TheGadgetNeo

Tech News: Apple's Next iPhone is Set to Come in June

2012-05-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

Just after the amazing iPhone 4s has been released only last year, a new generation of Apple's proud iPhone is set to come June this year.

Though it still has not been confirmed, according to CNET, the 6th generation of iPhone will be announced during Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference (or WWDC) which is going to be held from June 11 until 15 in San Francisco.

Many iPhone enthusiasts would definitely be excited to know what Apple has got to offer on the new feature to be included on the newest lines of the iPhone.

iPhone Camera in Street Photography

2012-04-29T11:02:00.001-07:00

(iPhoneography has become a new platform of photography all together)

Ever since the iPhone came out, people of all ages from different continents have begun to experiment with one the blessed feature of the amazing device - it's camera!

The iPhone 3Gs comes with a 3 megapixel camera, the iPhone 4 features an increase of 5 megapixel rear camera while the latest iPhone 4s allows user to fully appreciate it's 8 megapixel rear camera. Though megapixel really doesn't mean much when it comes to iPhoneography (Photography using your iPhone). What really make your picture stands out in a world of iPhoneography is the way you see the world through the lens - Composition. Lighting. Exposure. These are the elements which makes an iPhone photo be regarded as an art form.

Speaking of art, many iPhoneographer around the globe have began to use the iPhone in doing street shots. Street photography requires a level of discreet and anonymity, in which the iPhone delivers all of them. It is discreet, compact, easy to use and it is always with you so you don't have to worry yourself about having to carry many equipment with you all the time.

The iPhone has only ONE button - AND THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF IT!! Though some app such as Camera+ allows you to adjust the exposure, you are basically limited to just one button to capture an image. However, through that limitation comes a sense of creativity, and though that, you are encouraged to create an amazing image of street shots.

Street photography with an iPhone is a lot of fun. You can experiment with many different subjects and each shot will produce a different results. One of the known facts of street photography is that it mostly involved candid shots, random strangers and are completely unpredictable.

(An iPhone street shot by street iPhone photographer Chun Tong Chung)

(Discreetness of an iPhone allows an iPhoneographer to get any shots without alarming the subject)

(Composition is one of the elements you need to master to achieve an interesting result)

Like many street photographers would do, shooting from the hip would be relatively easier with an iPhone as it would offer a camouflage from the public as a phone and not a camera. You can also try many different ways to capture a discreet shots with your device on the streets. And sometimes, you don't even need to be pretend like some Russian spy and you could just shot your picture at your eye level. Its doesn't matter whether you are discreet or not. It doesn't even matter on HOW or WHAT you are shooting with your iPhone. There are no right or wrong ways in photography as long as it suits your style of shooting.

(Shooting from the hip allows you to get a shot upfront of your subject without perceiving any form of threat or hostility)

You can definitely hone your iPhoneography skill and a sense of sight through street photography. It allows you to think outside the box and also connect with the society around you in many ways.

It's Been a While

2012-04-28T05:52:00.002-07:00

It's been a while since I last posted any posts on this blog due to all the stresses from the exams. More will come soon, I assure you.

Thank you dear readers :)

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 : The Successor of The X100 & X10

2012-03-10T09:06:00.004-08:00

The Fujifilm X-Pro 1 - Retro styled camera body with sexy modern feature

The Fujifilm X-Pro 1 is the successor of the retro-styled camera with a body designed like a rangefinder camera - the Fujifilm X100 and the X10. The X-Pro 1, like it's name, is actually aimed towards serious photographers who wanted to experience and own a unique camera unlike any other. One of the most feature looked forward by fans is the availability of the hybrid optical and the electronic viewfinder,though the usage of the optical viewfinder would seem more appropriate especially when you're using this sort of camera. (Well, I don't see any point of using the electronic viewfinder anyway considering that optical viewfinder is always better)

SPECS WISE:

- 3.0" inch LCD screen

- 16Megapixel

- APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor

- EXR Processor Pro image processor

- Dual magnification hybrid optical/electronic viewfinder

Front view of the Fujifilm X-Pro 1

Top view of the Fujifilm X-Pro 1

Rear view of the Fujifilm X-Pro 1

Just like its predecessor the Fujifilm X100 and the X10, X-Pro 1 is a vintage designed camera which houses a modern technology - the usage of sensor. Just like the camera's predecessor, the X-Pro 1 comes in a relatively compact body but with a large sensor - the APS-C sensor which is normally reserved for DLSRs. So, its a small camera body with a large sensor, users either professional or amateur photographer can definitely get a lot done with this little rig here.

The Fujifilm X-Pro 1 with its arsenal of interchangeable lenses

So what are the differences between the X-Pro and the X100? Well, one of the feature which made the X-Pro 1 seemingly more superior than the X100 is the fact that it comes with an interchangeable lens. Yes, you can swap your lenses to give you more control on your preferred focal length.

Some of you may see the X-Pro 1 being the same as X100, except that it has been injected by steroids and beefed up with protein shakes. The difference in sizes between the two models are not what made this camera an "X-Pro 1" though.

In addition, the X-Pro 1 has a lock on the dial button so that accidents of switching the dial by mistake would not happen. Another improvement made by Fujifilm is that the X-Pro 1 has a more user friendly interface and faster responds compared to the X100. When the X100 went into "sleeping" mode, it seems that it would take forever to "unsleep" it - in other words, the responds of the camera in "sleeping mode" were quite slow. However, Fuji managed to overcome this camera and offers users a faster, more responsive and more convenience with the improved performance level.

However, X100 user would definitely miss the silent shutter sound that the X100 provided. Yes, the near silent shutter feature are not available in the successor of the X100. Furthermore, the X-Pro 1 has a slower flash sync. Though this may seems to be a bit of disappointment to some people, but it also means that the camera would be able to fully combine its fastest shutter speed with the large apertures.

SAMPLE IMAGES:

Behold The New iPad

2012-03-10T03:57:00.002-08:00

The New iPad

So you might have heard a lot of rumors (and I do mean A LOT) about the latest iPad. Much of the rumors does actually hit right on the spot and delivers the users with something they had anticipated from the new model of the iPad.

The iPad offers a higher amount of resolution than its predecessor, the iPad 2

First and foremost, the crystal clear retinal display has four times more pixels than the iPad 2, with a 2048 x 1536 resolution so you can have better details and a much richer color from the screen. The higher resolution will ensure users that the 9.7" inch screen will definitely deliver a much crispier and sharper image so that it may look "life-like".

The iPad is operated using the Dual Core A5X processor but the model will bring a "quad-core graphic power" which can gives much more satisfaction to users when accessing the apps as well as games. Basically what it does is that it delivers a smooth, lag-free and the usual Apple "fluid-like performance" even on a larger pixel counts.

Furthermore, the new iPad also provides a 4G LTE option for a faster connectivity. The model is built with the latest wireless technology that allows you to connect to fast data networks around the world.

Camera wise, the iPad offers a 5 megapixel camera on the rear with the recording capability of 1080p at 30 frames per second. The significantly high improvement does brings smile and joy to many Apple's users. But, all talks about megapixel doesn't really excites many iphoneographer's interests. So, the iSight camera uses an advanced optics which can give you a better image quality. At f/2.4 aperture (which is a relatively large aperture) you can't actually expect "Bokeh" or blurred background from a DSLR or even from a 4/3 sensor camera, but it does allows you to capture at low light condition with better quality. Moreover, the camera is equipped with an infrared filters which is typically reserved for the expensive SLR cameras - this gives the image color more contrast and saturation.

SAMPLE IMAGE:

The camera delivers a sharper and crispier image as compared to the iPad 2

The color produced definitely has more contrast and much more uniform

And guess what? If you're a hardcore user of any Apple product and you seem to have been complaining about your gadget's battery life span running out too soon, let me tell you - worry not! The new model of iPad can withstand up to 10 hours of usage and allows you to spend your precious time with your loved one even longer - by loved one I meant the iPad.

Black or White - Choose your color

The model also consists of the 16GB model, along with 32GB and the massive 64GB to store every app available at the AppStore.

SPECS WISE:

- Retinal display with 2048 x 1536 resolution

- 9.7" inch screen

- A5X processor with quad-core graphic power

- 4G LTE option available for a faster wireless connectivity

- 5 megapixel camera on the rear - recording capability of 1080p at 30 frames per second

- f/2.4 aperture

- Camera equipped with infrared filters - gives the image color more contrast and saturation

- 10 hours of battery life

Mass Effect 3 For Kinect : Instructions Via Voice Input

2012-03-10T02:44:00.000-08:00

Whenever I played any games, yelling at the monitor LCD screen is your first instinct (Let's face it, it does not give much help while doing so). But, Mass Effect 3 for Kinect would beg to differ. This game offers you feature which enables you to use your voice to operate and gives instructions to the game itself.

In short, you (yes, yourself) have the ability to instruct the character in the game to do something using your voice as an input. For example, if you happened to come across an unidentified object or anything suspicious, you could say "examine" or "follow me", and the input voice will cause the character to obey your instruction! Pretty neat huh?

Another neat feature available in Mass Effect 3 is that you would not just being busy giving instruction to the character you're in control, but you also have the ability to instruct your teammates. Basically, you have the power to direct your team in the battlefield to help or assist you in taking down an enemy squadron, or instructing them to switch to the weapon you'd prefer during the battle. All of this feature promises to give gamers a new experience like they had never seen before - it adds another depth to the gameplay as well as giving gamers the impression that the character is actually coming to life. Mass Effect 3 for the Kinect gives you more control and helps you a lot throughout the game as you would be busy controlling the character using the controller, sometimes all you need is an extra hand.

Casey Hudson, the Executive Producer of the Mass Effect series stated, "..We also realized that because our game uses conversation, we wanted the players to actually be able to speak with the virtual character of the game and speak those conversation instead of speaking through pressing buttons"

The game will be released on March 6 on PS3, X-Box 360, as well as on PC platform.

Tech News: Canon EOS-1D X Delayed

2012-02-27T20:06:00.001-08:00

October last year, Canon had announced the new model of the professional range of DSLR, the Canon EOS 1D-X which has 18.1 effective megapixel full frame CMOS sensor and 14 fps burst mode in JPEG and 12fps when shooting in RAW. However, a bad news just came out regarding this camera - just yesterday Canon had announced that the release of the latest professional model DSLR would be delayed for a little longer for reasons unknown. Enthusiasts who have been awaiting eagerly for this camera are going to have a little sat back as Canon press release in various regions claimed that the release of the model would have to wait until "late April". Not much information has been told regarding the delay aside form the short notice of "delay in development".

The company says that it's also delaying many accessories made for the model including GPS receiver (GP-E1), wireless file transmitter (WFT-E6B), battery charger (LC-E4N) and pack (LP-E4N), wide strap (L7) and focusing screen (EC-CV).

First Impression: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L ii USM or Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 V.C?

2012-02-27T13:39:00.002-08:00

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L ii USM

Canon has announced the new release of its professional line of L lens (L stands for Luxury) - the EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L ii USM lens. Many enthusiasts would probably be expecting an additional feature of an I.S (Image Stabilizer) for this latest arsenals of Canon's champion glass. But, sadly Canon still did not include an I.S feature in this new lens which honestly let's admit it, a bit disappointing. Though the L lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, the lens is significantly heavy (though lighter than its predecessor) and it is quite difficult to get a blur-free image when your shooting at night or in low light condition. However, Canon has improved the image quality produced by this lens - producing a much crispier, sharper image with stunning details. The lens uses 82mm threat filter and is expected to arrive in Malaysia sometimes in the middle of the year.

Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 V.C

However, the third party lens Tamron offered something which Canon failed to deliver in it's latest glass to photographers. An image stabilizer function or V.C (Vibration Compensation) as the Tamron would prefer to call it on their latest standard lens. The new Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 V.C allows users to capture in low light due to its maximum aperture of f/2.8 and also with the presence of the V.C, allowing users to capture image with less percentage of having a blur or camera shake. Tamron also included USD (Ultra Sonic Drive) motor which gives a smoother and a more quite auto focus and a moisture resistant construction which helps prevent water from penetrating the lens. Plus, this lens would probably cost way less than the Canon's L lens which is good news for your pocket and wallet.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

So, what would be your choice of lens of this focal length? The 24-70mm has been a popular demand among photographer because of it's versatility and convenient focal length - you can shoot a wide landscape as well as portrait with this range of focal length. If you have a steady hand, or you'd want an image quality so sharp it hurts your eyes just by looking at it then I suggest that you'd go after for the Canon's latest glass, the 24-70mm f/2.8 L lens mark ii. Or, if you'd prefer a lens which could offer you an even more convenience (and/or if you're on a tight budget), why not go for the pocket friendly Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 V.C?

iPhone Case Holds Your Credit Card Safely For You

2012-02-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

How many of you thinks that all you need in your pocket is your iPhone? Well, these people probably shared the same vision as you as they had created an iPhone case which can hold your credit card - no wallet needed!!

The design is pretty simple yet provides a solutions for those who prefers to travel light. You can just slide in your credit card or any other card, eg: ATM card into the slot and VOILA - you got yourself a credit card holder and a phone. The case is designed specifically not to damage the card as it is made of UV-Coated PET film to provide a smooth surface and to ensure the satisfaction of users.

Sources claimed that the design of the case is just a concept for now and still hasn't found its way into the market -YET. But hopefully it can manage to find its way into our local stores or any online sites.

Samsung Galaxy S3: The Leaked Specs!!

2012-02-27T11:56:00.000-08:00

Finally managed to get my eyes on the rumor of the specifications which is going to be available on the long awaited Samsung Galaxy S3.

Sources obtained from BGR confirmed that the smartphone will have a 4.8" inch "full HD" 1080p (1920 x 1080 resolution) with a 16:9 aspect ratio display. What it means is that it is going to offer users a much clearer picture and image on the screen, so two thumbs up! It uses a 1.5 GHz quad-processor Samsung Exynos processor and has an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system - basically allowing you to organize your smartphone more efficiently by assigning your apps into folders. And guess what? The 4G feature is available too!!

Camera wise, it offers an 8 megapixel camera (though some source claimed it to be 12 megapixel) on its rear and is also equipped with a 2 megapixel camera on the front body allowing you to make video calls with other people with ease. Sources also claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will have a ceramic casing thus making it feel quite sturdy to hold. Sources from CNET also claimed that the device would be as slim as 7mm.

Though this is not the final rumors about the awaited Samsung Galaxy S3 you would hear about, it does gets you pretty exciting and makes you feel all tingling about the anticipation it brings. The smartphone is definitely worth to be look out for and hopefully, to get our hands on.

Nokia 808 Pureview: The Monstrous 41 Megapixel Camera

2012-02-27T04:49:00.000-08:00

The new Nokia 808 Pureview - what's to know about this smartphone? How about the fact that it has a behemoth 41 megapixel camera! That's right - "41" - and yes, "megapixel"! Those two words shuttered your mind a bit? Well then, we both have one thing in common.

APPEARANCE:

The body of the camera is curved and is rounded at the edges, but there's really nothing much to say about the overall appearance on this camera - I'll give an above average rate on the overall looks. The screen is the Gorilla Glass which is a really posh glass - high quality glass which made it very difficult to scratch. Plus, It's a touchscreen phone, so it's only natural for Nokia to decide that a Gorilla Glass to be fit into so that users may feel more secure when handling it.

41MP CAMERA:

The monstrous amount of megapixels provided by the Nokia's latest 808 Pureview were made humanly possible by the combinations of Carl Zeiss optics with Nokia developed pixel over-sampling technology. Due to its large megapixel counts, zooming in will no longer causes image quality to degrade and the noise performance offered by the camera is also quite impressive and pleasing to the eyes. Therefore, you can now zoom-in and out with greater flexibility and crop the image without having to worry on losing some of the image details.

VIDEO MODE:

When in video mode, Nokia 808 Pureview records at 1080p HD video and offers a fantastic crystal -like audio quality. Nokia claimed that the Rich Recording feature which is available in the device allows you to record a crisp, clear audio up to a thumping 140 decibels. Due to the large sensor, the 808 Pureview gives you some room to zoom in 4x while on the 1080p video mode and 6x on the 720p video mode.

SPECS WISE:

- 41MP camera

- Records video at full HD 1080p

- Feature Dolby Headphone technology and Dolby Plus for 5.1 channel surround sound playback.

- Single core 1.3GHz processor

- 512MB RAM

- 4" inch screen

SAMPLE IMAGES:

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

The Nokia 808 Pureview offers and attracts the users with its monstrous size of megapixel, up to 41!! But, like any other photographers would say, "Megapixel should be the last factors" - meaning that the amount of megapixels should never be the main reason on why you purchase a camera. The same concept applies here, try to look at other features this device offers, the performance and positive feedback from other users. If it is suited to your need and liking, then go for it!! But the size of the pixel counts does makes you want to grab and rubs all your fingers on the 808 Pureview.

Tech News: Facebook Denies Reading User's Text Messages

2012-02-27T02:54:00.001-08:00

Social network sites such as Youtube, Flickr, Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook have one thing in common - they all have smartphone apps where users can instantly and easily accesses their account. But, there was an accusation pointed out to Facebook in which they were accused of invading user's privacy by accessing their text messages without consent. Facebook soon responds to this heinous accusation as false, inaccurate and misleading.

Sunday Times claimed that Facebook had admitted in reading user's text messages during a test of its messaging service and are sometimes causes users personal information such as user's location , contact list and browser history to have been invaded and may be transmitted and shared to a third party. However, Facebook representative denies any claim that the company had been committing such unethical practice. He further continued that Sunday Times were wrong on the terminology, and wrong on the suggestion that it has been implemented.

Accessing Facebook account from smartphone - convenience or controversial?

Smartphone users have now raised their concern on whether they still do retain their privacy in their life, especially when it was finally announced that Path - a popular iOS and an Android application - was fount out to be collecting user contact information without any consent. Twitter also admitted that it still retained data on its servers for 18 months after users selected the "Find Friend" feature on its smartphone app.

Polaroid Z340: When Instant Film Meets Digital

2012-02-26T18:35:00.000-08:00

Polaroid Z340 - The blend between old and new technology

Polaroid has become an icon for the wide range of instant cameras - it's fun, quick, and has this sort of retro-y feel to it especially when you're holding it in a party. Ever since it was founded in 1937, Polaroid has become a primary camera for those who wanted a camera which can deliver them an instant photo as soon as they pressed the shutter button. When they announced the new Polaroid Z340, I was completely stunned by the fact that the company which was once famous for its range of instant digital camera has once again walked into the arena of digital camera. So what are the new feature available, besides the new digital camera adaptation? There's an LCD screen on top of it which you can flip it open to view on live mode. Well, they did try to experiment with digital when they released the Polaroid PoGo which basically looked like an average point-and-shoot camera - though it did not managed to get many attention from the public.

Instant photo processed from the built-in printer just like its predecessor

The front view of the Polaroid Z340

The Polaroid Z340, like any other Polaroid is a mobile instant camera which is ideal for parties. The Zink technology uses a special paper which is embedded with dye crystals. The photo is processed from the heat emitted from the built-in printer inside the camera, the different level of heat produced would then results in the formation of different colors which in turn creates the photo.

However, the noise performance of this camera is definitely not that impressive which is what you would expect from an instant camera. From the ISO 1600, you can see a few percentage of declination of image detail and presence of grains. At ISO 3200, there is definitely an OBVIOUS declination of image details and the huge presence of grains has degrades the image quality.

Image taken at ISO 1600

Image taken at ISO 3200

SPECS WISE:

- 14MP

- 2.7" inch screen

- SD card compatible

- Rechargeable lithium-ion memory (approximately 25 photos)

- Uses Zink technology (an ideal choice for an instance camera as it does not use ink)

- Instant image process under a minute (45.8 secs)

SAMPLE IMAGE:

But of course, who cares about the technical detail!! Like any other question we addressed to a camera - How does it performs?

The built-in flash on the camera definitely gives you a much more natural lighting

Close-ups shots as taken by the Polaroid Z340

Group shots taken using the Polaroid Z340 can be a fun experience which you could learn to enjoy

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

The blend between the modern digital camera with the retro instant camera is definitely a perfect couple made in heaven. The image quality has been significantly improved from the previous line of Polaroid digital camera - the Polaroid PoGo. Though it may not actually an "instant" camera, it does delivers you a much quicker process speed compared to its previous predecessor. It offers an appropriate image quality which is what you would expect from camera of this sort. The Polaroid Z340 is a fun, instant camera for you to play around with. Personally, if I were to purchase it, it would be because of the experience - Of course you can't expect the performance of this sort of camera to even rival an entry level DSLR. But, the retro style body which the company still maintains is what attracts the attention of many Polaroid believers. Plus, because it is digital, you can download and upload it online and share it with you friends and throughout the world as well. The image is not just limited to the 3 x 4" frame instant paper which prints out from the camera body but it is also saved in JPEG format so that you can review it again and again on your computer.

BlackBerry London: The Upcoming Touchscreen Phone

2012-02-26T02:45:00.001-08:00

Image of the upcoming BlackBerry London as posted by Crackberry.com

So November last year I've heard about this rumor about BlackBerry releasing it's new line of phones codenamed London. Only recently I had came across with this new "leaked" photo of the latest BlackBerry London which resembles slightly close to an iPhone and the Galaxy S2. This new Blackberry is black and has a rounded edge which made it look striking and sleek.

So it is a touch screen phone much like the Samsung or the LG touch screens. It is rumored to operates using the BlackBerry 10 Operating System, which is supposed to have a TI OMAP dual-core CPU which runs at 1.5GHz, as well as 1GB of RAM, 16GB storage, a front camera of 2MP and an 8MP camera on the rear.

According to Engadget, two other BlackBerry 10s - Milan and Colt - are said to have been canceled which only leave the London as the only device operating the BlackBerry 10. Another rumor also claimed that the BlackBerry 10 would be the last operating system - I meant the "POSSIBLE" final operating system for the BlackBerry. However, it is still uncertain whether it's true or not since it is still too early to get a further confirmation.

The BlackBerry London is expected to be released sometimes this year - probably at the end of the year.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

It looks real nice and managed to attract my attention at the first sight of it, and if I were to convert myself from an iPhone user and wanted to explore other phones, I would probably try the new BlackBerry London. However, for those of you who are using the BlackBerry just for the sake of the fancy keypad, how are you going to react with this huge change BlackBerry is about to adapt itself with?

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND SHARE YOUR OPINION

The Latest Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook: The First Impression

2012-02-26T01:20:00.000-08:00

With all the rivalry with tablet computers, laptops are slowly beginning to lose their fans. However, Dell had already made a smart, cunning move by introducing its new line of computers - The XPS 13 Ultrabook. It is actually a wise choice for Dell to finally release the ultrabook (even though it is a little late for Dell to finally get in the zone of ultrabook) since every consumers nowadays would prefer portability as well as convenience in which the XPS shall offer and deliver. Dell announced that they will start to ship the products by next week into the United States and Canada.

APPEARANCE:

Well, at first glance the XPS 13 does reminds you a little bit of resemblance with the Macbook Air but if you look closely you can see a slight difference from the actual Macbook. Yes, the ultrabook looks very sexy. The body is very sleek, and slim much like the Macbook and any other ultrabook with an approximate weights of 1.35kg.

The ultrabook has received a lot of positive reviews and comments during the hands-on use. The 13"inch screen is measurably smaller than the 13" inch you'd see from Macbook though it is slightly bigger than the 11" inch Macbook due to the slimmer and smaller footnote of the XPS 13. The screen is non other than the Gorilla Glass screen, which is basically a very posh glass- very hard to scratch and very hard to break even if you accidentally dropped it.

Another feature which puts me in the good side of the XPS 13 is that the keyboard has a sort of nice feel when you touch it. Even though the keys are a bit "small and flat", you can still type accurately without having to sacrifice any comforts - something which is definitely in my "must-have-advantage" list when purchasing a new laptop.

Side view of the slim and sleek body of XPS 13

SPECS WISE:

- 11" inch screen (1366 x 768 resolution)

- Weights approximately 1.35kg

- Runs approximately 8 hours on battery

- Core 1.7 2637M processor ( Core 1.5 for the cheaper version)

- Supports 256GB Solid State Drive (SSD) (128GB for the cheaper version)

- 4GB RAM

- Smart Connect Technology available (It allows you to still run your connection to the internet even when you're on sleep mode)

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Definitely!! Wait for it to arrive here in Malaysia or in your hometown and definitely consider owning it. Dell has definitely made a major step forward into the production of computers with the introduction of the ultrabook. The fat has been trimmed down and they have give in some thought on how to make a very sexy device which meets the demand of its users. But, the only downside which Dell did not overcome was the absence of SD Card slot which is available in the Macbook Air, and also a serious lack of USB port. Putting aside all that, I think it is superbly fantastic and I would like to believe that there are still something which is worth waiting for - The XPS 13.

Behold Aakash : The World's Cheapest Tablet

2012-02-25T20:59:00.000-08:00

World's cheapest tablet? With only US$ 28.99? Are you serious? You bet I am!! This tablet exists and yes - it is the world's cheapest tablet computer which is produced by an India based company Quad. Behold "Aakash - The world's cheapest tablet"!! This tablet has been distributed to 500 students throughout India by the Government of India for free who had come to the announcement event. The Aakash uses Android 2.2 Froyo Operating System which means that you can't actually expect a performance which could rival the iPad or the PlayBook - trust me, the performance and the running time would be quite slow. But, given the budget price, you kinda expect this kind of downside on this device.

Aakash - The World's Cheapest Tablet

SPECS WISE:
- Android 2.2 Froyo Operating System
- 7" inch screen (800 x 480 resolutions)
- ARM 11 Processor and 256MB RAM
- Weight about 350g
- 2100 mAh lithium-polymer battery - approximately holds for 3 hours.

So, the overall specs of the Aakash Tablet is what you would actually expect from a gadget of this sort of price. But, the aim of the production of this device is so that the people would be able to enjoy the ownership of a portable tablet computer compared to a laptop which could make their life more convenient. In a way, I respect the Aakash because it gives people an opportunity for people who are tight on budget to enjoy the usage of a tablet computer. Yea sure, the iPad is a bit pricey and not many people can actually afford to buy it. But now, with the introduction of this new tablet, people can now experience or at least gain a closer experience to having an actual iPad or the PlayBook.

A student holding the Aakash

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Well, I wouldn't!! If I wanted a tablet computer I would just save money, sold my kidneys, or my soul to the devil to get a hold of the iPad or the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Having a proper (and i do mean proper) tablet would definitely give you much more satisfaction compared to this kind of device. What is the difference between an iPad and the Aakash? Well, first of all - built quality (obviously)!! The iPad has a much posh built quality as compared to the Aakash tablet and of course, which is the most important aspect: PERORMANCE!!!! The iPad runs much smoother and flows like a floor smothered in jelly - That is the kind of satisfaction and "orgasm" you would want when your holding a tablet. (orgasm??) But, again I need to stress on the aim of the invention of the Aakash - it is to meet the demand of a much pocket-friendly tablet computer for the students who are short on budget. In a way, the Aakash does have a place in the world of tablet computer along with the iPad, PlayBook and the Galaxy Tab, if we could just give it a chance.

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW ON YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE AAKASH

Olympus Goes Nostalgic - The Olympus OM-D E-EM5

2012-02-25T01:43:00.001-08:00

Olympus finally went nostalgic with the announcement of the OM-D E-EM5

In case you've never seen a camera dated back from the 70's or 60's you might wanna take a good look at this new Olympus range of mirrorless camera - it is designed to look like its classic predecessor the OM Series SLRs. With 16MP and features 5-axis image stabilizer, you can get a lot from this camera. It has a 4:3 sensor which is a relatively large sensor on a small camera body though it is not as large as the ones you would find in DSLRs. The camera offers a live view mode as well as an electronic view finder (100% coverage) which proves to be useful when shooting outdoor.

Front view of the Olympus OM-D E-EM5

Side view of the Olympus OM-D E-EM5

The rear of the Olympus OM-D E-EM5

SPECS WISE:

- 16MP

- 3.0" inch screen

- ISO range from 200-25600 (200,400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800, 25600)

- 12 different white balance settings

- AV, TV, M mode available

- Min shutter speed 60 sec

- Max shutter speed 1/4000 sec

Did I mention that it comes in black and dashing silver?

This brand new camera was just announced only recently and I think that Olympus had made a wise decision on going for the classic look on a modern camera. Manufacturers such as Fujifilm had already went for the old-school rangefinder camera look with the release of the X100 last year. Nowadays, we have seen too much people holding a large chunky DSLR and the tiny compact camera which sort of made us forget about the classic SLRs or film camera which our parents or ancestors had used before us. Hopefully, Olympus would not disappoint us with the performance and capability of this camera.

Fake Macbook Air? Introducing The Airbook!!

2012-02-24T23:02:00.000-08:00

Fake Macbook Air? You better believe it..This is a product which is basically a complete rip-off of Macbook Air. When you see it you would be like "Woah!! This is the REAL Macbook Air!!" But you could no have been more wrong. The clone version is known as Airbook instead of Macbook Air and it is powered by Intel Atom or the Windows XP. This product was actually manufactured by China's company - as you may have guested earlier.

Think your mind is playing tricks on you? Think again..this sh*t just got real

Appearance Wise:

Okay, you can tell that this is a rip-off because the design is an exact copy of Macbook! But to be frank, the appearance does impresses you - it is quite thin and has a fairly clean finishing even though the body is made of plastic instead of the metal body of its original version. The weight is approximate around 100g which made it slightly lighter due to its plastic body. The keyboard does makes you feel like it's going to pop out anytime you press it since the quality is a bit flimsy.

Bear in mind that this is THE AIRBOOK (Not a Macbook Air)

Top view of the Airbook

Bottom view of the Airbook

Specs Wise:
- 13.3-Inch screen (Resolution 1368 x 768)
- 1.8 GHz D525 Intel Atom Dual Core Processor
- 2GB RAM
- 64GB SSD
- 2 USB port
- HDMI port available
- SD Card Reader
- Battery life: Approximately 3 and a half hour (which is actually not too bad I suppose)

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Well, the question is not actually should you buy it. It costs relatively lower than the actual Macbook Air while still giving you the portability and convenience of a real Macbook Air - Of course you should buy it!! (at your own cautions of course). Though I highly doubt that the performance would be able to come close to rival its original twins. But, would you buy it? Well, personally, I MAY CONSIDER IT (Don't judge me) I mean this product was actually aimed for those who wanted to experience the ownership of a Macbook without having to sacrifice your soul or to have your kidneys for sale in order to own an actual Macbook. But again, I have to highly warn you though about the performance which may not satisfy you in any way.

LEAVE A COMMENT ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

iPhoneography: Behind The Art

2012-02-24T20:07:00.001-08:00

"The best camera is the one that's with you" - That is the quote which inspire many photographers to step into the world of iPhoneograhy. So what is meant by iPhoneography? Well, it is the act of taking photographs and making an art using your iPhone. Why iPhone? Well, just for the sake of fun actually, why not iPhone? Most of us have an iPhone with us all the time in our pocket. And the truth is, most of the times, we do not have our fancy camera or DSLR with us, especially when we were on our morning walk or when we're going to the supermarket to buy groceries. So, the iPhone provides us with a camera which is compact, small and much more portable than the regular compact camera.

iPhoneography has become a cultural impact and don't be surprised if it someday changes our ways of photography

It is a fixed aperture camera and only has one button which is the shutter release button. So what makes iPhoneography a cultural impact? Well, just like any normal camera you take pictures with it. But, as soon as you snapped the pics, you can edit it in your iPhone!! There are literally thousands of iPhone app out there, with over 9,000 photo related apps. Some of the apps can be used for editing, some can be used to add in effects. Iphoneography inspires and develops your creative side and delivers an amazing art in the final product. As soon as you finished editing your photos, you can share it with the world. After all, what good is a photo is you do not share it?

iPhone used to capture stunning street photography can be turned into a great art.

How about closeups shots or fashion shoot using an iPhone camera?

Amazing landscapes can tell stories to the viewers

HDR photography are also popular among iPhone photographer as it delivers an amazing result at post production.

Some of the photo related app which I would recommend for editing:

- Photogene: This app gives you a much more flexible and complete control on how to manipulate the contrast, saturation and colors of the photo. You can also crop, sharpen as well as rotate the photo.

- BestCamera: This app excels. It gives you a quick and fast ways to edit your photos by enabling you to apply all the effects such as vibrant, black and white, as well as darken and lighten the picture. This app also offers you convenience to post the final result to your Facebook, Twitter, email or even to the BestCamera site to share with other people out there in the web.

- MoreBeaute2: This app delivers a stunning result especially when you're editing a portrait shot. It enables you to manipulate the brightness, smoothness and tone which can make the feature much more subtle and pleasing to the eyes. This app excels.

LEAVE A COMMENT TO SHARE YOUR IPHONEOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE OR ANY OTHER APPS WHICH YOU WOULD PREFER

Game Review: Puzzlejuice For iPad!!

2012-02-24T18:49:00.001-08:00

You think word games are boring? THINK AGAIN!! Puzzlejuice is a "MUST HAVE" for those of you who are a word games fans and a "MUST TRY" for those of you who are skeptic about word games. Puzzlejuice offers user an exciting and fun way to kill your time when you are alone with it's brain twisting gameplay. The gameplay is basically a combination pf Tetris together with Scrabble and you shall get Puzzlejuice, the ultimate excitement.

HOW DO YOU PLAY IT?
Puzzlejuice starts with blocks falling from the top of the screen slowly - you can tap it to rotate the block and swipe to drop the blocks faster. You are then required to fill the empty spaces and stack up the blocks perfectly (Just like Tetris). When all the the empty spaces in a line are filled, the blocks turned into rows of random letters and you are required to find words in order to make the blocks disappeared, leaving a new empty space for you to fill in. And so, the cycle continues throughout the game.

So, you can swipe the word ATE in order to clear the blocks and make a new empty space for more blocks.

The game offers two difficulty modes and a zen mode. Hard Mode provides that all the blocks around each match to explode whereas Euro Hard Mode only prescribes that 5 letter words or more in order for the bricks to explode, making it harder to clear an empty space as well as making the game a lot more addictive.

SHOULD YOU PLAY IT?
Puzzlejuice is a word game and it only offers that. If you are looking a fun, mentally challenging and a time killing game, this game definitely needs to be in you "Must Have" list. Give a try - even if the thought of you playing word games would kill you out of boredom (I promise you that this game would change your perception about it). And the best part of this game is that IT'S FREE!!! So what are you waiting for? It's for the iPhone as well - though the small screen would probably gets you frustrated compared to the massive screens of the iPad.

CUSTOMERS REVIEW

Whoah

by Ben Crowley

After 30 minutes, I can say with confidence that this is both my favorite match three game and my favorite word game on the app store. Amazing.

Splooge.

by James Harstad

This game blows my mind. My "iPod" is now called my "Puzzlejuice Screen"

Crashes

by Badass Kyle Meyer

Everytime I wanna play, it doesn't. Crashes upon launch every time.. Awesome $ loss

Foursquare: Enter, Tap, Check-in With an Updated NFC Support

2012-02-24T17:59:00.001-08:00

Anyone uses Foursquare these days? Who doesn't? It is only the most popular location based social networking app around town. Okay, here's a good news for those of you who just can't resist yourself from checking-in every time your holding an Android phone while stepping in a new place. FOURSQUARE IS NOW NFC SUPPORTED!! Hold on, what is NFC?? It stands for Near Field Communication - what it does is that it enables Foursquare users to check-in with a just a wave or a tap to a "marker" as long as they have an NFC supported device. So customers can just put their smartphones next to the device and just tap it and VOILA!! Your checked-in...(hopefully became a mayor) without the need to search and stuff.

Just give a little wave or tap to check-in

However, bear in mind that this function is only applicable for those who are using Android phones (Eg: Samsung Galaxy NEXUS) ONLY. That is most unfortunate considering that it is only limited to phones which has built in NFC chip as well as runs an Ice Cream Sandwich OS (Android 4.0). Hopefully, in the future even IOS users would be able to share the feeling and excitement of checking-in with a tap without the need to burden yourself to search. Okay - so basically this updates allows you to be more pampered, but it is super cool and hippie though.

Demonstration on NFC check-in

For me, being a iPhone user I wouldn't get the feeling or opportunity to enjoy the tapping of your phone to check-in yourself with this app. However, it is definitely a step forward for Foursquare to provide a new interesting experience for their users. Well, when all else failed you can just borrow your friends phone or hijack your brothers or sisters to finally enjoy the tapping action to check-in.

Vibease: The Vibrator, The Smartphones & The App.

2012-02-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

Vibease is a Singporean based vibrator which can be controlled remotely by smartphone - and by remotely I mean even when one person is on a different continent from the other. Yes, it goes as far as that.

Interview with Vibease

It does freaked me out a little when I heard about the existence of this invention. A smartphone controlling vibrator? Okay~ it does sound awkward for some people (well, at least for me). Vibease is basically a device which can be controlled remotely via Android smartphone in order for couples to share their playful moments even when they are not around. This product is targeted for those who are in a long distance relationship and just trying to add a little spice in their love life. There are modes which you can adjust I suppose, custom pulsation as well as fantasy simulation.

These entrepreneur first began by researching on the need of a vibrator to a woman. In the course of their research, they had found that vibrator does help them to achieve the desired satisfaction. Thus, the idea of the particular invention popped out of their mind.

SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Personally, I think it is pretty weird and awkward for me to have this sort of app in my Android. Even if it is just an app, I would feel like I'm carrying an actual remote for the vibrator in my pocket which sort of makes me feel a little perverted inside. What if a friend found out about the app while they were borrowing my phone for a quick calls? What if I accidently lost my phone and someone took control and "hijack" the app, playing with it as he pleases. But all judgment aside, this product is aimed for those who are trying to make long-distance relationship works. If an inventions such as this can help promote the intimate moment between lovers or affairs, why not? This product may have a deeper meaning and purpose than it seems.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS OR OPINIONS REGARDING TO THIS.

Canon G1 X: Large Sensor, "Small Compact" Body

2012-02-24T10:49:00.001-08:00

Canon G1 X with the adjustable tilt screen, being a signature feature of Canon

The Canon Powershot G12 was a significantly superb camera to be held in hand to begin with - ergonomically speaking. But when I first compared the Canon Powershot G1 X to the Canon Powershot S100, the image qualities does not really matter, they are about the same to be honest - equally fantastic!! So, when I first heard about the release of the latest G1 X, you can imagine how excited I am. This camera was actually aimed for Canon users who are owning the EOS 5d and the 7d, basically for the SERIOUS photographer who would demand an amazing image quality, comfortable ergonomics and performance from a mere compact camera (If you can actually call it "compact", it is quite large if i may say).

Front view of the G1 X

Rear view of the G1 X

Top view of the G1 X (Notice how beefy the lens is for a compact camera?)

The sensor in the G1 X is the CMOS 18.7 x 14mm which is significantly bigger than the 4:3 sensor in most compact and mirrorless camera (Eg: Olympus Pen) but are slightly smaller than Canon DSLR's arsenals. Although I must say that the camera is chunkier and slightly beefier than most of the available mirrorless camera (Eg: Panasonic GX1) which sort of gave you the imaginations that the G1 X has been infused with an excessive amount of steroids.

SPECS WISE:
- 14MP 1.5" CMOS sensor (18.7 x 14mm)
- 28-112mm zoom lens
- Aperture range of F2.8-5.8
- ISO 100-12,800
- 3.0" LCD screen
- 4.5 fps continuous burst mode (up to 6 frames per sec)
- 6.8Wh NB-10L battery rated at 250 shots

PERFORMANCE:

Obviously, a shallow depth of field is hard to achieve with a compact camera. So even if you open the aperture at its widest range, you can't actually expect to have a "creamy" BOKKEH or blurred background you would expect from a DSLR. Keep in mind that this camera is not meant to replace any of Canon's range of camera but instead to add another range of hardware in the available closet.

In terms of ISO performance, the G1 X surprises me when i look at the image result. You would never expect a compact camera to actually come this close to rival a DSLR in terms of noise performance - due to the relatively large sensor size. Even at 12,800, it performs surprisingly well for a compact camera and the present noise can be cured in the post-production.

Noise comparison of Canon G1 X between Nikon p7100 and its predecessor Canon G12

SAMPLE IMAGES:

G1 X will work wonders when you're doing portrait

Amazing landscape shot with just a compact camera

SHOULD YOU GO BUY IT?

Canon G1 X is a camera which exceeds my expectations to be honest. This camera excels in terms of performance, image qualities and ergonomic. If you are a SERIOUS photographer who wanted a consistently superb image with a relatively small camera body, then this camera is the one for you. Though it may not be suitable to be called "compact"at all - due to its chunky and beefy body size, it would make a good replacement for your DSLR if you're not planning on burdening yourself with all the gizmos in your bags. Personally, I would take this camera during my vacation and i think it would make great tourists' companion.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENT IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

Lytro Camera: The World's First Light Field Camera

2012-02-24T09:04:00.001-08:00

"Lytro: The World's First Light Field Camera" was first introduced on October last year and there has been talks and debates about this unique camera ever since its first announcement.

APPEARANCE:

Okay, it looks like an MP3 player instead of a traditional camera shape. But, that's mainly because it is nothing like a regular traditional camera you may have in your hand. It is rectangular in shape for starters and has this sort of hippie feel when you look at it - One shutter button and one power button, that is all you need for this camera - LITERALLY!!!

You don't have to focus to on your subject anymore as you can do it in post-production with the software included. So, you can basically point-and-shoot your subject with ease without worrying on which part of your frame are in focus and which one needs to be isolated or blurred. This can really save you the time and trouble especially when you really need to snap a picture on the go.

SPECS WISE:
- Sleek rectangular body (1.61x1.61x4.41 inches )
- 8x optical zoom
- f2 constant aperture lens
- Light Field Sensor, 11 Megarays
- Light Field Engines, 1.0 processor
- Touch screen at the back which you can use to pinch in and out to zoom (like an iPhone) and also to swipe between pictures.
- Software included in the camera which enables you to pick a focal length and choose which subject you want to be in focus and which is blurred.

Red Hot (16GB, approximately 750 pictures)

The Aqua Blue (top) and the Graphite (bottom) (8GB, approximately 350 pictures)

The Lytro Camera comes in three different colors - dashing graphite and the aqua blue color which has 8GB capacity of memories, and the red hot model which comes in 16GB capacity (That's a lot of pictures you can fill in)

SAMPLE IMAGES:

You can isolate which subject to be in focus with just a touch using the software provided.

You can say good-bye to manual focus with this camera in your hand

SHOULD YOU BUY IT??

Well it depends on what kind of photographer you are. Due to the absence of auto focus, this camera delivers a blazing fast pictures just as you press the shutter button. If you want a camera which guarantees a quick and precise results without any small details to be worried about, then this is a camera you should check it out. But, one thing i do need to remind you is that this camera can only POINT and SHOOT, and it depends HEAVILY on software. And Microsoft user should be warned that Lytro is ONLY compatible for Macintosh user - well, hopefully only for now.

LEAVE A COMMENT ON YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT THIS!!

A walk to remember with Steve Job

2012-02-24T07:58:00.000-08:00

Today's date: 24/2/2012 - Today would have been Steve's Job 57th birthday had he still be here with us. Let us remember on how it all started with Apple, and how it has contributed to to our life. Well, Steve..I am one of the valued customers who made you rich. Therefore, I feel humbly obligated to give you all the credits on how you have made us live a much convenient life. Thank you.