0 Tips To Choose The Best Laptop or Computers

By Admin_AT | At 6:28 AM | Label : Computers , Laptops | 0 Comments

When the time involves get a laptop computer, or upgrade from Associate in Nursing older laptop computer, you ought to take under consideration some aspects before jumping in to shop for a replacement transportable machine. Some individuals merely fall for any cut price and jump in at the primary chance they see while not correct analysis.

Here are some tips to form selecting your next laptop computer a straightforward step:

1. laptop computer value (price)

Notebooks are available all sizes and that they carry plenty of options. These 2 aspects typically verify the laptop computer value. alittle laptop computer with restricted performance may not price that a lot of, however you will not be able to do a lot of with it than straightforward text redaction and net browsing. the primary issue you ought to do before even researching a replacement laptop computer for yourself is to line the budget. this can enable you to urge the proper laptop computer for you while not defrayal quite you've got expected.

2. Size and movableness

One issue that differentiates laptops from regular desktop computers is their movableness. whereas large desktops ar exhausting to hold around with you, laptops build it doable to require your work and multimedia system everyplace you go. Laptops is quite little once it involves size, starting from simply ten inches in screen diagonal to giant recreation laptops that go up to 21-23 inches. uncalled-for to mention, the dimensions of the laptop computer can verify its weight and impact the movableness of the device significantly.

Figure out if you would like a extremely transportable laptop computer or simply a desktop replacement before you create your purchase.

3. show sort

Another facet to require under consideration is that the style of show the laptop computer carries. whereas most notebooks have the quality alphanumeric display, some carry the a lot of advanced light-emitting diode back-lit displays that bring a better level of brightness and plenty more color to the screen. Some new models, specifically gambling grade laptops, even carry 3D-ready displays that implement the 120Hz refresh rate to be able to turn out 3D pictures in movies and games.

Do you need a laptop computer with a high performance show, or can one with a regular alphanumeric display be enough for your needs? you will have to answer this question sooner if you actually wish spectacular graphics from your notebook.

4. Configuration

The configuration of a laptop computer determines its direct performance in applications and games, and might additionally impact its size and movableness. If you are a gamer and wish a gambling laptop computer, then you ought to seek for laptops with quad-core processors put in, lots of system memory (somewhere within the 4-6GB range) and a high finish dedicated graphics card.

This doesn't solely apply to games, since numerous graphics style and redaction applications need plenty of high performance hardware, it ought to be pretty clear that a daily laptop computer merely will not be enough during this case.

5. Battery time period

If to procure a laptop computer for its movableness, then another issue you ought to take under consideration is their battery sort. Some varieties will not last quite one or two of hours, whereas others will be 6-12 hours on one charge.

The battery put in can last longer if the notebooks configuration could be a mid-range sort. Laptops that ar used for everyday applications can usually last plenty longer than those that ar jam packed with hardware. The a lot of hardware you've got put in on your notebook, the a lot of power it'll draw, therefore deed you with simply to a small degree of battery life.

6. Brand Name

Most people explore the whole before the rest. If they see a whole they acknowledge and had positive experiences within the past, they have a tendency to settle on a product from that whole. whereas this is not essentially a nasty issue, if you were to expand your horizons to a small degree and flick thru different high brands, you would possibly notice an improved laptop computer at an improved value.

Don't simply opt for the simplest configuration at rock bottom value from a whole you've got ne'er detected of. this may be Associate in Nursing unwise call and may cost you plenty within the long haul.

If you are Associate in Nursing Apple fan for example, then you already recognize that they provide plenty of additional bonuses after you purchase one thing from them, together with smart client support and assurance.

Think of it this way: you will purchase a laptop computer that you'll likely use for subsequent few years some. therefore compass right the primary time and flick thru the obtainable brands and see that offers the simplest hardware at the simplest value.

7. Ratings and Reviews

If you are doing your searching on-line, you most likely noticed  that you just will see what people had to mention concerning the merchandise. Some on-line stores even enable you to arranged the merchandise during a class supported client reviews and ratings. therefore why not do that?

Instead of selecting a product blindly, see what people had to mention that specific model, and if you are pleased with everything you've got detected, then you'll build Associate in Nursing sophisticated purchase.

Conclusion

So let's review what we've learned to date. Before shopping for a laptop computer, you would like to line a budget. supported that budget, discern the dimensions of the laptop computer you would like, the show sort, its configuration, whether or not or not it's a decent battery put in and also the whole that produces it. once you've got patterned all this out, then it is time to travel to your favorite on-line store and notice the simplest rated laptop computer out of the complete obtainable inventory, supported user reviews and ratings.

0 Dust Under your iPhone Lens?

By Admin_AT | At 6:23 PM | Label : apple , camera , customer satisfaction , customer support , dust , iPhone , lens | 0 Comments

I had ordered some lenses for my iPhone from Photojojo. The review for those will come later, as I still want to take plenty of photos before posting a review. For now, I thought I'd mention something I found along the way. By looking closely at all the photos I took, I noticed a small spot on all of them. In fact, it's been hiding in my photos for about a month now, but once I noticed it, I couldn't not see it. Turned out to be dust that had either gotten under the lens of my iPhone's camera, or been in there since it was made, and either became lodged in view of the sensor, or scratched the lens. It's a rare issue, and no one seems to know exactly how it happened. But, if you have it as well, you're not stuck with the issue, it's easy to solve.

 

If you see this or something like it in your photos, consider yourself unlucky. So few people have had the issue. If you do have dust or dirt somehow under your iPhone camera lens, take it into an Apple store. Upon mentioning the issue, the Apple Genius I spoke to immediately found me a brand new iPhone. It's not a common issue, but one that they'll quickly replace your phone for.

 

Don't worry about losing data, a quick backup to iCloud ensures that you won't lose any of your apps or data. Although you'll want to sync with your computer for music, because Apple can only back up the songs you've purchased from the iTunes Store. If you sync with your computer, you can get all your music and movies, iCloud backups are mostly for apps and data.

 

Apple support is great. Issues with Apple devices are uncommon, especially rare ones like this, but Apple is quick to fix or replace the damaged unit. That's why Apple has continually been awarded the top soon in customer satisfaction surveys for their customer service. I thought I'd share my story, so anyone else with a similar issue would know how to get help for it.

 

0 Apple Working on Curved Batteries

By Admin_AT | At 9:10 AM | Label : apple , ipad , iPhone , iwatch , patent , rumor | 0 Comments

One issue with curved phone designs is that the curved portion creates a lot of wasted space. The phones end up thicker, with wasted space inside the phone, all for the sake of a curved edge or back. That curve can either improve the ergonomics of the device, or make it appear to be slimmer than it actually is. The HTC One is a good example. The phone appears to be thin on the side, but actually is quite thick. Not all the components can fit inside that curve, especially the battery. For the sake of making their phone look thinner, they ended up wasting some internal space.

But Apple's working on a way to fill up the curved internal spaces of a phone or other device, such as an iPhone or an iWatch. They're going to do it with curved batteries.

Curved glass and curved batteries, are you sensing a pattern here? The combination of the two would be perfect for a slim, curved iWatch. It would also be perfect for using curved edges on iPhones, and filling that curve with a battery. Apple could even curve the glass screen slightly, to make reaching across a larger screen slightly easier.

Apple has a great design with the iPhone. But, if the design of the iMac is any indicator, they could be looking to make an iPhone that has thinner edges, making it feel thinner than it actually is, and also making it easier to pick up when it's laying flat. I just hope they keep the back of the phone flat and slim. First of all, a flat back doesn't rock around when laid flat, it has less wasted space, and finally, the flat area around the camera is helpful for lens attachments, so users can expand the capabilities of their iPhone cameras.

Speculation of Apple products is just that, nothing is certain. Apple works on many designs before deciding what one will be best for consumers. Because of this, they patent many different technologies and techniques that never go into production. Still, it's interesting to think that Apple may create phones that are packed as much as they can be with a larger battery, but a slimmer design.

via AppleInsider

 

0 Laptop Reviews: ASUS A55A-AH51 15.6-Inch Laptop Black

By Admin_AT | At 6:36 AM | Label : Asus Laptops , Laptop Reviews | 0 Comments

Please see the best reviews from ASUS A55A-AH51 15.6-Inch Laptop ( Black ) features and its description to make a decision, you can make sure that this item has the best quality. So you will get the best choice and will not be dissappointed.

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• Intel Core i5 3210M 2.5 GHz
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0 The App Store is About to Hit 50 Billion Downloads

By Admin_AT | At 4:07 PM | Label : app store , apple , iOS , itunes | 0 Comments

The App Store was introduced with the second version of iOS, then called iPhone OS. It brought third party apps to the iPhone and iPod Touch. Since then, the App Store has been the most popular of such app repositories. Very popular actually, as nearly 50 billion apps have been downloaded. To celebrate, Apple is giving away an iTunes gift card (which will also work on the App Store), valued at $10,000. Obviously, the one to win that will be the person who downloaded the 50,000,000,000th app. They'll also be giving away 50 $500 gift cards to the first 50 people who download an app after the milestone is reached.

It's a great chance to win some money, but it's also amazing to think about how far the App Store has come. iOS 7 and the 7th generation iPhone could be a huge hit for Apple, so maybe it won't take 5 years to hit 100 billion.

You can watch the progress of the App Store countdown to 50 billion here.

 

0 Google Proves Android Fragmentation With an iOS App

By Admin_AT | At 7:13 PM | Label : android , fragmentation , google , iOS | 0 Comments

A few days ago, Google released Google Now, an Android feature for iOS through an update to their Google app. The feature is like Siri, only for Google searches. By releasing it on iOS, they made it available to over 500 million iOS users. However, on Android, it's only on at most 120 million Android phones. Yes, a key feature of Android, their version of Siri, is available on more iOS devices than Android devices. It's not because of marketshare, it's because of fragmentation.

Google Now only works on Android devices using Jellybean, the latest version of the OS. Less than 25% of people have the latest version of Android. Unfortunately, since upgrading the operating system is left to the manufacturers who have made their own Android customizations, users don't often get updates. In fact, unless you're using a Nexus device, the best way to keep up to date with the latest OS is to buy a new Android phone. Of course, phone manufacturers don't mind that, but users probably do.

Issues like this are probably why Gizmodo called the iPhone one of the best Android phones. Google is more interested in selling their services, rather than their phones. That means getting it to as many people as possible. Since they can't get it to many Android users, they have to share their services with iOS.

via TheTechBlock, photo via Chris Barischoff

 

0 Samsung Spokesperson Accidentally Praises Samsung... From his iPhone

By Admin_AT | At 6:13 PM | Label : endorsement , galaxy s4 , iPhone , Samsung | 0 Comments

Celebrity endorsements aren't new. Since companies have been marketing, they've tried to find fitting and trustworthy celebrities or actors to shill their products. Samsung may have gone too far when they paid students to say bad things about their competitors, but paying celebrities to endorse a product isn't unethical. But perhaps Samsung should pick people that actually enjoy using their devices. David Ferrer's latest tweet praising Samsung was actually sent from an iPhone.

If you're not fluent in Spanish, the tweet says "I'm happy with my new Samsung Galaxy S4, configuring S Health of my new Samsung Galaxy S4 to help with training". Yeah, he said "Samsung Galaxy S4" twice, and both times as a hashtag. But the funny part is that the tweet was sent from Twitter for iPhone.

Even Samsung users infrequently use the built in apps like S Health. There are better alternatives from third party developers, on the App Store and Google Play. It's pretty obvious that this tweet was paid for. It's also pretty obvious that being paid to sponsor Samsung products wasn't enough to convince Ferrer to stop using an iPhone. Now, in his defense, perhaps this was simply tweeted by an assistant tweeting on his behalf, but that persin's not buying into the Samsung thing either. Still, someone's not getting paid.

The tweet was quickly taken down, but not before someone could grab a screenshot. On the Internet, nothing can ever really been taken back.

via tuaw

 

1 How to Make your Laptop and Computer Charger Lasts Longer

By Admin_AT | At 3:30 AM | Label : Computers , Laptops | 1 Comments

Nothing stinks worse than using your laptop/portable computer charger to rouse the battery on your computer so all of a fast, it fizzles out. This would possibly leave you scrambling to save lots of your work before the battery runs down. typically battery life is limited to a couple of hours of use at the terribly most and it's not of much use to you once it's dead. so then this leaves you with a dead computer and no thanks to charge it up.

Your alternatives are to borrow a laptop computer cord from an addict or loved one if it's compatible. Your different possibility is to try to search out a laptop computer charger during a place of business that is compatible. sadly, most retailers have negligible choices for laptop computer charger power cords and if you do not have a mainstream complete of laptop computer, finding a power cord at any retailer might prove to be tough. This leaves you with one of the higher choices and that is to search out one online that will match the complete and model of laptop computer that you have. The downside: it may take a couple of days to urge to you.

So whereas it would have been a good idea to own a make a copy, it's too late to think about that now. Instead, let's look at ways in which might have prolonged the life of your laptop computer charger power adapter. There are ways to prolong the life of your laptop computer charger even if, since it had been designed for mobility, it probably has been through a lot of wear and tear and tear from being obstructed in, unplugged and convolute up and being transported. that is dead normal for most laptop computer power cords.

Take care when plugging and unplugging the computer charger cord. simply yanking it out will loosen the connections and build it eventually not work. Another tip to keep your laptop computer charger lasting longer is to keep it out of utmost heating conditions, going it during a automobile on an especially hot or cold day. this will damage its effectiveness to provide your laptop computer with power efficiently. Avoid rough surfaces with the laptop computer adapter cord that would tear or abrade the outside protecting cord that protects the inner wires. If wires become exposed, it's time to throw away the charger because it may become a hearth hazard.

Sometimes the particular transformer segment that is in the middle of the charger cord that resembles a brick will get hot. it's recommended it to put it into a spot wherever it will get air rather than permitting it to overheat. when it's not in use, unplug it for sometime to keep it from obtaining hot. when transporting it, keep it during a laptop computer case or bag so you do not drop it whereas carrying it and when wrapping the cord around it, confirm it's loose.

Many of those tips will help extend the life of your laptop computer charger and will keep it lasting longer. it's probably a good idea to search out one to keep on make a copy simply just in case your current one ever goes bad. they're not too big-ticket and are priceless when it involves using your laptop computer.

0 Apple to Discontinue the Original iPhone

By Admin_AT | At 2:44 PM | Label : apple , iPhone | 0 Comments

The original iPhone was released in 2007. It was both a big surprise and an expected event. Apple had been rumored to be releasing a combination of the iPod and a phone, but we weren't expecting anything like the iPhone. As impressive as it was, all products eventually become obsolete, and in the case of Apple, this is an official designation, and the iPhone will get that on June 11th. After that date, Apple will no longer service the first iPhone, nor replace parts for it. Of course, there are always third party options you could try, but a new iPhone would probably cost less than repairing the first one anyway. Besides, how many people bought the first iPhone and never bought another one?

The date comes the day after Apple will announce the updated versions of Mac OS X and iOS at WWDC, on June 10th. They'll also be making the first Mac Pro, late 2006 Xserve, and mid 2007 iMacs obsolete on that day. iOS 7 won't work on the original iPhone, but then again, iOS 4, 5, and 6 didn't either. So, I don't think these discontinuations have anything to do with operating system updates, just that the products are old, few people have or use them anymore, and Apple can't continue to support them. But still, the first iOS device is being discontinued. Perhaps it could symbolically represent the end of an era, or the beginning of a new one.

via TUAW

 

0 Samsung Galaxy S4 Less Durable than S3

By Admin_AT | At 6:26 PM | Label : apple , durability , Galaxy S3 , galaxy s4 , iPhone , Samsung | 0 Comments

The Samsung Galaxy S4 just can't catch a break. Well, that might be a poor choice of words, considering this is the second test that shows that the Galaxy S4 could break easily. Squaretrade's system rates a phone's durability on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the worst score. The brand new Samsung Galaxy S4 scored a 7 on that chart. Meanwhile, the S3 from last year got a better score, 6.5. In comparison, the iPhone 5 scored a 5.

The thinner design, plastic body, and larger screen are the most likely culprits of the Galaxy's reduced durability. Squaretrade agreed with previous reviews that mentioned the slipperiness of the plastic phone case. That means people could be dropping their fragile S4s very often. It's not all bad news though, the S4 did score better on the water submersion test than the S3 did.

After facing so much criticism over the plastic case, storage space, durability, texture, software, and even the rear facing speaker, Samsung will probably come back next year with a very different phone. Don't be surprised if they release an all metal phone like their competitors. Then again, I also wouldn't be surprised if they release a phone that's just like the S4, only with a slightly bigger screen and faster processor, but spend millions on "marketing".

Squaretrade estimates that despite the issues facing the Galaxy S4, one in five people will buy one anyway. Of those who buy one, they also estimate that one in eight will break their phone within six months of owning it. The odds aren't terrible, but not something I'd bet more than $200 on, and that's for the base model.

Via Bloomberg

 

0 iOS 7 Will Feature a Fresh Yet Familiar Look

By Admin_AT | At 5:01 PM | Label : apple , iOS , ios 7 , rumor | 0 Comments

It looks like iOS 7 will be the first to contain design elements approved by Sir Jony Ive after all. According to a number of anonymous sources who have seen it, the new operating system will feature a brand new look, with flat design elements. Skeuomorphism, glass, and 3D designs will be a thing of the past, replaced instead with very clean, flat design. The app icons will be getting a face lift to fit with these flatter themes.

Above, there's the old podcast app on the left, and the new one on the right. Here you can plainly see how Apple's new guidelines for a cleaner, skeuomorphism-free design. Gone is the out of place tapedeck metaphor, replaced by something that's a bit more useful: the image for the podcast. The controls are also cleaner, and feel less cramped. Expect a similar makeover on iOS.

Apple has also been looking into designing interface elements that are more "glanceable". Basically, they're hoping to make it easier to find information, without paging or scrolling around. Apple has also focused intensely on making sure the OS still is easy to use, and functions in a familiar way to old users, while still being able to attract new users. Although they admit that the new look may be jarring to long time iOS users, they'll still feel at home with how the operating system works.

I'm certainly excited to see what Apple's cooking up. I've been using iOS since the first iPod touch, and I think it's time it takes a leap forward. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's the greatest mobile operating system, but who doesn't want to see the best get even better?

via 9to5Mac

 

0 Samsung Galaxy S4 is "Like Nothing You've Ever Seen Before"... Unless you Saw the S3

By Admin_AT | At 3:37 PM | Label : apple , galaxy s4 , htc , htc one , marketing , Samsung | 0 Comments

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is out, and reviews for it have been mixed. It's not very tough, and is made of a plastic that David Pierce of The Verge called unpleasant to hold, even saying that it felt slippery and slimy. With the superior looks of the iPhone and HTC One, Samsung has been feeling the pressure of their competitors. Rather than turn to designing better products, Samsung has turned to their usual method for boosting sales: marketing. Not only that, but marketing that takes a page out of Apple's play book. How original.

Samsung released a video, much like the ones Apple releases with each product launch. Although, unlike Apple, Samsung opted to show as little of their hardware as possible, instead featuring people talking about it, along with some light music and B-roll footage of people and scenery. At one point, they even say that it's unlike anything you've ever seen, showing a whole new level of denial. It's pretty clear that they're trying to refute the numerous comments from Internet users and reviewers, stating that the new S4 is nothing more than a small upgrade over the S3. They're both in the picture above, or did you think they were the same phones?

Other manufacturers have managed to make plastic phones that looked decent enough. Samsung, on the other hand, hasn't impressed with the Samsung Galaxy S4. With Apple and HTC using aluminum in the designs of their hardware, rather than plastic, Samsung phones will appear cheap. But they're probably just hoping that a huge marketing budget can make up for that.

via TheVerge

 

0 iPhone VS Samsung Galaxy S4 Drop Test

By Admin_AT | At 3:16 PM | Label : apple , drop test , durability , galaxy s4 , iPhone , Samsung | 0 Comments

The video above is a little over 10 minutes long, which can be a bit long for an Internet video. Still, I recommend checking it out, at least skimming through it. Basically, TechSmartt tried to simulate some stereotypical drop situations. They dropped both an iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy S4 from various drop heights, the pocket, chest height, over the head, and from 10 feet. Each time, they examined the phones after they were dropped, and compared the damage. You'll have to check out the video for the full details, but there's a summary below.

Both the screen and camera were shattered early in the tests for Samsung's newest phone. Though they're using gorilla glass for the screen, they've surrounded it with cheap plastic and poor build quality. As a result, the screen shatters when dropped from about 7 feet.

The iPhone, however, is a completely different story. The screen never breaks from their drop tests. The sapphire camera lens never shatters, cracks, or even gets a scratch on it from the drops. In fact, the iPhone 5 survived so well, they decided to run it over with a car. No, really, they ran it over with an SUV. The iPhone even managed to survive that, without the screen breaking, and with no damage to the phone itself or the camera.

Now, you shouldn't go throwing your iPhone around like this, but it's good to know that it's a very durable phone. If you want a phone that's durable enough to last you until your next phone, the iPhone 5 is the right choice. The aluminum unibody construction, gorilla glass, sapphire camera lens, and amazing build quality make the iPhone 5 one tough phone. The plastic Samsung Galaxy S4, on the other hand, did well for a plastic phone, surviving the more frequent drop types. However, in terms of durability, it can't even begin to compete with the iPhone.

via TechnoBuffalo

 

0 iPhone Marketshare to Surpass Android in 2016

By Admin_AT | At 2:08 PM | Label : android , apple , customer satisfaction , google , iPhone , Marketshare | 0 Comments

According to the Yankee Group, marketshare for the iPhone will surpass Android by 2016. Their prediction is based on data they collected from a survey of 16,000 people over the past year. Form the chart above, you can see the iPhone stealing marketshare from non-smartphone devices, and a single percentage point from Blackberry. Thanks to customer loyalty towards Apple, and a number of Android users looking to switch to iOS, iPhone marketshare should grow in the next few years, while Android marketshare will remain stagnant.

There are two main reasons for the Yankee Group's predictions. First, iPhone customer satisfaction and loyalty is much higher than Android's. In fact, 91% of iPhone owners say their next phone will be an iPhone. Comparatively, only 75% of Android users want another Android phone, and most are heading to iOS. Only 6% of iPhone users said they were considering Android, while 18% of Android owners said they were going to get an iPhone. That alone is a good indicator of customer satisfaction on these two platforms.

Beyond that, currently consumers seem split down the middle, at first glance, anyway. 42% of people are planning on getting an iPhone, and 42% are buying an Android device. However, buying intention vs ownership is higher on the iPhone. That means iPhone marketshare is going to grow fire than Android marketshare.

With so many Android users switching to iOS, and so many iPhone users who only want an iPhone, it seems pretty obvious that if this trend continues, iOS will get the lead. The Yankee Group says that will happen by 2016, and the results of their survey could be a good indicator of the future.

via AllThingsD

 

0 iPad Tops Customer Satisfaction Survey

By Admin_AT | At 12:40 PM | Label : apple , customer satisfaction , ipad | 0 Comments

I've posted numerous stories about this before. Apple seems to top the customer satisfaction surveys in every product category they enter. It's no surprise that the iPad would do the same for tablets. J.D. Power surveyed 1857 tablet users to figure out what customers love their tablets the most.

In the categories of performance, design, ease of use, and features, the iPad was on top. It only lost out to the Kindle Fire in one category, cost. Which, since the Kindle Fire costs so much less than the iPad, there's no surprise there. But, perhaps you get what you pay for?

via Today'siPhone

 

0 Apple Release New iPhone Ad

By Admin_AT | At 12:17 PM | Label : apple , camera , iPhone , photography | 0 Comments

Apple's new iPhone advertisement focuses on the iPhone's camera. The iPhone is the most popular camera on Flickr, and presumably, the world, as the Flickr community is a good market segment. The commercial has few words, mostly focusing on the people using the cameras, and only pointing out that the iPhone is the world's most popular camera. As they say, the best camera is the one you have on you, and if it's an iPhone, that's still a very good camera.

via MacStories and Flickr

 

0 Samsung Galaxy S4 Half Full Out of Box

By Admin_AT | At 10:43 AM | Label : | 0 Comments

The 16GB Samsung Galaxy S4 is $199 with a new contract on AT&T. Not only is that half the advertised storage capacity of the HTC One for the same amount of money, but it also has about 45% of that 16 GB used up. That's about 7.2 GB of space already used on the Samsung Galaxy S4. It's a good thing it has an SD card slot, because users are going to need it, big time. Of course, then they have to deal with the age old problem of "where is my data being stored, SD Card or my phone?". The interface for this isn't very intuitive.

But Samsung isn't alone on this one. The HTC One comes out of the box with 7.14 GB used, only slightly less than the S4. But, since the HTC One comes with 32 GB on the base model, that means that the HTC One has 22% of it's storage already used up. That's still not an optimal situation for users.

Nearly any Android phone is going to come with compromises like this. There's the base Android operating system, the customizations the manufacturer did to Android, preloaded media, and perhaps the biggest impact comes from the mountains of bloatware on the device. This bloatware can't be removed from the device without rooting, and that's not often an easy task either.

Samsung is hoping that the fact that they offer an SD card slot will make up for the fact that they use up a large amount of the promised storage space on their new phone. But what's the point of getting the base model of a phone for the lower price if you have to immediately buy an SD card to get that storage back? Seems like the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a few hidden costs.

via Geek

 

0 Learn to Use Your New iOS Device Quick and Easy

By Admin_AT | At 5:50 PM | Label : apple , how to , iOS , tip | 0 Comments

Did you know your new iOS device came with an in depth and easy to read instruction manual? No, don't go digging through what little packaging it came in, it's not in there, it's on your new device. Plus, it's interactive! So, if you're a new iOS user, or you just want to find out the intricate details and tips on your new iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, just check out the user's guide.

No matter what iOS device you're using, it comes with the user guide. It's actually a bookmark in Safari. Just open Safari (it's the web browser, the blue app that looks like a compass), go to the bookmarks, and click the link for the guide. Read through the various sections, it's well grouped together, and find everything you want to know. It has photos, step by step instructions, and even troubleshooting and support.

So, now you have no excuse for bothering your tech savvy friends and family, the guide will teach you everything you want to know! (No offense to everyone who's bothered me about this).

If you want to read through any Apple user guide, yu can check out their manuals here.

 

0 New iPhone in September

By Admin_AT | At 4:45 PM | Label : apple , iPhone , rumor | 0 Comments

The iPhone 5 was released last September, so it seems logical that Apple would stick to that release schedule. Besides that, the previous rumors that the 7th generation iPhone would be released in the summer were dispelled when Tim Cook announced that Apple would be releasing new products in the Fall. Plus, with WWDC being this summer, we can assume that the hardware that will be released with the new operating systems will be released later.

If Citigroup Global Financial chief analyst Zhgankai is to believed, we can assume that the iPhone will be released in September.

Zhgankai claims that after speaking with his sources within Apple's supply chain, the iPhone will be released this September. He didn't have any specifics on his sources, but he did confirm a rumor that Apple would be pairing up with China Mobile. China Mobile is the largest cellphone service provider in the world. The iPhone capable of functioning on China Mobile will be released in September or early October.

Assuming Apple wants to release the new iPhone as soon as it's ready, and it's not coming until Fall, it makes sense that it would be released in the first month of fall, doesn't it? I didn't need secretive sources in China to guess that.

via iPhoneInCanada

 

0 New Apple Devices Coming in Fall

By Admin_AT | At 6:24 PM | Label : apple , iPhone | 0 Comments

It's rare that we get a concrete release window for new Apple hardware or software. But, yesterday, during Apple's conference call, Tim Cook answered a question about a comment he made during the meeting. He mentioned fall releases, in fact, he specifically said "I don't want to be more specific. But I'm just saying we've got some really great stuff coming in the fall. And across all of 2014". Looks like the final quarter of this year and next year are going to be big for Apple.

This could be the closest we'll get to proof of the rumor that the new iPhone has been delayed, possibly because of issues with a fingerprint scanner. The news wasn't initially accepted as good news, as investors were hoping that new Apple products were coming sooner rather than later. However, as ZDnet has pointed out, it may not be a bad thing.

If Apple's taking longer to make a product, it could mean that the next iPhone will be more than just a speed bump over the iPhone 5. At the very least, it means that Apple is working hard to make sure the iPhone is just right before release. It could also mean that Apple's preparing far more than an iPhone for this year. We'd also see a new iPad, and perhaps the rumored smart watch. Even knowing that Apple has big plans for Fall, they could still have a lot up their sleeves.

 

0 WWDC Announced, Starts June 10th

By Admin_AT | At 5:14 PM | Label : apple , iOS , mac os , OS X , wwdc | 0 Comments

Apple has announced that on June 10th this year, they'll be kicking off the Worldwide Developer's Conference. It's Apple's way of reaching out to developers, with classes and demos of new software. Speaking of new software, expect a preview of iOS 7 and OS X 10.9. That's not just a rumor, it comes from Apple's Phil Schiller, who said "We can’t wait to get new versions of iOS and OS X into their hands at WWDC".

Don't expect new hardware at this event. Apple will only be revealing the new versions of their operating systems, which won't be released until later this year. When the iOS 7 is released, it will probably be followed closely by the release of the next iPhone.

via iDownloadBlog

 

0 Tim Cook Hints at Larger iPhone Screen

By Admin_AT | At 4:08 PM | Label : apple , display , iPhone , rumor | 0 Comments

The iPhone 5 was an inch taller than every iPhone before it, bringing the screen size up to 4 inches, and giving it a 16:9 ratio. Apple pointed out that while the screen was bigger, it still could be used with one hand comfortably, something that can't be said of most Android phones. Today, Tim Cook listed another reason for the screen size, while offering some hope of a larger screen in the future.

At Apple's quarterly earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said there may be a iPhone with a larger screen in the future, if the issues holding screen technology back are resolved. He said that Apple's primary goals for the iPhone were to create the highest quality display for users, with the best color, resolution, battery life, and other factors.

I think the rumors of Apple working with curved displays lends to this. If Apple used a curved screen, a thinner iPhone, and smaller bezels, they could easily increase the size of the iPhone screen, without sacrificing usability. Plus, display technology is improving, and once they can get to the point where their requirements for image quality and battery life are met, we'll see an iPhone with a larger screen.

Apple's not about to increase the size of the display on the iPhone solely for marketing. They'll only do it if it improves the quality of the phone. We may have to wait until next year to see the fruit of their labor, but it should be an excellent advancement.

Via AppleInsider

 

0 iPhone 5S Delayed?

By Admin_AT | At 7:24 PM | Label : apple , iPhone , rumor | 0 Comments

Not long ago, the accepted rumor was that the next iPhone would be released this summer. However, it's looking as though Apple's facing some delays, and the next iPhone may not ship until later in the summer, or the fall. It's been rumored that the next iPhone would have a fingerprint scanner for secure and easy logging in, and maybe more. But, think of any fingerprint scanner you've seen on laptops. They're not pretty. For Apple to put a fingerprint scanner in their devices, it has to look good, and remain seamless, while still being obvious to users, and easy to use. As you might imagine, that's definitely not an easy task.

Apparently, the delay involves creating a coating that would allow the iPhone to look beautiful, while still bring new functionality to the world of smartphones through a fingerprint scanner. If Apple is going to introduce a new hardware feature, it's got to be just right. Hopefully they get this sorted out soon, before the iPhone gets delayed into the winter.

via TechnoBuffalo

 

0 HTC One Review

By Admin_AT | At 7:01 PM | Label : htc , htc one , review | 0 Comments

If you're a regular reader, you might be a bit confused. I constantly have articles that praise Apple, and shun Android. So, if I hate Android, then this review must be one of two things, right? Either I've switched to Android or I'm using this as an excuse to write down all the flaws and imperfections of the HTC One, showing how the iPhone is the better phone along the way.

Neither is true. What I set out to do here was do an unbiased review of what's being called "the best Android phone yet". What I found may surprise you. HTC did something here that I didn't think they could do, something they've never done before. They made a good phone.

 

I didn't buy an HTC One for this review. In fact, I just found a demo unit in an AT&T store, and played with it for about half an hour. I'm sure I frustrated a few sales people by walking out after I was done looking at it for so long, but it helped me play around with it enough to at least be able to do a quick yet decent review.

 

Hardware

Apple is the king of making good looking hardware. Sleek lines, durable, aluminum construction, and a minimalistic look that's nothing but class. HTC, like all other Android manufacturers, have made phones that pale in comparison to the iPhone. But finally, HTC may be stepping out of the shadows, with aluminum unibody of the HTC One. It actually looks good.

 

Screen

The screen of the HTC One is the best I've ever seen on an Android phone. In fact, I'd put it right up there with the iPhone, although the colors weren't quite as vibrant, and the screen had an artificial, bluish hue. Still, the screen has a higher resolution display than the iPhone, and it displays full 1080p on a 4.7 inch screen. The screen looks great, but I felt as though it was about a half of an inch too big. I found myself reaching up with my second thumb, even for basic navigation. Needing two hands for a device that should only need one isn't the optimal situation. The screen would be great, if only it was a bit smaller.

 

Design

The design of the One is very nice, something I couldn't say of most Android phones. Overall, it's 9.3mm thick, about 1.7mm thicker than the iPhone 5. However, it has a tapered edge, so from the side, it seems to be thinner. Holding it in your hand reveals the truth, although with the curved back, it's still comfortable to hold.

 

The power button is on the top, and the volume buttons are on the side, operated by the thumb. The power button is also an infrared blaster, capable of turning the HTC One into a universal remote. I didn't have a TV handy, but it looks to be a cool feature, especially if you lose your remote often.

 

One thing about the design of this that really bugged me though, was the headphone jack. If you're OCD, especially about design, then the location of the headphone jack is going to bug you too. It's closer to the center of the device than the power button is, and isn't in the middle of the phone depth-wise either. It's not something you'd see often, but from a design standpoint, it's one of the few things that really takes away from the aesthetics of this phone.

 

Speed

Most Android phones I use have noticeable lag between a tap or gesture, and the phone doing what you've asked of it. The HTC One, however, didn't have this lag, at least not that I noticed in my short time playing with it. That's thanks to a 1.7ghz quad core Snapdragon processor. It's a very powerful processor, and it enables the HTC One to feel much quicker than most other Android phones.

 

I was able to download Temple Run 2 on the demo unit, which I thought could give me an idea of the speed of this phone. It's not a very complex game, but it's one that's available for both iOS and Android. It was taking forever to download, but was much quicker after I turned WiFi off, and used AT&T's 4G. It took about 10-15 seconds longer to start up than the iPhone version, but after it did start, there was no noticeable lag or pausing. I couldn't test it against a more taxing app, but for this little app, it did quite well, besides the initial load time.

 

Camera

I didn't get to take a variety of photos, so I have to go off of what I've read in camera comparisons, along with the few that I took and we taken by the device by customers before me. The camera is something unique. It has a 4 megapixel sensor, but produces clear images thanks to its "ultrapixel" sensor. The sensor captures more light than your average digital camera sensor. Don't believe the megapixel myth, more megapixels doesn't mean a better image. In fact, the images taken with this camera are on par with the iPhone 5 and Nokia 900. They're clear, and while the color may be off in some photos, and dark photos have substantial graininess, they're still very good photos for a cell phone camera.

 

Sound

The HTC One has what HTC has unfortunately named "Boomsound". In no way is the name acceptable, but the feature itself is very good. The two (stereo) speakers on the HTC one are actually very good. While you probably wouldn't listen to music with them, they do work well for watching a video. I'd compare the sound quality to that of a laptop more than a cell phone. It's good, not great, but better than any other smartphone speaker I've heard. I was able to clearly hear music in the middle of a busy mall, and turning it up all the way would have gotten the attention of everyone around me. The speakers are very good on this phone. They're no replacement for good headphones, even cheaper ones, but the sound is still very good for external speakers of cell phone.

 

Software

With the One, HTC introduced the latest version of their Android skin, Sense 5. It's alright, but coming from iOS, I spent as little time on the home screen as I could, only using the app browser. The weather widget looks nice, but Blinkfeed, a sort of news widget didn't seem too useful. It aggregates news similar to the way Zite of Flipboard does, but there's no way to narrow down what displays on your home screen, and it can't be completely uninstalled. You'll spend most time looking at the app view, which sorts apps alphabetically, and scrolls vertically, rather than paging horizontally. As far as Android goes, it's not as bad as other phones I've used. Although, since I don't use Android regularly, it's tough to make an accurate comparison here, though from what I have used of Android devices, I disliked the navigation of this one the least.

The keyboard is big, but it didn't feel right. The keys ween't properly sized, as letters that are frequently typed were smaller than other keys. Also, when trying to fix an error, the text selection wasn't very intuitive or easy to use. I wasn't a fan of the keyboard or the autocorrect. I could see getting used to the keyboard, but it just wasn't designed to be perfect out of the box.

One thing I will mention, it comes with plenty of bloatware from AT&T. The Sprint version also has considerable bloatware. This is just one of those issues you'll have to deal with on any Android phone. It can often be removed, but you'll need to root your phone.

 

Conclusion

People often ask me for smartphone advice, and I always give them the same answer. "Get an iPhone". That's still going to be true. If you were to ask me to recommend a phone, I'd say the iPhone 5, and the iPhone 4S if you're looking to spend less money. I still think that all around, the iPhone 5 especially, is still a better phone, hardware and software. But, if you were to reply "no, I don't want an iPhone" I can now say "ok, get an HTC One". The HTC One is honestly the best Android phone on the market, and I'm not the only one saying that. The AT&T store had a Samsung Galaxy S3 next to the One, which felt like a slow, plastic, child's plaything next to the One. Android still is slower than iOS, requiring incredibly fast processors just to keep up. It also has security vulnerabilities, a less intuitive interface, and less third party support, both from developers and accessory makers. But at least I can tell you that while it's no iPhone, the HTC One is a great phone. Still, if you're absolutely against getting an iPhone, right now, any phone other than the HTC One would be the wrong choice.

The HTC One is $199 with a new 2 year contract on AT&T or Sprint. Or, you could get it off contract for $575, which may be the better option, as it doesn't come loaded with bloatware like the AT&T/Sprint versions.

via HTC cnet

 

0 Another Lawsuit Claiming Google Biased

By Admin_AT | At 5:34 PM | Label : antitrust , google , lawsuit | 0 Comments

Google is being sued once again for favoring their own services in search results over their competitors. Due to the near monopoly Google has over search results, this is a big deal. Streetmap, a UK company is now using Google, claiming that results for their service are buried underneath Google's own search results.

Google actually does this. If you search for maps, you're going to get the Google maps search results before anything else. By favoring their own services over all competitors, they're furthering the monopoly they already have on web searches to other services, and that can't be permitted. But what can Google do to right this?

Streetmap joins a European Union antitrust lawsuit against Google for the same reason. Google's going to have to do something if they don't want further investigation of their practices. Microsoft has had similar issues, and now needs to prompt users to download third party browsers when they start using a new PC. Perhaps Google will need to do something like this for various services, allowing users who are logged in to choose what services they want to be their default for maps, app stores, videos, and more. That would be a more fair and seamless solution.

Via Bloomberg

 

0 How to Switch from Android to iOS

By Admin_AT | At 10:30 AM | Label : android , apple , apps , contacts , google , iOS , iPhone , itunes , media , switch , transfer | 0 Comments

So, you've either made the switch to iOS, or you're thinking about it. Congratulations! But, what's going to happen to all your data on your old phone? How do you keep your music, movies, apps, and perhaps most importantly, you contacts? Fortunately, there is a way to keep everything, although admittedly, transferring apps isn't possible, but you may be able to get iOS versions of them, maybe even for free.

Contacts

First of all, let's get those contacts transferred over. I see so many people say they need their friends phone numbers because they got a new phone. There's no excuse for that, phone numbers, emails, and other contact information is very easy to transfer over. Once you have an iPhone, this will all be easy to sync and back up, but even transferring your contacts from Android to iOS is simple. Here's how you can do it.

 

The online method:

This is the easiest way to do keep your contacts, and the way I recommend.

1. First, synchronize your data with your Google account. There's a variety of ways to do this, depending on what Android phone you have, but it should be in the settings.
2. Next up, on your iPhone, go into Settings > Mail, Contacts, and Calendars
3. Set up an Exchange account, not a Google account
4. Input your Google email address and password
5. For the server, type "m.google.com" (no quotes)
6. On the final screen, just make sure it's syncing contacts, and you're good to go.

 

The offline version

There may appear to be less steps here, but it really is a bit more time consuming. I've done this before for an old Samsung phone, before Android came out. It was a pain, as I had to transfer them individually, but I still have all my contacts from when I first got a phone.

• First, get an SD card, skip this if you already have one
• Second, go into your contacts app on your Android phone, press the Menu button, and choose to export your contacts to your SD card
• Now that you have all your contacts on the SD card, you have a few options. On a Mac or PC, you can choose to import your contacts into your computer's address book.
• If you're on a Mac:
• -Sync your iPhone, make sure contacts are set to sync. You're done.
• If your on a Windows PC:
• -Sync your iPhone with iTunes
• -On the sidebar, select your iPhone, and check sync contacts.
• -From the drop down, choose your Windows contacts, you may need to find the location of them.

 

Alternatively, you could also take the .vcf files from your Android phone, and import them to a Google account, and then do the steps I described above for the online version".

Finally, you could email yourself the vcf file, and open it on your iPhone. Select it, and choose to import all the contacts from it. There are probably even more ways to do this, but these are among the easiest (that I know of).

 

If you've followed these steps, your contacts are now on your iPhone, and it wasn't too hard. Now for your music, movies, and TV shows.

 

Media and Documents

Keeping your media is very easy.

Start off by transferring your media to a computer. You could do so in a number of ways. You could either move your media to an SD card and put it on your computer, or you could just attach it via USB and put all your media on your PC or Mac.

Now, just add all that media to iTunes, and sync your iPhone. You're all done. iTunes makes this all very easy.

 

If you have documents, media, or files online in the cloud, like in Dropbox, Google Drive, or any other cloud storage service, don't worry, those apps are all on iOS. Just download the iOS versions of the apps, and log in. You'll have access to all your files.

 

Apps

There's some good news, and some bad news. The bad news is, you can't sync your apps. Although, aside from emulators, malware, porn, and other such apps that are banned from the App Store, you should be able to find all your favorite apps on iOS. In fact, people say that the iOS versions of the apps are far better than the Android versions. Plus, there are plenty of exclusive apps for iOS that you're going to love.

 

For free apps, this is acceptable. But, for apps that you paid for on Android, you'll have to pay for them again on iOS. Maybe. You could always send a email to the developers asking them if they could comp your purchase of the app. Just explain that you paid for it on Android, and see if they'll oblige. They may say no, but that's about all you can do.

 

 

Your data and contacts should be transferred over to iOS by now. So, it's time to enjoy what iOS has to offer. You'll find the app centric pages, simple notifications, clean design, and secure and centralized App Store far more enjoyable than your experience on Android. Plus, over the years, I've made plenty of app recommendations over the years, so look around, play around, and have fun on iOS. Enjoy your new iPhone.

via Gizmodo and Cnet

 

0 Single Android Malware Infects Millions

By Admin_AT | At 9:51 AM | Label : android , Google Play , malware , security , security flaw | 0 Comments

Badnews is an example of Android malware that easily slipped past Google's anti malware software, posing as an ad network for developers. Developers would make their apps, and they could put ads in their apps to make money. Badnews offered to put ads in apps for developers. Unfortunately, that's not all it did.

The ad network being used by apps would then do some very upsetting things. First, it would send the user's phone number back to their servers, along with the IMEI, the unique phone identifier for the phone. Secondly, it would post advertisements and popup alerts for other malware apps, hoping to infect users in multiple ways.

Between 2 million and 9 million have been infected.

Unless you're translating this post into Russian, you probably didn't get infected. The ad network was used primarily in Russian language apps. Whether or not the developers of those apps intentionally used Badnews to spread malware, or if they simply made the wrong choice for ad provider is unknown.

However, this is a new and clever method for spreading malware. By doing it this way, users could be infected without ever downloading an app that looked questionable. It could be a perfectly normal app that simply offered ads, something very common on Android. Since many Android users are unwilling to pay for apps, displaying ads is a primary method for making money. An ad network that spreads malware would go unnoticed for a long time. Long enough to infect millions, apparently.

The malware wasn't found by Google, but Lookout, a security firm. It leaves little faith for Google's ability to protect their users from malware. Of course, many security flaws are pointed out by third parties, but normally this isn't after the attacker was able to infect millions.

via TechCrunch

 

0 Check out Fish out of Water on iOS

By Admin_AT | At 5:28 PM | Label : app , app store , fish out of water , game , Halfbrick Studios , iOS | 0 Comments

Fish out of water, a new game exclusively on iOS from Halfbrick Studios has quickly climbed up the App Store rankings. For good reason too, it's a very simple yet addictive game. It's from the makers of the popular Jetpack Joyride game, and they may have made their next hit. It's a simple game, in which players try to skip fish the same way you'd skip rocks. Each of the fish have different personalities, and bounce or swim in different ways. The weather changes every hour, further changing the game. After you toss three fish, you're then judged by a panel of crabs, who also have different personas, including one that's... crabby.

It's a nice game, fit for people of all ages, and it's very addictive. I didn't think it would be at first, as it's so simple, but after a while, you'll be playing it every time you pick up your phone. It's exclusively available for iOS right now, for 99¢. You can head over to the App Store to download it here.

 

0 How to Safely Ditch Your Broken Laptop

By Admin_AT | At 11:47 PM | Label : broken laptops , Computers , recycling , sell broken laptop , tips and tricks | 0 Comments

Dealing with a broken laptop is a pretty arduous task for a user who wants to be constantly wired to the information super highway. Whether the connection is bad, or the battery easily gets drained of power, there’s no way to soften the blow of the fact that the laptop you saved and scrimped for is now a derailed piece of electronic junk.

But just because your laptop can be very well called a junk doesn’t mean you should irresponsibly throw it away. Times like these, you cannot afford to deliver your hard earned cash to the nearest trash bin. And this truth applies to a used, old, or broken laptop.

You see, there are a number of safe and guilt-free ways to ditch a crappy laptop. Here are some of those:

1. Be a Nice Big Bro or Sis.

If you think you have saved enough money for a brand spanking new laptop and have no need of an old laptop, it’s time to exude your inner virtues and earn the admiration of your little bro or sis. Why don’t you hand down your old laptop to them! This way, they can still use some of the remaining functions of the device- be it word processor, presentation maker, and etc.

2. Find the Nearest Recycling Center

You may not know it but federal laws mandate that our dear electronics manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, and Sony build recycling centers where people can send their devices for recycling. The law requires that the manufacturer recycles its own products in the event that consumers dispose of it. Or if you can’t find one within the vicinity, try to consult the yellow pages and locate a non-government organization which accepts your old or broken laptop.

3. Sell your Broken Laptop Online

If you believe your laptop is still good to cash in on, the best option is to sell laptop online. Not only is it the fastest and easiest way to recoup several hundred dollars you spent for the old laptop, but it also saves the environment without you leaving the cushion of your swivel chair.

And if you choose to sell laptop online, do it at Cashforlaptops.com. Cashforlaptops has been around since 2002 and has helped thousands of cash strapped consumers like you who want to defray the cost of a new electronic device by turning it in for refurbishment.

With our simple online transaction, your tech woes will easily transform into blessings! First you have to log on to www.cashforlaptops.com and indicate the model and condition of the device. Do not hesitate to put if your laptop is used, old, or broken; we will pay you cash whether it’s working or not.

And where does the safe part come in? While your device is in transit to us, we will send you the tracking codes so that you will be updated of the whereabouts of your device. That means no reason to be afraid of scams or lost items. Wait a little more and cash is sure to come your way!

At CashforLaptops, a broken laptop can never go wrong: It can only be turned into cold hard cash!

0 A Lenovo ThinkPad Twist Mini-Review

By Admin_AT | At 11:00 PM | Label : Lenovo , Lenovo ThinkPad Twist , ThinkPad , ThinkPad Twist | 0 Comments

The design may be retro (being less than half a decade old; which is retro enough for quick-advancing technology), but the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist’s inner laptop components are anything but. Before we delve into that, though, let’s talk about the laptop part that defines the Twist’s form.

A Matter of Perspective

Yes, that’s right: The Twist’s design harkens back to earlier laptop/tablet hybrids, although this was before tablets as we know them today (i.e. iPads) were even a thing. It wasn’t that long ago, sure; but back then, most people didn’t even know what a tablet PC was. Full-fledged laptops were still the only things that came to mind when most people thought of portable computers.

It’s this unfamiliarity that makes many people think the Twist’s design is as innovative as Lenovo’s other interesting hybrid, the Yoga. While both are admittedly nifty-looking, it’s only the Yoga that’s really new, design-wise. The Twist’s design, in more apt words, has already made the rounds.

On the other hand, this also means that the Twist’s single-hinge mechanism has already been tried and tested,which should ease the concerns of those who may think of it as frail. In fact, the laptop’s hinge is one of the sturdiest I’ve come across; as it should be, since it’ll have to take at least five years’ worth of constant abuse.

Specs Report

For just a hundred bucks shy of a cool grand, the Lenovo Twist gives you a durable casing to go along with the following laptop parts: A 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM running at 1600 MHz, an Intel HM77 APU with integrated HD4000 graphics, and a hybrid drive with 500 GB of 7200 rpm hard disk storage space plus 24 GB of fast-access solid state drive.

The laptop also has two video ports (a mini-DisplayPort and a mini-HDMI), two USB 3.0 slots, and an SD card reader. For network connectivity, it has the expected standards Ethernet, Bluetooth, and 802.11n Wi-Fi, as well as optional WWAN.

The LCD screen measures 12.5 inches diagonally, and is outfitted with edge-to-edge glass to give it an optimum touch control interface. It has great image clarity, and the viewing anles aren’t too shabby either. The keyboard and clickpad are also great, as is expected of Lenovo. The keys are contoured at their lower ends to provide better “finger-grips” (and hence, fewer wayward keystrokes), and Lenovo’s signature trackpoint is also as responsive as ever.

The Twist’s accelerometer, however, seems to have a life of its own sometimes, changing the screen’s orientation from portrait to landscape and vice versa with even the slightest budge. It could prove inconvenient for some users, although admittedly it’s not as severe as some people make it out to be. Personally, it’s a flaw I could live with.

What I could do without, though, is the less-than-impressive battery life, which the Twist unfortunately is saddled with. Whereas most laptops nowadays are expected to run for around six hours straight with constant video playback, the Twist only gives around four and a half. This is especially short if the laptop is running video games; but then again, if video gaming is what you’re after, you wouldn’t even be considering the business-like Lenovo Twist in the first place.

Bottom Line

At $900, the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist’s construction and features seem just about right. It has all the attributes expected of a “serious” mid-to-high-end Lenovo machine, and it’s one of the better Windows 8 computers out there to boot. Recommended.