Christmas isn’t Christmas without some sort of card. Doing the usual Post Office run, for many, marks the start of the festive season proper.
The conventional Christmas card can be a touch outdated, but with a bit of digging Pocket-lint has come up with some hi-tech alternatives to make your Christmas post that bit more exciting.
Apple Cards app
Crafting your own Christmas card is one way of doing things, but putting cards together for each family member could see you spending more time with scissors and glue than unwrapping your own cards.
A quick fix that can have some awesome results is Apple’s Cards app. Using your iPhone or iPad, you can design custom-made cards, add photos from your Apple device and then send them anywhere in the world for £3.99.
Touchnote is also doing customised Christmas cards. You can do this online simply by uploading a snap, adding a message and then sending it to the relevant address. Simple, quick and easy and with cards starting at 99p, a bit cheaper as well.
Build an LED edge-lit Christmas card
This one is right at the other end of the spectrum in terms of complexity, but do the build and it’s worth it. Credit has to be given to the Evilmadscientistblog for working this one out.
You will need plastic, LEDs, paper, electrical tape, batteries, scissors, a ruler and a pen. For the plastic, the blog suggests cutting out the side of a plastic container. You then need to cut a design into the plastic using a craft knife. This will be the final design of the card, so make it Christmassy.
The LED is very simple to make, simply buy an LED bulb, which you can pick up here and then attach it to the positive and negative of a lithium cell: the flat kind of battery you see in watches.
Then attach the bulb to the edge of the plastic and it will shine through, illuminating the design. Attach this to the card and you're away. More comprehensive instructions can be found on the Evilmadscientist blog.
Get a 3D printed card
With 3D printing all the rage at the moment, why not top off 2012 with a custom-printed Christmas card unlike any other? Naturally, they will turn out a touch thicker than normal Christmas cards, but the weight gain should be worth it.
First you will need to come up with a design for your card. Then, once you have it drawn in 2D, use this web app from Shapeways to convert it into 3D. Wait a while and your 3D model will be printed and sent out. Make sure you include the text in your design, otherwise it won’t be easy to print on later
Many home improvement fans know The Novogratz – the husband and wife team, along with their seven children. These home improvement gurus have been featured on Bravo TV’s “9 by Design” and HGTV’s “Home by Novogratz.” Their funky-chiq approach to transforming spaces has given a whole new and hip meaning to family living.
Soundfreaq, makers of performance style Bluetooth music devices for iOS and Android, decided that The Novogratz touch would add a perfect complement to their lineup of products. Welcome toThe Novogratz collection, in limited availability this holiday season. Two units in three of their popular technologies are currently available on their website for the style mavens in your life that want audio streaming and device charging. The Sound Stack Chiq Freaq and Flower Freaq ($450) give you high quality sound, including 2.2 speaker configuration. This statement piece will easily fill the room. The Freaq of Nature and Freaq’n Fabulous ($150) Sound Step compact speaker makes a great solution for a smaller space while still offering 2.1 audio. Awake to performance and panache with the Sound Rise alarm clock style Freaq in the Bed or Novo Freaq ($125). Why not stay in bed and enjoy streaming audio from tunes or movies. As you can see from the images, the Novogratz look makes these streaming players a unique addition to the room. And Soundfreaq technology means your ears enjoy sweet sounds.
For those of you who have always wanted to kick the smoking habit but did not manage to find the willpower to do so, here is something which you might want to check out from Njoy with their latest electronic cigarette offering that is simply called the Njoy Kings. Touted to offer “a real alternative to cigarettes”, I do wonder just how accurate that particular claim is considering how there has been a slew of electronic cigarettes in the past. Njoy Kings is said to offer the committed adult smoker an authentic look, feel, flavor and packaging of a traditional tobacco cigarette, but it will not be accompanied by all the negatives such as smoke, ash and cigarette smell.
In a nutshell, Njoy intends to deliver smokers with more of what they want, and of course, for their health and the health of others’ sake, less of what they don’t. There has been some creative ads in the past to help prevent folks from picking up the habit of smoking, but you do not see the tobacco industry reeling from lower sales in the long run. Even the thought of literally burning money has yet to deter those hooked on cigarettes, but perhaps the Njoy Kings might be able to turn the tide. Retailing for just $7.99, the Njoy Kings can be found in more than 30,000 convenience stores as well as nearly every major convenience chain.
Sporting a couple of nicotine levels of 4.5% and 3.0% by volume, it will come in traditional and menthol flavors, courtesy of Njoy’s award-winning Master Flavorist. Sporting a soft paper feel, squeezable tip and flip case packaging, this is truly an innovative shift in the e-cigarette industry.
Craig Weiss, President and CEO of Njoy, said, “Today’s launch of the NJOY Kings marks a major milestone for NJOY in our commitment to set the gold standard for the e-cigarette industry. This product is unlike any other e-cigarette on the market today offering the very first truly satisfying alternative to the tobacco cigarette. Industry analysts agree, the NJOY Kings e-cigarette is a game-changer within the tobacco category.” Anyone given it a go, and how do you find it so far?
The Dark Knight Rises should by now be happily spinning up in the Blu-ray players of Batman fans the world over. Fire up the disc and you might spot that there is a second screen option.
This isn't anything hugely new for the world of Blu-rays, as we discovered forSherlock Holmes. But when it comes to TDKR, things are just that little bit more awesome.
You will need a Blu-ray player that can connect to the internet in order to get the most out of the disc. Connect both your player and your iPad to the same network and the two will then sync up. While the movie goes on, your iPad acts like a second screen, showing things like quotes, pictures and trivia.
If you want to look at something on your iPad for longer, while the movie keeps playing, all you need do is just touch the screen. You are then given the option to either sync the tablet back up with the movie once you are done, or sync the movie back to the tablet.
Some of the quotes, like the one from Nolan right at the start, are interesting enough. What we like is the inclusion of Retina display resolutions pics from the movie. They look great and can make for a decent background if you screenshot them from the app.
On top of this you get some other clever camera orientated parts within the app. You can record video for example and have a 3D animation of the Tumbler drive straight through it. Alternatively you can snap a still and put yourself in the Tumbler, or in the movie's 'Rise' poster.
Part of the app goes for a bit of augmented reality, letting you place a 3D model of various bits from the movie onto your face. You can go for Bane's mask, Catwoman's ears or opt to look like Batman. It actually works really well and adds a bit of fun to the movie experience.
As free apps go, this is polished. For those who want to know everything there is about the new Batman movie, it's all there to enjoy. Shame it can't make us look like Bane, might make for a good alternative to multiple gym trips.
We laugh when we think about floppy disks now. Yet they were a lifesaver back in the day. And the 3.5” introduced that sweet plastic cover and metal slider thing which meant you could throw them in your backpack or wherever. Ahhh, the good ol’ days. But how will future generations ever know the technologies that preceded them? Guess we need to remind them.
Two Berlin-based artists want us to commemorate our computing roots. They sought inspiration for a table from our beloved 3.5″ floppy friends. Neulant van Exel design firm have launched their Floppy Table. Made from hot-rolled steel and stainless steel the unit provides a unique, sturdy and retro statement. The 28” x 18” x 26” (w d h) table contains detail we all remember like insertion arrows and a movable, metal shutter complete with a storage space inside. Each unit is laser marked with a serial number for authenticity too. This trip down memory lane will cost you $930 (before shipping). The product website gives few details but email them if interested or learn more on their Facebook page. For the right user – you know who you are – and the right home I am sure the memories will eclipse any cost. So if you miss the days of floppies there is only one coffee table for you!
The patent would cover for a portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, and would make the device's back panel removable, allowing users to switch to a different lenses. In design terms, this would mark a significant departure for the iPhone, since Apple has always shipped its signature device completely sealed.
Instead of switching out the lens, iPhone photography aficionados currently use add-ons to get around the limitation.
The patent may have been part of the late Steve Jobs' grand plans for making iPhone cameras even more appealing to photographers. Jobs, who was interested in photography himself, envisioned an improved camera in a meeting with Ren Ng, CEO of the photography company Lytro, last year.
Hands down, the Nokia 808 PureView's most compelling feature is its camera, which easily beats all current smartphones known for their imaging prowess, including the iPhone 4S and the HTC One X. Its only pitfalls are the limitations of the Symbian operating system (OS), but this probably won't matter to the people who will buy it.
Like the N8, the PureView is also a camera-oriented phone, but it's pretty much the first of its kind in terms of imaging chops. Much has already been said about Nokia's PureView Pro imaging technology--if you still don't understand what it's about, try reading the white paper (PDF).
Before you start reading, we'd like to set out a disclaimer that this is, by all means, a review of a smartphone, so we have to take other features of the 808 PureView into full consideration.
Design Features The 808 PureView, at the 5-, 8- and 38-megapixel settings fared well even against the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 (far right).(Credit: Shawn Low/CNET Asia)Performance Conclusion
The design of the Nokia 808 PureView can be simply described as solid.
Solid in the sense that the construction of the phone is robust and sturdy--which is really no surprise, seeing Nokia's strong tradition in producing durable handsets like the Nokia 3210. Coupled with the Gorilla Glass display, this phone is built to last.
In fact, when we dropped the review unit on a friend's foot from waist level--by accident--and it crash-landed on concrete afterward, the polycarbonate handset escaped unscathed without any scratches or dents. On the other hand, his foot was worse for wear, probably due to its rather hefty 169g weight.
We found the 4-inch nHD (640 x 360 pixels) screen's size and resolution are on the low side for a smartphone with such an imaging pedigree--it would have been nice to be able to enjoy our shots in at least qHD or 720p glory. By comparison, the Sony Xperia S, a smartphone in the same price range, has a 4.3-inch HD (1,280 x 720 pixels) display.
On the bright side, the phone's narrower girth means that it's suited for one-handed usage.
Another upside of the 808 PureView's screen is Nokia's proprietary ClearBlack display technology, which is touted to give good readability even under direct sunlight. We found this to be true.
However, do note that the touchscreen has the tendency to retain fingerprints and smudges, so keep a cleaning cloth handy if you have an oily face.
In our opinion, the slightly curved edges of the glass are a nice design element, which is reminiscent of theNokia N9. Overall, it's a refreshing change from the flat and boxy look of some me-too smartphones out there.
We aren't too keen on the bulge on the back--this is due to the gigantic PureView lens adding bulk to the phone's chassis. Measuring almost 18mm at its thickest point, the 808 PureView may be a slightly uncomfortable fit in your pocket--especially when you sit down.
Interestingly, the extra bulk doesn't result in a top-heavy phone; in fact the 808 PureView felt well-balanced in the hands. It also helps that the ceramic-like finish is grippy, especially for one-handed usage. The ridge on the back could have been more pronounced, or made of a more textured material, to provide more grip while shooting.
You also won't have to worry about scratching the lens as it's slightly recessed.
Finally, Nokia chose to go with a screen lock slider on the side of the phone, instead of a lock button. A useful feature: Holding the slider down turns on the flash to use it as a torchlight, making it a nifty shortcut.
The Nokia 808 PureView runs on the latest Symbian Belle OS, which brings with it a refreshed look and new features such as: Up to six customizable home screens, improved multitasking, scrolling widgets and an Android-like dropdown notifications menu.
Yet, our complaints of the OS remain the same as its predecessor, Anna. We've mentioned them before in our review of the Nokia E6 and here they are again:
The major disadvantage of getting a Symbian phone is the dearth of apps in the Ovi Store. At the time of this review, the number of apps in the Ovi Store is a tenth of what's available on Apple's App Store.
Furthermore, there are no dedicated Twitter or Facebook apps in the Ovi Store, so you will have to access these social networking sites via the Ovi Social widget on the home screen. Strangely, you won’t be able to set the refresh intervals, and the only way to update your feed is to access the app. In addition, it does not have a notifications feature.
Our one minor quibble with predictive text input also hasn't changed. Belle does not automatically change lower case i's to capital letters, nor is she able to predict correctly the words you're trying to type. Users unfamiliar with the Symbian OS may find a high error rate, especially when typing with predictive input turned off.
Athough Belle does not support Wi-Fi tethering, the 808 PureView comes preinstalled with JoikuSpot, an app that allows you to share your 3G connection wirelessly. Other standard bundled apps include Quickoffice, F-secure Mobile Security, Microsoft Communicator Mobile and Adobe Reader.
In terms of connectivity, you get the full range of options here: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, DLNA, GPS and HSDPA up to 14.4Mbps. Additionally, the 808 PureView has NFC capabilities and a dedicated HDMI port.
There's 16GB of onboard storage that's expandable via a non-hot swappable microSD card. The battery is removable.
Finally, there's Dolby Digital Plus technology for surround sound--note that it only works with compatible headphones or speakers plugged in.
Let's face it, the only reason why you're reading this review--and the 808 PureView's most important proposition--is its bumper 41-megapixel CMOS sensor. It measures 1/1.2 inches, larger than the N8's and most advanced compact cameras such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 and Fujifilm FinePix X10. The 808 PureView also uses renowned Carl Zeiss-branded optics, which features a molded glass aspherical lens.
First, let's look at what the PureView does better than some of the best smartphone cameras out there: It gives the user a lot more control over settings in Creative mode, maintains detail when zoomed in to 100 percent and has minimal noise even in low-light situations. For more advanced users, you'll get bracketing mode for high-dynamic range (HDR) photography and time lapse recording. Nokia even sells an optional tripod mount adapter for those who are serious about stabilizing the device when shooting. We find shutter lag to be minimal, although there's a little wait of about one to two seconds while the shot is saved--especially when shooting at full resolution.
A thoughtful feature is one-finger swipe-to-zoom capability, which is faster than having to press repeatedly on the volume rocker to zoom in. This is particularly useful while recording video (full-HD 1080p by the way), where you swipe upwards on the screen to the required crop factor. Once you lift your finger off the screen, the camera zooms in automatically, eliminating jerky movements that result from manual zoom.
At MWC, Vesta Jutila, Nokia's product marketing director of smart devices, said that the mechanical shutter, autofocus system and ND filter are the only moving parts in the robust camera module, which has gone through rigorous drop tests.
Yet, for those impressive imaging chops, the camera software has a few downsides. For one, there's no burst mode setting, though you can capture sequential shots by holding down the physical shutter button.
You can directly access the camera from the lockscreen in less than a second by pressing the hardware shutter button. However, you're limited to shooting on auto mode, with no access to advanced image controls except flash. Also, if your phone is password protected, you won't be able to preview the photo immediately after snapping it unless you unlock the phone. With Android and iOS, you can preview photos taken during the phototaking session done without unlocking, but don’t get access to all the other photos in the phone--a more sensible solution. All these mean you may miss out on photo opportunities unless you don't mind a relatively less secure phone and do without a passcode.
When you preview your photos, there's a quick shortcut to share them on Facebook immediately. Flickr is also integrated, but not Twitter. The quick preview also doesn't reorient photos to portrait mode, so if you want to see a portrait photo in full, you'll have to exit the camera app and fire up the gallery. This is a mild annoyance for us.
Also, in the gallery app, the phone behaves more like a gallery from a digital camera. When zoomed in, you won't be able to flick to the next image unless you manually zoom out first. This is unlike iOS or Android, which lets you swipe to the next image (which automatically zooms out the image).
Although the onboard Xenon flash is twice as powerful as the N8--as told to us by Nokia's Eero Salmelin, head of imaging--it was a tad heavy-handed. To quote our camera reviewer, Shawn Low, the 808's flash "looked more like a beam from a torch", and "also created a pink color cast in images produced".
As we've also seen in our camera shootout, the 808 PureView loses out on minimum focusing distance for macro shots. Nokia's lead program manager of imaging experience, Damian Dinning, did point out in his comment that "the 808 uses the widest angle optics of any smartphone when used in it’s[sic] default fully optimized 16:9 aspect ratio. This does create something of a trade-off in close-ups."
That's where the PureView's "lossless zoom" technology comes in--in the form of "closeup scene mode as a full-time option, touch AF in any mode or closeup focus mode in creative [mode] accessed via a long touch of the viewfinder screen", writes Dinning. He goes on to note the reduced depth-of-field in the end-result as a result of the larger sensor size.
What he neglected to mention is that this method also reduces the effective area of the sensor used (depending on the amount of zoom), which results in a trade off in oversampling. For instance, if you zoomed in completely while shooting at 5-megapixels, you would be shooting pixel-for-pixel and there would be no oversampling to speak of. Shawn has done a comparison of shooting in the various modes in his article--you can read it here.
Although you can shoot at full-resolution (38 megapixels for 4:3 and 34 megapixels for 16:9 aspect ratio) and then crop the photo, the tradeoff is more noise because the oversampling feature will not be utilized.
As such, it's probably best to shoot on the default 5-megapixel setting--or at 8-megapixels--unless you plan on printing out a life-sized poster.
The 808 PureView's 1.3GHz single-core processor isn't exactly the snappiest in the market (especially with quad-core smartphones being released), but using the phone was a relatively responsive experience overall. 512MB of RAM was also sufficient for multitasking, and we didn't experience any major lag while using the handset except for when saving pictures (mentioned earlier). This is especially noticeable when taking full-sized 38-megapixel shots.
For extra processing power, the 808's camera module features a special companion processor that handles part of the workload before sending it to the graphics processor. This process may explain the lag we experienced.
The 808 PureView's 1,400mAh battery lasted us a full day with average usage, with Wi-Fi and GPS turned off and two email accounts set on push. Due to the limitations of Ovi Social, we were unable to use our standard test settings of Twitter and Facebook at two-hour refresh intervals.
We expect that if you're going to be spending a day (or night) out and taking lots of pictures, especially with flash, it's probably safer to bring a spare battery or an external charger along.
Reception was generally fine, although we ended a few calls unintentionally when the screen did not turn off and our cheek accidentally touched the "end call" onscreen button. This did not happen every time so we don’t think you should be overly concerned about it.
To put a long story short, the Nokia 808 Pureview has near-perfect imaging chops for a mobile phone, but does a so-so job at being a communication device--something important to the average user.
Smartphones such as the iPhone 4S, HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S III are popular not only because of their competent cameras, but also because of the ecosystem (apps, camera-related accessories etc), broad user base and intuitive UI. These elements are sorely lacking in the Symbian OS, which is why it's the 808 PureView's stumbling block to mainstream success.
CEO Stephen Elop has previously announced that the company will stay committed to the OS only until 2016. At MWC in February, Nokia's then-EVP of Sales, Colin Giles, declined to comment on what's next for Symbian after Belle but stated that innovation on the platform will still continue. Recent news of Nokia's layoffs has cast doubts on the future of the company, which makes us even more hesitant to place our bets on the dated Symbian OS.
The 808 PureView isn't a smartphone for the masses. For the more discerning photography enthusiasts who are looking for a compact camera replacement--and current N8 users--though, it's a different matter entirely. Let's face it, you probably skipped right to the part about the camera and ignored the rest of the review. If you just want a camera that has the ability to make calls and send/receive emails, then the Nokia 808 PureView fulfills this purpose very well.
At S$839 (US$654) without operator subsidies, it's pretty expensive considering you can get a high-end smartphone with a modern OS at that price. But if it means saving on buying a dedicated digicam, it could be worth the price to some.
Apple iOS 6 introduced new features, some of which Android already had. (Credit: James Martin/CNET)
Whenever Apple introduces a new version of iOS, it's guaranteed that Android fans will protest that Google's operating system has long had most of the new features. Apple is late again, they'll say, and only following Google down the smartphone innovation trail.
Truth is, I don't really blame them for making that case. Indeed, I've done the same when reviewing iOS updates so I understand where their fervor is coming from. But as right they may be, Android fans forget one important thing. Apple may be late to a feature party, butiPhone users really don't care.
Of course, iPhone owners will gripe when their phone is missing an important feature. The wait for real notifications, for example, was particularly galling and it took until iOS 6 to add a button for attaching a photo to an email that you're already writing. But even with those complaints, most iPhone users will forgive Apple and be patient. Because deep down they believe that when Apple finally delivers the feature, they'll get a better experience than their Android friends. Tear off the front page, but Apple takes its time to deliver the experience it wants. That's how it's always been and its customers know it.
Of course, I'm not saying that Apple always hits the highest mark--the iPhone's multitasking is still a bit of a mess--but sometimes it does. It took a while to get video editing, for example, but it was a dream when it arrived. It's those moments that really matter to Apple users. They'd rather sit on the bench than get a half-baked product. To them, Apple doesn't have to invent it as long as it adds the signature Apple touch that customers expect and love.
In the end, it's really about two distinct philosophies of a smartphone user experience. On one side you have an OS that can do almost anything, offers oodles of choice, and is exhaustively customizable. But at the same time it can feel messy and a tad unrefined. That's fine for some people, but others will prefer an OS that's less buggy and that's tightly integrated and exceedingly easy to use. Sure, that same OS also is limiting and occasionally less powerful, but users should be allowed to choose what works for them.
So, yes, Android users, I feel your pain. When Apple announces a feature that you've had for months, I know that it is frustrating. And when Apple gets only thunderous applause in return I see why it makes your blood boil. But even though that's the reality, Apple fans won't hear you shouting. Their new iOS feature may be late, but to them it was worth the wait.
Skype said today that users who do not have Skype Credit or subscriptions will now see advertisements in their call windows when they are making one-on-one audio calls using Skype for Windows.
Marketers can purchase these conversation ads in 55 markets where Skype is available. There's no mention of the display ads showing up on Macs or on mobile devices.
The company is portraying the change as a "an opportunity for marketers to reach our hundreds of millions of connected users in a place where they can have meaningful conversations about brands in a highly engaging environment."
The announcement also says Skype thinks that the ads, which will be silent and non-expanding, "could spark additional topics of conversation." And in tiny print, the company describes how it may use demographic information such as location, gender, and age to target the ads. Users will be able to opt out of the company using their information for ads in the privacy settings.
Some of Skype's demographics were also released. In addition to a reach of more than 41 million unique users, the numbers show that users are 46.3 percent male and 53.7 percent female.
Other numbers:
Age:
16.5 percent are 18-24
37.6 percent are 18-34
65.8 percent are 18-49
21.1 percent are 25-34
58.5 percent are 25-54
Marital Status:
52.8 percent are married
45.8 percent have children
Education:
33.3 percent have graduated college or higher
Income:
61 percent have a household income of US$50K+
39.1 percent have a household income of US$75K+
22.7 percent have a household income of US$100+
16.4 percent have a household income of US$75,000-99,999
Online Shopping:
78.3 percent have shopped online in the past 30 days
71.8 percent have purchased online in the past 30 days
16.6 percent sought or posted product reviews in the last 30 days
Instead of having just One series of products, the Taiwan-based company couldn't resist introducing two new additions, this time for its Desire range of smartphones. The Desire V is a dual-sim smartphone, a first for HTC. It runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), has Beats Audio and uses a single-core 1GHz processor.
Double networks. (Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET Asia)
Upside
HTC has been doing well on the design front, and while the V isn't as high-end as the One X, it features a very polished and refined build, no doubt thanks to the unibody design. We liked the solid feel in our hands.
The Desire V is also pretty on the inside. (Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET Asia)
As mentioned earlier, it runs ICS and has HTC's Sense UI on top. HTC has also added some tweaks to let you use it as a dual-SIM device, including a status bar showing the two networks you're on. When you make a call, you can select the SIM card slot to call from. We understand that you can personalize the text on the buttons.
There's a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus, but we note it lacks the features of the photography-orientated One series handsets (including a dedicated imaging chip). It also doesn't do HD video recording.
The pretty rear of the Desire V. (Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET Asia)
The 4-inch display may have only a WVGA (800 x 480-pixels) resolution, but it looked great in the brief time that we spent with it.
Downside
With a retail price of S$498, you're basically paying for the dual-sim function. That's not too bad, but then you realize that it uses a 1GHz single-core processor. Given our experience with the HTC One V, you're likely to experience occasional sluggishness.
The handset only has 4GB of onboard storage, though you can expand it with a microSD card. You may want to do so for your music and multimedia needs--if only to take advantage of the Beats Audio integration of the handset.
Outlook
While the Desire V isn't as flashy as the One series handsets, the dual-SIM feature is something that stands out. As far as we know, it's possibly the only up-to-date Android solution in the market. If you want a dual-SIM phone, your previous options were limited to feature phones or Nokia Symbian handsets.
The Desire V will be available in Asia from June 16. Do check with your local telcos and resellers for pricing.
TAIPEI, Taiwan--After trawling through the halls of Computex for the third straight day, we have seen more than our fair share of the latest tech gadgets. Which means you have to take our word for it when we say that the following picks are the coolest products at Computex this year (not ranked in order).
The Acer Aspire S7 (Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET Asia)
Acer may have borrowed the idea of a Gorilla Glass lid for its Aspire S7 Ultrabook from HP's Envy 14 Spectre, but the white-clad ultra-slim laptop is different enough in its own way.
The Samsung Series 5 Ultra Convertible (Credit: Vincent Chang/CNET Asia)
Samsung kept a Windows 8 hybrid tablet under wraps in a glass case at its Computex booth, but we weren't that interested in that Asus Transformer-lookalike. Instead, the convertible tablet version of the Series 5 Ultra looks like it could be an interesting rival to the Lenovo Yoga.
The Asus ROG Tytan gaming desktop PC (Credit: Vincent Chang/CNET Asia)
Someone in the office calls it the "Knight Rider" of cases and with side doors (and a top vent) that open at the touch of button, revealing more cooling fans, the Asus ROG Tytan CG8890 gaming desktop certainly lives up to that nickname. Hitting that button also automatically overclocks the processor, which explains why more ventilation is required.
The Gigabyte X11 (Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET Asia)
Gigabyte's super-slim and ultra-light X11 also happens to look like something Batman would use with its black, full carbon-fiber body. Besides weighing less than 1kg, this laptop comes with the latest Intel ultra-low-voltage processor and a 128GB SSD.
The Asus Taichi (Credit: Craig Simms/CNET Australia)
You got to hand it to Asus--the Taiwanese company certainly knows how to create buzz and anticipation for its press conference with its pre-show teaser videos. Despite a slow start--it's hard to make a cloud computing solution sexy--the new Asus products received a warm reception from the media, with the dual-screen Taichi grabbing the headlines.
While it's definitely over-the-top and probably impractical, there's no argument that it's a great ice-breaker for those awkward moments--Asus' chairman Jonney Shih could have used that during his earlier failed demo at the press event.
Soundfreaq, makers of performance style Bluetooth music devices for iOS and Android, decided that The Novogratz touch would add a perfect complement to their lineup of products. Welcome to
For those of you who have always wanted to kick the smoking habit but did not manage to find the willpower to do so, here is something which you might want to check out from Njoy with their latest electronic cigarette offering that is simply called the Njoy Kings. Touted to offer “a real alternative to cigarettes”, I do wonder just how accurate that particular claim is considering how there has been a slew of electronic cigarettes in the past. Njoy Kings is said to offer the committed adult smoker an authentic look, feel, flavor and packaging of a traditional tobacco cigarette, but it will not be accompanied by all the negatives such as smoke, ash and cigarette smell.
