Hardware
Apple iPad, no thanks!
Jan 27th
From looking on Gizmodo, Engadget and other sites, mostly Twit Live, I came to the final conclusion. You let me down Apple. You have fun with that device. Thats just gonna be another thing I will never own unless you can impress me with the developed apps that are coming, but honestly. I don’t want this at all, let me count the ways!
- Big, Ugly Bezel
Have you seen the bezel on this thing?! It’s huge! I know you don’t want to accidentally input a command when your thumb is holding it, but come on.
- No Multitasking
This is a backbreaker. If this is supposed to be a replacement for netbooks, how can it possibly not have multitasking? Are you saying I can’t listen to Pandora while writing a document? I can’t have my Twitter app open at the same time as my browser? I can’t have AIM open at the same time as my email? Are you kidding me? This alone guarantees that I will not buy this product.
- No Cameras
No front facing camera is one thing. But no back facing camera either? Why the hell not? I can’t imagine what the downside was for including at least one camera. Could this thing not handle video iChat?
- Touch Keyboard
So much for Apple revolutionizing tablet inputs; this is the same big, ugly touchscreen keyboard we’ve seen on other tablets, and unless you’re lying on the couch with your knees propping it up, it’ll be awkward to use.
- No HDMI/HD Video Out
Want to watch those nice HD videos you downloaded from iTunes on your TV? Too damned bad! If you were truly loyal, you’d just buy an AppleTV already.
- The Name iPad
Get ready for Maxi pad jokes, and lots of ‘em!
- No Flash
No Flash is annoying but not a dealbreaker on the iPhone and iPod Touch. On something that’s supposed to be closer to a netbook or laptop? It will leave huge, gaping holes in websites. I hope you don’t care about streaming video! God knows not many casual internet users do. Oh wait, nevermind, they all do.
- Adapters, Adapters, Adapters
So much for those smooth lines. If you want to plug anything into this, such as a digital camera, you need all sorts of ugly adapters. You need an adapter for USB for god’s sake.
(1 votes, average: 2.00 out of 5)
Loading ...Google’s Nexus One, who’s da mastah?
Jan 10th
SHO NUFF!!!
What I like:
- UI is much better, OS seems fairly fast and responsive.
- Google Maps Navigation.
- Solid HTC hardware. About the size of an iPhone, feels good in the hand/pocket.
- The bundled apps are excellent with (obviously) deep Google integration.
- 5MP camera w/flash, options to set white balance, effects, location, and focus.
What I didn’t like:
- Some UI inconsistencies between Google apps.
- GPS sucks the battery down pretty fast.
- There are only a handful of good Android apps, most of them are written by Google.
Final thoughts:
Android based phones have always seemed ..how to put this.. Linux-like. That is, solid and utilitarian but lacking the eye candy and attention to detail. This phone/OS release closes the gap on the iPhone, but doesn’t overtake it. That said, if my favorite iPhone apps make the jump to android I’d seriously consider making this my full-time phone when the Verizon model is released. Nice job Google, you’ve come a long way in a short amount of time.
-Source
So with that, I want to know what phone is your baby?
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(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5) Loading ...Building your own Computer!
Dec 10th
If you’ve never done it before, the idea of building a computer from the ground up can seem very intimidating but it’s one of the most satisfying projects a tech enthusiast can take on.
Being more of a software guy than a hardware geek myself, I was the only Lifehacker editor who had never built a PC from scratch. So when I needed a new PC late last year, I took the plunge and built my custom system. I’m so glad I didthe project turned out to be one of my proudest accomplishments of 2008. If you’ve cracked open your PC before to install a new hard drive or TV capture card, but you’ve never built a whole new system from the ground up, it’s not as difficult as you might think. Here are my notes for first-timers who want to build instead of buy their next computer.
Why Build Instead of Buy
“But computers are so cheap these days,” you say. “Why waste the time and energy building your own system when you can get a great machine fully assembled and shipped to your door?” That’s a great question. Building your own PC will not save you time. It might save you money, but that’s not even the best reason to do it. For me, it was a fantastic hands-on educational experience. It gives me a deep sense of satisfaction every single day when I press the power button on my tower, watch it light up, and know that I plugged in the wire that goes from that light to the motherboard. Building your PC takes the mystery out of what’s going on inside that black box you spend hours on per day.
There are other good reasons to build instead of buy, too. With your own build you can customize your system just how you like and make your perfect media center or gaming machine. You can save money if you already have some parts (though see my warnings on the dangers of a “Frankenbuild” below). Upgrading your PC in the future becomes easier and cheaper since your parts aren’t tied to a particular manufacturer. With a custom build you can do fun stuff like overclock your CPU and get more bang for your buck, or install OS Xwhere it was never intended to run.
(2 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Google Chrome OS (w/ video)
Nov 20th
So Google finally let loose with a real glimpse at Chrome OS today, unveiling it at an event in Mountain View today. It’s pretty much what we’ve thought all along: a bootable browser with an affinity for web apps – especially Google’s.As you’d expect from a “browser OS,” Google pretty much admits that Chrome OS isn’t really intended for offline use. They see devices running Chrome as a compliment to the existing systems in your home or office. Local storage? That’s not really part of the big picture either. Everything you save heads straight for the cloud.
It has a few good features from MAC a few from PC and obviously Google’s spin on things with features like the notification panel and such. Check out Google’s first produced video telling you exactly why they made this thing.
(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5) Loading ...ProTools for less. Become a pro sooner!
Sep 14th
It’s probably safe to assume that most of the Grammy Award-winning readers of Engadget (hi, Evanescence!) already have expansive — and expensive — recording studios in their Bel Aire mansions. For the rest of us, however, the fruits of Avid’s acquisition of M-Audio is beginning to pay off in the form of inexpensive Pro Tools bundles that see the digital audio workstation paired with entry-level recording gear. Right now, we have three Pro Tools Essentials packages for you, including: the Pro Tools Vocal Studio USB condenser mic (includes a stand and a case for $99), the Pro Tools Recording Studio comes with a Fast Track 2-in / 2-out USB audio interface with mic / line / instrument inputs ($129), and finally Pro Tools KeyStudio 49-key MIDI keyboard (bundled with M-Audio USB Micro soundcard for $99). Of course, for prices this low you can’t expect the full-blown ProTools treatment, but even the streamlined version here should be sufficient for most would-be Johnny Marrs: 5 GB of instruments and loops, 60 virtual instrument sounds, and the usual reverb / chorus / delay / flanger / phaser / compression / EQ effects. To be released mid-September, but in the meantime check out the hardware in the gallery below.
Sorry but removed clickable highquality links
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...Microsofts 720p Webcam
Aug 18th
For when the world needs to see with pristine detail your cat playing inside a paper bag in the middle of the kitchen, or every blemish on your face as you regale the exciting story of your day, Microsoft’s unveiled the LifeCam Cinema HD webcam. The USB 2.0 device captures life in 1,280 x 720 HD resolution at 30 frames per second, with auto focus, 4x digital zoom, a noise-canceling mic on top, and something called ClearFrame for smoother video, somehow. It’s not without caveats, of course, requiring a dual core processor (1.6GHz minimum, 3GHz recommended) and listing for $80, but it does happily tout its Windows 7 compatibility out of the box. Interests piqued? The webcam’ll be popping up in stores on September 9th, which as it turns out, is becoming a rather busy day for tech enthusiasts.
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5) Loading ...
