Rise of Gadgets

The Dell Alienware : Review

2012-06-20T20:28:00.000+05:30

At first glance, the Dell Alienware M11x looks like it's leaped out of a Transformers movie. But does it qualify as Autobot or will it die a Deception's death?
Presenting you the Full Gaming + Multimedia Laptop from legend PC maker 'Dell'.

Packaging and Contents:-
The packaging of the device has all the bells and whistles you'd expect from an Alienware device.It comes in a rather large briefcase-like box that is divided into two sections. The first houses the 11-inch device and the second has the manuals, charging cord, adapter and installation CD's - which is kind of weird, seeing as how the device doesn't have a CD drive! Though you do have the option to pick up an external drive when you purchase the device.

First Impression:-
You'd expect an 11-inch compact device to be pretty light but, since this is a gaming machine, it is rather heavy, weighing in at about 2kgs. It has a masculine build but with enough curves to make it an attractive machine. Using the M11x in public is a guaranteed attention-getter.

Multimedia:-
The Alienware M11x has an 11.6-inch WXGA display with a resolution of 1366x768, which is great for watching 720p HD movies. We ran a couple of full HD movies on the device and they played very smoothly without any hiccups. The audio output from the device was extremely good. The Klipsch speakers deliver crisp and clear output and the audio doesn't distort at high frequencies.

The inclusion of 2 headphone ports on the device is a nice touch usually found on most Dell laptops, as it gives you the freedom to attach two pairs of headphones without the need of a splitter.

Gaming:-
This is the reason why you will buy the machine and this is also where the device is a bit of a let down. Don't get us wrong, the horsepower under the hood will easily run any game you throw at it. But the keyboard feels cramped, the screen is too small to take advantage of the maximum output offered by games and the absence of a CD drive means you would have to use a disk image to run the game without the CD or download a digital copy. Quite problematic.

The customization options on offer are really cool. You have an array of colour options to choose from for the backlight of the keyboard, speakers, Alienware logo and the WI-Fi indicator. This rates among the top features offered by Alienware.

Despite its drawbacks, the device does deliver with the games. On the 3D mark the device scored a whopping 8326. We played a bit of Crysis 2 and Portal 2 on the machine. We bumped up the graphics of the games to their maximum settings. Portal 2 ran virtually without any hiccups. Crysis 2 however faced a jitter every now and then and the frame rate dropped when the high octave action sequences took to the screen. Dropping the settings down to medium however ensured that Crysis 2 ran a lot better.

When the graphical capabilities of the device are pushed to their limits, the device can get rather noisy.

If you are a fan of the orchestral music used in games like we are, then you will undoubtedly appreciate the speakers of the M11x while gaming. The opening musical score of Crysis 2 sounded breathtaking and the painful taunts by GlaDOS in Portal 2 were crisp and clear.

Performance:-
With all the extreme hardware, the startup time of the device isn't great. It took a complete minute and 15 seconds to start up. On the PC Mark Vantage x64, the device had a score of 6743.

Performing as a standalone notebook, the Alienware M11x is a mixed bag. The keyboard looks stunning with its customizable back-light and the keys are really soft to type on. On the other hand, the keys on the keyboard are very cramped. You will inevitably keep hitting the wrong keys for quite some time before you get used to it.

The trackpad is fairly sized for an 11-inch notebook and the left and right click buttons too are fairly large and comfortable. The track pad has a textured finish, which makes it comfortable to use.

In terms of connectivity, the device has two USB 2.0 ports to the right accompanied by two headphone ports and a microphone jack. The left of the device houses one USB 2.0 port, Ethernet port, card reader, display port and HDMI out. Despite being such a high-end machine, there is no USB 3.0 port.

The battery life on the device is good. On the Battery mark test, the device scored 953282. Running the CPU at 100%, the test result showed that the device would last for 3hours 23 min 2 sec. On the forecast, the test result states that the device will last for 5 hours 1 min 28 sec during economy use.

There are 5 LED lights at the bottom of the device that indicate the battery level on the M11x. We wish that Alienware had taken a leaf out of Apple's thinking cap and placed this indicator on any of the side panels of the device just like the Mac Books. Frankly, it's very inconvenient to turn the device around to check the charge status while the device is turned off.

Verdict:-
The Alienware M11x is a great notebook but falls just that bit short. Its hardware and build quality is perfect for gaming but it lacks in ergonomic structure. If you absolutely must have that second portable gaming rig for your traveling needs then the M11x is worth a look. But if you are looking to pick up a laptop as your primary gaming machine, take a look at the Alienware M14x or at the high-end machines from the Asus, Acer, Toshiba, HP and MSi stables.

Pros :-
Sexy looks
Alienware customization options
Strong build
Great hardware
Good battery life
Great speakers

Cons:-
Cramped keyboard
No USB 3.0
No CD Drive
Heavy

Price: Rs. 64,000

Specifications:-
Processor: Intel Core i7 1.50GHz processor
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
8GB RAM
Dual Graphics: Intel Integrated graphics + 1GB DDR3 NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
750GB HDD
2MP Webcam
Bluetooth 2.1
Display: 11.6-inch WXGA display with a resolution of 1366x768
HDMI 1.4
8-Cell Lithium ion battery
82 Keys Keyboard with AlienFX lighting controls

RATINGS:-
Performance: 3
Price: 3
Ease of setup: 5
Ergonomics: 4
Wow Factor: 5
Overall: 3.5

Benchmark scores:-
PC Mark: 6743
3D mark: 8326
Battery Mark: Test result: 3hours 23 min 2 sec
Forecast: 5 hours 1 min 28 sec

Nokia Lumia 808 PureView Megapixel Cell Phone with 41 Megapixel camera : Features Review:-

2012-05-30T11:33:00.003+05:30

We have Nokia 808 PureView for you. Today we will talk about this megapixel cell phone with the 41MP Sensor. Previously, we have know more about N8 Successor is in works by months, and after that we hear that Nokia preparing their new device which know as the optic zoom big camera sensor, and also the another cool imaging stuff.

Today in this MWC 2012 event, we will saw this megapixel cell phone closely. This a megapixel cell phone which has many features and good specifications. In this article I will show you the features details of this only for you. The Features of Nokia 808 PureView megapixel cell phone are:

    42Mp sensor with the pixel oversampling,
    Optic format 1/1/2”,
    1.4 Microns of pixel size,
    8.02mm focal length,
    15cm focus range (infinity),
    5 elements of the constructions,
    Low-dispersion glass modal lens,
    One high-index,
    3X for stills loss-less zoom,
    4X full HD 1080p video

What are about Video camera of Nokia 808 PureView megapixel cell phone?

    There are three shooting mode offers here (Scenes, Auto, and Creative),
    You will found the frame rates supported includes 15, 24, 25, 30fps,
    You can record HD video on 1920X1080 / 30fps Default of the resolution,
    Integrated video editor for trimming video,
    Stereo High Amplitude Audio Capture or HAAC.

Now let’s move to Specifications. Although we have talk about this before, but we must know what other specs are offers by Nokia 808 PureView megapixel cell phone. Let’s check here:

    Dimensions 123.9X60.2X13.9mm with 169 g of weight,
    140mAh Li-ion battery,
    16.7 million colors,
    Clear Black Display,
    95.9cc Volume,
    3.5mm Nokia Standard audio connector with TV out,
    Bluetooth 3.0,
    HDMI,
    USB 2.0,
    Micro USB Connector&charging,
    NFC, A-GPS FM transmitter,
    WLAN,
    Corning Gorilla Glass.

Nokia 808 PureView megapixel cell phone with 41MP sensor sold on 29,999/- in Indian market. Nokia 808 Camera-phone is the Symbian Phone which is impossible to get interesting in other Symbian Phone.

3D Vision 2 Wireless Glasses Kit from NVIDIA Graphics

2012-05-26T18:46:00.001+05:30

Discover the difference NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 can make in your gaming experience. The new gamer-inspired glasses have 20% larger lenses to give you the most viewing area with the least light leakage. They also work great with the innovative NVIDIA 3D LightBoost technology, which makes your screen up to 2x brighter¹ for better 3D gaming and video viewing. Plus, 3D Vision 2 glasses are built from state of the art, softer materials designed to deliver more comfort and better fit.

Bigger 3D:-

                                                                               - Try new 27'' 3D monitors from ASUS and Acer for Full HD
  1080p 3D and ghost-free image quality
- Experience games more fully with 20% larger lenses for
  an ultra wide viewing area
- Get the most diverse ecosystem of content-including
  3D photo sharing and browsing-on 3DVisionLive.com

Brighter 3D

- Get up to 2x monitor and keyboard brightness
with NVIDIA 3D LightBoost technology¹
- Experience the new external light blocker that
minimizes the effects of overhead lighting.

Better Gaming

- Play over 600 PC games in 3D including the latest titles
  like Batman: Arkham City, Crysis 2, and L.A. Noire
- Enjoy softer composite materials and better fit with
  gaming headsets
- Get best-in-class 2D gaming with ultra-smooth 120 fps
  gaming on 120Hz monitors

Love FB? Want to buy a touch & type Android Phone???

2012-05-26T18:24:00.003+05:30

The HTC ChaCha is here for you. Body of a Blackberry, mind of an Android. Can the new 'Facebook phone' poke above its weight?

Let's get one thing straight: the HTC ChaCha is not the Facebook phone. It's not manufactured by Facebook. But let's get another thing straight, too: the HTC ChaCha is the Facebook experience

And it's even endorsed to a certain extent by the King of the network, Mark Zuckerberg, who gave a sermon about it at the phone's launch.
HTC has taken its already winning Sense interface and remoulded it with a big blue 'F' at the centre - something the notoriously quiet Facebook founder went on record as saying he's "very happy" with and, in a nod to the future, how they "look forward to a lot more to come".

Rocking the latest Android iteration, Gingerbread 2.3.3 and fully capable of a dance-off with some other 3G-capable Android devices, it's due to hit stores any day now, with a sim-free price tag around 12,000 Rs. in Indian market.
That's probably too much for the 14-21 age bracket the ChaCha is evidently aimed at, though we'd imagine Pay As You Go offerings might make it a little cheaper too. . .!!

Voicelock Voice Authenticating USB Drive: Watch out for Its Features…

2012-05-13T12:02:00.001+05:30

We’ve seen voice authentication as a security measure in movies and TV shows, but is it really practical on a flash drive? Wrench Monkey Studios think it is. The company’s Voicelock USB drive lets you add an audible password, so everyone around you can hear what it is. Just kidding.

When configured with an audible password, Voicelock will not be recognized by a computer even if it’s already plugged in, not until it “hears” the password via its built-in microphone. The phrase has to be 2 to 4 syllables long, but the real password is your own voice. It’s the way you say the password that unlocks the drive. It’s your voice that rouses it from slumber. Your voice brings it to life. Your voice makes it believe it can love again. What???

But obviously you still don’t want to say the password aloud when you’re in a crowded place. You’re just alerting spies and ninjas that you have top secret data and a high tech flash drive. Here’s where the secondary color-coded input comes in. Voicelock has two switches that toggle two LED s, one red and one green. I think it’s even more secure than the voice password. Watch the video below to see what I mean.

Hammacher Schlemmer is selling the 8GB Voicelock USB drive for $50 (USD), but I guess inconvenience is the real price for added security. That confounding initial setup would drain my patience. Then again, I don’t have top secret data to protect. But that’s just what I would say if I did have top secret data. Does that mean I do have top secret data? Is it so important that even I don’t know about it? But that’s just what I would say if I did have top secret data and do know that I have it. Wait. So do I have top secret data or not???

Reinvention Of The PC:- The Ultrabook

2012-03-19T14:21:00.001+05:30

An Ultrabook is a higher-end type of subnotebook defined by Intel. Intel has applied to register the name as a trademark. Ultrabooks are designed to feature reduced size and weight, and extended battery life without compromising performance. They use low-power Intel processors with integrated graphics, solid-state drives for responsiveness, and unibody chassis to fit larger batteries into smaller cases. Because of their minimal size, the number of external ports (e.g. USB) is limited. Experience the joy of performance that keeps up with you. By this marketing initiative and an associated $300 million fund, Intel hopes to influence the slumping PC market against rising competition from tablet computers, which are typically powered by competing ARM-based processors.[4] The Ultrabook directly competes against Apple's Macbook Air, which has similar form specifications and powered by Intel CPUs, but running Mac OS X.

At a presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show, an Intel Manager stated that market analysis revealed that screen size motivated some of the reluctance to switch to 13" Ultrabooks. As a result, Intel is planning to ensure, through cooperation with manufacturers, a 14 or 15-inch screen on 50% of the 75 Ultrabooks that will likely come to market in 2012.

Ultrabook brings you a whole world of entertainment options like HD movies, shows, and games, all at your fingertips and on a screen of your choice. It’s the best of everything you want, in one seamless and compelling experience. Capture and share your favorite moments with fast, easy photo editing and video creation on the fly and wherever you go. With a 2nd generation Intel Core processor with built-in visuals1, Intel Quick Sync Video2 and Intel Clear Video HD Technology (Intel® CVT HD), your Ultrabook can do it all in a flash. Explore the wide range of your interests over the full richness of the Internet. An Intel-inspired Ultrabook, powered by a 2nd generation Intel Core processor with built-in visuals1 and smart multitasking3, lets you access the things you love the most faster than ever. Now that’s Visibly Smart. Intel Rapid Start Technology4 gets your device up and running faster from even the deepest sleep, saving time and battery life. Wait less with Intel Smart Response Technology5, which automatically delivers ultrafast access to your favorite applications and files.

The New iPad 3

2012-03-18T17:32:00.002+05:30

Apple’s latest iPad being called new iPad or iPad 3 is hogging the limelight. After months of speculations and long wait, the tablet is finally in people’s hands, though millions of people will have to wait for another few weeks till Apple streamlines the supply chain to cope up with the huge demand.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Cupertino based tech giant has not made any change with the outer body of latest version of its top class tablet, there is still a mad rush of Apple fans who want to grab the product. The most important improvement (and Apple haters are saying that it is only improvement) that has made people sit up and take notice is in its display. A retina display improves the quality of the tablet to an all new level.

Apple’s latest retina display takes the display quality of the new tablet to an all new level. For Apple competitors this will be something hard to beat and may certainly take time. But to be true, Apple failed in one thing. It had tried desperately to make the new tablet thinner than the previous iPad 2, but it failed and the latest model is thicker. A Digitimes report well before the launch of the tablet said, “Since Apple demands that the new iPad model will need to be thinner than the iPad 2, while raising the machine’s screen resolution to 2048 by 1536, upstream component makers have been working aggressively to adjust the device’s LED and panel module designs to satisfy these demands, but the work has affected the launch schedule of the new tablet PC”.

The improvement in screen has ensured that the general Apple fans who go out to check the tablet will instantly like it, given the fact that improvement is visible since the word go. A reviewer while writing in Guardian has this to say, “The essential thing about a tablet – particularly a “slate” like the iPad – is that the screen is pretty much all there is… But on its own, the screen is what you deal with. So if that’s better, you should benefit”.

iPad 3 comes up with impressive 2048×1536 resolution improving the display of the new iPad by at least four times. Many have said that the quality has been so much improved that now it matches the HD quality.

Though the Cupertino based tech giant has been boasting that its latest processor in the tablet has improved the functioning of the new iPad significantly. But in my view, it is one of the weakest point in the tablet’s overall functioning. Many have said that they didn’t experience a significant improvement in the functioning of the Apple tablet. A reviewer rightly says, “Overall, the device doesn’t feel a huge amount faster, though – the new processor clearly has its work cut out just keeping the screen going…And despite Apple’s boasts, the games still don’t look a patch on titles on Xbox 360 or PC – but as developers get to grips with the new hardware, that will change”.

Another major improvement that has excited iPad users is its 5 mega pixel camera. It is a huge improvement over its previous version. But Apple could have put in an 8 mega pixel camera instead of the 5 mega pixel camera that has been installed in the new iPad. When iPhone 4S can have the 8 mega pixel camera, why not iPad 3. And by the way it wouldn’t have been the first tablet to have an 8 MP camera. ASUS Transformer Prime besides many other tablets already have 8 mega pixel camera. So the disappointment is but natural.

Nonetheless the camera is still a lot improved than what iPad users had so far. A reviewer while writing in the The Verge says 5 mega pixel camera on the new iPad “will actually produce pretty favorable results…Thanks to that improved sensor, pictures you take on the iPad now look relatively respectable, with a depth of field shallow enough to pull off rather artistic looking images.”

Meanwhile an Android fan while telling us his impression of iPad 3 has this to say, “iPad 3’s screen resolution today is higher than Android tablets, from last year, but Asus and others already have similar resolution Android tablets coming real soon, so that’s really a moot point. The iPad3′s cameras are still lower resolution than most good Android tablets from last year. iOS is pretty much unchanged, so no features like desktop widgets (can people really use a tablet that doesn’t have widgets?). When you compare the iPad3 to say the Asus Transformer Prime, with it’s USB ports, SD Card slots, proper (detechable) keyboard, stunning and fluid Android 4, and 5 core GPU, the iPad3 looks like a poor purchase, with only the display as it’s only real plus point”

Windows 8 Consumer Preview

2012-03-03T16:01:00.001+05:30

What's new on Windows 8 Consumer Preview:-

Touch a full-powered PC. It's fast and it's fluid. Take natural, direct, hands-on control.
Apps in Windows 8 work together to get things done faster. Get them from the Windows Store.
Windows 8 can connect you to your files, photos, people, and settings, wherever you sign in.
Internet Explorer 10 Consumer Preview brings you immersive web browsing on screens big and small.
Still devoted to your mouse and keyboard? Windows 8 makes the tried-and-true feel brand new.
Read this Windows Experience Blog entry for some tips on getting started with Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
Get the latest news and the inside scoop on the development process from the Windows 8 engineering team blog.
Check out a short video for an informal look at Windows 8 from one of the teams that built it.
Download the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Product Guide for more in-depth, detailed info on this release.
Download the Product Guide

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