Dell XPS 15z

The Dell XPS 15 runs on the third-generation Intel i7 processor, and this quad-core processor is fast. It runs standard at 2.3Ghz, but with Turbo Boost 2.0, this laptop can give you an extra speed of 3.1GHz. That's one of the bigger jumps we have seen with these new processors.

Couple this processor with the GeForce 640M graphics card and you will see smooth web browsing, responsive applications and detailed graphics. Remember though, this is a mounted graphics card. It has no dedicated cooling system, and if you run games that are graphics heavy, the graphics card can heat up quickly, and you will notice it. But whether you are running games, editing videos or watching movies, the MaxxAudio 4 sound system gives you pure highs and deep lows. We noticed it is comparable to Beats Audio with some songs and movies.The Dell XPS 15 offers an excellent amount of memory and storage. There is 8GB of RAM available on this device and 750GB of hard drive space available. 

This device offers one of the highest amounts of memory we saw on a laptop computer and provides you with an ample amount of space for all your important data.You will get up to eight hours of battery life on this computing device. This battery life provides plenty of time to accomplish your tasks on the computer and also benefits those who are traveling.

This laptop computer sports a 15.6-inch display screen. With a screen this large, you have an easy time browsing web pages, viewing movies or photos. It is also ideal for gaming or creating presentations. It features a high-definition 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Having 1080p resolution, and the HDMI port, make it enjoyable to watch HD movies on a large TV, too.

The small design of the Dell XPS 15 enhances its portability. This laptop is 0.91 inches thick, making it one of the thinnest laptops you will find on the market. The thin design makes it easy to store the laptop and carry from place to place. Although, this computing device weighs 5.79 pounds, making it a little heavier than several similar devices.

This laptop computer offers an extensive feature set filled with tools for both business and pleasure. There are several connectivity options available on this laptop. Wi-Fi is available along with Bluetooth 3.0. There is a 1.3-megapixel webcam featured on the XPS 15, along with dual array digital microphones. These features make video chatting possible.

There are several slots and ports located on the device including an HDMI port. This allows you to connect the computer to an HDTV or other monitor for larger viewing. There is one mini display port, one headphone port, one microphone port and three USB ports. There is also a 5-in-1 media card reader for added versatility.

You will also find Stage software available on this laptop computer. This software acts as an interface and allows you to jump back and forth between your favorite multimedia programs including photos, videos, music and more. The design of this software's interface is similar to a movie reel, allowing you to easily scroll and find what you need. This software includes programs such as PhotoStage where you can upload and edit photos or videos. Also, MusicStage is included, which allows you to expand and manage your music collection.

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Sony VAIO S

The Sony S Series offers you screen resolution that is comparable to our top ranked products. The graphics card is simple, but with a high-definition screen, colors are vibrant and the contrast is electric. This screen makes videos and graphics look how they're supposed to look. This laptop computer also offers an attractive, solid design, if you opt for the premium model. The large hard drive and extra RAM make this a solid multimedia laptop.

The 2.5GHz Intel i5 processor is the brains behind this laptop. With Turbo Boost, it can get up to 3.1GHz. If you opt for the i7 processor, it can get up to 3.6GHz. Either way, this processor is fast, and you will notice the speed when loading up programs such as Photoshop or games like StarCraft 2. Even if you simply want to browse, check emails or watch videos, you may want to consider this laptop.

This device offers 6GB of RAM, with room to upgrade to 8GB. You will get plenty of storage space as the laptop has a 640GB hard drive. Upgrades will give you more space, but no matter what, this is more than enough space for standard computing needs.

This laptop is equipped with an AMD Radeon HD graphics card. This middle to low end card works well with videos and games that aren't very resource intensive. The screen is a high-resolution 1920 x 1080 display with 1080p resolution, so you can expect fantastic viewing with Blu-ray movies. You can even use the HDMI port to connect the laptop to one of your HDTVs.

Another benefit of using the Sony S Series laptop is the extensive feature set this computing device offers. All of your basic computing features are included on this device, such as a memory card slot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth capabilities, along with two USB 2.0 ports and a USB 3.0 port.

There is a built-in HD webcam on this laptop along with a microphone for chatting with friends and family. Another standout feature on this device is its ability to become a mobile hotspot. This laptop features Sony’s Share My Connection technology, which allows you to turn a 3G connection into a Wi-Fi connection and connect up to five other Wi-Fi enabled devices to the internet.

The Sony S Series provides a stunning display. This computing device features a widescreen 15.5-inch backlit LED display. The images on this device are sharp, and the high resolution makes viewing movies, TV shows and photos enjoyable. Although, we were disappointed in the speakers. Sony is known for their sound in the speaker world, but with this laptop, you will be better off using headphones to watch your flicks.

The small and sleek design of the Sony S series is one of this computer’s standout features. The lightweight, compact design makes this computing device enjoyable to carry throughout your day. The S Series also features seven-hour battery life.

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Lenovo IdeaPad Z580

The IdeaPad Z580 doesn't look like a typical budget notebook with its sleek brushed aluminum palm rest and lid. The design is quite detailed too; I like the fancy speaker grille above the keyboard and the touchpad's beveled edge.

Like most Lenovo notebooks, the build quality is again surprisingly good for a budget laptop. The chassis is stiff and no ripples show up on the screen when you press in on lid from behind. Ideally a notebook's internal parts should be subjected to as little flex as possible so they can last a long time; flex is bad for circuit boards. Thankfully, the Z580 feels very solid for a consumer laptop in this price range ($500-$750). Attention to detail is another positive aspect of this notebook; there are no rough or unfinished edges.

Users looking to upgrade the Z580 will find easy access to the storage drive, RAM and wireless card through a single access panel on the bottom of the notebook. The battery is also user-replaceable.

The Z580 has a respectable array of input/output ports including two USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and a media card reader. It lacks an ExpressCard slot, eSATA and DisplayPort. Still, you would be hard pressed to find a budget-priced, 15-inch consumer laptop with ExpressCard slot and DisplayPort so we can't complain too much.

Lenovo's 'Chiclet' style keyboards are amongst the best out there in terms of feel. The Z580's keys have plenty of travel and are able to provide ample tactile feedback. The keys make pleasant clicking sounds which add to the feedback. The keyboard feels solid with zero flex. The layout is good; all the keys are in their expected positions; the only nuance is that the keys on the number pad are about 2/3 the size, which takes some getting used to. Keyboard backlighting is not available on the Z580.

The oversized touchpad is actually a clickpad with a press-able surface. While I still prefer a traditional touchpad with separate buttons, this clickpad is actually quite good; it doesn't take too much effort to push down and it has an excellent smooth surface. The clicks are a bit louder than I prefer but that's my only real complaint.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Z580 represents a great value thanks to its combination of good build quality, a solid keyboard and touchpad, good performance, and six hour battery life. The only areas that need improvement are the screen -- 1366x768 is low and hard to be productive with -- and speakers, which sound tinnier than expected. The fan also has a slight whine but isn't loud enough to be annoying.

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Razer Unsheathes Blade 2 Gaming Laptop

Even though the original only started shipping in late January, gaming peripheral company Razer unveiled the successor to its Blade gaming laptop at PAX Prime on Friday. The good news is that despite boasting better innards, the Blade 2 will cost $300 less than its predecessor.

Described by Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan as being “insanely powerful,” the Blade 2 packs an unnamed (and unannounced) quad-core 3rd Generation Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M graphics with 2GB VRAM, 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3, and a storage combo consisting of a 500GB hard drive and a 64GB SSD. Here are the detailed specs:

• Future platform with 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ Processor
• NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 660M with NVIDIA® Optimus™ Technology
• 2GB Dedicated GDDR5 Video Memory
• 8GB 1600 MHz DDR3 Memory
• 17.3-in. LED Backlit Display (1920x1080)
• 500GB 7200RPM HDD (Primary Storage)
• 64GB SATA III SSD with NVELO Dataplex™ Software (Cache Acceleration)
• Wireless Network 802.11 A/G/N + BT4.0
• 16.81" (Width) x 10.9" (Depth) x 0.88" (Height); 6.6lbs (Weight)

At 6.6lbs, the Blade 2 is slightly heavier than its predecessor (6.4lbs), but there is no change where dimensions are concerned. According to the official press release, the Blade 2 will go up for pre-order for $2,499 on September 2 and begin shipping on September 30.

"With the new Razer Blade, we set out to design something truly phenomenal with extreme performance for gamers in an ultra-thin form factor," said Min-Liang Tan in a press release. "The design and hardware advancements, combined with our revolutionary user interface, make the new Razer Blade, without doubt, the very best gaming laptop we've ever designed. The Beauty is now the Beast."

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Acer B113 11.6″ Ultra-Thin Aimed at Business Has Turned Our Head

Acer is coming out swinging with their new line up of Ultra-thins, the Acer Aspire B113 is a new 11.6-inch notebook for professionals.It is technically the consumer version Acer Aspire V5, so it has a lot in common but has some slightly better hardware, the main difference is that the B113 comes with a 4400mAh battery and the V5 comes with a ridiculous 2500mAh mini battery. Technically, the two devices are very similar but we hear that it’s only going to cost 420€, which makes me wonder who will pick up the V5.

This 11.6-inch ultra-thin comes with a 1366 × 768 that also sports a matte finish. Under the hood the device ships with an Intel Pentium 967 with two 1.3 GHz cores, or the 2nd generation Intel Core i3-2377M running at 1.5 GHz. So even does have a “Sandy Bridge” CPU, it’s still an interesting device, but if you’re looking for more power the V5 does come with a 3nd generation Ivy Bridge Core i5 option.

Acer continues to offer 4GB of installed RAM and a 500 GB hard drive. There are two USB 2.0 ports and a USB 3.0 port, HDMI, 5-in-1 card reader, VGA port and an Ethernet port along side a 1.3-megapixel webcam, and wireless-N. The battery provides, as mentioned, a quite good capacity of 4400mAh, which should offer around five hours on a single charge. It will be running Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional depending on the edition. The basic version seems to come sporting a Pentium 967, which is listed at 420€. If you’re looking for the Core i3 version expect to pay around 499€ and if you’re looking for Windows 7 Professional add another hunderded to that.

The device weights 1.38 pounds which makes the system nice and light. If the fact that the system currently isn’t being offered with the latest Ivy Bridge processor have no fear there is a 3rd generation Core i5-3317U on the way in the near future.

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Motorola Droid Razr Maxx Review: Now With More Battery Life

The Droid Razr Maxx is pretty much identical to the Droid Razr in design however it is slightly thicker and heavier. But really, the difference isn’t too noticeable. The Razr Maxx weighs 5.11 ounces and measures 0.35 inches thick while the Razr weighs 4.48 ounces and measures 0.28-inches thick. The Razr Maxx is still incredibly thin and is on par in slimness with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, also on Verizon.

The soft-touch back is made out of Kevlar, a material found in high-end speedboats, bulletproof jackets, and bicycle tires. According to Motorola, Kevlar is five times stronger than steel. Using Kevlar on a phone seems a bit, well, weird, but I was surprised with how delicate it felt and how attractive it looked.

The solid feel comes from the Droid Razr’s stainless steel core. It also has splashguard technology, which will protect it if you happen to get caught in the rain or spill something on your phone.

We’ve knocked other Motorola smartphones, such as the Photon (Sprint) and the Droid Bionic (Verizon) in the past for its PenTile displays. The Droid Razr, however, ships with a 4.3-inch qHD (Quarter High Definition), 960-by-540-pixel Super AMOLED display. According to Motorola, the Super AMOLED technology should solve some of the battery issues associated with LTE phones. This technology has lower current consumption, which helps to conserve battery life.

The Droid Razr’s display has excellent viewing angles and visibility outdoors, two trademarks of Super AMOLED technology. Blacks are very deep and whites are bright, but colors look a bit oversaturated (another trademark of Super AMOLED display technology.

I did a side-by-side comparison of the Droid Razr against the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 4S has a slightly higher resolution at 960-by-640, with a pixel density of 330 pixels per inch (I could not find any pixel density information for the Razr). While I appreciated the extra screen real estate on the Razr, the iPhone 4S’s 3.5-inch display looked sharper, with better color accuracy.

As I mentioned previously, we haven’t yet lab tested Motorola’s claims that the Droid Maxx can withstand 21 hours of talk time. I did some informal tests over 4G, however and was quite impressed with the Droid Maxx’s battery life. After playing Minecraft for 20 minutes, battery life decreased only 5%. I also ran the State of the Union address on YouTube (which runs for 1:05:13) in HQ (high quality) and battery life only dropped by 20%. I played the game Madden NFL 12 (which comes preloaded on the Razr Maxx) for 10 minutes and the battery didn’t drain at all.

Not only did battery life hold strong in these games, but performance was excellent. The graphics look terrific on the Razr Maxx’s display and gameplay was smooth without any glitches. Overall, this is an excellent gaming phone. The Razr’s 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 processor scored a notable 1040 on the Vellamo mobile benchmarking app for Android (made by Qualcomm).

Call quality was very good over Verizon’s network in San Francisco. I got coverage almost everywhere I went and never experienced any dropped calls. My friends and family sounded loud and clear, with no static or distortion.

The Droid Razr runs Android 2.3.5. It isn’t a pure version of Android, but it isn’t Motorola’s busy (and often annoying) custom overlay/service, MotoBlur. It does retain some of the MotoBlur widgets. The interface is almost identical to that of the Droid Bionic, but with a few tweaks. The widgets are resizable, and you can scroll through them; in the calendar widget, for example, you can scroll through a whole day’s worth of events rather than viewing one event at a time.

Like the Bionic, you get the ZumoCast app/service, though here it has been renamed MotoCast. MotoCast lets you access remote files on your PC without having to upload or sync your files. You can access everything from PowerPoint files to your iTunes playlists on your Razr. Even though the Razr has plenty of capacity (1GB of RAM, 16GB of on-board storage, and a preinstalled 16GB MicroSD card), I find it nice to be able to access videos, documents, photos, and other media files without having to download them to the device or upload them to a cloud service.

Motorola is determined to solve the LTE battery life situation. Smart Actions, a new app, lets you set reminders to notify you when you should recharge your phone (for example, when you go to bed). If you forget to plug your phone in, you can set a Smart Action called “Nighttime Battery Saver,” which adjusts your phone’s network and screen settings to make your battery last longer the next day.

Smart Actions aren’t just about saving battery life. You can create different profiles (Work, Home, Workout, and so on) and set rules for each scenario. If you don’t want your phone to ring out loud when you’re at work, you can set a rule called Quiet Location so your phone automatically goes into silent mode during work hours. Overall, Smart Actions is an easy-to-use, clever app. Although you’ll have to spend a bit of time setting up the rules for each profile, once that's done, Smart Actions will make all the adjustments for you.

The 8-megapixel camera on the Razr Maxx is identical to the original Droid Razr. And unfortunately, image quality isn’t the best. All of my photos seemed to have a bit of a dark cast to them--even photos taken in natural light. Details weren't as sharp as I would have liked, either. The flash tends to blow out colors and details quite a bit, so use it only when absolutely needed.

Like the Droid Bionic and the Photon, the Droid Razr is compatible with a slew of accessories, such as the LapDock 500 Pro, a laptop-like portal for the phone. The LapDock 500 Pro has a 14-inch display and a front-facing camera. When you connect to the Webtop dock, you can access the full Firefox browser as well as lots of specially made productivity apps. Other accessories include an HD Station, a vehicle navigation dock, and a standard dock.

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Dell Launches Two XPS Laptops, One with Ultrabook Capabilities

Dell has unveiled two new additions to its XPS laptop lineup including a 14-inch clamshell that can be configured as an Ultrabook and a more high-powered 15.6-inch device. The new laptops feature thin aluminum casings, edge-to-edge displays with hardened Corning Glass, backlit chiclet keyboards and multigesture touchpads. Both of the new laptops are available now and the specs are pretty close to what leaked to a Chinese tech site earlier in June.

Shared specs between the XPS 14 and 15 include USB 3.0 ports, a mini DisplayPort, HDMI Out, a 3-in-1 media card reader, and a 1.3 megapixel Webcam. Both devices also come with an Ethernet jack, but Dell says the devices were too thin to offer a full Ethernet option. To get around this problem the company included a hinged Ethernet port that expands to fit a cable when you open it.

The XPS 14 standard configuration includes a 14-inch WLED display with 1600-by-900 resolution, dual-core 2.6 GHz Ivy Bridge Core i5-3317U, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. For storage options you can choose a 500GB hard drive, a 500GB hard drive with 32GB mSATA SSD, or a 512GB SSD. If you choose one of the SSD options, the XPS 14 qualifies as an Ultrabook, according to Dell’s chief blogger, Lionel Menchaca. Dell claims battery life for the XPS 14 is between 8 and 11 hours, depending on the configuration.

To keep the XPS 14 thin Dell decided not to include an optical drive; the laptop measures 0.81 inches thick. Despite the XPS 14's thin size you will still feel it when you throw this thing in a backpack as the weight for the base configuration is 4.6 pounds.

The XPS 15 features a 15.6-inch WLED display with 1920-by-1080 full HD resolution, a dual core 3.1 GHz Ivy Bridge Core i5-3210M or you can upgrade to a quad-core 3.1 GHz Ivy Bridge Core i7-3612QM. Standard features include a Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics card with 1GB GDDR5, a 500GB hard drive with 32GB mSATA SSD, 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a slot load DVD-RW (Blu-ray drive upgrade option available). The XPS 15 base configuration weighs 5.79 pounds and measures 0.91 inches thick.

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Sony Launches First Vaio Ultrabooks

Sony is joining Intel's ultrabook push with the new Vaio T family, which includes models with 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch screens, the company said on Wednesday.

The Vaio T ultrabooks will start shipping in May, Sony said, without elaborating on what they will cost or where they will ship.

As with many other ultrabooks, Sony has taken some inspiration from Apple's MacBook Air when it comes to choice of materials. The Vaio ultrabooks are made of magnesium and aluminium, the company said.

The 13-inch model measures approximately 226 millimeters by 17.8mm by 323mm and weighs about 1.6 kilograms with a standard battery, heavier than the 13-inch MacBook Air's 1.35 kilograms.

A configuration of the 13-inch model detailed by Sony is powered by a Intel Core i3-2367M processor.

The company didn't announce any configurations powered by Intel's new Ivy Bridge processors. The first ultrabooks with Ivy Bridge processors are expected to arrive in June.The detailed 13-inch model also has 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard disk.

There will also be configurations that use SSD flash drives and hybrid configurations that combine hard disks and SSD memory using Intel's Smart Response Technology, according to Sony.

Sony also promises battery power that will last a full working day -- up to 9 hours when using SSD storage -- and a deep sleep mode can be used for up 90 days without running out of power.

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New MacBook Pro: Apple’s portable iMac replacement

The long keynote by Apple execs today at the WWDC was long on new products, the most impressive being the new MacBook Pro. The 15.4-inch Retina Display pushes the portable line into the high performance realm, with powerful components packed in a MacBook Air thin frame. The new MacBook Pro is not a budget system, but looks to be aimed as a replacement system for those using a desktop system.

ZDNet has good coverage of all the announcements at WWDC, so I will concentrate on the newest in the laptop line from Apple. The starting configuration for the MacBook Pro shows the system is aimed at those needing a high-end performance laptop.

• Display: 15.4-inch Retina Display (220 ppi); 2880×1800
• Processor: Quad-core i7, 2.3 GHz , 2.6 GHz
• Memory: 8 GB
• Storage: 256 GB SSD, 512 GB SSD
• Graphics: Intel Graphics HD 4000, Nvidia GeForce GT 650M, 1 GB memory
• Ports: MagSafe 2 power; 2-Thunderbolt; 2-USB 3; HDMI; Audio; SDXC;
• Battery: 95 W/Hr Lithium-polymer; up to 7 hours run time; 30 day standby
• Wireless: Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0
• Dimensions: 0.72 x 14.13 x 9.73 inches; 4.46 pounds

The two basic configurations are priced at $2,199 and $2,799 configured as indicated above. The top model can be augmented with a 2.7 GHz processor, 16 GB of system memory, and 768 GB SSD for a healthy $3,749. The most expensive upgrade is the bigger SSD (512GB>768GB) at $500, the extra 8 GB of memory is $200 and the faster processor bumps the price $250.

The new MacBook Pro is not much thicker than the MacBook Air, but it is quite a bit heavier. That makes sense given the larger display and extra stuff inside. The weight is about the same as my 2008 unibody 13-inch MacBook, so it’s pretty light for a much bigger notebook.

The pricing and high performance configuration makes me think Apple is aiming the new MacBook Pro at users currently using an iMac at the desk and maybe a MacBook Air for a mobile system. Those two devices together can approach the price of the new MacBook Pro alone, yet given the fast performance and high-res 15.4-inch display the new laptop can be a decent replacement for the iMac or even both of those devices.

Having a single device to buy and contend with may be enough of a draw to get current iMac owners to drop them to go with the MacBook Pro. One thing is sure, based on the great Retina Display on the new iPad, the MacBook Pro screen should be a nice upgrade for many.

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Lenovo IdeaPad Y570

The 15.6-inch Lenovo IdeaPad Y570 is encased in a sturdy brushed aluminum shell and sports a cool "dot matrix" textured surface on the lid. The notebook has a smooth design throughout the rest of the notebook, and the screen bezel is glossy to add a hint of style. The exterior color is a mix between metallic gray and a plum color, but in the right light it almost looks like it's a shade of purple. The notebook weighs in at almost six pounds and its dimensions are 15.1 x 10.0 x 1.40 inches.

Overall, the Y570 is decently built and the finish will help prevent common scratches. While pressing down on the chassis you'll find that it holds strong, but if you press hard enough it will give in a few spots. Bending the corners of the display does not create ripples, but the display bows under pressure. The hinges are covered in plastic and appear to be run of the mill.

Loosen six screws to reach the memory, hard drive, and wireless card slot. The notebook can hold up to 8GB of DDR3 SDRAM (two SO DIMM slots). The base cover is extremely easy to remove and you can easily reach all of the major components if you want to upgrade your laptop.

The port selection on the Y570 is very expansive. Two USB 3.0 ports are available on select models and were included with our review unit; also included is a six-in-one memory card slot (SD, SD PRO, MMC, MS, MS PRO, xD), HDMI, VGA, eSATA, and two more USB 2.0 ports. A convenient graphics switch to manually switch back and forth between the NVIDIA graphics and Intel HD graphics is also included. 

The Y570 has a 15.6-inch "HD Glare" 720p display. The "HD glare" is part is really just a fancy way of saying that the notebook can display HD content on a very glossy screen; I can see my reflection perfectly when the backlight is dimmed. Anyway, the contrast ratio measures in at about 148:1, which is below average for entertainment and multimedia notebooks; the display will appear washed out when compared to other displays that have higher resolutions and contrast ratings. The panel on this notebook really isn't anything special. On the upside, the backlighting is very even.

Viewing angles are the same as every other TN panel, just average. If you tilt the display backward or forward the viewing angles are very narrow, but from side to side they're a lot better. Watching a video with a friend next to you should be no problem.

Audio is way above average with the IdeaPad Y570. The notebook has Realtek HD audio and two speakers positioned at the top left and right of the keyboard. Volume reaches good highs and lows and only sounds somewhat distorted at 100 percent. The audio driver supports voice cancellation, pitch shift, equalizer, loudness equalization and environment audio enhancements. Users will most likely not feel the need to buy any external speakers for listening to music, watching movies, and other similar activities. The only complaint we have is that the bass in songs does not sound up to par.

The Y570 has a true full-size Chiclet-style keyboard with a separate numberpad. The keys are spaced out more than usual even for it being Chiclet-style. They're also curved inward slightly, mostly for comfort because the keys are made to fit the natural curve of human fingers.

Typing on the Y570 might take some getting used to if you're not familiar with large keyboards with a bunch of extra spacing -- your hands may miss the keys by a centimeter or two, especially if you're a fast typer. I found that this was especially true for the enter key; for some reason, Lenovo designed it so that it's a lot smaller than typical. That's not to say that I didn't have a good typing experience, though. Not many typos were made and the keyboard is actually very comfortable; we just wanted to point out that some users might have to become accustomed to the size and spacing of the keys.

The Synaptics touchpad is textured (bumpy) to help with finger movement across the area. It's multi-gesture and has only one button, but two clickable areas on this one button. This results in a difficulty in pressing it in the right spot without looking because the bar itself is so big and stiff. However, it's just another thing that users will have to become accustomed to. Using the touchpad presents no problems, though; it's responsive and cursor movement is good even if you have moisture on your fingers.  

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Dell Latitude E5420 Review: Solid Office PC

The Dell Latitude E5420's overall build quality is great.It has what Dell calls a Tri-Metal design,which includes anodized brushed aluminum in the display cover, reinforced steel hinges, and a strong magnesium alloy inside the chassis. 

It also has a zinc alloy screen release to keep the display firmly in place until you slide the release bar, an LCD sealant to help prevent against scratches, and a spill-resistant keyboard. This all means that the notebook should hold up against everyday mishaps, and when compared to the rest of the world's budget business notebook lineup, it's well above average. Not only that, but the build quality is way better than last year's plastic shell on the E5410.

When pressing down on the notebook below the display, keyboard, and palmrests, it budges just a bit, but not enough to cause problems. The palmrests are a little sturdier than the keyboard and upper areas. Despite the brushed aluminum inside the display, the screen does budge when bended at the corners. The rest of the display is harder to bend - it seems the corners are the main concern here. The steel hinges are tough, and hold fast when the screen is bent back and forth. 

Stylistically, the E5420 has smooth matte surfaces encased in soft black and silver trimmings. The notebook looks professional and feels nice to the touch. And, the surfaces don't easily smudge up or collect dirt - a huge plus. The E5420 has a good, clean design to it.

The Dell Latitude E5420 can be upgraded easily. To reach the hard drive, memory slots and wireless network card, remove four screws and push the panel outward. Its removal can be done with little effort and it has two RAM slots for up to 8GB of memory.

At this price range, the E5420 should have definitely had a USB 3.0 port or two. Other than that, this notebook has a very good port selection. It has a total of four USB 2.0 ports to connect all of the essentials, a memory card reader, VGA for an external monitor, eSATA, a SmartCard reader (optional), and HDMI. There's even a docking connector port on the bottom, and you can choose from six different types of dock stations straight from the E5420's product page. The screen release is quite tough and will secure the display from opening while traveling.

The E5420 has an anti-glare/matte 14-inch 900p (1600 x 900 resolution) display and has great HD resolution, but below to average contrast when compared to most other business notebooks. When we measured its brightness, we found that it has a peak luminance of 295 nits and an average of 1.55 nits in the other direction, making this notebook have a contrast of 183:1, meaning, the contrast is average at best. However, the higher resolution sets it apart from other budget business notebooks.

Horizontal viewing angles are narrow; colors and images start inverting within 5 degrees of the notebook being tilted forward or backward. Vertical viewing angles are much better though; they don't start to change until 25-30 degrees. Meaning, when you sit in front of the notebook in the office you'll have to keep it tilted at just the right angle to see everything clearly (it also doesn't help that the brightness measurements were as much as 25 nits brighter in some spots than in others). 

The E5420 has IDT HD audio. Oddly enough, the speakers are located underneath the notebook, which doesn't help to carry the audio up and out to the ears. The resulting effect leaves the listener feeling as though the audio is muffled. When the volume is set on a high level, there is noticeable sound distortion. But if you don't set it up high, you won't be able to hear it very well, which is a problem in and of itself. Also, there is no subwoofer, so the bass in music/other audio will be practically non-existent. If you have to do a presentation with audio for work, the notebook will probably only be suitable in smaller rooms due to the speakers' inability to carry sound across distances.

The keyboard on the E5420 is a mix between a Chiclet and traditional-style. The keys are square, somewhat raised, and flat. They also have a bit of extra spacing in between to help with key travel. The tactile feedback is above average; it's both easy and comfortable to type on. It's also spill-resistant and can be configured with backlighting for use in low-lit or dark areas. 

The E5420 uses an Alps Electric Dell touchpad with multi-gesture controls. It's considerably large and provides great cursor movement due to its smooth, wide surface area. It has two sets of left and right-click buttons that make hardly any noise when pressed. We have absolutely no complaints about it, this touchpad is excellent.

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Lenovo IdeaPad U300s Review: Beauty and the Beast

Build and Design

The U300s is thin as expected from an Ultrabook; it measures just 0.6 inches high and a tick less than three pounds.
The chassis relies not on an internal frame but on its external magnesium alloy shell for strength. While the metal feels solid, it doesn’t lend enough support; the chassis is easy to flex as is the lid. This isn’t a desirable characteristic in a well-traveled computer as it allows the internal circuit boards to flex; it can lead to premature failure down the line.

I like how the overall design of the notebook is somewhat understated. The gray metal has a matte finish and a quality look. When closed the U300s resembles a book, however those edges (around the lid and bottom of the chassis) are quite sharp. Is such a tradeoff worth the look? Not really.

Overall the design is pleasing though the chassis strength leaves something to be desired. As with most Ultrabooks, the U300s isn't easy to upgrade on your own; there are no access panels on the bottom to swap out RAM or the storage drive.

Ports and Features

Ultrabooks don't come with the a lot of ports but the U300s manages to do worse. Its lack of a media card reader is surprising and seems like an oversight on Lenovo's part. The U300s has just two USB ports (one of which is USB 3.0), HDMI, and a headphone/microphone combination jack; that’s it. It does not have a VGA port either.

Screen and Speakers
The 13.3-inch display is vanilla; it has a standard 1366x768 (720p) resolution and a glossy surface. The glossy surface has some usability issues since it reflects light which might be fine for a notebook that stays on the desk but for a notebook that’s used in a variety of lighting conditions, it’s not. The display has a washed-out look and the vertical viewing angles are too narrow as it quickly washes out when viewed more than a few degrees off-center. Despite that, I wish the display tilted back a bit further.

Two stereo speakers are located inside the chassis. They sound muffled and are rather tinny. The U300s' has a microphone/headphone combination jack which is a much better choice for audio-related activities.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The full-size keyboard is quiet and has a good layout. Other Ultrabooks we have tested have compromised on the keyboard to some effect; the U300s, other than the key travel being a bit short (distance between pressed and un-pressed positions) does rather well. The keyboard is quiet and has sufficient tactile feedback. I wouldn’t have a problem using this keyboard every day. The only feature it lacks is backlighting (the Toshiba Z830/Z835 has backlighting but the feel isn’t as good as the U300s).

The Synaptics touchpad is actually a clickpad; press down anywhere to produce a click; there are no dedicated buttons. The anti-glare surface is easy to track on. This clickpad is reasonably accurate though the amount of pressure required to create a click varies (it’s harder to press down closer to the top). At the end of the day I would still prefer a traditional touchpad with separate buttons.

    

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HP Pavilion dm4 Beats Edition Review

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition adds Beats Audio to the portable dm4 14-inch notebook frame, but that’s not all that sets this special edition apart from the average dm4.

HP packs in a flash hard drive for faster resume from sleep, a high-resolution matte display that is easy to use outdoors and a beautiful black finish.

Design

The dm4 Beats edition has a striking black and red design looks great, and the notebook is slim enough to go to class or to the cafe without a second thought.

The black metal lid adds to the overall durability of the notebook, but it attracts fingerprints and smudges quite easily. The big red Beats Logo dominates the lid so everyone around knows your computer has Beats Audio.

The notebook exhibits little flex around the corners and on the display, thanks to the metal lid. There is some flex on the middle of the notebook and in the keyboard, but overall the dm4 Beats edition feels sturdy.

For everything HP got right, the keyboard isn’t on the list. The keyboard is incredibly mushy, especially on the left side of the notebook. Combine this with flat keys and we have the makings for many typos.

The dm4 keyboard does offer good key spacing and placement, though the split arrow keys cause some errant cursor movement. The keyboard has red backlighting that looks great and makes it easier to work in low light conditions.

The touchpad on the dm4 Beats Edition is surprisingly good. I experienced no palm movement while typing long documents like this review. Users who prefer external mice will appreciate the ability to turn off the touchpad with a double tap in the upper left.

The touchpad was accurate and the smooth finish provides an excellent mousing surface. Two finger scrolling  was smooth even in troublesome text boxes.  I wish every Windows notebook mousepad was this good.  

Display

The HP Pavilion dm4 Beats edition uses a 1600 x 900 resolution 14-inch display with a matte finish that is amazing.

It’s tough to find a high-resolution display on a 14-inch consumer notebook, let alone one with a matte finish and a $800 price.

The 1600 x 900 resolution display is perfect for working on two documents side by side or surfing the web, controlling music and chatting without switching between windows.

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Samsung Series 7 CHRONOS 17-inch Desktop Replacement Launches

The Samsung Series 7 CHRONOS notebook marries a 17-inch monitor and the latest 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GPU for a desktop replacement notebook that doesn’t break your back, though it might put a pain in your wallet.

The new Samsung Series 7 CHRONOS notebook has a 17.3 inch 1080P HD display with Samsung SuperBright tech that Samsung claims delivers 36% to 50% brighter screens than conventional notebooks.

The quad core Intel 3rd generation Core i7 processor with TurboBoost 2.0.1 for more power when applications demand it, and Samsung Fast Start will speed up the sleep to go speeds. It doesn’t hurt that the notebook includes an 8GB flash memory on the motherboard to speed up operations without limiting file storage like a SSD only system.

Samsung claims that the battery will last up to 8 hours, which most likely needs discounted for real world use. Samsung says that the battery will retain 80% of its capacity for 1,500 charges, or about 3 years, which many consumer notebooks cannot claim.

There is a premium placed on entertainment from the full HD display to the graphics and even the speakers. The Series 7 Chronos has JBL speakers and a subwoofer for above average sound. The new NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GPU allows users to play games, edit movies and perform lots of multitasking. The notebook also features Wireless Display, with the ability to mirror content to an HDTV wirelessly, with a $99 adapter.

The Samsung Series 7 CHRONOS is retails for $1,499 and is available at most Best Buy locations and online for $1,399.

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Mystery Dell XPS 14 Laptop Packs High-End Features in Ultrabook Form

What's this? An unannounced 14-inch Ultrabook called the Dell XPS 14 has popped up on Amazon. The specs suggest this superthin laptop will give other Ultrabooks a run for their money--it's got an Ivy Bridge processor, Nvidia discrete graphics, an HD+ display, and 12 hours of battery life.

Dell released an XPS 14 in 2010 in an attempt to revive the XPS laptop line, but discontinued the 14-inch premium laptop last year. The old XPS 14 would have never qualified as an Ultrabook, with its 1.4-inch thickness.

This new XPS 14, model XPS14-9092sLV, is half as thick (0.71 inches) and weighs only 3 pounds. In fact, the XPS 14 Ultrabook is even thinner and lighter than Dell's XPS 14z, which packs a 14-inch display into a 13-inch footprint (the XPS 14z weighs 4 pounds and is 1 inch thick).

Dell got to this thinner, lighter XPS 14 by ditching the optical drive featured in both the XPS 14z and the old XPS 14.

The new XPS 14 has third-generation Ivy Bridge Intel Core i5 processor, a backlit keyboard, and Nvidia graphics. The model of the Nvidia graphics card has yet to be revealed.

Amazon's product description shows some sweet upgrades for this upcoming Ultrabook. First, there's the HD+ (1600 by 900 pixels) Gorilla Glass display (the old XPS 14 had a 1366 by 768 pixel resolution display). Secondly, the new XPS will supposedly have the longest battery life rating of an Ultrabook to date: 12 hours. (HP's latest Ultrabooks come closest, with an 8-hour battery life rating; the old XPS 14 was only rated for 5.5 hours.)

One possible downer--the XPS 14 Ultrabook only lists a 500GB 5400RPM hard drive, instead of a faster solid state drive. Given the XPS 14's premium features, it's possible that the Ultrabook will come with an SSD boot drive.

The XPS 14 Ultrabook is an attractive computer (on paper, at least). Right now, this unofficial Ultrabook may be the the best competitor to the Asus Zenbook Prime.

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LG Working on Retina-beating 5-inch Smartphone Display

LG Display has introduced a 5-inch full HD LCD panel for smartphone displays -- the highest resolution mobile panel to date, the company said on Monday.

The widescreen panel is based on AH-IPS (Advanced High Performance In-Plane Switching) technology and has a 1920-by-1080 pixel resolution or 440 pixels per inch (ppi), according to LG.

That compares to Apple's Retina display, which has 264 ppi on the new iPad and 326 ppi on the iPhone 4S.

With the 16-by-9 aspect ratio, the panel is also 0.5 inches larger, and 2.2 times denser in pixels compared to the preceding 4.5-inch panel at 329 ppi and a 1280-by-720 pixel resolution, according to LG Display.

The latter resolution has become a standard on current high-end smartphones like the HTC One X, Samsung's Galaxy S III and the LG Optimus 4X HD.

The panel is expected to be released during the second half of this year, according to LG Display, which didn't elaborate on when devices that use the product will start shipping.

The panel will be on exhibit for the first time at SID 2012 Display Week in Boston starting on June 4.

That LG Display has decided to go with a 5-inch panel size is a clear indication that it thinks big screens on smartphones aren't going away, and it is something consumers will continue to want.

Earlier this year, LG Electronics launched the Optimus Vu, which also has a 5-inch display. However, the panel has a 4-by-3 aspect ratio and a 1024-by-768 pixel resolution.

Samsung Electronics has also had some success with the Galaxy Note, which has a 5.3-inch Super AMOLED display with a 1280-by-800 pixel resolution

LG Display and LG Electronics are both subsidiaries of LG Group.

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Origin EON17-S

Mobile gamers will find powerful performance and some portability in Origin's latest custom-built gaming laptop, the 2012 Origin EON17-S. The EON17-S, which the company describes as the "next generation of high-performance," has been redesigned with a 17.3-inch full-HD display, updated specs, and an additional hard drive where the optical drive used to be.
Our review model costs $3442 and packs alluring specs: an Intel Extreme Edition Core i7-3920XM CPU overclocked to 4.5GHz, 16GB of speedy DDR3 RAM, and a discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 675M graphics card. The system also boasts two 120GB solid-state drives in RAID 0, as well as a 1TB hard disk in the optical bay (Origin includes a slim external Blu-ray writer for all of your optical-drive needs). Other notable features include built-in 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, built-in Bluetooth, and a built-in webcam, microphone, and fingerprint reader. The system runs Windows 7 Home Premium. 

Design: Chassis, Keyboard, Trackpad

The EON17-S isn't exactly gorgeous…or portable. The system is housed in a thick, bulky plastic chassis with a few well-placed brushed metal accents on the lid and wrist-rest. The laptop alone weighs 8.6 pounds, but since the system boasts only 2.5 hours of battery life, you'll also need to tote around the 2.5-pound power brick for a total shoulder weight of more than 11 pounds.

Though it won't win any beauty contests, the EON17-S is built well and feels sturdy. The laptop's cover features a black, brushed aluminum panel with a light silver Origin logo painted in the center. Surrounding the aluminum panel is shiny black plastic that tapers off at the edges. Inside is a matte black plastic keyboard deck surrounding a full-size keyboard and a 10-key number pad. The wrist-rest area and trackpad are also made of brushed aluminum.

Origin now offers a new lid design in silver, black, or red. It makes the system look a little like the closed hood of a muscle car. Though it adds a little thickness, it actually reduces the system’s weight by a third of a pound; but the laptop is thick and heavy enough in the first place that you’re not likely to notice. The new lid design costs the same as the traditional design, which is still available.
You get plenty of ports on this hulk of a machine. The right side houses a USB2.0 port, headphone and microphone jacks, and line-out and optical line-out jacks, as well as the optical drive door (or hard-drive caddy, in the case of our configuration). The left side features two USB3.0 ports, one USB3.0/eSATA combo port, a mini FireWire port, gigabit ethernet, and a 9-in-1 card reader. Finally, on the back of the machine, you'll find an HDMI-out, a DVI port, a DisplayPort, and a Kensington lock slot.
The EON17-S's keyboard is acceptable. The matte black keys are almost Chiclet-style--they touch each other at the bottom like regular-style keys, but taper into little plateaus at the top. It's easy to type on, though it doesn't offer as much feedback as I usually like, and the keys are a little light to the touch. The 10-key number pad is expected on a 17.3-inch laptop, but it's placed directly next to the keyboard, so the entire thing feels a little cramped. The keyboard is backlit and you can change the colors and their patterns, or divide the keyboard into three different-colored zones, which is neat.
The keyboard deck has no special buttons, just seven large (but not too bright) LEDs indicating toggles such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and caps lock. Features such as screen brightness, volume, and keyboard lighting are controlled via function keys.
Below the keyboard is a medium-sized trackpad with two discrete plastic buttons separated by a fingerprint reader. The trackpad is a little on the small side for such a bulky machine, but it's fairly accurate, sensitive, and easy to use, despite its rough-ish brushed aluminum texture. The plastic buttons feel a little cheap, and don't depress very easily. For basic tasks, the trackpad is fine, and for gaming, well, you're likely to be using an external mouse anyway.

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HTC One S (gradient blue, T-Mobile)

Design
From the moment I placed the HTC One S in my hand, I was struck with how premium the phone feels. Luxuriously sculpted from a single block of anodized aluminum with smoothly tapered edges, the One S is sturdy yet manages to look finely crafted. That's a mean feat since the handset is breathtakingly thin, just 0.31 inch thick. In fact T-Mobile touts the HTC One S as its trimmest smartphone yet, edging out the Apple iPhone 4S (0.37 inch) and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (0.4 inch), but not the original Motorola Droid Razr (0.28 inch). 

Most of the HTC One S' front is taken up by its lovely 4.3-inch qHD (960 by 540) Super AMOLED screen. It paints images and video with vibrant colors, high contrast, and deep blacks. For example, watching HQ YouTube trailers on the One S is a joy. I ogled neon signs and skyscraper lights in nighttime New York cityscapes. Details such as the folds of leathery monster skin were crisp, just how I like it. 

Sporting a fancy color treatment HTC calls "gradient blue," which looks more like gun metal to me, the back of the phone shifts from light bluish-gray on top to a darker silver hue at its base. I especially like how the HTC One S' matte metallic surface repels fingerprints and provides a sure grip. Also on back is the phone's 8-megapixel camera, prominent lens circled by blue trim, and LED flash. The HTC One S keeps controls to a minimum. Below the screen are three Android Ice Cream Sandwich capacitive buttons for Back, Home, and Recent Applications. The left and right sides hold a Micro-USB port and slim volume bar. A power button and 3.5 mm headphone jack sit on the top edge.  

Features
Make no mistake about it; the HTC One S is a modern Android ICS smartphone with all the trimmings. Under the hood is a nimble 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor. While the phone lacks an SD Card slot to add extra memory, the device does come with a spacious 16GB of internal storage, 1GB of which it uses as RAM.

Along with the usual selection of Android staples such as Gmail, Google Plus, Maps, and Navigation, HTC offers some of its own custom tweaks. The company's Watch video store serves up movies and TV shows for rent and purchase, while the Music app aggregates Google's Play music storefront, Slacker Internet radio app, and locally stored tracks. 

The phone also comes with 25GB of free online storage courtesy of the Dropbox cloud service. Polaris Office supports popular office files, and links to the HTC File app pull all recently opened documents and those stored online into one handy view. 

HTC boasts the One S' integrated Beats Audio technology, which is essentially aggressive audio processing that boosts bass to complement low-end heavy music styles such as rap, dance, and electronic. Beats will also automatically detect when you connect Beats-branded headphones and equalize the EQ settings to match the particular model. It's a nice theory, but when CNET's headphones editor Justin Yu gave the HTC One S paired with a compatible headset a listen, he found the results unimpressive. Sure, bass and treble were high, but the midrange was too overpowered for his audiophile tastes. 

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Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover

The good: The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover has a slim design, fits perfectly onto the iPad 2 and third-generation iPad via magnets, and works extremely well as a keyboard.

The bad: The plastic-and-aluminum keyboard isn't really a case, and doesn't protect the back of the iPad.

The bottom line: Logitech's Ultrathin Keyboard Cover might be the best keyboard accessory ever made for the iPad, if you're looking for a highly portable and functional keyboard that travels light; just make sure you carry a separate protective case.

No one technically needs a keyboard for an iPad. You can type on the screen. But still, it's inefficient. It's not tactile. And that keyboard eats up so much of the iPad's screen space. A dedicated keyboard can help for long-term iPad writing projects.

Keyboard cases are odd ducks, strange marriages. A case with a keyboard won't protect your iPad as well. Compromises are made. I usually recommend a standalone keyboard instead of a case.

Logitech's Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for the iPad is the exception. It's not a case so much as a Smart Cover with a keyboard: a remake of the simple, flat Zagg Keyboard Case, but updated for the magnet-friendly third-generation iPad and iPad 2. The $99 keyboard is more expensive than simple standalone keyboards, but it's equivalently priced to many keyboard cases.

Unlike many uglier keyboard cases, Logitech's ultrathin marvel looks as stylish as the iPad itself, matching the iPad's aluminum exterior on its outer shell. Snap the cover onto the iPad and fold it up with the Keyboard Cover, and the whole package feels like one organic piece, like an ultrathin laptop.

Snap the lid off and lay it down on a desk, and the iPad (whether iPad 2 or "new iPad") docks in a narrow white groove behind the keyboard. Another set of magnets inside locks the iPad in place when it's in a specific landscape orientation, volume buttons up. It's a strong-enough grip to keep the keyboard attached when the iPad is lifted, but the iPad can still fall forward if tipped, making this a keyboard for solid, flat surfaces only. While the extra magnet support works only iin that orientation, you could also dock your iPad in portrait mode; I found that worked, but felt more tenuous.

You don't need to worry about the keyboard cover scratching your iPad, as rubber bumpers at the keyboard's corners prevent contact with the screen when it's used as a cover. It's not a Smart Cover replacement, though: the Keyboard Cover is thin, but it's not that thin.

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HP Envy 17 (2012)

Double-take, gape, gawk, ogle, ooh and ahh: That's what we did when first seeing the HP Envy 17 (2012)'s ($1,484.99 direct) screen. What HP calls a Radiance Full HD Infinity display is simply one of the best, if not the best, laptop screens we've seen, with bright whites, rich blacks, vibrant colors, wide viewing angles, you name it. Set in Control Panel to show text and icons at 125 percent size—100 percent can be a bit small or squinty at the 17.3-inch LCD's 1,920-by-1,080-resolution—it made Windows dialog boxes remind us of hand-inked and -lettered comic or poster pages rather than computer video, and made our digital-camera snaps look like fine art. If you don't mind a glossy rather than matte finish, it's a superb screen that'll spoil you for any run-of-the-mill laptop panel.

But as dazzling as the display is, it's not the only reason we're elevating the HP Envy 17 to become our Editors' Choice among media center laptops, replacing the HP Pavilion dv7-6163cl ($949.99 list, 4 stars)—although we do feel it's time our media center honoree offered full 1080p resolution instead of stopping at 720p. The Envy 17 complements its vivid visuals with awesome Beats Audio, thanks to a six-speakers-plus-subwoofer setup highlighted by a good old-fashioned volume dial. It's great for cranking up the volume and playing Blu-ray movies. It even plays demanding games, as long as you resist the temptation to max out on resolution and detail settings. Add a handsome aluminum chassis and bountiful battery life, and you've got a first-class ticket to multimedia.

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Sony's Android Powered SmartWatch Now Shipping in the U.S.

For the Android fanatic who has everything, there's the new Xperia SmartWatch from Sony, an Android powered wristwatch that taps into your Google smartphone via Bluetooth. Why would you want to do that? Think of it as a secondary screen for your Droid or Nexus or whatever Android device you're packing in your pocket. Sony's SmartWatch vibrates in response to certain events, such as an incoming call. You can read texts and emails, and keep up with Facebook and Twitter all without ever reaching for your smartphone.

If doing such things on a 1.3-inch OLED touchscreen display tethered to your wrist (or shoulder strap or belt -- the watch face detaches from the wristband) sounds appealing, then you're in luck. Previously only available in the U.K., Sony's SmartWatch is now shipping in the U.S. for $150 MSRP.

""SmartWatch is the first of many Smart Extras that seamlessly connect and expand the smartphone's reach and user experience," said Paul Hamnett, President and Head of Customer Unit, North America, Sony Mobile Communications. "Designed to break free from the single screen experience, SmartWatch provides access to live content and entertainment on the go."

Sony says its SmartWatch is dust proof and splash proof. It comes with a black rubber wristband, though you can purchase up to five additional colors (pink, white, mint, gray, and blue). It charges via USB, lasts up to 4 days, and works with Android 2.1 devices and above.

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Samsung Galaxy S III and Galaxy 3D set for 2012 Launch

Samsung is set to continue the phenomenal success of its Galaxy S series devices, especially S II which has gained universal praise and sales volume. Its third generation Galaxy S smartphone is expected to be announced at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in February 2012.

Samsung Galaxy S III may come with a quad-core processor, 720p HD Super AMOLED Plus display for stunningly bright and an sharp, colorful display as well as Android 4.0 operating system, the Ice Cream Sandwich.

More interesting for gadget fans is that Samsung may be incorporating 3D technology into playback, photo and video recording into either Galaxy S III or Galaxy S 3D. The 3D feature is the same kind of glasses-free 3D technology as Nintendo’s 3DS handheld but so far, 3D phones in the market like HTC Evo 3D and LG Optimus 3D have not really taken off.

But with Galaxy S devices being so popular, 3D technology for mobile games and streaming video may finally come to the fore. Once users and developers start creating content and apps rapidly, 3D technology could be indispensable feature of smartphones.

2012 could really shape up to be an intense smartphone battle between Samsung and Apple on features, design and patents. Stay tuned for the Mobile World Congress trade show to see who gain the upperhand.

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iPod Touch as a Learning Tool

We’ve found an economical and powerful learning tool that fits in your pocket. You may know it as Apple’s Touch, the touch screen music player - the iPhone without a phone. It’s at the top of teen wish lists, and now it’s competing with laptops for school 1:1 programs. One laptop for every child sounds like a great idea, but for most school districts it is simply too expensive. The iPod Touch offers free content from schools around the world, thousands of free learning tools from iPhone apps, and it’s a quarter of the cost of a laptop.

“The Touch is the tool of choice for today’s generation,” says Dr. Brian Page, Apple’s Strategic Education Specialist. He travels the country showing teachers how to use the Touch to create better lessons. He should know: Dr. Page was a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendant of Utah schools. “Kids already know how to use it, and when teachers use it in their lessons, kids are engaged,” he said. It’s a win-win situation.

Our schools may be a long way from funding one Touch per child, but we’ve found some compelling reasons to buy one for your family now whether it’s for you, or your college, high school, grade school or younger child. All of the resources here are available directly from the Touch. No computer connection required, no extra data package charges through a cell phone provider, and no problems with cell phone restrictions at school.

Learning never ends. You can view video lectures and demonstrations from hundreds of universities. Try String Theory at MIT, Presidential Politics at Stanford or genetics at the University of Utah. Most of these schools also post support for high school AP classes. Pursue a passion like cooking with video lessons from the Culinary Institute of America. Take a virtual tour of The Red Studio exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and hear the accompanying audio guide. And best of all, every course is free.

Take note parents of middle and high school students. The Touch can be turned into a graphing calculator with a $5 app available directly from the iTunes store on the Touch. And the calculator, like all apps, is regularly updated at no additional charge. The Touch also provides instant free access to every book on your child’s required reading list. That means no more last minute runs to the bookstore for Grapes of Wrath. With its accelerometer, a feature that allows the Touch to respond to movement (rotate, shake, and blowing into the microphone) the Touch can also be used for exploring science and music.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 delay confirmed

Samsung has confirmed that the two successors to its Galaxy Tab Android-powered tablet have been delayed, and are unlikely to appear until the end of April.

To follow up its Galaxy Tab, Samsung had announced two new devices: a 7in ultra-portable and a beefier 10in model, both designed to undercut Apple's popular iPad tablet while offering some impressive functionality of their own.

Sadly, the weeks turned into months with no sign of the devices on our shores. Silence from Samsung left eager consumers wondering when they'd be given the chance to part with their money, but the company has finally broken silence with a firm release date.

According to Samsung, the two new Galaxy Tabs won't be coming out until at least the end of this month - with the potential for the launch to slip still further into May if things don't go according to plan.

The reason for the extended delay isn't clear, but the company has offered one possible explanation: it's planning to release both devices with Android 4.0 'Ice Cream Sandwich' pre-loaded. As Google's latest mobile platform release, Android 4.0 offers a range of benefits over its predecessors including an improved user interface and performance enhancements.

If Samsung is truly aiming for the budget end of the tablet market this time around, it's going to have to get a move on: rumours abound of a Google-branded tablet device which will sit firmly at the bargain end of the retail market, while Amazon is still working out the details of a UK launch for its cut-price Kindle Fire tablet.

If Samsung delays for too long, it could find itself with rather more competition on its hands.

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Windows 8 Will Boost PC Shipments in Second Half of 2012, IDC Says

Apple CEO Tim Cook can talk all he wants about the post-PC era, we're not buying it. Neither is International Data Corporation (IDC), which today said it expects worldwide PC shipments to pick up steam as the year goes on and have a strong second half of 2012. The first half of the year will only see "modest growth," but between the launch of Windows 8 and excitement generated by Ultrabooks and other ultra-thin notebooks, IDC expects second half sales to be much stronger.

This will be in stark contrast to 2011, in which PC vendors faced a "tenuous economic recovery" and went toe-to-toe with "emerging computing devices," which we take to mean tablets. PC shipments in mature markets like the U.S. and Europe declined 9 percent in 2011 compared to 2010, IDC says.

In 2012, IDC expects PC growth to be 5 percent for the year, most of which will take place in the second half of the year.

"Many consumers are holding off making PC purchases at the moment because tablet devices like Apple's iPad are proving to be a powerful distraction," according to Bob O'Donnell, vice president of Clients and Displays at IDC. "However, end user surveys tell us that few people consider media tablets as replacements for their PCs, so later this year when there is a new Microsoft operating system, available in sleek new PC form factors, we believe consumer interest in PCs will begin to rebound."

Bolded by us for emphasis because it's refreshing to hear someone else say what we've been preaching from the beginning.

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Used Game Conspiracy Rages On as Next Generation PlayStation "Orbis" Details Emerge

Sony has been understandably tight-lipped about its next generation game console, most obviously because the company is still trying to move PlayStation 3 hardware. But could another reason be that Sony doesn't yet want to reveal its planned participation in killing off the used games market? It's a subject that was touched on earlier this week, and now new information about "Orbis," the codename for Sony's next gen console, seems to suggest that Sony's all-in with the idea.

Gaming news and review site Kotaku claims to have "learned some important details" about the PS3's successor, which first and foremost is apparently being called Orbis. According to Kotaku, Orbis will do away with backwards compatibility, shunning both PS3 and PS2 collections. That would be a stunning development if true, though even more concerning is the fact that "multiple sources" are telling Kotaku that Orbis will include built-in used game measures. The most likely scenario, according to the site's "main source," is that new games will either ship as PSN downloads, or on Blu-ray discs locked to a single PSN account. You won't need an always-on connection to play games, but you will need to hop online long enough to authenticate your copy.

As for the hardware, Orbis is said to feature an AMD x64 processor and AMD Southern Islands GPU capable of pushing pixels at a resolution of up to 4096x2160. It will also be able to play 3D games in 1080p.

None of this has been confirmed by Sony, of course, and it's being reported that Orbis will ship in time for the 2013 holiday season, which is still more than a year away. That's plenty of time for specs and details to change, especially if gamers start voicing their concerns over what could end up being the death of the used games market, not to mention services like GameFly.

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