Sunday, October 31, 2010

iPod Touch 4th Generation - Little Better Than The Last

Apple has refreshed its iPod line right on schedule, with some fairly major updates to all models, except to the nearly-forgotten iPod Classic. It’s fairly obvious that the Touch is now Apple’s mainstream and most capable iPod offering, giving customers all the multimedia capabilities and touch-friendly applications associated with the insanely popular iPhone, minus the cost and dependence on an official mobile service provider. The new 4th-generation iPod Touch has therefore inherited all the headlining features of the iPhone 4, including the A4 CPU, gyro sensor, high-res Retina Display, and the ability to run pretty much any iPhone application.

Compared to the previous generation, the refreshed iPod Touch is noticeably thinner and narrower with the metal back more sharply tapered. Externally, the biggest difference is the addition of front and rear cameras (which had been left out of last year’s refresh, to the disappointment of many). In addition, the hold switch is placed on the top right instead of the top left (and a bit too deeply recessed for comfort), the volume buttons are slightly redesigned, and there’s actually a tiny speaker grille on the bottom. The built-in speaker is still soft and tinny, but it’s an improvement over the previous generation’s concealed one.


Capable of many feats

It’s quite awful when listening to music and videos, but decent enough for sound effects in games and general notifications. The device’s rear is still all metal (and still phenomenally easy to scratch), but now with no black plastic antenna patch as with previous models. Disappointingly, the package contents have reduced: you get only the earphones, USB cable and a simple printed manual. There’s no screen cleaning cloth, and curiously also, no iPod dock adapter to help it work with accessories such as speaker docks.

Turning it on, the first thing you notice will be the beautiful Retina Display. All around the OS, icons are more detailed and text is smooth and crisp, with near-perfect curves and spacing. Text-heavy screens such as email messages, ebooks, and websites open in Safari look particularly good. Apps and games that have been updated to take advantage of the 960 x 640 pixels are quite stunning when seen side by side with their equivalents running on the older Touch or even an iPhone 3GS. That said, the screen is clearly not as eye-popping as the one on the iPhone 4.


It should be all about the music

On the other hand, the camera is quite a letdown. You can record video in HD, which translates to the bare minimum spec of 720p—enough to make single-purpose devices like the Creative Vado seem rather pointless. However still photos are also limited to 960 x 720, which is quite pitiful! It seems that Apple has in fact limited the Touch’s capabilities in order to maintain the iPhone’s superiority, which is seriously frustrating. There’s also no autofocus, which will limit the device’s ability to run apps such as business card and barcode scanners. The front-facing camera is even more dismal at 640 x 480, though the low resolution is probably better for streaming during video chats.


It's all fun and games

The Touch runs iOS version 4.1, the most current version. This brings support for Game Center, Apple’s own take on social scoring and competition. Players can find each other through their iTunes account email addresses, display achievements, and keep track of scores across multiple games. iOS 4.1’s other headlining features are upgrades to the iTunes store, which isn’t available in India anyway. We’d love to enjoy TV show rentals and the Ping social network, but the powers that be at Apple aren’t smiling on us at the moment. Performance is smooth and slick throughout, even in action games, though this is probably more due to the new A4 CPU.

More importantly, the iPod Touch can now take advantage of the multitude of apps that require a built-in microphone and/or camera. The mic is inconveniently placed right next to the rear camera, but at least you no longer have to plug in a separate headset accessory to use voice chat apps or record notes—which was also an added expense, since for some reason the headphones Apple includes in the box don’t have an inline mic.


The most important of these apps is FaceTime, Apple’s new video chat tool that debuted with the iPhone 4 and is now available for any Mac with a webcam as well. FaceTime is designed to be the quickest and simplest way to video chat. It works by associating with your iTunes account, so all you have to do is fire it up, choose a contact from your phonebook (assuming their email address is the same one used for their iTunes account), and place the call. There’s no “contact list” like Skype and other instant messengers have, so you’ll need to update your contacts. The only inconvenience is it’s not very clear which contacts in your phonebook (and which of their numbers and email addresses) are connected to FaceTime. Still, FaceTime could easily become a killer app for people to use for video conferences with friends and family elsewhere in the world.

Another important app (but one that’s not included and costs US$ 4.99 to download) is iMovie. Editing recorded video clips right on the phone feels amazing, and you can add some seriously high-quality effects including transitions, themes with music, and titles.


Battery life is rated at up to 40 hours of music playback or 7 hours of video. We didn’t get to test this claim, but found the device didn’t need charging even after two days of moderate use of music, gaming and Web surfing over the Wi-Fi connection.

In conclusion, the new and evolved iPod touch is definitely the fullest-featured one yet and also the closest in terms of features to its cousin, the iPhone. If you prefer a cheaper or more business-minded phone, or are simply not willing to switch carriers (or deal with jailbreaking and SIM unlocking), the iPod touch lets you have nearly all the goodness of an iPhone at a fraction of the price. Those who already own last year’s model or any of the ones before it might not find much benefit in the upgrade, but anyone who wants a superb music player, Web tablet and portable gaming machine should definitely pick one of these up.

iPod Touch 4th Generation - Little Better Than The Last

Apple has refreshed its iPod line right on schedule, with some fairly major updates to all models, except to the nearly-forgotten iPod Classic. It’s fairly obvious that the Touch is now Apple’s mainstream and most capable iPod offering, giving customers all the multimedia capabilities and touch-friendly applications associated with the insanely popular iPhone, minus the cost and dependence on an official mobile service provider. The new 4th-generation iPod Touch has therefore inherited all the headlining features of the iPhone 4, including the A4 CPU, gyro sensor, high-res Retina Display, and the ability to run pretty much any iPhone application.

Compared to the previous generation, the refreshed iPod Touch is noticeably thinner and narrower with the metal back more sharply tapered. Externally, the biggest difference is the addition of front and rear cameras (which had been left out of last year’s refresh, to the disappointment of many). In addition, the hold switch is placed on the top right instead of the top left (and a bit too deeply recessed for comfort), the volume buttons are slightly redesigned, and there’s actually a tiny speaker grille on the bottom. The built-in speaker is still soft and tinny, but it’s an improvement over the previous generation’s concealed one.


Capable of many feats

It’s quite awful when listening to music and videos, but decent enough for sound effects in games and general notifications. The device’s rear is still all metal (and still phenomenally easy to scratch), but now with no black plastic antenna patch as with previous models. Disappointingly, the package contents have reduced: you get only the earphones, USB cable and a simple printed manual. There’s no screen cleaning cloth, and curiously also, no iPod dock adapter to help it work with accessories such as speaker docks.

Turning it on, the first thing you notice will be the beautiful Retina Display. All around the OS, icons are more detailed and text is smooth and crisp, with near-perfect curves and spacing. Text-heavy screens such as email messages, ebooks, and websites open in Safari look particularly good. Apps and games that have been updated to take advantage of the 960 x 640 pixels are quite stunning when seen side by side with their equivalents running on the older Touch or even an iPhone 3GS. That said, the screen is clearly not as eye-popping as the one on the iPhone 4.


It should be all about the music

On the other hand, the camera is quite a letdown. You can record video in HD, which translates to the bare minimum spec of 720p—enough to make single-purpose devices like the Creative Vado seem rather pointless. However still photos are also limited to 960 x 720, which is quite pitiful! It seems that Apple has in fact limited the Touch’s capabilities in order to maintain the iPhone’s superiority, which is seriously frustrating. There’s also no autofocus, which will limit the device’s ability to run apps such as business card and barcode scanners. The front-facing camera is even more dismal at 640 x 480, though the low resolution is probably better for streaming during video chats.


It's all fun and games

The Touch runs iOS version 4.1, the most current version. This brings support for Game Center, Apple’s own take on social scoring and competition. Players can find each other through their iTunes account email addresses, display achievements, and keep track of scores across multiple games. iOS 4.1’s other headlining features are upgrades to the iTunes store, which isn’t available in India anyway. We’d love to enjoy TV show rentals and the Ping social network, but the powers that be at Apple aren’t smiling on us at the moment. Performance is smooth and slick throughout, even in action games, though this is probably more due to the new A4 CPU.

More importantly, the iPod Touch can now take advantage of the multitude of apps that require a built-in microphone and/or camera. The mic is inconveniently placed right next to the rear camera, but at least you no longer have to plug in a separate headset accessory to use voice chat apps or record notes—which was also an added expense, since for some reason the headphones Apple includes in the box don’t have an inline mic.


The most important of these apps is FaceTime, Apple’s new video chat tool that debuted with the iPhone 4 and is now available for any Mac with a webcam as well. FaceTime is designed to be the quickest and simplest way to video chat. It works by associating with your iTunes account, so all you have to do is fire it up, choose a contact from your phonebook (assuming their email address is the same one used for their iTunes account), and place the call. There’s no “contact list” like Skype and other instant messengers have, so you’ll need to update your contacts. The only inconvenience is it’s not very clear which contacts in your phonebook (and which of their numbers and email addresses) are connected to FaceTime. Still, FaceTime could easily become a killer app for people to use for video conferences with friends and family elsewhere in the world.

Another important app (but one that’s not included and costs US$ 4.99 to download) is iMovie. Editing recorded video clips right on the phone feels amazing, and you can add some seriously high-quality effects including transitions, themes with music, and titles.


Battery life is rated at up to 40 hours of music playback or 7 hours of video. We didn’t get to test this claim, but found the device didn’t need charging even after two days of moderate use of music, gaming and Web surfing over the Wi-Fi connection.

In conclusion, the new and evolved iPod touch is definitely the fullest-featured one yet and also the closest in terms of features to its cousin, the iPhone. If you prefer a cheaper or more business-minded phone, or are simply not willing to switch carriers (or deal with jailbreaking and SIM unlocking), the iPod touch lets you have nearly all the goodness of an iPhone at a fraction of the price. Those who already own last year’s model or any of the ones before it might not find much benefit in the upgrade, but anyone who wants a superb music player, Web tablet and portable gaming machine should definitely pick one of these up.

Will tablets take over netbooks?

Netbooks were once uncharitably described as ‘low-cost computers’. No one’s complaining. They’ve become the fastest growing segment among personal computers (PCs) in India. PCs include netbooks, notebooks, laptops, desktops and tablets.

Between June 2008 and July 2009, 97,480 netbooks were sold. A year on, it had shot up to 335,018, according to research firm IDC. That’s a 243% increase. Compare this with other PC categories. Desktop sales in the same period slowed, from 5.1 million to 5.7 million, a mere 11% increase. However, shipments of notebook PCs marked a 43% increase, from 2.1 m to 3 m.

“The netbook segment has grown as more Indian consumers seek affordable mobile computing. Intense competition has also forced a drop in prices,” says Sumanta Mukherjee, lead PC analyst in IDC. Vendors, he says, are launching more featurerich models, allowing users to experience better applications on a relatively low-cost platform.

Netbooks are smaller and lighter than laptops. Their screen is roughly 10 inches compared to the 15-inch laptop. They don’t have a CD/DVD drive. This may seem a disadvantage but connectivity ports can link to devices like a DVD player or external hard disk. Anup Gulati, an army officer in Bangalore, for instance, transfers content to a pen drive when he wants to view CD content on his netbook.

At Rs 15,000, netbooks are roughly half the price of regular laptops. They are not as powerful and cannot run heavy applications. But a netbook is ideal if you need a PC for no more than browsing the internet, using simple applications and watching a video.

Sometimes, netbooks are the preferred second computer in homes that already boast a desktop. “We have a desktop that’s used by my wife and children,” says Gulati. “I disposed of my laptop and got a netbook six months ago. It’s good enough for emails and surfing websites. As I don’t get into highend applications nor need a heavy laptop, a netbook is ideal.”

Mahesh Bhalla, executive director of Dell India, says netbooks are perfect for those looking for companion PCs while travelling or holidaying. Vinay Awasthi, director of HP India, says netbook sales are highest in metros.
S Rajendran, chief marketing officer of Acer India, adds that netbooks are attractive because their “six-cell battery has a much longer life, facilitating full day computing”.

Netbooks are also increasingly coming onto the market with additional functions. Lenovo’s IdeaPad S10-3 t provides one-touch controls for logging on and off, reading, editing, listening to music, watching a movie and even cataloguing and editing pictures. “It even has a quick-start option and location-based services,” says Alex Li, Lenovo India vice-president. Some netbooks have 250 GB hard disk drives that allow a lot of data to be stored.

How do netbooks compare with tablets? Tablets are lighter, more portable and just as useful. However, they can be hard to type on and are at least twice the price of a netbook. Lenovo’s Li insists tablets will not affect netbook sales.

It could be a different story as tablet prices fall. Carolina Milanesi, vice-president at Gartner, a research firm, says, “As the average prices of tablets drop below $300 (Rs 15,000) over the next two years, mini notebooks (netbooks) will suffer the most.”

NETBOOKS VS LAPTOPS

SCREEN SIZE

Netbook: Roughly 10 inches, smaller keyboard. Good for simple tasks such as emailing , browsing the internet, light entertainment

Laptop: Larger screen, can do complex and graphics-intensive tasks

BATTERY LIFE

Netbook: 7 to 8 hours on average

Laptop: 3 to 4 hours on average

AVERAGE WEIGHT

Netbook: 1.2 kg, can be carried in a regular bag

Laptop: 2.72 kg, needs a specialized case

PRICE

Netbook: Between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000

Laptop: Double the netbook

Samsung brings Galaxy Tab to Supress IPad

NEW DELHI: Samsung on Friday launched its iPad competitor, Galaxy Tab, a 7-inch touchscreen , tablet in India. The company said that India is among the three countries in the world where it is launching Galaxy Tab first. The device is powered by Android Froyo, the latest version of Google's operating software for mobile devices.

According to Samsung, Galaxy Tab would be available in the market from November 10 at a price of Rs 38,000. Though the price puts it squarely against iPad, a research analyst said the fact that Apple is yet to launch its tablet formally in India could work out in favour of Samsung. Unlike iPad, which is a 10-inch tablet , Galaxy Tab has a smaller screen. But it supports making and receiving calls through a Bluetooth-enabled headset, something that iPad doesn't allow.

There is a demand among users for device that allows for rich computing experience on move. This is the demand that Galaxy Tab seeks to satisfy. "We feel demand for tablets is poised to grow phenomenally as users start to experience the limitless potential of this device ," said Ranjit Yadav, director (mobile & IT) at Samsung India.

Since Apple launched iPad early this year, small touchscreen computing devices have seen a huge growth and various hardware manufacturers are trying to cash in on the opportunity . According toResearch Mason, over 24 million tablets are expected to be sold in 2011 worldwide, amounting to over 100% growth in one year. For Galaxy Tab, Samsung said it has partnered with various telecom companies.

"Operators like Airtel, Aircel, Vodafone, Tata Docomo and RCOM will be announcing very exciting offers and data plans with the Galaxy Tab when we commence sales of the Galaxy Tab," said Yadav. Also India specific content like maps from MapMyIndia and apps that allow access to Indian newspapers will come preloaded on the device.

No change to BlackBerry security architecture for India: RIM

Telecom operators may have given compliance reports on upgrading their networks to intercept BlackBerry services, but the maker of the high-end handsets, Research In Motion (RIM), has asserted there is "no change" to its security architecture, which is the same around the world. "No changes to the security architecture for BlackBerry Enterprise Server customers since, contrary to any rumours, the security architecture is the same around the world and RIM truly has no ability to provide its customers' encryption keys," the BlackBerry-maker has said in a statement.
The Canada-based company made it clear that its security systems are still cutting edge by saying, "RIM maintains a consistent global standard for lawful access requirements that does not include special deals for specific countries."

Also driving RIM's position is the fact that strong encryption is a fundamental commercial requirement for any country to attract and maintain international business anyway and similarly, strong encryption is currently used pervasively in traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) on both wired and wireless networks in order to protect corporate and government communications.

The government has given RIM time till January next year to provide complete access to contents on BlackBerry devices and the telecom operators were asked to upgrade their networks to meet this requirement or discontinue the services.

Most of the service providers have given compliance reports with regard to BlackBerry Messenger services, though some have questioned the methodology.

BlackBerry has over one million subscribers in India, which is its fastest growing market in the world in terms of new subscriber additions.

"RIM is pleased with the progress we are achieving together with the government of India and we remain optimistic about reaching a positive and final resolution to regulatory matters in India. We are also committed to working with carriers and others in our sector to address these matters," the statement said.

The moot question, however, remained whether the government would get instant access to BlackBerry's Enterprise Mail service or not. Intelligence agencies have maintained that the Canadian firm has to place the server in India, which may not be acceptable to RIM.

"While we don't comment on the details of confidential regulatory discussions that occur with the government of any country, we can confirm that we continue to approach lawful access matters internationally within the same framework of core principles," RIM said.

10 Best Laptops to Buy in 2010

It was not very long time ago, a laptop would cost an arm or a leg. But now a decent powered laptop would be available at less than a thousand bucks. Unless, you are an avid gamer or you just love anything ancient, you must appreciate the portability and ease of use the laptop provides us. But choosing a laptop is not an easy task. There are a plethora of laptops available under different Brands and models. They have different price ranges and are meant for different types of people with different needs. Instead of getting you the best laptops for every category of people, we have tried to give you a list of 10 laptops that will give you the best bang for your bucks. If you like our list of top 10 laptops of 2009 you’ll also like this one. Here is the list.

1. HP Pavilion DV4-1541US

HP Pavilion PCs are known for their excellent performance and credibility as multimedia and entertainment platforms.

Specification

Processor : Intel Core 2 Duo T6600
RAM : 4 GB DDR3
Hard Disk Capacity : 320 GB 7200 rpm
OS : Windows 7 Premium 64 bit
Display : 14.1 inch WXGA 1280 X 800 pixels resolution
Express Card 54 Slot
Infrared Remote Receiver
LightScribe DVD Writer
Price About $650


2. Apple MacBook Pro Summer 2009

Yes! Apples are always good and yummy too! There must be an apple in every top 10 list and this is no exception. Previously known as the MacBook, the old 13-inch aluminum unibody laptop is now called “Pro” laptops. In addition to all-metal construction and GeForce 9400M graphics, the 13-inch Pro regains a FireWire port, and adds an SD slot.

Specification

Processor : Intel Core 2 Duo 2.26 GHz
RAM : 2 GB
Hard Disk Capacity : 160 GB
Display : 13 inch
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics
Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard Operating System
Price

About $1300

3. Dell Studio 15

Though the Dell Studio 15 is nothing new in 2010 but still it is one of the best laptops available in the market, if you ask me. There are lots of configurations available for this laptop and the prices are also very affordable.

Specification

Processor : Intel Core 2 Duo T5750 2.0 GHz
RAM : 2 GB DDR2
Hard Disk Capacity : 160 GB 5400 RPM
8X Slot Load DVD RW Drive
Display : 15.4 inchLED Display with 1366 X 768 pixels resolution
Integrated 2.0 MP Webcam
Windows Vista Home Premium
Price

About $1300


4. Sony Vaio VPCZ116GX/S

There are no doubt about the quality of the Sony VAIO laptops. If you can afford the price, Sony’s top-of-the-line 13-inch Vaio VPCZ116GX/S is recommended. It has a speedy Core i5 CPU, discrete graphics, a huge 256GB SSD, and a sky-high price to match.

Specification

Processor : Intel Core i5 520 M
RAM : 4 GB DDR3 1066 MHz
256 GB Solid State Drive
OS : Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
Display : 13.1 Inch 1600 X 900 pixels
Price

About $2200

5. Acer Aspire Timeline AS5810TZ-4274

If you thought that Acer prodecues only cheap quality laptops, you should at least try this one to see how wrong you are.

Specification

1.3 GHz Intel Pentium SU2700 Processor
3072MB DDR3 1066MHz RAM
320 GB SATA Hard Drive
8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive
Windows Vista Home Premium (SP1)
Over 8 Hours of Battery Life (6-Cell 5600 mAh)
15.6″ HD CineCrystal LED-backlit Display
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
Price

About $620

6. ASUS UL30A-X5 Thin and Light

Asus may be beter known for their netbook lineup but they also produce some good laptops of other categories also.

Specification

1.3GHz Intel SU7300 Core 2 Duo Processor
4GB of DDR3 RAM, 2 slots, 4GB Max
500GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
13.3″ HD LED LCD Display
Intel GMA 4500MHD Graphics
Wi-Fi 802.11 bgn
0.3MP Webcam
Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System (64 bit)
Price

About $680

7. Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993

Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 is a slim, fast, and affordable package for mainstream users.

Specification

2.1GHz Intel Pentium T4300 Processor
4GB Memory
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive, DVD SuperMulti Drive
15.6″ High-def Display
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, 2 Hours 25 Minutes of Battery Life
Price

About $550

8. Dell Inspiron 14

Dell Inspiron Series are known for the best price to performance ratio.

Specification

Processor : Intel Dual Core T4400
RAM : 2 GB
Hard Disk Capacity : 160 GB
14.0 High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife
Price

About $500

9. HP Mini 5102

HP’s sturdy and stylish Mini 5102 is a slight upgrade to one of our favorite Netbooks, but we had hoped for a little more fresh thinking for 2010.

Specification

Processor : Intel® Atom™ Processor N450 (1.66 GHz, 512 KB L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB)
RAM : 2GB
160 GB HDD
OS : Windows 7 Starter
Price

About $650

10. HP Compaq 6730b

Another very good contender from the house of HP.

Processor : Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
RAM : 2 GB
Hard Disk Capacity : 320 GB
OS : Windows 7 Pro
Display : 1380 X 800 pixels resolution
Video / Graphics : Intel GMA 4500 MHD with Maximum of 3 GB Video RAM
Battery Life : 6 hour
Weight : 5.1 Lbs
CD / DVD Burner
1 Year Warranty
VGA Webcam
7-in-1 Card Reader
Price

About $900

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