Digitize your notes with the Neo smartpen N2 (Review)
With laptops and tablets becoming super portable workstations, writing stuff down with pen and paper seems to be going away. Looking around in any of my classes, I can see the majority of students are either typing things out on a laptop or tablet, some writing with a pen and paper, and some not taking notes at all.
Even with studies and teachers telling us that taking handwritten notes results in better retention than mindlessly typing out whatever our teachers says, writes, or puts in a PowerPoint, we continue to rely on our devices to serve as a stack of notebooks. Of course, there are some compelling reasons to store your notes on a device rather than in a notebook with the biggest being security.
When I take notes on my Surface Pro 4, everything I type is immediately backed up to the cloud. If something were to happen to my computer, I could easily access all my notes from my phone or another computer. If your notebook gets stolen, ripped, or rained on, you are out of luck because those notes are only stored in there.
The N2 is attempting to bridge the gap between typing and writing by offering a streamlined way to digitize your handwritten notes and back them up to the cloud.
Design and Build Quality
The design of the N2 is sleek and stylish. With the cap on, it does not look my different than an average pen aside from being slightly taller than normal. The body of the pen is made from aluminum and is triangle shaped to make writing with it more comfortable and easy. At the back of the pen, you will find the microUSB port for charging the device along with the button for powering it on and off. There is also an LED that signals if the pen is on along with some other cool features I’ll discuss later.
Take the cap off, and you will see that the N2 is not a normal pen. Under the actual pen tip is a sensor that is used to record everything your write, doodle, and sketch on an N2 notebook. The pen itself is actually a standard refill type that you can buy at your local office supply store which is a nice surprise instead of having a proprietary pen refill.
The overall design and build of the N2 is sleek and professional. It is light enough to use without your writing suffering and the weight is spread out well to keep it from toppling out of your hand. Writing with the N2 has been as enjoyable as any other pen I have used.
Setting up the N2
The N2 comes with a Neo Notes companion app for Android and iOS which is where all of your notes will be backed up to. The N2 pairs with your phone over Bluetooth, and the pairing process is simple and straight forward. Open the app, turn on the pen, and it basically takes care of the rest.
You can connect the Neo Notes app with your Evernote and Google Drive account to have your notes automatically backed up to one or both of these services. It is an extra level of security in case you cannot access your Neo Notes app to view your notes.
The app keeps itself and the pen up to date. It will alert you whenever there is an update to the firmware of the pen so that you can download it and always stay on the latest and greatest.
Using the N2
What makes the N2 special is its ability to digitize all of your handwriting into the Neo Notes companion app on your phone or tablet. In order to get the N2 to recognize your writing and digitize it, you have to use an N2 notebook which come in several sizes from pocket notepads to spiral notebooks. If you would rather not purchase separate notebooks, there is a free application for Widows called N Toaster that allows you to print Ncoded paper from your own home.
When you open a new notebook, it will open a new notebook in the Neo Notes app that is the same style as the one you are using this is cool. Unfortunately, it cannot differentiate between notebooks that are the same style. I have several notebooks that are the same style which I use for different subjects. If I just switch between them, all of the notes I take will appear in one notebook in the app.
I have to archive each notebook in the app after I use it and unarchive the notebook I need to use to keep all my notes in the right book. If you are forgetful (like me), you could easily forget to change notebooks in the app and have your biology notes in with your marketing notes. There is also no way to move notebook pages between books in case this happens.
This being said, using the N2 is an awesome experience which is only slightly dampened by the notebook switching difficulties. If you have the Neo Notes app open on your device, you can watch yourself write in real time in the virtual notebook. While this isn’t actually a useful feature of the app, it is still pretty cool to see how little latency is present between writing in a notebook and your writing showing up in the app.
The N2 has built in memory so that you don’t have to have the pen synced with your device to have your notes saved. Once you connect back to your phone, it will sync all the pen data to the app in the background.
As far as battery life is concerned, the N2 is good, but it will not be setting any records. The N2 is touted as having about 8 hours of battery life when in use, and I would say that is right on the money. I kept the N2 in my bag and used it in two of my four classes. I needed to charge it about one or twice a week which worked about to around eight hours of class time between charges. You can monitor the battery level of the pen within the Neo Notes app.
There are actually several useful features in the Neo Notes app itself. First off, you can have your notes backed up to your Evernote and Google Drive accounts. This will put pictures of each page of you have and upload them to whichever app you select.
When writing in a notebook, you can change the pen color and line thickness in the app so that when you view your notes later in the app, you can have different parts of your note in different colors. However, you must have the app opened when writing because the selections for color and thickness are only available then. When you change the pen color in app, the LED on the N2 will change to display whatever color it is writing in which is quite useful.
You are given the option to record audio as you take notes by pressing the Voice button in the app. Unfortunately, there is no mic on the N2 and the recording relies on your devices microphone for audio. This means you will need to have your device out in order for any recording to be audible.
When you go back and review your notes later, you can play them back and watch the app replay your notes in the order you wrote them. You can also play back the recordings which will highlight whatever you were writing down during each part of the recording. This is a great feature for students who can record their professor as they take notes and go back later to follow along with the recording of their teacher.
There are a couple of extra features in the app such as Edit or Transcribe, but I did not find them to be useful for me. Edit allows you to change the notes you took in the app, but it was just too difficult to use on a phone screen. It was simpler to open the notebook back to that page and edit whatever needed to be done in the physical notes. Transcribe will convert your handwritten notes into text, but if your writing is as bad as mine, your results will look like some sort of alien language. If you happen to have handwriting on the neater side, then this feature might prove useful to you.
While the Neo Notes app comes with all the features you could look for and more, it is in desperate need of a design refresh. For a device so sleek and stylish, the app itself lacks the same polish and almost appears unfinished.
Conclusion
After using the N2 for a couple of weeks both in and out of class, I can say that I am impressed with what the N2 has to offer. Its fantastic handwriting digitization, feature filled app, good battery life, and Google Drive/Evernote integration all wrapped up in a premium, sleek package made for an amazing writing experience. Sure, the app could definitely go for a design refresh and a couple of features that could have been improved, but my overall impression of this pen is high.
For students, this pen gives them the security of backing up their class notes while still letting them hand write their notes for improved retention. The N2 tries to blend old school note taking with new school technology, and it pulls it off with elegance and simplicity. If you are interesting in getting your hands on an N2, you can grab one for $140 from Amazon right now in either black or white. This will come with everything you need to get started including a small notebook. You can grab some extra notebooks from Amazon, as well.
Buy your N2 Buy Notebooks for the N2
What I liked:
- Sleek, stylish design
- Great build quality
- Easy setup
- Good battery life
- Handwriting is cleanly and quickly digitized
- App is full of useful features
- Evernote and Google Drive integration
- Pen stores notes when not connected to device
- Simple and easy operation
- Immediate recognition when I switched to a notebook with a different style
What I did not like:
- Could not differentiate between notebooks of the same style
- The app needs a major design overhaul
- No mic on the pen to take advantage of the recording feature
- No way to move note pages between books in the app
The post Digitize your notes with the Neo smartpen N2 (Review) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Help Om Nom get his candy back in Cut the Rope: Magic
There’s a good chance you have played Cut the Rope with the cute little green monster Om Nom. ZeptoLab is the creator behind the wildly popular Cut the Rope series which can be found on Google Play, on the Apple App Store or at Amazon’s Underground app store.
Om Nom is back to journey through a magical spell book with new challenges to capture your imagination and puzzle solving abilities. Similar to the other apps in the series, Cut the Rope: Magic will be free of charge to download and to play. The goal of the game is to help Om Nom get his delicious candy back from an evil spider wizard.
New to Cut the Rope is Om Nom’s new found shapeshifting feature which will allow him to turn into five different characters. These characters will help Om Nom beat the wizard’s evil tricks and to reclaim his candy.
With the new transformation feature and more than 100 magic-themed levels, including challenging boss levels, across a richly-imagined, colorful world, Cut the Rope: Magic is a fresh take on Cut the Rope’s classic physics-puzzle gameplay.
“The Cut the Rope series is now more than five years old – almost ancient in mobile gaming years,” said Misha Lyalin, ZeptoLab CEO. “When we started in 2010, we had no idea we’d have such a long story and that Om Nom would become so popular across the world. Today, a little over five years after the first game launched, we continue to bring new ideas to the market to create something that is truly new and magical, like Cut the Rope: Magic.”
I usually am not much of a gamer these days, but Cut the Rope: Magic is seriously entertaining and a fun challenge. The graphics are very clear, the colors are vibrant and the game play is fun for everyone of all ages. I find myself playing while my dog is playing at the dog park or just before bed for a quick breather from a long day. I encourage you to check it out and it is free to play.
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Download Cut the Rope: Magic today:
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For $0.99 on the App Store: http://zep.tl/ctrmagicpressios
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For free on Google Play: http://zep.tl/ctrmagicpressandroid
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For free on Amazon Underground: http://zep.tl/ctrmagicpressamazon
For more information about ZeptoLab and the “Cut the Rope” franchise, please:
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Like ZeptoLab on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cuttherope
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Follow ZeptoLab on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cut_The_Rope
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Watch ZeptoLab on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ZeptoLab
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Visit ZeptoLab on the Web: http://www.cuttherope.net
The post Help Om Nom get his candy back in Cut the Rope: Magic appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Dear Veronica: Santa’s little tech supporters
You guys delivered when it came to tech support disasters over the holidays! Check out your worst stories, as well as those of the Engadget staff! You have so much more patience than I do, seriously.
We also get a great response about how to get the best bass for your buck when it comes to earbuds! James Trew helps us out with his advice.
And finally today, a little fun with my steps for determining whether or not the 5-second rule applies. Hey, you asked!
UK carriers say draft snooping law will be a technical feat
Key to the draft Investigatory Powers Bill is a proposal that would require internet and other communications providers to collect and store 12 months of web traffic data, so it can be made available to government agencies when needed. It’s a subject of ongoing debate in Parliament, and just last week, the UK’s major ISPs voiced their concerns over the cost and technical challenges associated with gathering and processing these Internet Connection Records (ICRs). Yesterday, it was the turn of execs from EE, Three, O2 and Vodafone to meet with the draft bill’s joint committee, and while the big four carriers echoed the sentiments of the ISPs, they are even more wary of the scale and scope of what the government is asking them to deliver.
Reiterating a point raised by the ISPs, top brass from the major mobile providers said there has been no previous need to collect this kind of data. As such, the technology to do so doesn’t exist, and would need to be built from scratch. Carriers will have the added burden of developing systems that can pinpoint the web traffic of an individual mobile user. There aren’t enough unique IP addresses to go around, so mobile providers bundle up customer connections and route them through a single IP. This can mean “multiple thousands of unique devices attached to that public-facing IP address,” with one exec estimating it would take up to 18 months to create a system for processing and recording an individual’s mobile data.
An indeterminable cost
All the execs wouldn’t even begin to speculate what it might cost to meet the government’s requirements. The big ISPs warned last week that the £174 million put aside by the Home Office to fund the proposal wouldn’t be enough to cover their costs alone. The carriers agreed the government should pick up the bill, but wouldn’t be able to volunteer estimates when the definition of ICRs is still far from clear. In its simplest form, an ICR would include the top-level domain being accessed, but not individual webpages. Things get a bit muddier when you throw over-the-top services like WhatsApp into the mix, however.
While mobile networks route a ton of data from over-the-top services, they are not party to its contents. Therefore, you can’t extract a great deal of information from this traffic without unpacking it to figure out, for example, if it’s a Skype call — not to mention that most communications data is encrypted. And with encryption becoming more commonplace, the fear is the complex and expensive systems required by the draft bill will simply be processing inordinate amounts of useless data. The volume of internet traffic handled by mobile networks is rising steadily, too, so there will be ongoing costs associated with upgrading these systems to gather and store more and more data.
Define Internet Connection Record
It also raises the question of whether network providers should be required to store and analyse data from third-party, over-the-top services when the government could engage with them directly, which one exec argued would be a much more “elegant” solution. Instead of piecing together potentially inaccurate information from multiple connection providers, the service itself could collate all of a user’s activity and understand the data. It also helps that carriers could keep private, encrypted data at arms length, of course. With so much of the scope of the ICR proposal still unclear — including exactly what type of data an ICR would compromise, and how it would need to be stored, accessed, etc. — the carriers dared not speculate on the costs of building the appropriate collection systems, apart from saying they would be “significant.”
Other issues raised by the carriers included the security of such large, complex databases, particularly when they would be accessed by government agencies and third parties working on behalf of them. It’s imperative that customer privacy and data protection rights be upheld throughout the chain, they argued, also noting that it’s going to be a serious challenge training people to understand the data in the first place.
Obviously, it’s not just connection providers like carriers and ISPs that are questioning the finer details (or lack thereof) of the draft Investigatory Powers Bill. Today, a number of legal experts will sit down with the joint committee and voice their concerns that legally privileged communications (aka the attorney-client privilege) aren’t specifically protected under the proposed surveillance legislation. Speaking to The Guardian, Peter Carter QC of the Bar Council (who will appear in front of the committee) said: “Under the current draft, security services would be allowed to spy on private communications between clients and their lawyers because protections for legal privilege are not written into the bill.”
Via: The Guardian
Source: UK Parliament
Congress tucked CISA inside last night’s budget bill
Last night’s budget bill wasn’t all about avoiding a government shutdown. Packed inside the 2,000-page bill announced by Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) is the full text of the controversial Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015. If you’ll recall, the measure passed the Senate back in October, leaving it up to the House to approve the bill that encourages businesses to share details of security breaches and cyber attacks.
Despite being labeled as cybersecurity legislation, critics of CISA argue that it’s a surveillance bill that would allow companies to share user info with the US government and other businesses. As TechDirt points out, this version of the bill stripped important protections that would’ve prevented directly sharing details with the NSA and required any personally identifying details to be removed before being shared. It also removes restrictions on how the government can use the data.
A number of tech companies and privacy groups, including Apple and Dropbox, have publicly opposed the bill citing its “flawed approach” to improving cybersecurity. By tacking CISA on to an urgent budget bill, the chances that it’ll pass the House are likely. As Congress looks to avoid a government shutdown, slipping the measure into desperately needed (2,000 pages) legislation is a good way for it to be overlooked.
[Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images]
Via: The Verge
Source: Washington Post, Consolidated Appropirations Act of 2016
Karma’s CEO on reinventing the hotspot
It’s hard to get excited about a mere hotspot these days, but the Karma Go is something different. It’s a $149 device that lets you pay for mobile internet access (on Sprint’s LTE network) as you go for $14 per gigabyte, or get unlimited access for $50 a month. Right now it’s also on sale for $99 if you sign up for an unlimited plan from the start. The kicker is that it shares your connection, so that others can hop onto your hotspot with their own Karma accounts. You’ll get a bit of credit for everyone who joins your Karma Go, so there’s an incentive for you to share. Now, the company is gearing up to begin next-day shipping for the Karma Go, just in time for last-minute holiday shopping.
We sat down with Karma CEO Steven van Wel about the experience of building the Karma Go. In addition to discussing its design and the changes from the company’s first-generation device, we dove into the LTE regulatory approval process that led to lengthy delays for the Karma Go. (Note: This video was shot before Karma announced its unlimited data plan.)
Philips won’t block third-party Hue bulbs after all
Well, that was fast. After announcing that it would drop support for third-party Hue bulbs, Philips is reversing its decision. The company initially nixed support for bulbs that weren’t certified by its Friend of Hue program that ensures products from other brands don’t cause any issues with the lighting setups. However, Philips says that it “underestimated the impact” on customers and a second software update is on the way to reverse this week’s action. It also reminded users that using third-party bulbs may lead to the same incompatibility issues as before, such as not dimming properly or creating the correct colors.
[Image credit: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Source: Philips
HP Spectre x2 review: A less expensive Surface rival
We’ve been noticing something the past few months: Every tech company is trying to be more like Microsoft. Which is to say, they’re belatedly copying the Surface Pro, a laptop/tablet mashup that’s already in its fourth generation. There are different examples: the iPad Pro from Apple, Google’s Pixel C, as well as offerings from Lenovo and Dell. But HP’s latest is an especially literal interpretation. The Spectre x2, as it’s called, is a 12-inch Windows tablet with a keyboard cover. Also like the Surface Pro, it sports a kickstand around back and can be used with a pressure-sensitive pen. But, it’s cheaper and the keyboard actually comes in the box (hear that, Microsoft?). On paper, then, it would seem that while the x2 isn’t groundbreaking, it could be worthwhile in its own right. Slideshow-347350
Hardware
It works like a Surface, but it doesn’t look like one. Whereas the Surface Pro is all chamfered edges and unibody metal, the Spectre x2 is marked by rounded corners, exposed screws and some chrome and glass bits. Let’s start our tour on the backside for once, because that’s where most of the action is. The all-important kickstand sits flush with the rear case until you hold down a release lever on the left side. When extended, it looks like an easel, with an open metal frame that stays put on flat surfaces, but isn’t always comfortable to balance on your lap. I also find it’s slightly more cumbersome to pull out than the Surface’s kickstand, though both are a bit awkward in that respect. On the plus side, the kickstand is fully adjustable (also like the Surface Pro), which not all hybrids are.
Also on the rear, you’ll find a black glass strip lining the top edge. That’s where HP places Intel’s 3D RealSense camera setup, which is composed of a main 8-megapixel shooter and stereoscopic 720p cameras for capturing different layers of depth information. As we’ve found in other products using the technology, it can be fun to take photos and then adjust the focus after the fact, as well as apply filters to selective parts of the picture. Unfortunately, while RealSense devices are in theory able to take advantage of the Windows Hello biometric log-in in Windows 10, the fact that these depth-sensing cameras are on the back of the x2 means they won’t be of any use for things like facial or iris recognition when you want to quickly sign in to your machine. Also, it’s a little awkward using a 12-inch, nearly 1.9-pound tablet to frame shots.
Speaking of the sort, the x2 is thin and light in the grand scheme of things — i.e., compared to full-fledged laptops — but it’s not remarkably small either. All told, it comes in at 840 grams (1.85 pounds) and 8mm (0.31 inch) thick. That makes it easy to carry indeed, though the keyboard cover adds quite a bit of weight, bringing the total to 2.68 pounds. Meanwhile, the Surface Pro 4 starts at 1.69 pounds, with the optional Type Cover adding just 0.64 pounds. Need some more examples? The tablet portion of the Surface Book weighs 1.6 pounds with a more powerful Core i5 or i7 processor, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at 1.57 pounds and measures 0.27 inch thick, despite having a larger screen than the x2.
If it sounds like I’m splitting hairs, I have a point. One of the main reasons to use Core M, ostensibly, is that you can achieve thinner and lighter designs than you could with a heavier-duty Core i processor. Or, at least, that was the case last year when the first Core M PCs started hitting the market. Now, though, there’s no real benefit, at least in terms of size and weight. As you’ll see, too, Core i systems still have a leg up when it comes to both battery life and raw performance power. That leaves just one reason to get a Core M system, then, and that’s price.
Before I get too far ahead of myself, though, let me finish up my tour of the tablet. The all-important power/lock button sits on the top edge, with separate pin-locked microSD and SIM trays on the right. Also on the right is one of two USB Type-C ports that you can use to charge the device. Google’s latest Pixel Chromebook also had two USB-C charging ports and while it’s not what I’d call a necessity, it’s nice to be able to choose which side you’d like to have the charging cord to come out of, depending on where you’re sitting relative to the nearest outlet. Should you need a full-sized USB Type-A connection, there’s a dongle included in the box, something other hardware makers don’t bother to offer.
On the left edge is the second USB-C socket, along with a two-stage volume rocker, headphone jack and the release lever for the kickstand. Lastly, the tablet features dual Bang & Olufsen speakers, one on the right and left side. (There’s also some B&O branding on both the tablet and keyboard dock, lest you forget who’s responsible for those thumping tunes.)
Display
At the center of everything is the 12-inch IPS display. The resolution is capped at 1,920 x 1,080, which is lower than some competing products, including both the Surface Pro 4 and iPad Pro. Still, on a screen this small, the difference would be subtle at best, so in the interest of keeping the cost down, this was a fine compromise. Even if the screen angle weren’t adjustable, which thankfully it is, I would have had an easy time making out the screen. As a warning, the glossy panel doesn’t completely repel glare, but color and contrast at least stays mostly consistent as you tilt the screen forward and back.
Lastly, the x2 is compatible with pressure-sensitive Wacom pens — that’s the same technology that the Surface Pro used to have before Microsoft bought Wacom competitor N-Trig. All of which is to say: The x2 will make a good pen tablet for drawing and note-taking, so long as you’re willing to buy your own writing implement. HP sells an active pen on its site for $30, though any Wacom-enabled pen will do.
Keyboard
The Spectre x2 might be slower than the competition, and the battery life might not be as long, and the screen might not be as sharp, but damn if it doesn’t have one of the best keyboards I’ve seen on a device like this. The metal keyboard feels sturdy, for starters, which goes a long way toward making it comfortable to use in the lap. It’s backlit — another plus. And, perhaps most importantly, the keys are generously sized with an impressive 1.5mm of travel, making them uncommonly cushy for a product in this class.
Also, I like how HP gives you a choice of resting the keyboard flat against your desk (or lap), or instead folding up the top to attach to magnets inside the tablet’s lower bezel. This gives the keyboard a lift in the back that for some will translate to a more ergonomically sound experience.
Too bad the touchpad isn’t nearly as refined. To be fair, when it works it works well, with smooth enough scrolling and precise cursor tracking. But it doesn’t always work. I wasn’t always able to get the pointer to go, and I frequently found myself accidentally rearranging pinned browser tabs. Worse, there were times when I swiped my finger across the large touch surface only to find that it wasn’t responding. Usually, a little persistence would do the trick, as would detaching and then reattaching the tablet. But it shouldn’t be that way. Fortunately, I think this is just the sort of problem a firmware update can fix.
Performance and battery life
| PCMark7 | PCMark8 (Creative Accelerated) | 3DMark11 | 3DMark (Sky Diver) | ATTO (top reads/writes) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP Spectre x2 (1.2GHz Core M7-6Y75, Intel HD 515) | 3,395 | 3,307 |
E1,884 / P1,148 / X331 |
2,737 | 554 MB/s / 281 MB/s |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (2.4GHz Core i5-6300U, Intel HD 520) | 5,403 | 3,602 |
E2,697/ P1,556/ X422 |
3,614 | 1.6 GB/s / 529 MB/s |
| Lenovo Yoga Pro 900 (2.5GHz Core i7-6500U, Intel HD 520) | 5,368 | 3,448 |
E2,707 / P1,581 |
3,161 | 556 MB/s / 511 MB/s |
| Microsoft Surface Book (2.4GHz Core i5-6300U, Intel HD 520) | 5,412 | 3,610 |
E2,758 / P1,578 / X429 |
3,623 | 1.6 GB/s / 571 MB/s |
| Microsoft Surface Book (2.6GHz Core i7-6600U, 1GB NVIDIA GeForce graphics) | 5,740 | 3,850 |
E4,122 / P2,696 |
6,191 | 1.55 GB/s / 608 MB/s |
| HP Spectre x360 (2015, 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD 5500) | 4,965 | N/A |
E1,667 / P932 / X265 |
N/A | 555 MB/s / 270 MB/s |
| Dell XPS 13 (2015, 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD 5500) | 4,900 | N/A |
E2,114 / P1,199 / X330 |
N/A | 515 MB/s / 455 MB/s |
The Spectre x2 comes with your choice of Core M3, M5 or M7 processor. It’s the same idea as Core i3, i5 and i7, except that Intel Core M sacrifices speed for the sake of achieving especially thin and light designs, like the one we have here. The unit I tested was a top-of-the-line configuration, with a dual-core 1.2GHz Core M7-6Y75 processor, Intel HD 515 graphics and 8GB of memory. Even with the best specs offered, benchmark scores still trail new machines with Core i5 chips, including the Surface Pro 4. In particular, you’ll notice a big gap in graphics-focused tests, like 3DMark.
To its credit, the LiteOn solid-state drive delivered max write speeds of 554 MB/s in ATTO’s disk test, which is in line with many other SSDs we’ve tested recently. Even so, though, it takes the Spectre x2 about 15 seconds to boot into the desktop, whereas it might take a faster machine around 10. Also, write speeds topped out at an average 281 MB/s, which trails many of its contemporaries, including the SP4, which gets into the 500-megabyte-per-second territory in write tests.
|
Battery life |
|
|---|---|
| HP Spectre x2 | 6:43 |
| Surface Book (Core i5, integrated graphics) | 13:54 / 3:20 (tablet only) |
| MacBook Air (13-inch, 2013) | 12:51 |
| HP Spectre x360 | 11:34 |
| Surface Book (Core i7, discrete graphics) | 11:31 / 3:02 (tablet only) |
| Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display (13-inch, 2015) | 11:23 |
| iPad Pro | 10:47 |
| Chromebook Pixel (2015) | 10:01 |
| Lenovo Yoga Pro 900 | 9:36 |
| Microsoft Surface 3 | 9:11 |
| Apple MacBook (2015) | 7:47 |
| Dell XPS 13 (2015) | 7:36 |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 4 | 7:15 |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 3 | 7:08 |
HP rates the Spectre x2 for 10 hours of battery life. If they say so. Perhaps it’s possible to achieve 10 hours of use if you lower the brightness to a fairly dim setting and use the machine intermittently. For my part, I never came close to reaching that milestone. With an HD video looping and the brightness fixed at 65 percent, the x2 managed six hours and 43 minutes. And it seems we’re not alone: Our friends at Laptop Mag, for instance, got around six and a half hours in what’s arguably a less taxing test.
All told, between the performance and battery life results, I’m convinced there’s not much reason at this point to buy a device with Intel Core M, especially if you have a choice. Yes, it enables super slim designs, but so do the latest “Core i” processors. Core-i chips also offer faster performance, and early reviews suggest that battery life is longer too, especially compared to last year’s Core CPUs. The only benefit to Core M seems to be that those models are slightly cheaper price your typical Core i5 system. But if you intend to own your next computer for several years, that extra $100 or so is well worth it.
Configuration options and the competition
The Spectre x2 starts at $800 with an Intel Core M3-6Y30 processor, Intel HD 515 graphics, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. From there, you can upgrade to a $950 configuration with a Core M5-6Y54 chip and 8GB of memory. That model is customizable, too, allowing you to swap in a Core M7 CPU ($50) and either a 256GB ($150) or 512GB ($450) SSD. Either way, the keyboard comes standard in the box, and the 12-inch screen has a fixed resolution of 1,920 x 1,080.
Or you could not buy an x2 at all. There are plenty of similar-looking tablet hybrids out there, including the one that started the trend: Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4. If you were to compare the two based on price alone, the SP4 would seem like the worse deal: With a higher starting price of $899, it has the same key specs as the $800 Spectre x2, and doesn’t come with a keyboard in the box (you’ll need to buy that separately for $130). Price aside, though, it’s still the better product. It’s lighter (1.69 pounds, versus 1.85); it’s more comfortable to use in the lap; it offers more powerful spec options; and the battery life is slightly longer, even with a more pixel dense display. Of the two, the Surface Pro 4 is the one I’d sooner recommend to my family and friends.
There are others. Lenovo will soon begin selling the Miix 700, and Dell recently released the XPS 12, a 12-inch Windows tablet with an accompanying keyboard dock. Since I haven’t had a chance to test this one yet, I can’t vouch for the performance, though it’s worth noting that it runs on Core M chips, just like the x2, which means you shouldn’t expect particularly fast performance. I’m also curious to see what effect the 4K screen option has on battery life.
The other thing I can’t account for is ergonomics. We already know that the 12.5-inch tablet has a fixed position inside its dock; that puts it at a disadvantage against the Spectre X2 and SP4, both of which have fully adjustable kickstands. On the other hand, perhaps the lack of a kickstand will make it more comfortable to use in the lap. We’ll see.
And lastly, what kind of reviewer would I be if I didn’t compare the Spectre x2 to the iPad Pro? It, too, is a pen-enabled tablet designed to be used as a laptop on occasion, and it starts at a similar price of $799. The performance is fast, the battery life is longer than on the Spectre x2 and the pressure-sensitive Apple Pencil works well. But, iOS 9 isn’t as robust a multitasker as OS X or Windows 10; none of the optional keyboard docks allow you to adjust the screen angle; and the fact that iOS 9 has no mouse support can get tiresome, depending on what you’re doing. It’s a worthy product in some ways, but I only recommend it in its current form to creative pros and early adopters.
Wrap-up
In this increasingly big world of laptop/tablet hybrids, the Spectre x2 isn’t a bad choice, especially at this price. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best. The x2 is not the fastest, the longest-lasting or the most comfortable to use in the lap. It’s screen is not the sharpest. But it’s keyboard is arguably the easiest to type on of any click-in dock I’ve seen, and the audio is surprisingly decent. If money is no object, you will probably be happier with the Surface Pro 4. But, if you were hoping to avoid spending $930 just for the entry-level SP4 and keyboard, the x2 is a fine runner-up.
NVIDIA shows Android 6.0 Marshmallow running on NVIDIA SHIELD tablet K1
While most people are patiently waiting and watching for Android 6.0 Marshmallow to be available for their smartphones, not much noise has been generated by tablet owners who no doubt look forward to the sweet update. NVIDIA appears to be ready to become one of the first manufacturers to get Android 6.0 Marshmallow out to their tablets thanks to an update for the NVIDIA SHIELD tablet K1. If NVIDIA gets the update out soon enough, and they should be close based on a video they released yesterday, they should only be trailing Google’s own Nexus line of tablets.
The YouTube posting indicates NVIDIA plans to roll out the update for the NVIDIA SHIELD tablet K1 in December. NVIDIA shows several features of Android 6.0 Marshmallow running on the tablet device, like the scrolling app screen with search, controlling app permissions, Google Now on Tap, and using an SD card for internal memory purposes. NVIDIA also indicates they have ovrehauled their camera app to include some new auto enhancement features that take advantage of the graphics might of the tablet.
You can check out the full 2-minute video below and be sure to keep an eye on TalkAndroid for our upcoming review of the NVIDIA SHIELD tablet K1.
Click here to view the embedded video.
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$100 off Samsung smartphones, year of Netflix offered by T-Mobile in final Unwrapped deal
T-Mobile announced today their final special offer as part of their holiday shopping Un-carrier Unwrapped promotions. The offer encourages consumers to pick up a Samsung smartphone thanks to a $100 discount and suggests consumers avail themselves of T-Mobile’s new Binge On feature by throwing in a year of Netflix.
John Legere, in announcing this final offer for the season, says other carriers are engaging in trickery with their specials, but T-Mobile’s Unwrapped is different in being simple, “we’re giving you $100 off the top on Samsung’s hottest phones, plus a year of Netflix. Period.”
The devices eligible for the special pricing include the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 Edge, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and the Galaxy Note 5. The offer will launch this Friday, December 18th, and will be accessible via retail locations, by phone or through online orders. The special pricing on Samsung devices will be good through December 23rd, but the Netflix offer can be had until December 31st. If you are already a Netflix customer, you can get a 12-month credit through this deal.
Check out the full press release below.
T-Mobile Gives Customers $100 Off Samsung’s Best Smartphones, Plus a Year of Netflix
Un-carrier Unwrapped ends with gifts for all!
Get $100 off a Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge, edge+ or Note5 AND one full year of Netflix on us!Bellevue, Washington — December 16, 2015 — T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) today revealed its final gift of the Un-carrier Unwrapped holiday season and it’s for absolutely everyone. Starting this Friday, the Un-carrier is knocking $100 off Samsung’s latest superphones – the Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge, edge+ or Note5. To sweeten the deal, the Un-carrier is throwing in up to a full year of Netflix – more than $100 value – when you pick up any of these Samsung smartphones! With Binge On you can watch all the Netflix you want without eating up your high-speed data. It’s the gift that keeps on giving year round!
“Today we’re putting the final bow on a fantastic month of gifts to all wireless customers,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “The carriers’ holiday ‘deals’ are full of trickery and promises in exchange for a set of handcuffs and higher costs down the road. That’s not a gift, and it’s not how the Un-carrier does it. Starting this weekend, we’re giving you $100 off the top on Samsung’s hottest phones, plus a year of Netflix. Period. Happy Holidays Everyone!”
Thanks to the carriers’ inflated data charges and overages, if you don’t have T-Mobile, you’re paying a lot more for your binge watching than just the normal subscription fee. Binge watching a full season of House of Cards can eat up about 9.59 GB of high-speed data. An AT&T customer with a 5GB data bucket would use up their entire bucket and tip into overage penalties to the tune of $15 per gigabyte before the season is even done – an extra $75 on top of their monthly bill! At T-Mobile with Binge On, that same season of House of Cards would eat up exactly ZERO of your high-speed data bucket on most plans.
The Un-carrier has been in the holiday spirit this month, unwrapping holiday gifts every week as part of Un-carrier Unwrapped. First, T-Mobile gave its Simple Choice customers three months of Unlimited LTE. Then,Sprint customers got $200 per line when they switched. And AT&T customers got a phone memory upgrade and half-off accessories. Finally, Verizon customers got up to a full year mobile viewing joy with Hulu and half-off accessories.
This latest Un-carrier Unwrapped gift is available to everyone starting Friday, December 18th in T-Mobile stores, by phone and online. Customers can get $100 off Samsung phones through December 23rd, and customers can get up to a free year of Netflix though December 31st. For more information, visithttps://explore.t-mobile.com/samsung-phone-offer.
Offer subject to change. At participating locations; while supplies last. Qualifying service required. Netflix offer sponsored by Samsung. Follow instructions at http://www.SamsungPromotions.com to redeem. Netflix codes must be used by 3/31/16 or they will expire. Subject to Netflix Terms & Conditions.
About T-Mobile
As America’s Un-carrier, T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is redefining the way consumers and businesses buy wireless services through leading product and service innovation. The Company’s advanced nationwide 4G LTE network delivers outstanding wireless experiences to more than 61 million customers who are unwilling to compromise on quality and value. Based in Bellevue, Washington, T-Mobile US provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile and MetroPCS. For more information, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.
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