December 5, 2012
The HP TouchPad is a remarkable piece of kit. This tablet computer with its dual core CPU was released with a buggy version of the webOS operating system back in mid-2011 and failed to capture the imagination of app developers, leading to HP dropping the device within weeks of its launch. The ensuing firesale resulted in tablets being picked up brand new for under $100 on both sides of the Atlantic.
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December 4, 2012
If you’ve paid any attention to smartphones and tablets you’ve likely heard of the term "ARM" used to refer to the hardware inside. It’s thrown around left and right, often as a point of differentiation from laptops and desktops, which use Intel x86. But what is ARM, exactly? A processor architecture? A brand a hardware? Or something else?
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November 30, 2012
When Apple released the iPad Mini – jumping on board the 7" tablet trend pioneered by Amazon and Google – they said Google’s Nexus 7 lacked good tablet apps. While Android may not have the selection of tablet apps available for Apple’s iPads, the Nexus 7 does have many great tablet apps that are optimized for the larger screen. Here are some of them.
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November 22, 2012
I'm a big fan of tablets, that new wave of mobile devices that sits comfortably between smartphones and laptops. They're not for everybody. In fact, some people consider them a waste of time and money, preferring instead to split their time between the two other devices mentioned previously. I prefer to think of tablets as luxury items: no one really needs one but many people desire owning one. The thing is, not all tablets are created equal.
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November 21, 2012
There's no disputing the fact that iPhones and iPads are very sought after devices, but the price of owning these gadgets can be very costly, especially when Apple charges over $600-$700 for 32GB and 64GB models. So many customers end up getting a 16GB iPad, but what do you do you when start running out of memory space? Or another important question is, do you even need more than 16GB, especially in the era of cloud storage and syncing?
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November 18, 2012
I've never really thought about this until now, but if you use a tablet extensively, you have to watch how you're seated when you're using it. Just like how you sit in front of a normal computer matters to your back and neck posture, the same rules equally apply to when you're using your iPad, Android tablet or Kindle Fire.
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November 16, 2012
Cleaning a touchscreen is simple. You don’t need a special cleaning kit or cleaning solution to safely clean your tablet or smartphone’s touchscreen – you can do it with materials you probably have on hand. However, you do need to know what to avoid – many common types of cloths and cleaning solutions can damage a touchscreen. Once you understand what to do and what not to do, you can safely clean a smartphone or tablet’s touchscreen in just a few seconds.
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November 16, 2012
The Surface tablet is a flagship Microsoft product -- its first foray into the tablet market as a hardware manufacturer. It’s almost as locked-down as the iPad - the only applications you can install and run being those that come from the Windows Store -- yet you can also plug in a USB drive and have a full file manager at your disposal. Is the quirky Windows 8 interface truly better on a tablet? Are the touch gestures intuitive? Is there actually a desktop mode? All these questions and more will be answered; read on for the full MakeUseOf review and giveaway of the Microsoft Surface. We purchased this 32GB Microsoft Surface with a black touch cover for $599 in order to prepare this review. And now, we're giving it away to one lucky reader!
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November 12, 2012
It’s no secret that Windows 8's new interface is a "touch-first experience" – Microsoft said it themselves. If you’re curious about upgrading to Windows 8, you can try Windows 8 on your PC – but unless you're using a PC with a touch screen, it just isn’t the same. Assuming you have an iPad or Android tablet lying around, you can test Windows 8 with a touchscreen before you purchase a new Windows 8 PC or tablet.
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November 12, 2012
Well the iPad Mini has arrived, and Dave was correct back in May about why Apple should have released a smaller iPad 3 and bigger iPod touch device. As Dave outlined, the mini addresses the needs of different users; the entry price is lower and thus affordable for many consumers, and it competes pretty well with the Nexus and Windows tablets. But now that I've had my iPad Mini for over 24 hours, I'd like to give some first hand reactions as to what is good and not so good about it.
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November 5, 2012
It’s been a very busy fortnight for Microsoft with the launch of Windows 8 and the first ever Microsoft-branded Windows-toting computer, the Surface with Windows RT. Of course, “busy” doesn’t necessarily mean “good” and the Web has been rife with reviews and feedback on the Windows-goes-touch saga. And so it’s time to turn attention to the Surface launch.
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October 31, 2012
Since today is Halloween, I have decided to take a spooky look at technology in one of our regular weekly infographics. Don't worry, I promise not to bite - not unless you want me to. Our infographic today, courtesy of Fixmo.com shows technology and business ideas which have become outmoded, discredited and sent to the spooky dead tech graveyard.
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October 25, 2012
Microsoft took its time getting into the tablet market, primarily because it had to work on building an operating system that would offer a positive experience on the touchscreen form factor, which Windows 7 most certainly doesn't. With Windows 8 just around the corner, so is Surface, the new Microsoft-branded tablet.
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October 18, 2012
Earlier this week Microsoft finally revealed how the Microsoft Surface shaped up against the competition, and, crucially, how much one would cost to buy. The results are mixed, with many people expressing surprise and/or disappointment at the relatively high price point. But a Windows 8 tablet with Office pre-installed on it could still be a winner. It's time to poll you, the MakeUseOf readership, for your views on the product.
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August 31, 2012
Android tablets have a ton of potential, with the ability to use bluetooth, wi-fi, awesome cameras on the front and back, a keyboard and mouse, and a small form-factor that make it highly portable. In my case there is no direct access to my 3G data account, but by tethering my phone, I can remedy that as well and get access to the Internet nearly anywhere in the world, even without a Wi-Fi network. It's cool, but how could I put it to practical use?
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