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HP TouchSmart 620 desktop all-in-one with 3D display and camera

Gadget News — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:15:12 +0000

Desktop PCs are a dying breed, having been relegated to tasks that require much more processing power than even a quad core laptop can do (and there aren’t many of them – heavy HD rendering and CAD applications are the only things I can think of at the moment), gaming at the highest quality settings or heavy overclocking – otherwise, people just get a laptop.

The latest lines of desktop PCs all feature the computer itself integrated into the monitor – an all in one package, which makes it occupy less space and use fewer of those darn cables that are always messy on or under the desk. HP is one of the biggest manufacturers of all in one desktop PCs (in fact, they’ve been among the first to release this form factor), and of course, to keep up with the times, they have now announced the TouchSmart 620 – an all in one desktop computer with a touch screen and 3D viewing AND recording capabilities.

Frankly, I’m surprised it took so long for someone to actually release such a product – with all the 3D craze around, it has been a long time coming.

The TouchSmart 620 is basically a copy of the company’s 610 model, complete with a sliding touch screen that reclines downwards to 60 degrees, making it useful for browsing photos or reading Web pages (or doing your homework on the display, I don’t know , but not for digital artists, since there’s no pressure sensitivity and the touch capabilities are pretty basic). Of course, it’s got the 3D technology integrated into the display, with active shutters on the glasses (yep, it’s not glasses free 3D) and a dual HD web cam array for 3D video chat (a pretty nice concept, actually) or filming yourself in 3D and I guess sharing that with other people.

The basic model will come with a Sandy Bridge Core i5 quad core CPU, 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, 1.5 TB of hard drive space, an AMD Radeon HD 6650 graphics adapter with 1GB of video RAM, and an integrated TV tuner. The ports list includes USB, audio jacks, an SD/MS card reader, plus a slot loading DVD-RW. You may have noticed there are no HDMI ports – yes, you’ll have to pay extra for that.

Needless to say, 3D and a touch screen are a pretty weird combination – obviously, this all in one PC is intended for all in one work and play, but it kind of half-asses everything, with the 3D being pretty useless at any distance longer than ~3 feet due to the small display size, and the touch screen having only basic features (only two point multitouch) and no pressure sensitivity. Plus the lack of HDMI in ports on the basic model is really weird (especially since the TouchSmart 610 has two of them) – how are people supposed to plug in their PS3 for some gaming sessions?

Overall, the computer is pretty interesting, but unless you really love watching 3D movies by yourself at your computer screen or you have someone to do 3D video chat with, I don’t see the point of getting the TouchSmart 620, especially when the 610 model is cheaper, better equipped and costs much less.

New Clickfree C2 Hard Drive can Withstand 4-Feet Fall

Gadget News — Sat, 21 May 2011 11:55:13 +0000

How many of us have lost a hard drive due to an accidental fall form a table or from our hands? We all can do with a little more rugged device. Well, the Clickfree C2 hard drive may just be the answer.

According to Clickfree, the device is capable of withstanding a 4-feet drop and still functions correctly. It also features the company’s Easy Run software, which will automatically start backing up your computer when required to.

The rubberized 500GB hard drive is now available on the Clickfree website and retails at $140 per device.

The first 100 buyers will get the device at $100. So, if you are interested in testing the device’s durability, be sure to head over to Clickfree and get yours today!

Palit GeForce GTS 450 review

Gadget News — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 18:06:32 +0000

After its solid GeForce GTS 460, it seems like Nvidia is on the right track to dominating the price point that pays the bills— the mainstream and entry-level markets. Their newly released GPU aimed at the budget gamer, or in their own words, the LAN party pwning gamer, is the GeForce GTS 450. Designed to run at mainstream resolutions, namely in 1680×1050 and 1280×1024, the GTS 450 sits squarely at the $120 and $99 price range. Our first review sample of the latest addition to Nvidia Fermi family comes by way of Taiwanese manufacturer Palit.

The Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic Overclocking Edition comes in a plain box with little extras. You get the card, an installation CD, quick startup guide and a bit of cable. While the Palit GeForce GTS 450 occupies two PCI-E slots, it’s not much longer than your typical video card. After you plug it in and install the necessary drivers, you’re good to go. In and out in less than five minutes.

The Dxli, on the cheap, is the main selling point of the GTS 450 family of products, so I downloaded BitSquid’s Stone Giant benchmark that has full DXii support. Tessellation is one of the main components of DX11, and with the help of a technique called displacement mapping, results in more realistic graphics. I also ran the Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic through Unigine’s Heaven benchmark. And since no amount of benchmarking will ever replicate actual game performance, I tested it with two games.

Running the Pa lit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic with Unigine’s Heaven benchmark in 1920 x 1200 and 4x AA yielded a less-than-impressive 433 score and 17.2 FPS average. Of course, the card wasn’t designed to run in such high resolutions, so I ran it again through the benchmark with a slightly more forgiving 1680 x 1050 resolution on 4x AA and came away with a much better score of 521 with an average of 20.7 FPS. BitSquid’s Stone Giant benchmark ran a bit better, and the card managed a nice 30 FPS average with the resolution set to 1920 x 1200 through the whole run, with the FPS counter only dipping to 20 FPS during the intense parts.

Next on the list is game performance. The Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic ran Capcom’s Dead Rising 2 without any problems, with the frame rate never quite dipping below 35 FPS in resolutions at and below 1680 x 1050. It was the same with our multiplayer favorite, Battlefield Bad Company 2. In resolutions of 1680 x 1050 and lower, the card was able to keep up with all the action on the screen, and the frame rate never dipped below 40 FPS.

The Palit GeForce GTS 450 Sonic Overclocking Edition also has the distinction of being overclocked from the factory, but there’s still plenty of headroom for people who like to tinker with their cards and get more speed out of them.

ViewSonic VX2450wm review

Gadget News — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 20:39:12 +0000

Most of its peers have adopted a less intimidating approach, boasting of exteriors with moderately rounded edges, so at first glance, the ViewSonic vx2450wm monitor does not impress much, showcasing a typical rectangular glossy body like its conventional LCD counterparts. Nonetheless, we have to give ViewSonic points for the effort by adding a transparent silver trim along the bottom of the screen to decorate an otherwise frumpy looking set. As per usual, assembly is relatively idiot proof a simple screw on operation and you’re ready to go.

While the monitor cannot be swiveled, it can be tilted to a comfortable angle. On the other hand, it wobbles a great deal when we tried tilting in spite of its sizeable base. The touch controls are easy to spot, but they are not very attractive to look at as they are demarcated by a mix of numerals and the usual up and down symbols.

Nonetheless, they work well and are responsive without being overly sensitive. The user interface here is nothing out of the box it is drab but easy to use. Being an entry level 24 inch monitor, it is outfitted with the usual features like Language, Audio Adjust, color Adjust (SRGB, 6500k), and input Selection. The vx2450wm also features an Eco Mode with three descending levels of optimization: Standard, Optimize, and conserve. The screen is noticeably dimmer with each selection which does affect productivity and text readability to a large extent.

When powered on, we noticed that backlight bleeding is especially noticeable at the bottom right corner. This might adversely affect daily actions like surfing or typing, but it can be rather distracting when watching movies in the dark. While color reproduction is generally accurate (though we note a lack of vitality and intensity), the whites are slightly murky with a grey tint.

The monitor had a relatively smooth color gradient with quirks presented prominently towards the darker bands something common amongst most consumer monitors today. With a brightness level of 60, text readability is excellent even at a font size of 6.8 points on both black and white backgrounds. We tested a number of movie clips on the monitor with dynamic contrast ratio on, and that’s where the quality of video playback drops drastically. Playback was partially ruined with uneven dimming which resulted in an evident loss of details in some scenes.

The ViewSonic VX2450wm is a fuss free and an average LED backlit monitor that does a fairly succinct job for everyday tasks like surfing or typing.

Acer Iconia tablet – can Windows 7 and AMD make a comeback to the mobile market

Gadget News — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:21:03 +0000

After successfully getting into the netbook market soon after Asus and their EEE PC opened it for the general public, Acer made it very clear that they want to do the same with the new tablets industry, and they have already announced no less than three different tablets running Android, one for each popular size – 10.1, 7 and 4.8 inches, which are supposed to completely replace their netbook lines in the near future. All of them looked pretty good, actually, and we hope that the final products will be even better.

AMD Fusion brings dual core performance to tablets

At CES 2011 Acer has also shown off yet another Iconia branded tablet, this time running Windows 7 and more interestingly, the all new AMD Fusion platform, which includes the dual core AMD Bobcat ultra low voltage processor and a powerful (for a mobile device) ATi video graphics adapter. This means that the performance in Windows applications will be superior to any Atom-based netbooks, which are already pretty fast, while not consuming much more power.

But if we judge by all the previous processors from AMD, the Bobcat should still be slower than the new Core i5 ULV processor, even if the latter is running at a much lower frequency. Some actual tests in the near future could prove me wrong, though.

Windows 7 and x86 software on a tablet

Having an x86 tablet can give you quite a lot of advantages over the iPad and Android tablets, most importantly in the software area. There are a lot more great apps for anything you can think of available for this architecture than there are for ARM processors, and most of the times they’re mature enough to feature everything one needs. As an example, take Outlook 2010, Firefox or Photoshop – with a dual core CPU, a good video adapter and fast memory, you can easily run them anytime and anywhere you want, and you’re no longer tied to your power hungry laptop or desktop to use them.

Windows 7 has a lot of features that make it easier to run and use on a tablet, and unlike the iPad or an Android tablet, you can get access to features like using an external hard drive, plugging in a professional audio card for editing (very useful for musicians, of course), using SDXC cards and other things.
But that’s not all – you could easily install Linux if you need it for development, or even Mac OS X – imagine having the full Mac OS X on a tablet the size of the iPad! And it’s not a pipe dream I just thought of – people have been installing Apple’s great OS on netbooks, laptops and desktop PCs ever since they started using the x86 architecture.

Iconia can easily turn into a netbook

One of the defining features of the Iconia Windows 7 tablet is its ability to use the Acer-provided dock and turn into a full netbook with a great keyboard and more battery life than ever. The dock is a simple keyboard with a latch mechanism that holds the tablet itself and you can close and open it just like you would a normal laptop – pretty convenient for when you need to type long texts on the go.

Overall, I think Acer is definitely onto something here – their Android tablets look pretty nice and work well and the Windows 7 model can definitely find quite a few buyers in professional niches. The price for the Ionia Windows 7 tablet is supposed to be around $500-600, which would make it very competitive (dual core power + x86 apps on a tablet – I wouldn’t think twice before getting it) and hopefully they’ll roll it out before something better comes along .

Yamaha RXV467 overview

Gadget News — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 15:10:51 +0000

In this day and age of increasingly complex media connectivity and obsoletism, it is valuable to pay attention to your audio/video (AV) receiver purchase. Typically, you should look for a receiver which hosts the necessary inputs for your current entertainment setup while anticipating future purchases.

Yamaha has brilliantly done this with the RXV467, AV receivers are usually included as a requirement when you purchase a complete’ entertainment system (television, media player surround speakers, etc.) and most consumers will often hire help to take care of the necessary connections since it can be quite technically confusing and time consuming. However, AV receivers play an important role in your entertainment setup, and the RXV467 makes all of this easy while including a host of features.

Out of the box, the RXV467 is sleek—its black metal finish is a great combination of vintage and retro aesthetics. Furthermore, upon looking at it, you will immediately notice its simple interface which is vital to AV receivers, as not to send consumers cowering away at the potential complexity of operating the product.

The power knob is on the top left side and the familiar volume knob on the right side. In the center is the RXV467’s main fluorescent display, along with the Scene buttons, which provide quick shortcuts to select the appropriate media device (BD/DVD/TV/CD and radio) and corresponding sound parameters. On the front a mini stereo jack is also conveniently located for easy connections of MP3 players.

At the back of the RXV467, you will find the main connections board. There are 4 HDMI 1.4 inputs, 2 component video inputs, 5 composite video inputs, and
2 sets of optical and coaxial digital audio inputs. The speaker terminals are also located here. In addition to main inputs and outputs, a connection for optional accessories for a universal iPod dock and/or a Bluetooth receiver is also provided. If you’re worried about how to connect everything, a very detailed instructional manual is included in the box that guides you through the setup process.

Once your physical connections are complete, Yamaha has also added an intuitive method of calibrating the RXV467 called the Yamaha Parameter room Acoustic Optimizer (YPAO). With the help of a small microphone, YPAO automatically analyzes the acoustics of the area of your media setup and configures your settings for the best sound quality. If you’re unsatisfied with the results, you can also manually adjust the parameters.

For a mid-range receiver, the RXV467 offers an astounding abundance of features. One of its highlights is its support for HDMI 1.4 for 3D video and an Audio Return Channel, the latter of which eliminates the need for an extra S/PDIF cable to listen to your television’s sound through the receiver.

The RXV467 has support for a multitude of surround sound audio decoders (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio) and will not leave any consumer wanting more. The unit’s Compressed music enhancer works quite well, which makes downloaded MP3s with poor encoding sound richer and fuller. Another great addition is the Adaptive Dynamic Range Control which is useful for when certain dialogs in a film or TV show become too soft.

Ideally, the RXV467 is best for consumers who own or plan to purchase an HDTV a (3D-ready) Blu-ray player, or a gaming console because of the HDM 1.4 support this AV receiver offers. The ability to easily switch between media via the SCENE mode allows consumers to fully enjoy their entertainment system without the complication of connections and or confusing text menus, if you’re looking for a product that can seamlessly integrate all of your media devices audio outputs into one hub, then the RXV467 is an excellent choice.

What’s HOT
Multiple Inputs
HDMI 1.4 Support
Easy Connection

What’s NOT
The Unit’s vent is prone to dust

Epson Stylus NX515 Review

Gadget News — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 13:39:54 +0000

Are you looking for a good gadget that you can add to your small office? Gadgets are really important for your office because you would always want that your employees can wrap their work faster and in smoother fashion. The Epson Stylus NX515 is one such device that is perfect for office work or for those who work from home.

If you are looking for an all in one kind of device that syncs well with your computer or laptop then Epson Stylus NX515 is something that will satisfy your official needs. In other words, this gadget is power packed and loaded with lots of options.

The Epson Stylus NX515 is certainly the best machine available in the market at the moment because of the features that are loaded in it. It has the fastest output speed compare to another printer in the market. It has a robust driver options that can work in any kind of office conditions making your printing and scanning jobs easier.

However, one of the best features of Epson Stylus NX515 is that it is inexpensive which is what every business owner looks out for. On the top the Epson Stylus NX515 is very sleek and therefore it does not consume a lot of space wherever you place it. It has a dark carbon weave pattern on it which makes the printer look great. The output tray is very compact and measures 17.7 inches wide, 21.3 inches deep and 11.7 inches tall which is almost 5 inches compact compare to any other standard printer available in the market.

To make this printer, scanner and copier operate there are buttons available on the control panel which are easy to use and understand. The buttons are on the left side of the machine and you can see a 2.5 inch tilted LCD screen which tells you about the status of the device. Just below the LCD screen there are buttons like power switch button, function buttons, shortcut buttons that allow you to copy, scan and take photos.

There is also directional pad for menu navigation. The buttons are so easy to understand that it might take you just few minutes to understand how to operate this little device. The Epson Stylus NX515 comes with a media card reader and therefore you can print pictures directly from your digital camera if you want. You can connect the printer with your computer or laptop through USB, wired Ethernet or through Wi-Fi.