Techie Gadgets

Sony Xperia Z3+

2015-07-04T17:11:00.000+05:30

Sony has released its successor phone of Z3 as Sony Xperia Z3+ in India last month. Phone comes with the following configuration:-

Display - 5.2 inches IPS LCD capacitive touch screen. Resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels with multi touch upto 10 fingers. Oleo-phobic coating and Scratch resistant glass protects the phone from scratches and keeps its finish long lasting.

Sony Xperia Z3+
Platform - it runs on Android 5.0 (Lollipop). Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 Chipset with Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2 GHz Cortex-A57 with Adreno 430 Graphics.
Memory - It comes with 3 GB RAM and 32 GB Internal Storage. microSD can increase the memory upto 128 GB.
Camera - 20.7 Mega pixel Primary Camera with autofocus and LED flash. Secondary Camera comes with 5.1 MP with HDR feature. Other features included geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, panorama etc.
Battery - 2930 mAh Non-removable battery.
Features - WiFi 802.11, dual band, WiFi Direct, DLNA, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1v, GPS, NFC, Radio FM, Accerelometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, barometer

LG G4 - New Smartphone

2015-06-30T14:22:00.000+05:30

Lg has always introduced new cellphones in market, with stunning features and different looks. Here they came up with its new phone G4. Some of the features designed in this smartphone are given below:-

Front Snapper - The 8MP front camera for all the selfie lovers. And it doesn't stops here. It is wide angle front camera which includes HDR, a light and the ability to use gestures to take shots.
Display - 5.5 inches Quad HD Display and has pure whites and deep blacks. UV light is a new feature used by this smartphone. UV light is used to form a liquid-crystal alignment layer in the display, so there's a better contrast ratio. It can captures 16 M pixels.

Variety of Leather Back Cover Options
Camera - It has 16MP f/1.8 main camera and has a highly tuned Optical Image Stabiliser that apparently produces more brighter images. You can control shutter speed, exposure, white balance and file type like a DSLR camera under its expert mode. You can shoot ultra HD videos at 60fps. Camera features laser and closed-loop auto-focus, helping you to take better shots.

LG G4 Back Camera
Battery Life - It has a 3000mAh battery, reportedly offering 19.5 hours' talk-time (18.7 days' standby). However in current scenario, we can't get actual.
Curve - Lg calls it a 'floating arc' design that fits perfectly in your hand. Trending curve designs are highly recommended these days.
Back look - Stunning Smartphone G4 comes with an option of adding premium leather back cover.
Memory - It comes with 32 GB internal memory. However it is expandable to 200 GB by memory card.

LG G4 Back Cover

Notifications based on your lifestyle habits with OS analysing feature (LG's UX 4.0) gives you a different experience.

A recommended phone for all the LG lovers around the world.

New features in Android - Lollipop Update

2014-11-06T11:24:00.000+05:30

Google is giving Android a major facelift with its Lollipop update, but there are a bunch of other new features that make Android more useful and secure than ever. While many manufacturers add their own skins to Android that let you do more with your phone, Google is starting to incorporate its functionality in its stock Android software.

Here's a quick look at all the best features to expect in Android 5.0 :-

Multiple User's Profiles - With Android 5.0 Lollipop, you will be able to create multiple profiles on your phone or tablet. Si, if you share tablet with members of your family, you will be able to create a separate private account for each family member. This means you can choose which apps you want to include in your specific profile.
Google Fit - Android 5.0 Lollipop is the first version of Android to come with Google's new health platform called Google Fit. Similar to Apple's Healthkit in iOS 8, Google Fit allows you to view all sorts of stats from various health and fitness apps in one central location.
Enhanced Face Unlock - Android phones have supported facial recognition since Android 4.0 launched in 2012. But with Lollipop, Google has taken its Face Unlock feature to a new level. The software will now be able to unlock your phone as you are reading notifications in your lock screen. In the past, Face Unlock was a separate step, just like typing in a passcode or holding your thumb over a fingerprint sensor.
Smart Lock - It allows you to unlock your phone with an accessory instead of a password. For example, if you're wearing an Android Wear smartwatch, your phone will automatically unlock as long as you're in range. This means an intruder wouldn't be able to unlock your device unless he or she has that specific watch.
Better Battery Life - Google promises that the power savings mode in Android 5.0 Lollipop will extend your phone's battery life by up to 90 minutes. This is part of a new package of features aimed at preserving your phone's battery Google calls Project Volta. It is unclear exactly how well it works, but it is found that Android Lollipop boosted battery life by more than 30% during its testing.
Encryption by Default - With Android Lollipop, Google automatically encrypts your information on your phone by default. Previously, you had to go into the settings and turn this feature on. Encryption essentially turns data into an unintelligible string of code when it's transferred between your phone and its destination, meaning hackers won't be able to read your sensitive information if it happens to get intercepted.
Material Design - Material Design is Google's new user interface for Android. It brings brighter colours, subtle animations, and a flatter look to the software. All of Google's apps have also been

redesigned to be consistent with this new Material Design. Notice how the app icons in Android Lollipop's app drawer look flatter as if they were drawn on paper.

KEVO BLUETOOTH ELECTRONIC LOCK

2013-10-11T19:25:00.000+05:30

Here's a lock makes your home untouchable to anyone but you. The Kevo uses low Bluetooth energy to ping and authenticate your iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 at once it's close to the door. A quick tap with your finger ensures that you don't unlock it by walking by. Don't have an iPhone? Kwikser provides one battery-powered key fob; additional ones cost $25 each.

Tartarus USB Gaming Keypad

2013-10-06T19:14:00.000+05:30

Tartarus USB Gaming Keypad, which sits on your desk, is designed explicitly for macro nerds and control freaks. It has a bank of 15 programmable keys, two buttons, and eight thumbstick motions-all customizable via Synapses, Razer's device management software.

Nokia 208 Dual Sim

2013-09-14T23:34:00.000+05:30

Just launched a new Candybar feature phone in India with stylish looks by Nokia. Cheap yet powerful featured phone with all the features like required for a smartphone. Some of the features are given below :-

Dual Sim
2.4 inches QVGA LCD Display
256 MB RAM
256 MB Internal memory with upgradable to 32 GB by microSD
1.3 MP rear Camera
3G, Bluetooth, GPS, EDGE

It comes with a digital zoom in 1.3 MP Camera. Other features like White balance presets, Effects, Self timer, Image Viewer etc. It has Nokia Xpress Browser for smooth functioning of mobile phone.

Ultra affordable price range of around 5000 INR.

Mercury mTAB Star Tablet with Voice Calling launched in India

2013-08-31T20:42:00.002+05:30

New Tablet by Kobian (Mercury mTAB Star) launched in Indian Market last days. It features a 7-inch display with a resolution of 1024x600 pixels. The tablet is powered by a 1GHz dual core Cortex A9 processor and is based on the MediaTek chipset. It comes with 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of internal storage that can be expanded upto 32 GB with the help of a microSD card. It runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. This tablet is encased in a metal body and weighs only 300 grams.

The tablet comes with SIM card support complete with voice calling functionality. The mTAB Star sports a 2-Megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front-facing camera. Connectivity options on the tablet include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Micro-USB, HDMI and 3G. Other features include a 3.5mm audio jack, built-in speakers, Flash 11 support and SGX531 3D graphics engine. The tablet includes a 3000mAh battery.

Commenting on the launch, Country Manager - India at Kobian Pvt. Ltd. said, "mTAB Star will compete and stand strong as the ultimate choice of purchase this festive season across the consumers for its light weight and advanced features at attractive cost. It has all the required latest features to enjoy work and play. It has been well designed and developed to address the increasing demand for stylish products in the market."

The company has not yet announced the price of the tablet, but is expected to be available in the first week of September.

Mercury mTAB Star key specifications -

SIM Support
VGA fron camera
512 MB RAM
1 GHz dual core Cortex A9 processor
7-inch display with a resolution of 1024x600 pixels
4 GB of internal storage
expandable storage via 32 GB microSD card
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
3000mAh Battery
3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

MICROSOFT SURFACE

2013-08-09T18:14:00.000+05:30

There's a certain amount of confusion surrounding Microsoft's dual entry into the tablet space. There are two Surface tablets-at first glance, they look identical, and even the OSes (operating systems) look essentially the same.

But they really are different. We'll help you choose the one that best meets your needs. First, some commonalities: Both devices feature 10.6-inch displays, full-sized USB ports, MiroSD slots to expand storage, and HD video tablet's display on a TV, monitor, or projector.

Two combination keyboard/cases are available for both devices: the very thin Touch Cover, the latter of which features movable keys for a true keyboard feel.

The Surface RT runs Windows RT, a tablet OS that runs tablet-based apps, several of which are available at the Windows Store.

The RT comes in 32GB and 64GB versions, is .37 inches thick, and features a 1366 x 768 display. It offers stereo speakers, a full-size USB 2.0 port, a headset jack, and HD video our. The battery is replaceable (but only by an authorized service center) and is good up to 8 hours.

Tablet-base Office apps are included, with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 RT pre-installed.

The suite includes version of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and One Note that have been optimized for tablets. Because the device and its small footprint OS draw so little power, the Surface RT stays connected even in Standby mode and automatically downloads system and updates.

If you don't need the power of a full-blown desktop-type OS or the ability to run business apps, the RT is a good fit.

If you're a business user (or a student whose coursework requires heavy-duty software such as video editing or desktop publishing applications), then you may be willing to trade off the RT's light weight and great battery life for something that combines a tablet's portability with a desktop machine's processing power. If so, the Surface Pro is a viable option.

The Pro is thicker than the RT (about 1/2 inch compared to about 1/3 inch) and also a bit heavier (2 pounds compared to 1.5 pounds). It comes in 64GB and 128GB versions, and offers many of the same ports and connectors that are available on the RT. (One possibly important difference: The USB port on the Pro is USB 3.0, while the RT's is a USB 2.0 port.)

On the Pro, you can run desktop versions of the full-blown Office suite, including Microsoft Office 2013 or the subscription-based Office 365. (You can also install Office 2010 by connecting an externel CD or DVD drive.)

The Pro includes a variety of applications preinstalled, including Windows Mail and Messaging; SkyDrive; Internet Explorer 10; Bing; and Xbox Music, Video, and Games.

Battery life on the Pro is less than that of the RT, mainly because of the Pro's much greater processing power. For that reasons, apps do not auto-update; when you shut the system down, it shuts all the way down.

The Pro's 1920 x 1080 resolution is better than the RT's, though the 16:9 format remains the same. The Surface Pr's biggest selling point is that it allows you to run with Windows 7 and Windows 8 programs, including custom apps written for your workplace. It also allows you to join network domains and use a standard Window VPN to access your workplace network remotely.

One more plus, if you happen to looking for some relaxation in the midst of all of that work: The Surface Pro will run many Xbox games, although some minor Xbox-specific functionality may be missing.

The upshot is that the Pro is an impressive combination of desktop power and and tablet convenience.

HUAWEI ASCEND P6

2013-08-05T08:24:00.000+05:30

It's the world's slimmest smartphone, but this budget Android has gorged itself on features.........

THIN LIZZY

The all-metal body is just 6.18mm thick, making it not only slim but also incredibly light at 120 g.

NEWS FROM THE FRONT

Want your selfies to be of the highest quality? A five-megapixel front camera will do the job..

BABY GOT BACK

An eight-mef rear cam, with an f/2.0 aperture, delivers decent shots, close up and at distance

NO CONTROL

The front of the P6 is unblemishes by button. Power and volume controls can be found on the side.

FEELING GOOD

Huawei's Magic touch technology means the 4.7 inch, 720p screen can be used with gloves on.

SO EMOTIONAL, BABY

The Os is Android Jelly Bean overlaid with Huawei's own clean, tile-based "Emotion UI"

VAIN AVENGER

Beauty Mode improves self portraits from the front cam - by subtly bleaching out your features.

A REAL STAYER

The 2000mAh battery is not massive but Huawei say it'll go all day thanks to "power management"

EXCESS BAGGAGE

The 8 GB built-in storage will fill up quickly, so adding up to 32GB via microSD is essential

TALK IS CHEAP

The Huawei P6 is available from Pound 25 a month on major networks. Even SIM-free it's a bargain.

Huawei launches world's slimmest smartphone - Hindustan Times

2013-06-19T19:58:00.001+05:30

Huawei launches world's slimmest smartphone - Hindustan Times

Acer Liquid C1

2013-06-16T13:38:00.000+05:30

Acer's first Android running on Intel.

After leaving the mobile processor scene previously, Intel is back with its Atom processor crammed into an Android Smartphone. The Acer Liquid C1 is the phone bestowed with this honour. How does this single core stack up? Let's have a look see.

A BIT OF THE HISTORY

Back in the late nineties ans early 2000's Intel owned ARM, the Mobile processor company that today makes processors of the majority of Android phones, and which were in then seen in Compaq's Ipaq series of PDAs were a hallmark of geekiness then bur as interest waned, Intel saw it befitting to see sell off its ARM business.

On to 202, after much has happend in the smartphone space, Intel announced that it was getting back into the smartphone segement. At CES 2013, Intel finally showed the world the new low powered Atom processor as promised.

Today, we have with us the Acer liquid C1, aimed at the value for money Android powered Android device has been much awaited - it is a very intresting proposition if a single core processor can hold its own against the matured quad - cores and dual - cores seen in the majority of newer Android Devices.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

In terms of first impressions, the Acer Liquid C1 looks decent enough befitting the value market or entry level segment it is targeted for. The patterned back cover does tend to feel rather plasticky but the overall build is quite good. Acer is being honest and unpretentious with the design of the C1.

even in terms of the Android version used, there is no wow-factor: the C1 uses pretty much the stock version of the older Android 4.0.4 Ice cream Sandwich operating system. It should have used the newer Jelly Bean Version so that we can find out if the newer operating system.

The C1 weighs a hefty 140 grams; which is somewhat surprising aluminium uni-body models out there weighing less. As mentioned before, the C1 does not give off a premium to feel it. However that doesn't mean that it is an inferior quality product. The back cover is textured and I personally like it as it helps reduce slips-ups especially when one has the case of sweaty palms.

On the back, there is of course the 8 megapixel lens (there is also a O.3 megapixel front camera) and LED flash. the back cover opened up to reveal something which gives a bit of hope: the 2,000 mAh rated battery.

The C1 does have decent connectivity options like, GPS, Bluetooth 2.1, and microUSB. In terms pf phone usage, there's nothing really spectacular to mention about C1, save that it performs and is clear enough for normal phone calls.

SCREEN TIME

In all phones that I review, I always put the screen as first priority - then the processing speed. For the most part, a mobile device will be used to access information, to read article on-the-go and maybe do a bit of casual gaming - all that rewuires a good screen, pleasing to the eyes.

I must personally say that even if this is not an AMOLED based screen, it is certainly still a good one. An IPS screen for that matter, is comparable to the iPhone's Retina Display - of which version, I am not sure.

Battery life however is significantly shortened if you put the brightness on high - which is a pity because you need to keep its shadow lower to stretch the battery life. This of course downplays the screen true capability.

SNAPPY

The C1 responds quite well and shows promise that the Atom processor can indeed come into the market and compete with the multi-cored models out there. It is able it to run highly intensive games with the same prowess of game-optimized processors with built-in graphics processor. Safe to say Angry Birds Space would run great and so will most great games out there. In most cases, there wasn't noticeable lagging.

MUSIC TIME

Music plays decently well but personally, I did not like the preset equaliser settings. In some cases they seemed too flat or did not bring out the detail in the instruments played on the tracks. The audio capabilities are not the strongest point for the C1, which is expected.

CAMERA TIME

The camera software is again rather stock and doesn't offer anything new. It has he same panoramic view option for still shots as most Android 4 devices out there. Pictures came out decent but needed good lighting. As in most cases, outdoor shots in daylight were the best. Shots taken indoors did not seem to produce the right colour - in some cases they looked too blue in hue. The pictures are still printalbe of courses and the 8 megapixel shooter's performance was decent. Videos came out quite similarly and playback is pretty smooth.

POWER PLAY

With a bigger battery than some others in the same range, one would expect better battery life. Gicen the Single core as well, there was hope that C1 might actually be outstanding in at least one department. As it turns out however, the C1 does not stack up with some other nodels out there which are equipped with a lesser rated battery, but with more cores. It all boils down to power management.

Even when the C1 did last on average,, more than a working day, it is far from impressive. It could definitely be better with some power management built into the stock Android operating system it shipped out with.

ALL IN ALL

The C1 is actually a decent entry level device with an alternative processor from a major manufacturer. For less than RM 1,000 it is defiantly worthy considering

Nokia Lumia 720 and BlackBerry Q10

2013-06-04T20:28:00.001+05:30

Samsung Galaxy S4 rings in India - The Hindu

2013-04-27T10:17:00.001+05:30

Samsung Galaxy S4 rings in India - The Hindu

Amazon Kindle Fire HD

2013-04-05T20:34:00.001+05:30

Amazon's put media consumption front and center on its HD slate , giving it a gloriously clear and vibrant 1280x800 screen, speedy Wi-Fi plenty of Amazon's offers.

This is no e-reader that's been given a splash of colour. It's well built, with a reassuring weight to it, if a little wide for a 7 in tab due to its huge bezel. That HD screen is magnificent, its stereo speakers are way better than we're used to on a tablet. It's got plenty of ports and dual-band Wi-Fi makes super fast downloads. So hardware-wise, there's little to complain about.

Buying media is the mater of a couple of taps, and while you can't yet download movies to your slate (unlike in the US). So, it'll stream them flawlessly. So, it's not perfect then? Not quite, The Fire HD may run Android, but it's been so heavily sinned you'd never know it. Amazon's own App store lacks Google Maps, Dropbox and about half on the games on Google Play, and even email and web browsing have been sidelined to make way for apps that help you buy things from Amazon.

That said, the Kindle is easy to use and great for newbie. It's also as cheap as the Nexus, so which you get boils down to want you want it for. If it's media consumption, you'll be happy with the Fire HD.

Versus Touchpad 7

2013-03-27T19:26:00.001+05:30

Make no mistake: the Versus Touchpad 7's real selling point is its killer cost. But there's no such as a free lunch in this life, and so it goes with this sub Rs. 10000 tab.

The disappointment starts with its shiny plastic back - a cheap and nasty thing next to the lovely matte finish finish of its rivals. Then there's the poor construction. Oh, and did we mention the blue tinged, low-res 800x480 screen? Well, it's a headache- including letdown that seems to lack a single good viewing angle.

But surprisingly, despite these (considerable) setbacks, the Versus Touchpad 7 didn't actually do too badly at all in our tests. It'll stream an HD movie from sites problem free, download and play most games, and browse the web over Wi-Fi a slow but steady pace. It's also light and easy to hold-not always the case with budget slates and has useful mini HDMI, MicroSD and USB ports.

With its low-res screen and ropey build, we can't recommend the Touchpad 7 over Google's tab, which cost Rs.8500 more. Still, if you're feeling really strapped for cash, you will have to wait till it's launched in India. It'll do a decent enough job for a rookie.

LG OPTIMUS VU P895

2013-03-01T21:36:00.001+05:30

Phablets make our heads turn inside out, but they 're out there putting up a fight, which means we have to get a closer look.

Overall, LG attempts to impress with its leather-aping rear and overall design.We are, however, left yearning for more from a phone that costs Rs. 34,500. You have to wrestle with the tacky SIM cover to get it back in place once you've inserted the SIM card.

At first, the form factor might look awkwrd. But as you pick the phone up and start using it, you will be convinced that the design team slept through their brainstorming sessions. The phone is impossible difficult to hold with one hand, unless of course you are the Hulk.

The screen is a goregeous 5in display capable of 1024x768 resolution. The large size and the 4:3 aspect ratio makes it fun to read books but you might not exactly enjoy watching videos. Our eyes usually tend to find wider screens more inviting.

A stylus is bundled in package and you can use it to take notes or just to scribble something on an image and mail it to someone you know. It works pretty well, but LG, why you not have a slot for the pen on the phone itself? We're sure to misplace it after updating number post a wild night out!

Acer ICONIA B1

2013-02-26T20:24:00.000+05:30

A 7in tablet by Acer, powered by a dual - core processor and Android's Jelly Bean, for 8K? Sounds like a nasty trick, the same kind you play on your dog when you pretend to throw the stick and he runs excitedly into the distance to find nothing, coming scampering back with the most confused eyes. Aww. Mean, mean person! That's pretty much the same feeling we got when we heard about the price for a tablet with a decent spec sheet. But it's not a trick it is the TRUTH. Faith in humanity, restored.

Priced at Only 7999 INR

Western Digital My Net N900 Central (Router cum Network Hard Drive)

2013-02-03T20:07:00.000+05:30

Looking for a new router and a new network hard drive?

If you're still using the router your ISP supplied with your internet connection. You might be missing out. Wi-Fi technology has improved significantly in the last year or so, and while your ISP's router may have made it to the basic 802.11n standard, the latest crop of advanced models have oodles of extras, from faster networking to sophisticated additional features.

The My Net N900 Central is at the top end of the router hierarchy. It doesn't yet have the latest 802.11ac standard. But it is dual-band, so it can operate two simultaneous networks on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. But what makes the My Net N900 Central special is its built-in 1 or 2TB Hard Drive, which gives you a great router with a Western Digital network Attached Storage in one neat box.

Physical attributes

National devices usually look bulky, and Western Digital models are often designed to stand upright, so they can be stored like a book on a bookshelf. The My Net N900 lies flat, lies flat, like most routers, and despite encasing a hard drive, it's no larger than other high-end routers we've reviewed previously.

It has a fan in the bottom to cool the mechanical hard drive within. We didn't hear it operating system during our tests, so it may only kick in when intensive drive activity is making the device heat up.

The aerials are built into the device. We've never been convinced that this is the best idea, since routers with external aerials often provide better reception, but in this case it didn't seem to negatively affect performance.

There are five Ethernet ports at the back of the router one for the internet connections and four Gigabit ports to share the network, if you want to connect devices with cables. If you have ADSL broadband with as standard phone connection, you'll need an Ethernet modem (available for around $30 ) to transfer the internet to it, although you won't need one if you are using cable broadband. There's also a USB port for plugging in extra storage or temporarily sharing another drive across network.

Setting Up

Setting up the device is very straight forward. Western Digital has developed an interface with the essential settings revealed on the top layer, WHICH MAKES IT VERY EASY TO USE. everything is broken down into simple steps, so you can work through and set up the essentials, such as your internet connection and Wi-Fi then move on to optional extras, such as storage.

The internal hard drive can be set up as a standard Windows shared drive, as a DLNA ot iTunes server to share media files, or as an FTP server. It's also very easy to access from the internet, making it feel like your own personal cloud storage service. If you set it up as a network share, the public folder immediately pops up in Windows Explorer's Network section, both as a hard drive you can access as if it were sitting in your computer and as a media streamer.

If you find something you can't do in the basic settings, click the Advanced Settings icon, which gives a broad range of further options. Optional functions, such as parental controls and setting up a guest network, can be done from here.

PURE CONTOUR 2001 AIR

2012-12-03T19:07:00.000+05:30

EFFORTLESS AIRPLAY AUDIO PLAYBACK, BUT THE SOUND IS TOO HEAVY FOR OUR LIKING

The convenience of Apple's wireless streaming technology, Airplay, is one of the less heralded features of iOS, but one that's well exploited by the Pure Contour 200i Air. As well as sporting a physical dock connection for compatible iPad, iPhone and iPod devices, the Contour can also play back music beamed wirelessly from Apple's devices, with no discernible loss of sound quality.

The wireless option is welcome; planting our test iPad 2 into the dock was like trying to park a bus in a multisroey car park, requiring an awful lot of lining up and wrestling to fit neatly in the slot. The iPhone 4S slipped in with far less bother, however, and AirPlay setup was hassle-free.

In terms of feature's, the Contour 200i Air is barren. there's none of the DAB or internet radio you might have expected from Pure - there isn't even the usual LCD control panel present on its sem-circular domw. That isn't necessarily a criticism, however. Instead, Pure is relying on iOS apps - from both third - parties and its own Pure Lounge product to provide access to music, podcasts and radio streams.

Unfortunately the Pure Lounge iOS app is poorly designed and complicates both music searches and playlist creation. There is no option to control the bit rate of streams either, so you'll likely want to stick with other Airplay compatible apps.

The 36W speakers deliver a convincing wallop of volume with impressive clarity, but the bass is overbearing and booming. Even the most nasal os newsreaders is made to sound like Peter Harvey trapped down a well. With no EQ settings the Contour itself, we found ourselves resorting to the Treble Booster setting on the iphone to redress the balace.

Logisys PC Remote Start / Reset Controller (RMPC2)

2012-10-24T16:54:00.002+05:30

We go to great lengths to make our computers unique. Logisys' PC Remote Start / Reset Controller (model RMPC2), provides you with a new feature to do just that. The unit, whose purpose is self-explanatory, comes with two key fob remotes (just like you'd see with a vehicle's remote starter) and can be hooked up to your system in minutes. Once installed, this convenient remote starter is undeniably helpful for enthusiasts who have placed their PC under a desk, or for an HTPC that's hidden behind the door of a home entertainment cabinet.The RMPC is a fairly inexpensive add-on, and we think the key fob remotes add a nice wow factor.

The RMPC2 comes with a converter cable that connects between the motherboard's main power header and the 24-pin (adaptable 20-pin) cable from the power supply. The converter also features a 3-pin connector, which you'll run to a controller card that delivers power to the card. Logisys also includes a set of cables that you run from the controller to the motherboard's front panel header, so you'll have the flexibility to use either the remote or the power/reset buttons on your computer case.

The controller itself fits into a free expansion slot on your case's rear panel. It doesn't need to connect to a PCI or PCI-E slot, so you can install in it a location where it won't block an expansion slot that you're likely to use in the future. The last connection you'll need to make is the antenna, which provides the key fob remotes with a range of 100 feet (without any obstacles), according to Logisys. The whole installation process took us around five minutes.

We installed the RMPC2 into a system that's located in our hardware lab. The signal had no trouble passing through the walls and starting/resetting the PC from various distances outside the room. The radio frequency signal worked reliably during the duration of our testing, which is impressive considering the large amount of networking equipment located inside our lab.

ASUS PADFONE

2012-09-16T17:10:00.003+05:30

KEY SPECS - 1.5Ghz Snapdragon S4 8260A Dual-Core, Memory: 32GB, Screen (phone): 4.3in Super AMOLED 540x960, Screen (station): 10in WXGA 1280X800, Battery:1520mAh(phone), 6600mAh (station).

At first blush the concept seems so elegant - it's a 4.3 in Android phone that slots into a 10.1in screen, thus becoming a full size becoming a tablet. It's a clever attempt to address the so called "gadget bloat" that many users are starting to feel. But how successful is the Asus Padfone?

There are two main components to the Padfone that make it work - the first (and arguably most important) is an Android powered smartphone. This is a 4.3in Super AMOLED screen with 540x960 resolution. The Padfone runs Ice Cream Sandwich, has 32GB of memory and has a ridiculously quick 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 CPU.

Asus has pre-loaded the phone with a number of apps including a proprietary aloud storage application, the full suite of Goggle Apps (G+, Messenger, Maps etc), music and even an eBook library manager.

The second part is the Padfone Station, a dock, for want of a better term, where the phone slots in, transforming itself into a 10.1in tablet (with a WXG 1280x800 screen), with an additional battery inside. The phone mounts in a closed slot in the back, connecting via the micro-USB and mini-HDMI ports on its inside. It should be noted that the lid on this slot felt a little flimsy, especially given that you need to pull it down a little to lever the phone out of the dock - we were constantly worried that we were going to snap it off.

Docking is faciliated by some software from Asus - called dynamic display switching - which will adjust apps for the larger sized screen, theoretically on the fly, allowing for a seamless transition from phone to tablet. The Padfone will even allow you to download tablet-only apps from Google Play and run them only when docked in the Station.

Both the devices are well built, feeling solid (apart from the aforementioned lid) and featuring Aus' "concentric circles" design on the rear. The Padfone comes with sleeve that can double as a stand for the tablet incarnation and even a rather clever stylus. Why so clever? Because the stylus doubles as Bluetooth headset to let you answer your phone when you're in tablet mode. A pen you can answer and speak into is one of those strange concepts that initially a bit compelling and fun, although we're not really sure how long the honeymoon would last. That said, we were extremely impressed with the call quality that stylus provided.

In the terms of processing power, the Padfone impresses. The Snapdragon S4 pumped out a Quadrant score of 5204, which puts it well above most phones (excepting the Samsung Galaxy SIII) and many tablets. HTML load time sat at around 7 seconds and the Sunspider test gave a solid result of 1821ms.

However, there are more than a few issues here as well. First and foremost is the terrible battery life on the phone itself. At 1500mAh the battery just cannot sustain serious use and we found ourselves charging it twice daily. Now, the Station has a 6600mAh battery built in and i works as a charger. This adds, in theory, and incredible amount of battery life. But it presupposes that you will hace the Statin ith you at all times - which, given that it weighs a solid 730g, is a bit of n ask. While we get that the Padfone is a gestalt entity, with the sum being greater than all its parts, we feel that those parts also need to be able to survive on their own.

The dynamic display switching mentioned earlier also failed to work more often than it did. As dedicated users of the Swiftkey 3 app, we were increasingly annoyed that every time we docked and undocked the smartphone, the Padfon would reset to the Asus default Keyboard.

The Padfone itself was also prone to crashing - we had at least one crash while at temping to start the camera function from the lock screen that required us to remove the battery. That was the worst of it, but a number of other crashes proved annoying.

At the moment, the Padfone doesn't feel finished - it's an excellent concept but needs better execution. It still feels like more of a concept device than a retail one. Luckily, Asus are the kings of the second generation. See, for example, the amazing evolution of the Transformer range. The Padfone remains a worthy idea and a welcome change in form factor and we await the arrival of version 2.0. Until then this remains a clever curiosity.

LG Optimus Me P350

2012-08-27T20:17:00.000+05:30

THE LG ME P350 is medicore in just about every way. It's more expensive than the Huawei Ascend y100, and frankly, it's nowhere near as quick, as nice looking, or as functional. The P350 has 2.8-inch, 240 * 320- pixel screen, with deep, rich colours, especially blues and reds. However, the low resolution of the screen combined with the complete lack of text smoothing make it difficult to use for reading. It's also pretty difficult to write on - sending a text on a screen this small is not easy - but the device is an improvement on the Y100 in this area, because when in portrait mode a numeric key board appears, so you can text by tapping several times on one button like you would on an old feature - phone.

The P350 did not benchmark well. In, fact, it achieved less than half of the overall score that the Y100 did. Given that it coasts an extra $20, that's not good. It also underperformed during everyday tasks like switching between and loading apps. It has a 600MHz processor, which isn't remarkably slow for a phone in the price range, but only 140MB of RAM. It's also running an older, slower version of Android, 2.2 (Froyo).

The LG Me P350 is thoroughly bested by other phones in its price range. However, if you text a lot and need a phone that makes it a bit easier for you, the ability to use a classic numeric phone keyboard may be helpful. Just don't try to play Angry birds.

Rapoo T6 - Wireless Touch Optical Mouse

2012-08-12T16:16:00.000+05:30

Rapoo's T6 wireless touch mouse follows a similar design, look and feel to Apple's Magic Mouse, in terms of both aesthetics and functionally. The slim, gently arching paddle has no visible buttons, scroll wheel, or anything else: just a glossy, clear-on-white plastic surface. The front half is touch - sensitive, letting you left-click, right-click, and scroll both finger left/right swipe gesture for 'back' and 'foreward' commands, which is easy to make intentionally and hard to make on purpose: no accidental web-page switching.

Gamers beware: although there's a physical click button under the surface, whether you're left or right-clicking is decided by the touch panel. This means you can't hold right (aim) while left-clicking (fire). At 1000DPI, sensitivity is fine for desktop use but again, not for gaming.

The grey plastic underside is not nearly as industrial-chic as the Apple equivalent's aluminium, but forget that: Rapoo have decided advantage, thanks to the use of traditional low-friction mouse 'feet'. This lets the mouse slip cleanly and quietly across most surfaces, which the Apple Magic Mouse with its long plastic skids cannot.

Battery life is advertised as three months, with a single AA battery. This is between half and a quarter the common figure, but most competing devices take two two batteries. You'll change the single battery more often, but won't be using more batteries overall.

It's not a perfect mouse-it's uncomfortable to use for long periods, and unsuitable for gamers. However, it's the best all-touch mouse we've seen yet. Almost all the style of Apple's Magic Mouse, but with more comfort and less drag.

GADGET WATCH: Microsoft Surface

2012-06-21T10:23:00.001+05:30

GADGET WATCH: Microsoft Surface

Nokia PureView 808

2012-06-14T14:29:00.000+05:30

A smartphone in the latest series of NOKIA, the mobile giant is Nokia Pureview808. Nokia launched its much-awaited cameraphone 808 Pureview in India on Wednesday with a price tag of Rs. 33,899/- and with a spectacular 41 Mega Pixel Camera.

The smartphone has a 4-inch wide screen and runs on Symbian Balle OS. It boasts of 41 MP Sensor and the advanced imaging innovation featuring Nokia's award-winning Pureview technology and Carl Zeiss optics. This makes it among the best smartphones available in India.

Nokia has a tie-up with Dolby Laboratories that has helped it introduce a rich cinematic sound output in 808 Pureview which features both Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Headphones technology. In addition, Nokia is bundling a Dolby Headphone with Pureview 808.

Besides, Pureview has two microphones that capture a near perfect sound recording to make the videos with rich CD-like audio recording enabled by Nokia Rich Recording, earlier only possible with external microphones. Above all, its new pixel oversampling technology, superior low-light performance and the ability to save in compact file sizes for sharing in email, MMS, and on social networks, the Nokia 808 Pureview promises the users to capture high-quality images in any conditions. Pureview also has full HD 1080p video recording and playback with 4x lossless zoom.

Pureview 808 comes in only black and white colours and will be available across Nokia retail outlets starting Thursday with an MRP of Rs. 34,999/-. It is powered by a single Core 1.3 GHz microprocessor which seems inadequate but according to Nokia, the phone has another processor dedicated to the camera function, thus ensuring a reasonable good performance. It has a 16 GB internal storage, expendable up to 32 GB with a microSD card. The RAM seems rather low at 512MB.