Showing posts with label Gadget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gadget. Show all posts
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Transporter Sync Gives You Cloud-Based Storage Without the Cloud

  • 02:32
  • 1
Cloud storage is nifty. We all use it, and for the most part, it gets the job done. However, you usually need to subscribe to multiple services to find all the right app-based syncing features, browser accessibility, and total storage space you require. Subscriptions are usually pretty cheap, but they add up. And there are worries beyond cost, like the whole NSA-spying-on-all-of-your-online-stuff thing.
A new drive called Transporter Sync provides the convenience of cloud-based storage without as many negatives. It’s a storage device that you attach to your network, and it stays in sync with all of your devices on and off your network, functioning much like your own private cloud-based folder.
This is the second network-capable storage product from Transporter. The original Transporterfeatured either a 500 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB hard drive. The Sync is smaller, and offers more versatility. It has no built-in storage. Instead, it has a USB port — just plug in an external USB drive and get as much storage as you need.
You plug in the device to your home router, and then use the free Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android apps to access and share your documents. Files are encrypted and transferred in a peer-to-peer fashion over your home network; the cloud is used only as a highway for transferring data, not for storing it. If you have two Transporters (or maybe you have one and a friend has one) you can set them up so they stay in sync. Choose to sync either the whole shared drive or just selected folders.
Setup is easy. It takes about 10 minutes to get it online, then you can forget about the hardware and just use Transporter’s digital access options for managing your files. Anyone you want to share with does need to download the Transporter Downloader plug-in or the apps, though.
Transporter Sync is available for pre-order now at $99, with estimated availability of November 15.

Read more
Thursday, 7 November 2013
iPad Air reviews roundup


Apple Inc has not reinvented the wheel with the iPad Air but the thinner device, priced higher than many of its competitors, is a major improvement on a successful product, the reviewers wrote on Tuesday.
Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Walt Mossberg called the iPad Air the best tablet he has ever reviewed.
"That isn't just because of its slimmer, lighter design, but because Apple boasts 475,000 apps optimized for tablet use - far more than any other tablet platform," Mossberg wrote.
The new full-sized iPad goes on sale from Friday and will be priced starting $499.
Damon Darlin of the New York Times said the Air is lighter than its predecessors, adding that the gadget is a delight to use.
Reviewer David Pogue, who recently left the New York Times to start a new consumer-tech website at Yahoo, said the iPad Air is "a fantastic leap into the future if you're upgrading from an original iPad, or if you've never owned a tablet before."
However, all three reviewers highlighted that the iPad Air is pricier than many of its competitors.
"Do you need to plunk down $500 or more for an Air if you already have an earlier version of the iPad?," Darlin asked, calling the improvements on the new device "incremental, not revolutionary."
Amazon.com Inc's 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX costs $379, Microsoft's Surface 2 starts from $449, while Samsung's Galaxy Tab 3 10.1-inch tablet has a suggested retail price of $400.
Pogue said that given the price, an iPad probably does not need replacing every year or even every other year.
Mossberg concluded: "Bottom line: If you can afford it, the new iPad Air is the tablet I recommend, hands down."

Read more
Google Nexus 5 vs. Nexus 4: What's changed

Google and LG finally unveiled the much-awaited new Nexus smartphone, the Nexus 5 with significant changes - they have made the smartphone more powerful, apart from lighter and thinner. The Nexus 5 is also meant to be the platform lead device for Android 4.4 KitKat, showcasing the potential of the new OS. Here is how the Nexus 5 squares up against the Nexus 4, its predecessor, and platform lead device for Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
Display
Google and LG have decided offer a bigger display with the Nexus 5. It features a 4.95-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixel) IPS+ LCD display which boasts a pixel density of 445ppi, and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. On the other hand, the Nexus 4 sports a 4.7-inch HD (768x1280 pixels) IPS+ LCD display with a pixel density of 320ppi, and Corning Gorilla Glass 2. We've yet to get our hands on the Nexus 5, and for now, can't take a call on which display is better for now (in terms of viewing angles, colour accuracry, brightness and contrast), with both featuring the same display technology.
Camera
The Nexus 5 sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with OIS, a new addition to Nexus smartphone line-up. It also houses a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. On the camera front, the Nexus 4 was criticised for its relative average camera performance. However, Google has now acknowledged the issue and has introduced the optical image stabilisation (OIS) feature in the Nexus 5's camera, which should ensure sharper images and video. The rest of the imaging optics appears to be the same as the Nexus 4, with the same 8-megapixel sized rear camera, and 1.3-megapixel front camera. In addition, the camera app was also updated with Android 4.4 KitKat (which will make its way to the Nexus 4), with Photo Sphere for Panorama 360 degree shots; HDR+ mode for burst shots which automatically chooses the best shot.
Hardware
The Nexus 5 is powered by top-of-the-line 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, which is coupled with the Adreno 330 GPU. Its predecessor, the Nexus 4, is powered by 1.5GHz quad-core Krait Snapdragon processor with Adreno 320 GPU.
It seems for the Nexus 5, Google and LG decided to stick with the flagship tradition and chose the Qualcomm's latest processor, available on nearly all the recently launched flagship smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, LG G2 and Sony Xperia Z1.
There is an upgrade in the battery department as well; the Nexus 5 comes with 2300mAh battery which the manufacturer claims can deliver up to 17 hours of talktime (3G) and a standby time of up to 300 hours (3G). Nexus 4 came with a 2100mAh battery, which was rated to deliver up to 15 hours of talktime (3G), and 390 hours of standby time (3G).
Notably, the Nexus 5 does not feature expandable storage with a microSD card slot, once again knocking the smartphone off a potential purchase list for some users - the lack of microSD card support was perhaps the biggest omission the Nexus 4 was criticized for.
Design
The Nexus 5 at 8.59mm is definitely slimmer than the Nexus 4, which is 9.1mm thick. It is also lighter at 130 grams, compared to the Nexus 4's 139 grams. The overall design has been also re-worked and instead of the glass back seen on Nexus 4, the Nexus 5 comes with a Nexus 7 (2013) tablet style-panel, featuring a matte finish and prominent Nexus branding.
Connectivity options
Connectivity options on the Nexus 5 have also seen an upgrade with the much-requested addition of LTE network support. The Nexus 4 had been criticised heavily for not including support. The Nexus 5 brings dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 ac as well. Not many other changes have been made on the Nexus 5 on the connectivity front.
The Nexus 5 also features Android Beam, an NFC enabled feature which lets users share digital details with just a tap of smartphone. Other connectivity features included are wireless charging support, and Bluetooth 4.0, which are also available on the Nexus 4. T
Software
Google's new Nexus smartphone is the first device to run Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box and is definitely an improved version of the Jelly Bean. The Nexus 4 will be receiving the update soon as well, and will have all the same features - so, only the preloaded aspect is different. The new features include a smart dialler, and Google-powered Caller ID. KitKat also brings the ability to wake the smartphone by just saying 'OK Google', a feature which was earlier seen on Moto X.
Google also claims that the Android 4.4 KitKat can now optimise memory and improve touchscreen response for better multitasking. Android 4.4 also bring some new features such as Hangouts app now can show messages and MMS; new immersive mode, offers full screen while reading, watching or playing, on swiping the edges offers navigation bar and status bar; native printing from Android, offers users an option to print documents, images and web pages from a device.
Price
Nexus 5 is priced at $349 for the 16GB variant while the 32GB model costs at $399. In India, the Nexus 5 has been priced at Rs. 28,999 for the 16GB model while the 32GB variant is listed for Rs. 32,999.
On the other hand, the Nexus 4 16GB was launched at $349 in October 2012, and received a $100 price cut in August 2013. For the Indian pricing, the Nexus 4 16GB was launched at Rs. 25,999 in May.
Overall
Those considering upgrading from the Nexus 4 to the Nexus 5 will get a better-specced device that will deliver much faster performance, new Android 4.4 KitKat software out-of-the-box, improved camera, upgraded battery and LTE support (though not for India).
Once again, like the Nexus 4, the Nexus 5 is a great deal for those looking for a value for money performance Android smartphone - just the Snapdragon 800 chipset at this price is a steal.
The Nexus 5 has now been listed on the Indian Google Play store with a pricing of Rs. 28,999, while the Nexus 4 has been removed from the store completely, though we expect online retailers to continue listing it for a while, without a price drop.


Read more
Android 4.4's 'Caller ID by Google' raises privacy concerns: How to opt out


Google unveiled Android 4.4 KitKat last week, announcing a number of improvements, including more immersive graphics, as well as deeper integration with Google's intelligent assistant, Google Now, among other changes and improvements.
 
A part of these improvements is the new Phone app that automatically prioritises the users' contacts based on the people they talk to the most. Users can also search for nearby places and businesses, contacts, or people in their Google Apps domain directly from the Phone app. 
 
The Mountain View giant has now posted more details about the new Phone app on Google+. 
 
It has talked about the 'Caller ID by Google' feature in detail through which Google will let users identify unsaved phone numbers. It reiterates that the new Phone app helps users find the right number, even if it's not in their contact list, by letting them search among nearby places or even Google Apps accounts (including their company's directory, if employees numbers are shared). 
 
Other than that, it will match numbers against the names of companies and services with a Google Places listing.
 
However, the more worrying bit in terms of privacy is that, in early 2014, users who have verified their phone number and have discovery turned on will also have their names and Google Profile photos displayed whenever they call users, or users call them. Google says that 'it's great if a new friend who hasn't been saved in your contacts yet calls you' but some people would surely not like to get their phone number listed and available for lookup on an open public directory. It's not clear if Google will also allow people to search for numbers by entering names and browsing through profile listings.
 
Fortunately, you can check your Google Account to see if your phone number is listed and disable it by unchecking against the phone number by visiting this page. If you uncheck it, people will not be able to look up your name, photo and public Google profile (and other profile information you have shared with them) via the phone number. It's worth pointing out that it takes a day or so for this change to take effect, as per Google.
 
If you're worried about the privacy of your phone number, you should uncheck the option to display it with your Google profile.

Read more
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Back To Top