Acer Iconia W4 [year]

Acer Iconia W4 2024

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..

Lava Etab Xtron [year] review

Lava Etab Xtron 2024 review

July 10, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

As more Indian brands explore the Android tablets segment, consumers are getting access to devices that sport decent specifications, and run the latest version of the OS, at attractive price points. We've recently seen Acer launching a 7-inch budget tablet running Jelly Bean, and now we have Lava launching its first Jelly Bean tablet, the Etab Xtron, in the Indian market, for Rs. 6,499. We take an in-depth look at the tablet.
Build
Unlike the Acer Iconia B1, the Etab Xtron exudes a feeling of durability, with its solid build. The 7-inch tablet looks compact yet sturdy. The front of the tablet features a 7-inch screen, which is surrounded by a large bezel. You'll also spot a front shooter right at the middle.
The back of the tablet is made of polycarbonate but has been given a brushed aluminium finish. The frame extends to the front, and adds to the design of the tablet. A microSD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack sits on the top, while there are no ports on the bottom.
Th..

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo Game Review

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo Game Review

February 21, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Prem Game is the very catchy name of the mobile game based on the latest Salman Khan film, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, or PRDP for short, but unfortunately, the rest of the experience just keeps going downhill. Movie games are a mixed bag – there are some games that are planned as standalone experiences, and because they're not tied to a film's release date or story, are allowed to develop more organically into something you'll relish. But filmmakers have also started to see games based on movies as a way to add to the bottom-line of the film, and this usually means mobile games filled with ads and in-app purchases.
The latter is true with games made around Indian movies as well, and we've seen some pretty enjoyable mobile games for games like Krrish 3, Dhoom 3, and Rajinikanth-starrer Kochadaiiyaan. The Prem Game is no exception, and features full-screen ads while loading the game, each time you press pause, and banner ads while levels are being loaded. On the other han..

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review [year]

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review 2024

August 4, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

The tablet-computer market is like guerrilla warfare. One huge army – Apple – dominates the land, while a ragtag group of insurgents keeps raiding and probing, hoping to find some opening it can exploit.
With Samsung's new Galaxy Note 10.1, the rebels have scored a small victory. It's a tablet that does something that the iPad doesn't do, and it does it well. This victory won't win the war, though.
Available in the U.S. starting Thursday, the $499 tablet comes with a pen, or more precisely, a stylus. It doesn't leave marks on paper, but the tablet's screen responds to it. I found it a pleasure to use: It's precise and responsive, and it glides easily across the screen.
There are styluses available for the iPad, but they're not very good. The iPad's screen can't sense sharp objects, so any stylus has to be fairly blunt. Many of them have rubber tips, which resist being dragged across the screen.
The Galaxy Note has an additional layer in..

Dell Venue 7 Review [year]

Dell Venue 7 Review 2024

March 2, 2019 Richard Gomez 0

We were fairly impressed with the Dell Venue 7 and Venue 8 which we reviewed almost exactly a year ago. Dell has only just decided to get serious about the Android tablet world, and despite some flaws, the first two Venue models were pretty good for their asking prices. In the time since then, Dell has launched an updated model in India. These were first shown off at Computex 2014, and are currently available in our market.
The big new thing this time is the inclusion of voice calling. A lot of people feel that if you're going to have a SIM card for cellular data, you might as well be able to make and receive voice calls. On the other hand, there's the staggering impracticality of holding a 7-inch tablet up to your face or plugging in a headset every single time the phone rings. Dell has left the choice up to the buyer, and so versions of the 2014 Venue 7 (and Venue 8) with and without voice and data are available. We have the voice-enabled 2014 Dell Venue 7 in for review tod..

Samsung Galaxy Tab global 7 - [year] review

Samsung Galaxy Tab global 7 – 2024 review

April 10, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 was a success and proved that there was room in the Indian market for a hybrid device, which combined the best of both phones and tablets. The Galaxy Tab 3 series is hoped to mark a comeback for the company in the tablet segment, after quite some time.
The South Korean giant unveiled the Galaxy Tab 3 series with three new tablets for the Indian market, and rather than experimenting with an odd screen size, this time the company has gone back to its roots and come out with a 7-inch tablet and two 8-inch tablets. We got the chance to play with the new Galaxy Tab 3 211 (7-inch) tablet. Will the new Galaxy Tab 3 211 carve a niche for itself or further muddy the already distinctly murky 7-inch tablet segment? We try to find out in our review.
Design/ Build
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 211 is built along the lines of Samsung's high-end smartphones. Out-of-the-box, the tablet looks like a blown-up version of the Samsung Galaxy SIII or Galaxy Grand smartphones. But un..

OnePlus X [year] first impressions

OnePlus X 2024 first impressions

February 22, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Soon after the launch of the OnePlus 2 back in July, OnePlus started creating buzz about another handset due this year which would cater to a different audience. The OnePlus X, the Chinese company's third smartphone, was finally unveiled on Thursday at simultaneous events in New Delhi and Beijing, among other cities.
OnePlus had also announced plans earlier this month to start manufacturing phones in India, further further affirming that the company considers India one of its most important overseas markets.
At the launch event, we asked OnePlus India General Manager Vikas Agarwal how the OnePlus X fits into the company's smartphone lineup, as the older OnePlus One still has better innards. Agarwal, without specifying an exact time frame, confirmed that the One will eventually be discontinued – though not this year. This made it clear that the OnePlus X is here for a reason, and the company wants to make sure that it caters to consumers looking for a powerful device but who c..

JBL T250SI [year] Review

JBL T250SI 2024 Review

June 29, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

JBL is an established name in India when it comes to car audio, professional and live event sound systems, as well as home audio setups. It's also successfully leveraged this image to build its name in multimedia and personal audio products, and products such as the JBL Synchros E40BT and JBL Go have fared well in our reviews.
Although the majority of the JBL product range is priced in mid-range territory, there are a handful of budget products on offer, and these sell well thanks to the company's instantly recognisable name and reputation. Among these is the JBL T250SI, which we have on review today. This pair of on-ear headphones currently sells at Rs. 990, and promises powerful bass. We go into the finer details with our review.
Design, specifications and comfort
As is the case with the identically priced Sony MDR-ZX110, the JBL T250SI is plastic. However, the inner frame of the headset is metal, and the headband has decent padding and an interesting stitched pattern along..

Videocon VT10 review [year]

Videocon VT10 review 2024

July 10, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

The tablet market in India seems to be booming and most Indian smartphone makers are eager to get into this lucrative opportunity. Videocon is no different. The company has recently launched its first tablet in the form Videocon VT10.
It comes with a 10-inch screen with a resolution of 1280×800 pixels. The tablet runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The tablet is priced at Rs. 11,200. So what you are getting is a 10-inch tablet for around Rs. 10,000 market price. Is this a good deal? Let's find out in our review
Hardware/ Build & Design
The Videocon VT10 is a 10-inch tablet, which comes with a white and silver casing. The device looks very plasticky. The silver colour on the back is a bit glossy and makes the tablet looks very tacky. Most of the front is taken up by the screen with white borders all around. The front facing camera lies just above the screen.
The screen is a fingerprint magnet and one needs to constan..