Monthly Archives: May 2015

New iPad Review (3rd Gen)

New iPad Review (3rd Gen)

Tablets, , , , , , , ,

 

Apple’s new iPad arrives to more than its fair share of expectations. The third generation tablet follows models that first created and then accelerated the consumer slate experience, and all eyes are on the new iPad to see whether it can keep up the momentum. Those eyes will have plenty to reward them, too: the biggest change to the new iPad is its incredibly detailed Retina Display. Pre-orders are through the roof, and queues outside Apple Stores began a week ahead of sales starting: there’s no doubting interest is high, but does the new iPad live up to expectations? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.

In the inevitable hubbub following the third-generation iPad’s reveal last week, some complained that the tablet lacked in revolutionary changes. In many ways – aesthetically, in build-quality, usability and more – it’s the same as its iPad 2 predecessor, which will indeed stay on sale as a budget option alongside it. Many of the observations in our iPad 2 review hold true about the new iPad, but there are some key differences.
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https://www.slashgear.com/new-ipad-review-3rd-gen-14218465/

New iPad: The Skeptic’s Review

New iPad: The Skeptic’s Review

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

I sent back the iPad 2, but I’m keeping the new iPad. Two years ago I wrote my first iPad skeptic’s review, a more oblique – and personal – opinion on Apple’s tablet than the traditional SlashGear review. A year later I did the same for the iPad 2, finding it improved but, from a combination of hardware and software, not sufficient of an upgrade for my needs to justify keeping it. Now Apple is up to its third-generation tablet, criticized by some as another “minor” refresh but in fact a considerable step up in the overall user-experience.

When I wrote my first skeptic’s review, my Android tablet experience had been with the original Samsung Galaxy Tab, the 7-inch model running a smartphone version of the Google OS with some UI tweaks from Samsung itself. Since then, we’ve seen a rush of Honeycomb tablets and, within the past couple of months, some models running Ice Cream Sandwich too. The size range has exploded too, with everything from 7-inchers (if we discount the Galaxy Note as a large phone rather than a tiny tablet) through to 10.1.
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https://www.slashgear.com/new-ipad-the-skeptics-review-22219682/

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Review

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

There’s a brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet in town, and this one is what Samsung hopes will be a whole new experience driver for the whole hardware family. Where what we’ve seen before from Samsung has been a set of tablets that tried to be everything at once, this and the 10.1-inch version of the Galaxy Tab 2 are both aiming more at the services they can provide with other devices rather than concentrating on that plus content creation plus gaming plus a partridge in a pear tree. What we’ve got here instead is Samsung’s suite of connected services encapsulated in one machine – and it feels nice to use, too!

Camera

The camera setup here clearly isn’t made for the everyday photo and video enthusiast, instead held back to cut costs for the entire tablet as it stays within the realm of camera-toting tablets (an elite bunch, as I’m sure you’re aware.) Have a peek at some examples here and let us know what you think. The photos are taken with the 3 megapixel capabilities of the back-facing camera, while the video can be viewed at up to full quality 720p.

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/8uy6oiOjtGg”]

Look like good enough quality media for your everyday life?

[su_slider source=”media: 4243,4244,4245″ height=”400″ title=”no”]
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Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-2-7-0-review-11222509/

ASUS Transformer Pad TF300

ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 Review

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , ,

 

If the ASUS Transformer Prime seemed like a masterpiece of a 10.1-inch Android tablet to you but you decided to wait and see if ASUS would release a slightly lower-cost model of nearly the same thing – you’re in luck. What we’ve got here is the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300, This 10.1-inch tablet comes with Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich right out of the box, has its own unique keyboard dock (sold separately) and comes in Royal Blue (which we’ve got here,) Torch Red, and Iceberg White. Let’s have a look at what makes this model cost a bit less than the Prime and if it still seems appealing without the added frills.

Camera

The camera on this device is, as stated above, an 8 megapixel shooter with the ability to record 1080p video as well. There’s an F2.2 aperture for sweet snapping and the camera interface has changed ever so slightly from the original build on the Transformer Prime. Have a peek at the camera interface here:

[su_slider source=”media: 4234,4235,4236″ height=”400″ title=”no”]

Next have a look at some 1080p video as well as several snapshots taken in various conditions with the back-facing camera on this device. Again compare and contrast them with the quality of the Transformer Prime which has essentially the same setup but with no flash for taking photos in the dark.

[su_slider source=”media: 4237,4238,4239″ height=”400″ title=”no”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/asus-transformer-pad-tf300-review-22223983/

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Review

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

This week we’ve gotten the next Galaxy Player family member in the house with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. What’s that, you say? The Galaxy Tab 2 is a tablet and not a Galaxy Player? I beg to differ, ladies and gentlemen, as the Samsung world has done a big split in recent months, with no less than the Galaxy Tab 2 line heading in the direction of the media player while the Galaxy Note line (including the 10.1, for example) moves in the direction the Galaxy Tab 10.1 original started in back at Google I/O in 2011. Have a peek at what the Tab 2 line continues here in the 2 10.1 for the media world.

This device works with a wide variety of Samsung applications made perfect for the Galaxy Tab 2 and Galaxy Player lineup including AllShare, Samsung Media Hub, and Peel smart remote. These applications allow you to control your media on a variety of players and alternate screens as well as share between devices with great ease. You’ll find apps like ChatON popping up on theGalaxy S III as well, it made for Samsung devices to communicate between one another in a powerful way not unlike what BlackBerry did with their BB Messenger.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-2-10-1-review-13227897/

nabi 2 kids tablet

Nabi 2 kids tablet Review

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

What you’re about to see is an Android-based NVIDIA Tegra 3-toting custom user interface-having powerhouse of a kids tablet going by the name nabi 2. This device is made specifically for kids and kids only, it being shaped like a blob with rounded edges and indented sides all covered with an in-box rubbery case made for safety as well as unique style – and it’s got customized Android software to match. Could this be the smart device your kid has been waiting for all his or her life?

You’ve got a smartphone and you’ve got an iPad or an Android tablet and your kid wants to use it – all the time. You don’t want your child messing around with your digital business, and you more than likely just want to play your own game of Angry Birds. So what do you do? You look to the nabi 2. This strange little beast is ready and raring to go starting with a lovely kid-oriented user interface that makes it near-impossible for them to get lost or have trouble working with their favorite app. Have a look first at a hands-on video showing the hardware with a brief look at the software here:

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/1ZP3SLywlgc”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/nabi-2-kids-tablet-review-19234588/

Acer Iconia Tab A700

Acer Iconia Tab A700 Review

Tablets, , , , , , , , ,

 

This week we’ve gotten the opportunity to take an up close and personal peek at the Acer Iconia Tab A700, an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet with a high definition display and theNVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor under the hood. This Acerdevice looks and feels rather similar to its predecessor, the Iconia Tab A500, but its components set it in a class all its own. This tablet has a 10.1-inch display with 1920 x 1200 pixels across it, this making it a 224ppi dense display-toting beast of a machine.

Hardware

While the display’s high definition resolution is obviously the real hero here, you’ll be glad to know that we’re now officially in an age where making a tablet that’s as thin and nice looking as the iPadisn’t so much of a hassle as it used to be. This version of the Iconia Tab is right around the same weight and shape as the A500, but here it’s got a bit more style.

The speckled back panel and the lovely detail in the glass panel up front as well as it’s surrounding plastic are all very well tuned. This tablet feels really nice to hold, as it were.

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/kJ5sdEp3yWw”]
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https://www.slashgear.com/acer-iconia-tab-a700-review-25235533/

Google Nexus 7

Google Nexus 7

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

This week the folks at Google have revealed a device manufactured by ASUS and made for the media-consuming public: the Nexus 7. This tablet is the first of its kind in several ways. First in its value proposition: an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor inside a tablet with a price that up until now has been reserved only for devices with much, much less to offer. Second, the Nexus 7 represents Google’s first attempt at a tablet for their Nexus series. Third, it’s the first tablet to be working with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Hardware

This tablet certainly isn’t the thinnest 7-inch tablet in the world at 0.41″, but it’s extremely light, and the relatively soft plastic back is super comfortable to handle. This device is sized at 7.8″ x 4.72″ x 0.41″ so you can fit it in your back pocket if you wish, and the display, at a whopping 7-inches with 1280 x 800 pixel LED-backlit IPS (216 ppi), is more than fabulous enough for your HD-loving eyeballs. For comparison’s sake: the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is 196ppi and the iPad 3 is 264ppi, so you’ve got a device that’s right up there in the big leagues.
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https://www.slashgear.com/google-nexus-7-review-28236114/

MacBook Air (13-inch, 2015)

Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 2015) review

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

For the past several years, Apple’s flagship MacBook Air has dutifully added the latest generation of Intel processors, and sometimes tweaked the included ports or the type of solid state memory inside, but those changes have felt very minor. Especially so when compared to the groundbreaking new-for-2015 12-inch MacBook, which is amazingly thin and stylish, or the MacBook Pro — redesigned in 2012 — which has a great higher-res display and plenty of high-end configuration options.

But that doesn’t mean we’re writing the MacBook Air off. It remains one of the most universally usefullaptops you can buy, thanks to a still-slim design, excellent keyboard and touchpad, generally fast performance and great battery life. That the Air is the least-expensive MacBook, starting at $999 (£849 or AU$1,099) for the 13-inch model, means it’s within reach for many shoppers who might not want to go up to the $1,299 or more being asked for the latest ultraportables from Apple, Samsung and others. (A model with an 11.6-inch screen and otherwise very similar specs is available for even less.)

 

While other laptops continue to catch up to the Air, and even move past it in terms of design, the Air stubbornly holds onto its claim as having the longest-lasting mainstream laptop battery. That’s because of a minor upgrade for 2015 to Intel’s fifth-generation Core i-series processors, previously known by the codename Broadwell. The performance boost, as in most Broadwell systems, is slim to negligible, but the greater power efficiency of those new chips pays a significant dividend.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/apple-macbook-air-13-inch-2015-review/

Sonos

Sonos update will improve sound and setup of the Play:1

Audio & Video, , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

Keeping its word to tweak its line of audio gear as needed to improve performance, Sonos’ upcoming software update takes aim the Play:1. When version 5.4 arrives, audio clarity for the compact speaker will get a boost, making vocals sound better. What’s more, the Play:1’s bass tones were dialed in to better pair with the Sub in more robust setups. Speaking of those, the company nixed the required hub for connecting multiple speakers last year, and now it’s offering the same wireless configuration for living rooms. Should you choose to employ a couple Play:1s as part of your home theater system, you’ll no longer need that Bridge, Boost or physical connection to a Soundbar in order to connect them. New features are coming to the Sonos app to expand those services you’ve added — things like recommendations for the perfect track at a certain time of day. And that list of supported third-party services is said to grow, too. If you can’t wait for the update to officially arrive this summer, you can give the beta a go right now on desktop and Android controller apps.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015-05-12-sonos-play-1-speaker-update.html

Ricoh Launches Pentax K-3 II SLR

Ricoh Launches Pentax K-3 II SLR

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

The newest K-mount SLR features an APS-C image sensor, a high-resolution capture mode, and an integrated GPS.

Despite having already announced plans to release a full-frame model in 2015, Ricoh is adding another APS-C K-mount body its lineup.

The new Pentax K-3 II offers some compelling upgrades when compared with the K-3, including an integrated GPS, improved shake reduction, and a high-resolution capture mode that’s not far off in concept from what we saw in theOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II.

Aside from that, the weather-sealed K-3 II is very similar in design to the original K-3. It does omit an in-camera flash to make room for the GPS module, but aside from that the body design is pretty much the same. It uses the same 24-megapixel image sensor, powered by a PRIME III image processor that supports shooting at up to ISO 51200. The 27-point autofocus system is unchanged, and the rear 3.2-inch 1,030k-dot LCD is identical to the one used on the K-3. Ricoh states that autofocus performance, especially when tracking subjects, has been improved, and continuous shooting tops out at 8.3fps.

The marquee new feature is what Pentax refers to as the Pixel Shift Resolution System. It works similarly to the Olympus E-M5 Mark II in that it shifts the image sensor by one pixel, rattles off four quick shots, and then combines the images into one file in-camera—it’s only useful for static subjects when shooting with a sturdy tripod. But unlike the Olympus, it doesn’t output a file that’s higher in resolution than the image sensor.
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https://sea.pcmag.com/consumer-electronics-reviews-ratings-comparisons/3044/ricoh-launches-pentax-k-3-ii-slr

Lenovo Vibe X2 Pro

Flash me! Lenovo Vibe X2 Pro has plug-in flash for selfies (hands-on)

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ok, so it isn’t an embedded front-facing camera flash like that found in the HTC Desire Eye, but the Vibe Xtension Selfie Flash that Lenovo made specifically to pair with the Vibe X2 Pro is at least a step in the right direction — and you don’t even have to have a Vibe X2 to use it.

If you do, however, the plug-in accessory rewards you by automatically taking a photo three seconds after you illuminate its eight LED bulbs with a button press on the back. In other phones, you’ll need to press the shutter button yourself (which isn’t hard). The idea is that a flash will bump up lighting conditions for the notoriously poorly-lit and often unflattering self-shot.

The pocket-size Vibe Xtension Selfie Flash attachment snaps into the headset jack and charges with a 3.5mm-to-microSD extension.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/lenovo-vibe-x2-pro-preview/

Yezz Andy 5S and Billy 5S

Yezz Andy 5S and Billy 5S: One phone, two OSes (hands-on)

Phones, , , , , , , , ,

 

In a move that’s likely more geared toward carriers than toward customers, Yezz came to CES with two versions of the same phone. The Yezz Andy 5S will run Android 5.0 Lollipop when it launches next summer. It also has a Windows 10 twin.

The OS double-up may not mean that you get to choose which phone you want, unless you’re buying it directly. Rather, carriers will most likely pick the phone they want in their portfolio.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/yezz-andy-5s-and-billy-5s-preview/

EeeBook X205

Asus resurrects the netbook with the tiny, affordable EeeBook X205

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

With its line of EeePC machines, Asus was a major player when it came to netbooks, the special breed of very small, cheap laptops that were popular for a few years from around 2007, before being entirely killed off by the rise of tablets and cheaper, fully fledged laptops.

Asus is resurrecting the concept with its new X205 notebook, which will cost roughly £200 in the UK and €200 in the rest of Europe (which is approximately $265 or AU$280, although US and Australian launches are yet to be confirmed). Can this new Windows 8.1 machine possibly compete?

 

Tablet fighting

 

Asus has taken pains to ensure the X205 is as slim and portable aspossible. With an 11.6-inch display, 17.5mm depth and 980g weight, this computer is much chunkier than a tablet, but certainly thin enough to comfortably fit inside a rucksack or large handbag.

Where the X205 does a better job of taking on tablets, however, is its port selection. Whereas Apple’s iPad features only a charging port, and Google’s Nexus 7 is bare but for a microUSB socket, the X205 nets you a micro-HDMI port, a microSD slot and two USB 2.0 ports. That’s not as many options as you’ll find on a full-sized laptop, but at least plugging in a mouse and an external hard drive will be very little hassle.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/asus-eeebook-x205-preview/

Microsoft Lumia 435

Microsoft Lumia 435 continues the starter smartphone trend

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
microsoft-lumia-435.jpg
Microsoft Lumia 435 is almost identical to the Lumia 532.Microsoft

 

What’s the difference between the Microsoft Lumia 435 here and the Microsoft Lumia 532? Not much. Both are the same size and have nearly identical hardware components. They also come in the same colors. The main variations, really, come out in the camera and processor.

Where the 532 has a 5-megapixel fixed-focus camera, the 435 has a 2-megapixel fixed-focus shooter. Likewise, the quad-core chipset of the 532 gives way to a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor. Oh, and there’s no Glance UI on the lock screen to tell you the date and time.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/microsoft-lumia-435-preview/

Lumia 532

Microsoft’s latest Lumia, 532, continues budget play with Cortana and entry-level specs

Phones, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
microsoft-lumia-532.jpg
In grand Lumia tradition, the 532 comes in some screaming shades.Microsoft

 

Microsoft announced its latest low-cost Lumia, the Lumia 532, on Wednesday. If models in the 1000 range are its most high-end, then you can guess where the 532’s specs fall. There will be the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system and Cortana voice assistant in select markets, but hardware is lean enough to support an attractive budget price.

The phone starts you off with a 4-inch WVGA LCD screen and an 800×480-pixel resolution. It isn’t very high, but it fits right in with the smaller screen size (which will feel Lilliputian compared with today’s mammoth phones). Microsoft’s simple Windows Phone interface also lends itself to this pixel density. The 532 will come with the Glance UI, which just means you can see the date and time displayed on the screen when the phone is locked.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/microsoft-lumia-532-preview/

Aspire R 13

Six ways to play with Acer’s Aspire R 13

Computers & IT, , , , , ,

Acer is taking its R-series in a new direction with the arrival of the Acer Aspire R 13. In launching the new models, Acer said it was blending the styling of its S series and the convertible nature of the R series together into the new design.

The 13.3-inch Aspire R 13 features a new take on Acer’s Ezel hinge, shifting the connection point from the back of the screen to the outside edges in a U-shaped frame. Acer claims the hinge remains stable in any position, making it easy to adjust the screen position to suit your preferred angle. The new hinge is dubbed the Ezel Aero.

 

Acer Aspire R 13
The Acer Aspire R 13 has a premium feel and an impressive convertible hinge.

 

In practice, the hinge does feel nice, very sturdy and precise but not too hard to move. The back of the screen has a smooth gloss finish that feels similar to the touchscreen itself, giving it a premium appearance. The overall finish of the notebook is solid, and at a quick glance, suggests a high quality.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/acer-aspire-r-13-preview/

HP's 14-inch Chromebook

HP’s 14-inch Chromebook packs a beefy Nvidia Tegra K1 CPU

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

HP’s latest take on the 14-inch Chromebook appears to be quite a step up from last year’s model. To start, it’s packing an Nvidia Tegra K1 processor: this 192-core chip brings Nvidia’s Kepler technology to the mobile space and is poised to be something of a powerhouse. And if you like neon, you’re in luck.

I’ll confess, a beefy chip with gaming roots feels rather wasted on a Chromebook, but it should make for smooth, stutter-free performance while you’re zipping across the Internet or using other Chrome friendly apps. The 14-inch Chromebook will lack touch-support at launch, but HP reportedly plans to enable touch later this fall.

Speaking of the Web: the new 14-inch Chromebook will pair standard Wi-Fi connectivity with support for mobile broadband. And that’s contract-free broadband, care of T-Mobile in the US and HP DataPass in Europe.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/hp-chromebook-14-2014-preview/

Envy x2

HP’s revamped Envy x2 packs a kickstand and Intel Core M CPU

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HP’s revamped Envy x2 takes a page from Microsoft’s design notebook. This updated model comes equipped with either a 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch display and — like the Surface Pro 3 — sports a built-in adjustable kickstand. The HP Envy x2’s detachable backlit Bluetooth keyboard apes the Surface Pro keyboard’s design — right down to the little loop for a stylus. The keyboard comes in a 1970s-style brown leatherette effect, which may be just the retro-tech style you’re looking for in your home or office.

HP’s Envy x2 also offers front-facing stereo speakers, powered by Beats.

Both models will be powered by Intel Core M processors, a 14-nanometer CPU that Intel promises allows for fanless designs. We’ll need to wait a few months before we can see how that laptop performance stacks up against the Haswell-equipped Surface Pro 3. In the meantime, details like hard drive sizes or screen resolutions are scant. There’s also the matter of that kickstand — Microsoft’s Surface Pro doesn’t make for the sturdiest experience when it’s sitting on your lap, and there’s no indication that HP has done any better here.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/hp-envy-x2-13-3-inch-2014-preview/

HP Stream

HP Stream adds Chromebook-like laptops and tablets, with Windows 8

Wearables, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

hp-streammodern-silver.jpgHP

 

HP has expanded its Stream lineup with four new models, in addition to the previously announced 14-inch version. Like the original 14-inch Stream, these are intended as cloud-reliant systems, using a Web browser to access online services much like a Chromebook does, but with the added flexibility of Windows 8.

The two clamshell laptop versions are the HP Stream 11.6 and the HP Stream 13.3. Both have 1,366×768 displays, with an optional touchscreen on the 13-inch model. The low-power Intel Celeron processor and 32GB of SSD storage allow for a fanless design, but after a full Windows 8 install, there probably won’t be much room left on the SSD for applications and files. Colors include magenta and blue, helping these stand out from typical budget laptops.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/hp-stream-preview/

Neptune Duo

Neptune Duo smartwatch-phone powers a ‘dumb’ screen in your pocket

Phones, Wearables, , , , ,
neptunehubwrist.jpg
The Neptune Hub watch, aiming to debut later this year.Neptune

 

It had to happen sometime: as smartwatches keep coming at a furious pace, some of them are doubling as full smartphones. Why pair with a phone at all? Or, maybe, what about a phone on your wrist pairing with something else?

Neptune, a company that launched a massive smartwatch phone last summer called the Neptune Pine, is back with its latest odd watch, the Neptune Duo. It proposes a bizarre symbiosis. The elevator pitch: the watch pairs with a dummy phone.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/neptune-duo-preview/

Yoga 2 Pro

A bigger screen for the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga (hands-on)

Tablets, , , , , , , , ,

While Lenovo’s Yoga 3 Pro has a sharp-looking new hinge and a higher screen resolution, the more staid ThinkPad Yoga line still does something no other Yoga (or Yoga-like hybrid) can do. Its keyboard is built into a rising tray that sits flush with the keyboard keys when the screen is folded back into itstablet mode. It’s not exactly the retractable keyboard some have been asking for, but the end effect is close.

 

lenovo-thinkpad-yoga-14-product-photos06.jpg

 

That original ThinkPad Yoga had a smaller 12.5-inch display, but Lenovo has now announced a new version with a larger 14-inch screen. The new Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 14 looks and feels a lot like the original version, just slightly upsized. Of the early 2014 12.5-inch ThinkPad Yoga, we said:

“The keyboard itself doesn’t actually retract. It’s more that the slightly sunken keyboard tray rises up to be flush with the keys, while a secondary locking mechanism prevents the keys from being depressed while in tablet mode…It’s still not a perfect solution. The ThinkPad Yoga makes for a thick, inelegant tablet, but the hidden keyboard trick is so fascinating, you’ll find yourself folding the lid back and forth over and over again just to watch it in action.”
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/lenovo-thinkpad-yoga-14-preview/

Venue 11 Pro

Dell adds Core M to the Venue 11 Pro tablet

Tablets, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dell has a new version of its Venue 11 Pro 7000 tablet, making the switch from Intel’s Atom line of low-power CPUs to the just-launched Core M.

The Core M CPU is part of Intel’s next-gen Broadwell line, but separate from the familiar Core i3/i5/i7 chips found in many laptops and hybrids. Instead, Core M is supposed to offer mainstream performance in a low-power chip that can run for a long time, and efficiently enough to not need internal system fans.

 

 

Despite the switch, the external chassis of the new Venue 11 Pro is the same as the previous version, which received a favorable review in early 2014. Of that model, with the lower-powered Atom CPU, we said: “In everyday use, the Venue 11 Pro works as well as any comparable product, and also has a few distinct advantages, including a solidly built chassis and an add-on keyboard that makes it feel much more like a laptop than the Surface does. Most importantly, it has a default full-HD 1,920×1,080-pixel display, which is something very rarely found in a screen this size.”
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/dell-venue-11-pro-7000-preview/

MediaPad X2

Huawei MediaPad X2 is a 4G LTE 7-inch stunner

Tablets, , , , , , , , , ,

 

Huawei is calling its MediaPad X2 a phablet — a divisive term for a tablet with phone capabilities. Pegging the device as a phone conveniently makes it the “world’s slimmest 7-inch phablet” at 7.3mm thick, but the MediaPad X2 is far from being all beauty and no brains.

The dual-SIM-packing Huawei gadget houses a powerful 2GHz Kirin 930 chipset with a 64-bit eight-core CPU and Mali-T628 GPU. It comes in two versions: a model with 2GB of RAM and 16GB internal storage that dons a sliver aluminum back, and a gold version with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/huawei-mediapad-x2-preview/

Sony Xperia E4g

Sony Xperia E4g packs 4G LTE and epic battery life on a budget

Phones, , , , , , , ,
The new Sony Xperia E4g offers 4G speeds and generous battery life.Sony

 

It seems like only a couple of weeks ago that Sony revealed the Xperia E4, a low-end 3G smartphone — mainly because it was only a couple of weeks ago. Our main complaint was that the E4 didn’t have 4G, and now that complaint has been answered with the Xperia E4g.

The E4g adds 4G LTE to the E4’s basic specs for faster connection to the Internet, and manages to keep the E4’s lung-busting battery life — Sony promises the E4g will go two days without charging, and up to a week if you tweak the settings.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/sony-xperia-e4g-preview/

Alcatel OneTouch Pixi 3 Tablet

Alcatel’s OneTouch Pixi 3 tablets offer value and not much else (hands-on)

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Alcatel’s latest 7-inch and 8-inch Alcatel OneTouch Pixi 3 tablets don’t pack very powerful specs, but the price the company is selling them for will surely tempt you. These two tablets complement the company’s Pixi 3 range of smartphones previously announced at CES in January, and despite the low price, they sport a pretty decent plastic build. We got our hands on them here at Mobile World Congress 2015.

There are four different models, with the 7-inch model sporting three variants — Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi and 3G, and 4G. The 8-inch comes with 3G only, but has slightly better specs.

The 7-inch Wi-Fi-only model will cost a mere 69 euros ($77, £50 and AU$98), while the 7-inch 3G version is a small step up at 89 euros ($99, £64, AU$127). Lastly, the 4G model and the 8-inch tablet are a tad more costly at 129 euros ($144, £93, AU$184). The 8-inch is already shipping while the 7-inch Wi-Fi and 3G models will ship in May to Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/alcatel-onetouch-pixi-3-tablet-7-inch-8-inch-preview/

Acer Liquid Jade Z

Acer’s Liquid Jade Z is an Android-powered featherweight (hands-on)

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Weighing in at just 110 grams (about 3.8 ounces), Acer’s Liquid Jade Z is one of the lightest phones around. And this 4G LTE Android phone should prove light on your wallet too: it’ll be available in select European markets this March for 199 euros. International availability hasn’t been confirmed, but that converts to about $225, £145 or AU$285.

Alas, it’s also a little light in the hardware department too. It has a 5-inch, HD IPS display and is powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek processor paired with a meager 1GB of RAM. There’s also just 8GB of storage space, so you’ll need to rely on the microSD slot if you plan on grabbing many apps. The 2,300 mAh battery should offer a decent amount of battery life though, and the phone — which is available in white or black — also offers optional dual nano-SIMs.

The standout feature is likely to be its 13-megapixel camera, whose lens boats a fast f/1.8 aperture. That could make it useful in low light, but we’ll definitely need to put the camera through its paces to see how it holds up. If you’re more interested in taking selfies, there’s a 5-megapixel shooter up front. The Jade Z also offers Acer’s Dual Shot mode, which will take pictures or video from the front and rear cameras simultaneously, so you can create funky picture-in-picture effects.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/acer-liquid-jade-z-preview/

Lenovo Flex 3

Lenovo’s Flex line makes the jump to full hybrid, folds all the way

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Lenovo’s Flex line of laptops has always been a bit of a head scratcher. Like the Yoga line that clearly inspired it, the first two generations of Flex featured a dual-hinge design that folded back past 180 degrees. But unlike the Yoga, which could fold all the way over and form a tablet shape, the Flex rather conspicuously stopped at 300 degrees. It was a laptop that could bend backwards into a kiosk mode, but no further.

Frankly, the only real justification for that design seemed to be funnelling buyers into the more expensive Yoga products. That said, the Flex actually made for an excellent budget laptop with decent components, if you ignored its half-hybrid hinge.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/lenovo-flex-3-11-preview/

Jolla tablet

Jolla Tablet makes multitasking easy with gesture control (hands-on)

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Jolla’s 8-inch tablet created something of a frenzy on crowdfunding site Indiegogo late last year, achieving its $380,000 target in just 2 hours of the campaign launching. The tablet will be shipping to early backers in the coming weeks, but we went for a closer look at it here at Mobile World Congress.

The tablet’s standout feature is that it runs the latest version of Sailfish OS, rather than Android or Windows. It’s an attractive, uncluttered interface that makes strong use of gestures for navigation. Swiping in from either side when you’re in an app, for example, will take you to the home screen. A swipe up from below, regardless of what you’re doing on the tablet, will bring up the apps tray.

That quick access makes it extremely easy to switch between apps, without having to return to a home screen first. It’s this multitasking that Jolla is particularly proud of. The home screen itself displays recent apps in a grid, each of which shows live information — recent emails, calendar appointments and so on — so you don’t need to open an app to see what’s new.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/jolla-tablet-preview/

Huawei Y360

Huawei Y360 budget Android smartphone comes full circle (hands-on)

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If you want an all-round cheap phone, then circle back to the Huawei Y360. It’s super-cheap, although the specs won’t spin you in a circle.

OK, I’m out of 360-degree jokes, I promise. Exact prices have yet to be confirmed for the Y360, but Chinese manufacture Huawei tells us it will cost less than £100 in the UK. Huawei hasn’t confirmed which countries will see the Y360 or how much it will cost internationally, but a direct conversion of that British price suggests it could be less than $150 or AU$200.

For your money you get a relatively low-power 1.2GHz quad-core processor with a measly 512MB of RAM. There’s 4GB of storage built-in, some of which will be taken up by the software, but you can add extra leg room by slotting in a microSD memory card.

The 4-inch, 854×480-pixel screen gives you 244 pixels per inch. That’s a pretty low resolution, so this isn’t the phone if you want to spend lots of time watching movies, videos and games. The phone we laid hands on wasn’t a working sample, so we can’t comment on how the screen looks. In terms of pixel density at least, it’s slightly better than its 4G LTE sibling the Y635, which has the same number of pixels but on a bigger screen.
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https://www.cnet.com/reviews/huawei-y360-preview/