I’m not sure how the TSA will deal with the grenade-like looks of this USB flash drive, but it definitely looks interesting. While I prefer something more minimal, the fact of the matter is that some USB flash drives get lost so quickly that it makes sense to make them more visible. The RuggedKey uses a protective orange bumper to keep the flash drive secure, and so you probably won’t lose track of it either.
The RuggedKey was designed by the Scottish designer Neil Poulton, and has similar looks to LaCie’s rugged orange hard drive. When the RuggedKey flash drive is stowed in the bumper, your data is supposed to be safe from heat, cold, and 330 feet drops, as is evidenced by this video:
It’s made to be unbreakable, but I’m sure we’ll see a YouTube video where someone finally manages to break it – with a steamroller or by dropping it in a tub of thermite.
It comes in sizes of 16 and 32 GB and is USB 3.0 compatible. The 16 GB RuggedKey sells for $39.99(USD) while the 32 GB version costs $69.99.
Having compared an iPhone 4S and an iPod Touch next to each other, I can confirm that I’d rather carry around an iPod Touch since it’s very thin compared to the iPhone. That sentiment will make even more sense once you pop FreedomPop’s Freedom Sleeve case onto your iPod Touch.
The Freedom Sleeve gives your iPod Touch access to a 4G network, allowing you to use it like you use your iPhone – except on a fast, modern network. You can Skype, chat, message, and make phone calls. You can even share the signal with up to eight other devices, providing a Wi-Fi mobile hotspot.
The FreedomPop network is free for the first GB. After that, you’ll pay $10 per GB. The upside of this deal is that you don’t need to have a contract and that you can cancel it anytime.
The case costs $99(USD) and it’s aimed at people who travel a lot who are looking to ditch their cell phone contracts. If you’re interested, the Freedom Sleeve is now available for pre-order in select markets.
Unless you’re a hardcore computer geek, you may not have any idea what an SSD controller actually is. Theses processors are used for connecting and communicating with today’s modern solid-state drives. One of the biggest companies that makes controllers for solid-state storage devices is SandForce and the company has announced a new family of controllers called the SF-2200/2100 Client Flash Storage Processors.
SandForce says that by using one of the new processors inside an Ultrabook, the machine could run for an extra hour compared to existing controllers. The key feature is that these controllers consume significantly less power than older versions. At the same time, they also enable faster system boots and faster wake times (when connected to an SSD, of course.)
SandForce designed the new controllers specifically with the Ultrabook market in mind using a low Z-height that allows it to fit comfortably inside the thin laptops. Other features include support for fast SATA 6 Gb/s host connectivity, support for almost all MLC flash products, and the ability to address 24 GB to 512 GB of storage.
Lenovo has launched its latest line of IdeaPads, and they’re targeted directly at the mainstream consumer. The Lenovo IdeaPad U410 comes with an eye-catching colored aluminum chassis – we received one in Sapphire Blue, but the U410 is also available in Graphite Grey and Ruby Red – but is this laptop all about looks, or does it have the power under the hood to still get stuff done? Read on to find out.
Hardware
Lenovo’s new IdeaPad line comes with a variety of hardware that’s meant to appeal with a broad range of consumers. The model we received is equipped with an Intel Core i5-3317U clocked at 1.7 Ghz, but other models that make use of a Core i3 or a Core i7 are available as well. Complete with Intel’s freshly-launched Ivy Bridge microarchitecture, the Core i5 will be able to handle most anything the mainstream consumer will need to do with the U410, and when coupled with the 8 gigs of RAM that comes installed, you have a laptop that’s capable of running surprisingly fast.
The HDD/SSD hybrid setup does its part to keep things moving along at a fast pace, allowing for shorter boot and wake up times than you’re probably used to with other laptops. The model we received came with a 500GB HDD, but the U410 has options up to 1TB. It also comes with a 32GB SSD, which is definitely appreciated, but a setup like this really shines when more software has been installed. It’s pretty fast out of the box, but the key is that it will be faster than most other laptops after being weighed down by additional installs.
The glossy 14.1-inch LCD screen nice, but it can be rather reflective. It’s capable of resolutions up to the laptop-friendly 1366×768 and features and adjustable brightness setting, so as long as you’re fine with no support for 1080p, you’ll probably find the screen to be satisfactory. Here’s something that came as a bit of a surprise: the 2.0 stereo speakers on this bad boy (complete with Dolby certification) actually give pretty good sound quality. Obviously, they may not be as good as the speakers you use on your desktop or that expensive pair of headphones you have lying around, but they’re not too bad when compared to other laptop speakers.
In many ways, the U410 is nearly identical to the IdeaPad U400, which we saw earlier this year [see our full review of the IdeaPad U400 here]. For instance, there aren’t any noticeable differences between the keyboards found on both. The chiclet-style keys of the U400 return with the U410, and overall there aren’t any complaints about the keyboard – the layout and the feel of the keys makes for a pleasant typing experience. There aren’t any major complaints about the track pad either, though there are times where it proves to be a bit too sensitive. Usually this isn’t a problem, but occasionally you’ll end up clicking something you didn’t mean to click. It’s a rare event, but it can be pretty frustrating when it happens.
Sadly, the U410’s 59Wh battery doesn’t quite meet expectations. Lenovo says that it provides up to 9 hours of productive use, but in reality, you can expect around 6 hours of battery life. When using programs that are more labor-intensive or running the screen at max brightness, that 6-hour time frame will likely decrease even more. Thankfully, the battery doesn’t take too terribly long to fully charge, as you can expect a charging time that’s in the area of an hour-and-a-half.
The IdeaPad comes equipped with Intel GMA HD 4000 graphics, but there’s also a NVIDIA GeFore 610M 1GB card there to pick up the slack. This setup takes advantage of NVIDIA’s Optimus technology, which switches between the two when you need a boost in graphics power. You’re not working with the best around, but mainstream consumers don’t need the best; they need functional. This setup is definitely functional, as it will undoubtedly be able to meet the needs of most, and it also works to keep prices competitive.
On the outside, we’ve got a full HDMI port, an Ethernet port, two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 jacks, a headphone jack, a 2-in-1 card slot that supports SD and MMC, and a microphone. The whole unit is about 0.8” thick and weighs in just south of 4.2 pounds, so while this isn’t the lightest laptop we’ve seen, it’s still very portable. More importantly, it feels quite sturdy, so with the IdeaPad U410, you’re getting a laptop that doesn’t feel like it will shatter if you look at it the wrong way.
Software
Surprisingly enough, the IdeaPad U410 doesn’t come with a ton of software pre-installed, and you might actually end up using what it does come installed with. Google Chrome is installed right from the get go, so you won’t ever need to touch Internet Explorer if you don’t want to. Like every other PC running Windows 7 (Home Premium 64-bit in this case ) out of the box, Microsoft Office Starter 2010 comes standard, but you’ll need to shell out additional cash if you want access to the full Office 2010 suite.
Lenovo YouCam lets you put 1-megapixel integrated camera to work, allowing you to capture and edit pictures and video, along with granting the ability to record what’s happening on your desktop. The app is easy to use and easy to learn, so it shouldn’t be too hard for most consumers to just pick it up and go. The camera isn’t just meant for recording, however, as the U410 also comes with VeriFace 4.0 installed. Using VeriFace and the VeriFace password manager, users can set up facial recognition for all of their various Internet logins, which helps to add an extra layer of security in the event that your IdeaPad gets stolen by one of the more unfavorable people walking this planet.
Dolby Home Theater v4 is onboard with the IdeaPad U410, giving users full control over the computer’s audio settings. Remember how we told you earlier that the IdeaPad’s speakers aren’t too bad as far as laptop speakers go? Dolby Home Theater lets you do more with them, allowing you to set up different profiles for audio, video, and games, along with more specific profiles should the need arise. It’s a handy little program, and those who take their audio quality seriously will probably appreciate the fact that it’s around.
System – LENOVO IdeaPad U410
Manufacturer
Lenovo
Product Type
Notebook
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Motherboard
LENOVO Lenovo
Processor
Intel Core i5-3317U
Processor ID
GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9
Processor Frequency
1.70 GHz
Processors
1
Threads
4
Cores
2
L1 Instruction Cache
32.0 KB
L1 Data Cache
32.0 KB
L2 Cache
256 KB
L3 Cache
3.00 MB
Memory
8.00 GB DDR3 SDRAM 799MHz
FSB
99.8 MHz
BIOS
LENOVO 65CN15WW
Other than those programs, the IdeaPad U410 comes with a trial version of Absolute Data Protect, the standard McAfee security center (in this case we’re working with McAfee Emerald 11.0), Adobe Reader X, and OneKey Recovery, which will help you backup your data and restore the system if anything ever goes awry. The fact that the IdeaPad U410 doesn’t come bogged down with a lot of pre-installed software is a big plus, and Lenovo earns extra points for including some programs that are actually worthwhile.
Wrap-Up
Okay, so the technophiles of the world probably won’t find much to get excited about with the IdeaPad U410, but this laptop will prove to be a good value for those who are more concerned with functionality than amazing specs. There are a few flaws, such as the shorter-than-expected battery life, but for the most part, average consumers who want a quality laptop will find a lot to love about the IdeaPad U410. The laptop’s Geekbench results reflect this – it definitely isn’t anywhere near the best, but it’s a solid computer that will meet the needs of most mainstream computers.
Benchmark Score – LENOVO IdeaPad U410
Section
Description
Score
Total Score
Windows x86 (64-bit) – Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Integer
Processor integer performance
5336
7377
Floating Point
Processor floating point performance
9615
Memory
Memory performance
7040
Stream
Memory bandwidth performance
7362
Additionally, you’re paying a fair price for what you’re getting. Prices range depending on what you want under the hood, but the model we received – which is by no means a slouch – has a price tag of $799. That’ll prove to be a pretty attractive price for most consumers, and with the IdeaPad U410, Lenovo has a laptop that will have no problem gaining the mainstream crowd’s attention.
A company going by the name Verykool has announced the launch of a new tablet computer aimed specifically at users who are outdoors a lot. The tablet is called the R800, and it has integrated Wi-Fi along with 3G connectivity. One of the more interesting features of this tablet is that it has been ruggedized and is weather proof for use outdoors without worrying about clouds or spills.
The tablet is IPX5 rated for water resistance, and the integrated 3G modem means you will be able to connect to the web even if Wi-Fi signals aren’t available. The tablet has integrated Bluetooth and features an integrated e-compass, and it has integrated GPS as well. The tablet is equipped with a rear-facing two-megapixel camera and a front camera with VGA resolution.
The outdoor tablet apparently has no internal storage for apps or other data with storage up to 16 GB via memory cards. The internal battery is a 3500 mAh lithium polymer unit that should be capable of keeping the unit powered for a long time. The operating system for the tablet is Android 2.2.
Another interesting feature is that when connected with 3G network, the tablet can be used as a mobile phone while. The 3G connectivity supports HSDPA up to 7.2 Mbps with dual band 850/2100 support and supports 2G GSM quad band connectivity. The tablet has an integrated FM radio, a USB port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Pricing for the tablet is unknown at this time.
One of the coolest things about the Raspberry Pi computer is its dirt cheap price of $35(USD). The little computer is certainly no speed demon. You won’t be playing high-end video games on it, but it is more than capable of being a very low cost and small HTPC. One of the biggest downside to the Android-powered device was that it launched with Android 2.3.
Fans of Android always want the latest operating system on their devices. Android 4.0 may not be the latest version of Google’s operating system anymore, as Jelly Bean (4.1) is now available, but Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) is a major upgrade to what the Raspberry Pi came with. Raspberry Pi has announced that an official Android 4.0 version is in the works for the little computer.
According to the blog entry, the operating system is functional on the cheap computer already and the only thing keeping it from being finished is support for AudioFlinger. Raspberry Pi also notes that it is investigating the feasibility of converging its own Android 4.0 implementation and one that is available on GitHub.
Apple took top spot in worldwide PC shipments in Q2 2012, according to one research firm, making up almost 20-percent alone when tablets are lumped in with desktops and notebooks. Year-on-year growth for the Mac and iPad maker reached almost 60-percent to more than 21m units for the three month period, Canalys calculates, comfortably exceeding HP, Lenovo, Acer and Dell.
HP just squeezed into second place for the quarter, with a dwindling 0.4-percent marketshare lead over Lenovo in third place. HP’s share amounted to 12.5-percent, a fall of 11.3-percent compared to Q2 2011 when it held the top spot in shipments.
Lenovo mustered 12.1-percent and managed to make the biggest growth year-on-year, at 27-percent. Acer and Dell both sit below the 10-percent mark, Dell slipping from third place in Q2 2011 to fifth place this year.
iPad sales particularly helped Apple, pushing the company back to pole position. However, Samsung also did well, its Galaxy Tab shipments estimated to have doubled year-on-year, while ASUS made strong advances thanks to the sub-$400 TF300. That advantage is expected to continue now that the sub-$200 Nexus 7 is on the market.
The prospect for Windows PCs isn’t quite so rosy. Canalys isn’t convinced that Microsoft’s Surface will open any new doors, likely being low on profit potential as well as potentially damaging the company’s relationship with other Windows OEMs. “We expect the Surface pads to have a similar impact on the PC industry as the Zune did in portable music players” analyst Tim Coulling says ominously.
Apple has increased the customization options for its MacBook Pro with Retina Display, now allowing the entry-level model to be tweaked with difference processors and storage. Originally, the $2,199 “base-spec” Retina MacBook Pro was fixed to a specific chip – the 2.3GHz quadcore Core i7 – and 256GB of SSD storage, with only flexibility in how much RAM was included. Now, though, Apple has opened things up for more options.
There are now three processor choices, the original 2.3GHz or a 2.6GHz quadcore for $100 more, or a 2.7GHz quadcore for $250 more. The $2,799 model still starts at 2.6GHz, with 2.7GHz as an option.
As for storage, it’s now possible to upgrade the flash drive to 512GB or 756GB. Neither come cheap, however, being priced at $500 or $1,000 more respectively. Still, it answers complaints of those buyers who wanted more capacity but weren’t concerned with the faster processor, and so whom resented the $600 difference (though now they’ll only save $100).
There are reports that some shoppers are having difficulties getting the new options to register in their cart, or indeed aren’t seeing them active at all, though at time of writing we were able to customize both processor and storage and add that model to our cart.
Either way, you get the innovative and pixel-dense Retina Display itself, which offers both a hugely-detailed 1440 x 900 mode or an HD-besting 1920 x 1200 option. There’s more on the MacBook Pro with Retina Display in our full review.
Pwnie Express first made waves in the hacking and cybersecurity community when they released the Pwn Plug, a device that looks like an electric air freshener but is actually a computer used for penetration testing, i.e. assessing a computer network’s security by attacking it. Their latest product is much bigger, but still covert.
The Power Pwn is a fully functioning power strip, with eight 120/240V AC outlets. But it’s also a “fully-integrated, enterprise-class penetration testing platform.” It runs Debian 6 and is loaded with tunneling and snooping software. It has internal Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antennas, as well as a 3G external antenna for long distance pwning.
If you understood the previous paragraph – I certainly didn’t – you might want to head to Pwnie Express for more information or to pre-order the Power Pwn. It costs $1,295 (USD) and should be available by September 30. Meanwhile I’m going to check my power strips for Ethernet ports.
Microsoft has released details on two new products, the Wedge Touch Mouse and the Wedge Touch Keyboard, which look perfect for when you’re on the go and you get tired of using the touch-based keyboard on your tablet.
The Wedge peripherals use Bluetooth. The keyboard’s cover doubles as a multi-angle stand for your tablet, which is a smart idea. There is a joint at the center which allows you to adjust the angle. The cover also powers the keyboard down automatically, once it’s placed inside. There are some hotkeys along the top to launch some functions. The Wedge Touch Mouse offers four-way touch scrolling using Bluetrack technology, which means it will work on any surface.
While Microsoft doesn’t specifically state which devices the Wedge series will work with, they mention Windows, Mac OS X, and “basic functionality on ARM-based devices,” but I’m guessing that any Bluetooth tablet should work with the keyboard. The mouse will only work with a computer though. The keyboard will sell for $79.95(USD) and the mouse will sell for $69.95. They will be released soon.
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