Corner Geeks 17: WWDC 2012 – Part 3 – Macbook Pro with Retina Display

 

Specifications (Full specifications at Apple)

  • Thinner 15" Macbook Pro with 4 times the resolution (2880 x 1800)
  • Quad-core Intel Core i7 (starting at 2.3GHz)
  • SSD based (starting at 256GB configurable to 768GB)
  • 8GB RAM
  • Intel HD Graphics 4000 & NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M (1GB)
  • 7 hours battery life
  • 2 x Thunderbold ports, 2 x USB 3.0 ports, 1 x full HDMI port, 1 x full SD card slot, 1 x headset port
  • 720p HD FaceTime webcam, 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0

More features at Apple.com

Brunei Prices (via AV Electronics Facebook)

  • B$2988 (cash price): 2.3GHz Intel Quad Core i7, 256GB, 8GB RAM
  • B$3788 (cash price): 2.6GHz Intel Quad Core i7, 512GB, 8GB RAM

Links

Other notes

  • All laptops (Macbook Air and Macbook Pro) upgraded to new the newer Ivy Bridge chipsets and get USB 3.0 ports
  • Macbook Pro 17" discontinued but still available in 13" & 15" (non-retina)

Corner Geeks 16: WWDC 2012 - Part 2 - Mountain Lion

OSX Mountain Lion

Corner Geeks 15: WWDC 2012 - Part 1 - iOS 6

  • New Maps application with turn by turn directions, traffic reports and flyover aerial view
  • A better Siri
    • Sports, movies and restaurant integration
    • Ability to post to Facebook and Twitter
    • Application launching
    • Eyes Free for voice control features while driving
  • Facebook Integration: similar to previous Twitter integration but better with added contact and calendar integration
  • Passbook: a ticketing/coupon application to consolidate all items in one location (with time and location integration)
  • Better photo sharing
  • Improved Safari: tab syncing to the cloud and other iDevices and offline reading capability
  • Facetime over cellular
  • Coming in the fall to the iPhone 3GS/4/4S, iPod touch 4th generation, iPad 2 & the new iPad

Read more about iOS 6 at Apple.com

The Samsung Galaxy S III finally unveiled

The much awaited Galaxy S III has finally been unveiled on May 3 and as expected it is most likely the best in terms of specs out of any Android phone, however the design has come to some critique. Quad core goodness with a large 4.8" 720p screen while surprisingly still having a micro SD card slot and removable battery, the device has makings to be a great device if you have can accept the design and the typical plastic feel of Samsung devices. It is available at the end of the May in Europe and North America gets it in June. Pricing is starting at £500 for the 16GB version while US pricing has yet to be confirmed (16GB currently at US$799 at Mobicity).

Added software and hardware tweaks to improve user experience and functionality:

  • S Beam: sharing files by tapping phones together (utilizing NFC) and transfer files directly over wireless
  • AllShare Cast sharing your screen over a network
  • Pop up play: playing video in an overlay so you can multitask
  • S Voice: voice control similar to Siri on the iPhone 4S
  • Best Photo: takes a series of photos so that you can choose the best one, in case you missed it
  • Direct call: while messaging and if you decide to call, just bring the phone to your head and it will automatically start calling the person

While all in all it seems a great device, there are few things to point out that could be an issue

Notable Specifications (more specs in press release)

  • 4.8" Super AMOLED 720p screen (1280 x 720)
  • Quad Core CPU
  • 8MP rear camera (1080p video) with zero shutter lag
  • 1.9MP front camera (720p video) with zero shutter lag
  • NFC
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • microSD card slot
  • Removable 2100mAh Battery
  • Micro SIM slot
  • Available at the end of May

Positives

  • Best overall specs out there
  • Micro SD cards slot: something missing from other high end devices
  • Hardware & Software integration improvements from Samsung

Negatives / Possible Negatives

  • 4.8" screen could be considered too big for one-handed use
  • PenTile screen: may not be ideal if you can notice
  • Still made of plastic
  • Design is a hit/miss affair

Corner Geeks 14: Post-PC Musings

Before recording episode 13 Firdaus and I had a pretty lengthy discussion regarding some post-PC topics. Too good a conversation to pass up that I’ve presented it as a standalone episode

 

Topic Related Links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_WW-DHqR3c

Corner Geeks 13: The new iPad

The new iPad

The new iPad (2012)

  • 4x resolution increase (2048x1536 vs old 1024x768)
  • Quad core graphics A5X (still dual core CPU)
  • 5MP rear camera (1080p video recording)
  • 4G (LTE) for US$130 more (different model for different carriers)
  • Other notable features
    • Internet hotspot tethering: finally can tether mobile data to other devices via WiFi (and presumably Bluetooth as well)
    • Voice dictation: mic button on keyboard to activate dictation
    • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Same price point as iPad 2 and same battery life
  • Slightly thicker (9.4 mm vs 8.8mm) and heavier (652g vs 601g)
  • Weight increase probably due to increase battery capacity  (42.5-watt-hourvs old 25-watt-hour)
  • Retail sales start March 16th (including Singapore) or March 23rd for the International release (no Brunei)
  • Starting at US$499

The new iPad Wi-Fi

  • 16GB: US$499 (S$658)
  • 32GB: US$599 (S$788)
  • 64GB: US$699 (S$918)

The new iPad WiFi+4G

  • 16GB: US$629 (S$828)
  • 32GB: US$729 (S$958)
  • 64GB: US$829 (S$1088)

The old iPad 2

  • 16GB WiFi: US$399 (S$528)
  • 16GB WiFi + 3G: US$529 (S$698)

AV Electronis iPad 2 Pricing (via Facebook)

  • WiFi
    • 16GB/32GB/64GB: B$528 / B$638 / B$768
  • WiFi+3G:
    • 16GB / 32GB / 64GB: B$698 / B$808 / B$938

App updates

  • iWork (US$9.99 for each app): Pages, Numbers, Keynote
  • iMovie (US$4.99): outlining and storyboarding
  • Garageband (US$4.99): 4 iOS devices can jam in real time via bluetooth or Wi-FI
  • New iPhoto(US$4.99):
    • Multi-touch editing/touch-ups
    • Can work with 19mp photos
    • Share via iCloud with public link.
    • Photo beaming share to iOS devices over bluetooth or Wi-Fi

In other notes

  • iOS 5.1 was announced and is ready to be downloaded
    • Siri for other languages including Japanese
    • Increase of max app size downloadable OTA (i.e. via 3G/4G) to 50MB (previously 20MB)
  • New Apple TV with 1080p playback support and redesigned interface.
  • iTunes update: supports movies in the cloud: can redownload from any device and watch

Corner Geeks 12: Mobile World Congress 2012

Mobile World Congress 2012

It took us a while to get back in the groove but we’re back and covered some Mobile World Congress 2012 news.

HTC

  • new HTC One series unveiled
  • Superfast photo capture: 0.7 seconds to take a photo , 0.2-seconds autofocus
  • Capture a photo in the midst of recording HD video
  • 25 gigabytes of free Dropbox space for two years
  • All devices: Android 4.0 (ICS), HTC Sense 4, Bluetooth 4.0, Beats Audio
  • One X & One XL

    • 4.7" (1280x720) HD screen

    • X:

      • 1.5 GHz, quad core
      • 32GB storage, 1GB RAM

    • UMTS: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz

    • XL:

      • 1.5 GHz, dual core
      • 16GB storage, 1GB RAM

    • UMTS

    • ATT: 850/1900/2100 MHz

    • Asia/AUS: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz

    • LTE

    • ATT: B4/B17

    • Asia/AUS: 1800/2600 MHz

    • 8 MP camera (1080p video)

    • F2.0 aperture and 28mm lens,

    • 1.3 MP front camera (720p video)

    • NFC

    • No microSD slot

    • microSIM

  • One S: midrange
    • 4.3" (540 x 960) screen
    • 1.5 GHz, dual core
    • UMTS: 850/900/2100 MHz
    • 16 GB storage, 1 GB RAM
    • 8 MP camera (1080p video)
    • F2.0 aperture and 28mm lens,
    • VGA front camera
    • microSIM
    • No microSD slot
    • UMTS: Europe/Asia: 850/900/2100 MHz
  • One V: budget
    • 3.7" (800x480) screen
    • 1 GHz CPU
    • 5 MP camera (720p video)
    • 4 GB storage, 512 MB RAM
    • Expansion slot: microSD slot
    • UMTS: Europe/Asia: 850/900/2100 MHz

Sony

  • Xperia S companion devices: Xperia P (mid range) and low end (budget)
  • Overview: Reasonable screen size, dual core but Android 2.3 with ICS supposedly coming in Q2
  • Sony Xperia P - mid range
    • 4" (960 x 540 pixels) Reality Display
    • 1 GHz , dual core
    • Android 2.3 (Upgrade to Android 4, Ice Cream Sandwich, planned in Quarter 2 2012)
    • 8 MP camera  (1080p video)
    • 0.3 MP (VGA) front camera
    • 2D and 3D panoramic images.
    • 16GB flash storage. 1GB RAM
    • NFC
    • UMTS: 850, 900, 1900, 2100
  • Sony Xperia U - budget

    • 3.5" (854 x 480)  Reality Display

    • 1 GHz dual core

    • Android 2.3 (Upgrade to Android 4, Ice Cream Sandwich, planned in Quarter 2 2012)

    • 5 MP camera (720p video)

    • 0.3MP (VGA) front camera

    • 4GB storage, 512MB RAM

    • UMTS

      • 900, 2100 MHz (Global except Americas)

    • 850, 1900, 2100 MHz (Americas)

Huawei

  • Press release: Huawei releases their own quad-core CPU said to be better performing and lower power consumption
  • Overview: 4.5” 720p phone screens with ICS
  • Ascend D Quad
    • 4.5" (1280x720) screen
    • Huawei quad core 1.2GHz/1.5GHz
    • Android 4.0
    • 8 MP camera (1080p video)
    • 1.3 MP front-facing camera
    • 8GB storage, 1GB RAM
    • UMTS: 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
  • Ascend D Quad XL
    • 2500mAh vs standard 1800mAh in Ascend D Quad
  • Ascend D1
    • 4.5" (1280x720) screen
    • 1.5 GHz dual core
    • Android 4.0
    • 8GB storage, 1GB RAM
    • UMTS: 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
  • MediaPad 10 FHD
    • 10” (1920 x 1200) IPS screen
    • 1.5 GHz K3 quad-core processor
    • Android 4.0
    • 8 MP camera
    • 1.3 MP front camera
    • 2G RAM

Viewsonic

  • Dual SIM phones

  • ViewPhone 4s

    • 3.5" (640x960) screen

  • 1GHz processor

  • 5 MP rear camera

  • 0.3 MP (VGA) front camera

  • Android 4.0

  • Dual SIM

  • ViewPhone 5e

    • 5" (800x480) screen

  • Android 4.0

  • Dual SIM

  • ViewPhone 4e

    • 3.5" (480x320) screen

  • 650MHz

  • Android 2.3

  • 512MB of RAM

  • 3MP camera

  • Dual SIM

Samsung

  • Galaxy Note 10.1

    • 10.1 1280 x 800 TFT LCD

  • Android 1.0

  • 64GB storage

  • 3 MP camera, 2 MP front camera

  • Pressure sensitive S-Pen

  • Preloaded with specially designed versions of Adobe Photoshop Touch, Adobe Ideas and other graphical software items, users can draw graphics and sketches and edit images on the device

  • Split screen option: , users can ‘break’ the 10.1-inch display in two, with S Note on one side, and a live web-browsing or video playing window on the other side.

  • Galaxy Beam

    • 4" (800x480) display
    • 1GHz dual-core processor
    • Android 2.3
    • TI DLP nHD (640 x 360) Projector built into phone

Nokia

  • Nokia Lumia 610
    • 3.7" (800 x 480) LCD screen
    • 800MHz + 256mb memory
    • Most affordable Lumia smartphone yet
    • WinPhone 7.5
    • UMTS: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
    • No microSD slot
  • Nokia 808 PureView
    • 4" (640 x 360) AMOLED screen
    • 1.3GHz CPU
    • 41 MP camera sensor
      • Typical 5 MP photos utilizing 7 pixels to 1 ‘superpixel’ for better image quality
      • Lossless video zoom: 1080p 4x, 720p 6x
    • Symbian, S3 Belle
    • UMTS: 850/900/1700/-21001900/2100 MHz
    • NFC

bdfone A2W: The Brunei-made Android phone

It seems that bdfone has finally released their first Android phone: the bdfone A2W. I previously mentioned them having a prototype over 1.5 years ago but it seems that they have finally got a production unit. From their Facebook page it seems to have started selling in December (in my last of connectivity, I must have missed it). It is currently priced at B$290 on QQeStore

bdfone A2W - Android phone

They have hit a good price point, but with an older version of Android (not even 2.3) and a relatively old and slow CPU, it seems to lose out to the competition. There is also no mention of resistive or capacitive screen, just a “touch screen”. I also wonder how they will support Android updates or if they will at all. For the price I would recommend the Sony Ericsson WT19I Live with Walkman for B$308 (which has better specs) or even the LG Optimus Net P690 for B$268 (which has very similar specs).

Good

  • Brunei made Android phone
  • Decent Price

Bad

  • Competitors with better specs in the same price range
  • Old slow 600MHz CPU (other budget phones use 800MHz)

Ugly?

  • Unknown screen type
  • Unknown Android update possibilities
  • Unknown available space for apps

Specifications

  • Android 2.2
  • CPU: 600MHz (based on Wikipedia’s entry on the MSM7227)
  • 3.2 HVGA (480x320) screen
  • 512MB + 256MB Memory
  • 3.0M Camera
  • 1500mAh battery
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, GPS, WiFi, T-Flash Card aka microSD card (up to 32GB support)
  • Mini USB 2.0 for Data / Charger / Audio
  • Frequency band support: GSM: 900/1800/1900, WCDMA/HSDPA: 2100

Note: image taken from bdfone website. I’m not sure how to license images like this and thus I am following Wikipedia’s policy similar to the usage of the Portal 2 logo. If there are any lawyers who could advise, please let me know.

CES 2012 Tablet Roundup

Device Overview

  • Acer Iconia Tab A700: 10" 1080p screen with a quad core CPU
  • Acer Iconia Tab A510: An update to the 10" Acer Iconia A500 with quad core CPU and Android 4.0
  • ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF700: An update to the 10" Transformer Prime TF201 with a new design, 1080p screen and 2MP camera
  • ASUS Eee Pad MeMO ME370T: 7" quad core Android tablet for a great price of US$249
  • Lenovo IdeaTab S2: 10" Android 4.0 tablet with optional keyboard dock
  • Pantech Element: 8" LTE tablet with Android 3.2
  • XO 3.0: The One-Laptop-Per-Child (OLPC)’s US$100 tablet targetting developing nations

Acer Iconia Tab A700

Acer Iconia Tab A700 - via Engadget

  • 10" 1080p (1920 x 1200) “IPS like” screen
  • Quad-core 1.3GHz Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB RAM
  • Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • HDMI-port, microSD and micro USB
  • Expected in Q2 2012
  • Links: Engadget, The Verge, TechRadar, Image via Engadget

Acer Iconia Tab A510

  • 10" (1280 x 800) screen
  • Quad-core 1.3GHz Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB RAM
  • Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • An updated Iconia Tab A500 but with quad core CPU and ICS
  • Links: The Verge, PhoneArena, Android Central

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime TF700

ASUS Transformer Prime TF700

  • 10" (1920 x 1200) super IPS+, Gorilla Glass screen
  • Quad-core 1.3GHz Tegra 3 CPU
  • 8MP rear camera, 2MP front camera
  • Android 4.0
  • Skyrim w/ splashtop
  • Compared to older Transformer TF201: New design, higher resolution (1920x1200 vs 1280x800), better front facing camera (2MP)
  • Links: ASUS press release, The Verge, Engadget, Android Police,

ASUS Eee Pad MeMO ME370T

Asus Eee Pad MeMO MT370T - via Liliputing

  • 7" (1280 x 800) IPS screen
  • Quad core Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB RAM,
  • 8 MP camera
  • Android 4.0
  • There is an older configuration (ME171) which is the original MeMO device with a specialized bluetooth headset and stylus that was previously in the news months back. It has a dual-core 1.2GHz CPU with 5MP rear camera and 1.2MP front camera
  • US$249.
  • Links: ASUS press release, The Verge, Engadget, NVIDIA blog, CNET, Image via Liliputing

Pantech Element

Pantech Element

Lenovo IdeaTab S2

Lenovo IdeaTad S2

OLPC’s XO 3.0

OLPC XO-3