News
Laptop Review: Samsung Series 7 Chronos, MacBook Killer?
By DigitalVersus, published 18-05-2012
Samsung is pitching its Series 7 Chonos laptop as a serious rival for Apple's MacBook Pro. But is the high-end 15.6-inch 700Z5A notebook really such a MacBook killer? Time to...
HP Promises to Improve Ultrabook and Sleekbook Screens
By DigitalVersus, published 18-05-2012
Ultrabooks may be designed as the PC rival to Apple's MacBook Air laptops, but none of the models we've reviewed have come with particularly impressive screens. Manufacturers are no doubt...
OWC's Aura Pro Express 6G 480GB SSD Seriously Amps Up Your MacBook Air
By HotHardware, published 28-01-2012
There's nothing quite like an SSD to really hammer home the "high performance" feeling in a new notebook. Apple's been cramming SSDs into MacBook Air machines for some time now, but Other World Computing believes in pushing the envelope. The company's Mercury Aura Pro Express 6G 480GB SSD offers up to 3x faster performance and 8x more storage...
Duel: Apple MacBook Air 11.6-Inch vs Samsung Slate PC XE700
By DigitalVersus, published 13-01-2012
A few days after the Windows duel, two new adversaries enter the arena: which among the hybrid touchscreen tablet/PC and the ultraportable laptop is the best all-rounder? ... Read more...
Apple investigating fuel cell powered MacBooks
By TechRadar, published 23-12-2011
Apple is actively considering using fuel cell technology to power portable devices which could last for 'weeks' from a single charge.A pair of patents uncovered by AppleInsider, the company asserts that hydrogen-powered fuel cells would see smaller and lighter MacBooks with unheard of battery life.The patents, Fuel Cell Systems to Power Portable Computing Device and Fuel Cell System Coupled to a Portable Computing Device, were filed in October 2010.Significantly reduces size weight and costApple's filing says: "This fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which converts fuel into electrical power. It also includes a controller which controls operation of the fuel cell system.""This eliminates the need for a bulky and heavy battery within the fuel cell system, which can sign...
In Depth: PC tech in 2012: what to expect
By TechRadar, published 22-12-2011
PC tech in 2012: what to expectWith 2011 drawing to a close, it's time to look forward to the technological delights heading our way courtesy of the most resilient and consistent innovative computing platform of them all, the trusty old PC.This time last year, we got it right on Intel's Sandy Bridge and a relatively stagnant year for PC graphics, were let down by AMD's Bulldozer and jumped the gun on tablets and apps.For 2012, it's looking like the roles are set to reverse for CPUs and GPUs, laptops PCs are going to be better than ever and the tablets will finally make the mainstream. No really, this time it's true.Not a vintage year for CPUsThe great hope for the end of 2011 and in turn 2012 and onwards was the arrival of AMD's long awaited – almost mythical - Bulldozer chip, otherwise ...
Rumor mill hints at MacBook Pro with high-DPI panel
By TechReport, published 14-12-2011
We've already heard reports that both Apple and Samsung will unleash tablets with high-DPI displays next year. According to a story posted by DigiTimes this morning, the high-DPI fever will affect Apple's MacBook Pro notebooks, as well.The site foretells a "new MacBook Pro lineup" with 2880x1800 displays, which "sources in the upstream supply chain" expect to see in the second quarter of next year. That resolution, of course, would offer exactly four times as many pixels as 1440x900, the display resolution of Apple's current 13" ...Read more...
In Depth: Apple in 2012: 10 things to expect
By TechRadar, published 14-12-2011
Apple in 2012: 10 things to expectIt's that time of year where we dust off the ol' crystal ball and try to figure out where Apple's heading over the next 12 months. Although the company lobs the odd curveball, its releases to date, along with scrutinising subtler trends, point to the following ten things arriving from the Cupertino giant over the coming year.1. iPad 3You can barely swing a digital cat on the internet without nastily cracking its head on a ton of iPad 3 rumours. Reports suggest anyone wanting a higher-resolution iPad screen might be in luck, but we recommend taking rumours about major changes in form factor (such as a 7-inch iPad) with a fistful of salt. Less fanciful rumours we're hoping come true are that the device will have more storage and some kind of Thunderbolt supp...
Daily Roundup: 2011-12-06
By Bjorn3D, published 12-06-2011
CPUs, RAMs, Mobos GeIL Enhance Corsa DDR3 and Evo Corsa DDR3 Memory Kits Review at HardwareHeaven.com Patriot Division 4 DDR3-1600 Quad Channel Memory Review at Neoseeker Asus P8Z68-V LX Motherboard Review at Kitguru Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (2011) Review at Tech-Reviews.co.uk GeIL Enhance Co
LG announces Z330 Ultrabook
By TechRadar, published 12-05-2011
LG has launched a new ultra-portable laptop, which it says is both thinner and lighter than Apple's market-leading MacBook Air.The 13.3-inch Z330 Ultrabook joins LGs XNote family of laptops and boasts a stunning Windows 7 boot time of 9.9 seconds thanks to a "super speed tech" optimisation.The LED backlit display boasts a resolution of 1366 x 768 while there's an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor doing all the donkey work.There's also 4GB of RAM, upto 250GB of RAM and an Intel HD 3000 graphics card. There's also Bluetooth 3.0 and USB 3.0 in the mix.Thinner and lighterThe laptop, which looks strikingly similar to Apple's pioneering MacBook Air size zero notebook, is thinner at 0.6-inches and lighter at 2.7lbs.The Z330 was announced in Korea and it's as yet unclear whether the laptop wil...
LG Xnote Z330 ultrabook revealed
By SlashGear, published 12-05-2011
LG has revealed its own attempt at the ultrabook segment, the LG Xnote Z330, with Intel’s Core i5 and i7 processors and more than a hint of Apple’s MacBook Air to the styling. Built around a 13.3-inch 1366 x 768 display – that, thanks to LG’s 8mm-thin bezel Shuriken tech, fits into the space a 12-inch panel would [...]
Ultrabook prices to fall in early 2012?
By TechRadar, published 30-11-2011
Intel will be pleased to hear that Acer, Asus and Toshiba may be able to lower the prices of Ultrabooks in the first quarter of 2012. Supply chain sources told Digitimes that prices will fall between 5 and 10 per cent early in the year, potentially taking the prices under $1,000 in the US as Intel has always dreamed. In a 13-inch Ultrabook, the tech site estimates the cost of all the components to come in at around $700, with solid state drives and software licensing pushing the prices ever sky-wards. UltrapriceyThe processor company introduced the 'Ultrabook' category to refer to powerful, slim, stylish non-Mac laptops that are meant to challenge the MacBook Air.Apple has always had the edge on price, though - manufacturers have found it difficult to come down as low as $1,000 (the equiva...
Apple's 2012 MacBook Air refresh to include 15-inch model?
By TechRadar, published 28-11-2011
Apple looks set to refresh its MacBook Air line up in early 2012 but the latest rumours suggest it will also add a 15-inch model to the range at the same time. The tip comes from Digitimes, which cites supply chain sources as the foundation for the information. The refresh will see the 11-inch and 13-inch laptops get a bit of an update, with the existing models expected to get a price drop over the coming months in preparation. MacBook FlairApple's slim Air range has seen increased competition from Intel's Ultrabook project over the course of 2011, with the chip maker's specifications including high performance computing in a slim, stylish package. Digitimes' isn't always the most reliable tech outlet, but this isn't the first time we've heard talk of a 15-inch Air with previous rumours su...
Apple to Defend Against Ultrabook Invasion with 15-inch MacBook Air
By HotHardware, published 28-11-2011
While Windows PC makers are making a push into thin and light territory with Intel's Ultrabook concept, Apple is reportedly prepping a refreshed MacBook Air line that, for the first time, will include a 15.6-inch model. This will be in addition to existing 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch form factors that already exist in the MacBook Air family. News...
MacBook Air refresh in Q1 includes 15-incher say sources
By SlashGear, published 28-11-2011
Apple is reportedly readying a new MacBook Air line-up for early 2012, with a new 15-inch model joining the existing sizes as the Cupertino company reacts to Intel’s Ultrabook push. The new 11.6-, 13.3- and 15-inch ultraportables will go on sale in Q1 next year, DigiTimes‘ supply chain sources claim, with pilot production believed to [...]
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 26-11-2011
This week we've reviewed Google's new Galaxy Nexus - the first Android 4.0 handset as well as the new, souped up Apple MacBook Pro.We've also checked out a brand new 46-inch LCD from Philips as well as Sony's whacky personal 3D viewer. Read on for all the reviews posted on TechRadar this week. Philips 46PFL9706H reviewThe Philips 46PFL469706H is a milestone in TV design. Picture quality on an LCD TV was simply not possible until now, and it's all made possible by the new 'moth eye' filter. It uses tiny nodules to mimic similar structures found on moth's eyes and is used to eliminate reflections on the screen, resulting in a greatly enhanced perceived contrast range. You have to see it to truly believe it, but it takes this TV from being a great contender to a market leader. There are a few...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 26-11-2011
This week we've reviewed Google's new Galaxy Nexus - the first Android 4.0 handset as well as the new, souped up Apple MacBook Pro.We've also checked out a brand new 46-inch LCD from Philips as well as Sony's whacky personal 3D viewer. Read on for all the reviews posted on TechRadar this week. Philips 46PFL9706H reviewThe Philips 46PFL469706H is a milestone in TV design. Picture quality on an LCD TV was simply not possible until now, and it's all made possible by the new 'moth eye' filter. It uses tiny nodules to mimic similar structures found on moth's eyes and is used to eliminate reflections on the screen, resulting in a greatly enhanced perceived contrast range. You have to see it to truly believe it, but it takes this TV from being a great contender to a market leader. There are a few...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 26-11-2011
This week we've reviewed Google's new Galaxy Nexus - the first Android 4.0 handset as well as the new, souped up Apple MacBook Pro.We've also checked out a brand new 46-inch LCD from Philips as well as Sony's whacky personal 3D viewer. Read on for all the reviews posted on TechRadar this week. Philips 46PFL9706H reviewThe Philips 46PFL469706H is a milestone in TV design. Picture quality on an LCD TV was simply not possible until now, and it's all made possible by the new 'moth eye' filter. It uses tiny nodules to mimic similar structures found on moth's eyes and is used to eliminate reflections on the screen, resulting in a greatly enhanced perceived contrast range. You have to see it to truly believe it, but it takes this TV from being a great contender to a market leader. There are a few...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 26-11-2011
This week we've reviewed Google's new Galaxy Nexus - the first Android 4.0 handset as well as the new, souped up Apple MacBook Pro.We've also checked out a brand new 46-inch LCD from Philips as well as Sony's whacky personal 3D viewer. Read on for all the reviews posted on TechRadar this week. Philips 46PFL9706H reviewThe Philips 46PFL469706H is a milestone in TV design. Picture quality on an LCD TV was simply not possible until now, and it's all made possible by the new 'moth eye' filter. It uses tiny nodules to mimic similar structures found on moth's eyes and is used to eliminate reflections on the screen, resulting in a greatly enhanced perceived contrast range. You have to see it to truly believe it, but it takes this TV from being a great contender to a market leader. There are a few...
This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By MaximumPC, published 25-11-2011
This week we've reviewed Google's new Galaxy Nexus - the first Android 4.0 handset as well as the new, souped up Apple MacBook Pro. We've also checked out a brand new 46-inch LCD from Philips as well as Sony's whacky personal 3D viewer. Read on for all the reviews posted on TechRadar this week. Philips 46PFL9706H review The Philips 46PFL469706H is a milestone in TV design. Picture quality on an LCD TV was simply not possible until now, and it's all made possible by the new 'moth eye' filter. It uses tiny nodules to mimic similar structures found on moth's eyes and is used to eliminate reflections on the screen, resulting in a greatly enhanced perceived contrast range. You have to see it to truly believe it, but it takes this TV from being a great contender to a market leader. There are a ...
Toshiba Portege Z830 and Z835 Ultrabooks now available online
By SlashGear, published 22-11-2011
Toshiba’s first entries into the ultra thin and lightweight notebook category called Ultrabooks are now available for purchase online after initially being sold exclusively through Best Buy. The Portege Z830 and the Z835 series are deemed the lightest 13-inch notebooks in the world, aiming to compete with Apple’s popular MacBook Air notebooks. There are four [...]
Tackling the Tablet Conundrum: Which One is Right For You?
By MaximumPC, published 21-11-2011
Do you even need a tablet? If so, which one? We review the current crop of tablet mainstays. We explain the hardware and OS features that matter the most. Follow along as we unravel what tablets are actually good for. When a consumer electronics category confuses the masses, it’s usually because the technology is hard to understand on a fundamental level. Have you ever tried to explain texture fill rates to your GPU-ignorant brother-in-law? Or RAID levels to your mom—who shouldn’t even be asking about RAID in the first place? Videocards and storage devices can confuse the lay consumer, but at least the prospective hardware buyer usually knows he or she needs a videocard or storage device in the first place. Your game won’t play at a high resolution? A new videocard is probably the...
Updated: iPad 3 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 21-11-2011
iPad 3 rumoured release date and processorThe iPad 2 has been out since the Spring. So now it's time to move the rumour factory onto iPad 3.We've gathered together details on its possible specifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from mysterious, unnamed people who can't possibly be identified.How very convenient. So what's the word on the street about the next iPad?brightcove : 1065669898001iPad 3 release dateOn 1 July, Digitimes reported that Taiwanese-based component suppliers were gearing up for production of iPad 3. In October 2011 it was later reported that production would certainly start before the end of the year.However, during August, a rumour broke that Apple was set to delay the launch of the iPad 3, due to a shortage of retina dis...
HH Hot Deals of the Day: Dell Inspiron Laptop, a MacBook Air, HP LCD and More
By HotHardware, published 21-11-2011
Happy Monday, Folks! It’s a new week, and just like clockwork our friends at LogicBuy are the ready with a fresh batch of HOT deals from across the web. On tap for you all this morning, we have a Core i5-based Dell Inspiron laptop with an Adobe and Canon ELPH bunfle, a 13.3” Apple MacBook Air, an LED-backlit HP LCD monitor, a D-Link...
Updated: iPad 3 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 14-11-2011
iPad 3 rumoured release date and processorThe iPad 2 has been out since the Spring. So now it's time tomove the rumour factory onto iPad 3.We've gathered together details on its possiblespecifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from mysterious, unnamed people who can't possibly be identified.How very convenient. So what's the word on the street about the next iPad?brightcove : 1065669898001iPad 3 release dateAlthough numerous sources such as Reuters reported that the new iPad 3 is due in the fourth quarter of 2011, the signs are it will be early in 2012.On 1 July, Digitimes reported that Taiwanese-based component suppliers were gearing up for production of iPad 3. In October 2011 it was later reported that production would certainly start befor...
Veterans Day Shortbread
By TechReport, published 11-11-2011
Eight is Enough Nvidia reports financial results for third quarter fiscal year 2012 AnandTech reports Steam hacked, Valve investigating possible credit card theft Hard disk shortage will get worse: Piper Jaffray AnandTech on AMD's Project Win: A misunderstanding X-bit labs: AMD continues to prepare mass shipments of new Opteron processors Mac Rumors: Apple releases MacBook Pro firmware update to fix unexpected shutdown issue and Apple releases iOS 5.0.1 to address battery life issues VR-Zone: GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 Core specifications leaked and GeForce 600M launching December 6th TC Magazine: GeForce 285.79 beta driver available, offers Battlefield 3 fixes / tweaks Read more...
Tuesday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 11-01-2011
Eight is Enough AppleInsider: Despite new CPU options, Apple reportedly questioning future of Mac Pro and Apple rumored to be testing new ultrathin 15" MacBook VR-Zone: Motherboard makers leak upcoming AMD FM1 processors Fudzilla: Intel chips will tell people all about your computer VR-Zone's exclusive: Gigabyte to include Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 4.0 with X79 motherboards Nvidia Forums: The latest on the alleged TDR issues Engadget on Asus Eee Pad plans: Transformer Prime landing November 9th, two Win 8 tablets coming in 2012 Eurogamer reports Valve delays Counter-Strike: GO beta John Carmack tweets Doom III source code release nears Read more...
Initial Ultrabook Sales Fall Short of Expectations
By MaximumPC, published 31-10-2011
Intel came up with the Ultrabook category in hopes of blowing Apple's MacBook Air out of the water. Ultrabooks are supposed to be thin and light. They're intended to be powerful and well equipped with features. And they must be aesthetically pleasing, or at least that's Intel's vision for the Ultrabook category. And so far, Ultrabooks are all of these things, so why aren't they selling? They're too friggin' expensive. That's the plain and simple truth, and the reason why sales are falling below expectations so far. According to DigiTimes, Acer and Asus reckon they'll move move 100,000 Ultrabooks by the end of the year, well short of their initial targets, which were set at two to three times that many. Over in Taiwan, Acer's 13.3-inch Aspire S3 is selling for around $1,100, or about $100 h...
Updated: iPad 3 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 31-10-2011
iPad 3 rumoured release date and processorThe iPad 2 has been out since the Spring. So now it's time tomove the rumour factory onto iPad 3.We've gathered together details on its possiblespecifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from mysterious, unnamed people who can't possibly be identified.How very convenient. So what's the word on the street about the next iPad?brightcove : 1065669898001iPad 3 release dateAlthough numerous sources such as Reuters reported that the new iPad 3 is due in the fourth quarter of 2011, the signs are it will be early in 2012.On 1 July, Digitimes reported that Taiwanese-based component suppliers were gearing up for production of iPad 3. In October 2011 it was later reported that production would certainly start befor...
Updated: Top laptops: the 20 best laptops in the world
By TechRadar, published 31-10-2011
Choosing the best laptop for youOur continually updated list of all the best laptops available today.Choosing which laptop is the best for you can be a tricky business, and the amount of choice can be overwhelming. There's no shortage of cheap laptops out there to choose from, but with new models being released and almost immediately replaced by manufacturers, the choice is no easy task. As well as reading through this feature, you can also check out our video buying guide below:brightcove : 1070855030001The lure of netbooks and the rise of the mini-laptop are also huge factors for those looking for a new notebook, but each has their downsides.That's why we've pored over our huge database of laptop reviews and picked out the best notebooks money can buy. We've picked out five of the best c...
Tutorial: How to make OS X Lion like Snow Leopard
By TechRadar, published 30-10-2011
How to make OS X Lion like Snow LeopardNew features that make your Mac easier to use are always welcome, and Lion is packed with plenty of them, but it also changes a few things that can be hard to adjust to. Many of them can be rolled back in System Preferences and in applications' preferences. In addition, there's a bunch of covert settings that can be amended by typing commands into Terminal. So, if you're finding it hard to settle in with Lion, here's how to restore a sense of normality to many aspects of OS X. The first thing that will hit you is what Apple calls 'natural scrolling'. It makes moving around a document or website more like pushing a piece of paper around your desk, rather than making you interact with artificial elements like scrollbars and a viewport onto a document. E...
Review: Asus Zenbook UX31
By TechRadar, published 28-10-2011
OverviewThe Asus Zenbook UX31 is one of the first laptops to conform to Intel's Ultrabook specification.And, right away, we'll tell you - it stands toe-to-toe with Apple's MacBook Air in the fight for the title of best luxury ultraportable. More competition is to come, however, in the form of the Lenovo IdeaPad U300 S, Acer Aspire S3 and, potentially, others from the likes of HP and Dell.Back to the present though and Asus has done a terrific job with the Zenbook's design - even if you have to acknowledge that the designer took more than a sneaky glance at Apple's ultraportable first.The 13-inch Zenbook is fantastic to look at. When closed, the wedge-shaped laptop measures 17mm at its thickest point and a mere 3mm at its thinnest.The aluminium silver lid boasts a distinctive concentric cir...
Updated: iPad 3 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 24-10-2011
iPad 3 rumoured release date and processorThe iPad 2 is out, and the rumour factory has already moved on: it's predicting iPad 3 specifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from mysterious, unnamed people who can't possibly be identified.How very convenient. So what's the word on the street about the next iPad?brightcove : 1065669898001iPad 3 release dateAlthough numerous sources such as Reuters reported that the new iPad 3 is due in the fourth quarter of 2011, the signs are it will be early in 2012. However, another rumour believes it could well be November.On 1 July, Digitimes reported that Taiwanese-based component suppliers were gearing up for production of iPad 3 and iPhone 5. In October 2011 it was later reported that production would certa...
Apple MacBook Pro range gets refresh
By TechRadar, published 24-10-2011
With little fanfare, Apple has rolled out some newly-specced MacBook Pros to its online stores. The range refresh has been expected for a while and, although it's not the complete makeover of the line-up that some had predicted, sees each iteration of the much-loved notebook get a little boost courtesy of Intel's Sandy Bridge chips. Prospective At the bottom of the scale, the 13-inch MacBook Pro now comes in 2.4GHz and 2.8GHz editions, as opposed to the previous line up of 2.2GHz and 2.4GHz. The 2.4GHz model offers a dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, with 4GB of RAM, 500GB of storage, Intel HD Graphics 300 card and is yours for the princely sum of £999.00. There's a dual-core Intel Core i7 processor powering the 2.8GHz model, with a storage boost to 750GB but the same RAM and graphics pa...
Apple MacBook Pro refreshed
By SlashGear, published 24-10-2011
Apple has quietly upgraded its MacBook Pro range, with a speed, storage and graphics boost that sees the entry-level $1,199 13-inch MBP running at 2.4GHz and packing a 500GB hard-drive as standard. The refresh – which had been initially tipped for early November - sees new Intel Sandy Bridge chips added to the MacBook Pro line-up, [...]
Saturday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 22-10-2011
Eight is Enough PCMag: AMD invests in Android-on-Windows startup, BlueStacks TC Magazine reports Rambus back to profits in Q3, royalties be praised DigiTimes: Intel expected to unveil 22nm Ivy Bridge CPUs in March 2012 and Intel facing dropping Atom revenues and suppliers have mixed feelings about SSD adoption in Ultrabooks X-bit labs: Apple's chips will not rival Intel's, even inside MacBooks - analysts 9 to 5 Mac: Anyone with a Smart Cover can break into your iPad 2 VR-Zone reports EVGA SR3 (Super Record 3) cometh Develop: Sources point to 2013 launch for 'Xbox Next' IndustryGamers: Xbox 720 launch not likely in 2013; PS4 coming first, says analyst Read more...
Interview: Intel: We want six million app store users in 2012
By TechRadar, published 17-10-2011
Intel's Peter Biddle on apps and AppUp"I think we sucked at getting consumer visits," admitted Peter Biddle, general manager for Intel's AppUp with typical frankness. Biddle was explaining to developers that only 350,000 users had signed up for the app store and they'd only downloaded 810,000 apps between them. By this time next year, he aims to have "six million engaged users – and if not, maybe Intel should just fire me."That sounds like a fairly tall order, especially with Microsoft announcing the Windows Store for Metro apps in Windows 8. "That gives us a year to build a viable and thriving app store economy," he says diplomatically, but also points out "right now it's still blog posts and great presentations."Profits: the valley of deathFor both Intel...
Asus Zenbook to MacBook Air: Let's Dance
By MaximumPC, published 10-12-2011
Asus this week unveiled its first Ultrabook, the Zenbook. Much to the delight of Intel, the Zenbook starts at a buck shy of $1,000, but with twice the storage of Apple's $999 MacBook Air and with a faster processor to boot. The Zenbook is as much about style and portability as it is function. It measures 0.11 inches thin at the front and 0.67 inches at the rear, and sports a silver exterior panel with a concentric circle design that refracts a halo of light, Asus says. There are five different models to choose from: UX21E-DH52 (11.6 inches), UX21E-DH71 (11.6 inches), UX31E-DH52 (13.3 inches), UX31E-DH53 (13.3 inches), and UX31E-DH72 (13.3 inches). The main difference between the $999 UX21E-DH52 and $1,199 UX21E-DH71 is the former features an Intel Core i5 2467M processor and the latter bri...
Microsoft Kinect wins T3 Gadget of the Year
By TechRadar, published 10-11-2011
The T3 Gadget Awards 2011 were announced this week, with Microsoft Kinect taking home the top honour of Gadget of the Year.There were 20 awards given out in all and while no one company that swept the board, Apple, Amazon and Samsung did manage to bring home two statuettes each.Samsung won Phone of the Year for the Samsung Galaxy S2, beating Apple to first place, and TV of the year for the stunning UE55D8000.Amazon won Retailer of the Year and Commuter Gadget of the Year for the Kindle.Apple went away with, unsurprisingly, Tablet of the Year for the iPad 2 and the T3 Design Award for the MacBook Air 11-inch. Personality clashThe awards included a fitting tribute to Steve Jobs and awarded Mark Zuckerberg Tech Personality of the Year. T3 also celebrated another giant of the tech world – Si...
Updated: Top laptops: the 20 best laptops in the world
By TechRadar, published 10-11-2011
Choosing the best laptop for youOur continually updated list of all the best laptops available today.Choosing which laptop is the best for you can be a tricky business, and the amount of choice can be overwhelming. There's no shortage of cheap laptops out there to choose from, but with new models being released and almost immediately replaced by manufacturers, the choice is no easy task. As well as reading through this feature, you can also check out our video buying guide below:brightcove : 1070855030001The lure of netbooks and the rise of the mini-laptop are also huge factors for those looking for a new notebook, but each has their downsides.That's why we've pored over our huge database of laptop reviews and picked out the best notebooks money can buy. We've picked out five of the best c...
Review: Asus U36J
By TechRadar, published 10-11-2011
Asus' attempt at an ultraportable laptop might not have made the same splash in the technology world as Apple, Sony or Dell, but the U36J has a couple of good features that make it a likeable alternative, and the perfect accompaniment to the daily commute or a weekend away. Outwardly, the U36J is an unassuming, black rectangle. In fact, the chassis is similar to that of the Sony VAIO C Series. We don't mind the matt-black executive look, but it will put off anyone who likes a bit more colour sitting on their desk. The 13.3-inch screen is bright and crisp, although the thick black bezel and ugly protruding hinges are slightly distracting. Fortunately, Asus has become quite adept at giving their laptops great usability and the U36J is no exception. The isolation-style keyboard is superb, wit...
Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray
By TechRadar, published 22-09-2011
Overview, design and feelIt's been a busy old year for Sony Ericsson. As it struggles to regain a foothold in the market it was once sucha major player in, it's been firing out more Android-based Xperia smartphones than long-lost relatives on an episode of Jeremy Kyle. And they're not half bad either.The Xperia Arc has been the flagship of 2011's bunch. Arriving in the spring, it became the skinny poster girl for the Swedish-Japanese hybrid, showing off its amazing screen presence with the help of the Sony Reality Display (the bit that reproduces colour on the screen and makes it look great) but in the Xperia Ray, Sony Ericsson has gone for a smaller model.Before we go any further, there is one point we have to make clear: this phone is small. And thin. Think smaller and thinner than you e...
In Depth: Windows 8 vs Windows 7 vs OS X Lion
By TechRadar, published 14-09-2011
Windows 8 vs Windows 7 vs OS X LionMicrosoft's Windows 8 is going to be a very big deal. The new OS has a brand new interface, new processor support, massively improved touch features and a host of interesting new things, and it's quite dramatically different from the Windows 7 we know and love. It's also very different from Apple's OS X Lion, which introduced massively improved touch features and a host of interesting new things. So which one are you likely to prefer - Apple's OS, or Microsoft's? Would you be better off sticking with Windows 7? Let's find out.Windows 8 vs Windows 7 vs OS X Lion: hardwareThese days OS X is a 64-bit Intel-only affair, while Windows 7 requires 32-bit or 64-bit Intel or AMD processors. Windows 8 adds ARM support to the mix, although ARM devices will need spec...
Wednesday Shortbread
By TechReport, published 14-09-2011
Eight is Enough VR-Zone on what Intel won't tell you about Sandy Bridge-E at IDF HotHardware: Intel details 2013 Haswell CPU: Massive power savings, Ultrabook future Ars Technica: MacBook Pro may get CPU bump in 2011 to tide over until Ivy Bridge SemiAccurate reports SATA to move to PCI Express VR-Zone reports AMD demonstrates 28nm GPU; Fudzilla reports AMD launches new professional graphics cards AnandTech: Lucid announces Virtu Ultimate MVP featuring HyperFormance technology TR alum Joel Hruska and AnandTech preview Windows 8 Ars Technica's hands-on with Windows 8: a PC operating system for the tablet age and it's good stuff on the PC, too Read more...
Gary Marshall: Microsoft and Intel: The Empire strikes back
By TechRadar, published 14-09-2011
It's been an interesting week for tech news. First, Microsoft took the wraps off Windows 8; then, Intel announced that Google would be optimising Android for its mobile processors and talked about its next generation Haswell and Broadwell CPUs.Or to put it another way... fight!It's impossible to look at Microsoft and Intel's announcements without thinking of two companies beginning with A: Apple and ARM. Apple is a huge threat to Microsoft - it effectively owns the tablet market as well as the luxury PC market, and its talk of the post-PC era isn't something Microsoft wants to hear - and ARM is a threat to Intel. ARM-based chips power all kinds of tablets, including Apple ones, and could end up powering Apple's computers too.To take on the A-firms, it seems, Microsoft and Intel are bringin...
Review: BlackBerry Torch 9810
By TechRadar, published 09-09-2011
Overview, design and feelThis time last year, BlackBerry fans were salivating at the imminent release of the Torch 9800. For the first time, those who'd been demanding a touchscreen smartphone from RIM (without SurePress, which we'll just gloss over) were getting their way with the safety net of a keyboard below that slid out. On top of that was 3G, a 5MP camera and the brand spanking new OS. What wasn't to love?And 12 months on we feel like we're experiencing a bit of deja-vu, because the Torch 9810 is now hitting shelves. And to look at it, not much has changed. The only thing that you'll notice as being really different on the exterior is the material it's made from. The BlackBerry Torch 9810 has been given less a makeover and more a new jacket. Gone is the black and dark chrome fascia,...
Mini Computer Review: Mac Mini 2011, Small But Sturdy
By DigitalVersus, published 09-09-2011
Following the Macbook Air 11 and 13-inch models, it's the Apple Mac Mini's turn to get a Sandy Bridge processor. While Apple has managed to reduce its Mac Mini...
Lenovo unveils its first Ultrabook device, IdeaPad U300s
By Thinkdigit, published 09-07-2011
Lenovo last week showed off its first Ultrabook device at the IFA event in Germany. The laptop named IdeaPad U300s features a 13.3-inch display and is just 0.59-inches thick. With a weight of 2.2 pounds, the device is said to be lighter than Apple's MacBook Air, which is 0.68 inches thick and weighs 2.96 pounds. [RELATED_ARTICLE] The U300s Ultrabook comes with an Intel Core i7 processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0. The Enhanced Experience 2.0 RapidDrive SSD technology helps the de [...] Read the entire article
Labor Day Shortbread
By TechReport, published 09-05-2011
Eight is Enough TC Magazine: Intel rolls out more Core, Pentium & Celeron processors and Intel Pentium E5800, E6700, and E6800 CPUs to retire this year Neowin reports 70" HDTV prototype is also a Windows 7 PC Engadget has Haier's transparent organic TV eyes-on (video) and Elgato EyeTV Mobile eyes-on (video) Neowin shares rumor: iPhone 5 to go on sale October 21 (or early October?) VR-Zone: Apple iPhone 5 cases spotted in China hint at a "tear drop" design, similar to MacBook Air DSLReports Forums: Chatter about Mozilla Firefox 6.0.2 Final VG24/7 finds fourteen minutes of leaked Borderlands 2 gameplay Today only: Newegg's Labor Day deals Read more...
Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook Is A 13.3" Slab Of Beautiful
By HotHardware, published 09-03-2011
Watch out, mobile users -- the "ultrabooks" are coming! A few years ago, these things known as "smartbooks" briefly hit the market. And almost no one purchased the. But the ultrabook category just might have legs. Apple's MacBook Air has been a major seller, and there's no question that Acer's new Aspire S3 (their first ultrabook) looks really...
In Depth: Top 10 best gadgets at IFA 2011
By TechRadar, published 09-02-2011
Top 10 best gadgets at IFA 2011It's been a great year for gadgets at this year's Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin with all kinds of surprises - from internet-connected TVs to super-sized smartphones - in the exhibition halls. Here are just 10 of the best in show...1. Sony Android tabletsSony's long-rumoured rivals to the Apple iPad 2 finally made their debut at IFA 2011 - and they confounded as much as they surprised. The Sony Tablet P (£499) and Tablet S (£399), both include Nvidia Tegra 2 mobile processors running Android Honeycomb OS, front- and rear-facing cameras, a USB 2.0 port and an SD card slot.Just like the iPad 2, both tablets are available in Wi-Fi only and 3G models, but it's the clamshell Tablet P that really piques our interest. For the Sony Tablet P sports n...
In Depth: Mac OS X 10.8: 10 things Apple needs to fix
By TechRadar, published 31-08-2011
Mac OS X 10.8 wish listWe're not sure what the OS X 10.8 release date will be (if recent patterns continue, summer 2013 looks probable), nor even what OS X 10.8 will be called.For that matter, Apple might not release OS X 10.8 at all, instead jumping to OS X 11.0 or even merging its Mac and iOS device strategies into a big sticky digital goo ball called iOS 6 - 'the mergening'.Regardless, now OS X Lion has been out for an entire month, it's time to start mulling over what we'd like to see in its successor. If we miss anything, let us know in the comments.1. Some colourMaybe Apple's designers were watching a lot of classic movies when working on OS X Lion, because it's very grey. Toolbar icons, sidebar icons, windows, scrollbars… all grey. Stylish? Perhaps. A step back in usability for an...
National Spongecake Day Shortbread
By TechReport, published 23-08-2011
Eight is Enough NY Post: Autonomy buy could make hp an Oracle takeover target Former hp CEO Carly Fiorina talks about hp's business strategy, PC business spinoff on Bloomberg West (video) "A sort of PC": Ars on how Windows 8 will invade tablets (and why it might work) Building Windows 8: Building robust USB 3.0 support DigiTimes: Ultrabook and Windows 8 to drive sales momentum for notebooks in 2012, says Wistron chairman C|Net: Intel executive talks Ultrabook form, function (Q&A) Mac Otakara shares rumor: Apple to introduce a significantly different Mac lineup by year-end? C|Net shares rumor: Apple testing new MacBook Air powered by same A5 processor as iPad 2 Read more...
National Creamsicle Day Shortbread
By TechReport, published 14-08-2011
Eight is Enough Mac Rumors: Apple threatened to abandon Intel chips over power consumption and still waiting for Mac Pro updates, suitable Intel processors due in Q4 and photos of a prototype MacBook Pro with integrated 3G cellular modem Engadget: Asus Eee Pad Slider shows off its specs, may launch in September BF3Blog on an awesome Battlefield 3 case mod TechnoBolt: Mozilla Firefox 6 Final now available for download Win Rumors: Final Windows Phone 7.5 "Mango" build 7720 leaked and Microsoft switching from gloss to matte Xbox 360 consoles GameSpy: DICE confirms Origin client required for all PC copies of Battlefield 3 VG24/7 reports Bethesda forums breached, passwords reset as a caution Gamespy's Q&A with Eidos-Montreal and Nixxes Software on the PC version of Deus Ex: Huma...
In Depth: Intel Ultrabook: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 08-12-2011
Intel has announced a massive $300m (£185m) fund to help develop Ultrabook hardware and software, and it's confident that Ultrabooks will make up 40% of the market by 2012.So what is an Ultrabook and why should you care? Let's find out.Ultrabooks are a bit like things you've already seenThe best way to think of an Ultrabook is a MacBook Air that isn't made by Apple, a netbook that isn't underpowered or a laptop that's been on a crash diet. Ultrabook designs we've seen so far look awfully Apple-y, with super-thin cases and aeroplane-friendly 11.6-inch displays.Ultrabook specs will not be low-endAlthough Ultrabooks are designed for maximum portability, we're told that they won't make the same compromises that netbooks did: the Ultrabook specifications should be akin to mainstream laptops, n...
Laptop Review: Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch 2011
By DigitalVersus, published 08-12-2011
Just a week after our review of the MacBook Air 11.6-inch, here's the larger format model for you to check out. So then, to the Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch....
Intel investing $300m to make Ultrabook great
By TechRadar, published 08-11-2011
Intel's much-vaunted skinny-but-powerful Ultrabook laptop PCs have received a boost with the company's announcement of a $300 million fund (£185m) for the development of software and hardware.The Ultrabooks - which are said to deliver "a highly responsive and secure experience in a thin, light and elegant design" - are natural competitors to Apple's Macbook Air and other ultra-slim PCs.Intel's Capital Ultrabook Fund is set to invest in companies that specialise in hardware and software that will give the laptop longer battery life, as well as improve physical designs and storage.'Cycle of innovation'The cash will be invested over the next three to four years, with the overall aim being to create a "cycle of innovation and system capabilities".Intel's Ultrabook strategy comprises of three ...
Acer Notebook Aspires for MacBook Air-like Proportions
By MaximumPC, published 08-10-2011
Thin and light notebooks inevitably draw comparisons to Apple's MacBook Air, and you can probably expect a lot more of that once Ultrabooks emerge, at least at first. Part of the reason probably has to do with there not being a ton of pancaked proportioned notebooks. Intel aims to change the mobile landscape with its Ultrabook concept, and it looks as though Acer is itching to get started. Renders of Acer's upcoming Aspire 3951 notebook popped up on the Web over at a Vietnamese website (Sohoa) and picked up by Electronista, and it's immediately apparent where Acer's inspiration is coming from. The company's 13.3-inch notebook bears a strong resemblance to Apple's ultrathin MacBook Air, except that the bulk of the ports have been shuttled to the back, a design cue that takes a page from Del...
Review: 11-inch MacBook Air 2011
By TechRadar, published 08-09-2011
The 2011 MacBook Air refresh retains the form factor introduced with 2010's line of ultraportables, but makes significant improvements to the core technologies. Apple has switched the ageing Core 2 Duo chips for new Sandy Bridge processors, the Mini DisplayPort has been replaced by a versatile and powerful Thunderbolt port and the backlit keyboard makes a welcome return too.The new MacBook Air range (check out our 13-inch MacBook Air review) contains four off-the-shelf versions. The cheapest offers an 11-inch screen, 64GB of flash storage and 2GB of memory for £849. The next in line, also an 11-inch model, has a 128GB SSD and 4GB of RAM for £999. A similarly spec'd 13-inch MacBook Air costs £100 more, while for £1349 you can get a 256GB flash drive. All four MacBook Airs have dual-core...
Skype 5.3 adds Lion support and HD video calling
By TechRadar, published 08-09-2011
Skype has added support for Mac OS X Lion and HD video calling to Skype 5.3 for Mac. It means that Skypers can send and receive HD quality video, provided their callers are using an HD webcam and they're enjoying broadband speeds of at least 1.5Mbps. The new software has been built to work with recently released Mac OS X Lion, but is compatible with OS X all the way back to Leopard so older Mac users shouldn't be afraid to install the update. King of the jungleDespite being bought by Microsoft earlier this year, Skype still seems pretty committed to arch-nemesis Apple's platforms, having released Skype for iPad just last week. The VoIP company has also recently announced a tie-in with Facebook to allow video calls through the social networking site. The new Lion-powered Skype 5.3 is availa...
National Root Beer Float Day Shortbread
By TechReport, published 08-06-2011
Eight is Enough Ars Technica reports Nvidia drivers giving 2010 MacBook Pro owners Lion upgrade headaches Debunk: Lion USB sticks are not yet available - Engadget Ultrabooks and tablet PCs are short-term fads, says Acer founder AMD 2012 notebook roadmap leaked at Donanim Haber (in Turkish) VR-Zone's exclusive: Intel SSD 710 gets priced, to land in mid-August IHS: Can Seagate's thin HDD stave off the threat of SSDs? X-bit labs: Intel Haswell processor to support DirectX 11.1 graphics capabilities - document Epic Games: The future of consoles, PC exclusives, and Samaritan - CVG Read more...
Samsung unveils updated Series 9 laptops
By TechRadar, published 08-01-2011
Samsung has unveiled two new, lower-priced Series 9 notebooks which bring faster Core i5 processors to the Windows-computing party. The two Samsung 900X3A models offer "faster" Core i5 CPUs, 4GB memory and are crafted from duralumin, traditionally used to make aircraft and thus lending itself to the light-but-zippy image that Samsung is trying to portray. The higher-spec 900X3A-BO2UK model comes with Windows 7 Premium, a VGA display adaptor for video-out without HDMI as well as a higher price tag. Good naming, SamsungSlightly cheaper but less-well equipped is the equally well named 900X3A-BO1UK, which comes with Windows 7 Home Premium, It's no secret that we're fans of the Series 9's looks; we described it as "one of the most arresting designs we've seen since the Dell Adamo XPS" in our of...
Updated: iPad 3 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 08-01-2011
The iPad 2 is out, and the rumour factory has already moved on: it's predicting iPad 3 specifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from mysterious, unnamed people who can't possibly be identified.How very convenient. So what's the word on the street about the next iPad?iPad 3 release dateThis is the biggest rumour of all: an iPad 3 mere months after the iPad 2. An unnamed Apple employee says that the iPad 2 was a bit of a rush job, and "the third generation iPad is the one to make a song and dance about."Respected Apple watcher John Gruber added fuel to that particular fire by strongly hinting that the iPad 3 release date will be in September 2011.If Gruber is right about this and the iPad 3 features in an Apple autumn line-up, then it looks like...
Review: New MacBook Air 2011
By TechRadar, published 28-07-2011
Last October, Apple released the last MacBook Air. It was a mighty fine-looking piece of hardware - a newly designed unibody shell, 0.3cm at its thinnest.Trouble is, the meat inside didn't quite match up with the supreme exterior – Apple had been forced to stick with the ageing Intel Core 2 Duo processor.Intel had originally produced a special, smaller packaged Core 2 Duo variant for the first-generation MacBook Air that was still clinging on in last year's release.The small processor package, presumably, couldn't be bettered until this year's Sandy Bridge generation of Intel Core chips arrived.So here we are with the newly-launched 13-inch 2011 MacBook Air running the new Mac OS X 10.7 Lion operating system. The MacBook Air is expensive for what it is, starting at £849. For the compone...
Apple Readying Ultra-Thin 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros?
By SlashGear, published 27-07-2011
Apple’s MacBook Air ultraportable notebooks have been incredibly popular, but are only available in 11- and 13-inch models. That may soon change. Rumors have emerged that the company is already in the late testing stages of producing new ultra-thin 15-inch and 17-inch notebooks, although there’s a possibility that these new additions will be branded under [...]
Review: Sony VAIO Z Series
By TechRadar, published 26-07-2011
The old cliché states that good things come in small packages, which means that chicken nuggets, dead hedgehogs and Peter Andre's head are all apparently 'good things'. However, we have to agree with this logic when it's applied to Sony's latest VAIO Z Series ultra-portable laptop, the Sony VAIO VPC-Z21V9E.Despite being cursed by a name that's less catchy than an N-Dubz tune, this is an excellent little 13.1-inch PC laptop that we'd happily use as our everyday computer. That is, if we happened to have a spare couple of grand knocking around, priced as it is at £2,699.We've seen a lot of ultra-portables lately, from the sleek and sexy Samsung 900XSA to the business-oriented Lenovo ThinkPad X1. It's impressive how much power you can now cram into a tiny frame, ably demonstrated by the new ...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 23-07-2011
This week we've taken a first look at the new webOS HP Veer smartphone as well as Apple's brand-new MacBook Air featuring blistering performance from Intel's Core i5 and i7 processors.We've also reviewed Nokia's latest X7 smartphone as well as the Samsung Galaxy S and Samsung Galaxy Pro. Check all our reviews out below. HP Veer reviewIn the beginning, there was Palm. The company created the handheld/smartphone category with the original personal digital assistants in 1996. Now, following an HP acquisition about a year ago, it's emerged with a new super-tiny model, the HP Veer.The smartphone is priced at $99 with a two-year contract in the US, with costs yet to be announced in the UK. It's so light, at 103g, and small, at 84x54x15.1mm, that it almost seems like a toy phone – something you...
MacBook Air 13-inch core i5 Review (mid-2011)
By SlashGear, published 22-07-2011
Apple’s MacBook Air left many mobile users with a difficult decision back in late 2010. The unibody ultraportable was certainly beautiful, but its ULV processor left some wary that OS X might not be able to keep up with their lifestyle. The new 2011 MacBook Air fixes that, slotting in Intel’s latest Core i5 and [...]
Buying Guide: MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: which is right for you?
By TechRadar, published 22-07-2011
When Apple released a new MacBook Air in time for OS X Lion, it also took the chance to cut the white MacBook from its line up. This leaves buyers with a choice between the MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro.But if you're after an Apple laptop and were thinking of getting the white MacBook, which is right for you now? The MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros have some quite significant differences, so we've put together the following guide to help you decide which will fulfil your needs.If you decide the current Apple range isn't right for you, also check our top 20 laptops list here.MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: PriceThe new MacBook Air range starts at £849 for the 11-inch, 64GB model, with the 128GB model coming in at £999. The 13-inch MacBook Air starts at £1,099 for the 128GB version, with the 256...
Week in Tech: It's a Mac, Mac, Mac, Mac world
By TechRadar, published 22-07-2011
If you're not an Apple fan, we've got bad news for you: pretty much all the tech news this week revolved around the Cupertino corporation. There was a brand new OS, some brand new computers, a whole bunch of rumours and some truly staggering numbers - and those numbers might just show us the way computing is heading.That's what columnist Gary Marshall reckons, anyway. With Apple reporting yet another record financial quarter, Marshall noted that "iPads are already outselling Macs... by a factor of two to one. Factor in Apple's staggering iPhone sales and the growing importance of the iPod touch [and] it's clear that Apple is a mobile device firm first and a computer firm second."It's not just about Apple, though. It's about all kinds of mobile devices. "In 2002, the number of PCs in the wo...
Hands on: Apple MacBook Air 2011 review
By TechRadar, published 21-07-2011
The MacBook Air that debuted last October was a mighty fine-looking piece of hardware - a newly designed unibody shell, 0.3cm at its thinnest. Trouble is, the meat inside didn't quite match up with the supreme exterior – Apple had been forced to stick with the ageing Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Intel had originally produced a special, smaller packaged Core 2 Duo variant for the first-generation MacBook Air that was still clinging on in last year's release. The small processor package, presumably, couldn't be bettered until this year's Sandy Bridge generation of Intel Core chips. So here we are with the newly-launched 2011 MacBook Air running the day-old Mac OS X 10.7 Lion - featuring all new processors. The great news is that the new models don't lack for performance. Even the base model...
Apple refreshes MacBook Air with latest Intel Sandy Bridge processors, OS X Lion
By Thinkdigit, published 21-07-2011
Apple has announced the much-awaited refresh for the MacBook Air range. The new MacBook Air gets the latest gen Sandy Bridge ultra-low voltage processors, Thunderbolt I/O technology, backlit keyboard and the new OS X Lion straight out of the box. The display sizes of 11-inch and 13-inch have been retained. However, the dual core Sandy Bridge Intel Core i5 (1.6GHz and 1.7GHz versions) and Intel Core i7 (1.8GHz) processors now power these slim machines. The Air will use Intel’s HD 3000 grap [...] Read the entire article
MacBook Air 13? core i5 hands-on (mid-2011)
By SlashGear, published 20-07-2011
Apple’s long-awaited MacBook Air refresh has finally been delivered, and SlashGear caught up with the Cupertino company to find out what makes the new notebook special. Now up to date with Intel Sandy Bridge processors – and NVIDIA conspicuously off the menu – could the Air be not just the best ultraportable on the market [...]
Tutorial: How to use multi-touch gestures on your Mac
By TechRadar, published 20-07-2011
Gestures make life easier. Pioneered in iOS and warmly welcomed by OS X users, Apple's multi-touch gestures are a little like keyboard shortcuts in that they augment rather than replace more traditional ways of interacting with your computer. But are you getting the most out of them? If you use a Mac notebook, a Magic Mouse or a Magic Trackpad, it's worth checking out everything that Apple's gestures can offer. They're very easy to use and - believe it or not - soon become second nature. The first multi-touch trackpads in Apple's notebook range appeared in early 2008 with the original MacBook Air, before reaching the MacBook Pro range a month later. As well as two-fingered scrolling offered by earlier models, the new trackpad allowed three-fingered gestures too. This was made possible by a...
Updated: Mac OS X Lion roars into the Mac App Store
By TechRadar, published 20-07-2011
Apple has officially confirmed that Mac OS X Lion will be available to download from the Mac App Store on Wednesday.Update: Mac OS X Lion is now available to buy from the Mac App Store.The announcement, made by CFO Peter Oppenheimer at Apple's Q3 earnings call, confirms widespread reports that Apple would be holding overnight updates at its Apple Store retail outlets on Tuesday night.Earlier on Tuesday, Apple had released a Software Migration Assistant update to allow users' Macs to make an easier transition from Snow Leopard to OS X 10.7 Lion.Cheap as chipsThe Mac OS X upgrade, which brings over 250 new features and an iOS-like user interface, will cost UK Mac users just £20.99 when it arrives on the Mac App Store on Wednesday morning.It's the first iteration of Mac OS X that is availabl...
Apple announces beefed-up MacBook Air range
By TechRadar, published 20-07-2011
Apple has announced its new MacBook Air models, with 11- and 13-inch editions coming with souped-up processing power and the return of the backlit keyboard.The new 11- and 13-inch models are powered by Intel Core i5 processors and come complete with Thunderbolt connectivity, as predicted by leaks that hit earlier today. The Sandy Bridge processors mean the new range is "up to twice as fast as the previous generation", according to Apple: the 11-inch Airs come with the 1.6GHz Core i5, while the 13-inch editions offer 1.7GHz, with a custom configuration of the 1.8GHz i7 processor available. Ah, memoriesA memory boost has also come to the new Air models; the lowest-spec model comes with the same 2GB RAM as its predecessor, but the three higher-end editions come with 4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM. A...
Leaked MacBook Air specs suggest new lease of life
By TechRadar, published 20-07-2011
The revamped MacBook Airs' specifications have been leaked, sparking rumours that it may be officially unveiled today with the launch of OS X Lion.Apple shipment forecasts also suggest that we may be saying farewell to the old white Apple MacBook with a new entry-level MacBook Air as its possible replacement.Apple will probably continue with the 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch screen sizes, according to the leak, with Intel Sandy Bridge processors mooted in all models.Out with the oldThe smaller MacBook Air could have a 1.6GHz processor with 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD also included in the standard configuration. The more expensive version is likely to have an identical processor while doubling the RAM and storage.According to an anonymous source, the larger screened MacBook Air should include a 1.7...
Apple MacBook Air updated
By SlashGear, published 20-07-2011
Apple has updated its MacBook Air ultraportable, bringing the notebook range up to date with Intel’s 2011 Sandy Bridge processors, as well as the high-speed Thunderbolt connectivity already seen on the MacBook Pro and iMac. Running OS X Lion, the new 11.6- and 13.3-inch Airs keep the slick unibody styling of their predecessors but throws [...]
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 16-07-2011
In this week's top reviews we've reviewed several new cameras including the PowerShot A3200 IS and A800 from Canon as well as the latest PEN from Olympus. We've also looked at a high-performance Medion Core i7 laptop as well as the new super slim Lenovo X1. Canon PowerShot A800 reviewIt's budget compact season in the world of Japanese giant, Canon! The latest snazzy snapper to hop off the cheap train is the Canon PowerShot A800. The A800 is Canon's entry-level compact camera, and as you'd expect for 60 quid, it's a no-frills affair. No-frills doesn't necessarily mean dumbed-down, however, and there's actually quite a lot to like about this device. Indeed, the specifications belie the bargain-bucket price and include a 10-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, Digic III processor and Smart Auto...
Review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1
By TechRadar, published 15-07-2011
Lenovo is well known for its ThinkPad range, a collection of rather serious-looking business laptops that often do their job in an efficient, if unexciting, manner. When we first laid hands on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1, we were definitely impressed. The conventional plain black design remains, but the firm body measures just 27mm at its thickest point and weighs a mere 1.8kg, making it effortlessly portable. This is also one of the most rugged ultra-portables we've seen. Sure, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 lacks the immediate beauty of the Samsung 9 Series or Apple MacBook Air, but it's solidly built in all areas, from the impressively tough lid to the rubberised frame. We're a sucker for rubber, which helps with grip and means no pesky fingerprints. Unlike the fragile-feeling Sony SB Series, we're ...
Does Not Compute: 10 PC Myths from Movies and Television
By MaximumPC, published 15-07-2011
For over half a century, Hollywood has been making computers do whatever they damn well please. Routinely featured on television and in movies, supercomputers, desktop rigs and laptops—and in some cases, the people that use them—are all too often imbued with near-magical capabilities, painting a deceptive picture of what our beloved machines can and cannot do. Not sure of what tech-centric malarky we’re talking about? No problem: We’ve put together a list of our top ten Hollywood TV and Movie myths. We’re betting they’ll be just as familiar and irritating to you as they are to us. A computer will blow up if there is a question it cannot answer. According to Hollywood, computers are so delicate that when confronted with a question that they’re unable to answer, they’ll exp...
MacBook Air refresh to bring keyboard backlighting back?
By TechRadar, published 07-12-2011
Apple's next generation of MacBook Airs could be bringing the backlighting back, if a new report is to be believed. The first generation of Airs rocked a backlit keyboard, but the handy typing-in-the-dark feature was done away with in the most recent iterations. As well as keyboard back-lighting, Apple Insider's sources posit that the new 11.6- and 13.3-inch MacBook Airs are rumoured to come with Thunderbolt ports for high-speed file transfer, and possibly high speed 400MBps flash memory. The Mac that roaredThe new line is set to debut during the week commencing 21 July, according to the same sources, and are set to ship with the final build of Mac OS X Lion, which was unveiled at WWDC in June. Lion itself is yet to be released, having only just opened app store submissions.However, it's s...
Updated: iPad 3 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 07-12-2011
The iPad 2 is out, and the rumour factory's already moved on: it's predicting iPad 3 specifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from mysterious, unnamed people who can't possibly be identified.How very convenient. So what's the word on the street about the next iPad?Read on to find out. But first, our colleagues at T3.com have rounded up the latest rumours in the iPad 3 video below:iPad 3 release dateThis is the biggest rumour of all: an iPad 3 mere months after the iPad 2. An unnamed Apple employee says that the iPad 2 was a bit of a rush job, and "the third generation iPad is the one to make a song and dance about."Respected Apple watcher John Gruber added fuel to that particular fire by strongly hinting that the iPad 3 release date will be in...
Buying Guide: Mac or iPad: which is right for you?
By TechRadar, published 07-11-2011
Back in 2008, Apple was getting a lot of flack for not launching a cheap netbook. With the recession starting to bite, netbook sales were booming, but Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, seemed unimpressed. "The market is just getting started – we'll see how it goes," he said in his characteristically enigmatic style. Then, after a long period of inactivity, Apple launched the iPad, and now nobody is talking about netbooks anymore. Tablets are the device du jour that everybody wants to own. This month AppleInsider.com reported on speculation that Apple will sell between 40 million and 45 million iPads in 2011. This staggering figure was revealed to analyst Brian White in meetings with component suppliers during a tech trip with Ticonderoga Securities to China and Taiwan.That's a lot of sales for a de...
OS X Lion and MacBook Air refresh July 14 as Apple staff warned of “overnight” prep sessions
By SlashGear, published 07-08-2011
Mac OS X Lion is looking increasingly likely to see a July 14 release, with new sources suggesting that Apple is warning retail staff to prepare for “overnights” – late shifts where new signage, displays and hardware are readied for the next day – on July 13. According to 9 to 5 Mac‘s sources, while [...]
Sony Reveals VAIO Z Ultraportable: Big Brains, Big Price Tag
By HotHardware, published 28-06-2011
And now, for Thunderbolt's next trick! So far, the new I/O port has remained pretty much Apple's darling, shipping on modern day iMac and MacBook Pro machines. But now, the PC users can get a taste as well. Sony just announced their new VAIO Z Series, a 13.1" notebook that includes a new Power Media Dock, a standard-voltage Core i7, SSD, high-res...
Slinky Sony Vaio Z Series unveiled with media dock
By TechRadar, published 28-06-2011
Sony has revealed its latest Vaio laptop in the form of the Vaio Z Series; a 13.1-inch notebook complete with special media dock.Every notebook and its USB cable is being lauded as super thin, super stylish and super light these days, and the Vaio Z Series is no exception. But it actually is pretty slim with its 'full flat' body just 0.05mm thicker than the fattest point of a MacBook Air and weighs in at 1.2kg, which is about half the weight of the 15-inch MacBook Pro. And styling… well, it's made from carbon fibre, that's got to count for something?And now the actual tech… What it lacks in eye-catching looks, it makes up for in grunt – what with its Intel Core i7 processor, DDR3 SDRAM and up to 256 SSD RAID storage plus built-in 3G connectivity on selected models. The 13.1-inch high...
Sony Vaio Z has carbon fiber body, Light Peak dock
By TechReport, published 28-06-2011
Eat your heart out, Apple. Sony has announced an ultra-thin business laptop that, in a number of ways, puts the MacBook Air to shame. Despite packing a standard-voltage Sandy Bridge processor, the 13.1" Vaio Z weighs a scant 2.6 lbs and measures 0.66" in thickness. Not only that, but...
Review: Fujitsu Lifebook P701
By TechRadar, published 26-06-2011
The Fujitsu Lifebook P701 is the latest addition to Fujitsu's P-Series ultra-portable range and runs on an Intel Core i3 2301M processor. Aimed at the business user, the Lifebook P701 comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 Professional and Microsoft Office. A fingerprint scanner ensures your business documents remain private.The Lifebook P701 has an unassuming black and silver design that suits the office environment well. The 12.1-inch TFT screen has a matt finish, meaning no irritating reflections when working in bright light conditions. The smaller screen, low weight and briefcase-friendly dimensions (283 x 229 x 33mm) mean hours spent on the train can be put to good use.Small keyboardThe compact keyboard might be a little cramped for anyone with large hands, but we found it only took a matter...
Review: Sony VAIO VPC-F21Z1E
By TechRadar, published 21-06-2011
Alright, fancypants. You want a laptop of luxury, but you don't want an Apple MacBook? Not even a 17-inch MacBook Pro? You want 3D but a Zalman 3D monitor isn't for you? Fancy the sort of black plastic slab that your friends can only dream of owning? You want a machine so heavy and precious that taking it out of the house is about as easy as taking a cat for a walk? You've got it in the Sony VAIO VPC-F21Z1E. You've also got an empty wallet and, as we'll discover, a vague sense of disappointment. Clearly you can't have everything.Let's set this up, though: the Sony VAIO VPC-F21Z1E, in culinary terms, is a burger with all the toppings. It's got a Blu-ray drive, it's got USB 3.0 support, it's got a light-up chiclet keyboard and, most importantly, it's got a 16-inch screen capable of stereosco...
Review: Leica S2
By TechRadar, published 21-06-2011
Twenty grand is a lot of money. By today's prices that will buy you a brand-new Mini Cooper, a deposit on a house, or even a university education. With £20,000 you can buy a lot of camera kit, too: a pair of Nikon D3X bodies with 14-24mm f/2.8, 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses plus an Apple MacBook Pro, 27-inch screen and the whole Adobe Creative Suite doesn't come to that much. But what if you could also spend this princely sum on just one camera body and a standard lens. Would you? That's about what the Leica S2 costs when paired with with its standard lens, the Summarit 70mm f/2.5. The Leica S2 is a medium-format camera, meaning its sensor is bigger than you'd find in a full-frame DSLR – 56% bigger in this case. There are many other medium-format cameras on the market of cours...
Updated: Samsung Chromebook: 12 things you need to know
By TechRadar, published 20-06-2011
Samsung has announced the Series 5 Chromebook – a thin, 12.1 inch Chrome OS laptop.Google's Chrome OS is the company's take on a cloud-centric operating system that will compete with Windows, primarily in the mobile computing market.Hands on: Google Chromebook reviewSamsung's Chromebook will be one of the first Chrome OS devices for the UK market, and TechRadar has gathered together the early facts about the Chromebook to give you a bit of an insight into the new Chrome OS netbook. 1. Samsung Chromebook operating systemThe first and most notable thing about the Chromebook is that – rather unsurprisingly – it runs Chrome OS, an operating system made by Google that is completely based around its Chrome browser. There's no desktop as such, just a browser window.Chrome OS is designed to ...
Buying Guide: What's the best Core i7 laptop?
By TechRadar, published 13-06-2011
Intel's Core i3 and Core i5 processors provide ample power for the price. But when it comes to getting the most power for your money, nothing comes close to Intel's high-performance Core i7 processors, especially in the latest Sandy Bridge versions. The Core i7 has finally blurred the lines between laptop and desktop PCs and, in many cases, the prices are highly affordable.What's the best Core i3 laptop?To help you choose the right machine for your needs, we've brought together four of the best Core i7-powered laptops, at prices to suit all budgets.What's the best Core i5 laptop?Offering staggering performance and features ideal for the whole family, you won't fi nd a more powerful range of consumer laptops. 1. MSI CX640-018UK - £512The combination of excellent performance, long battery l...
Apple MacBook Air refresh arriving Wednesday?
By TechRadar, published 06-12-2011
The expected 2011 refresh of the Apple MacBook Air may arrive as soon as this Wednesday.The renowned Apple leak-artist known as Chronic claimed on Twitter that he's "100 per cent sure" that the new iteration of the ultra-thin laptop will be landing in Apple retail stores on Wednesday morning.Meetings are thought to be happening at Apple Stores on Tuesday, which usually signals a new product will be hitting the shelves and Chronic is in no doubt that these will be the new Air laptops.The new MacBook Air refresh is expected to remain identical in terms of size and build, but is thought to include Intel's Sandy Bridge processors and the super-fast Thunderbird I/O technology.June productionThe revelation came following reports that Apple has placed an order for almost 400,000 new MacBook Airs ...
Review: Altec Lansing Orbit Speakers
By TechRadar, published 06-07-2011
Most notebooks lack audio quality. There just isn't enough room in there for high-end speakers, and despite improvements over the years, even Apple's range lacks the sonic integrity needed to get the most from your MP3s or movies. If you use your MacBook for media on the move, buying a set of travel speakers is nigh on a must. As the name implies, Altec Lansing's Orbit USB Stereo speakers connect through your Mac's USB port. They can't be used with iPods or other audio devices that use a 3.5mm headphone socket for output. Instead they're designed with notebooks in mind, and are therefore easy to carry around when travelling. When not in use, their cables fold away into the rear of the speakers, which then clip together end to end. A carry case is included, and as they're powered solely thr...
WWDC 2011: Mac OS X 10.7 Lion: UK release date and pricing revealed
By TechRadar, published 06-06-2011
Apple has announced the release date and pricing of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion at WWDC 2011 and it's surprised us all by making the operating system stupidly affordable.With the launch of OS X 10.7 Lion, Apple has dragged itself into the 21 Century, by announcing that the OS will not be available on disc but through download only.And that's not all, Jobs and co have knocked a massive $99 of the price of the OS – making it available for just $29.99.250 new featuresOriginally shown off back in February, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion offers over 250 new features, with a good chunk of them inspired by Apple's mobile OS.The OS uses gesture control and you can have applications at full screen, autosave your documents and even look at them back in time.The Mac OS X 10.7 Lion UK release date is July 2011. As prici...
Mac OS X 10.7 Lion features explained
By TechRadar, published 06-04-2011
When OS X 10.7 Lion was first announced back in October 2010, it received a lukewarm response. Apple lifted the lid on very few of its features, and what was shown was useful, but by no means essential. Since then, two things have happened. Apple demoed the OS X Lion to the media back in February, revealing far more of its secrets. Also in February, a preview version of Lion was released to developers, leading to inevitable information leaks on the internet. We now know much more about OS X Lion than we did when we first previewed it. So what will OS X 10.7 bring us, and are we sufficiently excited? Announcing Lion at the Autumn 2010 keynote, Steve Jobs said the new OS would bring features developed for iOS back to the Mac. "We started with Mac OS X, repurposed it for the iPhone and used i...
Early View: Samsung Chromebook vs Acer Chromebook
By TechRadar, published 30-05-2011
The Google Chromebook UK release date is 15 June, when the first units go on sale. Google intends Chromebooks to be a simpler way of browsing the web – the OS is essentially just the Google Chrome browser itself, with no desktop, taskbar or separate app browser. It's a completely cloud based computer and is dependent on being connected to the internet to work properly. The bonus of this is that your files are always updates as is the Chrome OS used on Chromebooks – the software will always be updated automatically. It's certainly a limited OS but, depending on what you use a laptop or a tablet for, it might be enough. However, a Chromebook is no workhorse - it's very much in the netbook category though, as you'll hear, the pricing is surprisingly high. You can check out our Hands on: G...
Review: Acer Iconia Tab A500
By TechRadar, published 26-05-2011
In the contest to replace your laptop – and maybe even your TV – Android 3.0 tablets such as the Motorola Xoom are ganging up on the Apple iPad 2 by sheer quantity. We absolutely thrilled over the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, for example. Now it's time for the Acer Iconia Tab A500's day in the sun.In many ways, this is all about the operating system, so we'll admit that the differences between the three main Android 3.0 tabs are marginal at best. You have to choose your OS poison wisely – the iPad 2 is better for music, movies and games, and it has better quality apps and more of them. Meanwhile, the BlackBerry PlayBook is more secure than the competition, has real multi-tasking and even a more fluid interface for controlling your apps (er, all four of them). Android 3.0 Honeycomb table...
Daily Roundup: 2011-05-23
By Bjorn3D, published 23-05-2011
CPUs, RAMs, Mobos ASUS P8Z68-V Pro (Intel Z68) Motherboard Review at Tweaktown Patriot Division2 Viper Xtreme 4GB DDR3 RAM kit at TechwareLabs ECS P67H2-A2 (B3) at techPowerUp G.Skill RipjawsX F3-17000 CL9D 2133MHz Memory Kit Review at eTeknix.com Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch 2011 Edition
Review: Apple iMac 21.5-inch 2011
By TechRadar, published 20-05-2011
Apple's new 2011 iMac range retains the form factor of the 2010 models, but enjoys a very significant component upgrade. Second-generation quad core Intel Core i5 processors are used throughout the 2011 iMac lineup - which includes two 21.5-inch models and two 27-inch models - where previously all but the most expensive model had dual Core i3s. New graphics give up to three times the power of the mid-2010 iMacs, and the Thunderbolt port could revolutionise I/O technology.The 2011 21.5-inch iMac reviewed here is the new range's entry-level model, costing £999. It offers a quad core Intel 2.5GHz Core i5 processor, a great leap forward from the dual core 3.06GHz Core i3 used in the cheapest 2010 release. Its discrete graphics chip is a powerful AMD Radeon HD 6750M, with 512MB of GDDR5 memory...
Review: Apple iMac 27-inch 2011
By TechRadar, published 20-05-2011
Although the form factor is unchanged, the 2011 Apple iMac refresh represents a significant step forwards for the popular all-in-one computer. Again consisting of two 21.5-inch models and two with 27-inch screens, the entire lineup has switched to Intel's Sandy Bridge processors, the second generation of the respected Core-i CPU series. Quad core Intel Corei5s are used throughout, whereas the 2010 iMacs they replace used dual core Intel Core i3s in all but the most expensive model. The 27-inch iMac under review here is the priciest in the 2011 range, but instead of the quad-core 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 processor offered in the standard configuration, ours was fitted with a quad core 3.4GHz Core i7 CPU. This is available as a configure-to-order option on the online Apple store, costing £1,809...
Review: Acer Aspire 5750G
By TechRadar, published 18-05-2011
We've seen Sandy Bridge laptops emerge from almost every major manufacturer since Intel unveiled its second generation processor earlier this year. While these laptops have differed wildly in look and size, from the tiny Samsung 9000S to the hulking Dell XPS 17, we've found that performance is consistently excellent.Now it's Acer's turn to join the Sandy Bridge club, with the Aspire 5750G. It looks like a typical Acer machine on the outside, with the Taiwanese giant's standard design in place, but inside it's brimming with power. Best of all, the £680 asking price is rather low considering the tight specs. If you're a student with high demands, or need a laptop that'll suit the whole family, this is a great, affordable option.With a pleasant blue finish to the lid and palmrests, the Aspir...
New MacBook Airs to debut in June/July
By TechRadar, published 18-05-2011
Amid rumours of delays to other Apple products, sources in Apple's Taiwanese supply chain have said that the new batch of MacBook Air notebooks are on track for a summer launch.The anonymous sources told Digitimes that shipments of the Airs will begin in late May, ready for a commercial launch in June or July. According to the same suppliers, the new slimline Apples will feature Intel's Sandy Bridge chipset as well as Thunderbolt, the high-speed fibre-optic file transfer system developed by Apple and Intel. ThunderationThunderbolt first made an appearance in the latest round of MacBook Pros, and is strongly mooted to make its way to all new Mac products.The new Airs will be available with 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch displays, if the anonymous suppliers are to be believed. None of this comes as...
HP considered and rejected Thunderbolt
By TechRadar, published 17-05-2011
HP has reportedly spent some time weighing up the pros and cons of high speed file transfer options USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, and opted for the former. Speaking to PC World, HP's worldwide marketing manager for desktops, Xavier Lauwaert, said that the manufacturer did think about including Thunderbolt in its new consumer desktops, launched earlier today. "We did look at [Thunderbolt]. We're still looking into it. Haven't found a value proposition yet," he said, not mincing his words.Thunderbolts are goThunderbolt, created by Intel and Apple, made its debut on the most recent round of MacBook Pros, but has yet to be opened up to much of the industry. Lauwaert doesn't seem convinced that Thunderbolt has what it takes to usurp USB 3.0 anyway. "On the PC side, everybody seems to be content with...
Intel’s New Atom Chip Architecture Coming
By SlashGear, published 05-12-2011
Intel is currently working on a new Atom chip architecture, codenamed “Silvermont”. This new architecture goes beyond the Ivy Bridge with 22nm 3D Tri-Gate transistors. The new Google Chromebooks use Atom processors, but the Silvermont architecture speeds things ahead by two generations. Continue past the cut for more details. The new Silvermont “micro-architecture” is scheduled to ship in 2013. When this is combined with the 3D transistors, it is expected to enable new levels of integration and performance and make major power efficiency progress. Silvermont will be a system-on-a-chip (SoC) design, like all Atom processors going forward, and like the processors found in smartphones and tablets. Intel has put Atom on a fast track, and will accelerate the Atom proc...
Samsung Chromebook: 12 things you need to know
By TechRadar, published 05-12-2011
Samsung has announced the Series 5 Chromebook – a thin, 12.1 inch Chrome OS laptop.Google's Chrome OS is the company's take on a cloud-centric operating system that will compete with Windows, primarily in the mobile computing market.Hands on: Google Chromebook reviewSamsung's Chromebook will be one of the first Chrome OS devices for the UK market, and TechRadar has gathered together the early facts about the Chromebook to give you a bit of an insight into the new Chrome OS netbook. 1. Samsung Chromebook operating systemThe first and most notable thing about the Chromebook is that – rather unsurprisingly – it runs Chrome OS, an operating system made by Google that is completely based around its Chrome browser. There's no desktop as such, just a browser window.Chrome OS is designed to ...
Custom MacBook Sticker Inspired By Portal's Test Chambers
By GameInformer, published 05-12-2011
A user over at Reddit has found a clever way to incorporate Portal imagery on his MacBook cover. You'll recognize the above image from the warning signs in various test chambers, with user TCanDaMan strategically placing the Apple logo. Also in the Reddit thread is a nice-looking Mario version.
LG Blade P530 hands-on
By SlashGear, published 05-11-2011
LG shook up ultraportables with the Xnote P210 late last year, a super-compact notebook which squeezed a 12.5-inch display into where you’d more commonly find an 11.3-inch panel; now the company is back with a new model based on the same narrow-bezel technology. The LG Blade P530 made its official debut earlier this month, and SlashGear scored some hands-on time at the Korea World IT Show today. The Blade P530 uses LG Display’s so-called “Shuriken” panel, an ultra-thin bezel design that is also tipped to show up in future Acer notebooks and possibly even make an appearance in Apple’s next MacBook Pro refresh. Unlike the Xnote, it has a 15.6-inch display (there’ll be a 14-inch P430 as well), framed by a mere 10mm surround; it’s also thinner than a...
Buying Guide: Best Intel Core laptops 2011
By TechRadar, published 05-09-2011
Intel may have announced its new Sandy Bridge Intel Core i3, Core, i5 and i7 processors in January. But laptops based on the platform have been slow to emerge - it's only now that we're seeing the results drip slowly into stores. So here's the best of our reviews so far - now you can choose the Sandy Bridge laptop that's right for you. 1. Packard Bell EasyNote TS13This laptop features an updated version of the Core i3-2310M CPU, which offers considerable power on a budget. With 4096MB of DDR3 memory also on board, you can comfortably multi-task with applications.The EasyNote TS13-HR-035 is a great and cheap way of enjoying and editing your media on the move. Performance is strong and the display is satisfyingly vibrant, while usability and a range of useful features are additional highligh...
Apple brand worth $153B making it more valuable that Google
By SlashGear, published 05-09-2011
We all know that in the tech world Apple is one of the most popular and profitable businesses out there. Apple has one of the most popular smartphones, one of the most popular smartphones and the most popular tablet on the market. The MacBook line of notebooks are also popular with computer users that aren’t Windows fans. With all the successful gear it may come as no surprise that Apple is one of the most valuable brands on the market today. WPP Plc issued a report that shows Apple as a brand is worth $153.3 billion. That valuation puts Apple well above Google with a loss of 2% in its brand value over the last year to end up at $111.5 billion. While Google lost ground, Apple has grown 84%. I would bet that a lot of that growth is thanks to the iPad and iPhone too. Apple taking ove...
SlashGear Weekly Roundup Video – May 7, 2011
By SlashGear, published 05-09-2011
Once again, we attempt to bring you a roundup of the week’s tech news in under 6 minutes. The chaos of the Sony PlayStation Network breach continued into this past week. Apple unleashed an iOS update that addressed most of the location tracking concerns. Intel made their biggest announcement of the year with a new 22-nm 3D Tri-Gate transistor technology that really puts it ahead of the competition. Other major announcements came from the BlackBerry World conference as well as from a Samsung event. For the full list and video continue after the cut. Sony PlayStation Network Breach update and recap of the week’s developments: PlayStation Network and Qriocity back online from this week; Compensation detailed Sony Online Entertainment Offline During Hacker Inv...
SlashGear Week in Review – Week 19 2011
By SlashGear, published 05-08-2011
Welcome to this week’s edition of the SlashGear Week in Review. We had some interesting things going on in the tech world during the week. One of the interesting stories was the white iPhone and if it was thicker or not. Apple’s Phil Schiller insists that the white iPhone is no thicker than the black one, but it does use a different sensor and camera design. The biggest news in the world this week was the fact that Osama Bin Laden was killed. One man unknowingly tweeted about the raid when it was going on mentioning a helicopter hovering, which wasn’t usual. Apple whipped out a new version of the iMac AIO computer this week. The machine gained Thunderbolt, Intel Sandy Bridge processors and FaceTime HD video chatting among other things. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 tablet ...
Review: HP EliteBook 2540p
By TechRadar, published 05-08-2011
HP is currently the world's largest laptop manufacturer. The company produces a broad range of laptops, including consumer machines, but here we take a look at one of their business ultraportables, the excellent EliteBook 2540p. While the laptop may lack the gorgeous design of the Apple MacBook Air and Dell Adamo XPS, this machine is all about performance and portability. As a result, it comes up against the Sony VAIO Z Series. Performance is excellent (just beating the Sony), thanks to the very powerful Intel Core i7 640UM processor. The laptop sailed through all our benchmarking tests and proved to be as powerful as a high-end multimedia machine in everyday performance. If your work requires you to run resource-intensive programs concurrently, this is the machine for you. Graphically thi...
Review: Dell Adamo XPS
By TechRadar, published 05-08-2011
The Dell Adamo XPS was released to great a fanfare a while back courtesy of its slim, high-end design. A year or so on and the laptop has crashed in price, making it a great option for those out to make a (reasonably) affordable style statement. Unfortunately, however, Dell has cut a few corners in the making of this concept machine. Dell has taken a unique approach in the design. To open the laptop you brush a finger over the edge of the lid which then unlocks it. As you lift the screen the keyboard folds out of a recess (flush to the panel) in which it's been parked. The action works well and feels good to use. When open, the keyboard hinge is located at the bottom of the screen, but actually sits high off your desk, causing a wedge-shaped empty space under the laptop. In theory, this sh...
SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up, May 6 2011
By SlashGear, published 05-06-2011
Yesterday, all the excitement was at the AT&T/Samsung event where the Samsung Infuse was unveiled. Vince here at SlashGear posted a hands-on in record time, and Burnsy has now posted his over at Android Community. Watch for full reviews coming soon. So far, the 4G speeds have been just ok. Also, news that Apple may be ditching Intel for ARM, after news yesterday that ARM chips will be in 13% of computers by 2015. Plus, Chris Davies’ thoughts on the subject. In other MacBook news, OWC’s Mercury Aura Pro Express will give you more storage space, but it’ll cost ya, bigtime. Plus, security, shortages, intersting keyboards, and T-Mobile’s burning platform after the cut. More bad news for Sony, as they may face another attack this weekend. Meanwhile, Sony’s C...
An ARM MacBook could revolutionize the industry
By SlashGear, published 05-06-2011
It’s a strange week to be talking about Apple dumping Intel. Only a few days ago, the company was proudly unveiling its new iMac line-up, relying on Core i5 and Core i7 processors – along with AMD GPUs – to make them the fastest all-in-ones Apple has offered to-date. Yet at the same time as Intel’s latest quad-core chips are finding their way into what Apple’s Phil Schiller describes as “the world’s best desktop,” there’s also talk that the company’s close relationship with Intel is about to get served with divorce papers. ARM is coming, and the computing industry will never be the same again. It’s not the first time I’ve talked about potentially revolutionary Apple changes. Back in November, rumors around the MacBoo...
Apple ditching Intel for ARM in future MacBooks tip insiders
By SlashGear, published 05-06-2011
Apple is reportedly planning to ditch Intel’s processors for ARM-based chips, a potentially huge revolution that will supposedly kick off with the company’s MacBook notebooks. According to SemiAccurate‘s sources, Apple is looking to a mid-2013 timescale for the transition, when 64-bit cores such as NVIDIA’s Project Denver are common. The insiders reckon Intel isn’t aware of Apple’s intentions – which are believed to be kicking off with the MacBook and MacBook Pro line, and then likely continuing over to the company’s desktop range – but that Apple is currently hunting down fab capacity with potential partners like Global Foundries, Samsung and TSMC. It’s not known at this stage as to whether Apple will use a generic ARM core, a ...
OWC puts 480GB SSD into the MacBook Air (but it’ll cost you)
By SlashGear, published 05-06-2011
Apple’s switch to SSD-only storage in the MacBook Air made for a whippet-fast boot/resume time, but the expense of solid-state memory meant capacity was limited. Officially up to 256GB is on offer, but entry-level users are stuck with a measly 64GB. Now OWC is teasing us with up to 480GB in the shape of the new Mercury Aura Pro Express upgrade. The huge flash drive falls at the top end of a new range of upgrades for the MacBook Air – offering 180GB, 240GB or 360GB – and is also apparently faster, too, with its 275MB/s transfer rate offering up to a 68-percent boost over the regular SSD Apple uses. Of course, you pay handsomely for the privilege: the 180GB drive kicks things off at $479.99, but the 480GB drive is a huge $1,579.99, almost as much as a top-spec 13-inch ...
SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up, May 5th 2011
By SlashGear, published 05-05-2011
This morning, we are looking forward to the Samsung Event at 4pm EST. Will it be the Infuse? Will they announce a date for the Galaxy S II for the US? The hot new phone has been selling like crazy in South Korea, and our review unit knocked our socks off. We’ll be sure to let you know what happens at the event. Meanwhile, Samsung has revealed a “hybrid tablet” with SENS-240 navigation. But how useful is it, really? The incomparable Chris Davies has a great column this morning analyzing Verizon’s Bliss “phone for ladies”. Really Verizon? Aren’t we ladies smart enough to download our own apps? Also, Acer news, ARM chips, Microsoft denying updates and taking on Apple (again), the NOOKcolor 3G, Anonymous and other hackers, and much more after the cut. ...
Microsoft says “Do the Math”: Windows notebooks are cheaper than MacBooks
By SlashGear, published 05-05-2011
Microsoft has kicked off another of its periodic comparison campaigns, pitting PC against Mac and claiming that Windows-based hardware is far better value than the Apple alternative. This time targeting the Canadian market, “Do the Math” suggests that for the same price as a 17-inch MacBook Pro, customers could have an HP Pavilion DV7 and CA$1,350 to spend on a surfing trip in Hawaii. However, some of Microsoft’s comparisons are likely to raise eyebrows even among the Windows faithful. Click on the MacBook Air 11, for instance, and Microsoft suggests the obvious rivals are three netbooks, two running Intel Atom 1.66GHz N455 processors and another with AMD’s new E-Series dual-core Fusion APU. Now, the ultraportables may be similar in size, but the performance of th...
OS X Lion release via Mac App Store as Apple puts DVDs on notice?
By SlashGear, published 05-05-2011
Apple is already delivering developer version of OS X Lion via the Mac App Store, but according to the latest leaks the company plans to distribute the full version through its download store too. AppleInsider‘s sources claim Apple intends to make the Mac App Store the “preferred method” for distributing OS X 10.7 Lion, the Mac OS update expected to arrive this summer, with a physical version only for those with connections too slow for the download or who, for whatever reason, prefer not to download. It’s unclear if Apple would promote the Mac App Store method by releasing Lion there first; nonetheless, many OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard users are likely to opt for the easier download route, already being familiar with the concept of downloading sizable updates and bugf...
Apple Snatches Up Lucasfilm’s THX Audio Genius Tomlinson Holman
By SlashGear, published 05-04-2011
News broke today via Twitter that Apple may be hiring Tomlinson Holman, the inventor of the Lucasfilm THX high-fidelity audio system. The tweet came from Leo Laporte of the TWiT Netcast Network, who claimed that Holman is set to join Apple to “run audio.” Holman is not only billed with the creation of the THX sound certification for Lucasfilm, but also with helping produce the world’s first 10.2 surround sound system. He currently works as a film sound professor at the University of Southern California There have been no confirmations yet other than the tweet from Laporte. However, Laporte is well connected in the industry and has some weight with his claims. It’s believed that Apple may be signing on Holman to help improve the hardware of the integrated speakers...
Review: Samsung RC510
By TechRadar, published 05-04-2011
The 15-inch Samsung RC510-S03UK laptop shows off exactly what Intel's Core i3 performance beast of a chip is capable of. It's also reasonably priced – you can currently find one for around £580.It's pretty, too, with glossy fingerprint-magnet finish and a profile which makes it look much thinner than it actually is – a trick the MacBook Air has perfected and one the RC510 pulls off well. The overall look is certainly a step up from Samsung's previous laptop range, which only sidestepped the generic tag thanks to a couple of well-placed curves.Equipped with the Nvidia Optimus GeForce 315M GPU chip and a full gigabyte of video memory, its specification certainly promises a lot. We can safely predict that the Core i3 is going to do enough to keep it competitive, but is this that rare bea...
Review: HP G72-a10SA
By TechRadar, published 05-04-2011
Business is booming at the low end of the laptop market. The PC platform has basically levelled out in terms of the functionality most of us expect. You don't need to shell out on a Macbook Pro or a high end Dell laptop such as the Latitude XT2 XFR to get a slick desktop performance – around £350 will do the trick.So here's one of HP's best efforts in the low end 17-inch laptop sector – and yes, appropriately enough, the HP G72-a10SA is a 17-inch monster with relatively modest insides.Not that you'd know of its inadequacies from looking at it, though. In terms of presentation, HP has done an incredible job – the G72 sports the seemingly ubiquitous textured casing of the current generation of laptops, a huge trackpad which blends seamlessly with the rest of the wrist-rest, and a soli...
New Apple iMac: Thunderbolt, Sandy Bridge and FaceTime HD
By SlashGear, published 05-03-2011
Apple has unveiled its new iMac range, and as expected the all-in-one desktops have been upgraded with Intel’s 2011 Sandy Bridge quad-core processors, new graphics and Thunderbolt connectivity. The new iMacs come in the same 21.5-inch and 27-inch versions, with the entry-level $1,199 21.5-inch model having a 2.5GHz quad-core Core i5 processor, AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics and a 500GB hard-drive. At the other end there’s the $1,999 27-inch machine with a 3.1GHz quad-core Core i5 processor, Radeon HD 6970M graphics and 1TB of storage. Optional is a $200 quad-core Intel Core i7 processor upgrade on select models, running at up to 3.4GHz. There’s also a second 21.5-inch pre-config model, with a 2.7GHz Core i5, Radeon HD 6770M and 1TB of storage, for $1,49. The entry-level 2...
Apple Store down: new iMac incoming?
By SlashGear, published 05-03-2011
The Apple Store is down, with the company’s digital shelf-stockers beavering away with a refresh. All signs point to an iMac refresh, with Apple expected to update its all-in-one desktops with Sandy Bridge processors and Thunderbolt connectivity. Yesterday, discounted iMacs at Best Buy added further fuel to the rumors that Apple was about to replace the range. That followed broader supply chain shortages reported in April, with supplies of all iMac SKUs said to be “constrained” with no ETA on that changing. We’ll be keeping an eye on the Apple Store to see what pops up when the system returns; that usually happens at around 8:30am ET. Relevant Entries on SlashGearApple Store is down: new Mac Pro, iMac and Magic Trackpad incoming?Apple Store down, huge catalog refr...
Best Buy Puts Current Mac Models On Sale, Supports iMac Refresh Coming This Week
By SlashGear, published 05-02-2011
If you are in the market to buy a new Apple iMac or any of the other products in the Mac lineup, then pay attention. Best Buy has just put all of its current Mac products on sale, including all Macbooks, iMac, Mac pro, and Mac mini computers. The sale can potentially save you up to $260 on a Mac Pro and generally under $100 for all of the other Mac products. An additional incentive to make the plunge is free shipping. The deal may be enticing, but if you don’t want to regret picking up an older generation iMac just a day before the new one is released, then hold on tight. We reported last week that a refreshed iMac was likely to arrive on May 4th. Speculation had been building up on the refresh due to reports that there were constrained supplies of the current model iMac on retaile...
White iPhone 4 hands-on [Video]
By SlashGear, published 28-04-2011
It’s been a long time since our first hands-on play with the white iPhone 4: all the way back at WWDC 2010, in fact, when the fourth-gen smartphone was brand spanking new and sparkling under Apple’s halogens. That triumphant launch paved the way for the black handset with no white accompaniment, the start of an embarrassing series of delays as Apple struggled with untold technical difficulties. Now, April 28, more than ten months since its unveil, the white iPhone 4 has finally gone on sale. We stopped by Vodafone this morning and grabbed some time with the new version, finding it to be – unsurprisingly – little different to the original. The white casing looks just like the original prototypes Apple demonstrated last year, belying the effort that has gone into pe...
Apple MacBook Pro set for complete makeover?
By TechRadar, published 26-04-2011
Apple could be set to give the MacBook Pro a whole new look, its first design makeover since 2008, if insider sources are to be believed.No clues have surfaced as to what this new design will entail, but it is said to be already under development, described by one sources as a "milestone" for the MacBook Pro range. The latest MacBook Pros were unveiled in February this year and were the first to include high-speed Thunderbolt file transfer. The design, however, was largely the same as its previous iterations, with the now-familiar aluminium unibody casing.New iMacs incomingThe other Apple computing chitchat today is that we may see the next iMac refresh surfacing next week, complete with Thunderbolt connectivity. Apple has dispatched delay notes for iMac orders speaking of 'unexpected dela...
MacBook Pro design overhaul tipped for next refresh
By SlashGear, published 26-04-2011
Apple’s gradual refinement of its MacBook Pro design has left the unibody aluminum notebooks little changed externally since late 2008, but according to fresh rumors there’s a big shake-up coming. MacRumors‘ sources apparently confirm that a new case design will debut at the next MacBook Pro revision, though the exact changes in aesthetic are still mysterious. Apple refreshed its flagship notebooks earlier this year, but with the exception of adding a Thunderbolt port the outward design remained the same. Instead, Intel’s 2011-series Sandy Bridge processors were slotted inside, making the new models the fastest yet. Some have suggested the next-gen machines will look more similar to the MacBook Air, a shift that could see them less amenable to user-upgrading. A...
Apple iMac Refresh To Come Next Week With Sandy Bridge And Thunderbolt?
By SlashGear, published 25-04-2011
Last week we warned you to hold off on buying an iMac because constrained supplies indicated an upcoming refresh. And now we have further reports that the new iMac will arrive the week of May 2nd. According to a source known as Mr. X from 9to5 Mac, Apple will officially stop shipping current generation iMacs to resellers this week. The iMac refresh is believed to incorporate faster processors with Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge platform. It should also sport Apple’s new Thunderbolt connector port, which is said to be 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and about 20 times faster than USB 2.0. However, it will be only the 2nd line of systems to support the new Apple-only standard, which debuted with their MacBook Pro refresh back in February. Apple also seems to be delaying shipmen...
Tutorial: How to build an iPhone app
By TechRadar, published 24-04-2011
Developing for the iOS App Store is a no-brainer. If I said that a measly investment of £250 was enough to open up a market of 150 million consumers, the ears of any smart developer should prick up. If I were to add that many of those consumers are Apple fans eager to part with their cash in an attempt to purchase software justifying the cost of their hardware, then you might well start to see why there are now 300,000 iPhone apps and 60,000 iPad apps two and a half years after the App Store launched. The sheer size of the App Store is staggering, with more than twice as many apps available as all the competing stores combined. In this article I want to help kick start your own development on the App Store, and I hope it's encouraging for you that I myself went from having zero apps to ha...
iMac Refresh Imminent With Supplies Running Low
By SlashGear, published 21-04-2011
If you’re thinking about purchasing a shiny new iMac soon, you may want to hold off for just a bit. The Apple trend to look for when a possible refresh is coming for a product is when its supply starts to shrink. This happened with the MacBook Pro and iPad before newer versions were released and now 9to5 Mac has been tipped off that iMac supplies are starting to dry up, so a possible refresh could be looming. The new iMacs could be sporting Sandy Bridge processors and Thunderbolt I/O ports when the new models roll out and may launch sometime between late April and early May. One of the sources took the above screen shot showing the dwindling iMac supplies. Apparently this is confirmed from multiple sources in both the U.S. and in Asia. The U.S. source says that not only are the iMac su...
Apple Sues Samsung Over Galaxy Series Phones And Tablets
By SlashGear, published 18-04-2011
There may be a huge epic legal battle brewing between electronics giants Apple and Samsung. Apple has just filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics claiming the Korean company is copying the “look and feel” of their iPhone and iPad. The suit targets the Galaxy series including the Galaxy S smartphone line of Nexus S, Galaxy S 4G, and Epic 4G along with the Galaxy Tabs. Apple filed the lawsuit on April 15 in the Northern District of California stating that specific Samsung products—as listed above—violated Apple’s intellectual property infringing on a number of the company’s patents. The filing document claims that Samsung not only copied the hardware shape, but copied core technology to even the screen icons. A glance at Apple’s 2009 and 2010...
Samsung itching to dump HDD business as SSDs arrive in MacBook Air
By SlashGear, published 18-04-2011
Samsung is reportedly looking to dump its hard-drive business, in an attempt to refocus in areas of stronger growth such as flash storage, in which the company has seen recent wins from industry heavyweights like Apple. According to the WSJ‘s source, Samsung is hoping to sell its traditional hard-drive business for $1.5bn, in a move that would leave it focusing on solid-state drives instead. According to the WSJ, Seagate was potentially interested in the platter-drive side of Samsung’s business, but no deal has been finalized. Samsung will apparently accept under $1bn, the insider claims, though the company has declined to comment on the reports. Meanwhile, what are believed to be Samsung’s mSATA “blade” SSDs have been spotted in recent MacBook Air models, d...
Laptop Review: Apple MacBook Pro 17 Inch 2011
By DigitalVersus, published 15-04-2011
Make way, make way, here's the latest large format from Apple! The MacBook Pro 17 inch has joined our product review. After the 13 inch and 15 inch versions,...
Philips Fidelio SoundSphere hands-on
By SlashGear, published 15-04-2011
As oddly-shaped speaker systems go, the Philips Fidelio SoundSphere pair should still stand out even in the most avant garde living room. In fact, unless your lounge looks like the egg room from the first Alien film, expect plenty of questions about the bulbous AirPlay-compatible set. On show at IFA 2011 today, the SoundSpheres dragged us in like a Facehugger’s tail around the neck. The premise is straightforward: you get an iPod/iPhone dock, into which your Apple PMP slots, recharges, and shoots over audio to the speakers. Alternatively, though, it can pick up audio streamed via AirPlay, Apple’s wireless system that works with the latest iOS devices and computers like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. As for the eye-catching speakers themselves, Philips reckons that by using...
Review: Sony VAIO S Series VPC-SB1V9E
By TechRadar, published 14-04-2011
The Sony VPC-SB1V9E is Sony's latest power ultraportable laptop but it's unusual for Sony - itfalls into the business-oriented VAIO S-Series range. The VAIO Z-Series is the Japanese giant's usual ultra-portable laptop range, producing ridiculously sexy mini machines that can handle any application. Of course, this combo of power and portability often comes at quite a cost, usually well on the wrong side of a grand.But while the VAIO VPC-SB1V9E S Series may not have the looks of the MacBook Air or the Samsung 9-Series, this is still a fantastic laptop that doesn't skimp on performance. Even better, at £899, the asking price isn't too steep for an ultra-portable.At first glance, the VAIO VPC-SB1V9E isn't much of a looker. The lid is attractive enough with a dark brushed aluminium finish, bu...
Review: Sony VAIO S Series VPC-SB1V9E
By TechRadar, published 14-04-2011
The Sony VPC-SB1V9E is Sony's latest power ultraportable laptop but it's unusual for Sony - itfalls into the business-oriented VAIO S-Series range. The VAIO Z-Series is the Japanese giant's usual ultra-portable laptop range, producing ridiculously sexy mini machines that can handle any application. Of course, this combo of power and portability often comes at quite a cost, usually well on the wrong side of a grand.But while the VAIO VPC-SB1V9E S Series may not have the looks of the MacBook Air or the Samsung 9-Series, this is still a fantastic laptop that doesn't skimp on performance. Even better, at £899, the asking price isn't too steep for an ultra-portable.At first glance, the VAIO VPC-SB1V9E isn't much of a looker. The lid is attractive enough with a dark brushed aluminium finish, bu...
In Depth: How Mac apps are transforming world sport
By TechRadar, published 04-02-2011
Say you were to meet former England rugby captain Steve Borthwick in a bar - what would you talk about once the rugger conversation dried up? Well, you could bring up the subject of Macs, seeing as they play a key role in helping him - and hundreds of other elite athletes - prepare for their big games. In football, you'll find Macs at Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, to name just a few Premiership sides. The England national team also uses them, as do the majority of top rugby union sides, national basketball teams and the West Indies cricketers. With the help of highly trained performance analysts and software written specifically for the Mac, the Apple gear is vital in providing feedback to players about their performances, both during matches and training, as well as po...
Review Roundup: This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
By TechRadar, published 04-02-2011
This week's reviews include one of the hottest phones from this year's Mobile World Congress, the HTC Desire S. It's the follow-up to the best-selling HTC Desire, but can it top the highs of the handset it replaces? We've also fully reviewed Android 3.0, the tablet OS that hopes to conquer the supremacy of iOS as well as the incredibly quick six-core Intel Core i7 990X Extreme Edition. Top five reviews on TechRadarHTC Desire S review The Desire S is a great phone, but it feels like it doesn't live up to its grand name. We loved the original Desire so much. It was offering an experience comparable to the iPhone 4 three months before Apple's device was even announced.Android 3.0 reviewAndroid 3.0 is powerful and fast. It looks closer to what you'd expect in the modern computing age and not a...
Laptop Review: Apple MacBook Pro 15.4 inch, Core i7 and AMD HD 6750M
By DigitalVersus, published 04-01-2011
Here's the second representative in the latest MacBook Pro range to join our laptop review. Another serious contender for a 5-star rating! Following the 13.3 inch model, we're now...
iPad 2: The Skeptic’s Review
By SlashGear, published 30-03-2011
A year ago I wrote a skeptic’s review of the first-generation iPad, a more personal report on the original model from my perspective as a tabletophile and a blogger. Since then we’ve seen the launch of a few Android slates – though not the deluge we were perhaps expecting – and of course, most recently, the arrival of the iPad 2. How does the second-generation iPad hold up, and has Apple answered my original complaints? Read on for my iPad 2 Skeptic’s Review. For the full background story of my tablet love, you should probably read the original review. Since then I’ve used and reviewed multiple slates, running Windows, Android and other platforms, for varying lengths of time. The two I’ve lived with, however, have been the iPad 1 and Samsung̵...
Updated: 50 really useful iPad tips and tricks
By TechRadar, published 30-03-2011
With great new features like two video cameras, a faster processor and a thinner design, the iPad 2 is the world's best tablet device.iPad 2 reviewIt's also fully capable of running the latest version of Apple's iOS operating system and great apps like iMovie and GarageBand.Here we present 50 really useful iPad 2 tips. We cover everything from customising your Home screen through to getting more from built-in apps like Mail and Safari.The vast majority of these tips will also work on the original iPad, so owners of the first generation device shouldn't feel neglected.1. Create foldersiOS now supports folders. To create a folder all you need to do is tap and hold on an app until they all start to jiggle, then drag the app over another icon and release. Your iPad will create a folder with bo...
Updated: 50 really useful iPad tips and tricks
By TechRadar, published 30-03-2011
With great new features like two video cameras, a faster processor and a thinner design, the iPad 2 is the world's best tablet device.iPad 2 reviewIt's also fully capable of running the latest version of Apple's iOS operating system and great apps like iMovie and GarageBand.Here we present 50 really useful iPad 2 tips. We cover everything from customising your Home screen through to getting more from built-in apps like Mail and Safari.The vast majority of these tips will also work on the original iPad, so owners of the first generation device shouldn't feel neglected.1. Create foldersiOS now supports folders. To create a folder all you need to do is tap and hold on an app until they all start to jiggle, then drag the app over another icon and release. Your iPad will create a folder with bo...
Lenovo ThinkPad W520 on sale now: Quadcore undercuts MBP by $550
By SlashGear, published 29-03-2011
Lenovo’s ThinkPad W520 mobile workstation has gone up for sale, with the 15.6-inch notebook priced from $1,449 with an Intel Core-i7 processor. Announced back in February, the W520 starts out with a 2.7GHz Core i7-2620M chip, 4GB of RAM and NVIDIA Quadro 1000M Optimus graphics, but $1,649 gets you the quadcore 2.2GHz Core i7-2720QM processor. Options, meanwhile, include up to a 1920 x 1080 display (to replace the standard 1366 x 768 panel), up to 8GB of RAM, up to 500GB of regular hard-drive or up to 160GB of SSD, and both Bluetooth 3.0 and integrated WWAN. The regular model comes with a DVD burner, 6-cell battery and WiFi b/g/n. The obvious comparison is Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro, recently updated with the same quadcore processor. That comes with more hard-drive space ...
Daily Roundup: 2011-03-28
By Bjorn3D, published 28-03-2011
CPUs, RAMs, Mobos Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch Review at Hothardware Crucial Ballistix Smart Tracer DDR3 PC3-12800 Memory Kit Review at Madshrimps Hands On Preview With ZOTAC's ZBOX AD02 Plus AMD Fusion E-350 Mini-PC at Futurelooks Video Cards XFX HD6950 1GB Overclocked Edition Review at OCC Asus
Apple Worldwide Developers' Conference 2011 announced
By TechRadar, published 28-03-2011
Apple has revealed that its Worldwide Developers' Conference is to take place 6 June in Moscone West, San Francisco.The conference which runs for five days is to predominantly look at the future of iOS and Mac OS. "If you are an iOS or Mac OS X software developer, this is the event that you do not want to miss," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, about the event.WWDC 2011: what to expectApple has outlined some of the things that will be taking place at the event.They include:More than 100 technical sessions presented by Apple engineers on a wide range of technology-specific topics for developing, deploying and integrating the latest iOS and Mac OS technologiesOver 1,000 Apple engineers providing developers with code-level assistance, insight...
Apple Worldwide Developers' Conference 2011 announced
By TechRadar, published 28-03-2011
Apple has revealed that its Worldwide Developers' Conference is to take place 6 June in Moscone West, San Francisco.The conference which runs for five days is to predominantly look at the future of iOS and Mac OS. "If you are an iOS or Mac OS X software developer, this is the event that you do not want to miss," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, about the event.WWDC 2011: what to expectApple has outlined some of the things that will be taking place at the event.They include:More than 100 technical sessions presented by Apple engineers on a wide range of technology-specific topics for developing, deploying and integrating the latest iOS and Mac OS technologiesOver 1,000 Apple engineers providing developers with code-level assistance, insight...
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch Review
By HotHardware, published 28-03-2011
The new MacBook family is available in five different models: two 13.3-inch units, two 15.4-inch versions, and a 17-inch behemoth. The base prices for these models range from $1,199 up to $2,499, but with configuration options such as faster processors, more memory, and larger-sized hard drives or SSDs, you can easily boost the cost considerably....
Apple’s Big Success: Devaluing Everything
By SlashGear, published 27-03-2011
It was while writing SlashGear’s Nintendo 3DS review that it really struck me, the disparity between “traditional” software – whether that’s for your desktop or a game for your console – and the new “app” ecosystem is Apple’s biggest accomplishment. Where once computer software was a $40+ boxed product – and where 3DS games, and those for other consoles, are still $40+ boxed cartridges – it’s now a $0.99 download, instant gratification at a cost that won’t wrinkle your conscience. Tech is cheap, apps are throwaway, and Apple is to blame. It’s hard to get attention when there are thousands of apps out there; harder still if you want to price your apps at any more than a few dollars. We judge in the first f...
Review: Apple MacBook (2011)
By TechRadar, published 27-03-2011
With the continuing popularity of the iPad, iPhone and iPod range, Apple's laptop sales have seen an impressive boost in recent months. The Apple MacBook is its entry-level model, and while some could argue it offers limited value, it's still a great choice.The main argument against Apple's laptops is that despite their use of older technology, they still cost the same as cutting-edge Windows-based machines. The MacBook uses a last generation Intel 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo P8600 processor, rather than a Core i5 chip as seen in the Acer Aspire 5943G and Fujitsu Lifebook S710. While the difference in performance is significant, there's still ample power to run the excellent Mac OS X 10.6 operating system and software with plenty of speed. Graphics are just as capable. While outperformed by the Acer...
Review: Apple MacBook (2011)
By TechRadar, published 27-03-2011
With the continuing popularity of the iPad, iPhone and iPod range, Apple's laptop sales have seen an impressive boost in recent months. The Apple MacBook is its entry-level model, and while some could argue it offers limited value, it's still a great choice.The main argument against Apple's laptops is that despite their use of older technology, they still cost the same as cutting-edge Windows-based machines. The MacBook uses a last generation Intel 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo P8600 processor, rather than a Core i5 chip as seen in the Acer Aspire 5943G and Fujitsu Lifebook S710. While the difference in performance is significant, there's still ample power to run the excellent Mac OS X 10.6 operating system and software with plenty of speed. Graphics are just as capable. While outperformed by the Acer...
Apple’s OS X Lion Golden Master first-attempt imminent?
By SlashGear, published 26-03-2011
Apple is reportedly readying a Golden Master release of OS X Lion, the next iteration of the company’s Mac OS. However, while a Golden Master build is normally one step away from a complete, public release, there’s talk that this particular version is only GM1 in what will be several phases of release. According to TechCrunch‘s sources, the upcoming OS X Lion GM1 will be the first attempt at a bug-free and full-performance version of the software. If the bugs are truly absent then it could mean Apple’s release schedule accelerates, however that’s unlikely to be the case. OS X Lion is expected to see its full release in the summer, potentially around WWDC 2011 which is expected in early June. A developer preview was pushed into the wild last month, complete w...
Apple Releases iOS 4.3.1 For Minor Bug Fixes
By SlashGear, published 25-03-2011
The fresh scent of iOS 4.3 has yet to wear off, and Apple is already releasing an update. Today, iOS 4.3.1 has just been unleashed to bring us minor bug fixes and some other improvements. The update will fix the image flickering issue that the Apple Digital AV Adapter was experiencing with some TVs. It will also fix the graphics glitches on the fourth generation iPod touch. It also resolves some issues related to activating and connecting to some cellular networks along with issues authenticating some enterprise web services. There were rumors earlier in the week that claimed an imminent iOS 4.3.1 update within the next two weeks would fix a battery life issue. However, this actual update doesn’t seem to address that matter specifically. The update is also only available to GSM ver...
In Depth: iPad 3 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 23-03-2011
The UK iPad 2 release date is mere days away, but the rumour factory's already moved on: it's predicting iPad 3 specifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from mysterious, unnamed people who can't possibly be identified.How very convenient. So what's the word on the street about the next iPad?The iPad 3 release date is September 2011This is the biggest rumour of all: an iPad 3 mere months after the iPad 2. An unnamed Apple employee says that the iPad 2 was a bit of a rush job, and "the third generation iPad is the one to make a song and dance about."Respected Apple watcher John Gruber added fuel to that particular fire by strongly hinting that the iPad 3 release date will be in September.Gruber, who was musing about the HP TouchPad's potential s...
In Depth: iPad 3 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 23-03-2011
The UK iPad 2 release date is mere days away, but the rumour factory's already moved on: it's predicting iPad 3 specifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from mysterious, unnamed people who can't possibly be identified.How very convenient. So what's the word on the street about the next iPad?The iPad 3 release date is September 2011This is the biggest rumour of all: an iPad 3 mere months after the iPad 2. An unnamed Apple employee says that the iPad 2 was a bit of a rush job, and "the third generation iPad is the one to make a song and dance about."Respected Apple watcher John Gruber added fuel to that particular fire by strongly hinting that the iPad 3 release date will be in September.Gruber, who was musing about the HP TouchPad's potential s...
Review: Packard Bell EasyNote TS
By TechRadar, published 23-03-2011
It would be fair to say that we were a tad skeptical when we got our first look at the Packard Bell EasyNote TS. It's ostensibly a pretty laptop without much obviously going for it bar its shiny lid, so we were a little bit dismissive – that's the sort of stock response we reserve for anything in the sub-£500 bracket.Perhaps – and this does take a certain degree of humility to say – we shouldn't have been so hasty. Because while it's not up to the lofty 3D standards of the Sony Vaio F Series and it doesn't have the leg-melting power of the high-end Apple MacBook Pro, the EasyNote TS is a mid-range performer at a low-end price, and absolutely the sort of laptop we'd be happy to welcome into our own homes. And we see a lot of laptops, so that's no mean feat.Packard Bell was kind enoug...
Review: Packard Bell EasyNote TS
By TechRadar, published 23-03-2011
It would be fair to say that we were a tad skeptical when we got our first look at the Packard Bell EasyNote TS. It's ostensibly a pretty laptop without much obviously going for it bar its shiny lid, so we were a little bit dismissive – that's the sort of stock response we reserve for anything in the sub-£500 bracket.Perhaps – and this does take a certain degree of humility to say – we shouldn't have been so hasty. Because while it's not up to the lofty 3D standards of the Sony Vaio F Series and it doesn't have the leg-melting power of the high-end Apple MacBook Pro, the EasyNote TS is a mid-range performer at a low-end price, and absolutely the sort of laptop we'd be happy to welcome into our own homes. And we see a lot of laptops, so that's no mean feat.Packard Bell was kind enoug...
Laptop Review: Apple Macbook Pro 13.3 inch 2011
By DigitalVersus, published 18-03-2011
A much-awaited model for our laptop review today. Whether you're a fan or a hater, we're sure your ears will prick up when you hear what we've got for...
Samsung Series 9 Super Lightweight Notebook is Shipping
By MaximumPC, published 17-03-2011
Apple's Macbook Air has been widely praised for its smart, attractive industrial design. Samsung, not to be outdone, showed off their own super lightweight laptop at CES a few months ago. The Series 9 is a great looking laptop with reasonable specs, and it is on sale now. The Series 9 is a 13-inch PC that weighs under 3 lbs. it is a scant 0.64-inches thick, which is actually slightly thinner that the Macbook Air. The Series 9 has a 128GB SSD by default and 4GB of RAM. At its core is the battery-friendly Core i5 2537 at 1.45GHz. This PC isn't going to light up the night with its speed, but should chug along respectably. The price may be a deterrent for some at $1649 with Windows 7 Home Premium. The corresponding Air is $50 less. Would you consider spending that amount on a slim and light no...
Western Digital My Book Studio Edition II gets 6TB upgrade
By SlashGear, published 17-03-2011
Western Digital has boosted the capacity of its My Book Studio Edition II external dual-drive array, with a new 6TB model. Offering a choice of four connection options – eSATA, FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 – the drive can be set in either RAID 0 for maximum capacity or RAID 1 for data redundancy. The obvious omission is Intel Thunderbolt, with Western Digital missing the opportunity to get the first Thunderbolt-toting external drive on the market (and thus make some 2011 MacBook Pro owners very happy). Still, you do get Time Machine compatibility, and WD throw in some backup software in the box as well. Interestingly, whereas opening up many external drives will instantly see your warranty evaporate, WD is happy for owners to swap out the internal storage on their ...
Apple A5 Processor Teardown Reveals Samsung Fabrication
By SlashGear, published 14-03-2011
Previously, the world believed that the yummy chips coming in the iPad 2, those fabulously simple looking A5′s, were going to be TSMC. As Chipworks shows in their full teardown of the chip itself, the Apple A5 processor is fabricated by Samsung. Furthermore, several elements are discerned whilst comparing the chip to the A4 including memory, logic, and analog block areas. These are folks with either microscopes and precision tools or people with very very small hands. Either way, we’re excited to see the insides of chips! The image you see above on the left is the chip as you’d be able to see if you took the device apart using a couple of plastic tools and a hairdryer. The interesting thing you can see in this image (on the right, above,) is the fact that all those litt...
iPad 2 Smart Cover teardown reveals 21 magnets
By SlashGear, published 14-03-2011
We’ve already seen the iPad 2 teardown, but who would’ve thought Apple’s Smart Cover would deserve the teardown treatment by itself. Steve Jobs spent plenty of time waxing lyrical about the Smart Cover tech at the iPad 2 launch, and so iFixit took a closer look to see if it was worth the attention. The headline feature? A full twenty-one magnets. Magnetic viewing film identified them all, with four used to hold the Smart Cover to the iPad 2 (along with another four in the iPad 2 itself). Interestingly, Apple has arranged them with alternating poles, so that the cover will only clip on in one orientation. Eleven magnets hold the Smart Cover in its triangular prop position. Finally, there’s a single magnet which flicks the iPad 2 in and out of standby mode. In all,...
Apple Stocks Smarter Investment than Apple Products [SHOCKER]
By SlashGear, published 03-12-2011
A fabulously obsessed young man by the name of Kyle Conroy has a website out there on the internet that provides the world with an incalculably invaluable service: taking every single Apple product (or nearly every one) and pricing them out in terms of stock value. What this means is for each product (for example a G3 PowerBook from 1997) he finds the original price ($5700) and takes that amount of money in stock, having been purchased at that time, converting it to what that stock would be worth today ($330,563.) These numbers are contrasted sharply against a similar situation listed by the New York Times: a Hewlett-Packard laptop from 1997 would have run you $3,500. If you’d purchased that much HP stock instead, you’d now have a grand total of $4,560. Not so impressive! An...
Catch up: this week's most popular posts
By TechRadar, published 03-12-2011
While most eyes are on the iPad 2 at the moment one analyst at least reckons that Android tablets are set to take the market lead.And in the OMG PANIC department, news came out that over-reliance on sat navs could cause death. Hopefully some of us will be left alive, though, as the UK government is pressing on with a £50m broadband plan to bring high-speed internet to rural areas.So if you live in the country, get rid of your sat nav or your dreams of finally getting to watch cats playing the piano on YouTube without the constant buffering may never be realised.Read on for this week's most popular stories on TechRadar…Top five news storiesAndroid tablet sales to 'dominate' over the iPad by 2014The spotlights might be magnetically drawn to the iPad 2 at the moment, but it seems those bac...
Catch up: this week's most popular posts
By TechRadar, published 03-12-2011
While most eyes are on the iPad 2 at the moment one analyst at least reckons that Android tablets are set to take the market lead.And in the OMG PANIC department, news came out that over-reliance on sat navs could cause death. Hopefully some of us will be left alive, though, as the UK government is pressing on with a £50m broadband plan to bring high-speed internet to rural areas.So if you live in the country, get rid of your sat nav or your dreams of finally getting to watch cats playing the piano on YouTube without the constant buffering may never be realised.Read on for this week's most popular stories on TechRadar…Top five news storiesAndroid tablet sales to 'dominate' over the iPad by 2014The spotlights might be magnetically drawn to the iPad 2 at the moment, but it seems those bac...
Catch up: this week's most popular posts
By TechRadar, published 03-12-2011
While most eyes are on the iPad 2 at the moment one analyst at least reckons that Android tablets are set to take the market lead.And in the OMG PANIC department, news came out that over-reliance on sat navs could cause death. Hopefully some of us will be left alive, though, as the UK government is pressing on with a £50m broadband plan to bring high-speed internet to rural areas.So if you live in the country, get rid of your sat nav or your dreams of finally getting to watch cats playing the piano on YouTube without the constant buffering may never be realised.Read on for this week's most popular stories on TechRadar…Top five news storiesAndroid tablet sales to 'dominate' over the iPad by 2014The spotlights might be magnetically drawn to the iPad 2 at the moment, but it seems those bac...
Lost Apple business could hurt Nvidia's market share
By TechReport, published 03-08-2011
When Apple unveiled its refreshed MacBook Pro lineup last month, everyone focused on the Sandy Bridge processors within and the new Thunderbolt port. Apple did make another very notable change, however: it ditched Nvidia across the board, offering users either Sandy Bridge's built-in graphics component (in the 13" MacBook...
MacBook Pro 13.3'': A Suprisingly Good Screen
By DigitalVersus, published 03-08-2011
As we promised earlier, we started our tests on the our new Apple MacBook Pro 13.3'' as soon as we got it back to the lab. The first item on...
Apple MacBook Pro 13.3 inch - May The Tests Begin!
By DigitalVersus, published 03-07-2011
Just back from an Apple presentation, we managed to pick up a little surprise for you, one of the recently announced MacBook Pros. We've got the 13.3 inch model....
SlashGear Weekly Roundup Video: March 6, 2011
By SlashGear, published 03-06-2011
It’s time for our SlashGear Weekly Roundup Video again. Thank you all for the feedback on our very first video last Sunday. We are still working on improvements and we’d appreciate any comments or suggestions. The past week was a big one for Apple with their iPad 2 announcement and new 2011 MacBook Pro release. Check out the video and the full top ten list of last weeks tech news after the jump. 10. Microsoft shutting down T-Mobile Sidekick servers on May 31; T-Mobile likely to replace with Android-based Sidekick 4G. 9. Nintendo 3DS to get Netflix streaming this Summer, plus AT&T hotspot access 8. Sony NGP “Dead on Arrival” says smartphone games developer 7. ASUS CEO confirms quadcore (likely NVIDIA Kal-El) 3D tablet in 2011 6. BlackBerry ...
SlashGear Week in Review – Week 10 2011
By SlashGear, published 03-06-2011
Welcome to the latest edition of the SlashGear Week in Review! There were big goings on this week in the tech world with a new tablet and lots more so let’s get to it. The Kinect was hacked into a 3D scanner for turning the person it scans into a 3D foam bust. The pieces it makes are like foam puzzle pieces. An ad agency in New Zealand created a new board for park benches that presses an ad into the legs of the people that sit down. When those ad pressed folks start to walk around people behind them can read the ads. Fujitsu unveiled a really cool 22-inch screen that has no cords at all. The display uses inductive power and wireless data links for a very clean look. TazTag announced that it would be showing off a new tablet at CeBIT 2011 called the TazPad. The little tablet is pret...
iPad 2: Post-PC is Premature
By SlashGear, published 03-04-2011
The “post-PC” world. Sounds great, doesn’t it. No more malware headaches, none of that awful association with dull cubicle work. Steve Jobs sits in a comfy chair and pages happily through his latest productivity-slash-entertainment apps; we imagine ourselves soaking up the WiFi in our local coffee shop, whiling our days shooting 720p video, editing it and uploading it all in one fell swoop. Dump your desk chairs, throw away your mouse mats. The iPad 2 has saved us from our shackles and shown us the light. It’s easy to get caught up in Jobs’ rhetoric. Sure, people are buying Macs, but look how many iPads we’ve sold. See how well we slotted this slice of finger-friendly beauty into peoples’ lives. This is no inflated iPod touch, and if you thought ...
iMovie and GarageBand for iPad announced
By TechRadar, published 03-02-2011
Apple has announced that there will be new editions of iMovie and GarageBand for the iPad and iPad 2.Both apps were shown off at the iPad 2 event in San Francisco, where Steve Jobs noted that these apps, alongside others Apple is creating, "set the bar high for developers".The new iMovie for iPad app includes precision editing tools, multi-track audio recording, new themes, AirPlay to Apple TV, and the ability share your videos in HD.There's over 50 sound effects available on the new iMovie, as well as new sharing options to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and more video-upload sites.It will be available from 11 March for the princely sum of $4.99 (likely around £4.39).Instru-mentalGarageBand also gets an iPad makeover, with touch instruments, guitar amps and effects, 8 track recording and mixin...
iMovie and GarageBand for iPad announced
By TechRadar, published 03-02-2011
Apple has announced that there will be new editions of iMovie and GarageBand for the iPad and iPad 2.Both apps were shown off at the iPad 2 event in San Francisco, where Steve Jobs noted that these apps, alongside others Apple is creating, "set the bar high for developers".The new iMovie for iPad app includes precision editing tools, multi-track audio recording, new themes, AirPlay to Apple TV, and the ability share your videos in HD.There's over 50 sound effects available on the new iMovie, as well as new sharing options to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and more video-upload sites.It will be available from 11 March for the princely sum of $4.99 (likely around £4.39).Instru-mentalGarageBand also gets an iPad makeover, with touch instruments, guitar amps and effects, 8 track recording and mixin...
Updated: iPad 2: all the latest details
By TechRadar, published 03-02-2011
The iPad 2 launch took place today, 2 March. Links to all of our iPad 2 coverage are below.Hands on: Apple iPad 2 reviewThe Apple iPad 2 has been unveiled, and TechRadar has spent some time with the hottest piece of kit so far in 2011.Read our hands on: Apple iPad 2 reviewiPad 2 launch live coverageiPad 2 launch live, minute by minuteApple iPad 2 officially unveiledThe new iPad is dual core, front and rear facing cameras, an all new A5 dual core CPU and a nine times more powerful GPU. And yes, there is a white iPad 2 as rumoured. And the iPad 2 UK price? Apple says it will be the same.Read Apple iPad 2 officially unveiledApple iPad 2: our first impressionsThe new iPad is thinner - 33 per cent thinner. Wow. It looks incredible and has the expected front-facing camera (as well as one on the ...
Updated: iPad 2: all the latest details
By TechRadar, published 03-02-2011
The iPad 2 launch took place today, 2 March. Links to all of our iPad 2 coverage are below.Hands on: Apple iPad 2 reviewThe Apple iPad 2 has been unveiled, and TechRadar has spent some time with the hottest piece of kit so far in 2011.Read our hands on: Apple iPad 2 reviewiPad 2 launch live coverageiPad 2 launch live, minute by minuteApple iPad 2 officially unveiledThe new iPad is dual core, front and rear facing cameras, an all new A5 dual core CPU and a nine times more powerful GPU. And yes, there is a white iPad 2 as rumoured. And the iPad 2 UK price? Apple says it will be the same.Read Apple iPad 2 officially unveiledApple iPad 2: our first impressionsThe new iPad is thinner - 33 per cent thinner. Wow. It looks incredible and has the expected front-facing camera (as well as one on the ...
Exclusive: O2 confirms it won't be offering iPad 2
By TechRadar, published 03-02-2011
O2 has confirmed to TechRadar that it will not be selling the Apple iPad 2, but will still offer competitive data bundles for the tablet.The iPad 2 was today announced by Apple, offering nine times more graphical power than its predecessor as well as a 33 per cent thinner chassis, front and rear cameras and the revelation that it also comes in white.In a statement, O2 explained its reasons for not selling the iPad 2, saying: "We continue to offer great value, flexible data tariffs for iPad 2 and the unique ability to manage these tariffs on the device itself."Great valueIt continued: "Although we will not be selling iPad 2 with subsidy, O2 microsims with our great value iPad tariffs are still available for customers who have purchased the device elsewhere. "In addition to our award winning...
Exclusive: O2 confirms it won't be offering iPad 2
By TechRadar, published 03-02-2011
O2 has confirmed to TechRadar that it will not be selling the Apple iPad 2, but will still offer competitive data bundles for the tablet.The iPad 2 was today announced by Apple, offering nine times more graphical power than its predecessor as well as a 33 per cent thinner chassis, front and rear cameras and the revelation that it also comes in white.In a statement, O2 explained its reasons for not selling the iPad 2, saying: "We continue to offer great value, flexible data tariffs for iPad 2 and the unique ability to manage these tariffs on the device itself."Great valueIt continued: "Although we will not be selling iPad 2 with subsidy, O2 microsims with our great value iPad tariffs are still available for customers who have purchased the device elsewhere. "In addition to our award winning...
iPad 2: official pictures
By TechRadar, published 03-02-2011
The Apple iPad 2 is here. After all the build up, the speculation, the pondering, more speculation, the fan-boy flaming and the speculation, Steve Jobs took the stage today in San Francisco to unveil its second-generation iPad.To get you in the mood before the iPad 2 is officially in the shops, below are some of the official pics, alongside some specs peppered here and there for good measure.The new iPad is also 33 per cent thinner, with the 8.4mm frame even sleeker than the iPhone 4, and is down to 1.3 pounds (590g) in weight, which is around 15 per cent lighter than the first version.You can buy a Smart Case for the iPad 2, which has magnets inside that wake the tablet and also put it to sleep.The new iPad has Photobooth, alongside iMovie and an all-new GarageBand.There's a front and rea...
First Gen iPad Pulled from Best Buy Inventory
By SlashGear, published 03-01-2011
In further evidence that an iPad 2 launch is imminent, Best Buy has deleted the first generation iPad from its inventory. Best Buy’s inventory status is not always a good indicator of product launches, but combined with the news yesterday that Apple had cut off iPad supply in preparation for an iPad 2 announcement, this seems to be yet another indication that the iPad 2 will be announced at Apple’s event tomorrow. According to Apple Insider, Apple may also have the iPad 2 available almost immediately for retail. The removal from Best Buy seems to support that, since the retailer would keep selling the iPad if a new one was not going to be available soon. There are currently no placeholders for the iPad 2 at Best Buy, but that may change by tomorrow. We will keep you informed....
Leaked Image Of Thunderbolt on White MacBook?
By SlashGear, published 03-01-2011
Intel’s Light Peak lightening speed data transfer technology known as Thunderbolt debuted on the new Apple MacBook Pro line last week. With Apple’s special event only a day away, we won’t have to speculate for long whether Thunderbolt will be implemented on the iPad 2 as well. However, today an image purported to be a leaked shot of the plastic white MacBook also sporting the Thunderbolt port has surfaced suggesting the MacBook series may also be getting revamped with the new data transfer technology very soon. Thunderbolt promises bi-directional data transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps and will likely replace USB and FireWire ports in the future. It is estimated to be 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and 20 times faster than USB 2.0. The new USB 3.0 is still only half th...
MacBook Pro 15-inch Review (early 2011)
By SlashGear, published 03-01-2011
Apple’s MacBook Pro refresh last week didn’t get a press event with huge fanfare, but it’s arguably the most important update to the notebook range in some time. Bringing in Intel’s 2011 Core processor range across the board, and spicing up the larger models with AMD discrete graphics, the new versions may look the same but they promise a huge leap in performance. The high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro arrived on the SlashGear test bench last Thursday and we’ve been putting it through its paces ever since. Could this really be the best notebook around? Check out the full review after the cut. Hardware At first glance, there’s little to differentiate this new MacBook Pro from the model it replaces. Apple has kept the unibody aluminum chassis, backlit keyboard...
Buying Guide: MacBook vs MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air
By TechRadar, published 03-01-2011
The latest versions of the MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are the kind of kit you'd happily swap your kidneys for. But which one should you go for, and much kidney would you need to sell? Here's everything you need to know about the MacBook range: specs, prices and how much it'll cost to replace those internal batteries.MacBook vs MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air: PriceEntry to the MacBook family starts at £867 for both the MacBook and MacBook Air, with the 2011 MacBook Pro starting at £999 - although of course if you head for the top of the range and start adding custom options you can easily make a Mac that costs more than a car.There's only one MacBook, but there are two base MacBook Air models - an 11-inch for £867 and a 13-inch for £1,122 - and three MacBook Pros: a 13-inch (£999...
Updated: iPad 2 news and latest rumours
By TechRadar, published 28-02-2011
The internet loves Apple and it loves ill-founded speculation, so it's hardly surprising that iPad 2 rumours were flying before the first iPad even reached the UK. UPDATE: The iPad 2 launch date has been confirmed by Apple as 2 March 2011. And you can check out what we're expecting from the iPad 2 launch, too. And with just days to go now before its unveiling the iPad 2 release date, specs and price are still closely guarded secrets, but that doesn't mean there aren't some juicy rumours, inspired guesses and possibly even Apple leaks to consider. Reports suggest Apple is also expecting massive demand for the new device and has ordered six million units per month.Here's our pick of the latest iPad 2011 rumours.UPDATE: A white iPad 2? This rumour, which surfaced on 28 February, came with a p...
Photos suggests Light Peak will debut in new MacBook Pros
By TechReport, published 24-02-2011
Apple has a long history of trailblazing in the I/O world, and it looks set to uphold that tradition by adopting Intel's Light Peak interconnect in its next MacBook Pro refresh. Leaked images posted by AppleInsider show plausible evidence that Light Peak will be present in the 13.3", Sandy...
Apple’s New MacBooks: Bigger Trackpads, OS On SSD, Half Pound Lighter
By SlashGear, published 21-02-2011
Apple’s new MacBooks are just around the corner–and by that I mean sitting on pallets at your local resellers. Apple has warned resellers not to unpackage the pallets until further notice. So far, exact details on the new MacBooks have remained a mystery. However, BGR has an Apple source that let loose on some interesting features to expect. BGR’s source claims that the new MacBooks will have glass trackpads that are larger than the ones on current-gen MacBook Pro models. The source also claims that the OS will be loaded to a separate internal 8-16GB SSD while everything else remains on the hard drive. And lastly, the sources says that the new MacBook Pro models will be about a half-pound lighter than current-gen models. Another potential feature we’ve noted prev...
Updated: iPad 2 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 21-02-2011
The internet loves Apple and it loves ill-founded speculation, so it's hardly surprising that iPad 2 rumours were flying before the first iPad even reached the UK. With only weeks to go before its expected unveiling the iPad 2 release date, specs and price are still closely guarded secrets, but that doesn't mean there aren't some juicy rumours, inspired guesses and possibly even Apple leaks to consider. Reports suggest Apple is also expecting massive demand for the new device and has ordered six million units per month.Here's our pick of the latest iPad 2011 rumours.UPDATE: iPad 2 has apparently been spotted. Reuters reports on a "source with knowledge of the device" who spotted the new iPad at the launch of News Corp's The Daily. UPDATE: On 8 February 2011 the Wall Street Journal claimed ...
In Depth: 10 best iPhone and iPad Twitter apps
By TechRadar, published 21-02-2011
Users of Apple's mobile devices are spoilt for choice when it comes to Twitter clients - there are loads of the things littering the App Store. The official Twitter client is free, stable and fairly feature-rich, but with the wealth of apps, you'd be crazy to not at least see what's available elsewhere, and so we've unearthed what we think are the best Twitter clients for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.1. Twitter (free, universal) On the iPhone, Twitter is an evolved version of top Twitter client Tweetie, rebranded when the service bought out the developer. It's a simple, elegant app that ably does its job. On the iPad, you'd at first glance be forgiven for thinking you'd launched an entirely different app, such is the change in interface. While divisive, Twitter's pane-based swipe-orient...
HP Kills Envy 13 Ultraportable, Expects Envy 14 To Pick Up The Slack
By HotHardware, published 21-02-2011
Is it the end of the era? Or just the foreshadowing of a new beginning? It's hard to say what the death of HP's Envy 13 means for the category, but it's not hard to realize what it means for the here and now. The Envy 13 was one of a kind in the PC world. It was a direct reaction to the MacBook Air, but rather than just copying Apple, HP added...
Tutorial: 10 cool things you didn't know your Mac could do
By TechRadar, published 20-02-2011
The number of cool things you can do with your Mac will probably surprise you. For example, did you know you can use it to catch a burglar, take over somebody else's Mac or even save the world? Yes, it's all true! Here we'll show you some of the cool tips and tricks the MacFormat team have picked up over the years, using Macs day in and day out. Of course, seasoned pros will know most of these tricks, but we expect there could still be a few in there that will surprise even the most gnarly old Mac expert. So, let's start our little tour with a look at how to turn your Mac into a home-security camera. 1. Catch a burglar See that camera leering at you from your Mac? Well it's got more uses than just making FaceTime calls or taking amusing pictures. It can keep a watch over your house while y...
Apple Major Product Launch Possible for Next Week
By SlashGear, published 18-02-2011
It appears that a source “familiar with the matter” has come forth to AppleInsider to spill the dish on some big fat Apple news about what might be a product launch next week. This release might have to do with inventory levels of the MacBook Pro or because Apple fans are ravenous as ever, either way it appears that rumors for two weeks from now are bunk, and next week is the source of heavenly Apple light. This meeting or press conference might well be the place where the next generation of MacBook Pros originate, and that’d be alright with yours truly as this 2007 MacBook is just about to hit the bin. Included in the hints handed to our pals over at AppleInsider today were notes on the possible inclusion of Sandy Bridge processors as well as enhancements to the notebo...
Apple App Store subscriptions system gets official
By SlashGear, published 15-02-2011
Hardly a great surprise, since we saw it used on The Daily and Apple VP Eddy Cue said it was coming soon, but Apple has officially launched subscriptions for the App Store. Publishers will be able to set the price and length of the subscription, whether weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-yearly or yearly, and then users will be able to opt into their subscription length of choice. Automatic renewals will be used, and as normal Apple processes all payments, keeping the same 30 percent share that it does today for other In-App Purchases. It’s also being officially stated that publishers must make subscription offers available outside of apps available for the same – or better – terms inside that app. “All we require is that, if a publisher is making a subscri...
The Daily Slash: February 11, 2011
By SlashGear, published 02-12-2011
Nokia ruled the day today, their Microsoft partnership announcement reverberating through the whole day from Google offering sacked Nokia engineers a lifeline to Nokia Workers walking out of their Finnish jobs. Want to read more on the original event? We’ve got you so covered you’ll be unable to breath clean air – Nokia Microsoft partnership video, see Steve Ballmer say “Nokia will do unique things on top of Windows Phone 7?, and grant yourself a full guide with Chris Davies’ Nokia Windows Phone: Everything you need to know. Finally, don’t let yourself sleep at night without checking out Ben Bajarin’s On Time Analysis entitled Nokia’s Huge Bet On Windows Phone 7 is All or Nothing. And of course, it’s not ALL Nokia today, it’s all this and...
SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: February 11 2011
By SlashGear, published 02-11-2011
It’s shaping up to be a real Nokia day, believe it or not, with Microsoft and Nokia announcing a partnership that they hope will launch Windows Phone 7 to the top of the charts. See all the big points laid out in an On Time Analysis by Ben Bajarin entitled Analysis: Nokia’s Huge Bet On Windows Phone 7 is All or Nothing. Next watch the Nokia Microsoft partnership video, see as Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer notes that “Nokia will do unique things on top of Windows Phone 7?, and peek at a full guide from Chris Davies entitled Nokia Windows Phone: Everything you need to know. Check out a review of the brand new Twitter 2.0 by yours truly – it’s slick! Grapple your fingers around a brand new ViewPad 10Pro Win7/Froyo slate. And MORE here on SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up! R3 Med...
MacBook Air Sandy Bridge refresh tipped for June
By SlashGear, published 02-11-2011
Apple is reportedly planning to refresh its MacBook Air ultraportable with Sandy Bridge processors in June, delayed slightly due to the chipset issues Intel has experienced. CNET‘s sources haven’t disclosed which exact processors in Intel’s Core 2011 range will used, though the update is expected to follow a MacBook Pro Sandy Bridge refresh in March or April. Back in December, rumors circulated that Apple had been conducting testing on the Sandy Bridge chips, and was planning to use Intel’s onboard graphics for its entry-level MacBook and ultraportable MacBook Air lines. MacBook Pro notebooks, meanwhile, would offer a choice of integrated and discrete AMD Radeon GPUs. Relevant Entries on SlashGearThe New MacBook Pros: February 9?MacBook Pro stock shortage could po...
Dell pulls plug on MacBook Air rival
By TechRadar, published 02-10-2011
Dell has canned its MacBook Air rival, the Dell Adamo, after heavy discounting failed to ignite sales at retail.Dell has informed TechRadar that the current Dell Adamo line of luxury laptops is to be discontinued."With the launch of the XPS 15 and 17 laptops in October, we have realigned our premium products under the XPS brand," says Ellen Murphy, EMEA Consumer PR Manager for XPS. "XPS products are developed to deliver a premium performance experience associated with multimedia activities like video editing, immersive entertainment and casual gaming. The engineering excellence and cutting-edge design Adamo is known for will be incorporated into future products under the XPS brand."MacBook Air rivalThe Dell Adamo was originally unveiled at CES back in January 2009, pitched as a PC competit...
Dell Closes the Coffin on Adamo Line
By MaximumPC, published 02-09-2011
Dell did what it could to keep its Adamo line alive and well -- a price cut here, and price cut there -- but ultimately decided to pull the plug and discontinue the Adamo series and brand name, CNet reports. The Adamo was Dell's answer to the MacBook Air, and a good one at that. The aluminum casing looked sexy and measured just 0.65 inches thin (the Adamo XPS measured just 0.39 inches), it didn't weigh much (a little under 4 pounds), and it boasted a respectable spec sheet. CNet didn't say why Dell decided to discontinue the Adamo brand, only that it is. That's a shame, because it was just starting to give the MacBook Air a run for its money. The last price cut brought the 13-inch Adamo down to $799, cheaper even than Apple's 11-inch MacBook Air models, though Dell had to downgrade a few c...
Best Buy Inventory Shot: New MacBook Pros on March 11
By SlashGear, published 02-08-2011
Early this morning we reported that low inventory levels pointed towards a MacBook Pro refresh. The announcement was tipped as coming on February 9. Now a Best Buy inventory screenshot has seemingly confirmed the imminent MacBook Pro update. The in-stock date is given as March 11, which is when we can expect these babies to launch. One of the shots revealed a $1,199 price tag for one model, thought to be the 13″ Pro. A refresh of the Mac Pro and a new “mainstream” iMac are also expected for the near future. The new machines were delayed by a serious issue with the Sandy Bridge processor. Apple’s most optimistic estimate was given as March. It appears they were right. [Via 9to5 Mac] Relevant Entries on SlashGearThe New MacBook Pros: February 9?Rumored BestBuy list...
Apple May Do Away With Boxed Software
By SlashGear, published 02-08-2011
Apple’s Mac App Store might be the main source of purchasing software for Apple customers in the future. The success of the Mac App Store’s launch could be ushering an era where Apple will only carry digital copies of software in their retail stores. Evidence of Apple moving in that direction can be seen when you buy a new Mac: When you purchase a Mac at an Apple Retail store an employee will help you setup your e-mail accounts, walk you through the Mac App Store, setup an iTunes account for you, and show you the basic pointers of owning a Mac. Some stores will even have dedicated Mac setup stations. The new MacBook Air comes with a USB drive with reinstall software loaded on it. USB flash drives are pretty cheap now so it makes economical sense to use that instead of using DVD-ROM...
The New MacBook Pros: February 9?
By SlashGear, published 02-07-2011
Late last month we reported that low stocks of 15″ and 17″ Macbook Pros might be a sign of an imminent refresh. That shortage has only deepened over the last few days, with some areas reporting 2-3 week waits for new stock. New rumors point to February 9 as the day we’ll see the next-gen Pros unleashed. The next iteration of the MacBook Pro line was earlier tipped to launch in 1H 2011. The new Mac and MacBook pros will run Sandy Bridge processors. A “mainstream” iMac is also expected to launch during the first half of this year. Four new MacBook Pros gave been tipped. Intel’s terribly embarrassing Sandy Bridge recall is believed to have delayed the new MacBook Pros and Mac Pros. Apple is reported to have estimated no chance of shipping until March. I...
Updated: iPad 2 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 02-07-2011
The internet loves Apple and it loves ill-founded speculation, so it's hardly surprising that iPad 2 rumours were flying before the first iPad even reached the UK. With only weeks to go before its expected unveiling the iPad 2 release date, specs and price are still closely guarded secrets, but that doesn't mean there aren't some juicy rumours, inspired guesses and possibly even Apple leaks to consider. Reports suggest Apple is also expecting massive demand for the new device and has ordered six million units per month.Here's our pick of the latest iPad 2 rumours.UPDATE: iPad 2 has apparently been spotted. Reuters reports on a "source with knowledge of the device" who spotted the new iPad at the launch of News Corp's The Daily. iPad 2 specs: cameras and a gyroscopeGizmodo reckons that Face...
Twelve South BookArc: If Your MacBook Air Is A Desktop Replacement
By HotHardware, published 29-01-2011
Apple's new 11" and 13" MacBook Air models are extremely thin. No question about that. But what if you want to use it as a desktop replacement? There probably aren't a great deal of computer users out there who would even consider such a thing, but if you are, Twelve South now has an option to consider. The BookArc is a new vertical stand...
The Daily Slash: January 29 2011
By SlashGear, published 29-01-2011
Welcome to the future of the smartdevice – no, it’s not Android 3.0 Honeycomb, we’re getting to that later – it’s Horizontal Symmetry. Grab a review or two from Chris Davies: the ZyXEL MWR211 Mobile Router and the AT&T MiFi 2372. A hacked NOOKcolor receives Android 3.0 Honeycomb on the same day we recieve official invites from Google to attend an Android Honeycomb Event – things are getting pretty sweet around Android Community. Take a peek at our LG Optimus 2X Full Walkthrough and Hands On. Discover the ease in downloading the hardware update released today for the Samsung Continuum on Verizon. See the first Motorola released Atrix 4G commercial – very lovely music and everything. All this and MORE on The Daily Slash! R3 Media Network Edito...
SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: January 28 2011
By SlashGear, published 28-01-2011
What’s the difference between a Windows 7 tablet and a steel hammer? Ask Fujitsu – they’ve got the answer. What’s better than listening to Aphex Twin? Listening to Aphex Twin on mushrooms. What’s a bigger reason for shuffling Google CEOs – their competitors, or China? Finally, what’s the biggest overnight news for Notion Ink’s Adam tablet? Is it a Honeycomb update, an FCC teardown, a root that allows Android Marketplace access, or their customer service possibly stalling past their 7 day return period? This question can only be answered by YOU. And what’s this – a review of a AT&T MiFi 2372 by none other than Chris Davies?! All this and MORE on SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up! R3 Media Network Editor’s Choice Small Update I...
Review: Samsung SF310
By TechRadar, published 26-01-2011
Any new thin and light weighing in at £750 has a lot to prove in a crowded market. It needs to stand out stylistically, yet still offer strong value for money. It's not an easy task, because on one side you'll find Apple's impossibly thin MacBook Air redefining style, while on the other you have the ever-expanding glut of netbooks, typified by the likes of Samsung's own N230 proving that a little cash can go an incredibly long way if the right components are used. What hope is there for the likes of the SF310 then? What can it do to raise more than a passing interest?First impressions are positive – a run-down of the components list used in the Samsung SF310 will placate the techno savvy. The presence of an Intel Core i5 processor, Nvidia discrete graphics, LED screen and good storage o...
Laptop Review: Dell Vostro V130, Ultra-Portable 13 inch, core i3
By DigitalVersus, published 21-01-2011
This week the MacBook Air 13.3 inch sees a competitor arriving in our laptop review. Should Apple be worried? Answers in the test. Dell is giving us the Vostro...
Updated: iPad 2 rumours: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 20-01-2011
The internet loves Apple and it loves ill-founded speculation, so it's hardly surprising that iPad 2 rumours were flying before the first iPad even reached the UK. With only weeks to go before its expected unveiling the iPad 2 release date, specs and price are still closely guarded secrets, but that doesn't mean there aren't some juicy rumours, inspired guesses and possibly even Apple leaks to consider. Reports suggest Apple is also expecting massive demand for the new device and has ordered six million units per month.Here's our pick of the latest iPad 2 rumours.iPad 2 specs: cameras and a gyroscopeGizmodo reckons that FaceTime support's a given, and that means a front-facing camera like the iPhone 4. BuzzBizzNews echoes the camera story, suggesting twin cameras. It also suggests that the...
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Apple MacBook 13 : (8/10)
1 expert reviews
0 user reviews
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Apple Mac Pro : (9/10)
2 expert reviews
0 user reviews
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Apple Mac mini : (8.3/10)
7 expert reviews
0 user reviews
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Apple Mac Mini 2011 : (8.3/10)
4 expert reviews
0 user reviews
