The Week’s 10 Hottest Apple News Stories, March 2
Posted by Will | Posted in General | Posted on 04-03-2012
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The Week’s Hottest Reviews on TechRadar
Posted by Will | Posted in General | Posted on 02-03-2012
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There’s nothing like a new version of Windows to make you and your PC feel inadequate and out of date.
But don’t worry, Windows 8 won’t be out for a while yet and if you really want to you can install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview for free just to try it out. Read TechRadar’s hands on review to see what all the fuss is about.
Meanwhile, it’s been another interesting week in the world of tech, with several products catching our eye in particular.
Toshiba has unleashed yet another impressive and affordable LED TV, and we’ve also been taking a look at a lot of the new kit coming out of MWC.
Check it.
Windows 7 was the OS that put Microsoft back on an even keel. It steadied a ship that was looking a bit wobbly after the catastrophically bad Windows Vista launched, frankly before it was ready. Vista caused issues by hogging resources and slowing Windows users down in all kinds of ways. Updates eventually fixed many of the issues but it was 7 that really put Windows back in the black with the general public.
Windows 8 promises to build on its success and take the Microsoft OS to new heights – we’re talking about an OS that will be as happy running on a touchscreen tablet as on a desktop PC or laptop. The new Metro interface is designed to take Windows navigation in a completely new direction and from what we’ve seen so far – it’s looking good.
The Toshiba 46YL863 is frustratingly close to perfection. Its 2D pictures, for instance, are easily the best Toshiba has produced from an Edge LED TV, propelling the brand right up there with the very best efforts of its rival brands. Its distinctive design is elegant in the extreme, too, and its build quality is outstanding. There are welcome signs of innovation where the television’s user interface is concerned, and even its audio is a cut above the super-skinny TV norm.
It also impresses with its user interface, and works hard to make what is ultimately a very sophisticated TV easy to use. In fact, for the vast majority of your viewing time, the Toshiba 46YL863 is an outstanding TV. It’s just a shame that 3D fans have to put up with too much crosstalk for comfort.
Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review
Following on from the Tab 2 7.0, this new larger-screened device features the likes of Android 4.0, a 1GHz dual core processor and a 3MP rear-facing camera. A 7000mAh battery promises to keep you going through the day, and there’s a VGA front-facing camera for video calling should the fancy take you.
However, Android ICS aside, there’s not a lot that we can see to really call this an upgrade over the original 10.1 – and it’s even thicker and fatter than the original to boot. We’re hoping the fact we’re seeing a re-badged model from last year means we’ll be getting something of a price plunge too – given the first Tab 10.1 can be had for around £360 now, a sub-£300 tag would be just lovely. We have been given a Galaxy 2 10.1 UK release date of March, so not long to wait now.
The Olympus SP-620UZ is an entry-level superzoom with modest ambition, but fortunately a low(ish) price that suggests anyone purchasing won’t feel they are taking a big risk. The all-encompassing lens reach may not match pricier cameras, but it remains at a level with which it is practical to shoot handheld and still get sharp results.
The Samsung ST93 is a very easy-to-use, decent compact camera for someone that wants the opportunity to take good photos but isn’t necessarily going to want to spend a large amount of money for a camera with a higher spec.
Camera accessories
Lowepro S&F Technical Vest review
Cameras
Headsets
SteelSeries Diablo III Headset review
Laptops
Dell Latitude E6220 Advanced review
Lenses
Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM review
Media remotes
Griffin Beacon for Android review
Mobile phones
Hands on: LG Optimus 3D Max review
Hands on: LG Optimus 4X HD review
Hands on: Sony Xperia P review
Hands on: Huawei Ascend D Quad review
Hands on: Nokia 808 Pureview review
Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 review
Hands on: LG Optimus L3 review
Hands on: LG Optimus L5 review
Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus review
Hands on: HTC Sense 4.0 review
Hands on: Fujitsu Arrows F-07D review
Hands on: Fujitsu quad-core review
Hands on: LG Optimus Vu review
Hands on: LG Optimus L7 review
Hands on: Orange Santa Clara review
Hands on: Sony Xperia U review
Hands on: Nokia Lumia 610 review
Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Beam review
Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 review
Hands on: Panasonic Eluga Power review
Hands on: Samsung Galaxy S Advance review
Monitors
Motherboards
Sapphire Pure Black X79N review
Sapphire Pure Black FX990 review
Scanners
Software
Tablet accessories
Tablets
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5 of the Best Viral Videos Filmed in an Apple Store
Posted by Will | Posted in General | Posted on 29-02-2012
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Have you ever wondered what exactly a person can accomplish at an Apple Store when they set their mind to it? These five videos illustrate just that. We watched every YouTube video filmed in an Apple Store to make sure we could bring you the 5 best viral videos filmed at our favorite retail destination.
From pizza delivery to theivery to lots and lots of singing and dancing, these Apple-themed viral videos are sure to amuse you. If you have any better ones in mind, be sure to let us know in the comments.
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Clear Review
Posted by Will | Posted in General | Posted on 27-02-2012
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Somewhere deep in a Cupertino laboratory, a team of developers is no doubt hard at work at a killer to-do app. Reminders is a good start – and certainly a welcome improvement over the iCal-Mail-Notes solution – but it just doesn’t have the simplicity and elegance we’ve come to expect from Apple’s own offerings.
Whatever they’re working on, they might want to put it on hold and download a copy of Clear, the classiest list-making app we’ve ever used. Clear’s brilliance lies in its design: a clean, refined interface that practically begs you to use it. There’s nary a button or menu bar to be found, nor a splash screen or search bar; in fact, there’s really nothing at all. That is, until you add something.
Functionality-wise, Clear is fairly elementary. It consists of a three-level hierarchy, beginning with a rudimentary menu of themes, tips, and settings. A quick swipe up reveals your lists (dressed in brilliant blue) and one level lower the items therein (prioritized by diminishing shades of red). Each multi-touch function adds an ease and fluidity to the app, and nothing seems unintuitive or out of place, as the gesture that seems most natural will almost always be the correct one. Interaction with list creation and deletion is stellar, but we found ourselves longing for Reminders’ location awareness and alerts.
The intense focus on user interface has some unfortunate drawbacks, however. In order to keep the lists neat and clean, Clear imposes a rather restrictive 20-character limit on all lists and items. Also, since lists and items line the very top of the screen, supplanting the status bar, there can be some confusion with the notification center pull-down tab.
The bottom line. Clear’s exquisite interface easily makes up for its shortcomings, but at the very least, we hope an update addresses the confounding character limit.
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The Week’s 10 Hottest Apple News Stories, February 24th
Posted by Will | Posted in General | Posted on 25-02-2012
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Big news last week was Mountain Lion’s sneaking out the gate without a big hoopedy doo Keynote. There’s been little news on that front since then, but there are a few pieces to the puzzle, along with iCloud follies, and a few Apple TV tips (which might just be Apple’s next big thing). Let’s see what’s cookin’ in the hot stories this week.
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