Acer Iconia W4 [year]

Acer Iconia W4 2025

July 25, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Windows 8 has an identity problem. The Modern UI, with its big, bright tiles and touch-friendly apps still isn't useful for anything more than the occasional game. Microsoft's most recent updates seem to have been designed to make life easier for non-touch laptop and desktop users, making the traditional Windows desktop more prominent and consigning the Start Screen to the background.
We like Windows 8.1 on desktops and laptops, and like many users, we have adjusted to the lack of a Start menu. Once we're in the desktop, there's almost no need to ever deal with the Modern UI, but we don't mind dipping into it occasionally. On most laptops and hybrid ultrabooks, we often forget that the screens are touch-capable, and frankly, that isn't a problem at all.
Perhaps that's why Windows-powered tablets have all but disappeared from the market. Sure, we've got plenty of ultrabooks and hybrids with keyboards that either detach or fold away – but pure tabl..

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro [year] review

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 2025 review

November 25, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Is 12 inches too big for a tablet screen? We're about to find out. Samsung has decided that the world needs bigger tablets, and so we have not one but two 12.2-inch models from the Korean giant. As if their lineup wasn't expansive enough, these new models are the largest of a range of new Android tablets.
Samsung's lineup of tablets now extends from 7 inches to 12.2 inches. Factoring in the Galaxy Mega and Galaxy Note phones which have screens of up to 6.3 inches, Samsung really does seem to be trying every possible size.
The two biggest models, the Galaxy Tab Pro and Galaxy Note Pro, look identical and have nearly identical features, so it's easy to mix them up. The chief difference is the S-Pen, which has led to this confusing naming scheme. The S-Pen has been reserved for the Galaxy Note series of smartphones, so it probably seemed appropriate to name this tablet Note Pro.
Look and feel
There's no doubt about it; this thing is huge! It's also rather he..

Kanye West Announces Video Game; No Man's Sky Creator Tweets His Support

Kanye West Announces Video Game; No Man’s Sky Creator Tweets His Support

February 13, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry already have video games based on them, and it seems that Kanye West is doesn't want to be left behind. West's game is called Only One and it's based on his song by the same name.
At the launch of his new album, The Life of Pablo, he unveiled a trailer for the video game that is based on his mother Donda West. She passed away in 2007 and the game is about her travelling through the gates of heaven.
(Also see: Kim Kardashian Game Maker Glu to Develop Katy Perry Game)
“”I worked on a video game and I wanted to show y'all. The idea of the game is my mom travelling through the gates of heaven,” West said during a livestream on Tidal. He further went onto explain how tough it was to pitch his game and sell a game company on the idea.
“Like, no, you don't understand! Like, I'll go and meet with everybody in San Fran, and they'll diss the f**k out of me,” And I'll be like, 'I want to make a game,' and they&#03..

Nikon Coolpix L830 Review: Swivel and Zoom

Nikon Coolpix L830 Review: Swivel and Zoom

May 23, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Nikon recently updated its Coolpix range of cameras including the Life (L) series. At the high end of the L series is the Nikon Coolpix L830 which is an update to the Coolpix L820. This is a bridge camera with a 34x optical zoom lens, which is slightly lower than Sony DSC-H300's 35x optical zoom.
While the Coolpix L830 seems to have a lot going for it, we find out if this camera has the actual chops to capture great images.
Design
Truly bridging the gap between DSLRs and compact digital cameras, the Coolpix L830 is a super-zoom digital camera trapped in a DSLR frame, only much smaller. While it is available in plain black as well as red, the plum colour variant which we got for review is very striking. The body is made entirely of plastic with a glossy coat of paint on top, but it does feel sturdy. On the whole, for the amount it costs, the camera looks premium.
The most striking feature of the camera is the variangle LCD monitor which can be tilted and lowered to an angle of a..

Canon PowerShot SX600 HS Review: Petite And Powerful [year]

Canon PowerShot SX600 HS Review: Petite And Powerful 2025

December 25, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

It is not uncommon for us humans to ask for a little more. Buying coriander? Ask the grocer to put some more in the bunch. At a bargain store picking up something cheap? Ask the shopkeeper to give you a bigger discount. Bargaining is not just an Indian phenomenon but something seems to come naturally to all humans.
Canon might have developed the PowerShot SX600 HS with this attitude in mind, since it gives a little more of everything compared to other point-and-shoot cameras: greater optical zoom and compactness.
The PowerShot SX600 HS, which we have with us for review, comes with an 18x optical zoom lens in a pretty small body. We put it through its paces to figure out if it the photos it takes look as good as the camera itself does.
Design
Encased in a glossy plastic body, the Canon PowerShot SX600 HS is pleasing to the eye. It is almost unnatural that Canon managed to cram an 18x optical zoom lens into such a small camera, considering its dimensions of 103.8 x 61.0 x 26.0mm. The S..

Nikon Coolpix AW120 [year] Review: Travelling Tough

Nikon Coolpix AW120 2025 Review: Travelling Tough

November 15, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

If recent industry reports are to be believed, the market for point-and-shoot digital cameras is dwindling year-on-year. This isn't surprising giving the increasing popularity of smartphones, especially ones with more-than-capable cameras. The need of the hour for digital camera manufacturers is to come up with products that can do things smartphones can't, in terms of both, features and image quality.
Some manufacturers have tried to stand apart with rugged or a waterproof cameras which cater to people who enjoy travelling or are into extreme sports. Nikon, an industry veteran, has the Coolpix AW series of point-and-shoot cameras servicing this demographic. Apart from being waterproof, these cameras are also shockproof and could very well be great travel companions.
Nikon unveiled 16 new cameras in its 2014 Spring Series, one of which was the Coolpix AW120 – an upgrade to the AW110. The new model is almost identical to its predecessor except for a slight increase in heft, hi..

Canon EOS 700D [year] review

Canon EOS 700D 2025 review

July 28, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Canon EOS 700D review
Canon EOS 700D is the 'flagship' device in company's entry-level consumer DSLR range. Canon has included some creative features as well as a very responsive capacitive touchscreen to make sure this camera appeals to first time users as well as those looking for an upgrade. Bundled with the camera is the 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 stock lens. So how does it work, let's find out.
In the box
Canon EOS 700D body LP-E8 rechargeable battery AC adapter kit ACK-E8 Manual Warranty card USB cable Hand strap 512MB SD Card Software CD Canon EF 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 lenses Build/ Design
The first thing you notice about the 700D is its petite frame, slightly smaller than the previous generations and much lighter when it comes to weight of the body alone. Canon EOS 700D is one of the lightest DSLR cameras that I have come across, slightly smaller than most entry-level DSLR cameras, and lighter, at just 580 grams for the body with the battery and a SD Card inside. The bund..

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 - [year] review

Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 – 2025 review

August 23, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Point-and-shoot cameras are at an interesting place. Many believe that point-and-shoot cameras will soon be replaced by smartphones that have very capable cameras, and the likes of iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia 920 and others are proof of this trend. However, one advantage that point-and-shoots continue to have over smartphones is optical zoom, and having a huge optical zoom can indeed be of great use.
Sony likes to call the Cybershot DSC-WX300 the smallest point-and-shoot camera with a 20x optical zoom, and on it's own the camera indeed looks tiny. Let's take it for a test and see what it holds.
In the Box
Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 cameraManualWarranty cardPower cableUSB chargerUSB cable for chargingHand strapBatteryHDMI cable4GB memory cardBuild/ Design
The Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 is a small little camera when you hold it in your hand, but the moment you put it next to another point-and-shoot you realise it is not as small as it initially seems. Having said that, you have to admire..

Nikon Coolpix P330 [year] review

Nikon Coolpix P330 2025 review

August 4, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Nikon Coolpix P330 is a new point and shoot from Nikon that gives you a 5x optical zoom, a 24 to 120 mm wide-angle zoom lens, with a maximum aperture of f/1.8. It is targeted at a consumer who is looking at more control on the camera than a basic point-and-shoot, without the bulk associated with a DSLR. Does the Coolpix P330 deliver on this count? Let's find out.
In the box
Nikon Coolpix P330 camera
Nikon EN-EL-12 Lithium Ion Battery
Charger with unpolarised NEMA plug
Convertor to use with Indian sockets
USB cable
RCA to USB/AV out cable
Lanyard (Handstrap)
CD With reference manual
CD With Nikon View NX2 software
Warranty cards and manuals
Though the camera is capable of recording full-HD video, and also has an HDMI port, Nikon does not include an HDMI Cable, and gives a RCA Cable. This felt a bit odd.
Build/ Design
The moment you take it out of the box, the first thing that you notice about the Nikon Coolpix P300 is the boxy sharp feel. When you hold it in your hands, the grip is..

Nikon J1 and V1 [year]

Nikon J1 and V1 2025

August 17, 2018 Richard Gomez 1

With Olympus, Sony and Panasonic having introduced their mirrorless cameras long ago, everyone wondered, when, and even if, the big two, Canon and Nikon would enter the space. After much speculation, Nikon has finally broken the silence with the V1 and J1, two mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are part of the new Nikon 1 system.
Not adhering to the tradition micro four thirds standard, Nikon has chosen to develop their own 1-inch sensor dubbed the CX, which has also called for a redesign of not jus the lenses, but also the lens mount. We grab both the cameras and put them through their paces to see whether they live up to the hype that comes from being a flagship Nikon Product.
Note: Units reviewed here are the Black Nikon 1 V1 that came bundled with the 10mm f/2.8 pancake lens and a White Nikon V1 J1 that came bundled with the 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 and the 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 lenses. Both the lenses that came with the J1 also sport Nikon's proprietary Vibration Reduction te..

Review: Canon 600D [year]

Review: Canon 600D 2025

July 18, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

The Canon 600D is the newest entry level DSLR from Canon, engineered for those looking to break into photography on a budget. The camera boasts many excellent features on paper, but we put the camera through its paces to see whether it can deliver on its claims.
In the Box

Canon 600D
Canon LP-E8 battery pack (same as the one in Canon 550D)
Canon LC-E8E charger
EOS Digital Solution CD
Standard USB Cable
Audio-Video out cable
Canon camera strap
Warranty cards and manuals
Build
The Canon 600D is built from the same high-grade plastic as its predecessor, the 550D. Despite being a plastic construction, the camera feels robust and is light enough to handhold for several hours. This can work in favour for most beginner photographers who would shoot with kit lenses, but we found that with a heavier lens such as the Canon 24-70 f/2.8, it made the setup very unbalanced, with the bulk of the weight being in the front.

The 600D gains an articulated swivel-screen (1040K Dots) that adds a little ..

Review: Sony DSC HX100V [year]

Review: Sony DSC HX100V 2025

July 12, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

This camera from Sony is definitely for those who are looking to graduate from Point and Shoot cameras and are still not ready to take on the DSLR challenge! Sony DSC HX100V packs in most of the functionality of a DSLR, manual focus, LCD adjustment along with a viewfinder and other features like 30x Ultra Optical Zoom, as well High Definition, 3D shooting and Sweep Panorama. So all that it misses out on for it to be a DSLR is the lack of interchangeable lenses and of course the other big differentiator is the price.
Design and Built:
The Sony DSC HX100V with its matte black finish, looks and feels very strong and robust. Yet it is very light which makes it easy to carry around. The entire body is made up of plastic. The rubberised hand grip and the textured thumb rest make it very good for steadiness and strong grip, even if you want to shoot with just one hand.
The shutter button surrounded by the zoom toggle (a very common feature in Sony Digital cameras) along with the Focus and..