Monthly Archives: July 2017

Lenovo IdeaPad 100S-14 Review

Lenovo IdeaPad 100S-14 Review

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

When it comes to sub-$200 laptops, the Lenovo IdeaPad 100S-14 stands out from the crowd. Priced at $195, it combines a colorful 14-inch screen and keyboard into a stylish package that belies its low price. Just don’t leave home without its charger as the IdeaPad 100S’ battery life is under 6 hours. However, in its price range, the IdeaPad 100S-14 is one of the best laptops you can get.

Design

Building on the good looks of the original 11-inch IdeaPad 100S, the 14-inch version is bigger but just as classy. Thanks to its understated navy-blue cover and smooth matte finish, the IdeaPad 100S-14 looks and feels more premium than its price suggests. You don’t often find cool details like a retro dial for a power button in a $200 laptop. It’s too bad that the IdeaPad’s plastic chassis is not as sturdy feeling as the HP Stream 11’s chassis or the Samsung Chromebook 3’s, as there is some flexing around the keyboard and along the bottom cover.
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Read full post here:
https://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/lenovo-ideapad-100s14

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Announcement

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Announcement

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

Tamron announced yet another new-generation lens for both Nikon F and Canon EF mounts, the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2. The new professional-grade lens sports an impressive optical design, with a total of 17 elements in 12 groups, four of which are aspherical elements, two have extra refractive and three have low dispersion properties. Just like the recent “G2” series lenses from Tamron, the SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 comes with eBAND and BBAR coatings to reduce ghosting and flare, and fluorine coating has been applied to the front element to protect the lens against dust, dirt and smearing. Sporting an advanced image stabilization system, the lens is capable of reducing camera shake by up to 5 stops. Lastly, the lens is weather sealed and is compatible with optional TAP-in Console for fine-tuning the focusing properties of the lens and updating lens firmware. All this technology available at a very appealing price point of $1,199, making the Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 even cheaper than the recently introduced Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art. This is a very exciting release and I am looking forward to testing and reviewing the lens later this year, as soon as it becomes available.
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Read full post here:
https://photographylife.com/news/tamron-sp-24-70mm-f2-8-di-vc-usd-g2-announcement

Apple watchOS v Samsung Tizen: Battle of the smartwatch platforms

Apple watchOS v Samsung Tizen: Battle of the smartwatch platforms

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

From app support to fitness, we see how the two operating systems match up

Apple versus Samsung. These two tech giants have been fighting it out on the phone front for years and now they’re tussling in the wearable tech space too.

Along with Android Wear, Apple’s watchOS and Samsung’s Tizen make up the biggest smartwatch operating system platforms and take very different approaches to smartwatches.

watchOS v Tizen: OS face-off

Whether it’s the UI, the apps or the hardware, there’s going to be things you’ll love and hate on both sides. The question is, which is the better of the two?

We’ve spent a good amount of time with the watchOS and Tizen-running smartwatches to find out.

Got any more questions about how the two operating systems match up? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Read full post here:
https://www.wareable.com/smartwatches/watchos-vs-tizen-os-340

Mazda Old v New: 2017 Mazda 3 SP25 Astina v 1980 323 De-Luxe

Cars,

The opportunity to dig deep into motoring history and to experience it first hand can be as frightening as it’s possibly enlightening.

In the case of Mazda Australia’s recent 40th Anniversary of the company’s small car shindig, it was both. And thanks to an unforeseen personal twist, for me at least, it was memorable in more ways than I’d anticipated.

Simple format: seven touchstone models tracking the Japanese marque’s small car evolution from 1977 to today, driven back to back around Queensland’s handy Mount Cotton driver training facility.

In quick succession, I could compare the current flagship 2017 Mazda 3 SP25 Astina to a 12-year-old first-gen Mazda 3, then onwards and backwards to 2001 323 Astina SP20, versions of the 323 Astina SP in 1996 and 1991 vintage, then back further to the boxy 1984 323 and curvaceous originator, the first-generation 323, albeit a 1980 rather than a ‘first year’ 1977 example.
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Read full post here:
https://www.caradvice.com.au/561106/mazda-old-v-new-2017-mazda-3-sp25-astina-v-1980-323-de-luxe/

Best Laptops to Buy for Your Kids

Best Laptops to Buy for Your Kids

Computers & IT, , , , , ,

These days, many 3-year-olds have their own tablets. So by the time children start advancing in elementary school and doing serious homework, they may need to have laptops, too. We’ve rounded up the best affordable laptops for your child in every age range, whether you’re looking for a Chromebook for your elementary school child or a gaming laptop for your teen.

6 Quick Buying Tips

  • What’s the right age for a laptop? Forgot about age numbers. A good sign that your child needs their own laptop is that they’re already using computers — not tablets or phones — a lot at home or school.
  • What’s the school’s laptop policy? Some schools provide students with laptops to take home so you don’t need to buy one. Other districts give kids computers they can use in class only, which means you may want to get a similar software and OS for home.
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    Read full post here:
    https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/best-laptops-for-kids
Cherry Mobile Desire R7 Plus Review: A Phone to Yearn For?

Cherry Mobile Desire R7 Plus Review: A Phone to Yearn For?

Phones, , , , , , , ,

Back in May, Cherry Mobile gave us a sneak peek at their Desire R7 series of phones, which included a 5-inch base model with a MediaTek MT6737 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM, and a slightly bigger, plus-sized variant with 3GB of memory. While we weren’t able to take those units for a proper go at that time, since the units we saw were engineering units, we’ve finally received our review units for the Desire R7 Plus to finally see what we called these handsome looking phones are made of. First, a quick peek at its specs in case you’ve forgotten about them.

Specifications

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Amazon Echo vs Show vs Dot vs Tap: which is best smart home speaker for you?

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

Honestly, not everyone needs an Amazon Echo. Sure, it’d be nice. But most of us don’t have $179 (£150, around AU$230) burning a hole in our pockets.

Sometimes, an Amazon Echo Dot or an Amazon Tap might make more sense, considering that they cost less and are nearly identical in terms of functionality.

The last thing we’d want you to do is overspend on a gadget you might not really need and have therefore come up with a quick and easy guide to figuring out which of the four – technically five if we include the Amazon Echo Look – smart speakers you should buy. But before we dive into the specifics of each speaker, let’s talk about the Amazon Echo platform as a whole and why you’d choose that over the Google Home or Apple HomePod.
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Read full post here:
https://www.techradar.com/news/best-amazon-echo-speaker-the-lineups-dots-spots-shows-and-pluses-compared

Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D750 Specs Comparison

Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D750 Specs Comparison

Cameras, , , , , ,

With the release of the much anticipated Canon 6D Mark II, one might be wondering how it stacks up against the three year old Nikon D750 in terms of specifications and features. Since the 6D Mark II has a similar feature set and price point as the D750, it makes sense to compare these two cameras, even though Nikon has not announced a replacement yet. While I am planning to work on a detailed review of the 6D Mark II, along with high ISO comparisons later this year, I thought it would be interesting to see the strengths and weaknesses of each camera when put side by side.

Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D750

Let’s take a look at the specifications of both cameras in more detail. Some commentary on the data is provided below.

Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D750 Specification

ComparisonSo, what are the main differences between the Canon 6D Mark II and Nikon D750? While it is clear that there are many similarities between the two, there are some important differences worth pointing out. First of all, there is a slight difference in resolution – the 6D Mark II has a 26.2 MP sensor compared to the 24.3 MP sensor on the D750.
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Read full post here:
https://photographylife.com/news/canon-6d-mark-ii-vs-nikon-d750

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HARMAN KARDON ONYX STUDIO 2 REVIEW

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 2 Review

Audio & Video, Wearables,

Harman Kardon first came out with the Onyx Studio a few years back and what we have now is the update to that model. What can the Onyx Studio 2 offer its users? Read our full review and find out.

Design and Construction

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The Onyx Studio 2 possesses a circular form factor with its face equipped with four (4) 15-watt speaker drivers hidden under the woven mesh that appears to have similarity with the top part of a microphone. The speaker is slanted backwards since it leans on its dual stand that’s only seen when you turn the Onyx around.

The stands support the entire speaker and angles it in a way that it throws sound slightly upwards. They are colored in bronze that gives a two-tone color approach and are ended with black tips for added accent.
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Read full post here:
https://www.yugatech.com/toys-gadgets/harman-kardon-onyx-studio-2-review/#g8fYpg1pSkw36ZO3.97

ASUS Vivo V221ICUK All-in-One PC Review

ASUS Vivo V221ICUK All-in-One PC Review

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

With its sleek Apple iMac-esque design and very conservative specs, this AIO from ASUS is oddly placed. It will get you through web browsing, office applications, and even some very light 2D games. It runs on an Intel Core-i3 7100U, 4GB of DDR4 Memory, and a 1TB 2.5″ 5400RPM HDD. No dedicated graphics here. Find out what we think about the ASUS Vivo V221ICUK All-in-One PC in our review below.

Design and Construction

Right off the bat, the design language is very reminiscent of Apple’s iMac products. It sports a clean, simple metallic design with a very small footprint on your desk. Accounting for the stand, the overall depth is approximately 162mm when the screen is upright, about what you’d expect from an AIO or even a standalone computer monitor.
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Read full post here:
https://www.yugatech.com/personal-computing/asus-vivo-v221icuk-all-in-one-pc-review/#XUEorCv3bvrbrqKd.97

Honor V9 Hands-on Review: First Impressions

Honor V9 Hands-on Review: First Impressions

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

Back in February, Huawei’s Honor brand launched a new smartphone for the Chinese market that packs a 5.7-inch QHD display, Kirin 960 CPU, up to 6GB RAM, dual 12MP rear cameras, and 4,000mAh battery – the Honor V9. It’s not officially available in the Philippines but it has made its way here through online stores. Check out our initial thoughts about the device below.

Right off the bat, the Honor V9 is more like a mix of what is beautiful about the Huawei P10 and the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. It has a metal unibody that curves on corners and sides. It only measures 6.97mm thick which is impressive considering it has a 4,000mAh battery.

On the front is a 5.7-inch QHD LPTS display, which equates to 515ppi, and pretty slim side bezels. Placed above it is the receiver with a notifications light, sensor, and 8MP front camera. Down below is the honor logo. There are no capacitive keys here since the V9 uses on-screen navigation buttons. Protecting all of it is Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3.
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Read full post here:
https://www.yugatech.com/mobile/honor-v9-first-impressions/#mgoTuBJE45QVQq2H.97

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Fugoo Style-S review

Audio & Video, , , , ,

Fugoo seemingly came out of nowhere a couple of years ago and wowed us with its Fugoo Style speaker. It was complete package, featuring great sound, swappable “jackets” to suit your tastes and a whopping 40-hour battery life.

In a slightly confusing move, Fugoo is now offering the Style-S, which sounds like a follow up to the original Style, but is actually a whole new speaker.

Unlike the Style, the Style-S is targeted towards those looking for a rugged speaker to take outdoors: Thanks to its unique mounting bracket at the bottom of the speaker, the Fugoo Style-S lets you mount the speaker to just about anything from bikes to backpacks.
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Read full post here:
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/fugoo-style-s

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Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501 review

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

Up until now, there have been two classes of gaming laptops: big and powerful or thin and portable. Never the twain shall meet and forget about either of them being quiet while you’re gaming.

Well, now we’re entering a new generation of Max-Q laptops that Nvidia promises will be three-times thinner and faster. The Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501 stands at the forefront of this new class of gaming machine that offers the power of a desktop replacement in an ultra-portable package a little thicker than your average Ultrabook.

As crazy as a concept that might sound, Asus pulled it off in spectacular fashion with the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501. Save for battery life, this gaming laptop comes second to none with a sharp and innovative design, ample gaming performance, a color-rich display and amazing speakers.
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Read full post here:
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/asus-rog-zephyrus/2

 

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TCL P series Roku TV (2017) review

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

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For years one feature has consistently propelled TVs to the upper levels of CNET’s Best LED LCDs list: local dimming. It allows the screen to dim and brighten in different areas independently, and TVs that have it almost always perform better than TVs that don’t. Of course, other aspects of image quality are important too, but good local dimming forms the basis of high contrast in LCD TVs, and contrast is king. It’s the main reason why OLED TVs look so good.

The TCL P series is no OLED, but it also costs about one third as much. And its local dimming-powered picture puts it in contention for the best TV value of the year, a major threat to the Vizio M series and P series. I haven’t reviewed the newest versions of those Vizios yet, but the TCL competed very well in side-by-side comparisons against the 2016 Vizios. It also earned a higher picture-quality score than the much more expensive Samsung Q7 QLED TV.
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Read full post here:
https://www.cnet.com/reviews/tcl-55p607-review/

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Amazon Dash Wand: What you can and can’t do with this Alexa device

Wearables, , ,

A few years ago, Amazon quietly announced a new gadget, the Dash Wand, but it’s taken until now to give it a wider, official launch.

It’s basically giving the Dash Wand away for free. Prime members who spend $20 on the Dash Wand get a $20 Amazon credit and 90 days of free AmazonFresh grocery delivery, which costs $15 per month. But this Dash Wand is different from the original one. It looks different, and it comes with Alexa, so you can not only use it to order goods but also query Alexa and control your home.

That said, is it really something you need? Can anyone use it? Does the fun wear off after a while? And does it really have full Alexa? We’ve spent the last week playing with Dash Wand, and to be honest, we’re pretty impressed at what this gadget can do, considering it essentially costs nothing to get ahold of, and the ability to easily scan and add stuff to our Amazon cart is absolutely thrilling.
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Read full post here:
https://www.pocket-lint.com/smart-home/reviews/amazon/141501-amazon-dash-wand-what-you-can-and-can-t-do-with-this-alexa-device

rega_rx5_01

Rega RX5 review

Audio & Video, , , ,

The Rega brand has been built on four decade’s worth of class-leading turntables, and in recent years, a series of highly accomplished amplifiers. The company has made speakers for many years now, but few of these have held our attention (the recently-reviewed RX1 speakers being a good example).

Sadly, the same applies to the RX5 floorstanders.

That’s not down to their appearance or engineering – there’s much to admire here in both respects. To our eyes these look smart and stylish, hiding a fairly generous internal volume in a slim, but deceptively deep cabinet.

The 18mm thick MDF enclosure is beautifully made, and available in walnut, cherry and black ash real wood veneer options. They’re around 84cm tall, which means they’re unlikely to look oversized, even in more modest rooms.
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Read full post here:
https://www.whathifi.com/rega/rx5/review

Hero-2018-Hyundai-Elantra-GT-review-photo-SlashGear00025

2018 Hyundai Elantra GT First Drive: 5 things you need to know

Cars, , , , ,

Compact hatchbacks like the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT have never really caught on in America, but it has little to do with their merits. Easy to park, cheap on gas, and remarkably practical, the fickle gods of fashion have long turned their backs on the humble hatch, a state of affairs made all the more ironic by the exploding popularity of small SUVs, which are essentially hatchbacks on stilts.

If you’re considering a sport-utility vehicle or crossover, you owe it to yourself to take a time out and test drive a more affordable, better-handling, and less-expensive hatchback like the Elantra GT. I spent a day piloting this completely redesigned Hyundai, and came away impressed by what it has to offer.

Check out these five things you need to know from my first drive of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT.
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Read full post here:
https://www.slashgear.com/2018-hyundai-elantra-gt-first-drive-5-things-you-need-to-know-30490291/