The Acer Switch Alpha 12 Is the Best 2-in-1 Notebook for the Price

The Acer Switch Alpha 12 is not just another entry in the crowded market for 2-in-1 notebooks. As the first device of its kind to pack liquid cooling, the metal-clad slate features more capable hardware than most of its competitors, while maintaining fanless design and quiet operation.

With detachable keyboard and optional stylus pen, the Acer Switch Alpha 12 is a direct rival to Microsoft's own Surface Pro 4 slate. However, thanks to its remarkably lower $600 starting price tag, the newcomer is considerably more affordable than its more popular competitor.

In the Metal

With a brushed metal back and neatly integrated kickstand, the Acer Switch Alpha 12 looks and feels as upmarket as the best devices in its class. The front of the tablet is dominated by its 12-inch display, whose bezels we wish were a tad smaller.

The build quality of the Acer Switch Alpha 12 is solid; the same goes for the device's bundled accessories. Despite its long spec sheet, the Switch Alpha 12 is only a bit over half an inch thick, and weighs about 2.8 pounds.

Hardware

Buyers of the Acer Switch Alpha 12 can choose between Intel's sixth-generation Core i3, Core i5, or Core i7 processor. Depending on their configuration choice, they will get 4GB or 8GB of RAM.

All Switch Alpha 12 tablets boot Windows 10. Some of the top-end variants run the Pro version of the OS.

Onboard storage choices range between 128GB and 512GB (all solid-state drives). Users can also expand memory via a microSD card slot. as well as by plugging external drives into the device's USB ports.

Every Acer Switch 12 features an excellent 12-inch IPS touchscreen with a resolution of 2,160 by 1,440 pixels. The sharp display panel delivers good color reproduction, stellar contrast, and top-notch viewing angles.

All models feature a 5MP camera on the back, couple with a 2MP front-facing snapper. The latter can also stream HD video.

The device's wired ports include a full USB option, and a speedier USB Type-C one. A full set of wireless connectivity options is also on board.

Performance and Battery Life

We tested a mid-range configuration of the Acer Switch Alpha 12 with Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. The convertible notebook is plenty powerful for a device in its class, so we weren't surprised to see it make quick work of every task we threw at it.

In addition to handling casual computing without breaking a sweat, the device is also a capable work tool, especially in Core i5 and Core i7 guise. More demanding tasks such as photo and light video editing will not slow the device down.

Acer's detachable backlit keyboard for the Switch Alpha 12 is one of the best in its class. It works well on any surface, including in your lap. The trackpad is reasonably large and pleasantly responsive, while the built-in kickstand allows users to find the right angle on every occasion.

Wrap Up

By offering an appealing blend of power, portability, pleasant design, and attractive pricing, the Acer Switch Alpha 12 is handily on of the most appealing options in its class. The manufacturer's innovative liquid cooling tech allows the slate to deliver performance and productivity that most of its competitors cannot quite match.

The most notable rival to the Switch Alpha 12 is the better looking and hugely capable Microsoft Surface Pro 4. However, with a $899 starting price tag (for an Intel Core m-equipped device), it is considerably more expensive than similarly equipped Acer devices. The excellent keyboard for the Surface costs additional $130.

Pricing of the Acer Switch Alpha 12 kicks off at $600 for a variant with Intel Core i3 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD. In our opinion, the best options to go for are priced between $700 and $850, and come with more powerful Core i5 CPU and 8GB of RAM (internal storage options vary by price).

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Anki Cozmo Robot Is the Cutest Way to Experience Artificial Intelligence

Cozmo is a self-aware, highly sophisticated robot that's masked as a cool-looking toy. Thanks to an upcoming software development kit, it will also become an easily accessible platform to learn about AI and robotics.

The tiny Cozmo robot by Anki is surely the cutest piece of tech we've come across to date. Announced this summer to a great deal of acclaim, the self-aware gadget is part incredibly cool smart toy, part powerful and easily accessible platform to learn about artificial intelligence and robotics. And, trust us, this will be one of the hottest gifts for kids this holiday season.

Bits You Need to Know

Cozmo is as sophisticated mechanically as it is intelligent. It consists of hundreds of meticulously engineered parts that have been tested extensively for safety and durability. Some of the key components of the robot include a quartet of motors to help Cozmo move around, a display that showcases its emotions, as well as a VGA camera to help it see its surroundings.

In addition to helping the robot look around in 30 frames per second, Cozmo's VGA camera also features facial recognition software. The latter helps the robot remember people and interactions. As it interacts with you, it'll even show it's expression right on its screen so you know what it's thinking.

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Tiny Device Allows You To Track Your Vehicle Using Your Smartphone

How Does it Work?

It's easy! Install the free TrackR app on your smartphone, connect the app to your device and you're ready to go! Simply attach TrackR to whatever you want to keep tabs on. The entire process of setting it up only takes 5 minutes or less.

You can attach it to your keys, briefcase, wallet, your latest tech gadgets and anything else you don't want to lose. Then use the TrackR app to locate your missing item in seconds.

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"This device has saved me tons of time and money!"

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Forget expensive GPS systems or tracking services. Nobody wants to pay expensive monthly subscription fees. We understand how stressful these things can be, and this is the reason why TrackR was created. This device is your VIP when you need to take care of more important things in life.

Remember the car scenario above? If you have the TrackR, you can just hide it under your car's floor mat, in the trunk or in the glove compartment. Somewhere it won't be found if your car gets stolen.

If you forget where you parked your car, whip out your smartphone and open the TrackR app. Tap on the "lost item" icon on the screen and the app will tell you the exact coordinates of the last known location of the TrackR.

How Much is it Going To Cost Me?

You're probably thinking that this device is very expensive... False! TrackR only costs $29! That's a small price to pay for peace of mind, isn't it?

Where can I buy one?

you can buy it directly from the company's website by clicking here.

What else can I do with TrackR?

As we said before, TrackR has unlimited possibilities. The device is small and unobtrusive enough that you can attach it to your pet. Put it on their collar, and the issue of searching for them as they scamper off to nearby places will be over! Attach it to your keys and wallet, and never waste a minute rummaging the whole house for it.

TrackR even comes with a double-sided adhesive so you can stick it to your laptop or under your bike seat. Track down and punish the thieves who steal your expensive things!

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Apple iPad Air 2 Review

Thinner, lighter and more powerful than last year's model, the iPad Air 2 is a tablet that's hard to beat. It's the sleekest tablet on the market, and its 9.7-inch display is beautiful to behold. Plus, the addition of Apple's Touch ID fingerprint scanner gives it a big security boost. But as a work device, Apple's flagship iPad still has some noteworthy shortcomings — especially with so many great Windows-powered slates to choose from. That bottom line is that the iPad Air 2 is a very good productivity device, but it's far from perfect.

Design

How thin can tablets get? The iPad Air 2 sets a new bar for tablet slimness, with a thickness of just 0.24 inches (6.1 mm), down from original iPad Air's 0.29 inches (7.37 mm). It's a slight difference, but I immediately noticed that the device felt noticeably thinner, without losing any of the sturdiness of last year's model.

Otherwise, not much of the design has changed from the original iPad Air 2, aside from a reflective ring on the home button that indicates Touch ID functionality (more on this later). With a slick glass-and-metal design, the iPad Air 2 follows in the footsteps of its predecessors as a device that business users can take seriously.

At just 0.98 lbs. (15.68 ounces), the iPad Air 2 is pretty light for a full-size tablet, especially considering its aluminum construction. In comparison, the plastic Galaxy Tab S 10.1 weighs slightly more, at 1.02 lbs. (16.32 ounces.) The Air 2's barely-there design is a perk for business users who carry their tablet with them everywhere.

Display

Apple hasn't upped the size or resolution of the iPad Air 2's display, but it still produces a better picture than last year's model. That's apparently due to a new manufacturing technique that fuses the glass, LCD panel and touch sensor into a single unit, eliminating air gaps. The result is a picture that practically seems to sit on top of the display.

Meanwhile, a new anti-reflective coating makes it easier to use the iPad Air 2 outdoors in direct sunlight. Indoor reflections are also a bit more diffuse and less distracting than on last year's model. The result is a clearer picture with wider viewing angles, both indoors and out.

The 9.7-inch display feels large enough for most business tasks. While running the iPad version of Microsoft Word, the screen afforded plenty of space for both my document and the options ribbon at the top of the screen. For seriously screen-intensive tasks like editing a spreadsheet, however, things can start to feel a bit cramped. Those tasks are better suited for a desktop computer with a larger monitor. Either way, you'll want to pair your iPad Air 2 with a Bluetooth keyboard, since the touch-screen keyboard takes up half your usable screen space.

Security

The best new thing about the iPad Air 2 has to be the Touch ID fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button. The feature, which was introduced with the iPhone 5s last year, makes its tablet debut with the iPad Air 2 (as well as the iPad mini 3).

You'll register your fingerprint as part of the setup process. After that, unlocking your device is as easy as holding your finger over the button. That way you can keep your work tablet locked down without annoying password screens. You can also lock individual apps using Touch ID, to keep business data from being tampered with if you share you tablet with family.

Performance

Most modern tablets are more than speedy enough for basic productivity tasks. If you need a little extra horsepower, though, the iPad Air 2 delivers. It includes Apple's new A8X chip, an upgraded version of the processor found in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Apps open and close quickly, and jumping between apps using the Recent Apps panel (double-press the home button) works without a hitch.

Apps

Android and iOS may have similar app libraries overall, but Apple's platform boasts far more tablet-optimized apps. Plus, apps are typically introduced and updated earlier on iOS than on other platforms. For example, Microsoft's Office for iPad debuted over the summer with a set of features that nearly rivals the full desktop version. Android tablet users, meanwhile, are still waiting for the full Office apps to launch on their platform; the Office Mobile apps currently available for Android are extremely limited in comparison.
Still, you can't run Windows programs on an iPad, which may make Windows tablets like the Surface Pro 3 or Dell Venue 11 Pro a better choice for some business users. Another annoyance is that you can't change which apps iOS uses by default. For example, clicking a Web link in your email will always open up Apple's own Safari browser, even if you prefer to use Chrome.

Keyboards

Business owners are likely to spend more time typing on their tablet than other users. That's why the new ability to install third-party touch-screen keyboards on the iPad Air 2 is such a perk. For example, the Swype app (99 cents) lets you drag your finger from letter to letter to type a word, instead of tapping each key individually. I love typing this way because it's fast and accurate, especially when you have only one free hand.

Unfortunately, Apple is still restricting keyboard developers from implementing some features that are standard on other platforms. For example, Android tablets let you long-press on letters to input numbers and special characters, but that functionality is missing from iOS 8. That means you have to jump back and forth between keyboard menus while typing, which really slows me down. And while the stock keyboard looks nice, the fact that it always displays capital letters on keys is a nuisance, since it forces you to constantly check to see if the shift key is selected. It's one example of Apple choosing style over functionality.

Accessories

One of the perks of owning an iPad is the huge range of accessories available for it, and the iPad Air 2 is no exception. There are dozens of cases, keyboards and styluses available for the device. There's still no mouse support, though, which can make precise tasks difficult. Likewise, there's no easy way to link your iPad up to a larger monitor like you can with a Windows tablet.

Conclusion

For most consumers, tablets don't get much better than this. The iPad Air 2 is the thinnest, fastest and best-looking iPad yet. Meanwhile, the inclusion of Touch ID gives the device a welcome security boost, and iOS still has the best selection of tablet-optimized apps of any mobile platform by far. But iOS still has some annoying limitations, like a limited keyboard and the inability to change your iPad's default apps. And if you rely on a specific Windows program to stay productive, you might be better off with a Windows tablet. But for most people, the iPad Air 2 makes for a great portable productivity machine.

http://techprod4u.blogspot.com/

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The views expressed in the 

above review are my own and do not represent those of Optus or its staff.

Set-up and Design

The LG G5 is big and I love the 5.3” Quad HD screen. The display is ridiculously sharp and viewing angles are on point. The interface is easy to use (speaking as a non-Android user) although I know there was initial dismay at the absence of an app drawer but there are guides online to show you how to install one. Interestingly the LG G5’s lock/unlock button (that doubles as a fingerprint scanner) is situated on the back of the phone below the camera sensor – something that does take some getting used to. However, if you set up a fingerprint unlock, the fingerprint scanner opens the phone so quickly that it doesn’t take long to become acclimatised to this. I absolutely love the precision and accuracy of this feature.

Camera

WOW. Having gone from a phone with an 8MP main camera and 1.2MP front camera, the LG G5 is a complete dream. Featuring a huge 16MP main camera, the LG G5 takes flawless photos even in low light. You can choose a soft or sharp focus on the lens which is perfect for taking Kardashian-worthy selfies and there’s even the ability to shoot a collage photo in one shot. The front 8MP camera is equally brilliant – you can achieve gorgeous, high-quality photos with rich depth-of-field easily. Personally the LG G5’s camera ratio works well for me because I’d rather have a better main camera with more megapixels than most handsets currently on the market, than have both front and back cameras feature the same amount of pixels.

Other features

Charging the LG G5 is rapid thanks to Quick Charge 3.0 – perfect if you need to juice up your phone quickly before heading out again.

Battery life is decent. I lasted a full day with lots of use (downloading apps, scrolling through social media, photo taking and GPS).

The LG G5 also has a module at the base of the phone which you can remove and replace with other LG accessories, called “Friends”. At the moment I don’t think the accessories are quite appealing enough to consider purchasing – one is a camera grip and the other is a digital-to-analog converter that gives you 32-bit audio and an extra headphone jack – but hopefully LG will release more “Friends” soon.

FOR

• Genuinely innovative
• Great camera
• Removable battery
• 
  

AGAINST

• Accessories are a gimmick
• Build doesn't match rivals

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Google Pixel Review

Google’s first smartphone is finally here - welcome the Pixel.

After months of leaks, it was no surprise the Pixel replaced the search giant’s Nexus range of smartphones, now with a more premium design, the latest guts, and a higher price tag.

Note: Google has released the Pixel in two sizes, the 5.0-inch Pixel, and the 5.5-inch Pixel XL. Unlike the iPhone 7, these phones share identical hardware and features (apart from the obvious screen and battery size), so we’ve reviewed them both here.

Design and Screen

The Google Pixel is a good looking smartphone, but it's a little uninspired - it certainly doesn't evoke a deep desire to fondle and stroke it. But we do like the way it looks.

The stand out 'design' element on the Pixel is a glass panel on the rear of the device. This isn't some touch sensitive trackpad, it's just there to make it look a little different to other smartphones, and improve wireless antenna performance, probably.

In the middle of the rear glass panel is a fingerprint sensor. That’s our favourite position, as your index finger naturally rests there. This fingerprint sensor also doubles as a mini trackpad - which is quite useful for the larger XL model.

In a way, the design mimics Google's brand identity, it's quirky, slightly robotic, and soulless, but ultimately, quite endearing.

The smaller Pixel has a 5.0-inch display, and the Pixel XL features a 5.5-inch display. We’ve tested both and much preferred the size of the smaller phone, although the Pixel XL didn't feel comically oversized.

Taking a different tact to Apple, both the Pixel and Pixel XL have the same features, so it’s only the screen and battery size that differentiates them.

The standard Pixel has an HD resolution with a PPI of 441, while the Pixel XL has a 2K display and a PPI of 534. Both are pleasingly sharp (although, not as standout as the Samsung S7) and the AMOLED panels are vibrant and dynamic.

Neither phone is water resistant, which is a bit of a shame. It’s also quite thick at 8.5mm, but the tapered edges do a good job of masking that.

There are three colour options, 'Quite Black', Very Silver', and 'Really Blue'. T3’s advice is to always bet on black, it looks great.

Software

Since this is now Google’s flagship handset, it makes sense that it uses the company’s latest software and services.

Google Assistant plays a big role in the operating system. This replaces Google Now, making it more intelligent, and giving the virtual assistant more of a personality in line with Siri and Cortana.

Google Assistant is a little more friendly, more personal, chatbot-powered AI that can answer your questions, book dinner reservations, play games and suggest smart replies to send your friends when you don't have the time or the energy to actually compose a proper message.

Assistant can be accessed by holding the home button, the home screen widget, or saying the hot words “Okay Google”.

There are also some nifty software features, such as automatic operating system updates, 24/7 customer assistance, and both Pixels will come with Allo, Google’s new instant messaging app, and Duo, the video calling app, pre-installed.

Specs and Battery Life

The Pixel is a very fast smartphone, just like all flagships in 2016. It runs on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 821 processor with 4GB of RAM.

Both devices have either 32GB or 128GB of storage, with no option to expand via MicroSD.

If you're worried about storage, the Pixel comes with free, unlimited Google Photo storage, which is a nice little bonus.

The 5.0-inch Pixel has a 2770 mAh battery, whereas the larger Pixel XL features a 3450 mAh battery.

Camera

Google is really proud of the Pixel's camera, both smartphones feature a 12-megapixel sensor and f/2.0 aperture lens.

The company had the lens and sensor rated by DxO (expert camera testers), and the Pixel came out top in their ranking of smartphone cameras with a score of 89. It's worth noting that DxO test cameras in a lab, and this doesn't always translate to real world testing.

How did we find the Pixel camera in real world testing? We loved it, although we’d have to do more side-by-side testing to see it it’s better than our previous favorite, the Samsung Galaxy S7.

Verdict

I like this smartphone a lot, the software is great, and the hardware has a certain odd charm to it. The camera is also very good, which we’re really pleased about.

The biggest downside is that it lacks any sort of water resistance, something that even the iPhone now has. That’s the only thing stopping us giving this a 5-star rating.

Google’s first smartphone has been a big hit with us, and we think it’s a credible alternative to the Samsung Galaxy S7, HTC 10, and the like.

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FOR

• Great specs
• Fast charging
• Excellent camera

AGAINST

• More expensive than Nexus
• Not water resistant
• Design a little uninspired
• 
  
• http://techprod4u.blogspot.com/

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