One of the more exciting devices from MWC 2011, the LG Optimus Pad, has finally decided to grace our office. LG touted it as a tablet that will challenge the iPad and that that the focus of the device will be productivity and that people will be able to edit video, among other advanced activities. So is it able to topple Apple’s tablet? Let’s take a look.
At a glance
+ 3D video cameras
+ Snappy performance
- Non-native 3D screen
- Only does 3D recording
In the box
LG Optimus Pad
Charger
Exterior, Controls and Screen
As one of the few 8.9-inch tablets out there, the Optimus Pad looks like an elongated novel and is turned into a widescreen when held in landscape. It is 12.7mm thick and weighs 621g, which is slightly heavier and thicker than the WiFi + 3G iPad. The front of the device is an 8.9-inch slate covered with black plastics, the back is covered in matte brown material and we liked the grip it offered, which is handy if we were operating it with one hand.
Speaking of grip, the tablet feels more intuitive when held in portrait to type as the elongated landscape design makes it difficult for our thumbs to reach into the middle of keyboard. Then as our webpage finishes its loading, we turn in horizontally to read webpages.
The 8.9-inch LCD screen displays 768 x 1280 pixels, and appeared bright and sharp. The viewing experience was enjoyable. When in landscape, the 15:9 ratio of the screen should ensure most movies push all the way to the edge of the screen, which should satisfy movie junkies who hate black edges on their flicks.
But the screen does not natively support 3D, and will require 3D glasses (which will come with the retail package) or an HDMI-output to a 3D TV to enjoy your recorded videos.
The screen is surrounded by a black bezel, which holds the Optimus Pad’s front facing camera. When held in portrait, the tablet’s volume rocker is located on its right spine. Meanwhile the microUSB and HDMI-out ports is located the left spine. On the top of the tablet, you will see the charging port, 3.5mm jack and the power/standby button.
Flip the tablet to the back, and you will be able to crack open the cover to insert a SIM-card for data. The dual cameras capable of 3D are here, and are separated by a metal plate.
And underneath all that, the Optimus Pad comes with a dual-core 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor with 1GB RAM. That translated into quick app launches, smooth multitasking, and our 720p videos played without lag. There is 32GB internal storage but no expandable storage capability.
Software, Applications and Games
Equipped with the Android 3.0.1 (Gingerbread), you can expect a uniform Android experience across all tablets. There are still five customisable homescreens, and a long press on the homescreen (or tapping the plus sign) will bring up a host of widgets, app shortcuts, and wallpapers to modify your tablet with. At the bottom left of the screen there is a set of touch buttons – a back, a home and a multitasking button. Touching the Recent App button will immediately shows you five recent apps that you have used and you can quickly switch between apps.
On the right, there is the time, your signal strength and battery levels. Tap here and you will be able to access the settings page of your tablet. Honeycomb’s notification is designed to remain in the background, and will not bother you when you are running certain apps - when viewing full screen video from YouTube or Gallery, the touch buttons will hide themselves, only revealing small illuminated glows to remind you of their presence.
As far as productivity is concerned, the LG Optimus Pad is loaded with Polaris office, allowing you to create word documents, spreadsheets and presentations. As for working on it, placing it in landscape mode is a very standard typing experience – it works but it will not be the most comfortable way to type. But typing in portrait mode with our thumbs is possible as we are able to use the tablet like an oversized smartphone.
Camera, Video and Audio
Arguably the tablet’s most exciting prospect is its 3D video recorder, and the Optimus Pad records with its dual 5-megapixel camera to produce 3D videos. Granted you will have to brave a few uncomfortable stares when recording but that comes with the tablet territory.
The 3D recording seems legitimate, which you can fine tune the settings to suit the type of device you are viewing your recorded 3D on. Mixed is used for glasses-less 3D TVs, and anaglyph recording points to the red and green images that will require glasses to view right on the tablets screen. There are additional options to record in side-by-side or with a single camera.
LG claims that it records up to 720p video in 3D and 1080p in 2D. There are a few settings controls – there is white balance support, the ability to change the depth of field, and basic audio controls.
Sadly, the Optimus Pad is not able to take 3D still images. But you are able to take a standard photo, there is autofocus, and there are plenty of settings like flash, white balance and more. But we felt that the produced images were washed-out with white and there were plenty of noise in it.
There is also a front-facing 2-megapixel camera for vanity shots and video calls over data.
Internet Connectivity
To clarify, this device is not capable of GSM calls, but does support a variety of data connectivity including HSDPA 10.2 Mbps, WiFi, GPRS and EDGE. With a SIM-card, you can turn the Optimus Pad into a WiFi hotspot for up to five devices. There is also Bluetooth 2.1 support.
Verdict
The LG Optimus Pad is no hardware slouch – a dual-core processor, a large enjoyable screen and the 3D recording camera. It can stand toe to toe against most Android devices and put the iPad’s camera to shame. So if you are an amateur 3D filmmaker looking to make a few flicks, and won’t mind holding a tablet while doing so, we certainly think this is the device for you.
But for RM2199, if you aren’t keen on 3D recording or a mid-end imager, the device is maybe a little pricey if you compare it to Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 which has similar hardware and performance (at a lower price point). In portrait mode, it could act as a productivity tool, so there is that slight advantage. Additionally, the Honeycomb operating system feels generic and will operate no differently that the Motorola Xoom or the slew of other Honeycomb tablets out there.
Can the LG Optimus Pad beat Apple’s iPad? It is a tall order when the Optimus Pad plans to challenge Apple’s device with a pair of 3D recorders.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
HTC Salsa Review
THE word Salsa brings to mind something that is fun and exciting and in some ways, HTC's latest mid-range Android phone of the same name, wants to embody those exact qualities.
The HTC Salsa together with its sibling the ChaCha, are a new breed of HTC phones that capitalise on social networking integration with a built-in Facebook function.
On the outside, it is an elegantly designed phone with a sleek metallic casing and a build quality that is on par with higher-end phones like the HTC Desire S. It also feels remarkably light and comfortable in the hand.
It actually bears close resemblance to the last year's HTC Legend. In fact, the two look almost identical save for the fact that the Salsa has a slightly larger 3.4in screen.
The screen quality is one area that the phone is lacking. Though the HVGA resolution (320 x 480-pixels) has good contrast and decent viewing angles, the screen's low resolution makes text on full webpages appear small and unreadable.
This means you will need to zoom in and out a lot when browsing pages on the Web. We liked how there's a proper camera button on the Salsa as it is something that we rarely see on smartphones these days. You can even do a half press to pre-focus and snap a picture by fully pressing down.
There isn't much to see around the back except for the Salsa's 5-megapixel camera and speakers. Everything else is where you would expect them to be - the 3.5mm headphone jack at the top while the volume rocker and microUSB port can be found on the left side of smartphone.
In use
The Salsa's performance is generally fluid for most regular tasks thanks to its 800MHz Qualcomm processor. However, it is not well suited for running processor-intensive games - less demanding games such as Angry Birds run fine on the device.
Another downside is that the browser does not support Flash, so you will miss out on watching certain Flash videos and playing Flash games from Kongregate on your mobile.
Running on Android 2.3.3, the Salsa comes with the usual HTC Sense interface that is overlaid on top of the default operating system. For the most part the Sense interface feels similar to other HTC phones but there's a new interactive lock screen that you can use to access commonly used apps like the Phone, Messages, Camera and Mail.
All you have to do is drag one of the icons into the circle to instantly open the app so you can read your messages, make a call or snap a picture right away. It is a simple yet effective feature that greatly improves the phone's usabilty.
The default browser handles tabbed browsing in a unique way. Just pinch the screen and a scrolling icon list of opened webpages comes up, similar to how it appears on your desktop browser.
It's not perfect though, as the zoomed out view responds slower when pages are being loaded.
The Salsa's battery performance did not impress us. Considering that this a social networking phone that needs to be constantly updated it was rather disappointing.
After using the phone to check on our Facebook updates, browse the Web, post pictures and make the occasional call, we found that the phone could just barely get through the day on a single charge.
All about Facebook
What makes the Salsa different from your run-of-the-mill Android phone is its Facebook integration. It has a dedicated Facebook button that streamlines the processing of posting content directly to your Facebook wall.
The feature works across multiple applications so when you take a photo for instance, the button will glow to indicate that you can upload it to Facebook.
Similarly you can use the button to share links viewed on your web browser, share videos and tell everyone what music you're currently listening to.
By "long pressing" on the button, you can check in at your current location via Facebook Places. You can also instant message your Facebook contacts using the included FB Chat app on the phone.
Additionally there's a ticker at the bottom of the clock application on the home screen showing you the latest Facebook updates.
Though it only shows a single update, you can click on it to take you to HTC's new Sense Facebook interface. Here you can get a full view of all Facebook updates from your friends and even sort them by links, check-ins, videos or photos shared.
While it is a nice app to have to sort through your friend's updates, it does seem redundant against the existing Facebook app that you can get off the Android Marketplace.
You're not limited to just Facebook though, as you can also get updates from other social networks Twitter and Flickr on the Salsa.
Not great for pictures
The Salsa's 5-megapixel camera is good for taking casual pictures, or the occasional video, to upload on Facebook.
However the camera isn't the best that we've seen - the picture quality is passable at the very least and only performs well when shooting outdoors. Shutter lag is quite significant on the camera so it is next to impossible to capture moving subjects on it.
The LED flash does help when snapping pictures in the dark though the results often come off as being too artificial or washed out by the flash.
The video quality of the camera isn't anything to shout about. In an age where HD video capture is increasingly common, the Salsa's VGA quality recordings look sadly outdated. You can also shoot in widescreen (720 x 480-pixels) but there's not much difference in terms of quality.
Still, the camera is good for taking close-up shots and the quality is acceptable for uploading to Facebook.
Speaking of which, since this is a Facebook-centric phone after all, the Salsa has a useful auto upload feature that can be set to upload pictures directly to your Facebook account after they are taken.
It's cool feature to have if you want to immediately share your pictures with your friends. However, it indiscriminately uploads anything you record or snap, so be sure to switch it off to avoid uploading embarrassing pictures by accident or using up all your mobile data for the month.
Conclusion
As a social network orientated phone, the HTC Salsa has got some things right, like having a dedicated Facebook button to make it easier to share your thoughts, links, pictures and videos with your friends.
Furthermore, the new interactive lock-screen is very useful for accessing frequently-used apps, and web browsing feels good thanks to the improved handling of tabbed browsing.
The phone does, however, have a couple of low points - the camera is poor and its weak processor makes it underpowered for playing games or run processor-intensive apps.
All in all, if you are just looking for a smartphone that specialises in social networking and has integrated Facebook functions, then the HTC Salsa might be right up your alley.
Pros: Sleek design; Facebook integration; tabbed browsing; interactive lock-screen.
Cons: Low resolution screen; poor camera; weak processor; no Flash support; unimpressive battery life.
HTC SALSA
Social networking smartphone
NETWORK: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSPA 900/2100
OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread)
DISPLAY: 3.4in capacitive multi-touch screen (320 x 480-pixels)
CAMERA: 5-megapixels autofocus; LED flash; VGA video recording; VGA front camera CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi 802.1, micro USB
MEMORY: 512MB RAM; 512MB internal phone storage
EXPANSION SLOT: microSD, up to 32GB
STANDBY/TALK TIME: 530 hours/ 7 hours 50mins
OTHER FEATURES: Facebook integration, interactive lock-screen
DIMENSIONS (W X D X H): 109.1 x 58.9 x 12.3mm
WEIGHT: 120g
WEBSITE: www.htc.com
PRICE: RM1,499
RATING: 3/5stars
The HTC Salsa together with its sibling the ChaCha, are a new breed of HTC phones that capitalise on social networking integration with a built-in Facebook function.
On the outside, it is an elegantly designed phone with a sleek metallic casing and a build quality that is on par with higher-end phones like the HTC Desire S. It also feels remarkably light and comfortable in the hand.
It actually bears close resemblance to the last year's HTC Legend. In fact, the two look almost identical save for the fact that the Salsa has a slightly larger 3.4in screen.
The screen quality is one area that the phone is lacking. Though the HVGA resolution (320 x 480-pixels) has good contrast and decent viewing angles, the screen's low resolution makes text on full webpages appear small and unreadable.
This means you will need to zoom in and out a lot when browsing pages on the Web. We liked how there's a proper camera button on the Salsa as it is something that we rarely see on smartphones these days. You can even do a half press to pre-focus and snap a picture by fully pressing down.
There isn't much to see around the back except for the Salsa's 5-megapixel camera and speakers. Everything else is where you would expect them to be - the 3.5mm headphone jack at the top while the volume rocker and microUSB port can be found on the left side of smartphone.
In use
The Salsa's performance is generally fluid for most regular tasks thanks to its 800MHz Qualcomm processor. However, it is not well suited for running processor-intensive games - less demanding games such as Angry Birds run fine on the device.
Another downside is that the browser does not support Flash, so you will miss out on watching certain Flash videos and playing Flash games from Kongregate on your mobile.
Running on Android 2.3.3, the Salsa comes with the usual HTC Sense interface that is overlaid on top of the default operating system. For the most part the Sense interface feels similar to other HTC phones but there's a new interactive lock screen that you can use to access commonly used apps like the Phone, Messages, Camera and Mail.
All you have to do is drag one of the icons into the circle to instantly open the app so you can read your messages, make a call or snap a picture right away. It is a simple yet effective feature that greatly improves the phone's usabilty.
The default browser handles tabbed browsing in a unique way. Just pinch the screen and a scrolling icon list of opened webpages comes up, similar to how it appears on your desktop browser.
It's not perfect though, as the zoomed out view responds slower when pages are being loaded.
The Salsa's battery performance did not impress us. Considering that this a social networking phone that needs to be constantly updated it was rather disappointing.
After using the phone to check on our Facebook updates, browse the Web, post pictures and make the occasional call, we found that the phone could just barely get through the day on a single charge.
All about Facebook
What makes the Salsa different from your run-of-the-mill Android phone is its Facebook integration. It has a dedicated Facebook button that streamlines the processing of posting content directly to your Facebook wall.
The feature works across multiple applications so when you take a photo for instance, the button will glow to indicate that you can upload it to Facebook.
Similarly you can use the button to share links viewed on your web browser, share videos and tell everyone what music you're currently listening to.
By "long pressing" on the button, you can check in at your current location via Facebook Places. You can also instant message your Facebook contacts using the included FB Chat app on the phone.
Additionally there's a ticker at the bottom of the clock application on the home screen showing you the latest Facebook updates.
Though it only shows a single update, you can click on it to take you to HTC's new Sense Facebook interface. Here you can get a full view of all Facebook updates from your friends and even sort them by links, check-ins, videos or photos shared.
While it is a nice app to have to sort through your friend's updates, it does seem redundant against the existing Facebook app that you can get off the Android Marketplace.
You're not limited to just Facebook though, as you can also get updates from other social networks Twitter and Flickr on the Salsa.
Not great for pictures
The Salsa's 5-megapixel camera is good for taking casual pictures, or the occasional video, to upload on Facebook.
However the camera isn't the best that we've seen - the picture quality is passable at the very least and only performs well when shooting outdoors. Shutter lag is quite significant on the camera so it is next to impossible to capture moving subjects on it.
The LED flash does help when snapping pictures in the dark though the results often come off as being too artificial or washed out by the flash.
The video quality of the camera isn't anything to shout about. In an age where HD video capture is increasingly common, the Salsa's VGA quality recordings look sadly outdated. You can also shoot in widescreen (720 x 480-pixels) but there's not much difference in terms of quality.
Still, the camera is good for taking close-up shots and the quality is acceptable for uploading to Facebook.
Speaking of which, since this is a Facebook-centric phone after all, the Salsa has a useful auto upload feature that can be set to upload pictures directly to your Facebook account after they are taken.
It's cool feature to have if you want to immediately share your pictures with your friends. However, it indiscriminately uploads anything you record or snap, so be sure to switch it off to avoid uploading embarrassing pictures by accident or using up all your mobile data for the month.
Conclusion
As a social network orientated phone, the HTC Salsa has got some things right, like having a dedicated Facebook button to make it easier to share your thoughts, links, pictures and videos with your friends.
Furthermore, the new interactive lock-screen is very useful for accessing frequently-used apps, and web browsing feels good thanks to the improved handling of tabbed browsing.
The phone does, however, have a couple of low points - the camera is poor and its weak processor makes it underpowered for playing games or run processor-intensive apps.
All in all, if you are just looking for a smartphone that specialises in social networking and has integrated Facebook functions, then the HTC Salsa might be right up your alley.
Pros: Sleek design; Facebook integration; tabbed browsing; interactive lock-screen.
Cons: Low resolution screen; poor camera; weak processor; no Flash support; unimpressive battery life.
HTC SALSA
Social networking smartphone
NETWORK: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSPA 900/2100
OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread)
DISPLAY: 3.4in capacitive multi-touch screen (320 x 480-pixels)
CAMERA: 5-megapixels autofocus; LED flash; VGA video recording; VGA front camera CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi 802.1, micro USB
MEMORY: 512MB RAM; 512MB internal phone storage
EXPANSION SLOT: microSD, up to 32GB
STANDBY/TALK TIME: 530 hours/ 7 hours 50mins
OTHER FEATURES: Facebook integration, interactive lock-screen
DIMENSIONS (W X D X H): 109.1 x 58.9 x 12.3mm
WEIGHT: 120g
WEBSITE: www.htc.com
PRICE: RM1,499
RATING: 3/5stars
Friday, February 10, 2012
Nokia E6 Review
The E6 is the latest in Nokia's long -running line of E-series business phones. It is an interesting device that combines elements of both a Qwerty keyboard-centric mobile phone and a touchscreen device.
On the outside, the Nokia E6 closely follows the classic E series design though it has been updated with rounded curves and there are thick silver accents running around the phone.
It's a very compact phone that measures just 10.5mm thick and it has a remarkably sturdy build quality. Around the sides, the E6 cleverly hides its microUSB port and microSD card slot with protective covers that helps keep dust out.
The lock slider on the side is great for quickly locking the phone and easier to reach than the power button that is located on the top.
A little bit of both
The 2.46in screen doesn't look like much but it is actually a capacitive touchscreen with a 600 x 480-pixel resolution.
The mixed Qwerty and touchscreen -interface takes some getting used to but it provides the best of both worlds when it comes to -navigation with the touchscreen and easier text input with its physical buttons.
You can customise the layout of the icons by 'long pressing' on them but the space provided is so limited that you can't change much.
One notable widget that played well to the E6's -messagingcentric nature was the pre-installed Social -widget that pulls feeds from Facebook, Twitter and your instant messages.
Improved with a few -touches
While Nokia is -switching to the Windows Phone -platform, that hasn't stopped it from launching an updated version of its Symbian 3 -operating system. The E6 is the first Nokia device to run on the updated Symbian Anna operating system.
To be honest, Symbian Anna doesn't bring many improvements to the table save for the improved web browser and Nokia Maps.
Nokia Maps is actually a full-feature -navigation application that's pretty handy for finding your way around an unfamiliar part of town.
It comes complete with global maps, drive and walk voice navigation - not bad for something that's completely free.
We found it intuitive and easy-to-use when looking for new destinations. Even satellite locks were relatively quick.
In terms of actual navigation, we did find that it tried to lead us on a longer way around to a destination, but re-routing was very quick so we didn't get lost and still made it to our destination.
However, due to the small size of the screen on the E6, we found it difficult to view the map while driving. Web surfing also feels smoother and faster on the E6. The experience can be a bit limited considering the small size of the screen but it didn't prove to be a problem when we tried browsing through our regular pages.
However, the E6 doesn't quite feel as polished in some areas - common -functions like messages are a little slow to load -compared to speedy -smartphones and some -applications took a long time to load on a few occasions. But this is probably to be expected from a phone in this category.
One notable application that we liked that came with the phone was JoikuSpot, which is an -application that allows you to turn the phone into a WiFi hotspot using your 3G -connection.
In terms of battery -performance, the E6 is pretty energy efficient and managed to last a day and half on a single charge. This is even after we used the phone to browse the Web, check e-mails and make phone calls -throughout the day.
Camera
The E6's 8-megapixel camera gives it the edge over many other Qwerty -keyboard phones. Though it is a fixed-focus -camera, the E6 still -managed to produce pictures that were nicely -saturated especially when taken in well-lit -conditions.
In addition, it has features like face -recognition and a dual-LED flash to help -illuminate -subjects in the dark.
On the downside, the lack of autofocus makes taking close-up shots -difficult and it doesn't shoot well in dark -environments.
The E6 is, at the very least, up to date with modern smartphones in terms of HD video capture - it can record videos at 720p -resolution at 25 frames per second.
The results were quite decent and still looked good when viewed on a bigger screen. That's not to say that it will perform as well as a dedicated video-recording device but it's a handy feature to have. The LED flash also serves as a light that can be turned on to -illuminate subjects when it's dark.
Conclusion
For RM1,155 there's a lot of value to be found in the small but feature-packed Nokia E6. It is a well-built phone that offers a decent -camera and great battery life. Nokia Maps also extends the phone's usefulness beyond calls and text messaging.
Though it may seem weird, the phone's hybrid physical button and touch interface works well for surfing the Web and general phone usage.
The only major downside to the phone is its small 2.4in screen that is ill-fitting for a touchscreen device.
Though the E6 is a very capable business phone, it is hard to ignore the fact that much of Nokia's current efforts are clearly focused on its upcoming Windows Phone models, which are due later this year. Only time will tell if we will ever see a follow-up to the E6.
Pros: Improved web browser; good -battery life; able to record 720p HD video, Nokia Maps provides GPS navigation.
Cons: Screen is too small; Symbian Anna does not offer many new features; fixed-focus camera.
Nokia E6
Symbian Anna smartphone
NETWORK: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100
CPU: ARM 11 680MHz
OPERATING SYSTEM: Symbian Anna
DISPLAY: 2.46in TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen (640 x 480-pixels)
CAMERA: 8-megapixels, fixed-focus, dual-LED flash, 720p HD video recording (25 fps, H.264)
CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi (802.11b/g/n), USB 2.0
MEMORY: 256MB RAM; 1GB ROM; 8GB internal storage
EXPANSION SLOT: microSD (up to 32GB)
STANDBY/TALK TIME: 681 hours/ 14 hours
OTHER FEATURES: A-GPS with Nokia Maps navigation; Qwerty keyboard
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 115.5 x 59 x 10.5mm
WEIGHT: 133g
PRICE: RM1,155
RATING: 3.5/5 stars
On the outside, the Nokia E6 closely follows the classic E series design though it has been updated with rounded curves and there are thick silver accents running around the phone.
It's a very compact phone that measures just 10.5mm thick and it has a remarkably sturdy build quality. Around the sides, the E6 cleverly hides its microUSB port and microSD card slot with protective covers that helps keep dust out.
The lock slider on the side is great for quickly locking the phone and easier to reach than the power button that is located on the top.
A little bit of both
The 2.46in screen doesn't look like much but it is actually a capacitive touchscreen with a 600 x 480-pixel resolution.
The mixed Qwerty and touchscreen -interface takes some getting used to but it provides the best of both worlds when it comes to -navigation with the touchscreen and easier text input with its physical buttons.
You can customise the layout of the icons by 'long pressing' on them but the space provided is so limited that you can't change much.
One notable widget that played well to the E6's -messagingcentric nature was the pre-installed Social -widget that pulls feeds from Facebook, Twitter and your instant messages.
Improved with a few -touches
While Nokia is -switching to the Windows Phone -platform, that hasn't stopped it from launching an updated version of its Symbian 3 -operating system. The E6 is the first Nokia device to run on the updated Symbian Anna operating system.
To be honest, Symbian Anna doesn't bring many improvements to the table save for the improved web browser and Nokia Maps.
Nokia Maps is actually a full-feature -navigation application that's pretty handy for finding your way around an unfamiliar part of town.
It comes complete with global maps, drive and walk voice navigation - not bad for something that's completely free.
We found it intuitive and easy-to-use when looking for new destinations. Even satellite locks were relatively quick.
In terms of actual navigation, we did find that it tried to lead us on a longer way around to a destination, but re-routing was very quick so we didn't get lost and still made it to our destination.
However, due to the small size of the screen on the E6, we found it difficult to view the map while driving. Web surfing also feels smoother and faster on the E6. The experience can be a bit limited considering the small size of the screen but it didn't prove to be a problem when we tried browsing through our regular pages.
However, the E6 doesn't quite feel as polished in some areas - common -functions like messages are a little slow to load -compared to speedy -smartphones and some -applications took a long time to load on a few occasions. But this is probably to be expected from a phone in this category.
One notable application that we liked that came with the phone was JoikuSpot, which is an -application that allows you to turn the phone into a WiFi hotspot using your 3G -connection.
In terms of battery -performance, the E6 is pretty energy efficient and managed to last a day and half on a single charge. This is even after we used the phone to browse the Web, check e-mails and make phone calls -throughout the day.
Camera
The E6's 8-megapixel camera gives it the edge over many other Qwerty -keyboard phones. Though it is a fixed-focus -camera, the E6 still -managed to produce pictures that were nicely -saturated especially when taken in well-lit -conditions.
In addition, it has features like face -recognition and a dual-LED flash to help -illuminate -subjects in the dark.
On the downside, the lack of autofocus makes taking close-up shots -difficult and it doesn't shoot well in dark -environments.
The E6 is, at the very least, up to date with modern smartphones in terms of HD video capture - it can record videos at 720p -resolution at 25 frames per second.
The results were quite decent and still looked good when viewed on a bigger screen. That's not to say that it will perform as well as a dedicated video-recording device but it's a handy feature to have. The LED flash also serves as a light that can be turned on to -illuminate subjects when it's dark.
Conclusion
For RM1,155 there's a lot of value to be found in the small but feature-packed Nokia E6. It is a well-built phone that offers a decent -camera and great battery life. Nokia Maps also extends the phone's usefulness beyond calls and text messaging.
Though it may seem weird, the phone's hybrid physical button and touch interface works well for surfing the Web and general phone usage.
The only major downside to the phone is its small 2.4in screen that is ill-fitting for a touchscreen device.
Though the E6 is a very capable business phone, it is hard to ignore the fact that much of Nokia's current efforts are clearly focused on its upcoming Windows Phone models, which are due later this year. Only time will tell if we will ever see a follow-up to the E6.
Pros: Improved web browser; good -battery life; able to record 720p HD video, Nokia Maps provides GPS navigation.
Cons: Screen is too small; Symbian Anna does not offer many new features; fixed-focus camera.
Nokia E6
Symbian Anna smartphone
NETWORK: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100
CPU: ARM 11 680MHz
OPERATING SYSTEM: Symbian Anna
DISPLAY: 2.46in TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen (640 x 480-pixels)
CAMERA: 8-megapixels, fixed-focus, dual-LED flash, 720p HD video recording (25 fps, H.264)
CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi (802.11b/g/n), USB 2.0
MEMORY: 256MB RAM; 1GB ROM; 8GB internal storage
EXPANSION SLOT: microSD (up to 32GB)
STANDBY/TALK TIME: 681 hours/ 14 hours
OTHER FEATURES: A-GPS with Nokia Maps navigation; Qwerty keyboard
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 115.5 x 59 x 10.5mm
WEIGHT: 133g
PRICE: RM1,155
RATING: 3.5/5 stars
Friday, February 3, 2012
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Review
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was initially announced during MWC 2011 with thicker dimensions and an 8-megapixel camera. Not until Apple unveiled its next generation iPad 2 which is thinner and lighter, did the engineers in Samsung go back to the drawing board and give the original Galaxy Tab 10.1 some crucial modification. Then, in CTIA 2011, Samsung re-announced the Galaxy Tab 10.1 with a thinner and lighter profile.
At a Glance
+ Fast and responsive + Sleek and light + TouchWiz UX + Long battery life - Does not support full HD playback (only works on certain video formats) - Lack of apps for tablet
In the box:
- Tablet
- Power adapter
- USB cable
- Headset
Exterior, Controls and Screen
On the surface, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 does not look any different than the other competing 10-inch Honeycomb slates. Of course, the key selling point of this tablet is that it is 8.6 mm sleek and carries a weight of 565g. It is 0.2mm thinner and 36g lighter than its primary rival – the Apple iPad 2. To be honest, it is hard for us to spot any differences between these two tablets. The tablet is comfortable enough to hold it at a portrait view with a single hand, without feeling fatigue.
It has a 10.1-inch PLS-LCD capacitive touch screen display with a whopping 1280 x 800 widescreen resolution. PLS stands for Plan to Line Switching, which Samsung Mobile Display touted for its great viewing angle over the IPS display that could be found in the Apple iPad 2 and Asus Eee Pad Transformer. The display is surrounded by a black bezel, leaving the front facing camera and light sensor on the top. The display of the tablet also acts as a fingerprint magnet. Make sure you have a wiping cloth on standby. like any other Android Honeycomb tablet in the market, the screen is completely free from any physical buttons.
We are glad that the power button of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sits on top of the tablet, which is extremely convenient for us to reach it, rather than lifting the tablet to press the power button on the back such as with the Motorola Xoom. Next, you will see the volume rocker, followed by the headphone jack and SIM card slot. A USB data connector slot is located on the bottom of the tablet, leaving the rest empty except for the speaker grills on both sides of the tablet. Protecting the back of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a smooth white plastic cover.
Hardware
Samsung initially decided to power the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with its own customized Exynos chipset, but later decided to switch to Nvidia’s Tegra 2 SoC (System-on-a-Chip). The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, coupled with 1GB of RAM. Storage-wise, the review unit we had has a 16GB internal storage, and does not support microSD cards. The tablet is equipped with a Li-Po 7000 mAh battery. In our opinion, it could last about two days’ time of normal usage (including web browsing, listening to some music, watch some YouTube and activate GPS for navigation) with WiFi on at all time.
Software
Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 that was launched in the States, the tablet we have here is preloaded with Samsung TouchWiz UX user interface on top of Android 3.1. The TouchWiz UX offers Live Panel, Quick Panel and Mini Apps Tray that enrich user experience on the Android 3.1 operating system. Live Panel allows user to resize widgets on the home screens. The revamped Quick Panel lets you to have quick access to WiFi, Notification, GPS, Sound, Auto-rotation, Bluetooth and Flight mode. You can even control the screen brightness from there.
Our personal favourite is the Mini Apps Tray. You can pick your favourite music without moving away from your current app. A simple tap on the arrow button located on the System Bar at the bottom of the screen will show a tray of six apps, including Task Manager, Calendar, World Clock, Pen Memo, Calculator and Music. Any apps that are launched from the Mini Apps Tray always stay on top of the screen, allowing you to switch apps uninterrupted. A screenshot button could be found on the System Bar too.
We certainly miss the stock Honeycomb Music app which has the 3D carousel album display as Samsung has replaced the default Music app with its own. Other apps added by Samsung including Photo Editor and Social Hub.
Booting up the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 only requires approximately 38 seconds, which it immediately displays the lock screen to indicate that it is ready to for you to Tab. Nevertheless, our experience with Android 3.1 is quite smooth and better than the original 3.0, though it is still not perfect yet. Unfortunately, there are not many apps catering for Android tablets at the time of writing.
Benchmark Scores
Hardware Performance
BenchmarkPi: 558
Quadrant Standard: 2183
AnTuTu Benchmark: 4698
Web Browser Performance
Acid3 Test: 100/100
SunSpider: 2300.5 ms +/- 1.8%
Camera, Video and Audio
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is equipped with an auto-focus 3-megapixel camera with LED flash. It does a decent job on snapping sharp and clear photos. It is also able to record HD video at 720p. We definitely welcome Samsung’s skinning on the camera/video app, making more intuitive than the default Honeycomb UI. The speakers on the tablet deliver solid sounds even at maximum level. The only disadvantage is the tablet we had refused to play full HD video at 1080p.
update: Apparently, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is able to play Windows Media Video (.wmv) at full HD. A Samsung clarifies that full HD video only works on certain video formats. alternatively, you can follow our Tips and Tricks on encoding your videos for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Connectivity
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has all the necessary connectivity options including 3G HSDPA 21 Mbps, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS and USB data connectivity port. GPS performance in this device is superb, as it could manage to get a location lock from a cold boot within 4 seconds. This device does not support charging via USB while plugged to the computer.
Verdict
Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is sleek, light and powerful. However, it is still not powerful and fast enough to consider as a laptop replacement. It is great for people who are multimedia-centric or business users who need to use the Internet and view and edit documents on the go.
At a Glance
+ Fast and responsive + Sleek and light + TouchWiz UX + Long battery life - Does not support full HD playback (only works on certain video formats) - Lack of apps for tablet
In the box:
- Tablet
- Power adapter
- USB cable
- Headset
Exterior, Controls and Screen
On the surface, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 does not look any different than the other competing 10-inch Honeycomb slates. Of course, the key selling point of this tablet is that it is 8.6 mm sleek and carries a weight of 565g. It is 0.2mm thinner and 36g lighter than its primary rival – the Apple iPad 2. To be honest, it is hard for us to spot any differences between these two tablets. The tablet is comfortable enough to hold it at a portrait view with a single hand, without feeling fatigue.
It has a 10.1-inch PLS-LCD capacitive touch screen display with a whopping 1280 x 800 widescreen resolution. PLS stands for Plan to Line Switching, which Samsung Mobile Display touted for its great viewing angle over the IPS display that could be found in the Apple iPad 2 and Asus Eee Pad Transformer. The display is surrounded by a black bezel, leaving the front facing camera and light sensor on the top. The display of the tablet also acts as a fingerprint magnet. Make sure you have a wiping cloth on standby. like any other Android Honeycomb tablet in the market, the screen is completely free from any physical buttons.
We are glad that the power button of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sits on top of the tablet, which is extremely convenient for us to reach it, rather than lifting the tablet to press the power button on the back such as with the Motorola Xoom. Next, you will see the volume rocker, followed by the headphone jack and SIM card slot. A USB data connector slot is located on the bottom of the tablet, leaving the rest empty except for the speaker grills on both sides of the tablet. Protecting the back of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a smooth white plastic cover.
Hardware
Samsung initially decided to power the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with its own customized Exynos chipset, but later decided to switch to Nvidia’s Tegra 2 SoC (System-on-a-Chip). The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, coupled with 1GB of RAM. Storage-wise, the review unit we had has a 16GB internal storage, and does not support microSD cards. The tablet is equipped with a Li-Po 7000 mAh battery. In our opinion, it could last about two days’ time of normal usage (including web browsing, listening to some music, watch some YouTube and activate GPS for navigation) with WiFi on at all time.
Software
Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 that was launched in the States, the tablet we have here is preloaded with Samsung TouchWiz UX user interface on top of Android 3.1. The TouchWiz UX offers Live Panel, Quick Panel and Mini Apps Tray that enrich user experience on the Android 3.1 operating system. Live Panel allows user to resize widgets on the home screens. The revamped Quick Panel lets you to have quick access to WiFi, Notification, GPS, Sound, Auto-rotation, Bluetooth and Flight mode. You can even control the screen brightness from there.
Our personal favourite is the Mini Apps Tray. You can pick your favourite music without moving away from your current app. A simple tap on the arrow button located on the System Bar at the bottom of the screen will show a tray of six apps, including Task Manager, Calendar, World Clock, Pen Memo, Calculator and Music. Any apps that are launched from the Mini Apps Tray always stay on top of the screen, allowing you to switch apps uninterrupted. A screenshot button could be found on the System Bar too.
We certainly miss the stock Honeycomb Music app which has the 3D carousel album display as Samsung has replaced the default Music app with its own. Other apps added by Samsung including Photo Editor and Social Hub.
Booting up the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 only requires approximately 38 seconds, which it immediately displays the lock screen to indicate that it is ready to for you to Tab. Nevertheless, our experience with Android 3.1 is quite smooth and better than the original 3.0, though it is still not perfect yet. Unfortunately, there are not many apps catering for Android tablets at the time of writing.
Benchmark Scores
Hardware Performance
BenchmarkPi: 558
Quadrant Standard: 2183
AnTuTu Benchmark: 4698
Web Browser Performance
Acid3 Test: 100/100
SunSpider: 2300.5 ms +/- 1.8%
Camera, Video and Audio
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is equipped with an auto-focus 3-megapixel camera with LED flash. It does a decent job on snapping sharp and clear photos. It is also able to record HD video at 720p. We definitely welcome Samsung’s skinning on the camera/video app, making more intuitive than the default Honeycomb UI. The speakers on the tablet deliver solid sounds even at maximum level. The only disadvantage is the tablet we had refused to play full HD video at 1080p.
update: Apparently, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is able to play Windows Media Video (.wmv) at full HD. A Samsung clarifies that full HD video only works on certain video formats. alternatively, you can follow our Tips and Tricks on encoding your videos for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Connectivity
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has all the necessary connectivity options including 3G HSDPA 21 Mbps, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS and USB data connectivity port. GPS performance in this device is superb, as it could manage to get a location lock from a cold boot within 4 seconds. This device does not support charging via USB while plugged to the computer.
Verdict
Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is sleek, light and powerful. However, it is still not powerful and fast enough to consider as a laptop replacement. It is great for people who are multimedia-centric or business users who need to use the Internet and view and edit documents on the go.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
LG Prada 3.0 Review
At a glance
+ Premium design
+ Unique monochrome UI
+ NFC-ready
- Monochrome UI drowned out by colourful icons from installed apps
27 April 2012 – Manufacturer LG and designer label Prada’s partnership can be traced back to 2007, when the two companies released the first LG Prada device, which proved surprisingly popular, as one of the earliest devices to feature a capacitive screen.
Fast forward to 2012, the LG Prada 3.0, as the name implies, is the third iteration of the series, so let us see if it manages to retain the glory that its predecessors once had.
Exterior, Controls and Screen
True to the Prada name, a lot of effort has been put into the design of the phone itself, with its premium look and finish. However, the construction material could have been better, as it felt somewhat plasticky for our tastes. Still, it serves as a great fashion accessory to the brand name-conscious, just as its designers had intended.
This black slab is adorned with classy round buttons at the top, which adds to the overall aesthetics of the device. The capacitive buttons that appear when the phone is unlocked also meshes well with the theme of the device.
The 4.3-inch WVGA display is a rather standard affair for smartphones of this size, although we would appreciate a higher resolution than the 480 x 800 one on the LG Prada 3.0. Still, the less than optimal resolution is offset by the rather nice monochrome user interface, which trumps pretty much any default ones we have seen by other manufacturers.
Software, Application and Games
Joining the long line of devices that have yet to migrate to Ice-Cream Sandwich, the LG Prada 3.0 will still have you munching away at whatever the Gingerbread has still to offer. To their credit, LG took special care to include a load of rather decent applications that not only takes full advantage of the aging version of Android but the UI as well.
The Desk Home, for example, is a simple flip-over clock which meshes really well with the monochrome theme, while Car Home, is an alternative home screen that is tailor-made for when driving, should you ever have the need to.
Taking a cue from HTC, the LG Prada 3.0 also included its own weather app.
Camera, Video and Audio
The 8-megapixel shooter fitted onto the LG Prada 3.0 is not exactly the best we have seen, but it will do a fine job of taking photographs under most conditions. The controls are very intuitive, although we would have preferred more options in terms of filters to play around with.
Video playback on the phone proved to be a relatively enjoyable affair, as while the resolution could have been higher, the audio was loud and crisp.
Connectivity
The LG Prada 3.0 excels in this part, with Wi-Fi b, g, and n connections, Bluetooth 3.0 and A-GPS at the core. There is also DLNA, which is always welcome, especially if you have compatible devices to use it together with.
Then there is the implemented Near Field Communications (NFC) - While at this point there is not much use for it at the moment, you can expect to see it being prevalent in the coming year. With 1080p video recording possible on the phone, a mini HDMI connector would have been a good addition, but alas, there is none.
The battery life on the device was fairly reasonable, as we managed to squeeze a full day's usage out of it with moderate usage, including making calls, tweeting and listen to music.
Verdict
With specifications that would have made it a great contender last year, the LG Prada 3.0 does not bring too much to the table in 2012. Still, it is a very solid device that has been given a cosmetic enhancement that is bound to please even the most fussy of fashionistas. Get it if you want a high end device that also doubles as a fashion statement.
+ Premium design
+ Unique monochrome UI
+ NFC-ready
- Monochrome UI drowned out by colourful icons from installed apps
27 April 2012 – Manufacturer LG and designer label Prada’s partnership can be traced back to 2007, when the two companies released the first LG Prada device, which proved surprisingly popular, as one of the earliest devices to feature a capacitive screen.
Fast forward to 2012, the LG Prada 3.0, as the name implies, is the third iteration of the series, so let us see if it manages to retain the glory that its predecessors once had.
Exterior, Controls and Screen
True to the Prada name, a lot of effort has been put into the design of the phone itself, with its premium look and finish. However, the construction material could have been better, as it felt somewhat plasticky for our tastes. Still, it serves as a great fashion accessory to the brand name-conscious, just as its designers had intended.
This black slab is adorned with classy round buttons at the top, which adds to the overall aesthetics of the device. The capacitive buttons that appear when the phone is unlocked also meshes well with the theme of the device.
The 4.3-inch WVGA display is a rather standard affair for smartphones of this size, although we would appreciate a higher resolution than the 480 x 800 one on the LG Prada 3.0. Still, the less than optimal resolution is offset by the rather nice monochrome user interface, which trumps pretty much any default ones we have seen by other manufacturers.
Software, Application and Games
Joining the long line of devices that have yet to migrate to Ice-Cream Sandwich, the LG Prada 3.0 will still have you munching away at whatever the Gingerbread has still to offer. To their credit, LG took special care to include a load of rather decent applications that not only takes full advantage of the aging version of Android but the UI as well.
The Desk Home, for example, is a simple flip-over clock which meshes really well with the monochrome theme, while Car Home, is an alternative home screen that is tailor-made for when driving, should you ever have the need to.
Taking a cue from HTC, the LG Prada 3.0 also included its own weather app.
Camera, Video and Audio
The 8-megapixel shooter fitted onto the LG Prada 3.0 is not exactly the best we have seen, but it will do a fine job of taking photographs under most conditions. The controls are very intuitive, although we would have preferred more options in terms of filters to play around with.
Video playback on the phone proved to be a relatively enjoyable affair, as while the resolution could have been higher, the audio was loud and crisp.
Connectivity
The LG Prada 3.0 excels in this part, with Wi-Fi b, g, and n connections, Bluetooth 3.0 and A-GPS at the core. There is also DLNA, which is always welcome, especially if you have compatible devices to use it together with.
Then there is the implemented Near Field Communications (NFC) - While at this point there is not much use for it at the moment, you can expect to see it being prevalent in the coming year. With 1080p video recording possible on the phone, a mini HDMI connector would have been a good addition, but alas, there is none.
The battery life on the device was fairly reasonable, as we managed to squeeze a full day's usage out of it with moderate usage, including making calls, tweeting and listen to music.
Verdict
With specifications that would have made it a great contender last year, the LG Prada 3.0 does not bring too much to the table in 2012. Still, it is a very solid device that has been given a cosmetic enhancement that is bound to please even the most fussy of fashionistas. Get it if you want a high end device that also doubles as a fashion statement.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Acer ICONIA Tab W500 Review
Double the fun
JUST about every computer manufacturer is in the Tablet computer race and Acer isn't one that is going to be left out.
It has two Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) Tablet computers in the pipeline, and has just released the Iconia Tab W500.
The W500 is a different beast - it runs a full version of Windows 7 Home Premium.
So, is running a desktop operating system on a Tablet computer more practical and attractive than the Android or iOS mobile platforms? Read on to find out.
Design
Whenever I used the W500, it drew curious looks. People would often stop by to ask whether it is a netbook or Tablet computer.
The answer is that it is both. The W500 has a unique design - its keyboard can be detached which instantly transforms it from a netbook to a Tablet.
Even when the keyboard was removed, the Tablet felt thick but solid. The smooth metallic back is a nice touch but doesn't provide much grip.
It weighs 970g which is quite heavy for a Tablet which means it'll be uncomfortable to hold for very long with one hand. With the keyboard attached, the device weighs 1.5kg which is still light enough for taking it with you wherever you go.
When you need to do serious work, just plug in the keyboard and the device transforms into a netbook.
The keyboard easily attaches to the Tablet but the docking mechanism didn't feel solid and the connection was a little loose. Also, you can't close the device like a regular netbook because doing so will probably damage the docking mechanism.
The chiclet-styled keyboard felt comfortable to use and the keys are well spaced out. The only problem I had was the arrow keys which were crammed into a tiny area, making it easy to accidentally press the wrong keys.
Another downside is that the keyboard doesn't come with a trackpad and instead has a trackpoint. If you are not used to one, you will find it uncomfortable to use like I did.
The keyboard also has two USB ports - one on each side - for hooking up peripherals. Unlike most Tablet computers, it also has an Ethernet port for plugging it into a wired network.
The 10.1in touchsreen is sharp, bright, and has good viewing angles. However, the screen is a fingerprint magnet and needs constant cleaning. Also, it is very reflective so it is quite difficult to view the screen when using it outdoors on a sunny day.
We tested two first-person shooter games - Left 4 Dead 2 and Far Cry 2 - and the device was able to handle them both. However, the graphics had to be toned down significantly and some effects like antialiasing had to be turned off for the games to run smoothly.
Less demanding games like Torchlight ran without any problems on the W500.
In terms of navigation, the touchscreen was responsive and it felt quite intuitive to tap on the screen to navigate, run applications and move icons around.
Browsing the Web felt quite natural be it using Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer.
The only drawback is that you have to rely on the virtual keyboard for text input and it's quite clunky.
There is also a handwriting recognition feature but it often incorrectly guessed the character I was trying to write.
In terms of battery life, the W500 ran out of power after about three to four hours depending on usage.
Without external power, you'll be able to get some work done but not play a long game or watch a movie.
Speaking of movies, the W500 plays back standard definition videos fine but it can't seem to handle 720p HD videos. The HD videos appeared jerky and were not watchable.
The built-in speakers were decent and sounded better when the keyboard was attached. When the keyboard was removed, the speakers sounded flat.
Still, you are better off with a pair of headphones or external speakers for a richer audio experience.
Conclusion
The Acer Iconia Tab W500 is an interesting hybrid device that tries to be both a Tablet and netbook. The problem is that it doesn't really excel as one or the other.
When used as a Tablet, Windows 7 works pretty well but is let down by a number of things. The main shortcoming is the clunky virtual keyboard which makes text entry a nightmare.
This really spoils an otherwise wonderful experience of being able to use full applications such as Outlook for e-mail.
Of course, this can be easily solved by attaching the keyboard which effectively turns the W500 into a netbook. Sure, it's a hassle to lug the keyboard around but it's good to have the option.
The W500 isn't a particularly powerful machine - it can pretty much handle what most netbooks can but with one exception. In our tests, it faltered when it came to playing HD videos which is a big letdown. The speakers were also not that great and sounded average.
The addition of an SSD is both good and bad. The drive helps the device start up very fast but 32GB is very little space.
Overall, the Acer Iconia Tab W500 works better as netbook than a Tablet.
If you are looking for a lightweight netbook primarily for surfing the Web, the W500 fits the bill nicely.
Pros: Unique design; runs standard Windows apps; handy removable keyboard; sharp screen with good viewing angles; SSD is fast.
Cons: Windows 7 not optimised for Tablet computers; virtual keyboard is clunky; SSD offers little storage space; won't play 720p HD videos.
Iconia Tab W500
(Acer)
Tablet/netbook hybrid computer
PROCESSOR: Dual-core 1GHz AMD C-50 Fusion processor
MEMORY: 2GB RAM
DISPLAY: 10.1in (1,280 x 800-pixels) LED back-lit
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD 6250
STORAGE: 32GB SSD
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi 802.11b/g/n, 10/100 Ethernet port, Bluetooth 3.0
PORTS/SLOTS: Two USB 2.0 ports, card reader (SD, MMC), HDMI port, headphone and microphone jacks
BATTERY: Three-cell lithium-ion polymer
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit)
OTHER FEATURES: Two 1.3-megapixel cameras with ambient light sensor
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 27.5 x 19.0 x 1.6cm
WEIGHT: 0.97kg (1.5kg with keyboard)
WEBSITE: www.acer.com.my
RATING: 3.5
JUST about every computer manufacturer is in the Tablet computer race and Acer isn't one that is going to be left out.
It has two Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) Tablet computers in the pipeline, and has just released the Iconia Tab W500.
The W500 is a different beast - it runs a full version of Windows 7 Home Premium.
So, is running a desktop operating system on a Tablet computer more practical and attractive than the Android or iOS mobile platforms? Read on to find out.
Design
Whenever I used the W500, it drew curious looks. People would often stop by to ask whether it is a netbook or Tablet computer.
The answer is that it is both. The W500 has a unique design - its keyboard can be detached which instantly transforms it from a netbook to a Tablet.
Even when the keyboard was removed, the Tablet felt thick but solid. The smooth metallic back is a nice touch but doesn't provide much grip.
It weighs 970g which is quite heavy for a Tablet which means it'll be uncomfortable to hold for very long with one hand. With the keyboard attached, the device weighs 1.5kg which is still light enough for taking it with you wherever you go.
When you need to do serious work, just plug in the keyboard and the device transforms into a netbook.
The keyboard easily attaches to the Tablet but the docking mechanism didn't feel solid and the connection was a little loose. Also, you can't close the device like a regular netbook because doing so will probably damage the docking mechanism.
The chiclet-styled keyboard felt comfortable to use and the keys are well spaced out. The only problem I had was the arrow keys which were crammed into a tiny area, making it easy to accidentally press the wrong keys.
Another downside is that the keyboard doesn't come with a trackpad and instead has a trackpoint. If you are not used to one, you will find it uncomfortable to use like I did.
The keyboard also has two USB ports - one on each side - for hooking up peripherals. Unlike most Tablet computers, it also has an Ethernet port for plugging it into a wired network.
The 10.1in touchsreen is sharp, bright, and has good viewing angles. However, the screen is a fingerprint magnet and needs constant cleaning. Also, it is very reflective so it is quite difficult to view the screen when using it outdoors on a sunny day.
We tested two first-person shooter games - Left 4 Dead 2 and Far Cry 2 - and the device was able to handle them both. However, the graphics had to be toned down significantly and some effects like antialiasing had to be turned off for the games to run smoothly.
Less demanding games like Torchlight ran without any problems on the W500.
In terms of navigation, the touchscreen was responsive and it felt quite intuitive to tap on the screen to navigate, run applications and move icons around.
Browsing the Web felt quite natural be it using Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer.
The only drawback is that you have to rely on the virtual keyboard for text input and it's quite clunky.
There is also a handwriting recognition feature but it often incorrectly guessed the character I was trying to write.
In terms of battery life, the W500 ran out of power after about three to four hours depending on usage.
Without external power, you'll be able to get some work done but not play a long game or watch a movie.
Speaking of movies, the W500 plays back standard definition videos fine but it can't seem to handle 720p HD videos. The HD videos appeared jerky and were not watchable.
The built-in speakers were decent and sounded better when the keyboard was attached. When the keyboard was removed, the speakers sounded flat.
Still, you are better off with a pair of headphones or external speakers for a richer audio experience.
Conclusion
The Acer Iconia Tab W500 is an interesting hybrid device that tries to be both a Tablet and netbook. The problem is that it doesn't really excel as one or the other.
When used as a Tablet, Windows 7 works pretty well but is let down by a number of things. The main shortcoming is the clunky virtual keyboard which makes text entry a nightmare.
This really spoils an otherwise wonderful experience of being able to use full applications such as Outlook for e-mail.
Of course, this can be easily solved by attaching the keyboard which effectively turns the W500 into a netbook. Sure, it's a hassle to lug the keyboard around but it's good to have the option.
The W500 isn't a particularly powerful machine - it can pretty much handle what most netbooks can but with one exception. In our tests, it faltered when it came to playing HD videos which is a big letdown. The speakers were also not that great and sounded average.
The addition of an SSD is both good and bad. The drive helps the device start up very fast but 32GB is very little space.
Overall, the Acer Iconia Tab W500 works better as netbook than a Tablet.
If you are looking for a lightweight netbook primarily for surfing the Web, the W500 fits the bill nicely.
Pros: Unique design; runs standard Windows apps; handy removable keyboard; sharp screen with good viewing angles; SSD is fast.
Cons: Windows 7 not optimised for Tablet computers; virtual keyboard is clunky; SSD offers little storage space; won't play 720p HD videos.
Iconia Tab W500
(Acer)
Tablet/netbook hybrid computer
PROCESSOR: Dual-core 1GHz AMD C-50 Fusion processor
MEMORY: 2GB RAM
DISPLAY: 10.1in (1,280 x 800-pixels) LED back-lit
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD 6250
STORAGE: 32GB SSD
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi 802.11b/g/n, 10/100 Ethernet port, Bluetooth 3.0
PORTS/SLOTS: Two USB 2.0 ports, card reader (SD, MMC), HDMI port, headphone and microphone jacks
BATTERY: Three-cell lithium-ion polymer
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit)
OTHER FEATURES: Two 1.3-megapixel cameras with ambient light sensor
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 27.5 x 19.0 x 1.6cm
WEIGHT: 0.97kg (1.5kg with keyboard)
WEBSITE: www.acer.com.my
RATING: 3.5
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Asus Transformer Pad TF300T Review
Value for money
IN A mostly black and white world of Android tablets, the bright red Asus Transformer Pad TF300T is a welcome sight.
The TF300T is the latest model to be rolled out from the entry-level Transformers Pad series and it promises to offer value at an affordable price.
So, you won't see a metal back cover or Super IPS+ panel like with the premium Transformer Prime. But you can expect solid performance as the TF300T houses the same quad-core nVidia Tegra 3 processor.
As this is a Transformer model, it comes with a keyboard dock that has a multi-gesture touchpad which makes text input a breeze.
The dock also has a USB 2.0 port, SD card slot and a built-in battery that provides the tablet with an additional five hours of battery life.
If you think the red is too hot a colour for you to handle, the TF300T also comes in blue and white.
At first glance, the TF300T may look like the Prime, but on closer inspection you will see that the TF300T is slightly thicker (9.9mm vs 8.3mm) and heavier (635g vs 585g).
The tablet's IPS (in-plane switching) display has the same 1,280 x 800-pixel resolution as the Prime's Super IPS+ screen.
But the most noticeable difference is that the TF300T's display is slightly dimmer than the Prime.
Also, the TF300T is available in two capacities - 16GB and 32GB while the Prime is also available with 64GB storage.
Moving on, the design only allows the tablet to be docked in landscape mode - with the power button on top and the proprietary 40-pin connector at the bottom.
Along the left and right sides of the tablet, you will find the volume rocker, mini HDMI out, microSD card slot and 3.5mm audio jack.
While the back, like most tablets, is bare save for an 8-megapixel camera and a speaker grill.
For productivity
The TF300T runs the latest Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system with further minor customisation by Asus.
Along with the standard Google app suite, you'll find some interesting apps such as SuperNote (a word processing and note-taking app), Polaris Office (an office suite that handles Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files) and MyCloud (Asus's cloud storage solution that offers 8GB of storage).
The quad-core Tegra 3 processor handles all apps with no fuss.
The keyboard dock is quite comfortable to use and this entire review was typed using it.
Having a keyboard dock has its own advantages. It features both tablet-specific functions and keyboard shortcuts to most used options like cut, copy and paste.
The USB port can handle not only thumbdrives and external hard disks but also a mouse which comes in handy when playing some games.
For fun
When it comes to multimedia capabilities the TF300T doesn't disappoint. It supports pretty much all the popular media formats such as DivX, MPEG4, H.264, MP3, FLAC and WMA.
The tablet handled everything we played on it including 1080p videos without a hitchYou can also download others like Mobo Media Player Pro to enable it play back downloaded FLV files too To see the full power of the nVidia processor and GPU at work we ran games like Glowball: Tegra 3 Only, Guerilla Bob, SoulCraft THD and Temple Run on the machine. Suffice to say, we were not disappointed.
Just like the Prime, the TF300 sports an 8-megapixel camera with backlit CMOS sensor albeit with a slightly larger aperture of f/2.2. The Prime only offers f/2.4.
The larger aperture allows the TF300 to take better images in low light environments but with no LED light present it's better to stick to well-lit areas.
Images generally turned out good with low noise and 1080p videos were equally detailed.
Conclusions
Affordability and versatility, that's what the Transformers Pad series promises.
In terms of performance it is as good as the Prime and you'll be paying a few hundred ringgit less for the same experience.
Also, the keyboard dock makes typing faster and more comfortable and adds a few extra goodies along the way. The only catch - the TF300T is priced slightly higher than an average 16GB 10in Android tablet but that's probably because it comes with a keyboard dock.
Still, the TF300T was a fun Android tablet to use and we hated to send it back.
Pros: Solid performance; good camera; versatile keyboard dock.
Cons: A tad pricey.
TRANSFORMER PAD TF300T
(Asus)
Android Tablet with keyboard dock
OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
PROCESSOR: 1.2GHz nVidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor
GRAPHICS: nVidia GeForce 12-core chip
DISPLAY: 10.1in WXGA (1,280 x 800-pixels) touchscreen
CAMERA: 8-megapixel (back), 1.2-megapixel (front)
CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, micro HDMI out for tablet; SD card slot, USB2.0 for dock
MEMORY: 16GB storage, 1GB RAM
EXPANSION SLOT: MicroSD slot (up to 32GB supported)
OTHER FEATURES: A-GPS, 1080p HD video recording, gyroscope, accelerometer
BATTERY: 22-watt lithium-polymer (tablet), 16-watt lithium-polymer (dock)
SIZE (W x H x D): 263 x 180.8 x 9.9mm (tablet), 263 x 180.8 x 10.2mm (dock)
WEIGHT: 635g (tablet), 546g (dock)
RATING: 4 stars
IN A mostly black and white world of Android tablets, the bright red Asus Transformer Pad TF300T is a welcome sight.
The TF300T is the latest model to be rolled out from the entry-level Transformers Pad series and it promises to offer value at an affordable price.
So, you won't see a metal back cover or Super IPS+ panel like with the premium Transformer Prime. But you can expect solid performance as the TF300T houses the same quad-core nVidia Tegra 3 processor.
As this is a Transformer model, it comes with a keyboard dock that has a multi-gesture touchpad which makes text input a breeze.
The dock also has a USB 2.0 port, SD card slot and a built-in battery that provides the tablet with an additional five hours of battery life.
If you think the red is too hot a colour for you to handle, the TF300T also comes in blue and white.
At first glance, the TF300T may look like the Prime, but on closer inspection you will see that the TF300T is slightly thicker (9.9mm vs 8.3mm) and heavier (635g vs 585g).
The tablet's IPS (in-plane switching) display has the same 1,280 x 800-pixel resolution as the Prime's Super IPS+ screen.
But the most noticeable difference is that the TF300T's display is slightly dimmer than the Prime.
Also, the TF300T is available in two capacities - 16GB and 32GB while the Prime is also available with 64GB storage.
Moving on, the design only allows the tablet to be docked in landscape mode - with the power button on top and the proprietary 40-pin connector at the bottom.
Along the left and right sides of the tablet, you will find the volume rocker, mini HDMI out, microSD card slot and 3.5mm audio jack.
While the back, like most tablets, is bare save for an 8-megapixel camera and a speaker grill.
For productivity
The TF300T runs the latest Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system with further minor customisation by Asus.
Along with the standard Google app suite, you'll find some interesting apps such as SuperNote (a word processing and note-taking app), Polaris Office (an office suite that handles Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files) and MyCloud (Asus's cloud storage solution that offers 8GB of storage).
The quad-core Tegra 3 processor handles all apps with no fuss.
The keyboard dock is quite comfortable to use and this entire review was typed using it.
Having a keyboard dock has its own advantages. It features both tablet-specific functions and keyboard shortcuts to most used options like cut, copy and paste.
The USB port can handle not only thumbdrives and external hard disks but also a mouse which comes in handy when playing some games.
For fun
When it comes to multimedia capabilities the TF300T doesn't disappoint. It supports pretty much all the popular media formats such as DivX, MPEG4, H.264, MP3, FLAC and WMA.
The tablet handled everything we played on it including 1080p videos without a hitchYou can also download others like Mobo Media Player Pro to enable it play back downloaded FLV files too To see the full power of the nVidia processor and GPU at work we ran games like Glowball: Tegra 3 Only, Guerilla Bob, SoulCraft THD and Temple Run on the machine. Suffice to say, we were not disappointed.
Just like the Prime, the TF300 sports an 8-megapixel camera with backlit CMOS sensor albeit with a slightly larger aperture of f/2.2. The Prime only offers f/2.4.
The larger aperture allows the TF300 to take better images in low light environments but with no LED light present it's better to stick to well-lit areas.
Images generally turned out good with low noise and 1080p videos were equally detailed.
Conclusions
Affordability and versatility, that's what the Transformers Pad series promises.
In terms of performance it is as good as the Prime and you'll be paying a few hundred ringgit less for the same experience.
Also, the keyboard dock makes typing faster and more comfortable and adds a few extra goodies along the way. The only catch - the TF300T is priced slightly higher than an average 16GB 10in Android tablet but that's probably because it comes with a keyboard dock.
Still, the TF300T was a fun Android tablet to use and we hated to send it back.
Pros: Solid performance; good camera; versatile keyboard dock.
Cons: A tad pricey.
TRANSFORMER PAD TF300T
(Asus)
Android Tablet with keyboard dock
OPERATING SYSTEM: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
PROCESSOR: 1.2GHz nVidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor
GRAPHICS: nVidia GeForce 12-core chip
DISPLAY: 10.1in WXGA (1,280 x 800-pixels) touchscreen
CAMERA: 8-megapixel (back), 1.2-megapixel (front)
CONNECTIVITY: Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, micro HDMI out for tablet; SD card slot, USB2.0 for dock
MEMORY: 16GB storage, 1GB RAM
EXPANSION SLOT: MicroSD slot (up to 32GB supported)
OTHER FEATURES: A-GPS, 1080p HD video recording, gyroscope, accelerometer
BATTERY: 22-watt lithium-polymer (tablet), 16-watt lithium-polymer (dock)
SIZE (W x H x D): 263 x 180.8 x 9.9mm (tablet), 263 x 180.8 x 10.2mm (dock)
WEIGHT: 635g (tablet), 546g (dock)
RATING: 4 stars
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