Selasa, 31 Maret 2015
Samsung Galaxy Alpha will get Lollipop alongside the Note II
Samsung's websites for Finland and Denmark are giving us some interesting information about which devices the company plans to bring Android Lollipop to next. As you may know, the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S5 Active, and Galaxy S4 have already received the tasty treat, at least in certain regions. But what's next for Samsung? Well, it turns out the Korean company also plans to bring Lollipop to the Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Alpha, and Galaxy S5 Mini. We've already heard about Lollipop making it to the Galaxy S5 Mini, as well as the Galaxy Note II - but another official confirmation is good to have. This also marks the first time Samsung has said anything conclusive about the Galaxy Alpha with regard to the Lollipop update, so it's good news for owners of that model too. Rollouts for the S5 Mini, Alpha, and Note II are apparently scheduled to happen "later in 2015", and unfortunately no more specific details are available right now. Previously, Samsung's French arm said Q2 was the time frame for the Galaxy S5 Mini's Lollipop update, so maybe that's true for all three handsets. If so, you're looking at a maximum of three months of waiting, from this point on, for the new software. As for the Galaxy Note II, it's nice to see Samsung still care about a device that's two and a half years old. Thanks for sending this in, Aamer Siddiqui and Peter! Source 1 (in Finnish) • Source 2 (in Danish) |...
blip: Pac-Man goes 'wakka wakka' all over Google Maps
It’s a surreal feeling to see an aerial version of your stomping grounds on Google Maps. More perplexing, but just as undeniably awesome is that Google has introduced a new feature that allows digital tourists to turn the world into a fully-functional game of Pac-Man.
To give it a try yourself (and you definitely should), head to Google Maps and click the rather obvious button on the bottom left part of the page. Once you do that, the page is taken over with a delightful homage to the arcade classic. It's as cool as it sounds and we don't deserve this.
I’m terrible at Pac-Man, especially given the crazy twists and turns of the terrain here in NYC. Try playing in a familiar location so that you can use the lay of the land to your advantage.
More blips
It won’t take you long to beat our measly high-score in Pac-Man on Google Maps, but once you’re finished, how about you take a look at more of these bite-sized blips?
- Companies are actually making iPad selfie sticks
- Play Super Mario 64 in your browser right now
- Cyberpunk creator was mesmerized by today’s VR
March 31, 2015 at 10:30PM
Cameron Faulkner
Buying Guide: 5 best mobile workstations 2015: ideal laptops for business
Best mobile workstation 2015
Few productivity decisions are more important and, in turn, nerve-racking than selecting the right mobile workstation for your employees.
Making the wrong choice could mean saddling your employees with a bad computer. So what do business owners look for?
A great display, computing power and exceptional battery life without breaking the bank. There are few mobile workstations that can do this and we've rounded them up here.
- If you'd prefer a Best Desktop Workstation roundup, we've got you covered.
Lenovo ThinkPad W550S
With understated aesthetics and a durable design, there is much to love about the ThinkPad W550s (starting at $1,133, £765, AU$1,455), if you can afford it. Long battery life and a large, high resolution display keeps you productive longer while you're mobile. Plus, the docking port allows users to take the ThinkPad W550s back to their desks to use as a desktop replacement, given its strong performance.
Read: Lenovo ThinkPad W550S review
Dell Precision M6800
This monster laptop impresses with its power and versatility
This Dell model is an impressive, niche product and Dell's biggest and most powerful business notebook pricing in at $3,490 (around £2,075, AU$3,750), almost double the price tag of some of its rivals. To make up for the hefty cost, Dell has packed this laptop with every feature a professional will need on the road. The chassis is built from aluminum and magnesium alloy, and build quality is top-notch with no give on any surface, as well as dust and extreme temperature resistance.
Few employees will truly need the versatility and power offered by this Dell, but if they can justify the investment, it truly excels in every important area. Overall, the M6800 is clearly built for business, from its hard-wearing chassis and versatile exterior to its high-quality keyboard and powerful professional components.
Read: Dell Precision M6800 review
HP ZBook 17 G2
A truly fantastic mobile workstation for your business
The ZBook 17 G2 mobile workstation ($1900, £1250, AU$2400) is a ferocious laptop built to withstand any task you throw its way. This 17.3-inch laptop is built with a three-spindle wedge design that shifts most of its hefty 7.42 pound weight toward its thick backside (1.57 inches). The ZBook features a dark grey plastic chassis that is surrounded by aluminum that covers the top of the display and houses the keyboard. Performance is where this machine shines. The ZBook crushes Lenovo's ThinkPad W540 in every category we test, especially on the Cloud Gate graphics and physics tests, as well as on SkyDiver and FireStrike.
Read: HP ZBook 17 review
Dell Precision M3800
Dell has produced one of the best Windows laptops available
This Dell breaks the construct that if you want a high-end laptop capable of running processor-intensive software as well as a desktop can, you have to expect it to be as heavy as a Lenovo ThinkPad system. Instead, the M3800 ($2236, £1397, AU$2569) is exceptionally powerful and portable, fitting a Haswell-based Intel Core i7 processor, and Nvidia Quadro graphics card, up to 16GB of memory and both an SSD and hard disk into a chassis that's just 18mm thick and weighs 1.8kg.
Read: Dell Precision M3800 review
Lenovo ThinkPad W540
A top-notch 3K workstation with a top-shelf price tag
This is a workstation powerhouse, with the downfall of being possibly too expensive for general office use at $2,573 (about £1,606, AU$2,946). The W540 is a mobile visual studio built on Lenovo's platform of ThinkPad workstations. With a 15.6-inch, 2880 x 1620 (3K) resolution IPS display and a high-end 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-4800MQ processor with a Nvidia Quadro K2100M graphics card, this machine is ready to tackle anything from simple word processing tasks to thousand page spreadsheets and even heavy 3D modeling.
Read: Lenovo ThinkPad W540 review
March 31, 2015 at 09:14PM
Gabie Kur
Buying Guide: Best monitor: the best displays on the market
Introduction
Ten years ago, monitors were nothing more than necessary accessories. Today, they can be luxury items that dramatically improve all aspects of computing and content consumption. There are so many types of monitors that suit so many different needs.
Screen resolution, response time, panel weight: everything should be considered when choosing a personal device or an enterprise fleet. Unfortunately, all of these specs can be confusing. We've compiled this roundup to help you sort through the abundance of options available.
Acer S277HK
There is a lot to like about Acer's 27-inch 4K display. The S277HK ($699, £452, AU$892) offers uncompromised performance in an elegant package. Although rear port placement and cable clutter may prevent the S227HK from making the cut in a minimalist front office, its good looks will make Acer's offering an excellent companion in many workspaces.
With a 60 Hz, 4ms refresh rate at maximum resolution, the S277HK is a versatile monitor that could be used for productivity and play. Picture-in-picture mode, side-by-side screen mode, and a bezel-less design give users plenty of multitasking options with a single-display setup or with multiple S277HKs.
Viewsonic VP2772
The Viewsonic VP2772 ($1,019, £599, AUS$1096) is a 27-inch SuperClear IPS panel that boasts a 2560x1440 QHD resolution that covers 99% of the Adobe RGB color space. Viewsonic created the perfect monitor for working professionals in the creative space, for video editors, design professionals, and print departments.
The size of this monitor is perfect for those who want a bigger screen, comparable to the Apple Thunderbolt Display, but without paying a high price. The VP2772 weighs 19.84 lbs (9Kg) without its base, and its dimensions are: 25.3" x 18.5" x 13.7" (64.26cm x 46.99cm x 34.80cm). Viewsonic put multiple ports into the VP2772 including a Dual-Link DVI port, an HDMI 1.4 port, a mini-DisplayPort, and four USB 3.0 ports.
- Read our Viewsonic Vp2772 review
Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q
Although it's only a 24-inch monitor, the Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q ($830, £545, AUS$1062) has a beautiful Ultra HD 3840 x 2160 (4K) resolution that packs in four times the resolution of Full HD. This IPS UltraSharp panel provides true color accuracy as well as 99% AdobeRGB and 100% sRGB coverage.
The Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q dimensions are as follows: 13.33" (338.5 mm) x 22.40" (569.0 mm) x 2.22" (56.3 mm) and weighs 4.8 kg (10.58 lbs). The UP2414Q has an HDMI connector, one Mini DisplayPort, one DisplayPort (version 1.2), four USB 3.0 ports, and a card reader.
The UP2414Q has a PPI of 185 and the contrast ratio has the capability of achieving 2 million:1, which is awesome. Viewing content on the Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q is incredible, and the built-in card reader will allow professionals in the digital field the ability to work efficiently.
- Read our Dell UltraSharp UP2414Q review
LG 34UM95
LG hits the ball out of the park with this 34-inch monitor. The LG34UM95 ($1,289, £800, AUS$1,389) boasts a 3440x1440 (21:9) resolution screen. This larger working area is the equivalent of running two 20-inch monitors side-by-side with resolutions of 1720x1440 (6:5). The LG 34UM95 is not just about size, as it has multiple reasons to invest in a bigger working monitor.
For starters the LG 34UM95 is a wonderful option for those who do not want to buy an Apple Thunderbolt Display. LG put two Thunderbolt connections into this monitor, along with two HDMI and one DisplayPort which allows this monitor to be used by both Apple and PC users.
The 34UM95 has a viewability of 23.8" (60.47 cm), it weighs 16.98 lbs (7.7Kg), and the full product dimensions are 33.7" x 18.5" x 6.8" (85.60cm x 47cm x 17.27cm).
- Read our LG 34UM95 review
BenQ BL2710PT
BenQ took a 27" monitor, gave it a 2560x1440 Wide Quad HD (WQHD) resolution, which allows the BL2710PT to deliver four times the number of pixels of HD resolution screens, which ensure you a crisper image than your traditional 1080p resolution.
BenQ's BL2710PT ($642, £390, AU$688) dimensions are 20.67" x 25.16" x 10.2" (52.50cm x 63.9cm x 25.91cm) and it weighs 18.0lbs (8.2Kg). The BL2710 has a ton of connectivity ports with two USB 3.0 ports sitting on the left-hand side of the monitor and two USB 2.0 ports on the backside, it has an HDMI port, DVI-D port, VGA port, and an audio-in port.
- Read our BenQ BL2710PT review
Acer B326HUL
The Acer B326HUL ($777, £462, AU$836) is ideal for use in office environments or computer labs. It delivers dynamic visuals due to the high display resolution and vibrant colors. But, the Acer B326HUL is more than just that.
The 32-inch B326HUL has a 2560x1440 pixel resolution, a refresh rate of 6ms, a 100,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and 16:9 aspect ratio. Acer put one DVI connection, one DisplayPort connection, one HDMI Cable connection, and one USB 3.0 Cable into the B326HUL monitor.
The B326HUL is a wonderful monitor. It has all the things a basic user needs but comes with a high quality image that anyone in a design or digital background will be happy as well.
- Read our Acer B326HUL review
Samsung UD590
Gamers, media and digital consumers, and the productive-worker have a monitor built for them. Samsung, with the aforementioned in mind, built the UD590 ($679, £429, AUS$782) monitor with a 3,840 x 2,160 pixel resolution, which is four times greater than a 1080p monitor. The UD590 has a 28inch 4K display that includes two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, and a headphone jack.
The UD590 can tilt 15 degrees up and down but can not swivel horizontally, the UD590 stand is not height-adjustable, nor does the monitor have vesa mount holes on the back, lending it to a basic monitor with beautiful color
The UD590 has a TN Panel, so it has noticeable difference if right next to a monitor with an IPS panel. Upon opening, the UD590 may need to be calibrated but Samsung placed a wonderful joystick menu button on the panel that makes changing monitor settings easy as pie. If you're looking for something a little more stylish, but a lot less powerful, we also recommend the Samsung SD590CS.
- Read our Samsung UD590 review
Samsung UD970
Samsung's UD970 ($1,999.99, £1,200 or AU$2,150) was built with the professional in mind as each monitor is individually calibrated at the factory with incredible accuracy to ensure unified color across the entire screen, and accurate greyscale color gradation. Samsung exclusively developed an embedded chipset and a 16-bit look-up table into the UD970 to allow more precise colors across the entirety of the screen than other monitors.
The UD970 is a 31.5-inch monitor, it supports a 3840x2160 resolution, and comes with the following ports: a Dual Link DVI, two DisplayPort 1.2 ports, an HDMI 1.4 port, four USB 3.0 ports, a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort connector, and a headphone jack.
This monitor, by factory calibration, offers a 10-bit color depth screen that is capable of displaying more than one billion colors, 100% of the sRGB color spectrum and 99.5% of Adobe RGB. Work in CAD or Design? Think about this monitor for color precision in the market. As a basic gamer who wants to go into the 4K world, this monitor might be of interest though note that the 8ms refresh rate is not as fast as a hardcore gamer may be looking for.
- Read our Samsung UD970 review
Asus PB287Q
With the Asus PB287Q ($649, £599, AU$799) you can see every detail in its 28-inch true 4K display that has a resolution power of 3840 x 2160 UHD, 157 pixels per inch, and real 10-bit color. This is a monitor for the designer, the photographer, and possibly even the gamer.
Asus provides you with the fastest 4K experience possible with 1ms GTG response time and 60Hz refresh rate in the PB287Q monitor. Amazing. The PB287Q has a natural 16:9 aspect ratio that allows eight million pixels and more than one billion colors to come out of this vivid beautiful monitor.
Connect what you want when you want as Asus put almost every type of connection into this monitor: HDMI, HDMI/MHL, DisplayPort, and two audio ports (in and out).
The video quality is high with this monitor. Have a good Vid card? Then this monitor is for you.
- Read our Asus PB287Q review
March 31, 2015 at 09:03PM
EZ Bardeguez
Buying Guide: 6 best laptops for students 2015
Best laptops for students
Even for those who feel at home with their nose in a textbook, the end of summer break (or Winter recess) is a big bummer. But as much as it's a return to school and schedules, it's an opportunity. This is a fine excuse to invest in some fresh tech to make the coming academia-addled year a little more bearable.
If you're still reliant on a desktop, or if your laptop winces at the sight of a high-definition video lecture, it's time to look into an upgrade. And thankfully if you know where to look, it's possible to get a sleek and impressive notebook without blowing through your savings (or student loans).
We've pored through ourarchives from the past several months and picked the best laptops for school. Our short list spans a variety of budgets that range from power-sipping Chromebooks to help you with that 1,000 page dissertation to more powerful machines that'll do better at a dorm room lan party.
Toshiba Chromebook 2
A gorgeous 1080p screen makes this Chromebook a real contender
For $329 (about £205, AU$382), the Toshiba Chromebook 2 is a gorgeous and affordable laptop that doesn't have many weaknesses. It comes with more RAM and a full HD 1080p screen, making it a step up from other models in this class, like the Samsung Chromebook 2 and Acer C720.
But potential buyers should note that the Toshiba Chromebook 2 moves the Chromebook category closer towards the territory of an affordable Windows 8.1 laptop. So you might be overpaying if you're not purchasing this laptop specifically for the Google ecosystem.
That being said, the 1080p screen is a huge bonus and the laptop speakers made by Skullcandy are booming. Add it all up and the Toshiba Chromebook 2 might be an ideal streaming system for everything from YouTube and Google Play to Hulu Plus and Netflix.
Read: Toshiba Chromebook 2 review
Asus ZenBook UX305
A truly excellent ultrabook at a very agreeable price point
While the Asus UX305 does not necessarily break any new ground in the Ultrabook scene, it's a nearly flawless device, for an extremely affordable price and that in itself is worth high praise.
The ZenBook UX305 is a superbly-built, fully metal machine that's thin, light and very attractive. This lightweight system' also easily handled all my daily tasks whether I was browsing the web, watching video or editing images. What's more, you can get excellent battery life out of the machine considering its 1080p display.
Of course, the most striking thing about the UX305 is that it comes at a $699 or £649 (about AU$902) price. This is a great price for any mobile computing machine, but in this case you're getting a premium, full-metal Ultrabook with an excellent full HD display and a 256GB SSD to boot. While isnt' exactly a shining symbol of innovation in the Ultrabook space, it is the most affordable Ultrabook out today and it won't disappoint you.
Read: Asus ZenBook UX305 review
13-inch Macbook Air
Still the benchsetter for thin and light laptops in 2015
Apple's ultralight MacBook Air is a thin and impeccably built machine. Despite the laptop's slim, cheese knife-like profile, it packs a capable Core i3 processor and an impressive battery that can last up to 12 hours. With this all-day battery life, it's a laptop that can get you through a whole day of classes as well as some internet browsing and Netflix bingeing.
The MacBook Air is of the most affordable ways of getting into the Apple camp of mobile computing. There plenty of reasons to do so too with free software updates and a bundled copy of iWork. Where as on Windows you have the extra expense of having to buy Microsoft Office.
Read: 13-inch MacBook Air review
Asus ROG GL551
One of the best entry-level gaming laptop available
There isn't anything too surprising about the Asus GL551. It checks off all the boxes you'd expect from gaming laptops without breaking the bank. Despite the value-packed price, this laptop isn't lacking in power at all. It performs admirably playing just about any title on medium to high settings.
The Asus GL551 isn't the best looking gaming laptop around, however, it's mostly a joy to use and that's what really matters. The metal keyboard deck and palm rests is a solid platform for gamers to tap and click on well into the wee hours of the night. Plus the notebook comes with a decent set of tweeters. That saves you from having to invest in a headset to hear all of the splashy in-game explosions.
Sadly, our biggest (and only) hangup with the Asus GL551 is its downright awful display for day to day use whether you're gaming or just browsing the web. Save for the display, though, the Asus GL551 is a sweet package for its affordable price and one of the very best affordable gaming laptops currently out today.
Read: Asus GL551 review
Acer Aspire V7
Offering great all-round performance this is ideal for a student
Acer set out to split the difference between a 14-inch gaming machine with a portable Ultrabook machine, and it's struck a good balance with the Aspire V7. It's one of the slimmest 14-inch laptops around, thanks to its Ultrabook-inspired styling. As just barely a gaming laptop rig, the Acer will play games far better than most ultraportable machines that lack dedicated graphics processing.
The Acer Aspire V7's screen was really love at first sight. Whether we were streaming movies or working in Lightroom the colorful display impressed us consistently with its visual fidelity and sharp resolution and great colors working in Photoshop. Acer has put one of the best laptop screens we've ever seen into the Acer Aspire V7, and photographers as well as media junkies alike will love it.
The Aspire V7 also has a surprising amount of gaming power behind it despite its rather middling components. The machine was able to play a handful of modern games including Wolfenstein at 30 fps, and then at 58 fps with some visual tweaks.
Read: Acer Aspire V7 review
Surface Pro 3
Certainly the best laptop/tablet hybrid yet released
This is not only Microsoft's most striking and versatile device to date, but the most convincing poster child for the hybrid category yet. And this ringing endorsement comes from a long-time skeptic of such devices.
That said, the Surface Pro 3 (starting at $799, £639, AU$979) is hamstrung by flaws that cannot be ignored. Namely, the battery life might be in line with most Ultrabooks, but isn't close to what Apple's leading laptop and top tablet. And the Type Cover billed as an accessory doesn't help Microsoft's cause – it's quite pricey to boot.
At any rate, this version of the tablet comes in cheaper than the most affordable iPad Air and 13-inch MacBook Air combined, even with the Type Cover, and that's the point. On paper, this slate is more powerful than either Apple device, not to mention most other comparably priced laptops and tablets. The Surface Pro 3 might not be perfect, but it's far and wide the brightest shining example of a potential tablet takeover. If you're not concerned about a downgraded performance, consider the new Surface 3, which doesn't provide as much kick as the Pro, but is lighter and a lot cheaper.
Read: Surface Pro 3 review
March 31, 2015 at 08:58PM
Joe Osborne