Hasta La Gadget!

So, you have just gone out to get yourself a spanking new iPad, and wished that it would not end up getting scratched or “hurt” by an accidental nick or drop? That should not be a problem, considering the numerous third party iPad cases that are in the market today, but just how many of those will be able to get their respective jobs done without actually losing its functionality? Logitech of Switzerland has long had a worthwhile history when it comes to iPad accessories, and their latest new Logitech Ultrathin that targets the iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad mini with Retina display would fit the bill perfectly. The Logitech Ultrathin improves upon its flexibility and design of its award winning predecessor, sporting a thinner and lighter keyboard cover, in addition to sporting a new multi-angle slot that gives one the freedom to adjust the viewing angle accordingly.

Considering how the iPad’s usage patterns have changed over time, the Logitech Ultrathin could not arrive at a more timely manner. No longer are iPads used primarily to consume content, as it too, is a tool to create content wherever you go.

With the Logitech Ultrathin, you can more or less call this as your other half of the iPad. Sporting a new, flexible, multi-angle slot that will be able to securely attach to your iPad using a magnetic clip, you will be able to tilt your iPad to the right angle that suits you, making it a more comfortable typing experience. The Bluetooth keboard iself will boast of well spaced keys that has an optimized layout, where it will be accompanied by iOS shortcuts so that you would not be greeted with an unfamiliar interface. Expect the Logitech Ultrathin for iPad Air to retail for $99.99 each, while for the iPad mini and iPad mini with Retina display, it will be $10 more affordable as it hits the US and Europe later next month.

Press Release
[ Logitech Ultrathin for iPads revealed copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

As devices get thinner and thinner, there’s no place in the world for chunky hard drives, and to that end Western Digital has been talking about bringing ultra-thin 5mm hybrid drive technology to the market. We just got a look at the new drives, which will be branded WD Black — two 2.5-inch models consisting of a 500GB, 5mm thick (or thin) unit with 24GB of NAND memory, along with a 1TB, 7mm drive that also has 24GB of NAND. A spokesperson said that NAND could eventually go up to 32GB. There’s no performance figures or pricing available yet, but WD has already started shipping copies of the new models to OEMs, and expects that they’ll land in the laps of consumers within the next 6 months. For a brief video tour of the new products, head after the break.

Continue reading Western Digital shows off upcoming WD Black hybrid drives, we go eyes-on (video)

Filed under: Storage

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Although Hitachi was one of the first in line to promise support for Roku Streaming Sticks through MHL, it didn’t have much more to say without the TVs to back up the claim. The second half of the puzzle is complete now that the company’s fall TV revision is underway. Snag its new UltraVision UltraThin S606 TV in its one of its 42-, 46- or 55-inch sizes and you can discreetly (if optionally) hide the equivalent of a full Roku box in one of the HDMI inputs. The S606 sits strictly in the mid-range, however. Its 120Hz, edge-LED LCD design is superceded by the W806, which comes only in 48- and 55-inch sizes while carrying 3D, IPTV support and WiFi. Those who can get by on 60Hz refresh rates can opt for the Value line, where the H306 and S406 offer 720p in 29- and 32-inch dimensions; a third H316 line brings 1080p to those same sizes while adding a 39-inch panel. Hitachi hasn’t said whether stores are stocking the TVs today, but it sees pricing ranging from $329 in the smaller Value sets to $1,399 for the largest W806 variant.

The TV builder’s audio mix isn’t being ignored with the refresh. Launching in tandem with the TVs, the HSB32B26 and HSB40B16 sound bars are designed to respectively match up with 32- and 40-inch TVs while delivering 3D sound processing and Apt-X Bluetooth audio. At $149 and $199, the sound bars are close enough in cost that we may only need a measuring tape to settle any purchasing dilemmas once the hardware is in stores.

Continue reading Hitachi intros UltraVision LED TVs with Roku-ready HDMI, freshens Value TVs and sound bars for the fall

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Hitachi intros UltraVision LED TVs with Roku-ready HDMI, freshens Value TVs and sound bars for the fall originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultrabooks aren’t a hard sell. They’re super thin, really light, and powerful enough to handle everyday tasks (including a little gaming) with aplomb. That’s why I’d recommend them to students looking for a thin, light, and cheap way to get some great computing power without weighing down your backpack.

To that end, we gathered up four promising thin-and-light laptops (called Ultrabooks in the PC world) including a fairly fresh MacBook Air and a cute little blue number from Lenovo. In the end, many of these laptops are approximately the same but there are some rules of thumb when it comes to picking a laptop.

First, internal memory is the number to look at. Get the most you can afford. Processor speed is important, but the more memory apps have to work with the faster the machine will seem to be. Also keep in mind that some newer laptops don’t have expandable hard drives or memory, so what you buy is what you get for a few years. We understand that for many of you guys a laptop may be your primary machine, so we recommend that you buy the most laptop you can afford now.

MacBook Air 13-inch
Starting at $1,199
Geekbench Score: 6872
Processor: Core i7 (2.40GHz)
Processor: 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Memory: 4GB
The MacBook Air is wonderfully thin and light and quite capable. It topped our Geekbench score and at its lowest configuration is in price parity with similarly outfitted ultrabooks. You’re obviously dealing with Apple software and hardware here so if you’re using specific software for engineering or design tools you may need to check for compatibility issues (although this is increasingly not an issue).

Keep in mind that you get two USB 3.0 ports, a Thunderbolt port, and an SD Card slot, so you’ll probably need to invest in a USB hub to add extra peripherals as well as an adapter to connect to an external monitor.

Arguably, the $1,199 price for an entry level model is a little pricey but you get a lot for your money. It’s a stable, solid machine that won’t go obsolete for at least three years, give or take.

Pros: Very thin and light, nice performance.
Cons: No built-in Ethernet, pricey when you get into more powerful models.

Asus Zenbook UX32V
Starting at $1,299
Geekbench Score: 6168
Processor: 2.4GHz Core i7 (2.40GHz)
Memory: 4GB
The Asus has one good thing going for it – its keyboard. The keyboard is big, comfortable, and the keys are deep and springy. A huge trackpad adds a bit of comfort for long hours browsing the web or working on documents and the 1,920×1,080 pixel screen is bright and clear.

The Asus also goes the Air route with three USB ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot. No Ethernet means you won’t be able to hardwire in without an external USB Ethernet jack.

Pros: Comfortable keyboard, not cramped. Very light.
Cons: Seemingly slow performance for some applications, including games.

Lenovo Ideapad U310
Stating at $719
Geekbench Score: 5036
Processor: Intel Core i5 (1.70GHz)
Memory: 4GB

If you’re on a budget the Ideapad U310 could be a good choice. While I like Lenovo for it’s ThinkPad offerings, their “consumer” line is a little bit chintzier and this one is no exception. Slower performance hinders the overall price/value proposition while the size makes it a little smaller than an average laptop. The single benefit? An Ethernet port built in.

Pros: Acceptable benchmarks
Cons: Definitely not a premium device. It’s a bit thicker than any of the other machines.

Acer Aspire S5 6106
Stating at $800
Geekbench Score: 6106
Processor: Intel Core i7 (2.4GHz)
Memory: 4GB

Acer’s offering is aimed a bit more at multimedia consumption and less hardcore computing but that doesn’t mean it won’t make a good classroom companion. The best thing? This laptop has a wild system for hiding the ports on the back. When not needed, all of the ports slide up – automatically – with the push of a single button. A little motor literally pushes the ports in and out of the case.

Gimmicks aside, this is a solid machine with good scores and a nice design. It’s a bit thicker than the MacBook Air and clad in plastic, which keeps the price down, but it’s one of the more able ultrabooks we’ve seen so far.

Pros: Stylish, solid, nice keyboard.
Cons: Odd keyboard layout makes it difficult to type. Difficult touchpad interaction.

Read the rest of our 2012 Back-To-School Advice here, including a great post from a Google intern.