NASA working on refueling satellites

Artist's concept of a servicing satellite (Image: NASA)

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Geostationary satellites cost a fortune and, despite their sophistication, they break down or eventually run out of propellant to keep them oriented. This is unfortunate when the nearest garage is back on Earth, so NASA wants to remedy this with an orbital version of roadside service. The space agency is developing a service robot that can visit ailing satellites and refuel or even repair them on the spot.

Geosynchronous satellites are a vital part of the modern world. Orbiting 22,300 miles (35,800 km) above the earth, they are a key link in global telecommunications, and keep a constant eye on the planet’s weather. They are extremely valuable both for the work they do, and due to the cost of building them and putting them in orbit.

NASA astronaut Mike Fossum holds the Robotics Refueling Mission unit (Image: NASA)

Unfortunately, their service life can be frustratingly short. Even if a satellite operates flawlessly for years without a component failing, there comes a day when it runs out of propellant and can no longer keep itself on station and properly pointed. When that happens, it goes from being a vital part of the global infrastructure to so much space junk. With 149 government-owned spacecraft and 275 commercial satellites currently in geosynchronous orbit, that is a very large investment at risk.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is working to develop orbital robots that can intercept, refuel and service geosynchronous satellites. The refueling program is already at an advanced enough stage that a technology demonstrator called the Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) was delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) in July of last year. The RRM was installed on a temporary platform outside the station.

Though it’s designed to refuel satellites, the RRM isn't just an outer space petrol pump. It’s more of a robotic mechanic with tools to manipulate wires, unscrew caps and operate valves. In March of this year the space station’s RRM, nicknamed “Dextre,” cut two twisted "lock wires" – each one measuring 20 thousandths of an inch (0.5 mm) in diameter. This was an extremely delicate operation and a first for a space robot.

Technicians in protective gear test satellite refueling pump hardware (Image: NASA)

The reason why the RRM needs these capabilities is that the service robot isn't just intended to refuel satellites designed to receive it, but others as well. Goddard wants a robot capable of carrying out what it calls the five “Rs” – refueling, repositioning, remote survey, component replacement or repairing – on any satellite that might require its services.

Working with Goddard are engineers at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Their job is to find a way to safely and effectively refuel satellites using hypergolic propellants such as nitrogen tetroxide, hydrazine and monomethyl hydrazine. It’s a tricky job because these propellants are highly corrosive and toxic, and have low viscosity, which means they spread easily whether you want them to or not. Worse, they ignite on contact with one another, so leaks are definitely out.

Also, the systems on the recipient satellite aren't very robust, so the pumping system needs to be very accurate to avoid blowing a hose or gasket. With this in mind, Kennedy has been testing a proof-of-concept pump. The next phase will be to develop a flight-ready pump and work out operating procedures with testing to begin in the next year. Meanwhile, the astronauts aboard the ISS will be carrying out a refueling demonstration later this year.

Source: NASA

LG Nexus price to start at US$399 unlocked?

Rumours to date have given us a pretty good idea of what the LG Nexus 4 (or LG Optimus G Nexus) will likely look like, its specifications, and even the announcement date. All that is really missing at this point is the price and ByteNow looks to have that last bit of information. According to their anonymous source, the next Nexus device could start as low as US$399 for the 8GB model.

The report adds that the LG Nexus 4 will go on sale through Google Play and that there may be no carrier partnerships (and subsidized pricing) at launch time. Google and LG will offer GSM-only models at first to keep prices as low as possible. More expensive LTE models have been ruled out for now.

If the 8GB model sells for US$399, it is possible that the 16GB one will sell arond the US$449 mark.

As for the name, it looks like it is about 60% in favour of LG Nexus 4 and 40% for LG Optimus Nexus.

 

Asus PadFone 2 Details Revealed, Sports a 4.7-inch display

The facts of the Asus Padfone 2 smart phone, which is set to be presented in a meeting in Tuscany next 7 days, have been exposed online. Operating on a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processer, the Padfone2 activities a 4.7-inch IPS 720p HD show.

Asus has offered the next version of the smartphone-tablet combination with a 4.7-inch Extremely IPS+ HD show, assisting a 1280×720 pixel quality. The Padfone 2 will game a large 10.1-inch show while operated by a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processer reinforced by 2GB RAM. The product is operated by a 2140 mAh power supply.

It also comes prepared with a huge 13MP rear-facing photographic camera, which Bloomberg guarantees us can take some “phenomenal” pictures. It’s hard to tell the quality of the pictures from viewing it clip, but it’s fairly easy to think about how good pictures look when clicked with a 13MP photographic camera.

The people at Bloomberg were fortunately enough to temporarily go hands-on with the system in an appointment with ASUS primary Jerry Shen, and were type enough to put movie of the experience up on YouTube for the globe to see.

Maruti Alto 800 Crosses 6000 Pre-Launch Bookings

Maruti Suzuki has bagged 6000 pre-launch booking orders for the eagerly awaited Alto 800. Bookings for the small car have opened on October 1 after Maruti launched a web page (www.marutisuzukialto800.com/). On the site, those interested can complete all the details and pre-book the car, with deliveries expected to start during the Diwali holidays.
Looking at the response, the company believes that 10,000 bookings before the car’s official launch is very much possible.
New Alto 800 is more fuel efficient than the outgoing variant and has been developed at an investment of Rs 470 crores and is based on the same platform seen on the earlier Alto which was launched 12 years ago. The current model will offer fuel efficiency of 22.74 kmpl which is enhanced by 15% as compared to the previous model while it will sport improved gear shift and additional space in rear passenger cabin. Once launched, MSIL hopes to have a production schedule of 800 cars per day.

Apple Pays for Swiss Railway Clock Design

The apple company may be willing to invest large numbers in judge over some trademark battles, but it is familiar with the training of record and has made the decision not to clutter with the Europe.

Last 30 days, Switzerland’s train owner SBB took Cupertino to process for getting the style of its time for iOS 6's Clock app. Now the globe's preferred fondleslab producer has made the decision to pay up and certificate the style from SBB, rather than danger the anger of the Europe railways.

The iPad Clock app, according to an SBB representative, was “an unwanted use by apple,” and thus they required to work out a “legal and financial” quality to the problem to avoid trademark violation.  However, SBB later confessed that it was “rather extremely pleased that a product as essential as The apple company is using our style,” to explain that they were not basically getting cash for the use of the style.  SBB already does actually certificate the clock’s style to other organizations, such as the company Mondaine, so it can be presumed that The apple company did pay to use the style.

According to SBB, the train time, which was initially developed by Hendes Hilfike in the mid 1940s has become “a icon of advancement and stability.”

Angry Birds Star Wars is the new Android game from Rovio

 



While I got bored of Angry Birds a long time ago, I might just go back to playing it for my love of the Star Wars franchise (the original trilogy, not the horrid new one). Rovio has posted a teaser video of Angry Birds Star Wars, the next Angry Birds game that they teased with an animated image just a couple of days ago. The game will be available for download on November 8th.

The angry birds will no doubt be the Jedi taking on the evil Imperial Sith Forces of those bad piggies. We can probably expect to see Star Wars inspired contraptions and levels, and maybe even a final level taking place in the Death Star. While there is no knowing how the gameplay will be, let us hope it is something new and not just a rehash of the gameplay from the previous games.

Watch the teaser video below. And please Rovio, no Jar Jar Binks.
 

LG Optimus GK referred by Samsung Securities, might be your Optimus G II

 

LG has been in the news lately, and rightly so, as it holds the keys to the next Nexus phone due for release in a few weeks from now.

As per an investment report leaked from Samsung Securities, LG Electronics is forecasted to achieve a significant  turnaround in its smartphone business arm in the first quarter of 2013, and set itself up as the 3rd largest smartphone manufacturer in the word in the first half of 2013. Finnish giant Nokia currently holds the #3 spot, after having revived its strategy through its Windows Phone 7 devices over the last year. The report is actually a standard investment advisory which analyzes a company and recommends a buy or sell order for its stock, based on existing and forecasted performance. In this case, the report indicates a ‘Buy” order for LGE stock, which is usually a positive indicator for times to come.

Now for the more interesting part- the document also makes note of the Optimus G, indicating that it should hit overseas markets sometime in November. It also mentions two hitherto unheard of models (referring to them as successors) – the V2 and GK. Could the GK possibly be the Optimus G II?

No other details are known at this point, and it would be interesting to wait and watch what LG brings to the table over the next few months, and whether it will lay stake to its spot up the ladder to the #3 spot by mid-2013.  What do  you folks think?

LG, Optimus G2

 

ClockworkMod Recovery for Sony Xperia T

Looking to get more out of your Sony Xperia T by installing custom ROMs on it? Well, to do that, you’ll first need a custom recovery like ClockworkMod, which allows you to install custom ROMs and other modifications. This guide will help you flash ClockworkMod (CWM) recovery on your Xperia T with clear step-by-step instructions, so that you can flash all the custom ROMs on the device that your heart desires.

—– Important, Please Read the Text Below —–

 A very important point to note. You must only install this ClockworkMod recovery if you intend on flashing a custom ROM after this, because after you flash this CWM recovery, the phone will always boot into recovery instead of the ROM, unless you flash a custom ROM as the next step. If you intend to use the stock ROM, do not flash CWM recovery.

—– Important, Please Read the Text Above —–

Make sure you read the important note above, then continue reading to find out how ClockworkMod recovery can be installed on the Xperia T.

Compatibility

This ROM and the guide below are compatible only and only with the Sony Xperia T. It’s not compatible with any other device and may render an incompatible device unusable. Check your device model in Settings » About phone.

Warning!

The methods and procedures discussed here are considered risky and you should not attempt anything if you don’t know completely what it is. If any damage occurs to your device, we won’t be held liable.
This procedure requires you to unlock the bootloader which will wipe all your apps, data and settings (but it will NOT touch your SD cards, so don’t worry about those). Backup your Apps and important data — bookmarks, contacts, SMS, APNs (internet settings), etc. This Android backup guide would help you.
NOTE: Don’t forget to at least note down your network’s APN settings, which are required to make mobile data work. Go into Settings » More » Mobile Networks, click on the APN that is in use, then note down the setting for each field. While APN settings should be automatically restored from network, you can enter them manually if needed to make mobile data work. You can also find your APN details ? here.Important! Your Xperia T must have an unlocked bootloader. You can unlock your bootloader officially ? here. Unlocking bootloader voids your warranty, so make sure you have no problems with that before proceeding. Skip this step if you have already unlocked your phone’s bootloader.Install ADB on your computer using the guide ? here. This is required to flash the recovery on your phone. (Skip if you already have ADB installed on your PC).Download ClockworkMod recovery image. Again, remember that you should only be flashing ClockworkMod recovery if you are going to flash a custom ROM after it, or the phone will always boot into recovery if you are on a stock ROM.
Download CWM  |  Filename: recovery.imgDownload fastboot, which will be used to flash the recovery image downloaded in step 4.
Download Fastboot  |  Filename: Fastboot.zipExtract the Fastboot.zip file to the C:\ drive on your computer to get a folder named Fastboot with four files inside it.Copy the recovery.img file (downloaded in step 4) to the Fastboot folder. You should have 5 files in the Fastboot folder now.Now, connect your phone to the computer in fastboot mode. To do this, first plug the USB cable to PC, then pick up your phone and hold the Volume Up key, and then, while holding the Volume Up key, connect the USB cable to your phone.Click on Start menu » All Programs » Accessories » right-click on Command Prompt and click on Run as administrator.Now, in Command Prompt, type the following commands to flash the recovery, pressing Enter after each command. cd c:\Fastbootfastboot flash boot recovery.img
NOTE: If you get a “waiting for device” message with the above command or nothing happens, type fastboot -i 0x0fce flash boot recovery.img to flash recovery.Once the recovery image flash is complete, you will get a “finished”/OKAY message in the command prompt window.Then, type fastboot reboot in the command prompt and press Enter. The phone will then boot into ClockworkMod recovery.You can now disconnect the phone from the computer.
ClockworkMod recovery is now installed on your Xperia T, and you can continue to flash a custom ROM after flashing recovery. Do let us know how it works, in the comments below.

Google TV gets Google Play — Movies, TV Shows and Music gets release date of ‘next few weeks’

 



If you’re using Google TV, this should brighten up your day. Google finally updated Google TV to enable users to purchase movies, TV shows, and music from the Google Play Store.

Movies, Music and TV shows are finally coming to Google TV via Google Play. This means that you can buy or rent content directly through Google Play on your TV, while any existing purchases you’ve already made through your Android phone or tablet will be automatically imported when you connect your Google account. You can also discover new content through its TV & Movies app, which reels in recommendations for shows and movies available on live TV, as well as competitors such as Netflix and Amazon.

Whether you’re using the Google TV service through set top boxes or a Google TV integrated TV set, you can find new content from the Google TV & Movies app. The app also includes a recommendation feature that will suggest shows from Google Play and even from its competitors including Amazon and Netflix.

Google has not revealed any information at this point on regional availability of this content outside the US market. The update has already started rolling out today, and should continue pushing out over the next few weeks.

Aakash to have Ice Cream Sandwich pre-installed, and price of just $35 over time

 



Aakash is first in a series of Android-based tablet computers produced by British company DataWind. It is manufactured by the India-based company Quad. The Aakash tablet, initially launched at a record low price of $50, and meant for distribution to University students, is also considered to be the cheapest Android tablet in the world.

Indian Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal, announced yesterday that the latest iteration of the Aakash Tablet would be made available to students across the nation on November 11th.

The Aakash tablet will pack a 1 GHz processor, four hour battery capacity, and will run Android 4.0- Ice Cream Sandwich  out of the box. Priced at $49, Mr, Sibal also said that with the setting up of core manufacturing processes within India, the price is expected to go down to $35 over a period of time.

Quoting Mr. Sibal :

“At the moment, we are actually formulating a Cabinet note for the manufacturing of five million Aakash tablets without any financial burden on the Ministry of Finance,”

With the easy availability of a variety of low as well as high-cost tablets in the Indian Market, it is indeed encouraging to see a product developed for the student niche. If you have any thoughts, do let us know in comments below

Firefox Beta updated to support ARMv6 devices

 



The Firefox Beta browser by Mozilla has received a major update in the Google Play Store, adding support for ARMv6 processors running at at least 800MHz (devices such as the Galaxy Y have an ARMv6 processor). Being a bit resource heavy, I didn’t think Mozilla would be able to pull this off, but it’s nice to see that they did.

There are some other nice changes and improvements as well in the update. Here is the full list:
Support for ARMv6 phones with at least 800MHZ processor and minimum 512MB RAMNew Reader Mode for easy readingShare tabs with desktop/mobile devices using syncFixed Text Selection for static web pagesUnprefixed CSS3 Animations, Transitions, Transforms and GradientsOpus SupportImproved JavaScript responsiveness
Grab the update from the Play Store by hitting the link below. Do let us know how Firefox runs on your ARMv6 phone.


Android Apps, Firefox Beta, updates

32 GB Nexus 7 is so real, now that it’s been actually delivered

While there have been rumours and reported sightings of a 32 GB version of the Nexus 7 in the retailer databases of CPW or Carphone Warehouse and another reseller, one never really knew for sure whether Asus was actually working on higher storage capacity variant of this awesome tablet, with the available options being limited to just 8GB and 16GB.

A Japanese youngster recently ordered a 16GB Nexus 7 from the Google Play Store, and was pleasantly surprised when he received a Nexus 7 32 GB in the mail, most likely due to a shipping error, considering how tight-lipped Asus and Google have both been about this version. Well, that puts all the speculation to rest.

This not only confirms that the 32GB version does really exist, but that it is available in retailer warehouses, ready to be shipped out once announced. It is expected to have the same technical specs of its lower capacity siblings, with just the storage memory increased.

Rumour has it that the Nexus 7 32GB will be launched on October 28th, which is coincidentally (or conveniently) just 2 days before Microsoft’s Windows 8 launch. Availability details across geographies is not known as yet, but is likely to be imminent.
Nexus 7, nexus 7 32 GB

$99 Google Nexus tablet to enter production in December. Jan-Feb Release Date looks probable!

ASUS might have denied rumors of a $99 Nexus tablet, but according to NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shym, the sub-$100 tablet might be in the works after all and could enter production in December, which would make a release in January or February of 2013 likely.

Of course, expecting the $99 Nexus to carry a quad-core processor might be wishful thinking, but we can at least expect it to sport a capable dual-core processor like the Snapdragon S4. But no matter what the underlying hardware might be, a price of $99 will perhaps make it the most affordable Android tablet at that price and spell more trouble for the iPad’s market share, which is already dwindling rapidly.

Then there is also the rumors of Google collaborating with Samsung to produce a 10.1? Nexus tablet with a display having a pixel density of 299ppi, which if true could mean that Google is targeting every segment of the tablet market that exists, which can only be good for us consumers.

Stay tuned for more info on this. Either ASUS is telling the truth and there is no $99 Nexus tablet, or Google has chosen another manufacturer to do the job. Either way, we should know hear more in the coming weeks. Come on Google, let it all be true!

ZTE T81 announced for Australia. Specs include 1.5 GHz dual-core S4 processor, 4.3″ TFT display and Android 4.0

 



ZTE is firing on all cylinders in their quest to spread out to other markets outside China, announcing and releasing many new Android devices in the past few months. The latest device to be announced by the company is the ZTE T81, a dual-core Android smartphone destined for Australia.

The processor powering the T81 is a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4, making it one of the few high-end devices by ZTE. The display is sized at 4.3-inch LCD of qHD (540×960) resolution, and the OS is powered by Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The T81 will also support Australia’s 4G LTE networks.

Here are the official specs of the T81:
Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 processor1GB RAM4.3-inch qHD display8 megapixel c camera, 1080p HD recording4GB storage, microSD support up to 32GB1900 mAh batteryAndroid 4.0.4 Ice Cream SandwichZTE hasn’t announced any pricing or info on the release date, so stay tuned for those tidbits of info in the coming weeks.

Sony puts hold on sales of Xperia Tablet S in US after discovering defect, over 100,000 already sold

Before you dip that new Xperia Tablet S of yours in water to test its water resistance, stop! It turns out that due to a defect in the manufacturing process at the Chinese plant where the device is fabricated, some of the Xperia Tablet S have a gap between the screen and the case, making them susceptible to water damage.

Sony has currently halted all sales of the tablet till the problem can be resolved. Around 100,000 Xperia Tablet S have already been shipped since its release in early September, and Sony has announced that they will fix any tablet that has already been sold.

While this isn’t going to cause a serious problem unless someone willingly puts their Xperia Tablet S in water, it’s still a matter of concern since the tablet is marketed as being water-resistant. For now, make sure you keep your Xperia Tablet S away from anything in the liquid form, and also head to the nearest Sony repair center to turn it in for repairs.

LG releases videos of QuickMemo and QSlide features in LG Optimus G

LG left no stone unturned when it came to the hardware of the Optimus G, with its powerful quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor or the 4.7-inch True HD display, but the software wasn’t overlooked either. LG added some great software features to the device, and they have now released videos showing off the QuickMemo and QSlide features, in the LG Optimus Innovation Cube series of videos.

The QuickMemo is perhaps the most useful feature LG have added, as it allows you to bring up the memo app from anywhere on the phone, take notes on it in both text and graphical form, then use the data entered in a memo in other apps on the phone, for example copying a phone number from the memo to the dialer app.

The other feature is QSlide which essentially shows two apps on the screen simultaneously. For example, when watching a video, you can open up the Messaging app on top of the video player and message someone while simultaneously watching the video on the background. QSlide basically makes one of the apps transparent so you can fully use two different apps at once.

There’s no denying that these features are very useful and LG has done a great job adding them to the Optimus G. Watch both features in action in the videos below.

Jelly Bean update for Japanese Galaxy Nexus to be release soon by NTT Docomo

In the latest information received by Breaking Gadgets,
NTT DoCoMo and Samsung will be pushing out the Android 4.1 “Jelly Bean” update to the Galaxy Nexus (SC-04D) in Japan in October, with the official announcement to take place on October 11th in a DoCoMo presentation event.
While the Galaxy Nexus is a Nexus smartphone and should get updates directly from Google, the Galaxy Nexus in Japan (as well as in some other countries) is provided updates by Samsung, and coupled with the usual delays caused by carriers, it’s not a surprise that the update has taken this long to come. Even the Sprint and Verizon Galaxy Nexus in the US only got the update last month, two months after the international GSM as well as unlocked Play Store variants got the update.

The update has supposedly completed in-house QA at NTT DoCoMo and Samsung, so the update shouldn’t be too far away. It kills everyone a little to see Nexus devices get delayed updates like this, but that’s how it currently is.

The Roomie Remote – Gives Your iDevice Total Control

Sure, I have a few remotes on my side table. One for the TV, another for the DVR and yet one more for the DVD player.. we wont even let the XBox enter into the equation. I thought I’d cut the clutter and get a universal remote and that idea crashed and burned when I was never able to remember what all the buttons did, or even get them to work every time. Apps were an interesting option, but I needed more than one of those for each device…

Using an iDevice as a remote isnt really a new option, but the Roomie is. Taking the place of your confusing old
universal remote, the Roomie takes control of your home theater components, usually via direct communication over your home network. Roomie also serves up a customized TV guide and feedback information, like volume or run-time.
Don’t let me mislead you, this isn’t just a simple universal device, Roomie allows integration with Tivo,   DirectTV, Roku and many others, as its infrared adaptors support almost any device. The Roomie allows iTunes, Airplay, Lutron, Insteon, and Sonos Support and adapts if your devices change addresses. Roomie not only replaces your existing remotes, offering all of their available controls, but sometimes it can add even more advanced options.

Roomie really does provide one of the most powerful infrared solutions available, all without line of sight requirements, no batteries or goofy tabletop apparatus. It lets you hold the control of your entire entertainment arsenal right in the palm of your hand… and all this can be yours for under 10 bucks at iTunes.com. To find out all of Roomies amazing capabilities please visit roomieremote.com.

ZEAL iON HD Video Camera Goggles

If you are one who is always on the go, and have this sense of adventure while loving all activities that are able to result in an adrenaline rush, then you might be interested to record your death defying experiences. After all, it sure as heck beats trying to share what your experiences were in words, when there is a video recording available to keep track of all that you went through which is sure to keep your audiences gasping for air. While there are different kinds of rugged video cameras out there in the market, here is yet another device for your consideration – the ZEAL iON HD Video Camera Goggles.

ZEAL Optics recently announced the ZEAL iON HD camera goggle that is up for purchase. Touted to be the first of its kind in the market, the ZEAL iON is the perfect match for the daredevil in you, where it was specially developed to document adventures on the slopes thanks to its built in HD camera. Capable of capturing 1080p HD quality video with the ability to shoot up to 8-megapixel resolution photos for quick, easy HD imagery without having to remove your gloves, you know that this is a keeper for sure, especially for those involved in the sport of snowboarding.

ZEAL pro snowboarder Kimmy Fasani said, “The ZEAL iON goggle is going to change the way people use POV cameras. With its easy to use playback mode and control placements, there’s never a reason to take your hands out of your gloves. This goggle and camera will be a necessity when I’m filming.”

Not only that, you are able to set up sequence or timelapse shots, while download captured video is a snap, not to mention integrating what you have recorded with a range of social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram among others. Those who are interested will be able to pick up the ZEAL iON goggle for $399 a pop.

Acer S7 Ultrabook is thinnest of its kind in the market

You can more or less blame the MacBook Air for fast tracking the Ultrabook market, in fact, causing PC manufacturers to buck themselves up and come up with something interesting to compete with Apple on a similar level, although it is rather safe to assume that the Ultrabook segment has not really picked itself up to date in terms of sales figures, never mind the fact that it is still growing steadily. Well, Acer intends to keep their hands on the mantle of having the thinnest Ultrabook in the market for some time to come with the release of the Acer S7 Ultrabook which is touted to be nearly as thin as a tablet.

The Acer S7 Ultrabook starts to sound more and more Apple-ish when you read on about it, considering how it boasts of an all-aluminum unibody design (can you say that this is going to be way too easy to damage or get scratched?), you know for sure that this is not going to weigh you down, making it one of the more ideal devices to carry around whenever you are on the showfloor. Don’t be fooled by its exceptionally thin and light form factor, as it is said to be resilient and durable at the same time. Depending on the model of your choice, it measures as thin as 0.47” and tips the scales at a mere 2.29 pounds.

You will be able to choose from either a 13.3-inch or 11.6-inch full high-definition (1920 x 1080) touch screen display, where it will be amply protected by rigid lids made of white Gorilla Glass 2 or aluminum. The S7-391’s lid is able to tilt back a full 180 degrees, so that you can use it flat against a table or desk, similar to how you would make use of a tablet. Not only that, a hotkey is able to rotate the view ny 180 degrees, making it a snap to share what you are viewing with other folks.

Underneath the hood lies a 3rd generation Intel Core i5-3317UB or i7-3517U processor, an SSD, an embedded Li-Polymer battery that delivers up to 6 hours of battery life, and an optional second battery that doubles computing time. There is also a micro HDMI to VGA cable and a USB to RJ45 port. The Aspire S7 Series 11.6” and 13.3” models will retail for $1,199 and $1,399, respectively from the end of this month onwards.

Vizio 60” Razor LED Smart TV

Vizio has just announced their latest Smart TV, which is a 60” Razor LED display that will definitely be priced to please – after all, we are looking at a $999.99 price tag. Of course, there are other sizes in the collection as well, which will be priced differently, and we will also look at those, but for now, the 60” model will be the one that is under the proverbial spotlight. In fact, the newly designed E-Series 60” Razor LED Smart TV will deliver an ultra-thin, slim-frame design, touting a brilliant 1080p Full HD LED quality as well as the inclusion of Vizio Internet Apps. All of that under a sub-$1,000 price point? It sure as heck sounds like Christmas has come early for those who are shopping around for a new TV!

The 60” Razor LED Smart TV will be available via online sources as well as select shelves at Costco Wholesale, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Amazon.com, Target, BJ’s Wholesale, ebay.com, VIZIO.com and other retailers if you are interested in introducing a new member to your living room.

Matt McRae, Chief Technology Officer, Vizio, said, “The new E-Series units, which are the first of many large-size VIZIO models, give consumers access to great technology on an even bigger scale. The larger units provide more screen space with a narrower border around the picture, allowing consumers to get the most out of the crystal-clear Razor LED picture for a more immersive, Wi-Fi enabled experience.”

What are some of the technologies found underneath the hood? We are looking at the latest technologies including Vizio Internet Apps with WIFI, so that one can access the likes of Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, VUDU, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Pandora, Facebook and Twitter, a 120Hz refresh rate, auto-adjusting brightness, and SRS StudioSound HD for clear audio.

You will be able to pick up the 55” Class Razor LED Smart TV, 60”Class Razor LED Smart TV, 65” Class Razor LED Smart TV, 65” Class Razor LED Smart TV with Theater 3D, and 70” Class Razor LED Smart TV for $949.99, $999.99, $1,499.99, $1,699.99 and $1,999.99, respectively.

Toshiba Satellite L850

Toshiba Satellite L850 

New laptop Satellite tv L850 is highly effective, and then some! For around Rs. 55,000, you will get a device operated by a Primary i7 processer, 8GB of RAM and a 2GB video cards, which will heated the center of gamers! The Acer Desire V3 does perform good competitors though, and at a reduced cost, it could be an substitute for someone who doesn't thoughts providing up a few factors. But the Satellite tv L850 is value considering, if within your funds.

Design and Build

   

                                 
Toshiba’s design of the L850 feels a bit outdated and the notebook just feels like a big chunk of plastic. We prefer Asus’s design of the K55VM anyday over this. The glossy metallic finish top will attract fingerprints and is very much prone to scratches, so will black gloss finish on the sides of the notebook. Other than the massive demeanour of the notebook, the build quality is actually pretty good, plastics seem durable and it’s put together pretty well. The lid has a little flex, but nothing out of the ordinary.


The tiled key pad of the New laptop Satellite tv L850 is well spread out, assisted by the edges provided by the 15.6-inch show. There is a devoted variety pad as well. Just like the Desire V5, the touch pad on this one also has a remaining indent, but more than the former. Contact us old created, but we like that to be center arranged, because that is just how the side normally roles itself on the laptop key pad. The dual-tone dark and dull gel well, without the bright complete that creates notebooks servicing starving. The touch pad has a nice quantity of property, and it looks like it has a distinctive complete, but that is actually just an mark.

                        
USB 3.0 and HDMI



Connectivity wise, we have on our right, the microphone and headphone jacks, USB 3.0 ports (x2), HDMI, Gigabit LAN, VGA and an exhaust vent. The left hand side houses the DVD burner, a USB 2.0 port and the charging port. Inside we are greeted by a fairly comfortable chiclet keyboard with a full-sized Numpad. The keys themselves don’t have the best tactile response, so you don’t get a very confident click when you press them, which could be an issue if you type a lot. The power button is placed on top where the speaker grill is.

Specifications of Toshiba Satellite L850 Satellite L850-

Y5310 Laptop 3rd Gen Ci7/8GB/750GB/2GB 

graphics/Win 7 HP (Metallic Ice Silver)

GENERAL
Series	Satellite
Part Number	L850-Y5310
Lifestyle	Gaming

PROCESSOR
Processor	Core i7 (3rd Generation)
Variant	3610QM
Chipset	Mobile Intel HM76 Express
Brand	Intel
Clock Speed	2.3 GHz With Turbo Boost Upto 3.3 GHz
Cache	6 MB

MEMORY
Memory Slots	2 (Unused Slot - 0)
System Memory	8 GB DDR3

STORAGE
Hardware Interface	SATA
RPM	5400
HDD Capacity	750 GB

OPTICAL DISK DRIVE
Read/Write Speed	8x
Optical Drive	DVD RW SuperMulti Drive with Dual Layer Support

PLATFORM
Operating System	Windows 7 Home Premium

DISPLAY
Screen Size	15.6 Inch
Resolution	1366 x 768 Pixel
Screen Type	HD Clear SuperView LED Backlit Display

GRAPHICS
Dedicated Graphics Memory Type	DDR3
Dedicated Graphics Memory Capacity	2 GB
Graphic Processor	AMD ATI 7610M

INPUT
Web Camera	2.0 Megapixel
Pointer Device	Multi-touch Touchpad with Gesture Support
Keyboard	Standard Keyboard with Numeric keypad

AUDIO
Internal Mic	Yes
Audio Chips	Intel HD Audio
Speakers	Built-in Speakers, 16-bit Stereo

COMMUNICATION
Ethernet	10/100 Mbps
Wireless LAN	IEEE 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth	v4.0

POWER
Battery Backup	Upto 4 hours
Power Supply	65 W AC Adapter
Battery Cell	6 cell

PORTS/SLOTS
USB Port	1 X USB 2.0, 2 X USB 3.0
Mic In	Yes
RJ45 LAN	Yes
HDMI Port	Yes
VGA Port	Yes
Multi Card Slot	Yes

Performance

Blazing! Let us discuss the standard assessments first. Thanks to the extremely highly effective quad-core processor processor combined with 8GB of RAM, the Satellite tv L850 ratings an amazing 9254 in the PC Level Benefits analyze. The Desire V3, on the other hand, had obtained an similarly amazing ranking of 7649 in its own right. The obvious benefit of the Primary i7 processor processor reveals up in this analyze. To analyze this further, we ran the PC Level 07 analyze, and the Satellite tv L850 obtained 2649 while the Desire V3 was tag behind with 2055. While we are evaluating the two, we must explain that the two notebooks are focusing on the same group of customers, but the Acer is doing that by having a power program which is a step behind the L850, but that allows it to do that at a much reduced cost.

The above statement is confirmed by the Cinebench CPU ranking evaluation – 6.29 for the Satellite tv L850 for the Primary i7-3610QM. The V3’s Primary i5-2450M obtained 2.7 clearly displaying up the beach between these two years of processor chips.

We had described about the different summer campement these two notebooks sit in, with regards to design. Just to renew your storage, the Acer has the Nvidia GeForce GT630M while the Satellite tv L850 has the ATI Radeon 7670M. Well, ATI lovers will not like how the design standards read! Acer’s Nvidia processor obtained 9944 in the 3D Level 06 analyze, while the Toshiba’s ATI card was a little bit behind with 9123. For 3D Level 11 in Access Method, the Satellite tv L850 ratings 1982 while the Desire V3 ratings 2085 in the same mode. Identical tale in Performance Method, with the Satellite tv L850 ratings 1191 while the Desire V3 obtained 1238. But, best part about it is waiting for the ATI lovers. In the Excessive challenging mode on the same standard, the Satellite tv L850 ratings 391 while the Acer ratings 379.

Clearly, the Acer Desire V3’s Nvidia program is a better cope for those who are a bit picky about their design cards and the evaluation analyze ratings.

Battery life is a large frustration with the Satellite tv L850. Regardless of what, battery power will not last more than 90 moments at complete challenging mode. Not a shock though, with such a highly effective program and the inventory 6-cell battery power to offer the back-up. The Desire V3 was only a little bit better, which clearly places these two notebooks in the pc alternative classification.

Bottom Line

The Toshiba L850 is one solid desktop replacement category laptop. Huge doses of power on tap, with graphics performance that only the Nvidia GT630M in the Acer Aspire V3 betters. Your choice is simple. If you are on a budget, consider the Acer Aspire V3. However, for better raw system performance, the Core i7 on the Satellite L850 is the one to consider.

Apple iPad 3 review: Hotter than ever

So, the iPad is dead, long live the iPad. That's also part of the deal. The retirement of the first-generation of the Apple tablet is nothing out of the ordinary. There used to be the iPad and the iPad 2. Now, we have the iPad and the iPad 2 is the backup, the second choice.

The new iPad. Here's one for you. You're Apple and you're about to launch your latest product. You want to dispel even the remotest suspicion of recycling old stuff. You want the slightest hint smothered of sequels and their questionable worth. What do you do?

  
Apple iPad 3rd gen official pictures

Make it nothing like the old one? No, no - you're not paying attention. Pretend you're Apple. The market leader in tablets, the standard-setter in touchscreen, the king of design, the god of marketing.

Yes, it's as simple as a single stroke of divine wisdom. You get rid of the numbers. Next is wrong - new is what everyone cares about. If you're telling people they're getting the ultimate, the last thing you want them to think about is what comes later. Numbers are about the order of appearance, the new iPad is about the order of succession. In the royal sense.

Key features

• 9.7" LED-backlit IPS LCD touchscreen, 2048 x 1536 pixels; scratch-resistant, oleophobic coating
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity, carrier-dependent hotspot support
• Optional LTE connectivity (data only)
• Optional GPS with A-GPS support (for the 3G model only)
• Apple A5X SoC with 1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor
• PowerVR SGX543MP4 quad-core GPU
• 1GB RAM
• iOS 5.1 with iCloud support and activation
• 16/32/64GB of inbuilt storage
• Weight of 652 grams (662 grams for the LTE version)
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 11,560 mAh battery
• Accelerometer, compass and three-axis gyro-sensor
• Compatible with every iPad and iPhone app without any modifications
• The cheapest version costs less than a SIM-free iPhone
• 5MP auto-focus camera
• 1080p video recording at 30fps
• VGA secondary camera capable of FaceTime calls
• Four and five-finger gestures
• 1080p TV-output with the Apple Digital AV Adapter (purchased separately for $39), 720p video streaming
• Supports magnetic cases

Main disadvantages

• iTunes still required for uploading most of the content
• Reflective screen struggles outdoors
• Same CPU as the iPad 2
• Heavier and thicker than the iPad 2
• No Flash support in the web browser
• No standard USB port
• Non replaceable battery
• No stereo loudspeakers
• No GPS receiver in the Wi-Fi version
• No memory card slot
• No Siri
• Can get uncomfortably hot at times
• No charging while in use
• Lack of basic iOS apps - weather, stocks, clock, calculator, voice memos

The three iPads look almost exactly the same but, to be fair to the new iPad, it brings a massive upgrade. The 2048 x 1536 pixel Retina display has four times the resolution of the previous model. The bar is yet again set too high for the competition. And it's a leap worth several generations. Apple did well to make sure the monstrous screen is well covered in terms of graphic processing with some extra GPU cores too and the performance is flawless.

The 5MP camera is an improved version of the one on the iPhone 4 and the video recording is duly upgraded to 1080p. There's Wi-Fi hotspot support too but that's carrier-dependent and our Wi-Fi-only iPad naturally doesn't have it.

The long list of cons shouldn't come as a surprise. Some of them are down to Apple's way of doing things but we'll look closer at the screen outdoor performance and the reported overheating in gaming or video playback.

    








Source:http://www.gsmarena.com