inside the Asus you'll find a plastic sliver deck with a subtle cube pattern that looks elegant, which carriers over to the ridged touchpad, and a glossy black bezel.

The left side of the UL20FT houses an HDMI port, USB port, and headphone and mic jacks. A 5-in-1 memory card reader sony VGP-BPS9 battery and two more USB, VGA, and Ethernet ports line the right side. Above the keyboard is a small power button on the right, as well as a button on the left that doubles as a launcher for the Express Gate instant-on OS (when the system is powered off) and a way for toggling through various power profiles (when the notebook is on).

Heat

The UL20FT managed to keep its cool during testing. After playing sony VGP-BPS9/S battery a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, we measured relatively low temperatures of 88 degrees Fahrenheit on the touchpad and 86 degrees between the G and H keys. The underside of the notebook got up to 104 degrees by the vent, but the middle of the underside was a reasonable 91 degrees.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Asus doesn't have a reputation for delivering great ergonomics, and the UL20FT doesn't do much to change that perception. On the plus side, the keyboard Dell Vostro 1510 Battery offers good tactile feedback with minimal flex (much less so than the Eee PC 1215N). Our only nitpick here is the shrunken right Shift key.

However, the touchpad button will be a deal-breaker for some. It's entirely too stiff, good battery and it's also small. We resorted to double tapping the touchpad to make selections, and whenever we had to right-click we were reminded why we avoided the button. The ridged touchpad offered smooth navigation as well as smooth pinch-to-zoom gesturing. Too bad the pad measures a mere 2.5 x 1.5 inches (versus a relatively mammoth 3.3 x 1.9 inches for the 1215N). We wish Asus could combine the keyboard on this notebook with the touchpad on its souped-up netbook.

Asus UL20FT-A1

A relatively powerful Core i3 processor, brushed metal lid, and comfy keyboard make Dell Latitude 131L Battery this ultraportable worth a look, but it's frustrating to use.

Believe it or not, there was a time when 12-inch ultraportables weren't just considered supersized or supercharged netbooks. It was its own laptop category, mostly populated by business machines for road warriors. The Asus UL20FT-A1 focuses more on entertainment, thanks to features such as Altec Lansing speakers, and there's no question that this laptop has enough speed to be your primary work-and-play PC. You also get a stylish sony VGP-BPS9/B Battery brushed aluminum lid and comfy keyboard. But is that enough to justify its $629 price when you can get the 12.1-inch EeePC 1215N netbook for $130 less?

Design and Ports

Handsome but somewhat unassuming, the UL20FT weighs a light 3.4 pounds and features a sturdy and classy brushed metal casing. You won't have Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery to worry about fingerprints marring this notebook. The EeePC 1215N is the same weight, but its all-plastic chassis doesn't feel quite as sturdy. Inside the Asus you'll find a plastic sliver deck with a subtle cube pattern that looks elegant, which carriers over to the ridged touchpad, and a glossy black bezel.

The left side of the UL20FT houses an HDMI port, USB port, and headphone and mic jacks. A 5-in-1 memory card reader sony VGP-BPS9 battery and two more USB, VGA, and Ethernet ports line the right side. Above the keyboard is a small power button on the right, as well as a button on the left that doubles as a launcher for the Express Gate instant-on OS (when the system is powered off) and a way for toggling through various power profiles (when the notebook is on).

Heat

The UL20FT managed to keep its cool during testing. After playing sony VGP-BPS9/S battery a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, we measured relatively low temperatures of 88 degrees Fahrenheit on the touchpad and 86 degrees between the G and H keys. The underside of the notebook got up to 104 degrees by the vent, but the middle of the underside was a reasonable 91 degrees.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Asus doesn't have a reputation for delivering great ergonomics, and the UL20FT doesn't do much to change that perception. On the plus side, the keyboard Dell Vostro 1510 Battery offers good tactile feedback with minimal flex (much less so than the Eee PC 1215N). Our only nitpick here is the shrunken right Shift key.

However, the touchpad button will be a deal-breaker for some. It's entirely too stiff, good battery and it's also small. We resorted to double tapping the touchpad to make selections, and whenever we had to right-click we were reminded why we avoided the button. The ridged touchpad offered smooth navigation as well as smooth pinch-to-zoom gesturing. Too bad the pad measures a mere 2.5 x 1.5 inches (versus a relatively mammoth 3.3 x 1.9 inches for the 1215N). We wish Asus could combine the keyboard on this notebook with the touchpad on its souped-up netbook.

Asus UL20FT-A1

A relatively powerful Core i3 processor, brushed metal lid, and comfy keyboard make Dell Latitude 131L Battery this ultraportable worth a look, but it's frustrating to use.

Believe it or not, there was a time when 12-inch ultraportables weren't just considered supersized or supercharged netbooks. It was its own laptop category, mostly populated by business machines for road warriors. The Asus UL20FT-A1 focuses more on entertainment, thanks to features such as Altec Lansing speakers, and there's no question that this laptop has enough speed to be your primary work-and-play PC. You also get a stylish sony VGP-BPS9/B Battery brushed aluminum lid and comfy keyboard. But is that enough to justify its $629 price when you can get the 12.1-inch EeePC 1215N netbook for $130 less?

Design and Ports

Handsome but somewhat unassuming, the UL20FT weighs a light 3.4 pounds and features a sturdy and classy brushed metal casing. You won't have Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery to worry about fingerprints marring this notebook. The EeePC 1215N is the same weight, but its all-plastic chassis doesn't feel quite as sturdy. Inside the Asus you'll find a plastic sliver deck with a subtle cube pattern that looks elegant, which carriers over to the ridged touchpad, and a glossy black bezel.

The left side of the UL20FT houses an HDMI port, USB port, and headphone and mic jacks. A 5-in-1 memory card reader sony VGP-BPS9 battery and two more USB, VGA, and Ethernet ports line the right side. Above the keyboard is a small power button on the right, as well as a button on the left that doubles as a launcher for the Express Gate instant-on OS (when the system is powered off) and a way for toggling through various power profiles (when the notebook is on).

Heat

The UL20FT managed to keep its cool during testing. After playing sony VGP-BPS9/S battery a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, we measured relatively low temperatures of 88 degrees Fahrenheit on the touchpad and 86 degrees between the G and H keys. The underside of the notebook got up to 104 degrees by the vent, but the middle of the underside was a reasonable 91 degrees.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Asus doesn't have a reputation for delivering great ergonomics, and the UL20FT doesn't do much to change that perception. On the plus side, the keyboard Dell Vostro 1510 Battery offers good tactile feedback with minimal flex (much less so than the Eee PC 1215N). Our only nitpick here is the shrunken right Shift key.

However, the touchpad button will be a deal-breaker for some. It's entirely too stiff, good battery and it's also small. We resorted to double tapping the touchpad to make selections, and whenever we had to right-click we were reminded why we avoided the button. The ridged touchpad offered smooth navigation as well as smooth pinch-to-zoom gesturing. Too bad the pad measures a mere 2.5 x 1.5 inches (versus a relatively mammoth 3.3 x 1.9 inches for the 1215N). We wish Asus could combine the keyboard on this notebook with the touchpad on its souped-up netbook.

Asus UL20FT-A1

A relatively powerful Core i3 processor, brushed metal lid, and comfy keyboard make Dell Latitude 131L Battery this ultraportable worth a look, but it's frustrating to use.

Believe it or not, there was a time when 12-inch ultraportables weren't just considered supersized or supercharged netbooks. It was its own laptop category, mostly populated by business machines for road warriors. The Asus UL20FT-A1 focuses more on entertainment, thanks to features such as Altec Lansing speakers, and there's no question that this laptop has enough speed to be your primary work-and-play PC. You also get a stylish sony VGP-BPS9/B Battery brushed aluminum lid and comfy keyboard. But is that enough to justify its $629 price when you can get the 12.1-inch EeePC 1215N netbook for $130 less?

Design and Ports

Handsome but somewhat unassuming, the UL20FT weighs a light 3.4 pounds and features a sturdy and classy brushed metal casing. You won't have Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery to worry about fingerprints marring this notebook. The EeePC 1215N is the same weight, but its all-plastic chassis doesn't feel quite as sturdy. Inside the Asus you'll find a plastic sliver deck with a subtle cube pattern that looks elegant, which carriers over to the ridged touchpad, and a glossy black bezel.

The left side of the UL20FT houses an HDMI port, USB port, and headphone and mic jacks. A 5-in-1 memory card reader sony VGP-BPS9 battery and two more USB, VGA, and Ethernet ports line the right side. Above the keyboard is a small power button on the right, as well as a button on the left that doubles as a launcher for the Express Gate instant-on OS (when the system is powered off) and a way for toggling through various power profiles (when the notebook is on).

Heat

The UL20FT managed to keep its cool during testing. After playing sony VGP-BPS9/S battery a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, we measured relatively low temperatures of 88 degrees Fahrenheit on the touchpad and 86 degrees between the G and H keys. The underside of the notebook got up to 104 degrees by the vent, but the middle of the underside was a reasonable 91 degrees.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Asus doesn't have a reputation for delivering great ergonomics, and the UL20FT doesn't do much to change that perception. On the plus side, the keyboard Dell Vostro 1510 Battery offers good tactile feedback with minimal flex (much less so than the Eee PC 1215N). Our only nitpick here is the shrunken right Shift key.

However, the touchpad button will be a deal-breaker for some. It's entirely too stiff, good battery and it's also small. We resorted to double tapping the touchpad to make selections, and whenever we had to right-click we were reminded why we avoided the button. The ridged touchpad offered smooth navigation as well as smooth pinch-to-zoom gesturing. Too bad the pad measures a mere 2.5 x 1.5 inches (versus a relatively mammoth 3.3 x 1.9 inches for the 1215N). We wish Asus could combine the keyboard on this notebook with the touchpad on its souped-up netbook.

Review Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 320 GB Ultra-Portable Drive & FreeAgent Auto Backup

Flexible Newcomer.

Following the top model with 1GB of memory capacity, we have also now taken a look HP Compaq 2133 Akku at Seagates' 320 GB variant with the innovative Auto Backup feature. Find out which differences and which advantages we uncovered in the following review.

With a new interface concept, the VGP-BPS9/B GoFlex series from Seagate offers a wide spectrum of possibilities for interface compatibility. With the optional adaptor, one has the possibility of ordering the individual required interfaces as need be and using the series with multiple harddrives. We already reported on how this works in our comprehensive review of the Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Ultraportable 1 TB.

The case of the 320 GB version is slightly lower at 14 mm and somewhat lighter at 150g than the larger model. But the case VGP-BPS9A/B texture, with its high-maintenance glossy black paint job, is identical and doesn't always go down well with mobile use. We also elaborated more on that issue in the review mentioned above.

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Ultraportable 320 GB

In the performance tests, we have again tested the available interface adapter VGP-BPS9 and accompanying harddrive on different desktops and notebooks. USB 2.0, eSATA and USB 3.0.

The Lenovo Thinkpad W701 was available for the eSATA test, which fortunately is equipped with a powered USB / eSATA combination port. This is necessary to ensure the GoFlex harddrive's power supply, as an additional alternative power VGP-BPS9/S supply is not provided. This worked well and without any problems in our tests, and LED to a maximum transfer rate of 78.6 MB/s on our testing device (internal Seagate ST9320423AS min, 16 MB Cache, 7200 rpm). But, in the same testing scenario, we got only 96.1 MB/s with a LaCie d2 Quadra which suggests that the GoFlex adapter slows down the built-in harddrive somewhat. For a performance comparison, refer to our extensive HDD benchmark list.

This 'braking' we noticed in the test was not apparent with the installed USB 3.0 adapter, which extended the performance of the Seagate with a maximum of 93.1 MB/s and an average of 75.5 MB without loss. This also highlights the difference in performance to the bigger 1 TB GoFlex, which reached a maximum of 87 Studio 17 Battery MB/s and an average of 65.2 MB/s. We also didn't observe any problems with the power supply on the tester and provides the model with a broad spectrum of possibilities.

The transfer rates on the USB 2.0's of various testers were at a maximum of 30.7 MB/s, though Studio 1737 Battery many notebook interfaces are unable to deliver those speeds. The HP 6540b Probook for example went on strike at 28.1 MB/s, which is still in the normal range. Otherwise, only a few notebooks and desktop systems could reach over 30 MB/s.

Verdict GoFlex 320 GB

Overall, the Free Agent Portable 320 GB Studio 1535 Battery Ultra GoFlex offers the same good qualities as the larger 1 GB version. Even the entry level model scores points in terms of its weight, size, and USB 3.0 speed. It doesn’t look so good with the euro-per-terabyte ratio, which obviously accounts for the seemingly low cost of 200 euro/TB. The 500 GB und 750 GB versions are significantly cheaper at approximately 140,- euro/ TB, but they don’t measure up to speed as the 1 TB GoFlex which is less than 130,- euro/ TB.

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Auto Backup

The last feature we looked at in this test was the Auto Backup function. While there is a backup program (Memeo) on every GoFlex VGP-BPS13B/Q Ultra Portable, this only covers basic needs and is operated by familiar procedures. In turn, we would definitely expect the available extension, which at its core represents a special USB 2.0 adapter, to be more user-friendly. This add-on device is currently available for about 20, - euro and apart from its slightly larger design, is similar to the other interface enhancements in the GoFlex series.

Seagate uses a backup software program called Replica, which impressed us good battery with its simplicity. The initial installation is carried out with only the adapter and without a connected harddrive, which in turn contains the software. Once this process is completed, you are then instructed to connect the driver. Replica works as a background device and shortly after its installation, it does a complete backup (1:1 copy), including all open files. This process lasted around 2.5 hours on our test system with 90 GB of full space. Some secure partitions could already be accessed while the other partitions were still being processed. After the backup is made and when it is again connected, only those changes made in the snapshot method (older and younger versions of changed data side by side) are, also automatically, saved. For example, when creating the backup, we continued to work on this review and later found the three corresponding snapshots. If any activities are stopped, Replica picks up where it left off and continues with its tasks.

In case something gets lost or a file gets damaged, it is possible battery to restore the files by simply dragging the chosen file from the backup. If the backup at some point gets too full, the older files are automatically deleted. Hopefully it will never crash, however, if that does happen, Seagate provides a recovery CD (made by a Linux system). With the help of this, it should be able to restore the whole system. But we didn't test this feature.

Verdict GoFlex Auto Backup

The backup resolution provided by Seagate is perfect for solid “backup muffle” which are running out of excuses. Even diligent users can enjoy its simplicity which now makes the task of backing up files a minor matter. Plugging in a single cable into the USB port is all that is needed! The rest is done automatically batteries for you. It doesn't get much easier than that.

 

Deal of the Day: Save 30% on a Dell Latitude E6510

Want a business laptop with a lot of screen but a little price tag? Look no further because this deal VGP-BPS8 of the day has that covered.

The Dell Latitude E6510 has a big 15.6 LED display dell Vostro 1710 Battery and plenty of performance thanks to its standard Core i3 processor. Its also tough. The magnesium case and The storage device that holds your OS, programs, and data.

Learn Morehard drive locks are guaranteed to keep data safe during bumps and falls. Want to stay connected? With an option to build in mobile broadband VGP-BPS9/B from AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon, the E6510can do that too. But the best part: LogicBUY’s massive 30% coupon on any systems over $999 make this a killer deal.

Base Specs: Core i3-370M 2.4GHz; GMA HD graphics; 1GB DDR3; 15.6″ Anti-glare LED LCD; Windows VGP-BPS9A/B Vista; 3yr warranty; Mobile Broadband ready; 160GB Hard Drive; 8X DVD; 802.11n; 6-cell battery

Video Hands-On With The New Froyo-Powered Archos Tablets

I dropped by the Archos booth at IFA today to get a look at their VGP-BPS9 new family of media players/tablets (the ones we told you about earlier this week). I’m an Archos fan going way back to the media player days and I even came to love the Archos 5 Internet

Tablet, but after the 7 Home Tablet and 9 PCTablet I wondered if Archos still had it in them to impress me with a tablet device.



Short answer: they do. It looks like the company has taken much of the criticism of their previous tablets to heart and solved the big problems in these new models. The screens VGP-BPS9/S are much more responsive and very bright, plus the performance looks much snappier. I was surprised to find that Android

2.2 works pretty well even on the smallest, 2.8-inch screen. And Thinkpad T61 Battery of course the 10.1-inch model offers a nice, big canvas for images, video, or documents.

Check out our hands-on video below and let us know Sony Laptop Battery whether you think Archos has finally hit a home run in the tablet space.

Updated Hands-On Video: 7-Inch Samsung Galaxy Tab Gets Official: Android Market, 3G, and Speedy Performance

Ever since the advent of Android lovers of the mobile OS have been eager Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad T61 Battery to have it not just on their mobile phones, but large-screen devices as well. The open-source, Wild West aura of the platform spurred many early attempts and a slew of commercial products ranging from netbooks to eReaders to tablets. And it’s in this last category that geeks like myself have placed all their hope in non-phone Android awesomeness. And it’s in this category that devices have so often let us down.

However, here at IFA in Berlin Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad T60P Battery that’s all about to change. The story out of this conference is going to be tablets, tablets, tablets (for real this time!), and the one I’m anticipating the most is the Samsung Galaxy Tab. The company announced the international version of this device today, which has me all excited for when it finally makes its way across the pond.

We’ve seen 7-inch Android tablets before, right? What usually stops them from being awesome is sluggish performance, terrible screens, older versions of the OS, and a lack of apps from the manufacturer plus the conspicuous absence of the Google Market. The Galaxy Tab has none of these issues.

In my hands-on time with the device, I was impressed with the speed and smoothness of the Android 2.2 experience, sony VGP-BPS9/S battery which was similar to what we’ve seen performance-wise on Samsung’s Galaxy S phones. The 1.0-GHz Cortex A8 processor and 512MB of memory ensure that apps and media run fast. And the gorgeous 7-inch WSVGA screen sports capacitive touch, not resistive. While my fingernails keep me from enjoying this to the fullest, it’s certainly far better than many of the resistive implementations we’ve seen recently.

The big news on the software side is that the Galaxy Tab is a Google Certified device, so it sony VGP-BPS9 battery will have the Android Market. In my experience many apps developed for phones will work with larger screens, but Samsung is also working with developers to ensure that owners will have a plethora of apps that not only work with, but are designed for the 7-inch form factor.

In addition to the market, Samsung has its own apps on board Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery that they’ve tweaked just for bigger displays. For instance, the company’s email app shows a list of messages similar to phone implementations in portrait mode, but switch to landscape and you get two columns: the message list on one side and the full text of the email on the other. The notes app works similarly, and we love the robust calendar.

Other pre-loaded apps include Thinkfree Office for creating and editing documents and the Swype keyboard. Users sony VGP-BPS9/B Battery will be able to download more in the future from Samsung Apps.

One of the global model’s software offerings I’m excited about is the Reader’s Hub, a unified app Sony VGP-BPS8 Battery that pulls eBook and ePeriodical material from multiple sources: Kobo, PressDisplay, and Zinio. And since users will also be able to download other eBookstore apps via the Android Market, the Tab should make a very powerful reading device.

But of course you’ll want to do more with that beautiful screen. Like Dell Studio 17 Battery watch movies and TV shows. The tablet supports DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, and H.264 formats, amongst others. With up to 32GB of internal memory available plus a media card slot that can handle up to an additional 32GB, most users will be able to carry around a hefty library of video, music, and pictures. Samsung promises up to 7 hours of movie playback as well.

Other specs include two cameras, one facing the back and the front. And in Europe people will be able to use the Tab as a telephony Dell Studio 1737 Battery device over 3G HSPA or 802.11n wireless. Video conferencing, voice calls, speakerphone, Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, the works. Globally, Samsung intends to sell the devices via telecom carriers, not directly to consumers. Though a Wi-Fi only version isn’t out of the question, right now they’re focusing strictly on carrier-based sales.

As far as accessories go, Samsung has a few in the works. A keyboard, naturally, though it’s a dock Dell Studio 1535 Battery rather than a wireless one. A regular dock, stylus, data cables (including one for TV-Out via RCA), leather and plastic covers, and a car dock.

Overall, it looks like the Samsung Galaxy Tab is finally the droid Sony Laptop Battery we’ve been looking for. Speedy performance, great UI, a mountain of apps, a great screen, and Google is even on board. We hope this is the shape of things to come in the Android tablet space. The device will be available in Europe in mid-September. Availability for other markets (including the U.S.) haven’t been announced yet, but we’ll let you know when you can start saving your pennies for it.

In the mean time, check good battery out the gallery and specs below.

Full Specs:

•Network: 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE) : 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz; 3G (HSUPA 5.76Mbps, HSDPA 7.2Mbps) : 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz

•OS: Android 2.2 (Froyo)

•Display: 7.0 inch TFT-LCD, WSVGA (1024 x 600)

•Processor: Cortex A8 1.0GHz Application Processor with PowerVR SGX540

•Camera (Back): 3MP Camera with Auto-Focus and LED Flash

•Camera (Front): 1.3MP front camera for Video Telephony

•Media: Adobe Flash 10.1 player support; Full HD video playback.

•Connectivity: 30 pin connector

•Wireless: 802.11n / Bluetooth 3.0

•Sensor: Gyroscope sensor, Geo-magnetic sensor, Accelerometer, Light sensor

•Internal Memory: 16GB / 32GB internal memory with up to 32GB external memory slot

•RAM: 512 MB

•Size/Weight: 190.09 x 120.45 x 11.98mm, 380g

•Battery: 4,000mAh

ASUS Eee PC 1215N

The addition of Nvidia's Optimus graphics technology makes this the Sony VGP-BPS8 Battery best 12-inch notebook you can get under $500.

With each generation, 12-inch Ion netbooks sony VGP-BPS9/B Battery are edging closer to their Pinocchio-like aspirations of becoming real notebooks. The ASUS Eee PC 1215N comes the closest yet to that ideal of a sub-$500 machine that performs like systems that cost more--yet lasts even longer on a charge. That's because it's packed with a dual-core Atom processor and Nvidia's Optimus graphics-switching technology. Not only that, the 1215N features an improved design that makes it more comfortable to use for extended periods of time. Power and portability in an inexpensive package? Wish no longer.

Design

The 1215N looks very similar to the 1201PN (and the 1201N, for that matter) but comes with some welcome enhancements. The laptop Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery is slightly heavier than previous iterations, at 3.4 pounds (compared to 3.2 for the 1201PN), but remains very easy to carry. Gone is the glossy black exterior; the 1215N has a matte finish that doesn't pick up fingerprints as easily as its predecessor--but you'll still notice them after a few days of use. Chrome accents are also sparse: The power button, mouse bar, and two strips outlining the touchpad are the only metallic trim on this handsome machine.

Like the 1201PN, the left side of the 1215N houses a VGA port, tiny AC adapter jack, HDMI sony VGP-BPS9 battery output, and a USB 2.0 port, as well as a memory card slot (the latter was formerly on the right side). On the right are two more USB ports, headphone and mic jacks, an Ethernet port, and a Kensington Lock slot.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard

is also unchanged from the 1201PN; it's quite sony VGP-BPS9/S battery comfortable to use and offers pretty good feedback. However, the right Shift key is slightly undersized, and there's a bit too much flex for our liking. If ASUS

were to get rid of the Home, PgUp, PgDn, and End keys along the right side, it would leave room for a larger Right Shift key. We also wish Asus would invert the function keys and make them direct action keys (for things like adjusting the brightness and volume).

The most noticeable change to the inside is that the touchpad is no longer dimpled, a trademark feature of ASUS notebooks for some time. Rather, Dell Studio 17 Battery the smooth surface is the same as the rest of the keyboard deck but is very low friction, making it easy to maneuver. We especially like that the touchpad is a good deal larger than before--3.3 x 1.9 inches versus 2.5 x 1.3 inches on the 1201PN. This made multitouch gestures, such as pinch to zoom, much easier to execute. The touch button, too, is much larger, now measuring 3.4 inches wide, up from 2.5 inches. However, it still remains a single button, and is slightly stiff.

Heat

The 1215N remained very cool during our testing. After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, the touchpad area Dell Studio 1737 Battery was just 79 degrees Fahrenheit, the area between the G and H keys was 82, and bottom of the system got up to 90. All are well below what we consider uncomfortable--95 degrees and higher--although the bottom next to the vent reached 105 degrees.

Display, Speakers, and Webcam

The 1366 x 768-pixel display on the 1215N is bright and crisp, though Dell Studio 1535 Battery you have to tilt the lid back a bit to get the best picture, and horizontal viewing angles could be better. The 720p videos streamed from YouTube were detailed and smooth, as were 480p TV shows on Hulu.

The dual speakers underneath the front lip of the 1215N delivered plenty of volume, though we noticed that the sound got muffled when we moved the netbook good battery from the desk to our lap.

The 0.3-MP webcam is improved from before; while our face looked a little pallid on Skype, Sony Laptop Battery it wasn't pixilated, and the image was fairly bright. A new addition is a little sliding cover that physically blocks the webcam, for those times when you'd prefer others not to see you.

HP Mini 100e

This K-6 student netbook is affordable but doesn't always match the performance Sony VGP-BPS8 Battery of similarly priced consumer netbooks.

Student-focused mini laptops are what started the netbook category back in 2007. The dream of low-cost, durable machines for kids in the U.S. as well as emerging markets isn't dead, and HP's newest offering embodies both goals. The sub-$300 HP Mini 100e won't be available to consumers in the U.S., only to school systems, but for those lucky students it offers decent performance and long battery life for a good price. Is it a better choice than VGP-BPS9/B Battery other student-focused offerings or inexpensive mass-market models?

Design

This 10.9 x 9.9 x 1.6-inch, 3.4-pound unit is thicker and heavier than the average netbook, though sleek and slim isn't necessarily a virtue in the student-focused netbook arena. The overall design employs rounded curves and a durable, white matte plastic chassis. The lid is plain except for a small, tasteful HP logo VGP-BPS9A/B Battery and a small LED light near the top that activates when the system is connected to the Internet; this feature helps teachers monitor network usage. Even though it is thick, the 100e doesn't feel bulky or look clunky. HP achieves an attractive and elegant (if plain) aura.

What's more important is how well it can stand up to rigorous use and abuse by kids VGP-BPS9 who perhaps haven't yet learned how to take care of expensive electronics. To that end, HP has included some features to mitigate damage, such as a spill-resistant keyboard and a large carrying handle to lower the risk of dropping it. Other options include a hard drive accelerometer, which will park the needle if it senses a sudden tumble.

Though the netbook does exude sturdiness, we VGP-BPS9/S prefer the overall design of the extra-kid proof CTL 2go Convertible Classmate PC NL2. The CTL 2go netbook includes rubberized coating on the outside, reinforced edges, a scratch-resistant display, and an anti-microbial coating on the keyboard and touchpad.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The island-style keys are a good size and should be comfortable for both students and their parents. HP kept the keyboard Dell Studio 17 Battery as similar as possible to traditional netbooks, including key placement along the edges. The Shift, ALT, CTRL, and Fn keys are all in their normal positions, so kids learning to type won't have to make any strange adjustments when they move to full-size keyboards. We appreciated the small LEDs embedded in the Caps Lock, F11/Volume Mute, and F12/Wi-Fi keys that indicate when they're active.

Our only issue with the keys is that they sometimes required more deliberate taps than touch Dell Studio 1737 Battery typists are used to. Every now and then a letter or two was dropped while typing at our normal rate. However, this would likely be beneficial to students learning to type, as it would encourage accuracy before speed.

The roomy 2.5 x 1.5-inch touchpad employs raised dots Dell Studio 1535 Battery reminiscent of ASUS Eee PC Seashell models to help with tracking. But the surface on the 100e is softer, so while the effect is the same, the tactile sensation isn't as harsh as on the Eee PC. The two discrete mouse buttons along the bottom could be bigger but are about the right size for small fingers, and they offered snappy return.

Heat

One benefit of the Atom processor inside the 100e is that it keeps temperatures down. To test this, we played a Hulu clip at full VGP-BPS13B/Q screen for 15 minutes, then measured three key areas of the netbook. The touchpad reached only 75 degrees Fahrenheit, the space between the G and H keys measured 84 degrees F, and the middle of the underside stayed a relatively cool 89 degrees. Each of these is at or below the acceptable temperature zone, so parents won't have to worry about letting kids use these netbooks on their laps for long periods.

Display and Audio

The Mini 100e's 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 matte display has extremely wide horizontal and vertical VGP-BPS13/B viewing angles, so a small group of students should be able to share a screen without encountering distortion or obfuscation. The netbook handled a 720p trailer for "The Discoverers" without dropping frames. Not only are colors nice and deep, but the netbook handled languid motion and transitions from light to dark well.

The audio quality isn't powerful, but given the small speakers on the Sony VGP-BPS13 Battery front edge of the system, this is no surprise. While watching an episode of "The Closer" on TNT.tv (where the audio tends to be softer, just as with Hulu) we had to turn the volume up to 100 percent and still had a hard time hearing softer scenes over the air conditioner on low in the background.

Ports and Webcam

Most of the ports found on the 100e are typical for any netbook--VGA, Ethernet, memory card, headphone, and mic--with two notable Sony VGP-BPS13A/B Battery differences. First, there are only two USB 2.0 ports, while most systems have three. It leaves room for what many would consider an anachronistic addition: a modem port. HP included this port for students who may not have Internet or high-speed broadband access at home. This way, they can still connect via a dial-up ISP, or dial in to the school's servers to download assignments. The 100e also includes a lock slot so they can be kept secure in the classroom environment.

The integrated VGA webcam produced decent images, but they tended to be dark in rooms good battery with bright fluorescent lights overhead. It captures colors fairly well when the backlight doesn't overwhelm, and we had to move pretty quickly to start seeing blurriness in video. However, we wish that the 100e employed a swivel for the webcam similar to the CTL 2go PC NL2 so that students had a wider range of shots available to them.

The Netbook Revolution is Over. So What Did You Win?

Congratulations! The netbook revolution is over and you won. Monday, Intel Sony VGP-BPS8 Battery announced the general availability of new systems from most major vendors featuring its dual-core Atom N550 processor. The company also shared that it has shipped over 70 million Atom CPUs since it first launched the low-voltage, low-priced platform back in 2008. Yet with so much success has come massive stagnation—and even declines in sales. The problem isn’t that netbooks have failed. On the contrary, they’ve succeeded so well that they have become irrelevant.

To understand where the revolution sony VGP-BPS9/B Battery went wrong, we must go back to its roots. Like many movements, this one was started by a few idealistic academics. Nicholas Negroponte, formerly of MIT, was the Che of cheap computers, heralding a new era of low-cost, long-lasting laptops that would destroy the digital divide. He started out with a radical agenda, promising sub-$100 laptops to children around the world.

The OLPC laptops would not run a bourgeois operating system like Windows. Instead, they would run Sugar, a special VGP-BPS8 version of Linux, the people’s platform. They would even use Marxist technology like mesh networking, which shares an Internet connection “from each computer according to its ability, to each according to its need.”

However, as with many radical movements, OLPC’s populist ideas didn’t put bread—or in this case, little green computers—on the table. Shortages were commonplace and One Laptop Per Child was often more like half a dozen laptops per VGP-BPS8a village. Worse still, trying to surf the Web or compose an e-mail with the XO laptop’s cryptic Sugar UI and cramped keyboard was more difficult than trudging through twenty miles of Siberian winter for a tiny ration of spoiled borscht.

As the OLPC-kevites struggled to gain power and influence among the people, their Akku HP PB992A core ideals were co-opted by the man. ASUS’s Eee PC 701 gave lip service to Negroponte’s radical agenda: small 7-inch size, long battery life, and a Linux OS, but when you peaked below the hood, you saw capitalist components like a Celeron processor and a licensed, proprietary version of Xandros. Still, the original Eee PC had an ideology; it was designed as a secondary device for surfing the Web and sending e-mail only, not as a smaller laptop.

During this early revolutionary period, Sony VGP-BPS9A/B Battery many interesting ideas were floated. Some companies, like Everex, thought that a gOS-based platform was the future. Others, like Emtec with its Gdium Liberty 1000, wanted to start an anarchist state, so they built a netbook without an operating system or The storage device that holds your OS, programs, and data.

Learn Morehard drive, and invited the people to bring their own flash drives. In its original Mini-Note, HP even tried a VIA processor that ran hot enough to sterilize a Federline.

But despite these unique experiments, the bourgeois class began to demand creature comforts like 10-inch screens, 5,400 rpm VGP-BPS9 hard drives, and familiar operating systems. Intel obliged by developing its Atom platform, which first appeared in late Spring 2008. Suddenly, everyone from Acer to Viewsonic was building netbooks and Microsoft even lowered its prices for the new category, saying “let them have Windows XP.”

Since that time, the entire notebook world has changed, mostly for the better. Netbooks VGP-BPS9/S helped PC manufacturers to focus on low-cost and long battery life. They proved that, for many users, having the fastest processor isn’t nearly as important as having a light-weight system that lasts all day on a charge. So netbooks began to morph from the hippie on the corner shouting “down with optical drives” to the CEO in the boardroom, editing spreadsheets on his HP Mini 5102. They grew as large as 12-inches in size, started carrying huge hard drives, and offering HD screens with Graphics chips are responsible for processing all images sent to your computer?s display.

Learn Morediscrete graphics.

Ultraportable notebooks began to get more affordable too. Where Dell Studio 17 Battery 12- and 13-inch notebooks were once the exclusive province of business executives with over $1,000 to spend, a new generation of ultra-low voltage consumer and small business systems appeared with prices under $600 and battery lives close to those of their netbook counterparts.

So Sony Laptop Battery what are your considerable spoils from this revolution? Cheaper, lighter, longer-lasting portable computers. In other words, a huge win.

However, dual-core processors are just the latest in a long line of improvements to the netbook that make it nothing more than a 10 or 11-inch Dell Studio 1737 Battery ultraportable laptop, a far cry from its radical beginnings as a secondary web-focused device. How long until vendors give up the ghost, stop calling them netbooks, and begin to market them as 10-inch notebooks? Tiny as they are, many people use them for Microsoft Office, photo editing, or even playing World of Warcraft at a low resolution.

Today’s revolutionaries come from the smart phone and tablet worlds. Companies like Apple, Dell Studio 1535 Battery Google, HTC, Motorola, and Samsung are the new radicals pushing a web-connected future of secondary devices with many of the leading netbook vendors (ASUS, Acer, HP, MSI, etc) looking to join the insurgency. Let’s just hope this generation sticks to its ideals.

Online Editorial Director Avram Piltch oversees the production and infrastructure good battery of LAPTOP’s web site. With a reputation as the staff’s biggest geek, he has also helped develop a number of LAPTOP’s custom tests, including the Notebook batteries provide power to the system whenever it’s unplugged.

Learn MoreLAPTOP Battery Test. Catch the Geek’s Geek column here every other week or follow Avram on twitter.