Richard Gomez | Page 30 of 55

Nexus 7 2026 review

November 19, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

In the 1982 sci-fi movie “Blade Runner,” there are hints that the hero, played by Harrison Ford, is an artificial human – an “android” or “replicant.” His job is to go out and kill other, rogue androids.
If he's an android, he's of the latest model, Nexus 7. That's also the name Google Inc. has picked for the first tablet to bear the Google brand. Clearly, its mission is to go out and kill rogue tablets running Google's Android software.
Specifically, the Nexus 7 seems to have been designed to give anyone who bought a Kindle Fire from Amazon.com Inc. or a Nook Tablet from Barnes & Noble Inc. a lethal case of buyer's remorse.
The Nexus 7 costs $199, the same that Amazon and Barnes & Noble charge for their tablets. But it's better than theirs in significant ways, as it became clear to me after a couple of days of use. Google announced the tablet last week and is taking pre-orders for delivery in mid-July.
Why is Google targeting the Kindle Fire and the Nook ..

iBall Slide i7218 2026

July 30, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

iBall had launched a tablet device in September 2011 and now the company has launched a revamped version of its Slide with i7218. The newer version of the device runs on Android 2.3 though the user interface is similar to Honeycomb.
The i7218 is cheaper than its predecessor, as it comes with the price tag of Rs. 11,999 and will be competing with the likes of Reliance Tab 3G. When switched on, the device greets you with “Get ready to enjoy the ride”, so let's try and find out how is the ride of the new iBall Slide i7218.
Hardware/ Design
In terms of design, the 7-inch tablet is made primarily of plastic and has a metal-based side casing. Unlike the previous model's box like design, this one has a curved and lighter body. At the back is a 2.0 MP camera, with the speakers. The front has a VGA camera on the top and three capacitive touch control buttons on the right.
On the right side, is a Micro-USB port, a mini HDMI port, a USB port, 3.5 mm headphone jack and an external slot ..

Microsoft Surface 2026

July 30, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Microsoft seems to have gotten the design and form factor right with its new Surface tablet computer. But the user interface, not so much. That's an odd conclusion to make about a device from a software company that usually lets others do the manufacturing.
Still, that's how I felt after feeling the heft of the device, examining it from all sides and making a few swipes at the screen. The Surface has a touch keyboard cover that feels great and, to me, is a big step forward for tablets. The tablet's software interface, however, seems non-intuitive and sluggish.
Microsoft is clearly straddling the uncomfortable divide between the old world of mice and keyboards, where it dominates, and a future ruled by touch screens, where Apple and Android devices prevail.
Although the Surface won't go on sale until this fall, I had the chance to spend a few minutes with some devices in a group demonstration after Microsoft unveiled them in Los Angeles on Monday.
The removable cover..

Micromax Funbook review 2026

July 5, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

The last few weeks have seen a flood of low-cost Android tablet launches in India. Known manufacturers like HCL and even the unknown ones, like Zync, have jumped in to tap this lucrative market.
Micromax is one of the vendors to join the mix with its decently priced Ice Cream Sandwich sporting Funbook. Although Funbook sounds like a great deal on paper, is it worth it? We will find out in this review.
Hardware
Like other low-cost tablets available in the market, Micromax Funbook comes with all plastic body with faux aluminium coated back. The tablet has been put together well, but the hardware Android buttons seem unecessary, considering the on-screen virtual buttons introduced in Ice Cream Sandwich.
Among other hardware characteristics, Funbook comes with a volume rocker and power button on the right side, while all the ports including 3.5mm headset jack, TF card slot, HDMI, Mini-USB and charging port are placed on the bottom. The Mini-USB port can be used to plug-in the data card (av..

New iPad: A polishing of the old

July 30, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

On Friday, the new iPad goes on sale. Be sure to ask for it by name: the iPad.
Because if you ask for the iPad 3, the Apple representatives will look at you funny. Last year's model was called the iPad 2, but this third-generation model is just called the iPad. (Why not continue the numbering pattern? “That would have been too predictable,” says Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president for marketing.)
Really, the new iPad should have been called the iPad 2S. In the past, Apple added the letter S to iPhone models that weren't exactly new but had been tastefully enhanced (iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4S). That's exactly what's going on with the new iPad. Its technical improvements keep it at the forefront of desirability – just ahead of the snapping jaws of its Android competition – but don't take it in any new directions.
The biggest new feature is what Apple calls the Retina display: like the one on the iPhone 4S, it's a very, very sharp screen. It's f..

Review: Asus Transformer Prime 2026

July 5, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

When the Asus Transformer Prime hit our desk, it was like Christmas, Diwali, New Years and all our respective birthdays had arrived at the same time. If that doesn't tell you how eager we were to get our grubby mits on this tablet, we don't know what will. The Transformer Prime was launched earlier on in parts of the world, but India is finally catching up with the tablet. We got one in our hands and we put it through its paces and here are our observations.
Hardware
The Transformer Prime created waves across the 'tabletverse' when it was announced. Powered by the Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core chip, the device is the only quad core tablet in the market. Another noteworthy addition to the hardware list is the new Super IPS display under a Gorilla Glass panel. The screen acts not only as a major fingerprint magnet, but is also highly reflective, meaning it has a major glare problem. This is where the Super IPS display comes in. Once enabled, the screen's brightness ch..

Review: Sony Tablet P 2026

June 21, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

In recent times, we've seen the tablet market overflow with devices claiming to be 'iPad killers'. Every other tablet just wanted to prove itself to be better than the iPad but while none have been better, only few such as Motorola (Xoom) and Samsung (Galaxy Tab 10.1) can claim to have come anywhere close.
And then there was Sony. It did not claim to be the next iPad killer, rather tried to innovate and come up with something new that would grab the attention of the tablet market. Sony finally launched the Tablet S, with a foldable magazine-like design and the Tablet P, which folds in the centre like Nintendo's 3DS console. Today we review the PlayStation certified Tablet P and find out if it is worth your time.
Design & Build
On first impressions, the device looked like the Nokia communicator on steroids which isn't a good thing. The unique clamshell design is what caught our interest. The tablet folds right in the middle supported by two hinges on either side..

Review: Beetel Magiq 2026

June 21, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

With the pricey iPad still at top spot, tablets have yet to acquire the kind of mass market appeal that the mobile phone does in India. This seems to be possible only if companies manage to break the Rs. 10000 price barrier. After Reliance broke ground with a Rs 13,000 tablet, Beetel has boldly gone where no tablet-maker has been before with a tablet that costs Rs. 9999. But is it worth buying or are you better off saving up for the iPad?
Packaging and content:
The packaging of the device reminded us of our first Beetel landline phone – a slightly jazzed up yet simple box. The box houses the tablet along with the battery, one USB data cable, charger and user manual.
Hardware and styling:
For a 7-inch tablet that costs Rs. 9999, expectations aren't very high. At the very least, we'd like a responsive, averagely built but well performing Android device, like the Reliance tab.
The device is really heavy and the build quality feels good. The trade-off is its weight and the width..

Review: Reliance 3G Tab 2026

June 17, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

There seems to be no end in sight for the Tablet frenzy. After the iPad 2 and the Android Honeycomb armada, here is Reliance's latest 7-inch, 3G tablet which runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and comes bundled with a multitude of 3G plans. At the outset we have to say that for a change this one does not follow the monotonous similarity of all the other Android tablets. Lets see if this one breaks the ice with the Indian masses.
Packaging and Content
Reliance gives us the standard set of goodies including the power cable, the USB cable, the 4-gigabyte memory card and also a pair of super-cheap headphones. But yes, headphones. Apple, are you reading this? If Reliance can, so can you – give us headphones with the iPad!
Hardware and Styling
At Rs 12,999, this is not the cheap Chinese built tablet one would expect. Even though its clearly 'made in China' courtesy ZTE, its at the higher end of the spectrum. With its brushed aluminum like plastic finish in the rear, the device indis..

Common Software Would Have Let FBI Unlock Shooter’s iPhone

February 21, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

The county government that owned the iPhone in a high-profile legal battle between Apple and the Justice Department paid for but never installed a feature that would have allowed the FBI to easily and immediately unlock the phone as part of the terrorism investigation into the shootings that killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California.
If the technology, known as mobile device management, had been installed, San Bernardino officials would have been able to remotely unlock the iPhone for the FBI without the theatrics of a court battle that is now pitting digital privacy rights against national security concerns.
The service costs $4 per month per phone.
(Also see: Worldwide Protests Supporting Apple in Encryption Fight With FBI Planned By Internet Rights Group)

Instead, the only person who knew the unlocking passcode for the phone is the dead gunman, Syed Farook, who worked as an inspector in the county's public health department.
The iPhone assigned to Farook also lacked a Tou..

Nikon Coolpix L120 2026

May 27, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Introduction
The Nikon Coolpix L120 is a true mixed bag with its features and performance, giving you the feeling of being a point and shoot in a prosumer's body. The camera lacks a viewfinder and runs on AA batteries but has a fantastic 21x optical zoom and is easy enough for the most amateur photographer to pick up and use. But do the pros outweigh the cons? Read on to find out.
Design and build
The Coolpix L120 is designed as a prosumer and is very compact and comfortable to hold. It isn't very heavy on it's own but four AA batteries really add some weight to it.
The camera has a black matte finish to it with the grip under the shutter button textured for a good hold.
There is only one major flaw with the device – the lack of a viewfinder. Apart from this, the complete design and build feels really good.
The top of the device has the shutter button along with a zoom toggle surrounding it. The on/off button rests just behind this and is very convenient to switch on and..

Videocon 40-inch Liquid Luminous Full-HD TV (KV40FH11CAH) Review

July 5, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Videocon is one of the oldest electronics conglomerates in India, and a trusted name when it comes to appliances. The company also now has significant presence in other industries, such as mobile phones, telecommunications, direct-to-home television services and large-format retail. But if there's one thing the company is known for above all else, it is televisions.
Videocon's latest innovation in the field of televisions is a home-grown LED-LCD based television technology that it calls 'Liquid Luminous'. The range is claimed to reproduce 95 percent of the colours that the human eye is capable of perceiving, compared to the 72 percent that most conventional TV panels reproduce. Today, we're reviewing the Rs. 39,790 40-inch (KV40FH11CAH) model. Does this technology result in a better picture and improved performance? We find out in our review.
Design
The Videocon Liquid Luminous TV isn't the kind of television set that you're likely to give a second gl..