Monthly Archives: May 2015

Lucid by LG

Lucid by LG Review

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We’re taking a look at a smartphone being released by Verizon this week as the newest addition to their 4G LTE lineup: the inexpensive yet surprisingly powerful Lucid by LG. This device features a dual-core Qualcomm processor, a lovely IPS LCD display, and LG’s newest user interface which brings out LG’s choice bits of potential from Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Is this device set up to be the winning high-end tip of the mid range of LTE devices for the biggest mobile carrier in the USA?

Hardware

This device is clearly meant to reflect the everyday user’s need to hold the device in one hand and tap with one thumb, as the size is not gigantic as the LG’s upcoming phablet nor is it so tiny one cannot see the display. It’s got a display that’s made for business as well as casual users, and under the hood is enough power to play even the highest class games on the Google Play App Store today. Qualcomm has created a set of chips in this device capable of bringing power as well as ultra-fast connection speed for data on Verizon’s LTE network.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lucid-by-lg-review-30220747/

HTC One X Review

HTC One X Review

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HTC needed to hit reset on its smartphone strategy. Lulled, perhaps, by several years of leading the Android device market, 2011 brought an incredibly strong push by Samsung and a growing mismatch between the agile software users desired and the bloated, over-stylized interface of HTC Sense. The HTC One X – and the One Series it leads – is the first of the company’s attempt to reclaim its former position, a Tegra 3 toting powerhouse with a big screen, boastful camera and slick design. Still with the specter of the Samsung Galaxy S III on the near horizon, not to mention Apple’s iPhone 5, the One X needs to do more than storm the spec sheet if it’s to make the impact HTC requires. Read on for the full SlashGear review.

Hardware

The One X is a big device, there’s no escaping it. Still, at 134.36 x 69.9 x 8.9 mm and 130g it’s surprisingly lightweight considering the fact you get a 4.7-inch 1280 x 720 display. Build quality of the polycarbonate chassis feels slightly cheaper than the metal-bodied Sensation-series devices of last year, but the upshot is a more pocket-friendly device. It’s creak- and flex-free, too, though the downside to that is the non-user-accessible battery. Beyond a microSIM slot – complete with an HTC branded tray-opening pin, no less – the casing is a solid lump.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-one-x-review-02220844/

HTC One S

HTC One S Review

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The HTC One S may slot into the midrange in the company’s 2012 line-up, but HTC knows that it needs more than just average if it wants to reclaim its position in the smartphone segment. To do that, the One S delivers a slimline metal casing and ticks the big consumer draw elements of camera, screen and speed, with 8-megapixels, a crisp AMOLED display and 1.5GHz dual-core chipset brought out to play. Question is, does the One S deliver enough to distract from the heavyweight of the mainstream models, Apple’s iPhone 4? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hardware

The One S’ slimline form-factor belies its 4.3-inch display, and indeed HTC tells us that – at 7.8mm thick – it’s the company’s thinnest phone to-date. That fact, paired with a narrow (65mm wide) and relatively long (130.9mm) body, makes for a phone that feels great in the hand, slim and sturdy thanks to the metal construction. Whereas HTC turned to polycarbonate to keep the One X’s weight down, the 119.5g One S is clad in metal, and it feels every inch the premium product.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-one-s-review-02220931/

Nokia Lumia 900 review

Nokia Lumia 900 review

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Over the last year Nokia’s had something of a tumultuous time in the mobile industry. While still a power to be feared in the featurephone market, their lack of presence in the smartphone market has been keenly felt. With T-Mobile’s Lumia 710 as a prelude, the Finnish giant makes a return in earnest with the Lumia 900 on AT&T’s LTE network. Its features and design are immediately attractive, but perhaps more so is the price: just $99 on-contract, or free for new AT&T customers. Can a combination of great design, high-end features and price make a bold statement for Nokia? Let’s find out.

Hardware

The Lumia 900 makes two impressive feats right out of the gate: the design of its hardware is both aesthetically pleasing and startlingly original. A 4.5-inch AMOLED screen sits on a tiny lip, melding into a matte polyurethane body unibody. The case curves around on the left and right side but has hard edges on the top and bottom. The general shape (if not the material and size) is reminiscent of the second-generation iPod Nano, and the grippy finish lets you keep the phone reassuringly safe. Even for a phone on the larger side of the spectrum it fits comfortably in both hand and pocket, with my only complaint being the placement of the power button, which I find somewhat awkward.
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https://www.slashgear.com/nokia-lumia-900-review-03221183/

PRADA Phone 3.0 by LG Review

PRADA Phone 3.0 by LG Review

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Are you a trend-setter, a dedicated follower, or a fashion disaster? That’s the question we’ve been asking of the PRADA Phone 3.0 byLG, the phone company’s third attempt at a handset suitable for the catwalk, and the first to legitimately fall under the smartphone banner. Running Android with a custom UI in Anna Wintour’s favorite color scheme, the new PRADA handset is hoping to appeal to fashionistas and geeks in equal measure, but is it truly bespoke, merely off the peg, or a thrift-store special? Read on for the SlashGear review.

Hardware

Mention PRADA and distinctive design is not far behind: the fashion house has a reputation for sex appeal and unusual cuts in its clothing lines, and translating that to technology is a challenge. LG has opted for the slick, contemporary feel of a PRADA accessory – think man-purse or watch – and so the third-gen phone gets sharp edges, slices of metal and leather-style finish.

Note we say leather-style: the textured back panel of the PRADA Phone 3.0 is indeed plastic molded to look and, to a minor extent, feel like hide. LG tells us that’s because real leather could warp or be otherwise marred in daily use, though leather wallets (or indeed cows) don’t seem to necessarily suffer such a fate. The end result is something that looks far better than it feels, which is a black mark against a luxury device.
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https://www.slashgear.com/prada-phone-3-0-by-lg-review-08215250/

HTC Titan II Review

HTC Titan II Review

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Over at AT&T you’ve got two giant choices for hero phones if you want to run with Windows Phone Mango – the Nokia Lumia 900 and the HTC Titan II. Your choices will be based on what you like the phone’s hardware to look like, how nice the camera is, and how fabulous the software runs on either device. As it turns out, HTC may have created a silent hit here in the face of the massively promoted Nokia device – will it survive a secondhand mention?

Hardware

HTC has never had trouble delivering a fabulous looking smartphone when they’ve been on point – and 2012 has proven several times already that this is a year when this king of hardware is going to be bringing the heat all across the board. HTC’s Titan II takes the great hardware points that were live in the first Titan device and increases them from top to bottom. There’s a gigantic 4.7-inch S-LCD on the front, the soft plastic on the front has one cover on it with some excellent patterning for grip and easy usability, and the camera on the back is better than any other Windows Phone released thus far.
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https://www.slashgear.com/htc-titan-ii-review-11222465/

Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 Review

Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6 Review

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As the world finds itself in a frenzy looking for every smart product they can get their hands on, Samsung continues to move forward with a series of relatively low-cost media machines called Galaxy Players. Today we’re taking a peek at the Samsung Galaxy Player 3.6, a device which with its 3.6-inch display has Android 2.3 Gingerbread at your fingertips complete with wireless connections such as Bluetooth and Wi-fi set to have you working with the full gamut of Samsung and otherwise wireless-friendly connections. The screen resolution is relatively low compared to the high-grade Samsung smartphones out there, and the processor is sort of tiny – is it still enough to entice the masses?

Hardware

The device at hand here isn’t going to compete with the Galaxy S IIline by any means – it’s not meant to break down the competition with a high definition display nor a fabulout dual or quad-core processor. Instead it’s made to play media, and that it does well. The 3.6-inch display is not high definition because it’s meant to act primarily as a control interface for the rest of your devices as well as play music with Samsung’s simplified apps for just that purpose.

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/NlLZwMGg5hA”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-player-3-6-review-12222619/
MacBook Air Review: it’s a different beast inside out

MacBook Air Review: it’s a different beast inside out

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When the MacBook Air first launched, nobody could deny it was physically impressive.  Well under an inch thick, it was a visual delight to anybody who saw it.  Ironically, any disappointment was saved for the owners themselves: the payoff for those market-besting dimensions was underpowered components and the tendency to overheat.  Now, Apple have freshly inflated the Air with new technology, in fact just about everything down to the memory is new.  Second time around, have they created the ultimate ultraportable?

Where with the original Air it was the outside that was revolutionary, this time around it’s the inside where all the major changes have happened.  Out goes the old 2GB of DDR2 667MHz memory, to be replaced with 2GB of DDR3 1,066MHz; storage gets a kick too, with the entry-level Air going from 80GB PATA to 120GB SATA, while the SSD version doubles to 128GB.  Similarly, the integrated Intel GMA X3100 graphics chipset of the original Air is junked in favor of the same NVIDIA GeForce 9400M chipset as found in the new unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro.

In fact similarities between the Air, the MacBook and the MacBook Pro are now all the more obvious.  Casing design is one such area: Apple was generous with their credit to the Air during the recent unibody MacBook announcements, as paving the way in laser-cut aluminum design.  Requiring a little closer examination is the switch from Mini DVI to Mini DisplayPort, again as found on its bigger siblings, supporting DVI, VGA and Dual-Link DVI via various adapters.  Otherwise there’s still the same single USB 2.0 port and headphone socket, with wired Ethernet available only via an optional USB-to-RJ45 adapter.
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https://www.slashgear.com/macbook-air-review-its-a-different-beast-inside-out-2824523/

Sony VAIO P: SlashGear Review

Sony VAIO P Review

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One of the major announcements for CES 2009, the Sony VAIO P has been hailed by some as the ultimate netbook, and by others as a folly of “what Sony can do” rather than “what Sony should do”.  SlashGear has been using the VAIO P for near enough the past two weeks; we shared our first-impressions back during the show, now it’s time for the full review.

Build quality – and bear in mind this is not a final production model – is high, with a few notable exceptions.  Despite being all plastic, the casing feels expensive and shows little twist.  The gloss finish is obviously a fingerprint magnet, but we’ve a feeling that VAIO P buyers will be regularly tending to their ultraportables with a microfiber cloth.  However the hinges on our demo unit seemed a little on the weak side, flexing when the display is pushed back further than its allowed travel, plus the trackpoint stick displayed a tendency to drift to the left if you hold the VAIO P at an angle.  We’d not expect to see these issues in production versions.

Part of the pay-off for a casing so compact is that you sacrifice user-accessible parts.  There are no handy upgrade panels on the base of the VAIO P, primarily because there’s nothing really for a user to upgrade.  The 2GB of RAM is soldered to the mainboard, and there’s no approved way to switch out the EV-DO Rev.A card.  Undoubtedly we’ll see hacks of the notebook shortly after general release, but for most owners the VAIO P won’t see any hardware changes in its lifetime.
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https://www.slashgear.com/sony-vaio-p-slashgear-review-2031218/

Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch Review

Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch Review

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The 17-inch MacBook Pro was the last of the Apple notebook range to get a unibody update, but for those looking for superlative media editing and general processing grunt it more than delivers.  Apple shipped over the new MacBook Pro just after it launched, and we’ve been spending the last few weeks getting to grips with the new notebook and putting it through its paces.  After the cut, anti-glare screens, NVIDIA’s GeForce 9600M and portability from the thinnest, lightest 17-incher around.

For this particular MacBook Pro review unit we opted for the anti-glare LCD display.  According to Apple the anti-glare treatment process is almost exactly the same as the standard glossy screen: the coating is applied instead of the final, high-gloss glass panel.  Our experience suggests that it completely eliminates glare, and is well worth the $50 upgrade cost.

The quality of the display is already making us wonder how we’ll live without it once Apple demand the review unit back.  It’s the only MacBook around on which you can natively edit 1080p high-definition video, and our tests show that the processor and graphics readily keep up their side of the bargain.  The basic model comes with a 2.66Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU (2.93GHz is a $300 option), 4GB of DDR3 RAM (8GB is $1,000), a 320GB 5,400rpm hard-drive (7,200rpm or up to 256GB SSDs are options) and an 8x SuperDrive DVD burner, plus switchable NVIDIA graphics.
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https://www.slashgear.com/apple-macbook-pro-17-inch-review-0840533/

Fujitsu Amilo Mini Ui 3520

Fujitsu Amilo Mini Ui 3520 Review

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When Fujitsu-Siemens announced they’d be making a netbook, many ears pricked up. The company has a long history of ultraportable devices, and still makes one of the more appealing UMPCs; many hoped some of that innovation would follow through to the Amilo Mini Ui 3520. One landed on the SlashGear test bench recently, and we thought it only fair to put it through its paces.

Back when the first in-the-wild shots of the Amilo Mini emerged, we admired its Stormtrooper-esque design and compact size. In the plastic, it has a semi-gloss finish that does a reasonable job of avoiding fingerprint smudges, plus you can replace the lid cover for alternative colors. Fujitsu-Siemens pre-fit the white and include a burgundy red cover (and will sell you additional options) but we can’t seem most people swapping even semi-frequently, if at all.

Ports include two USB 2.0 sockets, audio in/out, VGA, a multiformat card-reader, ethernet and a 34mm ExpressCard slot. The latter may find favor with mobile users toting ExpressCard 3G modems, but the specs of the Amilo Mini undermine anything more serious such as high-quality sound cards or TV tuners. More disappointing is the keyboard and trackpad, neither of which is especially appealing. The trackpad is an okay size, if a little small, but the buttons not only flank it but have angled cut-outs at the bottom, presumably for stylistic reasons. In reality, though, it simply makes them harder to press.
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https://www.slashgear.com/fujitsu-amilo-mini-ui-3520-review-1747254/

Lenovo ThinkPad T400s laptop review

Lenovo ThinkPad T400s laptop review

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Straddling the divide between ultraportable and mainstream notebook, Lenovo’s ThinkPad T400s squeezes a business-friendly 14.1-inch LED-backlit display, Intel Core 2 Duo processor and integrated WWAN into a chassis just 0.83-inches thick. SlashGear had the opportunity for a pre-release hands-on; check out our first impressions after the cut, together with some preliminary T400s benchmarks.

There’s no mistaking the T400s for a CULV notebook when you look at the spec sheet. Lenovo offer a choice of standard-voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processors, either the 2.4GHz SP9400 or the 2.53GHz SP9600chips, plus either up to 256GB of SSD or 250GB of HDD storage and up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM. There’s also an integrated optical drive, a 9.5mm slim line DVD burner or Blu-ray player, plus a 34mm ExpressCard slot or 5-in-1 multimedia card reader. Graphics are courtesy of Intel’s GMA 4500MHD chipset, with no higher-spec options. Lenovo also fit WiFi as standard, and offer optional Bluetooth, WWAN (either AT&T HSPA or Verizon EVDO Rev.A, using Ericsson or Qualcomm chipsets respectively), WiMAX or ultrawideband connectivity. That’s a decent list, but we wish Lenovo had used Qualcomm’s Gobi chipset, which would’ve supported not only HSPA and EVDO in the same modem, but GPS as well.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-thinkpad-t400s-laptop-review-2247655/

Acer Aspire Timeline 3810T Review

Acer Aspire Timeline 3810T Review

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Acer’s Timeline range of notebooks spans the gamut from 13.3-inch ULV ultraportable to 15.6-inch mainstream laptop, promising prolonged battery life with an affordable price tag. The company sent over their Aspire Timeline 3810T, a 13.3-inch 1.4GHz ULV machine with heady runtime estimates and an $899 sticker, for SlashGear to try out; check out the full review after the cut.

The display is an LED-backlit 13.3-inch panel, running at 1366 x 768. It’s a crisp, readable screen with less glare than you’d imagine from when the Timeline is switched off, but – like with other ultraportables we’ve used lately – we found ourselves wishing it offered a slightly higher resolution. When you can get the same number of pixels in an 11.6-inch netbook for a few hundred dollars less, you find yourself asking for more.

Still, what the Timeline 3810T did deliver on is runtime. Acer claim you can manage a full eight hours on the standard battery, and much to our surprise with moderate use and sensible backlight settings it lasted for roughly six hours. Shut off the WiFi, turn the brightness right down and limit yourself to the most basic of Office tasks and you’ll probably see that eight hours.
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https://www.slashgear.com/acer-aspire-timeline-3810t-review-2648099/

MacBook Pros (13-inch and 15-inch, Mid 2009) Review

MacBook Pros (13-inch and 15-inch, Mid 2009) Review

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We’re over the surprise of seeing new MacBook Pro models arrive at Apple’s WWDC keynote, and on paper the new 13- and 15-inch notebooks certainly tick most of the consumer boxes.  Our first-impressions – which you can find with our video unboxing – were that the new Pros have emphasized the most-used functionality at the expense of dropping some of the more marginally used features.  Have those opinions changed?  Check out our full review after the cut.

We listed the main changes in our unboxing post, but aside from the inevitable processor, RAM and storage tweaks the biggest changes are Firewire 800, SD card compatibility, new displays and integrated batteries.  Most of the time we found – Pro branding or not – that using the two notebooks was exactly the same as using their previous-gen unibody versions.  That means you get the same, well-balanced and tactile keyboard, highly-glossy display coating, excellent build quality and an integrated DVD drive.

Turning to the 13-inch model first, we feel this is where new MacBook Pro buyers are getting the most for their money.  Apple claim their new LCD panel offers a much-improved color gamut, and from switching between it, its predecessor and our MacBook Air we’ll certainly agree that the newest screen is also the most usable.  Colors are richer – assuming you’re not battling reflections – and viewing angles are far greater than before.  Dropping the ExpressCard slot is probably not something 13.3-inch notebook buyers will find especially distressing, and the addition of an SD card slot makes perfect sense for this portable machine.  You also lose a separate audio-in socket, gaining iPhone headset compatibility with the remaining socket.
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https://www.slashgear.com/macbook-pros-13-inch-and-15-inch-mid-2009-review-2648120/

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 Review

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 Review

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As evolutionary updates go you don’t get more basic than a cosmetic refresh, so imagine our surprise to find Lenovo guilty of just such a relaunch.  The Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 takes the company’s original S10 netbook and, most obviously, reworks the casing; is that enough to keep the S10-2 near the top of the netbook leaderboard?  SlashGear set to finding out.

To be fair to Lenovo, it’s not only the casing that has been tweaked.  There have been some port changes too, dropping the ExpressCard 34 slot and replacing it with a third USB 2.0 socket, together with squeezing in a slightly larger keyboard and shaving 0.1-inches of thickness and 0.4lbs of weight off.  The result is an altogether slicker, curvier and, dare we say it, less Lenovo-like netbook, which will please customers tempted over from HP and ASUS, but might not satisfy staunch ThinkPad addicts.

Build-quality, despite the relatively low price, is decent, and we find the overall design to be attractive in a vaguely non-descript way.  Things don’t get much more distinctive under the hood, mind; you’re looking at the usual 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard-drive and a standard 6-cell battery.  The 10.1-inch display runs at 1024 x 600 resolution and uses Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics; meanwhile connectivity is the somewhat miserly WiFi b/g (no draft-n support here) paired with 10/100 Ethernet.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-ideapad-s10-2-review-1549467/

lg-g4c-g4-stylus

LG adds two new models to G4 smartphone series

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New smartphones come in a bit larger and smaller than the company’s flagship G4.

 

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The larger G4 Stylus (left) and smaller G4c join LG’s flagship handset series.LG

 

Less than a month after LG launched its G4, the flagship handset is getting a pair of new smartphone siblings.

The Korean electronics giant on Monday took the wraps off the new G4 Stylus and G4c, handsets that incorporate many of the features of the G4 in larger and smaller packaging, respectively. The G4 Stylus sports a 5.7-inch display, slightly larger than the flagship G4, and as the name suggests, includes a stylus for taking notes or doodling on the screen. The G4c’s display comes in a bit smaller at 5 inches.
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https://www.cnet.com/news/lg-adds-two-new-models-to-g4-smartphone-series/

Toshiba Portégé R600 Review

Toshiba Portégé R600 Review

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Toshiba may not have the fashionable appeal of Apple, nor the solid reputation of Lenovo, but they do know how to push the envelope. Their Portégé series of ultraportables is already slim, and was the first to offer a 128GB SSD back in 2008; now it’s the first, in the shape of the Portégé R600, to offer a 512GB SSD. Legitimate business tool or shallow one-upmanship? SlashGear decided to find out.

In terms of physical design, at 283 x 215.8 x 19.5-25.5 mm and 2.46lbs the Portégé R600 is certainly thin and light, but don’t expect a full metal casing for your money. Instead, you get a plastic shell with metal-effect paint; Toshiba say it’s part of their shock-absorbing design, but we can’t help but be a little disappointed at how it makes the R600 feel cheap compared to its MacBook Air and ThinkPad X301 rivals.
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https://www.slashgear.com/toshiba-portege-r600-review-2350161/

Gigabyte Booktop M1022 netbook review

Gigabyte Booktop M1022 netbook review

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If there’s one segment in consumer electronics where it’s hard to stand out, it’s netbooks.  The race to the bottom line, together with strict rules from component suppliers regarding maximum specifications, means that the hardware of most machines follows the same, tired pattern.  To differentiate, some brands have gone for super-slimline designs, or extended battery life; Gigabyte, meanwhile, have taken a more unusual route.  Their Booktop M1022 netbook comes complete with a desktop docking station; our friends over at Mobilx.hu were good enough to send us a review unit to try out.

Docking stations certainly aren’t unusual in the laptop world, and many users – especially in enterprise situations – will have been slotting their notebooks into breakout docks for years now.  Docks for netbooks, though, are less common, although the principle remains the same: have a compact machine, in the M1022’s case a 10.2-incher, for travel, then hook it up to a full-sized display, keyboard and mouse with a single connection when you’re back at the office.

Gigabyte have taken the middle-ground with the Booktop’s dock.  With three USB 2.0 ports, ethernet, VGA output, power and a line-out socket, it provides more than just keyboard/mouse connectivity, but doesn’t offer anything that the M1022 itself hasn’t got.  The netbook sits upright, connected by a proprietary socket, and there are power and battery buttons on the front panel of the dock so that you can control the M1022 while the screen is closed.
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https://www.slashgear.com/gigabyte-booktop-m1022-netbook-review-2450266/

Canon EOS M3 compact camera system packs 24.2MP sensor

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Canon has rolled out the latest addition to its line of EOS digital cameras with the all-new EOS M3. The big feature of this camera is that it has a compact body and promises to deliver DSLR levels of performance. The little camera has the first 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor inside that Canon has produced combined with the most advanced image processor Canon offers with the DIGIC 6 sensor.

In addition to taking high quality still shots, the camera can also record full HD resolution movies. Canon also gives the camera high performance auto focus so it’s easier to snap an image quickly. The EOS M3 has a 49-point AF system complemented with Hybrid CMOS AF III technology. Along with fast autofocus and high resolution, the camera also has full manual controls just as you would find on a DSLR camera.

 

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https://www.slashgear.com/canon-eos-m3-compact-camera-system-packs-24-2mp-sensor-06367843/

Acer Aspire One AO751h Review – 11.6″ HD Netbook

Acer Aspire One AO751h Review – 11.6″ HD Netbook

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It’s probably fair to say that we haven’t been particularly impressed with what we’ve heard about Acer’s Aspire One 751. The phrase “pretty but dumb” has been muttered more than once, an aesthetically pleasing machine but one lacking in processing power. So when Acer offered us the latest version, the AO751h-1522, we jumped at the opportunity to see how it holds up to our own exacting standards. Check out the full review after the cut

Outwardly the AO751 is an attractive, well made netbook. The 11.6-inch 1,366 x 768 16:9 HD-ready LED display sits above a well-sized, tactile keyboard which shows very little in the way of flex. The touchpad supports multitouch gestures such as pinch-zooming, two-finger scrolling and the like, and while smaller than the pad you’ll find on a MacBook still proved highly usable. Around the edges there are three USB 2.0 ports, ethernet, VGA and audio in/out ports, together with a multiformat card reader; above the display is a webcam. The 6-cell 5,200mAh Li-ion battery protrudes out of the back of the chassis, but we found it provided a useful place to grip the AO751 when carrying it.
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https://www.slashgear.com/acer-aspire-one-ao751h-review-11-6-hd-netbook-2053078/

Gateway NV5214u Notebook Review

Gateway NV5214u Notebook Review

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While expensive ultraportables may get the bulk of online attention, the real battle is going on at the budget end of the market, where netbooks, CULV ultra-thins and cheap notebooks are fighting it out for a slice of the lucrative back-to-school audience. Into the fray steps Gateway, no stranger to the segment, and they’ve brought along their NV5214u, very much the desktop-replacing notebook rather than a slick but underpowered netbook. With an MRSP of $499.99 it certainly ticks the budget box; check out the full SlashGear review after the cut to see if it can tick any others.

NV5214u_6_slashgear

First impressions are fair. To judge solely by appearance, Gateway have thrown some decent design at the NV5214u: the chassis and trim is obviously plastic, given the price, but they’re nicely patterned and cleanly molded. Hands on and most of the common touch-points are solid, with the lid showing some flex but the keyboard being generally firm and the trackpad mildly textured. The single mouse button bar hides two keys, with a Gateway logo in the middle, and the pad itself recognizes various multitouch gestures including chiral-scroll and pinch-zoom. Since the 15.6-inch 16:9 aspect LCD display is pretty broad, Gateway have squeezed a separate numeric keypad to the right of the keyboard, which means you end up with a slightly smaller ‘board overall compared to a normal desktop unit. It’s still usable, though, even with the flat rather than dished key-caps.
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https://www.slashgear.com/gateway-nv5214u-notebook-review-0455204/

The Canon EOS C300 Mark II

Canon EOS C300 Mark II revealed with 4K video

Cameras, , , , , , , , , , ,

The successor to the original Canon EOS C300 has been revealed by the company with 4K video and dual DIGIC DV5 processors inside. The Canon C300 Mark II works with Dual Pixel CMOS AF, up to 410Mbps recording in 4K, and 10-bit 4:2:2 in 4K recording (UHD 3840 x 2160 & DCI cinematic (4096 x 2160 pixels) as well. Users will find this appearing in camera stores throughout the United States in and around September, while some retailers have begun taking pre-orders now. This camera will effectively replace the original C300 in Canon’s video lineup.

This device works with 10/12-bit 4:4:4 video in 2K and Full HD. You’ll find up to 30 frames per second (30p) in 4K, while 2K and full HD (1080) can deliver up to 120p. You’ll also be able to push 4K RAW files to an external recorder.
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https://www.slashgear.com/canon-eos-c300-mark-ii-revealed-with-4k-video-08377996/

 

MacBook Unibody review (late 2009)

MacBook Unibody review (late 2009)

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

With the launch of the unibody MacBook, Apple have not only completed the transition to their newest laptop aesthetic but also narrowed the gap between their entry-level and Pro ranges. On face level that can only mean good things for the end consumer, but does the $999 MacBook really represent the bargain Apple tell us it is? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Hold the spec sheet for the new MacBook and the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro together, and you’ll find far more similarities than differences. Both have Intel’s 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of DDR3 memory, and an 8x SuperDrive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M 256MB graphics. In fact, the new MacBook gets a bigger standard hard-drive – 250GB 5,400rpm – than the Pro. Both also have standard WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports and Mini DisplayPort. The 13.3-inch displays on each are glossy, run at 1,280 x 800 native resolution and are vividly colored; the Pro, however, has a much broader color gamut and is significantly brighter than the basic MacBook, something to consider if you’re intending to use the notebook for graphics.
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https://www.slashgear.com/macbook-unibody-review-late-2009-2261568/

Gateway EC54 Review – 15.6″ CULV Notebook (EC5409u)

Gateway EC54 Review – 15.6″ CULV Notebook (EC5409u)

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , ,

It used to be that only the smallest, most frugal of netbooks – paired with huge, 9-cell batteries – could offer the reassurance of a full day away from an outlet. Now, with the advent of Intel’s consumer ultra-low voltage processors, notebooks that wouldn’t look out of place on a regular desk can now boast lengthy run-times too. Into the fray steps the Gateway EC5409u, distinguishing itself not only by virtue of healthy battery life predictions – up to 8hrs, Gateway ambitiously suggest – but a reasonably-sized 15.6-inch display. Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Given that Acer acquired Gateway back in 2007, it comes as little surprise that the EC54’s hardware design and build quality are pretty much on a par with Acer’s recent Aspire consumer notebooks. It’s a reasonably stylish, if not especially eye-catching notebook, with a glossy lid that’s guaranteed to pick up fingerprints. While the majority of the chassis is solid, the keyboard does feels a little flimsy; happily the trackpad is pleasantly smooth and responsive.
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https://www.slashgear.com/gateway-ec54-review-15-6-culv-notebook-ec5409u-1363523/

Nokia Booklet 3G review

Nokia Booklet 3G review

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While many scoffed at the idea of Nokia building a netbook, the idea does have its share of merits. After all, the Finnish company knows a few things about eking out runtimes from compact batteries, and with netbooks being perhaps the most likely of computing devices to be in search of mobile connectivity, stuffing them with the sort of wireless access your high-end Nokia boasts certainly makes sense. Throw in eye-catching design and you’re onto a winner, right? Unfortunately, we’ve found the Nokia Booklet 3G falls short in other areas; check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Physically, the Booklet 3G is bordering on Apple-levels of attractiveness. The brushed aluminum chassis is solid and the plastic side-inserts feel high quality. We’re still not convinced by the plastic top plate on the outside of the lid, and would prefer plain metal, but that’s a minor aesthetic issue with a generally very good looking netbook. As you can see in our unboxing video, ports include power, one USB 2.0, SIM and SD along the right-hand side, together with power and a speaker, and HDMI, two USB 2.0 and a headset socket along the left-hand side, together with the second speaker. Underneath there’s the large removable battery and four rubber feet, with Nokia showing admirable restraint in their labelling.
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https://www.slashgear.com/nokia-booklet-3g-review-2364171/

Lenovo ThinkPad X100e Review

Lenovo ThinkPad X100e Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lenovo’s ThinkPad range has a new baby brother, and while the company is now several generations through its IdeaPad netbooks, the ThinkPad X100e is the first CULV-style machine intended for mobile pros. It’s an ambitious undertaking, certainly: can the company deliver the traditional build-quality, reliability and performance expected from a ThinkPad, along with the low price expected for an 11.6-inch ultraportable? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

While Lenovo will eventually offer dual-core processors, our review unit came with a 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 CPU, paired with 2GB of RAM and a 160GB 5,400rpm hard-drive. Graphics are courtesy of an ATI Radeon HD3200 chipset, and the battery is a 6-cell 2,600mAh pack Lenovo rate for up to 5hrs runtime. Connectivity includes WiFi b/g/n (Bluetooth is a $20 option, not present on our unit), three USB 2.0 ports (one of which is powered), VGA, a combo mic/headphone socket and gigabit ethernet.

The ThinkPad X100e’s display is an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 HD Ready panel, LED backlit, and with a webcam above. In terms of appearance, the ThinkPad heritage is obvious; it’s an angular, squared off notebook, and the traditional red TrackPoint nubbin nestles among an isolated key “chiclet” keyboard, in addition to a multitouch-capable trackpad and two sets of mouse buttons.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-thinkpad-x100e-review-2972091/

Toshiba Mini NB305 Netbook Review

Toshiba Mini NB305 Netbook Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Intel’s Atom N270 processor – and the surrounding limitations on specifications – had a lot to answer for: over a year of cookie-cutter netbooks. With the advent of Pine Trail, Intel look to be loosening their grip on the segment a little, at least, but does the Atom N450 offer a genuine improvement over its well-worn predecessor? Toshiba sent over their latest netbook, the Mini NB305; check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Our review unit, the NB305-N410B, comes with Intel’s 1.66GHz Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM and a 250GB 5,400rpm hard-drive. The 10.1-inch 1024 x 600 display uses GMA 3150 graphics, and there’s WiFi b/g/n, 10/100 ethernet, a webcam, three USB 2.0 ports (one of which remains powered when the netbook is turned off, for charging phones and PMPs) and a multitouch trackpad. The whole thing measures a reasonably compact 10.47 x 7.57 x 1.43 inches, weights 2.60lbs and has a textured Royal Blue finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Build quality is high, and the design – though using plenty of plastic – is at least pretty distinctive among the netbook rank and file. The textured finish on the outer lid continues around the screen bezel, and there’s a bright blue power button/LED in the middle of the hinge. Toshiba have wisely given the NB305’s keyboard pretty much the full width of the netbook to play with, and the result is one of the better ‘boards we’ve used. Each key balances springiness and travel nicely. Underneath sits a large, multitouch-capable touchpad that required some settings-fiddling before it would play nicely with pinch-zoom and rotate gestures.
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https://www.slashgear.com/toshiba-mini-nb305-netbook-review-2675844/

Viewsonic ViewBook Pro VNB131

Viewsonic ViewBook Pro VNB131 Review

Computers & IT, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

There’s no mistaking Viewsonic’s design inspiration. From the Apple-style packaging to the brushed-metal finish of the VNB131 itself, this is most definitely a MacBook wannabe. Still, if you’re going to base your product on a rival, you could do far worse than choose Cupertino’s finest, so the question has to be whether theViewsonic VNB131 lives up to the standard. Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

Measuring in at 12.67 x 9.4 x 1.0 inches it’s nicely portable, certainly. Ports include two USB 2.0, HDMI and VGA, 10/100 ethernet, audio in/out and a 7-in-1 memory card reader, and there’s a removable, tray-loading DVD burner too. Pull that out and replace it with the secondary battery, and Viewsonic reckon you can have up to 12hrs runtime.

Under the hood there’s an Intel Core 2 Duo ULV SU7300 processor with 2GB of DDR2 memory, a 2.5-inch 320GB hard-drive and Windows 7 Home Premium. You also get WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR. The display, meanwhile, is a 13.3-inch LED-backlit 16:10 aspect panel running at 1,280 x 800 resolution, and it’s one of the most impressive things about the Viewsonic. Not only are viewing angles great, but the screen is clear, vibrant and sharp, with no washing out even at reduced brightness levels.
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https://www.slashgear.com/viewsonic-viewbook-pro-vnb131-review-0576776/

Panasonic G7

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Replacing the Panasonic G6, the G7 sits beneath the Panasonic GH4 in the company’s line-up of compact system cameras. It’s the smaller of the two SLR-like models and is aimed at enthusiast photographers. It sits alongside the rectangular Panasonic GX7 and above the GF7, GM1 and GM5.

Every Panasonic interchangeable lens camera briefing recently seems to have started with the words ‘it’s got the same sensor as the GX7’, and it’s the same with the G7. This means the new camera has the same resolution as the camera it replaces, 16MP, but the sensor is newer (albeit still two years old). This sensor is coupled with the Venus Engine 9 processing engine found in the GH4 and, according to Panasonic’s Michiharu Uematsu, this combination produces the best image quality of any Panasonic camera. It also enables a native sensitivity range of ISO 200-25,600 with a low expansion setting of ISO 100. The G6 has a native range of ISO 160-12,800 with an expansion setting of 25,600, so we can assume an improvement in image quality at the higher sensitivity values.
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https://www.techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/digital-slrs-hybrids/panasonic-g7-1294064/review

Samsung Galaxy S7: what we want to see

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Did you know the S in Samsung’s Galaxy S series stands for “Super Smart”? Pretty cheesy isn’t it? But Samsung really does believe the brand supplies the best of the best in its Galaxy S series.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edgereleased at the start of 2015 proved to be two of the most exciting handsets on the market right now and we gave them both near on perfect reviews with only a few little problems on each letting them down.

Those problems need to be ironed out by the next time around and it’s exciting to think what Samsung will be able to pull off with its new found lease of design changes and true innovation.

So what will the Galaxy S7 bring to the table? The rumours are already coming in, so here’s everything in one easy place for you to see.
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https://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-s7-1315188/review