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Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tech Reviews
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tech Reviews
mGifts for iOS Gets Rave Reviews for Simplifying Gift Shopping
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Gigaom, a leading tech-blog that has extensive array of reviews and news reports on Apple products. mGifts was also featured in an PhoneTalk web article titled "10 Apps to make holiday shopping a snap" where mGifts was the recommended gift management ...
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Thursday, November 24, 2011
Kindle Fire Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi
Movies, apps, games, music, reading and more, plus Amazon's revolutionary, cloud-accelerated web browser
Stunning Color Touchscreen Movies, magazines and children's books come alive on a 7" vibrant color touchscreen that delivers 16 million colors in high resolution. Kindle Fire uses IPS (in-plane switching) technology - similar technology to that used on the iPad - for an extra-wide viewing angle, perfect for sharing your screen with others. Magazines in Rich Color Enjoy your favorite magazines with glossy, full-color layouts, photographs and illustrations. Choose from hundreds of titles, such as Bon Appetit, Elle, and Oprah. Special editions of titles like Vanity Fair, Wired, and GQ come with built-in video, audio and other interactive features. Beautifully Simple and Easy to Use Designed from the ground up, Kindle Fire's simple, intuitive interface puts the content you love at your fingertips - spin effortlessly through your recent titles and websites straight from the home screen. Whether you are in the mood to watch, read, listen, play or browse, you can get to all your favorite content with a single touch. It's that simple. 100,000 Movies and TV Shows Over 100,000 movies and TV shows, including thousands of new releases and your favorite TV shows, are available to stream or download, purchase or rent - all just one tap away. Amazon Prime members enjoy unlimited, commercial-free streaming of over 10,000 popular movies and TV shows. Fast Dual-Core Processor Kindle Fire features a state-of-the-art dual-core processor for fast, powerful performance. Stream music while browsing the web or read books while downloading videos. Your Favorite Apps and Games Angry Birds, Plants vs. Zombies, The Weather Channel and more, plus a great paid app for free every day. All apps are Amazon-tested on Kindle Fire for the best experience possible. Ultra-fast web browsing - Amazon Silk Amazon Silk is a revolutionary, cloud-accelerated browser that uses a "split browser" architecture to leverage the computing speed and power of the Amazon Web Services cloud. Supports Adobe® Flash® Player. Millions of Books Read bestsellers, children's books, comic books, and cookbooks in vibrant color. The Kindle Store offers over 1 million books, including 800,000 titles at $9.99 or less. In addition, over 2 million free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books are also available such as Pride and Prejudice. Free Cloud Storage Forget about memory - Kindle Fire gives you free storage for all your Amazon digital content in the Amazon Cloud. Your books, movies, music and apps are available instantly to stream or download for free, at a touch of your finger. Your Favorite Children's Books Kindle Fire is great for parents and kids. Stir your child's imagination with over 1000 beautifully-illustrated children's books, including favorites like Brown Bear, Curious George, and Circus Ship. Easy to hold in one hand Designed to travel with you wherever you go. Small enough to fit in your purse and light enough to hold in just one hand, Kindle Fire is perfect for browsing, playing, reading and shopping on-the-go. 17 Million Songs Stream your music library from Amazon Cloud Drive or download to your device and listen offline. Looking for new music? Discover over 17 million songs in the Amazon MP3 Store Extra Durable Display Our state-of-the art Kindle Fire display is chemically strengthened to be 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic, making it extra durable and resistant to accidental bumps and scrapes. Email Stay in touch using our built-in email app that gets your webmail (Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, AOL etc.) into a single inbox. Import your messages and contact lists from other email accounts. Additional email apps are available in our Amazon Appstore for Android.
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Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tablets in 2011 - What to Expect
Twelve months ago barely anyone had ever heard of the PC tablet and the market for them was nonexistent.
However, this all changed when Apple announced the iPad and now PC tablets are amongst the hottest consumer electronics out there.
The main difference between the iPad and previous attempts at tablet PCs was that Apple didn't try to shove a full computer operating system into their device.
In effect, the iPad was simply a really big iPod touch, but this didn't put consumers off. For everyone that loves tech and gadgets the iPad was the must have device of 2010.
Times have changed since then, and now nearly every single consumer electronics developer is either busy launching or developing their very own PC tablet. So what does 2011 have in store for tablet loving consumers?
Apple iPad 2
Our guide begins with perhaps the most anticipated tablet of 2011, the Apple iPad 2. It's pretty much confirmed that the iPad 2 will have front and rear facing cameras. Apple made a big deal of its 'Facetime' feature on the iPhone 4, so it's likely that the iPad 2 will also have this function.
It's also likely that the iPad 2 will have a considerably faster processor when compared with the original iPad and the iPhone 4. This will allow multitasking on the iPad 2, but perhaps more notably, will also allow Apple to increase the resolution.
The biggest question mark that remains over the iPad is whether it will be made available in different sizes. With many competing devices adopting the 7 inch screen, will Apple offer a smaller version of the iPad 2?
The iPad 2 will release this spring.
RIM Blackberry PlayBook
Another tablet that has been receiving a lot of attention over the previous months is the Blackberry PlayBook, and that's not surprising. Not only is it the first PC tablet device to spring out of the Blackberry factory, but it also sports some of the most impressive hardware specs seen on any device of this kind.
With a 1GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM and a pair of cameras (front and rear facing), the PlayBook certainly ticks all the right boxes.
Much like the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Tab, the Blackberry PlayBook will feature a seven-inch screen, making it smaller and lighter than the iPad 2, which is a good thing, assuming you don't value a large screen above all.
However, hardware is only one thing, and Blackberry's Tablet OS will have to prove itself against the likes of the Apple and Google operating systems.
The PlayBook is pencilled in for an early 2011 launch in the US, and a mid 2011 launch in Europe.
Android 3.0 Honeycomb
In recent months we've seen a glut of Android based tablet devices, but Android 2.2 isn't ideally suited for a PC tablet.
Although Samsung may have done an excellent job on making the Android 2.2 OS work with the Galaxy tab, the fact remains that we're going to have to wait until the days of Android 3.0 for a true PC tablet experience.
Information about the Android 3.0 OS is scarce, but what we do know is that it will be called 'Honeycomb' and will be a very tablet friendly operating system.
Google's Andy Rubin recently showed of a prototype Motorola tablet running the Honeycomb OS. With Google already willing to show new hardware running Honeycomb, we suspect that the gap between versions 2.3 and 3.0 of Android will be minimal. We could see Honeycomb rolled out in early 2011, maybe even ahead of the iPad 2.
If Honeycomb does really enhance the PC tablet experience, life could get hard for Apple. But that said, the iPad has already won the pockets of millions of consumers, and these consumers are likely to look no further than the iPad 2 whilst shopping for the latest PC tablet.
HP WebOS
Last year the only tablet rumour that was really competing with the iPad was the HP Slate, which was discussed constantly in the tech press and shown off by HP on many occasions.
It was unsurprising to see HP with a tablet device, since the company had produced tablet PCs years ago when Microsoft were pushing the concept. It was equally unsurprising that the HP Slate was set to run Windows 7 as its operating system.
However, after the announcement of the iPad by Apple, it all went quiet in the HP camp, until eventually rumours that HP had scrapped the Slate began to emerge. Then, HP bough Palm along with all of its technology, including the WebOS operating system, as used by the Palm Pre smartphone.
HP has now confirmed that it will be releasing a WebOS based PC tablet in early 2011. How early is still unclear, but a pre iPad 2 launch certainly wouldn't hurt it.
About: http://free-tech-247.blogspot.com brings all of the latest gadget and technology news.
News: Apple seeds iTunes 10.5.1 beta 2, adds iTunes Match to Apple TV
Apple seeded developers with iTunes 10.5.1 beta 2 late last evening, and also added iTunes Match to the second-generation Apple TV under the new main menu option “Music.” According to Apple’s release notes, iTunes 10.5.1 beta 2 offers stability and performance improvements for iTunes Match, and is a required update for all subscribers to the iTunes Match beta. Apple had promised to launch iTunes Match by the end of October, but missed its self-imposed deadline earlier this week, and is evident by these new releases, is continuing to test the service ahead of its anticipated wide-scale rollout. iTunes 10.5.1 beta 2 is available now as a free download from the iOS Dev Center.
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
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News: Thought Out rolls out Stabile Coil Pro for iPad
Thought Out has rolled out its new Stabile Coil Pro stand for the iPad and iPad 2. Like the company’s prior Naja King for the iPhone and iPod touch, the Stabile Coil Pro uses a flexible, black vinyl-wrapped coil to twist to any shape, with a steel call pivot on the end that attaches to iPad holder, with an optional Grapple attachment for the ability to grip the iPad from two sides, instead of the one provided by the standard cradle. Thought Out’s Stabile Coil Pro for the iPad and iPad 2 is available now and sells for $100.
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Monday, November 21, 2011
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News: Jawbone to launch Jambox Big speaker system
iLounge has learned that Jawbone plans on adding a new, larger model to its Jambox speaker lineup. Called the Jambox Big, the follow-up to the company’s prior Jambox will retail for $300, and will be available in three colors—anthracite, red, and white. Jambox Big is expected to continue the earlier unit’s combination of rubber and textured metal design elements, with wireless speaker hardware inside. We have reached out to Jawbone for further details on the product and will update this article with further details.
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
CNET Asia Tips and Tricks
Windows 7 made easy: Backup and restore
CNET Asia
Here are some tips to get you started. The first step toward backing up your ... (Credit: Screenshot by CNET Asia) Now, if your system is unable to boot ...
Tech Reviews
Milagrow TabTop review: company rejoinder
IBNLive.com
Your journalist does not seem to be very experienced in tech reviews or seems to have made up his mind before the review. All our other reviews on technical performance have been very appreciative of the TabTop. Also according to us he has used ...
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IBNLive.com
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Apple iPad 32GB Review
As soon as we could, we got hold of an Apple iPad to give people a review into Apple's tablet device of the future! It wasn't easy, many orders got put back due to the massive demand for them, especially in the states where orders were put back as much as a month.
Although many critics were saying there wouldn't be the demand in this country due to the hefty price tag, the public have very much proved them wrong with massive sales here in the UK.
Prices start at £429 for the Wi-Fi 16GB version and work there way up to £599 for the Wi-Fi 64GB flavour. For this review we will be looking at the 32GB Wi-Fi model, for the 3G version you will have to chuch another £100 into the equation (which we haven't done).
First question...... why is the Apple iPad such a hot topic among tech-heads? Well basically it has completely changed the publics perception of the tablet computer. No more are people looking at them as the big clumsy devices that are meant to fill a niche but do so badly. Apple has filled the gaps by providing an easy to use operating system that was designed for a mobile tablet device such as the iPad or iPhone, rather than having to use a computer operating system designed to be powered by a processor that is at least 8 time as powerful. Its easy to use on screen keyboard and fantastic spell-check software makes typing an e-mail or just entering data a breeze.
The iPad does a lot of things better than previous tablets even when you look at hardware. Its portability is a massive pro, it looks like something straight from the future and features a very powerful processor in terms of portable technology. The battery life is also a huge selling point of the Apple iPad as it just goes on for ages with quick charging times.
Although it does just seem to be a really big iPhone it isn't. It sports so much more features and performs better at pretty much everything that tablet computers did before it.
So you want to know about the spec?
Well, the screen resolution is 1024x768 on a 9.7inch screen. This is much bigger than the iPhone which is 480 pixels by 320 on a 3.5inch screen.
All storage is solid state (SSD) which makes loading times a lot faster for the operating system and the software and also helps consume less energy. The iPad comes in 3 flavours when looking at storage, it starts at 16GB, moves on to a medium sized version of 32GB and last but not least a 64GB version to serve even the mightiest of MP3 collections, although when you start talking video you could fill that in a day with today's modern broadband speeds.
Processing power is also a hot topic with the Apple iPad, it contains a 1GHz Apple A4 processor that's based on ARM technology, which has been around for donkeys years and is constantly being updated and brought into the future. It can handle all the audio, 3D processing and other tasks the user throws at it.
When it comes to power and battery life the Apple iPad is a cut above the rest. Everything is all working to the same tune and all controlled via the processor to ensure that it is running at its optimal speed while balancing power usage. The battery, although not accessible and changable by the user is a cutting edge Lithium-Polymer which can outperform many of the traditional tablet computers while the operating system takes advantage of what power it has available and uses it efficiently. For a Wi-Fi iPad you can expect to get 10 hours of use time when you are surfing the web, playing videos or listening to music for example, but expect to get a lot less when your trying to max out the CPU as obviously the device will be less efficient. Compare this to the Apple Macbook and you see that you certainly get a lot more usage per charge if you are only doing less CPU intensive tasks, but worse on more demanding jobs.
So how much does it weigh? Weighing in at a meagre 680g you will barely notice that this device is in a pocket or in a bag. A lot less heavier than laptops but obviously more noticeable than a PDA or large mobile phone. You couldn't slip it into a pocket, you could try but I wouldn't advise it.
A massive shame is that it doesnt come with a built in camera, I'm sure it must have been thought of during design but obviously voted against. This would have really added a lot more functionality to the iPad, even a basic iPhone camera which is good for quick snap would have been suffice. This would have led to Skype video calls and other video programs being more useful and possibly incited software developers to move in other directions. The sound that comes from this device is pretty good even though the speaker seems to be the same as the iPhones, but it seems that Apple have made the best from it with software.
This is my basic review of the Apple iPad, I'm pretty happy with what it does and even though I didn't think I would find much use for it, I HAVE!
This is Alex Booth of chooky.co.uk, have a nice Christmas, hopefully someone who loves you may buy you a iPad if your lucky!
The cheapest price for the phone in this review is --> Apple iPad 3G
chooky.co.uk is a phone comparison site that can find you the cheapest price for thousands of mobile phones and deals.
Which Tablet Should I Choose? In Comparison To The iPad 2
Apple's iPad 2 made a big debut when it was released, since then it has met a lot of competition in the tablet industry. With new tablets released from Motorola, Samsung, Telstra, though, there is finally variety in tablet selection.
It's worth comparing what a tablet can and can't do before you splurge all your hard-earned cash. They are a lighter and compact alternative to a notebook, with generally less power than the same notebook available for the same price. At the same time, the touch interface can make work fun and quick with its light weight accessible design, great for presentations and lugging around the house. See the list of 2011 best tablets available on the market below.
Apple iPad 2 WINNER
Price: $499-$699 (varies on memory and 3G capability)
Pros
Apple's newly released tablet leads the market with the most affordable high-end tablet available. If you're an iPhone owner, applications can be transferred to the iPad in one touch. Not only is the tablet lighter, the 9.7 inch screen is even thinner than an iPhone 4. The tablet sports a pair of cameras for video recording and Face Time capability. Multi-tasking is a breeze with its a5 processor and variety of memory options including: 16GB, 32GB and 64 GB.
Cons
The cameras are VGA poor quality and the screen resolution could be improved. Unlike the Telstra or Samsung tablets, there's no phone functionality.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Price: $599 outright (estimate)
Pros
Samsung's Galaxy Tab offers a larger 10.1 inch screen with 1280x800 which beat Apple's 9.7 inch screen with 1024x768 screen resolution. The tablet runs on Android 3.0 or Honeycomb juice which brings the benefits of multi-tasking and customizable widgets to the tablet. The tablet offers an 8MP camera and 2MP front facing camera, in comparison to the iPad's VGA camera. The Galaxy Tablet 10.1 certainly comes out as a worthy competitor to iPad 2 compared to most Android tablets out there.
Cons
The Galaxy tablet comes in the same size as the iPad 2, although the tablet is thicker than the iPad 2 measuring 0.43 inches. The Galaxy is only available in two options 16GB and 32GB.
Motorola Xoom
Price: $799 outright
Pros
The Xoom performs outstandingly with Android 3.0 Honeycomb, the NVidia Tegra 2 dual core processor skims the iPad 2 giving it a graphical advantage over most tablets. The Xoom holds built-in apps such as Google Maps, Gmail and Google Calendar still trump anything built into the iPad 2. The Motorola Xoom tablet has customizable widgets and also has a sleek & sexy design.
Cons
Besides the price tag being very high, the Xoom battery life is shorter than the iPad 2 with a fewer apps available. In terms of specs; Motorola Xoom is one of the top Android tablets to date. But that comes with an expensive price. Is it worth it? You decide.
The iPad 2 will be setting the standard for tablet computing in 2011 but we're going to see a lot of good alternatives throughout the year. Waiting really won't hurt you.
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Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Buzz About Apple iPad - Specifications and Review
The Apple Kingdom has come out with yet another gift for the tech-freaks and made them eager to own one. The latest addition to the whopping list of the products from Apple is the iPad. The features of this amazing tablet are better than the many others that are a part of the race. The features of the iPad are nothing less than impressive and you too will fall in love with it on the very first sight if you love finer pieces that display the power of technology.
The Apple iPad has a 9.7-inch IPS display. The width of the tablet is 0.5 inches and it weighs around 1.5 pounds. This makes it light, zippy, and easy to carry. You can buy the iPad in different memory configurations of 16, 64, and 32 SSD. The screen resolution comes out to be 1024x768, that makes it very clear so that you get to see finer picture details. The new feature in this tablet is that it has the new in-house Apple chip that is customized for your use and is of 1 GHz. The tablet runs on the OS 3.2 (iPhone). You will not face a problem related to the battery life as you can operate the tablet for around 10 hours. Speakers, compass, accelerometer, 30 pin connector, and microphone are also included in the package.
The iPhone applications can be run on the tablet that is better than a phone and a personal computer. Resolution of the display of the applications can be chosen according to your requirement. If you have been wondering where to buy the tablet, you need to know that it will be available for purchase on Apple's website and other websites like eBay and Amazon as well. The product is expected to do well in the market just like the other products that have been launched earlier. The starting price of iPad is just $499. The price will however will vary according to the memory.
Apple has always incorporated some cool features in its products and this is just another innovation that is going to take the customers by surprise with its unique features. The iPad will be your sole entertainment portal and work system and you can carry it wherever you want to. This tablet is full touch screen and you will be able to enjoy the other applications that will be launched by Apple in the future. When the tablet becomes available for purchase, you will be able to take pleasure in using the 140,000 applications at your fingertips. The tablet from Apple iPhone may not be pocket-sized but it surely is bringing some big surprises hidden in a small package.
This is Devid Style from Kolkata, India looking forward for writing new articles in every new thoughts and reviews.
Tech Reviews
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Tip of the Day: Enabling Private Browsing in Mobile Safari
While it’s not a feature you’re likely to use every day, the new version of Safari on iOS 5 does have a handy new trick up its sleeve: Private Browsing. If you need to turn it on—for instance, you’re using someone else’s phone to check your bank information, or otherwise simply don’t want to leave a trace of what you’re looking at—simply open the Settings app, tap on Safari, and turn Private Browsing on. You’ll see a prompt asking if you want to keep the currently open tabs open—if there are any—and will see a similar prompt when turning the feature off. Once it’s enabled, Safari won’t remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information, allowing you to browse in (relative) anonymity.
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Apple iPad Wi-Fi Review
There's something that captures your imagination when you open an Apple box and first see your new gadget. That is certainly the case with the Apple iPad. The first thing you see is the device itself with its large screen. Also included in the box is a cable, power adapter and the famous apple stickers. But was the box worth opening in the first place? Is the iPad really worth getting?
The first thing you need to know is what the iPad is for. After all you can't review a product without knowing what it's for, right? Well Steve Jobs from Apple said that the iPad sits in-between the iPhone and the Macbook. It isn't the best communications device and it isn't for serious work. The iPad is the perfect device for consuming media. Watch movies, show photos, surf the internet, answer e-mails and read books. That's what the iPad is for. It's a device for around the house. I've put that statement to the test.
Design
But before I get into the media stuff let's look at the design first. It's great. The back is all aluminum which makes it feel really classy and decent against scratching. The apple logo sits in the middle.
The front is the same as the iPhone. It's glass from edge to edge with the only buttons being the home button, volume, sleep and screen orientation key. The edges of the screen are now wider which is useful because it enables you to hold the device with one hand without touching the screen. The black and gray contrast between the buttons and the body looks great. The device is very thin and the aluminum border (metal one is gone) makes it one of the best looking gadgets ever made.
The internet & Keyboard
Internet is really important in a tablet, laptop, smartphone well actually in pretty much everything. Luckily Apple knew this and they've worked hard on getting safari just right on the iPad, and they have. The iPad is simply the best internet surfing experience. It's great to see a whole webpage in front of you that you can manipulate without using a mouse or other pointing device. In fact the only downside is the chunkiness in using tabs. It's not fast and it requires you to first press a button and then the page of your choice. I wish it was more like the PC/Mac way with all of your tabs just a single click away.
How does the iPad type? A lot of people asked this question prior to the launch and I can say that I've no problem typing. Portrait mode types fine but can get awkward when you're both holding the device and typing at the same time. But in landscape mode with the iPad on your lap things really come alive. It types just like a normal notebook. And if you mistype, the iPad quickly corrects you and predicts the word you wanted to spell. It works just like the iPhone which was a fine system. You might have to get used to the lack of feedback though. Your only guide is the screen and for some people it may take some time getting used to.
media
Now let's talk media. First of all watching movies is great and a way better experience than a laptop or smartphone can offer. The laptop is simply too heavy for the job and the iPhone's screen is just too small.
Apple included the video app to further enhance the video watching experience and it works great. The app nicely shows a cover art of the movie and it's very easy to go to a curtain chapter or read a description of the movie. I think a lot of people will really fall in love with this feature.
Another big selling point is the ability to show photo's to friends and family. The device can function as a digital photo stand during parties, or you can use the built in app for a great photo viewing experience. The device will tell you where the photos were taken (if geo-tagged) and it will tell faces. Zooming in and out on photos or sweeping across your collection feel great. It's much better than on the iPhone because the larger screen really lends itself for smoother gestures and the great IPS screen shows every detail.
Books are hot again. Apple made an app specifically for reading and buying, it's called iBooks. The app will display all your books on a bookshelf. Tab the library button and the bookshelf will flip to reveal a store. But it's not all great because the store lacks proper navigation. For example you can't navigate by category or publication date. It really doesn't make sense that it lacks this feature, so the store is actually only useful if you already know what you want. But the reading itself is great. It even works in the dark! Take that physical books.
The iPod app is also present. It looks a lot like you're used to in itunes. You can display your music in lists or album covers and see what's playing. Cover flow is mysteriously missing though, but probably won't be missed.
Tab a song and it will display the album cover. Tab again and you get access to the music playing keys. The app is really great to use because the 9.7" display allows you to see all of your songs.
Other provided apps are: calendar, contacts, notes, app store, iTunes, maps, and YouTube. They all work great as expected from Apple. calendar does exactly what you expect it to do. You can watch a whole month without scrolling or tapping, which makes it particularly useful.
Contacts divides the screen in two, one side it shows all the details and on the other the names of your contacts.
Maps is greatly improved on the iPad. Apple did it by only adding one new feature: streetview. And it works easy. Just drop a pin somewhere and press the street button. In fact the streetview works way more intuitive on the iPad than it does on the actual Google site.
Last but not least is YouTube. It's really nice that you can see both the comments and the videos on one screen in portrait. Because let's face it, we all read the comments. In landscape the video fills the whole screen, which makes it a pleasure to watch.
Apps
The app store allows you to download any iPhone app on your iPad. But you can also download apps made specifically for the device.
iPhone apps look awful on the iPad. The screen in 1:1 mode is too small to use and looks silly with all that unused space around it. Displaying the app in 2x modes isn't recommended either because it just looks plain ugly. I can see every pixel in this mode.
iPad apps are great though. The larger screen allows for some exciting stuff. Zombies vs Aliens for example is simply amazing to play. It looks very crisp and the controls are as intuitive as can be.
The iWork package from Apple is another example of screen space used well. Making documents and presentations is easy. In pages I was surprised to see the task bar disappear in landscape mode though.
The future will tell if the bigger screen will allow for some great new apps. I'm a little worried though because of the speed of the device.
Problems
So media is great on the iPad but unfortunately not everything is. Communicating for example isn't really possible because the iPad doesn't have a front facing camera. So grandma won't be able to video chat with her grandchildren in the garden. And the iPad isn't fast. It feels zippy but the apps aren't what they could be and at times the device slowed down a bit. Another problem is the build quality. I could slightly wiggle the volume button and sleep button by holding my fingers on it. On the iPhone for example the buttons are way more stiff. Another thing about the build quality is the vibration that you get when the speakers are playing. It's probably the fair amount of bass that the device can produce but it makes the device feel more fragile in a way.
conclusion
The iPad is amazing in its own little way. It's not going to replace the phone. It's not going to replace the notebook. No, it can't do any of those things. Instead it becomes the best way to interact with your media. Movies, music, books, photos and the internet. And sure you can work on it via the iWork packages from apple. it works fine but not good enough to produce 10.000+ word documents.
The iPad is an amazing tablet and I hope Apple fixes the shortcomings in the next version.
I'm Robin Chung, author of the dutch book Tegenlicht. I have a website that brings interesting reading material from all kind of subjects like health and gaming. The website also includes a forum, so you can discuss the articles, and you can order my book from there.
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Tech Reviews
Blue Snowflake Microphone Review @ Tech-Reviews
Ninjalane
Today we have Blue Snowflake microphone to review. It's a professional microphone in a very small package, so let's see how it performs. The nice thing about the Snowflake is its size and ability to be hidden away when not in use. ...
See all stories on this topic »Today in Tech: Galaxy Nexus, Black Friday, 'Skyward Sword'
Washington Post (blog)
By Hayley Tsukayama Galaxy Nexus gets strong early reviews: The Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Google's next flagship phone, has been getting strong early reviews ahead of its as-yet unannounced US launch date. The phone hit stores in Britain on Thursday, ...
See all stories on this topic »Tech IPOs Stay Hot as Yelp Files to go Public
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The company offers over 22 million reviews of local restaurants and businesses written by its 61 million users. The company is active in 65 markets around the world, 22 of which are in the United States. According to its filing, Yelp recorded a loss of ...
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News: Pandora Radio adds Now Playing on lock screen, in-car improvements
Pandora has released an update to its universal Pandora Radio app adding new iOS 5 features including the display of Now Playing artwork and track information on the iOS Lock screen and improved integration with automative accessories. The latest update also fixes BMW/MINI integration with iOS 5, allows Pandora to stay connected to automotive accessories while in the background and provides access to upgrade to Pandora One from within the app. Pandora Radio is available from the App Store as a free download.
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News: Nielsen: Apple remains top smartphone maker in U.S.
Apple remained the top smartphone manufacturer in the U.S. in the third quarter, according to the latest data from Nielsen. Based on the data, the iPhone accounted for 28 percent of all smartphones in the U.S., while phones based on Google’s Android OS collectively represent 43 percent of the smartphone market. RIM’s BlackBerry accounted for 18 percent, Windows Phone for seven percent, and all other operating systems for four percent. Overall, smartphones now represent 43 percent of the overall U.S. cellphone market, and a “vast majority” of those under the age of 44 now own smartphones, with 62 percent of mobile adults aged 25-34 report owning one of the devices.
If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Five Reasons to Choose an Android Tablet Over an iPad
One of the hottest electronic products this year is clearly the Apple iPad. However these devices clearly lack a lot of desired features (flash, SD card slot, USB port, etc) that Google Android tablets have built in to all there devices. In terms of functionality, features and bang for you buck, an Android tablet is the clear and far away winner.
The top competitor for the Apple iPad right now is any one of a number of Google Android-powered devices manufactured by the likes of Motorola, Samsung, Dell and others. I've done my research and played with a few of the new Android tablets and at this point have decided that an Android tablet is a better choice than the iPad. In fact, there are a number of Android tablets coming out of China that can be had for a mere $100. These devices are every bit as good as the branded models and then some. Here are my top five reasons to choose one of these Android tablets over an iPad:
1. Choice of Size
The Apple iPad is closest in size to a 10×8 picture frame with its dimensions at 9.56 x 7.47 x.5 in. There are no other size options for the iPad, unless you're of the opinion that the iPad is merely a giant iPhone, and in that case the iPhone could count as a smaller version.
Unlike the iPad, the various Android tablets come in a range of sizes. The sizes include 5-inch, 7-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch. The 5-inch tablets are admittedly just slightly larger than popular touchscreen smartphones, which tend to top out in the 4-inch range. But if they make them, there's obviously some kind of market for them. You can go bigger or smaller than the iPad with an Android.
2. True Multitasking
Apple has avoided true multitasking on the iPad primarily due to battery life and performance concerns, the reason they always leave off features on their new iPhones as well.
There are already some Android tablets running off dual-core processors, which have more than enough power to handle true multitasking. The multitasking panel is also extremely easy to navigate.
Apple should have figured out how to deliver true multitasking.
3. Cameras
Apple made a huge mistake in not including a camera on the iPad. At the very least it should have included and outward facing camera, but if it really wanted to be a winner, it would have also had a second, front-facing camera that users could use for video chatting.
Most Android tablets have inward cameras for video chatting. Google's native camera app also has some nice features that will let you alter your image, without having to download and edit it on your computer.
4. No Syncing Required
Whether you own an iPod, iPhone, or an iPad, you must sync the device with iTunes using a computer to transfer downloads purchased on your computer to the device. It's a royal pain, but it's Apple's way of keeping their users coming back to iTunes. It's also a very slow process.
With the Android Market Web Store, you can buy apps on your computer and send them to your device without syncing. Brilliant!
5. Replaceable Batteries
One of the things that irked me most about the iPhone and the iPad was the battery. It's not removable, and if it goes, you have to get a whole new device. If yours breaks and still happens to be under warranty, Apple will send you a new one - for a fee. For the iPad, if the battery goes, you can send in your old one and they'll send you a new one for $99. Oh, and make sure you synced it before it died because when they send you out the new one it won't have any of your apps or personal information on it. If you forgot to sync, you're S.O.L.
Android devices have their own batteries which are replaceable. If the battery goes, you just buy a new one. Or if you're under warranty, the manufacturer can send you a new one without having to bother with taking your entire tablet.
Other Amazing Features of an Android Tablet
-As mentioned above all Android tablets have flash for video as well as SD Card slots for expandable memory (typically up to 32GB). Most usually have USB ports as well for storage or for external devices.
-Android Marketplace has a huge selection of Apps with 50% of them being free! Most other apps can be purchased for a nominal fee of between $1 - $3.
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Tech Reviews
Tech Today: Angie's List, Yelp: A Tale of Two Companies
Wall Street Journal (blog)
By Tom Loftus Angie's List, Yelp: A Tale of Two Companies: Two companies that tap into customer reviews and sell ads to businesses reviewed on their sites are inching closer to an IPO. Yet they couldn't be more different, reports the Wall Street ...
See all stories on this topic »Online reviews site Yelp to go public
Sydney Morning Herald
Yelp is no newcomer to the tech scene; the company was founded in 2004 by former PayPal employees Jeremy Stoppelman and Russel Simmons as a way for consumers to post reviews about _ and discover _ local businesses ranging from all-you-can-eat buffets ...
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Yelp looks like another mediocre tech IPO
MarketWatch
By MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Yelp Inc. has decided to take advantage of the recent opening of the tech IPO window, but its prospectus shows that for all its name-brand recognition, the numbers just aren't there. The community review ...
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Apple iPad Reignited Interest in the Dying Tablet Market
The introduction of the Apple iPad is probably one of the greatest things that must have happened to the tablet PC segment since it was definitely on a downhill prior to the launch of the iPad. However, once it was launched in March 2010, it all changed for the better in the tablet PC segment. It is mainly due to the fact that the Apple brought forward a number of features of the Apple iPhone into the tablet PC segment. Hence, one can also look forward to the iPad as a grown-up Apple iPhone.
The Apple iPad will be bringing the 9.7 inch display to the tablet PC segment and it is one to behold due to the capacitive nature. The large screen size and the capacitive technology bring forward a new dimension to the usability of the touch screen technology. It is the Apple that brings this technology in the best possible way unlike any other tablet PC. The iPad will be coming with the best possible hardware specifications in order to do so. First of all, it will be coming with a single core processor that is rated at 1 GHz. It will be the A4 processor using the same chipset that is responsible for the spell bounding performance in the Apple iPad.
The Apple iPad will be able to run the iOS 4 without any difficulties due to the presence of these hardware specifications. In addition to the powerful processor, the Apple will also be coming with 256 MB of RAM. The amount of RAM becomes crucial since there have been a lot of memory to access in the iPad. There will be three versions exactly and one will be able to choose between the 16 GB or the 32 GB or the 64 GB version quite easily. The presence of connectivity options in the iPad is also varied that will be two different options as well. The introduction of the Wi-Fi and the 3G option in the Apple is something that will be of great use to the number of applications that are present in the Apple app market, which need Internet connectivity. However, one can also choose an iPad without the 3G option. In such a case, you will be having only the Wi-Fi option alone, which is not a bad thing at all.
The Apple iPad will be coming with the microUSB and the Bluetooth as the other options when it comes to the connectivity. The usage of the Apple will not be consuming the power at a rapid rate at all. This is because of the highly efficient procedures that are being used in the iPad to maximise efficiency. As a result, Apple claims that one will be able to use the Apple iPad continuously for up to 10 hours without the battery becoming dead. The Apple iPad's basic version costs £ 329 in the UK.
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Review: OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 4/4S
Both offerings have a similar multi-layer construction: a polycarbonate shell with built in passthrough screen protector and a thick silicone skin that fits over it, with a removable belt clip for each. The first layer is rather similar on both, with a two piece snap-shut design. On the inside of each back piece is a thin padding to cushion the iPhone 4, and each has extruded portions which serve to hold the silicone layer in place. Between the two, the biggest difference is that OtterBox’s case has a circular opening around the Apple logo, covered by a clear plastic window. We are not big fans of this design decision from an aesthetic stand, although it does not considerably lessen the protectiveness of this case.
Where the two cases differ most is the outer silicone shell. Of the two, Survivor feels more substantial and more rugged. It covers every bit of the phone; all of the switches, openings, and even the camera are protected but can be accessed by flipping out the portion of silicone over them, and the volume, Sleep/Wake, and Home Buttons are covered but remain fully usable. For the most part, this is a thoughtful design as there is practically no way any harmful elements could reach the iPhone. In practice, however, it does make using certain features of the device more difficult. For example the extra step of exposing the camera is added to the photo taking process, which is something that could result in lost shots. The noise canceling mic on the top of the phone is also covered during normal use which could certainly lead to degraded call quality. In addition, docking is not possible due to the overall size of the case.
Defender, on the other hand, seems a little bit less protective. The silicone is thinner at points, although it still feels strong. While most of the iPhone 4 is covered, there are significant exceptions. On the bottom, both the speaker and the mic are fully exposed, as is the mic on the top. Even though they are recessed rather deeply, the camera and flash are also open. Similar to the Survivor, the headphone port, silent switch, and Dock Connector are accessible by flipping out the portion of rubber covering them.
Included with both cases is a belt clip. With Survivor, it is situated on a long piece of plastic that fits into the shape of the silicone body, attaching at the top and bottom. It can be rotated in 90 degrees in either direction. On Defender, the clip is on a much larger attachment; it is a a little bit wider than the unit itself, almost serving as a case for the case. The clip itself is much wider than Griffin’s, and can rotate all the way around. On either model, attaching the clip to a belt or bag is probably going to be the easiest way to carry the device, as the cases are quite thick and don’t slide in and out of a pocket too easily.
We did find that using the touchscreen on both models required just a little bit of pressure as the screen protector did not lay perfectly flat, resulting in occasional missed letters and other unrecognized input. It was also somewhat more difficult to type on the Griffin model because the hard plastic base sits right at the edge of the screen, making it harder to access the letters along the outer edge of the keyboard. On Defender this is not an issue as the opening goes a bit wider than the screen.
OtterBox and Griffin have both put forth incredibly protective cases, quite similar in most regards. The biggest distinguishing factors are not really that big at all, but it is certainly a benefit to have the extra coverage around the ports and openings that Survivor provides. By the same token, the lack of quick access to the camera and cramped space around the screen do make it a bit more difficult to use. While we would ultimately recommend Survivor over Defender in direct competition, both are very good options in their category. For this reason, both are deserving of a B+ rating, with their biggest downfalls being lack of universal necessity and unfortunate but necessary bulkiness.
Updated November 2, 2011: OtterBox has released an updated version of Defender for the iPhone 4S. Still retailing at $50, this newer version has two main differences from the original: one large opening for the proximity sensor, front camera, and earpiece as opposed to three separate ones, and a larger integrated hole for the rear camera and flash. Otherwise, Defender looks the same and ships with the same pieces.
A Note From the Editors of iLounge: Though all products and services reviewed by iLounge are "final," many companies now make changes to their offerings after publication of our reviews, which may or may not be reflected above. This iLounge article provides more information on this practice, known as revving.
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