The Samsung Series 9 900X3A

Black beauty

by S Shiva
04:47 AM Jun 29, 2011

The Samsung Series 9 900X3A managed to make a impression before it was even taken out of its box. Unlike the usual brown cardboard boxes notebooks usually come in, the 900X3A came in a sleek and simple black box that caught our eye.

At just 16.3mm thin and weighing in at 1.31kg, the 900X3A is one of the slimmest notebooks in the market. But do not be fooled by its size, as the 900X3A delivers all the features found on other notebooks at lightning speeds.

By using Samsung's fast-start technology, as well as a solid state drive (SSD) for storage, the 900X3A is a blazingly fast machine. It takes a mere 12 seconds to get it up and running, which shaves 40 per cent off start-up times of notebooks that use conventional hard disk drives.

After an initial setup process, which lets you create an account and customise preferred settings, the 900X3A managed to start-up in less than 20 seconds every time it was switched on.

The SSD not only allows for faster booting times, it also allows the 900X3A to operate with less noise and lower heat. This in turn extends the lifespan of the notebook and its parts.

Durability of a notebook is often questioned for notebooks as slim as the 900X3A, but its Duralunium casing answered all questions on its hardiness.

Eagle-eyed users will notice that the 900X3A's touchpad is actually made of glass. This unique feature is not just pretty to look at, it is also responsive and feels good to the touch.

The 900X3A delivers a superb entertainment experience thanks to its powerful speakers and bright screen. Although the speakers are capable of high volumes, they tend to distort at maximum volume. The 13.3-inch screen, which can go from a dim power-saving mode to impressively bright, allows outdoor usage under the sun's glare.

The lithium polymer battery gives the 900X3A up to 6.5 hours of battery life, when used with Samsung's PowerPlus charging technology.

If we had to nitpick it'd be with its glossy finish, which attracts fingerprints, but that is really a small issue considering the great entertainment experience and power offered by the notebook. The Samsung Series 900X3A is now available for S$2,488. S Shiva

Source: www.todayonline.com

Read more...

The HP Pavilion P7

Tower of power

The HP Pavilion P7 trades mobility for power and good looks

by S Shiva
04:46 AM Jun 15, 2011

TABLETS and notebooks may entice busy people, but a desktop is still the top choice for computing solutions that boast power, storage space with attractive price points. Especially if they come in as sturdy and handsome a case as the HP Pavilion P7.

Equipped with a generous hard drive space, integrated graphics and built-in support for multi-channel surround sound, you'll certainly have enough space to store photos, music and videos in full high-definition quality for your complete entertainment.

Innovative technologies, like Beats Audio, developed by HP in conjunction with Dr Dre, and HP LinkUp, which makes viewing and interacting with content and programs much easier, offer consumers the latest in sound and functionality with HP Pavilion PCs.

Powerful hardware and innovative software aside, the PCs found in the new HP Pavilion line-up are designed with clean lines, soft forms and contrasting materials, so they can fit in anywhere from classrooms to offices, and even in your own room.

The HP Pavilion P7 is available now from S$1,699. S SHIVA

Source: www.todayonline.com

Read more...

Choosing a tablet need not be a hard pill to swallow

Laying it on the tablet

Choosing a tablet need not be a hard pill to swallow

by S Shiva
Updated 02:01 PM Jun 10, 2011

HTC Flyer video review

Acer Iconia Tab A500

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 is a bit of a left-field choice, with its simple design and large form factor, but this underdog will surprise you with its quality hardware and long battery life.

Sporting a 10.1-inch display panel and weighing in at a hefty 730g, the A500 may not be the most portable tablet around, but it feels durable and its screen size is big enough for comfortable viewing.

The A500 is powered by Android's Honeycomb OS. As with all tablets operating on Honeycomb, there is a slight learning curve before you get used to the interface.

Something interesting about the A500's dual-core processors is that they are from NVIDIA, a name synonymous with graphic cards and video games. So, evidently, the A500 places more emphasis on games - which you can download from the Android Marketplace - than other tablets do.

The A500 features a rear-mounted 5-megapixel camera capable of shooting videos at 720p, and a front-facing camera for video calls, but what really steals the show are its speakers.

Thanks to a speaker system from Dolby, the sound on the A500 is excellent. The only problem would be that they are back-facing, a problem shared by many tablets. Nonetheless, the sound quality of the A500 is unmatched in this category.

With all these functions, one might expect the A500 to run out of juice quickly, but it exceeds expectations by lasting for more than eight hours with heavy usage, and almost 24 hours under average use.

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 may be not be the most obvious choice at first, but its sturdy, metal body, powerful speakers, and battery life make it a tablet worth considering for anyone who wants something different.

The Acer Iconia Tab A500 is available now for S$799.

Apple iPad 2

Anyone who has used the original iPad before, or even an iPhone for that matter, will be able to jump right into the iPad 2's user interface. Utilising the same set of controls and the same layout as other devices under the same brand, the iPad 2 is an incredibly user-friendly device that is simple to pick up and use.

While the iPad 2's screen resolution is the same as its predecessor's, its dimensions have changed significantly. The iPad 2 is stunningly slim, even thinner than the iPhone 4 at just 8.88mm. The device is also incredibly light, and is very portable overall.

As with all Apple products, the iPad 2 has access to the App Store, allowing games, handy guides for transport timings, and even maps to be downloaded straight into the device.

Whatever the iPad 2 lacks in hardware enhancement, it makes up for in the user experience. A demo of the GarageBand and iMovie, which can be purchased from the App Store for US$4.99 (S$6.15) each, showcased how apps can be functional enough for an amateur musician yet intuitive enough to be used by a toddler. In fact, we're sure said toddler could teach us a thing or two about the iPad 2.

With iPad 2, Apple took an already amazing product, improved it, and made it better than before. Apple fans are going to love it, and so will anyone who relish the "experience".

The iPad 2 is available now, from S$668.


PROLiNK TA8

The PROLiNK TA8 blurs the line between work and play with features that are on par with other tablets in the market, but still stay professional enough for a business environment. With a 10.1-inch high definition screen, the TA8 ensures that what you see is the best quality you can get. If the occasion calls for it, connect the TA8 to a bigger HDTV screen via its built-in micro HDMI port.

With a 5 megapixel CMOS camera, the TA8 is able to capture images faster than normal tablet cameras. View photos and videos on its gallery,with a total video playback of up to eight hours.

The TA8 offers premium leather finish on its back that makes the device both sleek to look at and provides protection.

The PROLiNK TA8 is available now for S$649 and comes with a free screen protector and standing case (worth S$88) during PC Show 2011.


Motorola Xoom

One look at the specifications on the Motorola Xoom and you'd know it is a beast compared to other tablets in the market.

With dual-core processors and Google's Android Honeycomb OS, some consider the Motorola Xoom the closest competitor the Apple iPad has.

The Motorola Xoom has a familiar user interface, but it takes some getting used to, even for experienced Android users.

Featuring a 10.1-inch high-definition display, the Motorola Xoom delivers a visual feast for the eyes, with photos and videos appearing beautifully crisp and vibrant.

The Xoom comes with a built-in HDMI port, which allows the tablet to be linked to a HDTV set, bringing the experience onto a bigger screen.

Taking photos is also a snap with both front- and back-mounted cameras. The 5-megapixel camera on the back has decent photo-taking capabilities, and can record videos in up to 720p resolution. The 2-megapixel camera can be used with the Google Talk app to make video calls.

While a fierce competitor to the iPad, the steep learning curve of the Honeycomb OS might be off-putting. However, for those looking for a breath of fresh air among tablets, the Motorola Xoom is a powerful device that is able to match the iPad on many levels, and surpass it on others.

The Motorola Xoom is now available for S$888.

Blackberry PlayBook video review



Asus EEE Pad Transformer

The Asus EEE Pad Transformer may seem, at first glance, like any other Android-powered tablet - until you realise the trick it's hiding up its sleeve. Once attached to the compatible keyboard accessory, the Transformer turns from a tablet to what is essentially a netbook in mere seconds.

The Transformer recognises that the keyboard is attached immediately, and lets you take full control of the tablet using the keys and the track pad on the keyboard. It even folds shut, like a netbook, for easy storage.
Despite its lower price compared to other tablets, the Transformer looks and feels surprisingly robust, with its edge crafted out of a strip of bronze metal. The pattern on the back, made of embossed plastic, also gives you a better grip on the tablet.

The Transformer is powered by Android Honeycomb OS and offers direct access to the Android Marketplace, where a wide range of apps can be found and downloaded.

The camera on the back of the Transformer has can capture video of up to 720p, while the front mounted 1.3-megapixel camera is good enough for video calls and simple photos.

The Asus EEE Pad Transformer is a well rounded tablet with well-developed features, and while it's not the most advanced tablet around, it more than makes up for it with its lower price point. The added bonus of being able to control it with the keyboard dock is definitely a welcome addition - the Transformer is the easiest tablet to type on yet.

The Asus EEE Pad Transformer is now available from S$699 as a standalone unit, and S$799 bundled with the keyboard docking station.

For updated prices and deals on tablets and other electronics at the PC Show, check our Tech Talk blog here.

Source: www.todayonline.com

Read more...

Go face-to-face on Facebook

The popular site offers free video chats with Skype

Updated 03:55 PM Jul 07, 2011

PALO ALTO (California) - Facebook users will be able to make free video calls to their friends through the site after the social networking giant announced a partnership with the web telephony service Skype.

Rolling out internationally in coming weeks, the widely anticipated feature brings together two of the web's most popular consumer services and is a sign of the way "social apps" will become more prevalent, said Facebook's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Mr Zuckerberg introduced the new feature as one of a slate of new sharing and communication tools to be launched in the next few months. "This is symbolic of the way we are going to do these things, building social apps on top of our social infrastructure ... it's only possible because that social infrastructure already exists."

He also announced group chat and a redesigned layout for Facebook chat. The next five years of consumer web, he said, would see companies across many sectors exploit the social infrastructure to make their businesses more social.

"The world generally believes that social software will be everywhere, and it will only be a matter of time before it reaches billions of people, whether through us or someone else," Mr Zuckerberg said at the launch in California. "The driving narrative is not about wiring up the world because a lot of the interesting stuff has been done but about what cool social apps you can build now this social infrastructure is in place."

Skype video calling with Facebook comes just a week after Google launched its Google+, which includes a video chat feature called Hangouts. Mr Zuckerberg took the very public opportunity of playing down Google+.

"I'm not going to talk too much about Google. Lots of companies that have not traditionally looked at social networking apps - not just Google - will be trying apps. I view a lot of this as validation of how the next five years will play out - every app will be social," he said.

"We just have to stay focused on building the best service for that. If we don't, someone else will."

The partnership exploits Facebook's connections with Microsoft. The technology giant invested US$240 million (S$294.9 million) in the firm in 2007 and also acquired Skype in May this year for an estimated US$8.5billion. Skype's chief executive, Mr Tony Bates, said the company had put significant effort into ensuring its own infrastructure would be able to support Facebook's vast userbase, which will boost Skype's own ambition of reaching 1 billion users.

Confirming Facebook's latest monthly user milestone of 750 million people, Mr Zuckerberg quashed speculation that its growth is slowing. "We don't measure the value the internet provides by how many people use the internet but the benefit people are getting, the apps they use and how it is driving the economy," he said, describing the volume of shared content as the primary measure for user activity.

An average 4 billion items, from videos to news stories and recommendations, are shared on Facebook every day. The amount of content being shared has doubled since this time last year and, predicted Mr Zuckerberg, will, double again by next year.

Research firm eMarketer estimates worldwide ad spending on Facebook is expected to reach US$5.74 billion, up 42 per cent over 2011 by 2012. THE GUARDIAN

Source: www.todayonline.com

Read more...