iPad Mini - Better than than the iPad?

So it’s finally here guys; the much anticipated fourth generation of iPad named as iPad Mini was officially launched by Apple on Tuesday 23^rd October. The launch event was shown live over the web for the first time ever. The Macbook pro 13-inch was also launched but the main focus of the event was the iPad Mini.

I haven’t physically seen it yet as it hasn’t been officially launched in India but I watched the event live through the CNET blog. The fact that surprised everyone was that the iPad Mini is launched just six months after the release of the third generation of iPad. I wonder why Apple launched the product so soon after the previous release.

Let’s take a look at what Apple has to offer with this eye catching device.

Build

According to Apple, the iPad Mini fits in “one hand” as it is much smaller than the previous version. The 

body is made of aluminium which makes it lighter. The side bezels have been reduced giving a more of the screen and less of the body on the front side. It is also 7.2mm thin which is 23% thinner than the bigger previous iPad.

Screen and Camera

The screen size is 7.9-inch which is close to the Android based tablets having display size of 7-inch. The display quality seemed to be good. The resolution is the same as iPad 2. The iPad Mini does not have a retina display.

The primary 5MP back camera has nothing new to offer as it is same as the normal iPad and provides 1080p full HD video recording.

Performance

Nothing much can be said about performance until it is actually used in real time. All we can say at the moment is that it is packed with A5 processor. It also has LTE 4G and super fast WiFi.

Battery

Apple claims it to be 10 hours but we haven’t used it yet so things just remain theoretical.

                                       

Well after looking at it from all angles, I would say that the iPad Mini is surely a very eye pleasing device. Whether this is a great device or not is up to you to decide. But according to my personal opinion, the iPad Mini has nothing extraordinarily new to offer except for its smaller size. Another thing that has always bugged me about Apple is its huge price tag on all of its products. The iPad Mini price starts at $329 and varies according to its memory capacity and WiFi and cellular versions. I personally feel it’s too pricey.

According to statistics revealed by Apple, iPad is the world’s largest selling tablet with highest market share. So let’s see how consumers respond to this mini version.

Let me know what you feel about iPad Mini. Feel free to share your views and opinions in the comments box below.

Device Guide: Know Your Tablet

Life was so simple when tablet was just a pharmaceutical drug. But not any more guys; welcome to the electronic era.  Here tablet is hand held device that has already captured the market on a wide scale. Most of you already know what a tablet actually is and what it is capable of. But do you know what are its different types? Well in case you don't, consider this as an attempt to freshen up your knowledge. 
 

                                                

Tablet PC became obtainable to the common public with the launch of Microsoft's Windows Tablet PC Edition within the fall of 2002. Prior to then, they had been utilized in little markets in business, medicine, and government. Now they're utilized by students and numerous experts. You will find four typical kinds of tablets:

Slate Tablet PC

A slate tablet individual PC, looks comparable to a writing slate and they also don't have a keyboard attached to them. In this type of PC, all users need to do is input information either via handwriting recognition, finger touch or stylus. You even have the choice of connecting external keyboards via wireless connectivity or via the USB port. Industries requiring plenty of mobility usually use slate tablets these days. These industries consist of the education business, wellness & care business, manufacturing business, etc. The great factor about slate tablet PCs is that they're produced to withstand extreme ailments like humidity, heat as well as impact from accidental dropping.

Convertible Tablets

An additional typical kind of tablet PC obtainable these days will be the convertible tablet PC. These are comparable in appearance to laptops, except the reality that the display screen could be rotated at 180 degree as it's attached to the base of the PC. Convertible tablets are widely utilized across the world simply because they provide the benefit of utilizing a keyboard and also a stylus or a digital pen. 

Booklet Tablets

These are twin screen computers and also the name is derived from the reality that they could be opened like a book. Booklet tablets are built with digital pen and also as touch detection abilities and these could be utilized for numerous purposes such as watching TV on the web, web browsing, e-reading, etc.

A Booklet Tablet

                                

Hybrid Tablet PC

An additional kind of tablet individual PC is recognized as the hybrid tablet PC. This kind of PC includes the functionality of both the convertible and the slate tablet PC. They act as a convertible tablet when the keyboard is fixed and operate as a slate tablet when the keyboard is removed.

The difference between the first generation of tablet computers and the current generation are enormous. The first tablet generation came with a stylus pen. This pen allowed the user to control the tablet. The new tablets are based on an advanced touchscreen. They only need the touch of your finger in order to perform.

In case you are planning to buy one, make sure you buy the one with GSM feature in it. That way you can use your SIM card in it for 2G, 3G or other data purposes. There are many models available out there and some of them are cheap too but buying a GSM tablet will not limit your connectivity to just wifi and it will also eliminate the use of a USB dongle for 2G or 3G data usage. Rest of the features are pretty standard these days. Make sure you buy the right one at the right price. 

If you need any more info on tablets, don't hesitate to leave a comment.

How To: Make Your Desktop PC Wireless

So your looking for information on making a desktop PC wireless. Just about any desktop PC can support a wireless internet connection. Even older desktops can connect to the internet via a wireless internet connection.

Firstly, make sure your desktop PC is in good working condition. What I mean by good working condition is just to make sure that the desktop PC is free of unwanted spyware and other harmful files which could make a desktop computer's wireless connection dead slow. If you plan on making an older desktop PC wireless then you should really scan your computer for spyware and infections because the last thing you want is something stealing all your system resources when you don't have very much to begin with.

WHATS NEEDED TO MAKE DESKTOP PC WIRELESS

Let's start by assuming you already have an internet service (not dial-up) and are cruising the web with ease. You should have a cable modem for your desktop PC. If this is the case, then you're ready to begin your wireless setup. If you don't have an existing internet service and a cable modem then you'd better stop reading this because a wireless internet connection on your desktop PC can't be accomplished legally without the above.

MAKING PC WIRELESS - WIRELESS ROUTER

First, before anything, you need to purchase a wireless router. If you've never owned a wireless router before then grabbing the most expensive model probably won't benefit you all that much unless you plan on receiving a wireless internet connection from inside of a multiple story building. In this case a more expensive router will offer a few features that are worth the extra money.

Remember when you go ahead and purchase a wireless router in hopes of making your desktop computer wireless, you'll be happy to know that you'll be halfway done with your mission for wireless internet on your desktop. The only thing left is a wireless PC adapter.

WIRELESS DESKTOP ADAPTERS

It's actually very easy to add a wireless desktop adapter to your computer's arsenal of computing tools. There are two different types of wireless networking components that you can choose from. They are as follows. 

1. Wireless USB adapter

2. Wireless PCI adapter

Both wireless devices are packaged with a setup CD-ROM which quickly installs everything needed to configure and use your PC's wireless internet connection.

A wireless USB adapter is the easiest way to make a desktop PC wireless. The cons of using a wireless USB adapter are the signal strength which is considerably weaker than a wireless PCI card. Most people experience no problems with signal strength as long as they stay within range of the wireless router that's sending out the wireless signal.

Basically, installing a wireless USB adapter plugs into any available USB port. In reality, it only takes a matter of seconds to plug in a USB adapter and start using the internet without the wires.

The second wireless device that can make desktop computers wireless is called a wireless PCI (PCI = white slots inside a computer) card adapter. This device enables high performance wireless connectivity for your desktop PC with extended range.

Installation is not as hard as you might have thought. Simply remove the side panel from your desktop PC and insert the wireless PCI card into any one of the white slots inside. There is only one way the card can be installed. Reading the directions that are included when you purchase your wireless networking device is by far the best thing you can do to ensure a smooth installation and launch of your wireless connection. 

If you follow the steps carefully, you should be able to make almost any desktop computer a wireless computer.

Hope this was useful. For any further question you may have, please drop in a comment in the box.

Product Review - HTC One X

With all the buzz currently in the high end smart phone market, people are eager to get their hands on those really cool devices that hit the stores. But before you buy a product, it is essential to know its technical details because that's what decides whether a phone is worth its price. It is best to stay informed.

The elite smart phones are basically made and targeted to only the premium class as they will be able to make the most of the phone's applications and will know what is the best to be expected from the phone. This class also knows what all are the best and the worst of the phones. They will also be able to judge correctly whether they are getting the best returns for the money that they have invested in the phones which come with a huge price tag. 

Talk about costly phones with good looks and there is no way one can leave the HTC One X out of the conversation! This beautiful piece does surely look like one had to shell out a mini fortune for it. According to the web review, it's poly-carbonate exterior is quite impressive to hold when in the palms and gives a very rich feeling unlike certain plastic phones. This light material on the exterior makes the phone impressively light for its size. It is not only the weight but the phone is also a rightful contender for the slimmest smart phone in the high range. What catches the eye at the first glance of the phone is definitely the mind blowing 4.7 inch IPS LCD 2 panel display which gives very sharp pictures and display which is not affected much by the presence of sunlight.

This beauty is packed with a quad core 1.5 GHz processor with Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset which makes multitasking a real piece of cake. The 4.0 ice cream sandwich OS comes with the improvements of project butter which ensures that the phone's UI is at its best and hardly has any glitches at all. The 32 GB internal memory of the HTC One X makes it the perfect device that one can have for surfing and downloading as those who will be using it will surely be keeping the phone busy throughout the day. The phone's screen now gives quicker access to the missed calls and messages in case there are any pending notifications. The device is quite sturdy and better to use than most of the other phones in the segment due to its connectivity. 1 GB of RAM also adds to the awesomeness of the phone. 

The phone offers an 8 MP camera with auto focus and LED flash. I can't say much about its quality as I haven't tested it yet but another notable feature about it is that it offers HD image and video recording with 1080p full HD video playback. It also has a 1.3 MP secondary camera. One particular thing which might be disappointing is the fact that it has no memory expansion option and hence the user has no choice but to use the fixed internal memory. 

As far as connectivity options are concerned, you can turn your 3G connection into a WiFi Hotspot thanks to Android and HTC’s implementation. There is NFC and WiFi Direct. It features Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi n channel support.

Well to wrap it up, the HTC One X is an eye pleasing phone with good looks and power packed hardware. There are very few gadgets that look great and perform to live up to the first good impression. This one has all the right ingredients. But what about the huge price tag? Is it justified? Well that's up to you to decide because when it comes to high end smart phones, there are always a few more options available to compare and choose from. But if you are an HTC &  Android fan with a high budget, this phone will definitely make you fall in love with it.

Pros

• Lovely design
• Excellent build quality
• HTC Sense 4.0
• 1.5 Ghz Quad core processor.

Cons

• Mediocre Battery Life of inbuilt battery, non-removable
• No memory expansion, you are stuck with the inbuilt memory
• Designed for Micro SIM instead of the conventional SIM
• Pricey

Windows 8 - What Lies Beneath

Most of you guys might have already started using the new Windows 8 OS. But for those who are planning to install a copy of it on your system, here is a quick review of some its features. 

Although the user experience may vary according to ones choices & preferences, the Windows 8 OS has a few advantages & disadvantages. With mixed reactions from consumers, this new OS has offered some new features to its users.

The New Avatar 

With the first glance that Microsoft allowed on its new OS, it by no means seems as if it is just the update for windows 7. Rather it is designed with a complete new look and features. By no means does this new Windows OS resemble that of its predecessors. 

This new incarnation of Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system is formulated to work around touch screens. Are you willing to know the new revolutionary features Windows 8 upholds? 

We have discussed a few vital facts to help you acquaint with Windows 8:

Cross Platform Interface

Microsoft has fabricated this OS to effectively operate over tablets as well as traditional desktop or laptop styled PCs.

To start with a quick Windows 8 review lets discuss the home screen of Windows 8. The OS's home screen comprises of enhanced, touchable panels which resembles that of the live tiles visible on Windows Phone 7.  Here you can hit and swipe through to other touch-supporting applications. Once you intervene, you'd be glad to re-find the similar user-friendly Windows interface displaying a task bar, file manager, app icons—and all that you supposed were missing.

Swipe across to multitask

The start menu displays the basic fact-icons owing to time and unread e-mail counts. Just an upward swipe and the home screen and its tiles happen to surface. Users are also facilitated to multitask between open apps by a single finger stroke swiping across the left zone. But what would amaze you is when swiping in a new app, Windows 8 users are allowed to snap it adjacent to the app presently being operated. Hence, users can now view two apps simultaneously.

Windows 8 style of operation

Microsoft is expected to distribute some of its exclusive apps across its own store through a tile named, "Store" present in the version of Windows 8. But there is yet to get any confirmation from Microsoft. Microsoft Windows 8 is fabricated with:

• An exclusive app that helps in making use of HTML5 and JavaScript, exceptionally apt for a tablet.
• For daily weather facts this OS incorporates a weather that displays five-day forecast.
• A news reader app to display stories and thumbnail images via large and prominent rectangular panes.
• Internet Explorer 10 offered with optimized touch.

Windows 8 can also be upgraded from Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista though there are limitations imposed therein.

The users are recommended to run dual operating system if you wish to experience new system. By running a dual system data safety is ensured in case the new system happens to encounter a collapse. With partition freeware downloaded, the user can run dual boot Windows 7 and Windows 8. So, just wait for the new updates on Windows 8 release that would soon be declared from the Microsoft camp.

Pros

• Perfect combination of hardware, sleekly designed, quick and innovative
• Massive security expansions
• praise worthy battery life
• Boots faster
• Grand touch   
• Cons
  • Start menu absent
  • Unbootable to the desktop
  • Requisite touchscreen / trackpad gestures/Touch Mouse
  • Modern UI might not please many
  • It won't operate over some preceding CPUs