Tech Mania: iPad 2 tops in Consumer report tablet tests plus 4 more articles

Tech Mania: iPad 2 tops in Consumer report tablet tests plus 4 more articles

iPad 2 tops in Consumer report tablet tests

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 11:14 AM PDT

Reports from Conusmer reports suggest that iPad 2 has topped the tablet test.According to AppleInsider, Consumer Reports compared 10 varying tablet devices during their tests, including the Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab.Also tested were tablets from Archos, Dell, ViewSonic and they were all evaluated based on 17 different factors that include touchscreen responsiveness, versatility, portability, screen glare, and ease of use.They revealed that the Motorola Xoom came the closest to taking Apple's crown despite offering additional features like a built-in memory card reader and support for Adobe Flash, but fell behind in a number of key areas such as touchscreen responsiveness, battery time, portability and screen glare.

The report stated that it was Apple's 32GB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi and 3G which came out the overall winner and its available in May 2011 issue, scoring "Excellent" in just about every section.Also tested was the first-generation iPad, available for $580, and even that outscored many of the other models tested, though it tied with the $800 Motorola Xoom. The device also came top in battery life too, lasting an excellent 12.2 hours, while they said that the Dell Streak,could only muster a measly 3.8 hours of battery time.

ipad2 300x225

Paul Reynolds, the Electronics Editor at Consumer Reports said "So far, Apple is leading the tablet market in both quality and price, which is unusual for a company whose products are usually premium priced. However, it's likely we'll see more competitive pricing in tablets as other models begin to hit the market."

In addition to the results of its tests, Consumer Reports also provided a list of recommendations for consumers who are considering a tablet purchase:

  • Many features are almost universal. Easy-to-use touch screens based on capacitive technology are now widely available. All the models Consumer Reports tested feature Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a front-facing webcam, and GPS capability. Android-based models can be expanded using built-in USB ports or slots for SD flash-memory cards, but the iPad 2 lacks both.
  • You get what you pay for. With prices for the best tablets still too high for many budgets, consumers may be tempted by lower-priced competitors. Don’t be, says Consumer Reports, whose tests have found the performance of models costing $300 and under to be at best mediocre. Buying a tablet with a data plan may lower the initial cost of the device, but canceling early may result in a stiff penalty. Otherwise, it might be cheaper to buy a 3G-capable model without a contract.
  • Future-proofing will pay off. Hardware specifications don’t tell the whole story. Portability, storage capacity, and weight are important. But less obvious differences in software, connectivity, and upgradability are critical too. And with faster 4G data networks becoming more widely available, 4G capability (or at least the ability to upgrade to it) is also a plus.

Consumer Reports has long been a highly respected independent magazine and they also played a big part in forcing Apple to admit that their iPhone 4 devices suffered signal loss last year and offer consumers free iPhone cases which could relieve the problem.

AppleInsider

iPad 2 tops in Consumer report tablet tests is a post from: Tech Mania

tt twitter micro3

Windows 8 Immersive Metro UI and PDF reader revealed

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 11:08 AM PDT

Rafel Rivera from WithinWindows posted number of screens that reveal Microsoft’s Immersive browser in Windows 8.Rivera speculates that the application is designed to run full screen only and that he is witnessing limitations trying to enable it on a pre-beta version of Windows 8. "One clue to the Immersive UI, however, exists in a new Immersive version of Internet Explorer, which looks and works much like Windows Phone's IE Mobile, but uses the desktop IE 9 renderer," writes Rivera.I had posted hints of Immersive UI  and shell.Microsoft will include a new application model codenamed "Jupiter" that will allow developers to create Silverlight based applications, deployed as AppX packages (.appx). The packages will be part of a new Windows application store, pre-installed with Windows 8.

bing ui 300x119

windows8 pdf reader 300x123

The second thing found out by Rivera is the existence of a "Modern Reader" rather a PDF reader application in Windows 8. Modern Reader is installed using Microsoft's new AppX application package type. Rivera says "The application itself is simple enough. It displays PDFs in full fidelity, as you'd expect. You can zoom in and out, and there's a page scrubber on the side of the application window for document navigation."

Windows 8 Immersive Metro UI and PDF reader revealed is a post from: Tech Mania

tt twitter micro3

WordPress 3.1.1 released – Update now

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 04:59 AM PDT

I was going to do a post when I on top that a notification of updating to WordPress 3.1.1 is displayed.Ryan Boren over at WordPress News just announced the release of WordPress 3.1.1. This maintenance and security release fixes almost thirty issues in 3.1, including:

wp 3.1.1 udpate 300x26

  • Some security hardening to media uploads
  • Performance improvements
  • Fixes for IIS6 support
  • Fixes for taxonomy and PATHINFO (/index.php/) permalinks
  • Fixes for various query and taxonomy edge cases that caused some plugin compatibility issues

There were three specific security issues that were fixed thanks to the Word Press core developers. The first hardens CSRF prevention in the media uploader. The second avoids a PHP crash in certain environments when handling devilishly devised links in comments, and the third addresses an XSS flaw.So go ahead and update if you are interested to so. Update your plug ins which are compatible to the latest version

WordPress 3.1.1 released – Update now is a post from: Tech Mania

tt twitter micro3

iPhone 5 launching in the 4th week of June

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 01:14 AM PDT

Korean news site ETNews.co.kr is claiming that Apple is planning to launch the next gen iPhone 5 during the 4th week of June. IF you remember Apple's WWDC 2011 is all about software only and no news of any new hardware being unveiled.Multiple reports suggest that no hardware will be announced during the event, until FY 2010.Previously we saw a 64GB prototype or was it a iPhone 5 prototype.

iPhone 5, the next model of iPhone 4, will be released on the coming 4th week of June. In the midst of the iPhone 5 postponement rumors, Apple has confirmed that iPhone 5 will be released as planned and it will be released simultaneously in Korea through SK Telecom and KT

iPhone5 300x225

I feel Apple might just hold a special media event featuring Steve Jobs himself to launch fifth-generation iPhone and not in the WWDC 2011.The report, however, contradicts with China Times who earlier reported that iPhone 5 is in the trial production stage and will be launching in Q3 this year. Multiple rumors also suggests that iPhone 5 will carry metal back, A5 processor, larger display,thinner bezel (edge-to-edge screen) and won’t come with NFC.

iPhone 5 launching in the 4th week of June is a post from: Tech Mania

tt twitter micro3

iPod touch 5G Images Leaked with No-Physical Home Button!

Posted: 06 Apr 2011 12:17 AM PDT

Macrumors received images from an anonymous reader who claims to have the photos of a prototype (DVT-1) 5th Generation iPod Touch.The main thing to note here is about the non existence of the non-physical home button.The device is running firmware 4.2.1MC14,front has a capacitive home button,carries 128GB storage and is of model MC550LL. The device also has aluminum back, which is rumored to exist on the unreleased iPhone 5.The back has markings of markings of DVT-1, and connected volume buttons.

ipod touch5g 300x225

ipod touch5g 1 300x225

ipod touch5g 2 300x225

ipod touch5g 3 300x225

DVT stands for "Design Verification Test" and reflects a very advanced level of production unit that allows the device to be approved not only in appearance, but also other factors such as durability, ease of use, moisture resistance and so on. It would thus be a phase in which the design of the iPhone has already been decided. If a device is not marked DVT before final release then the final version will receive only a few small tweaks.Images may look legitimate but the authenticity of these images is not verified though.

iPod touch 5G Images Leaked with No-Physical Home Button! is a post from: Tech Mania

tt twitter micro3

Posted by computer at 9:20 PM  

0 comments:

Post a Comment