Friday 22 July 2011

Best MacBook Air Alternatives

The ratings are in from Stuff Magazine:

1. Samsung Series 9
2. HP Ultrabook
3. Asus UX21
4. Sony Vaio Z
5. Dell XPS 15z

The XPS has been flaunting its skinny wares for a while now, but there's no denying laptops don't get much thinner or more luxurious than this. It's an engineering triumph that undermines the laws of physics by miraculously cramming so much tech into its uber-skinny 9.9mm frame, making the Air look rather portly in the process. And the star of the show? Its ingenious opening mechanism and touch-sensitive unlock bar. Shame about the battery life, though.

Click here for more info.

Heard the noise about Google+?

Take all the best bits of Facebook, Twitter & Skype, present them in a highly user-friendly interface provided by one of the internet's most loved (and used) brands, Google, and you've got the makings of a new, popular and potent social networking/sharing/communications platform. A potential Facebook/Twitter killer...

If you've not already heard of it, I'm talking about Google+.

It's got the personal backing of Google's CEO Larry Page - and is being driven and delivered by lots of very important people at Google, with huge brains. Which means Google is very serious indeed about finally establishing itself as a social, as well as a utilitarian, giant of the internet.

Will it work?

I don't know - yet - whether it's going to work for Google+. No one does.

Its global penetration is slowing - a mere 19million in just over three weeks. But, having tried Google+, this mildly geeky consumer thinks it's pretty blooming good. And Google is totally committed to making it work, with a suite of new features and products about to launch when Google feel the time is right...

(You need an invite to join and a Googlemail account).




Source
MediaCom Strategy Director (21.07.11)

Friday 15 July 2011

HP announces the launch of the next TouchPad

Just two weeks after the Launch of the first HP TouchPad, HP annouced the launch of its new improved version. It will be exculsively available in the US on AT&Tex, the largest provider of fixed telephony in the US.

The new one will have 4G. This means you'll be able to access the web on the go, like on a 3G-enabled iPad. unlike the original which is only Wi-Fi enabled.

More importantly, the new model of the TouchPad will have a faster 1.5 Ghz processor compared to the original TouchPad's slower 1.2 Ghz processor.

In a release David Gee, vice president of marketing and enterprise solutions, webOS, personal systems group, HP said, “TouchPad 4G is ideal for anyone who needs maximum flexibility for productivity on the go.”
 
“It’s particularly well suited for users who rely on connectivity in the field – from large corporations to small businesses and self-employed mobile professionals,” Gee added.

Another thing to note is that while AT&T claims the new TouchPad will be "4G," each carrier has different definitions for 4G. Verizon's 4G LTE network is much faster than AT&T's, and AT&T's is also notoriously less reliable.
 
There's no word on pricing yet, but it should launch before September and the new school year.

Anyone who already bought a TouchPad is probably going to be pretty upset that their new tablet is already old news so soon after it was launched!

For a (not hugely glowing) review of the original HP TouchPad, click here.

Sources
Business Insider
HP

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Computers "Irreplaceable" for 1 in 4

One in four Britons says that their computer is “the most irreplaceable thing in their life”, according to new research. A third say they use a PC for more than two hours every evening, even if they’ve also used one throughout their working day. One in seven claimed that their ideal evening now involves surfing the internet while enjoying a glass of wine.

The study of 2,000 users indicates that 14%, however, regard their computer as a fashion accessory. A quarter of respondents say their computer says more about them than their clothes.

Futurologist Dr Rachel Lawes said that the PC “is the essential piece of kit that defines what it means to be alive at this moment in history”. She said that the research, funded by Microsoft, indicated that “The PC is to consumers what the car used to be in the 20th century.” She also claimed that it vindicated Microsoft’s strategy of increasingly emphasising the range of colours and styles available across different computers, via its ‘Collection’ brand.

Most users – 68% overall and 78% of 18 to 24 years olds – also said that they would rather have a PC than a TV. Six out of ten also said they would be replacing their hifi with something computer-based in the next three years.

Source
The Telegraph - Technology News (11.07.11)

Friday 8 July 2011

HP's Latest Contribution to the Tablet Market

HP is the latest PC maker to jump into tablets - and in entering the market, it has immediately become the latest tablet maker to land under Apple's shadow. The HP TouchPad is the first tablet based on the WebOS mobile operating system, which HP acquired when it purchased Palm a year ago. It has had tepid reviews this week.

Although WebOS shows some flashes of finger-friendly brilliance (it seems far better suited for a tablet than for the small screen of a phone), the TouchPad suffers from cumbersome design, performance lags, and a poor app selection.

The Wi-Fi TouchPad comes in two versions at launch, with a 16GB model costing £399 and a 32GB model costing £479, price tags that put it on a par with the iPad 2.

Had the TouchPad launched a year ago, soon after the first-generation Apple iPad, it might not have felt so behind the curve. But at this point it seems to be playing catch-up, despite the fact that it has several distinguishing features. Chief among them are the immersive meshing of contacts from multiple Web services and sources, the ability to print, Touchstone inductive charging, and touch-to-share (a Web, phone, and messaging transfer capability that will eventually work with the HP Veer and the upcoming HP Palm Pre smartphones).

HP hopes that Russel Brand can boost sales as the face of the TouchPad. There is a series of 12 short clips where Brand demonstrates the tablet's features.


Sources
PC Advisor 30/06/11
Business Advisor SAI

Dell Sponsors Daytime Sky 1

On Monday 4th July Dell are launched their first ever daytime TV sponsorship, becoming the face of SkyOne family programming. Throughout July, 15'' and 5'' indents will be running throughout daytime TV programming promoting the new Inspiron 15R and its changeable lids. The SkyOne platform allows Dell to cost effectively build a relationship with a key demographic by association with SkyOne's quality daytime family programming.

Performance tracking has been made possible with the use of vanity URLs, whilst we will also be tracking halo effects on our core DRTV campaign (which is aligned with the sponsorship creative).

This is a significant step away from Dell's normal TV activity, promoting a solid relationship with a key station audience.