Toshiba’s retooled Chromebook 2 arrives in October, starts at $330
Toshiba has announced an upgraded version of its Chromebook 2, which is scheduled to ship next month. Compared to last year’s, the company’s new Chrome OS laptop will be available with 5th-generation (Broadwell) Intel Core i3 or Celeron processors — both are geared toward performance, so you can expect this machine to be much snappier than its predecessor. Additionally, the refreshed Chromebook 2 features a backlit LED keyboard for the first time. What does carry over from the previous model is that great 13.3-inch, 1080p IPS display, an HD webcam, two USB ports (3.0, 2.0) and the option to add up to 4GB of RAM. Battery life rating, meanwhile, continues to be about nine hours, but hopefully those fresh processors will make Toshiba’s Chromebook 2 last longer than before. It’ll be available in October for $330 and $430 for the Core i3 and Celeron models, respectively. Slideshow-322381
Source: Toshiba
Acer unveils four new Liquid phones and a convertible Chromebook
While IFA technically hasn’t started yet, the real fun always happens a few days ahead, as all the OEMs unveil their new devices at special press events. With this is mind, Acer has kicked off the festivities with the announcement of several new products, including 4 new Acer Liquid phones and a convertible Chromebook. Let’s start by discussing the phones: the Liquid Z630, Z530, and Z520. The Z630 and Z530 also have “S” models that are pretty much the same, but with slightly better specs.
The Liquid Z630 series offers a 5.5-inch 720p display, 8MP front and back cameras, and a 4000 mAh battery. The S model offers an octa-core MediaTek processor with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, while the standard version has a 1.3GHz MediaTek quad-core processor with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. Pricing for the Z630 will begin at €199 (roughly $224.16) when it arrives in September, though no specific pricing details have been revealed for the Z630S.
Next we have the Z530 series, powered by a quad-core 1.3GHz Mediatek processor. Other specs include a 5-inch 720p display, 8MP front and back cams, and an unspecified battery size. The S model has 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, while the standard version has either 1GB RAM and 8GB storage, or 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. The Z630 will price at €149 and will arrive in October.
On the lower-end you’ll find the Z330 and Z320. Both of these phones offer 4.5-inch displays, Snapdragon 210 processors, 1GB RAM, and 8GB storage. The only major difference is that the Z330 has a 210 MSM8909 with Cat4 LTE, while the Z320 has a MSM8209 and is 3G only. No exact word on pricing for either of these models just yet.
Regardless of what phone you pick up, all of them will feature Android 5.1 with Acer’s UI customizations running on top. The new Liquid family will not be made available for the North American market unfortunately, and instead will be aimed at Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Acer Chromebook R11
Last but not least, Acer has shown of the R11, a new convertible Chromebook that allows the screen to fully rotate around back, essentially transforming the laptop into a Chrome tablet.
On the spec front, you’ll get an 11-inch 1366 x 768 LCD display with 10-point touch and a Intel Celeron N3150 or N3050, depending on your configuration. Other specs include up to 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, an HDR-capable webcam, 802.11ac WiFi, and a USB 3.0 port.
Pricing for the Chromebook R11 begins at $299 and will launch to North America in October. Europe and other regions can expect the laptop in November.
Acer’s first convertible Chromebook, the Chromebook R 11, expands company’s successful and award-winning line
Innovative 360 degree hinge design gives customers four versatile usage modes for work and play
HD touch screen held steady by sturdy dual-torque hinges
Powered by Intel® Celeron ® processors for fast performance
Up to three times faster1 wireless performance with 2×2 MIMO 802.11ac wireless connection
BERLIN, GERMANY (September 2, 2015) Today Acer, the market leader and pioneer in the Chromebook category, adds the company’s first convertible Chromebook to its line-up, the Acer Chromebook R 11. The new Chromebook is packed with the latest technology and features for a faster, more productive and flexible user experience.
Following the success of Chromebook line since Acer entered the space in 2011, the Chromebook R 11 is Acer’s first convertible notebook. It easily transitions between four usage modes: laptop, pad, display and tent modes, letting customers enjoy the Chromebook in a variety of settings. 1 Based on an IEEE 802.11ac draft specification. Actual speed will vary based on range, connection rate, site conditions, size of network, and other factors.  According to Gartner, Acer is the world’s leading Chromebook brand with over 36 percent market share in 20142.
Four Modes to Fulfil Needs at Work or at Play
The Chromebook R 11 is equipped with Acer’s patented 360 degrees dual-torque hinge design, enabling customers to manipulate the display to any degree that is most comfortable for the setting. The dual-torque hinges keep the display secure and stable during touch control and while switching between the modes. Always smart, the audio channel output automatically reverses as the display changes orientation.
Since the classic laptop experience is still a crucial part of the way people use their Chromebooks, users will find themselves right at home in laptop mode when they need to access the keyboard for an efficient and productive input experience.
Pushing back the Chromebook into display mode hides the keyboard and brings the display closer to make the most of visuals and entertainment. As the Chromebook R 11 is flipped, the on-screen image automatically rotates 180 degrees to the correct viewing orientation.
Tent mode provides an ideal viewing and touch experience in confined spaces such as when traveling on a plane or train.
Push the display back 360 degrees so the Chromebook converts to pad mode for a quick and efficient way to play, share and browse. The Chromebook R 11 supports both landscape and portrait pad modes.
Lighter, Faster, More Powerful
At just 19.2 mm thin and weighing less than 1.25 kg, the Chromebook R 11 is designed to slip into book bags and backpacks effortlessly. This lightweight computer also packs a huge punch with Intel® Celeron® processors, ultra-fast 2×2 MIMO 802.11ac wireless connection, USB 3.0 port, and fast boot time.  Stylish Design and Vibrant Touch Screen
The Chromebook R 11 packs style as well as substance. The premium aluminum top cover is imprinted for a uniquely textured metallic finish using Acer nano-imprint technology
The 11.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) screen with wide viewing angle is complemented by an HD webcam with HDR (High Dynamic Range) imaging, with a crisp and vibrant touch screen display. The LED-backlit LCD screen has integrated 10-point touch, supporting Tap, Swipe and Pinch to Zoom gestures so any web page or app can benefit.
“By launching the Acer Chromebook R 11, we are providing our customers with a greater choice of Chrome OS notebooks,” said Jerry Kao, president of Notebook Business Group at Acer. “We already offer a variety of Chromebooks from 11 to 15 inches. The addition of the convertible series is another illustration of our commitment to our customers and the category.”
Chrome is Secure, Easy to Use and Share in Different Modes
The Acer Chromebook R 11 is the ideal device for a range of customers who view, edit, create and collaborate in programs such as Microsoft Office Online documents and Google Docs. Chromebooks are simple to use and ideal for sharing by multiple users, since users can log into their own account to access Docs, website bookmarks and other information. Storage on Google Drive protects files, documents, and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version of the file or document is always available and safe, even if the Chromebook is lost or stolen. Security is a key benefit of the Chrome OS, as it’s automatically updated to guard against ever- changing online threats. In addition, the Supervised Users feature helps get customers online in a safe, controlled way.
Pricing and Availability
The Acer Chromebook R 11 will be available in North America in October with prices starting from $299. It will also be available in EMEA starting in November at prices starting at €299. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via http://www.acer.com.
BERLIN, GERMANY (September 2, 2015) Today Acer announces six new Liquid smartphones; four running Android 5.1 and two with Windows 10. The handsets feature sleek, curved chassis with upgraded front-facing cameras, wide-angle lenses and enhanced audio.
All Acer Liquid smartphones announced today share several features that improve the overall enjoyment of the technology in consumers’ hands, whether it’s watching movies, snapping selfies, or listening to music. Innovations such as Acer BluelightShieldTM 2 which controls users’ exposure of blue light from the screen and DTS Studio SoundTM 2 gives high-quality audio performance for music and movies. Phone fans will appreciate exposure control which allows adjustment of exposure and focus independently to get clear and bright shots, and Bright Magic photo that ensures selfies are always presented in the best lighting conditions.
Other user features through the range include the Acer QuickMode2 user interface which provides three customized layout options designed for specific groups of users – Standard Mode for those familiar with a smartphones; Easy Mode for those who are just learning; and Basic Mode that offers a range of protective options for kids. On top of Basic Mode, these handsets all offer Kids Center, a protected environment with parental control. Helping people get the most out of all these features is the Acer Aid Kit2, a set of three tools that monitors the phone’s performance, manage battery life, and run the backup and restore center.
“There is a movement among smartphone users at all levels towards using their handsets as digital content and entertainment devices,” noted ST Liew, president of Acer’s Smart Products Business Group. “We focused on bringing these attributes to the forefront in our new models. Enhanced sound, camera and features along with Acer’s easy to use UI makes these models ideal for anyone looking for a first smartphone, or upgrade from a basic model for a superb media experience.”
Liquid Z630 – Big on Power and Size
Powered by the 64-bit, quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6735 processor the 5.5-inch Z630 (measuring 156.3 x 77.5 8.9 mm) Android 5.1 handset is ideal for those looking to create, share and enjoy digital content on the go, enabled by 2GB RAM and a standard 16GB of internal memory. It packs a 4000 mAh battery ensures lasting performance from every charge. A HD Zero Air Gap screen with IPS technology extends to house the 8MP wide view angle front lens (capable of 1080p video recording) as well as the 8MP auto-focus rear camera (capable of 1080p video). Connectivity comes through its Cat4 LTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.0 with LE connectivity.  The updated Acer Liquid UI is designed to be more consumer friendly than ever before. Key apps have been designed as “Float Apps” taking up only a portion of the screen so users can see and interact with the desktop below. This feature is available for maps, browser, notes, calendar and more, along with “Float Caller” which lets an incoming call pop up as a mini window for the user to choose whether to answer or reply with quick messages without interrupting the current session completely.
The Z630 is also equipped with AcerEXTEND which connects wirelessly to a compatible laptop or PC and lets you view the phone’s home screen in a phone-shaped emulator box on the computer. Enabling functions like webpage and document sharing, full screening, drag and drop organization, messaging, typing and simplifies managing files and switching from personal to professional mode using the same device. Acer will also offer the Liquid Z630S model powered by an octa-core processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM.
Liquid Z530 – Perfect Selfie Smartphone
Also powered by the 64-bit, quad-core 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6735 processor, the 5-inch Z530 (measuring 144 x 70.3 x 8.9 mm) Android 5.1 phone is an intelligent device for those serious about their selfies. Focusing on sharp display and quality images and supported by 1GB/2GB RAM and 8GB/16GB storage (depending on market), the Vivid Color display; 84 degree wide- angle front facing 8MP selfie lens; Cat4 LTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 EDR connectivity; Acer QuickTouch controls and ergonomic design all contribute to this social media optimized phone.
The Android 5.1 handset features a HD IPS screen with Zero Air Gap to ensure bright rendering of color. Photo enhancements presented by Gourmet Mode for food photographers automatically adjusts color temperature and style for pictures of dishes; Touch to capture for focusing and capturing photos with just one touch; Smile Shutter to capture smiles as they happen and much more. Also featuring the Acer Liquid UI, the handset is designed for anyone looking to explore the real benefits of carrying a camera with them wherever they go.
Acer will also offer the Liquid Z530S model powered by an octa-core processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM.
Pricing and Availability
The Acer Liquid Z630 will be available in EMEA in September with prices starting at €199.  The Acer Liquid Z530 will be available in EMEA in October with prices starting at €149.
Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via http://www.acer.com.
The new products were unveiled today at the next@acer press event at IFA Berlin in Germany, where the company announced its latest devices and solutions for gamers and consumers for the holiday season. Visit Acer’s booth at IFA 2015 in Messe Berlin (Hall 12/101) or learn about the new product range on acer.com/ifaberlin2015.
Deal: Refurbished Acer 13-inch Chromebook for just $208 from eBay ($172 off)
If you’re looking for a perfectly capable computer that won’t break the bank, eBay may have the perfect deal for you. Normally, a refurbished Acer 13.3-inch Chromebook is sold for about $259.99 through eBay, which is already a pretty good deal for the computer. But thanks to Acer’s 20% off sale on eBay, when you add the Chromebook to your cart, the price drops down to just $207.99 before taxes. Not only is that roughly $170 off the original price of this computer, it’s also about $180 less than Amazon’s price for a brand new unit.
The Acer Chromebook sports a 13.3-inch Full HD display, a quad-core 2.1GHz Tegra K1 processor, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of on-board storage and a battery that can last up to 11 hours on a single charge.
Even though this isn’t a brand new laptop, you’re still covered if anything goes wrong. This is a manufacturer refurbished unit, meaning it’s been restored by an Acer-approved vendor. It also comes with a 90-day manufacturer warranty, so you’ll be covered if there’s a problem with the computer.
Interested? Head to the deal link below for more information!
Dell has a new awesome 13-inch Chromebook starting at $399
Dell has unveiled a new Chromebook called the Dell Chromebook 13. Like all Chromebooks, it aims to bring you a laptop experience for an affordable price. This one goes a little beyond the normal Chromebook experience, but keeps the low price.
The Dell Chromebook 13 has a 13.3-inch IPS touchscreen display at 1080p resolution. An Intel Celeron 3205U (dual-core, 1.5GHz) processor, a back-lit keyboard, 2GB of RAM and 16GB storage. Battery life is amazing at 12hrs and it is built out of premium materials such as magnesium alloy and carbon fiber, not to mention has a glass trackpad. All this for the low price of $399.
There are also two other models, one with an Intel i3-5005U (2.0GHz) with 4GB of RAM for $529 and the “big boy” model with an Intel i5-5300U (2.9GHz), 32GB SSD, and 8GB RAM for $799. The last model cost a ton for a Chromebook, but it is packing a lot for something that just needs to run Google Chrome.
Google also said the new Dell Chromebook 13 joins the Asus Chromebook Flip and Chromebook Pixel in the Chromebook for Work lineup.
It is set to launch on September 17th in the US and Canada. I’m sure it will be a huge hit with consumers.
Source: Dell, Google for Work
Come comment on this article: Dell has a new awesome 13-inch Chromebook starting at $399
New Dell Chromebook 13: a gorgeous laptop that won’t cost a fortune
Those currently looking for a Chromebook may have a bit of trouble finding the right one. There is really only one premium Chromebook right now, and it costs a fortune (yes, it’s the Pixel). Almost every other laptop running Google’s svelte OS is affordable, which is great, but most come with significant sacrifices. Where are the Chromebooks that offer both quality and value?
Enter the new Dell Chromebook 13, a laptop with a reasonable price point, powerful specs, great performance and a design worthy of envy. This little business-focused laptop seems to have it all (if you are fond of Google’s operating system).
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Packed inside the Dell Chromebook 13 you will find a 13.3-inch Full HD 1080p IPS touchscreen display, a 5th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, a back-lit keyboard, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. It also manages to take you through a whole work day with its impressive 12-hour battery life. Furthermore, it touts premium materials like glass (trackpad), magnesium alloy and carbon fiber.
Google goes on to mention the possibilities Chrome OS brings to enterprise and education organizations. Because these laptops run on the cloud and are amazingly light, they also offer simplified installation and easy management. Chromebooks are secure, fast and convenient.
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Without a doubt, this is set to be the best Chromebook after the Pixel series, and it will come at a much more affordable price point. The Dell Chromebook 13 is to launch this September 17th at $399. Are you getting one?
Back to school tech guide 2015: the definitive gadget list for work and fun
Summer is coming to an end soon, and it’s that time of the year when young minds around the country mentally prepare for the change from lazy summer days to getting ready for that 8 AM course that you know you should not have taken. It is also the time to splurge on your essential, and not so essential, back to school shopping.
When it comes to your tech needs, we’ve got you covered! Ranging from devices that are a necessity to those that will help just to have some fun, here is our round up of the best back to school tech you can find.
Media streaming
Google Chromecast
The Google Chromecast HDMI streaming stick lets you stream your online video and music to your TV from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, with support for Android and iOS devices and Chrome for Mac and Windows. Setup is very easy, and all you need to do is plug the device into the HDMI port of the TV, connect it to your Wi-Fi network and follow some very basic setup instructions. There’s also a number of great services that offer support for Chromecast, with tons of new apps and services adding support all the time, and it’s affordable price point of $29.99 currently makes it one of the best media streaming options available.
SEE ALSO: 22 best Chromecast apps for Android
Nexus Player
The Nexus Player is Google’s full-fledged Android-powered set-top box, going beyond what the Chromecast offers. Running the new Android TV platform, this device gives you access to movie, TV, and gaming recommendations based on your history. You can use the included remote to navigate through the menus, or simply voice search from the remote to find what you’re looking for. This device comes Google Cast ready, and if you don’t have your remote, you always have the option to just use your phone. Streaming content also syncs across your phone, tablet, and Nexus Player so you can start a movie on your TV, then finish it in bed on your phone or tablet later. The Nexus Player is currently priced at $69.99.
SEE ALSO: Nexus Player review
Roku 3 (2015 model)
Unlike the other media/gaming devices on the list, the Roku 3 isn’t Android-powered but it does integrate with services like Google Play Movies & TV and arguably provides the very best selection of streaming entertainment anywhere, including both popular premium services as well as free entertainment options. The Roku 3 features an enhanced remote with built-in headphone jack for those times when you want to listen to your shows without interrupting others around you. The Roku 3 enhanced remote also features motion-sensing technology that lets you play games with a simple flick of your wrist, along with game-ready buttons. The Roku Android app lets you use your smartphone or tablet as a remote, and with some devices, also stream local media. A new very useful addition with the 2015 model is voice search, to make navigating through everything much easier. The Roku 3 is priced at $99.
Smartphones
Moto G (3rd Generation)
The latest edition of the Motorola’s affordable smartphone retains some of what made its predecessor so popular, such as its very smooth software experience, while adding a few great extras, including its IPx7 rating for water resistance, better camera, slightly different design elements, and what will likely be its most popular aspect, the ability to customize the device using Moto Maker. The Moto G (3rd generation) is available in two iterations, with the cheaper $179.99 version coming with 8 GB of on-board storage and 1 GB of RAM, with the 16 GB version with 2 GB of RAM setting you back an additional $40, with an additional expense of you are hoping to add an engraving to the device.
SEE ALSO: Moto G (3rd generation) review
Buy now on Amazon
Customize using Moto Maker
Axon Phone by ZTE
Chinese OEMs are slowly but surely breaking into the competitive US market, with some great devices offering excellent bang for your buck. One such smartphone is the Axon Phone by ZTE. While its beautiful design, gorgeous Quad HD display, smooth performance, high-end specifications, fluid software experience, and decent camera isn’t above and beyond what is expected from a current generation high-end flagship, the fact that it is significantly cheaper than the devices it directly competes with, at a price point of $449.98, is what makes the Axon Phone by ZTE a no brainer.
SEE ALSO: Axon Phone by ZTE review
ASUS Zenfone 2
There has been a big focus in the Android world on affordability without compromise, and a great example of this is the ASUS Zenfone 2. The Zenfone 2 caught everyone’s attention with its beautiful Full HD display, solid specifications that offer a smooth and fluid experience, customizable software, and fantastic design and build quality, all at an extremely affordable price point. $199 will get you the version with 16 GB of on-board storage and 2 GB of RAM, but if you’re looking for more, the 64 GB version that packs a whopping 4 GB of RAM is priced at just $299.
SEE ALSO: ASUS Zenfone 2 review
Samsung Galaxy S6
Samsung introduced a major change in terms of design and build quality with its latest S series flagship smartphone, moving away from plastic and going to a beautiful metal and glass unibody design. The device is an absolute powerhouse with its in-house processing package, with the smooth performance helped along by the toned-down software experience. Everything Samsung is known for makes a return here, such as its fantastic Quad HD Super AMOLED display, and one of the best camera experiences around on a smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S6 is certainly expensive, available at a full price of $599, but you do get to take advantage of the standard subsidized rates with a 2-year contract from the various network carriers in the US.
SEE ALSO:
Protective cases and covers
If you are paying a premium for your smartphone, it’s natural that you’ll want to keep it in a pristine condition for as long as possible, and regardless of what mobile device you have, an extra layer of security is never a bad idea to keep it safe from scratches, and accidental bumps and drops. If you decide to pick up any of the smartphones listed above, you can find great cases for them in the links below, and for any other device, don’t forget to check out our growing database of best cases currently available for a variety of smartphones and tablets, which you can find here.
Moto G (3rd generation) cases
ZTE Axon Phone cases
ASUS Zenfone 2 cases
Samsung Galaxy S6 cases
Android Wear smartwatches
Sony Smartwatch 3
Sony decided to go with Android Wear with its latest smartwatch offering, the Smartwatch 3. What makes the Sony Smartwatch 3 stand out is its onboard GPS module, that lets you track your activities without needing a smartphone, its IP68 rating for resistance to dust and water, and the use of a transflective LCD display, which helps a lot with outdoor visibility. While the device maintains a sporty look and doesn’t try to be like a traditional watch like some other smartwatches out there, this device is ideal for active users who are looking for a simple way to keep a track of their fitness activities. Priced at $173 currently, the Smartwatch 3 is also one of the more affordable options available.
SEE ALSO: Sony Smartwatch 3 review
Moto 360
The Moto 360 was one of the first Android Wear smartwatches announced, and, while it took Motorola more than half a year to release it, the sleek circular device has been well received. Featuring a large circular screen, a sleek brushed metal build, and several replaceable bands, the Moto 360 will look good in just about any occasion. On the inside, the processor is older than the competitors’, while the battery is on the small side, but the device will last a day of usage for all but the most active users, and you get one of the better charging implementations around. The Moto 360 is a great choice if style is your biggest priority, and is currently priced at just $149.
SEE ALSO: Moto 360 review
LG Watch Urbane
LG has been at the forefront of the Android Wear smartwatch evolution, starting from the reference model-like nature of the LG G Watch, to its first round face smartwatch, the G Watch R, culminating to its latest, and most expensive, offering, the Watch Urbane. Featuring a premium design and build quality that gives this device a certain luxury appeal, the Watch Urbane also brings with it improvements in other key areas, like battery life. If you’re looking for a stylish device that is as close to a traditional watch as possible, the LG Watch Urbane is the one for you. The most expensive of the lot, the Watch Urbane is currently priced at $302.
SEE ALSO: LG Watch Urbane review
Fitness trackers
Fitbit Charge HR
The Fitbit brand is popular for a reason, and that’s because their products are extremely great quality. The Fitbit Charge HR is an accurate fitness tracker that gives you useful information like distance traveled, step counts, calories burned, stairs climbed, and much more, while also allowing for continuous, automatic, monitoring of your heart rate. It’s made of a high quality rubber material that won’t wear down over time. It features a small OLED display that gives you notifications, phone calls, and basically anything else that you need to see on your phone. Priced at under $150, the Fitness Charge HR is a great choice to help you stay on top of your fitness activities.
Tablets
Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4
Most of us use tablets for watching movies, reading, and playing games. So it makes sense to go for the very best display you can get, and it’s hard to find anything better than the Galaxy Tab S 8.4. The Tab S 8.4 is one of the few tablets with an AMOLED screen and a super crisp Quad HD at that, with an excellent 359 ppi pixel density. Being AMOLED, the screen will show deep blacks and vivid colors, perfect for games and movies. The portable Tab S 8.4 combines the portability of smaller devices with the screen real estate afforded by larger tablets. If you’re looking for everything that Samsung has to offer in an affordable package, the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 is the best choice for you.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 review
Nexus 9
The Nexus 9, from Google and HTC is an Android fanboy’s dream, with it running the purest, most recent version of Android, and always being one of the first to receive future software updates, for at least two years. There are no OEM additions (though stock Android may be a little too minimal for your taste) and therefore nothing to bog down the user experience.The Nexus 9 is just as impressive on the hardware side, featuring 64-bit Tegra processor, a beautiful 1536 x 2048 pixels screen, stereo front speakers (disguised under the protective glass) and a big battery. The device features a utilitarian, yet elegant design, with an aluminum frame that gives it rigidity without adding much heft. The Nexus 9 is still one of the best Android tablets currently available, and is currently priced starting at $349.
SEE ALSO: Nexus 9 review
All-new Kindle Paperwhite
The all-new Kindle Paperwhite may not offer as much terms of features and functionality as the other tablets on this list, but this e-reader lets you do one thing incredibly well, and that is read books. With features that include a higher resolution display with no screen glare, a built-in adjustable light for day and night time reading, and a battery that lasts for weeks instead of days, this is certainly one of the best if you’re in the market for an e-reader. The new Kindle Paperwhite is also priced starting at just $119, making it a very affordable option if all you really need a tablet for is to read books.
Chromebooks
Toshiba Chromebook 2
The successor to the original Toshiba Chromebook brought with it some refinements to the overall design with a sleeker look and a lighter body, a Full HD display, and 4 GB of RAM. The device Powered by a dual-core Intel Celeron processor (with fanless design), and other specs that include a battery rated for 9 hours use, 16 GB storage with 100 GB Google Drive space, and a Skullcandy-branded audio experience. The Toshiba Chromebook 2 may be considered expensive given its competition, but at $279, is still a very budget-friendly option.
Acer Chromebook 15
It is quite difficult to find a Chromebook with a large display, but that search has become a lot easier with the Acer Chromebook 15, with its large 15.6-inch display. The base model, priced at just $219.99 is powered by an Intel Celeron processor and comes with 2 GB RAM, a battery that is rated for 11 hours of use, but the display experience is also hindered by a relatively low 1366 x 768 resolution. You also have the choice to upgrade the processor, and the RAM to 4 GB, which also bumps up the display resolution to Full HD, which would be the better way to go, but will of course, cost more money.
ASUS Chromebook Flip
Finding an inexpensive, capable Chromebook isn’t too difficult nowadays, but if you’re looking for a little more functionality, the ASUS Chromebok Flip could be the device for you. The Flip sports a 10.1-inch IPS LCD display with a 1280 x 800 resolution, a quad-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz, 2 or 4GB of RAM, an aluminum chassis, and a battery that’s supposed to last up to nine hours on a single charge. It also weighs under 2 pounds, measures just 0.6-inches thin and comes with 16GB of on-board storage, which is quite standard fare. The big story with this Chromebook is its ability to be used as a notebook computer or a tablet just by flipping the keyboard around. If you’d like to use it as a tablet, flipping the keyboard around to the back will automatically pull up the on-screen navigation buttons. It’s small display size may not be for everyone, but if you’re looking for an affordable 2-in-1 device, the $229 price of this chromebook is ideal.
Bluetooth speakers
Bose SoundLink 3
While it doesn’t offer the bells and whistles that many of its competitors do, the SoundLink 3 seems to adhere to the philosophy of doing one thing well, when it comes to sheer volume and sound quality, this one is tough to beat. While lack of bass is a common complaint when looking at Bluetooth speakers, that isn’t the case here. This isn’t going to blow a full hi-fi system or car stereo out of the water, but given the size, the depth and presence of the bass is impressive. If you’re looking for a speaker to fill the room at a party, this is going to be your best bet. The only downside here is the price, with the device priced at $299.95.
SEE ALSO: Bose SoundLink 3 review
Creative Sound Blaster Roar
Not only is the Creative Sound Blaster Roar SR20 cheaper than the Bose SoundLink 3, it is absolutely packed with features as well. Apart from just playing music over Bluetooth but it also has a built-in microSD card slot that allows it to function as a standalone music player, a 6,000 mAh battery that can charge your mobile devices, and a voice recorder function. Even with this feature set, the Creative Sound Blaster can be found for a somewhat reasonable price of $149.99.
SEE ALSO: Creative Sound Blaster Roar review
Anker MP141
While Anker is a fairly recognizable brand name, the company has its hands in so many areas that you might not know them for the audio products. It may not stand toe to toe with the other Bluetooth speakers on this list, when it comes to sound quality, given the tiny size and low price, the Anker MP141 is definitely worth a mention. While the heavy-duty look and small size might not be for everyone, the price certainly is, and the 20 hour battery life is another plus, and priced at just $39.99, it’s a no-brainer.
SEE ALSO: Anker MP141 review
Headphones
Bose Quiet Comfort 25
One of the best features of the Bose Quiet Comfort 25 is the active noise cancellation that it offers, and Bose finds the perfect mark between it not working that well, or otherwise resulting in a hissing sound when the noise cancellation is too overbearing. In terms of sound quality and comfort, the QuietComfort 25 is on par with other Bose headphones, which is to say their fairly well balanced, but they don’t go overboard on bass. One common complaint about Bose products is that they’re expensive, and that is certainly the case here with its price tag of $299, but you certainly get what you pay for.
SEE ALSO: Bose Quiet Comfort 25 review
Audio Technica ATH-M50X
Audio Technica is the first name that comes up if you’re looking for precision sound that doesn’t sacrifice an enjoyable listening experience for the sake of accuracy. While some color choices run more expensive, the base models of the ATH-M50x clock in at under $200, and the combination of price, sound quality, and build quality come together in a pair of headphones that are more than the sum of their parts. If you’re looking for some more features, like active noise collection, the headphones listed above may be the better way to go.
SEE ALSO: Audio Technica ATH-M50X review
Monoprice 8323
Like the ATH-M50x headphones, the Monoprice 8323 doesn’t offer much in the way of features, but what they lack in fancy looks or included remotes, they make up for in sound quality. Obviously, to keep the price low some sacrifices had to be made. For example, the build quality isn’t exactly rock solid, but given its price point of of just $33, this is an absolutely great deal for the audio quality you get to enjoy.
SEE ALSO: Monoprice 8323 review
Earphones (Sports)
Jaybird Bluebuds X
One big issue with all earbuds is getting a good fit and this earphone aims to fix that by including a couple of different sized ear tips and wing tips for you to mess around with until you get the fit that’s most comfortable for you. Since their release, the Jaybird Bluebuds X have been the standard for what Bluetooth earbuds should do. They offer about 8 hours of battery life, and on the wire connecting the two buds are the buttons that control everything from answering calls to skipping tracks. With its price point of $143, these earphones are certainly expensive, but worth it, helped along by the lifetime warranty that is available.
SEE ALSO: Jaybird Bluebuds X review
Jabra Sport Pulse
While the other earphones listed are ideal for wearing at the gym, they don’t have any exercise-specific features outside of not falling out of your ears. This pair of earbuds on the other hand, take sport-focused earbuds to a whole new level. Starting with the sound, the Jabra Sport Pulse offers great audio quality – it goes a step beyond, however, in that not only are they sweat-resistant, but they actually have a built-in heart rate meter to track your workouts as you wear them. While on the more expensive side, with its price point of $199, the additional fitness tracking feature may be what you are looking for.
SEE ALSO: Jabra Sport Pulse review
Sol Republic Shadow Wireless
The Sol Republic Shadow Wireless is another great choice if you’re looking for Bluetooth earphones, and along with the availability of 8 hours of battery life, they also sound really good. The Shadow Wireless have Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX which enables them to stream high quality music from your device from up to 30 feet away. Sol offers free ear tip replacement for life. The earphones have three buttons for volume up, volume down, and play/pause/answering phone calls right on the neckband as well. The Sol Republic Shadow Wireless earphones are priced at $99.99.
USB chargers and cables
Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 charger
Officially licensed and certified to use Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 Technology applied to one out of the 5 available ports, the Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 USB Wall Charger allows you the option to charge compatible devices up to 75% faster than a standard charger. Multiple built-in safeguards are available to fully protect against over-current, overcharging, and overheating for safe and fast charging. Of course, this charger can be used to charge older devices as well. While the version with 5 ports is priced at $29.99, and 3 port iteration is also available for a cheaper $22.99.
Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 car charger
Like the wallcharger, the Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 car charger is also officially licensed and certified to use Qualcomm’s fast charging technology, if you do have a device that can take advantage of it, and an additional port is also available two charge two devices simultaneously. Once again, multiple built-in safeguards are available to fully protect against over-current, overcharging, and overheating for safe and fast charging. This car charger is currently priced at $16.99.
Anker tangle free USB cable
This Anker USB cable addresses a few issues users generally have with such cables, keeping them tangle free, and offering some durability, with its nylon braided cord. Anker also claims that this cable allows for charging by up to 7% faster than standard cables, as well as allowing for transfer data speeds up to 480 Mbps. The Anker tangle free USB cable is priced at $5.99.
External Battery
Lumsing 10,400 mAh battery bank
The Lumsing battery bank offers a very high 10,400 mAh capacity, which should be enough to charge your smartphone multiple times, and you can charge two devices simultaneously as well. 4 LED indicators are present to show how much charge the device still holds, and there are protections available to avoid overcharge, overvoltage, overcurrent, and short circuits. Despite the capacity this device offers, the Lumsing battery bank is currently priced at just $19.99.
Anker 2nd generation Astro Mini
The Anker Astro Mini is a very portable, lipstick-sized, battery pack, and is the perfect device to have when in a pinch. It doesn’t offer the highest capacity, but 3,350 mAh should be more than enough to get at least close to a full charge with most smartphones. The Anker Astro Mini is also available with a great deal right now, with the black version of the device priced at just $9.99, with the other color options setting you back an additional $10.
Expandable storage
SanDisk Extreme
The SanDisk Extreme is the USB flash drive for you if you’re device has a USB 3.0 port, allowing you to enjoy fast read and write speeds, ideal for any big file transfers. While the write speeds seem to vary from 55 Mbps to 190 Mbps depending on the capacity, you do get read speed of 245 Mbps across the board. The Extreme is certainly a bit pricey when it comes to flash drives, with the device priced starting at $16.99 for the 16 GB variant, but it is worth it for the extra speed.
SanDisk Cruzer Blade
The SanDisk Cruzer Blade is the cheaper option, if you’re looking for lower capacity options, or if you don’t have a USB 3.0 port to take advantage of. The read and write speeds are admittedly slow, but that is understandable. Starting at just $5.95 for the 4 GB variant, the Cruzer Blade is a great flash drive choice, and with a hole for a keychain ring, you won’t have to worry much about losing it.
Lexar microSD card
The Lexar high-performance microSD card is the premium memory solution for sports camcorders, tablets, and smartphones. It quickly captures, stores, plays back, and transfers media files, including 1080p full HD, 3D, and 4K video, with a transfer speed up to 95 Mbps. While comparatively a bit pricey, with the 32 GB version priced at $24.99, this is ideal for use with devices like GoPro Hero 3 and others.
SanDisk Ultra microSD card
The SanDisk Ultra microSD card is a cheaper alternative to the option above, and is ideal for smartphones and tablets. You get p to 80 Mbps transfer speeds, and it allows for Full HD video recording and playback. The microSD card is temperature proof, shock proof, X-ray proof, and magnet proof, and there is also the Memory Zone app, that lets you auto-manage media and memory for peak phone performance. The SanDisk Ultra microSD card starts at price point of $6.51 for the 8 GB version.
There you go! Our definitive list of gadgets for a great back to school season! Have some suggestions? Drop us a line.
ASUS Chromebook Flip review: solid choice if size is not a big deal
I recently had the opportunity to spend a few days with an ASUS Chromebook Flip, a new entrant from ASUS to the Chromebook family with a couple interesting twists. The Chromebook Flip comes with a $249 price tag for a 2GB version and $279 for the 4GB version. Stores close to me rarely have Chromebooks actually in stock and the couple that do have tend to be low-end, bulky units that remind me of some cheap netbooks I had purchased for my kids a few years ago. The Chromebook Flip is a far cry from those units despite its small size and may be an enticing buy for consumers looking for a sleek Chromebook.
Design
The Chromebook Flip gets its name from the double-hinge design connects the screen to the body. This double hinge means the screen can be flipped all the way back on the unit. The Chromebook Flip can be used in a conventional laptop configuration, or made into a “tent” or with the screen standing up while the keyboard is tucked away in the back for distraction free viewing, or effectively turned into a tablet device. Yes, versatility at its finest.
The flexibility of the hinges and configurations available will likely be welcomed by some users; however, I found use of the device in “tablet” mode difficult since Chrome OS is not optimized for a tablet interface. Although, the operating system did handle being flipped into a portrait orientation quite. I found myself spending most of my time with the device in a traditional laptop configuration even when just sitting around surfing the web while watching some TV.
In addition to the double-hinge design, ASUS manufactured the Chromebook Flip out of a lightweight metal for the chassis. This means the unit is thin and light. The Chromebook Flip measures 262.8 x 182.4 x 15.6mm and weighs 1.96lbs. It will not be mistaken for a tablet device, but compared to a traditional laptop it is quite portable and easy to hold at under 2 pounds.
The keyboard is comprised of a nice set of island type keys similar to what you would find in other laptops constructed with a metal frame. Some users may find the keys a bit on the small side, but I had no problem with them. The trackpad is constructed so it can be clicked along the bottom edge emulating a left click on a mouse. To perform a a right click though, you have to use a two-finger tap on the trackpad. That took some getting used to since I normally use trackpads that have the bottom edge split in half to detect left and right mouse click actions. The two-finger tap worked well but it may take a user some time to retrain their muscle memory to do this.
Hardware
The Chromebook Flip features a 1280×800 (WXGA) touchscreen display behind an LED 10.1-inch LED panel, Rockchip quad-core processor, 2GB or 4GB of RAM, HD webcam, 16GB or 32GB of storage, microSD card slot, two USB 2.0 ports, and one HDMI port.
One of the contributing factors to the easy portability of the Chromebook Flip is the 10.1-inch screen. This is on the small side for a Chromebook and harkens back to the earliest Chromebooks and netbooks that were typically 10 to 11 inches in size. Interestingly enough, ASUS probably could have bumped the screen size up a bit without impacting the overall size of the device as the bezels are quite large.
The screen itself runs at a 1280×800 resolution, so it is not a true HD experience. The screen is acceptable and on par with typical laptop screens I’ve used. It is an LED panel and cranking the brightness up provided plenty of illumination. ASUS also stepped things up by making it touchscreen. That is obviously needed for when then unit is folded back into any of the configurations other than traditional laptop. The touchscreen was accurate and often used it even with the keyboard out and its built-in trackpad as it was easy and convenient to just flick the screen with a finger as I was surfing a web site or scrolling through emails.
ASUS gave the Chromebook Flip a nice assortment of connections. You will find an audio jack that can handle a combo unit with a built-in microphone, a pair of 2.0 USB ports for connecting peripherals, a micro HDMI port if you want to hardwire an external display to the unit, and a microSD card slot. Users will also find a power button and a volume rocker along the side of the unit. The device also has an HD camera installed for users wanting to videoconference and it comes with support for 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1.
For sound, the Chromebook Flip has two speakers built into the bottom of the unit. This does not seem like it would be effective, but the location did not seem to hinder the sound. The speakers are small, but as far as built-in speakers go, they are adequate assuming expectations are not set too high.
Performance
Since this is the first Chromebook I’ve spent any significant amount of time with, assessing performance is a bit of a challenge. Compared to other laptops with other operating systems I have used, I found the Chromebook Flip to perform in a similar manner. Thanks to the Chrome OS, turning on the unit only took a matter of seconds. I did not experience any lag like you might get when using a traditional tablet running Android. All of the apps I used during my testing performed as expected and loaded quickly even with this being the 2GB version.
The touchscreen was responsive and easy to use with nice accuracy on taps and selections. One of the factors that has kept me from purchasing my own Chromebook is a desire to stick with a Full HD (1920×1080) screen. Although the Chromebook Flip does not meet that requirement, I thought the screen was very good looking and I did not notice it was not Full HD. The fact that the Chromebook Flip’s screen was good enough to get me to reconsider whether I really need to hold out for Full HD may give you an idea of how good the display is.
The one problem I had with the Chromebook Flip was a propensity for the screen to lockup on occasion. I could never figure out what may have been causing this. When I received the unit, it was set for the Chrome OS beta channel, so I switched to the stable channel about halfway through my testing of the unit and that helped although I still experienced at least one lockup after that switch. Just about every time this happened, I had to wait for about a minute for the unit to briefly turn off the screen then turn itself back on. This would restore functionality.
Battery
Since most design decisions involve tradeoffs, the choice of a 10.1-inch screen comes with some other benefits as well. One of those is power consumption where the Chromebook Flip excels. The official position from ASUS is that the device should last around 9 hours in typical use and some testers have pushed the device to close to 11 hours of use. I had no trouble making it through a day of normal web surfing and the occasional use of Docs or Sheets before needing to hook up the charger. After leaving the unit sitting for a couple days, when I opened it back up I found it was still reporting 85% charge left on the battery.
Closing
If you are looking for a Chromebook to supplement your current collection of devices, the ASUS Chromebook Flip seems like it should definitely be under consideration. The materials and finish are very nice and the unit is solid. The double hinge makes it flexible to use in different situations. The inclusion of a touchscreen is convenient and having a keyboard with touchpad available means it can handle some moderate work demands to help keep you productive.
The 10.1-inch screen and small size will likely keep it from serving as a full-fledged laptop, but it may keep you from having to break out your big computer if you do not expect to have to work for very long. I think the ASUS Chromebook Flip could also serve as an alternative for users shopping for a tablet device. You may give up a touch optimized interface like Android, but otherwise the Chromebook Flip worked well in situations where I might normally use a tablet and the price is attractive compared to many higher end tablets.
Come comment on this article: ASUS Chromebook Flip review: solid choice if size is not a big deal
Start the school year on the right foot with a new Chromebook
Believe it or not, Summer is almost over. That means it’s time to get started on getting supplies and everything ready for the school season. In today’s day and age, school supplies aren’t just pens, pencils, and notebooks. Now we have technology to consider, and Google has kept that in mind with a back-to-school sale.
Google is running a back-to-school promotion that takes up to $30 off select Chromebooks for everyone to consider. The three Chromebooks that are on sale directly from Google are:
These devices range from $159.99 all the way up to $319.99, so there are devices for just about every budget. All the mean while, each device offers something a little bit different, while still providing you a great Chrome OS experience.
Google has also cut the price of their Nexus Player, and has taken $20 off the normally priced $99 device. Finally, the Google is offering a special when you purchase two Chromecasts. If you purchase two Chromecasts, you save $15 and get a free Movie Rental from Google Play on the house.
Let us know if you’re ready for school shopping to start, and what devices you are looking to get your school year started on the right foot.
Source: Google Store
The post Start the school year on the right foot with a new Chromebook appeared first on AndroidGuys.
ASUS Chromebook Flip review: small, solidly built, well-priced
I’m sick of reviewing Chromebooks. What was once the source of fierce debates about the future of computing is now a commodity: Most models have the same specs, the same internals and more or less perform the same. There are a lot of them, and most aren’t particularly good or particularly bad. They’re forgettable; unremarkable. That cranky preamble aside, I did want to test the Chromebook Flip. This machine, made by ASUS, is notable on a few counts. With a 10-inch screen, it’s one of the smallest around, even if it does hearken back to the days of the netbook. It’s one of the few with a 360-degree rotating touchscreen. The build quality is better than most, thanks to an all-metal chassis. The battery life is longer too, at 10.5 hours. Lastly, it’s cheap for what it is: just $249. Yes, there’s a catch — several, even — but all told, I recommend it anyway.
Hardware
I’m hardly the first person to compare Chromebooks to netbooks, but in this case, the comparison is apt: The Flip has a 10-inch screen and weighs less than two pounds, the same size as many of the first mini notebooks. The keyboard, too, is a throwback to ASUS’ Eee PC series, with small, island-style buttons, some of them not much bigger than a fingernail. In absolute terms, it’s not as comfortable to type on as the sort of keyboard you’d find on a larger machine. All things considered, though, the buttons feel generously spaced, considering the deck itself measures just 10.6 inches wide. None of the buttons are too small either — Enter, Shift and Backspace are all plenty big — and the underlying panel stands up well to vigorous typing. As it happens, I wrote much of this review on the Flip, not to mention: surfed the web and answered who-knows-how-many emails. Like I said, I don’t think I’ll ever prefer a 10-inch keyboard over, say, a 13-incher, but this one is at least decent. And if there’s anyone who can make a miniature keyboard people might actually want to use, it’s netbook granddaddy ASUS.
If there’s one way in which the Flip is different from netbooks of yore, it’s build quality. Forget the fact that netbooks never used to have 360-degree hinges like this, much less touchscreens — or that this form factor is still uncommon on modern-day Chromebooks. This thing is also more solidly built than I’d ever expect from a $249 machine. The machine is all metal, with subtle brushed detailing on the palm rest that both looks nice and helps mask smudges. I’ve also noticed that when I pick up the laptop in one hand — which I do often, since it’s so light — I don’t feel any flex in the palm rest where I’m gripping it.
The one exception to this durability seems to be the screen, which tends to wobble a bit. You might not notice it so much in everyday use, but I got a big taste of it when I used the Flip on a bumpy Amtrak trip; every time the train jostled, so did the panel. Speaking of the display, you sort of get what you pay for here. The 1,280 x 800 resolution isn’t as high as many standalone tablets at this size (many of which are more expensive anyway), and the bezels are unusually thick for a touchscreen. That said, colors are accurate and although the screen washes out when you dip it forward, the IPS panel did a good job minimizing glare when I used it next to an open window on my recent train ride.
Still, the hinge is sturdy enough that I felt confident flipping the screen back into tablet mode or — more likely — Tent and Stand modes. I say “more likely” because Chrome OS was primarily designed to be used with a mouse and keyboard — precisely why we’ve yet to see any proper tablets running the software. I personally didn’t have much use for it as a makeshift slate (although the screen size was about right). I do like having the option of putting the keyboard under and watching Netflix with the screen in front of me — a particularly handy feature in confined spaces like a cramped coach seat. Let’s be real, though: I mainly used this in classic notebook mode, and I didn’t even have to use the touchscreen much, just because the touchpad was already precise. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that the convertible form factor also happens to come with solid build quality, but I probably would have been just as happy to have a standard clamshell without a touchscreen.
Finishing our tour of the hardware, the Flip is well-stocked with ports, most of which are stacked along the right-hand side. These include two full-sized USB connections, a micro-HDMI socket, a microSD slot, a headphone jack and, on the other side, a volume rocker and power port.
Performance and battery life
| SunSpider v.1.0.2* | Google Octane | Mozilla Kraken* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS Chromebook Flip | 700ms |
6,748 |
5,527ms |
| Chromebook Pixel (2015, Core i5, Intel HD 5500) | 298ms |
23,907 |
1,428ms |
| Toshiba Chromebook 2 (Celeron N2840, 4GB RAM) | 967ms |
7,714 |
4,284ms |
| Samsung Chromebook 2 (11-inch, Celeron N2840, 2GB RAM) | 525ms |
7,223 |
3,936ms |
| Acer Chromebook 13 (NVIDIA Tegra K1, 2GB RAM) | 609ms |
7,051 |
4,816ms |
| Lenovo N20p (Celeron N2830, 2GB RAM) | 567ms |
7,288 |
4,287ms |
| ASUS C200 Chromebook (Celeron N2830, 2GB RAM) | 483ms |
7,198 |
4,291ms |
| Acer C720 Chromebook (Celeron 2955U, 2GB RAM) | 342ms |
11,502 |
2,614ms |
| Dell Chromebook 11 (Celeron 2955U, 4GB RAM) | 340ms |
11,533 |
2,622ms |
|
*SunSpider and Kraken: Lower scores are better. |
|||
Let’s recap: So far, we have a machine with mostly good build quality, a mediocre display and a low price. ASUS had to cut corners somewhere to make it all work, and it would appear that “somewhere” was performance. The Flip runs a quad-core Rockchip processor — a presumably cheaper option than the Intel Atom or NVIDIA Tegra chips that power most other Chromebooks. Though the base $249 model has 2GB of RAM, we recommend you pony up an extra $30 to get the 4GB edition, which is the one I tested. Even then, it’s still slower than other Chromebooks (not that any of them are really fast). In benchmarks, it trails machines like the Toshiba Chromebook 2 that have a newish Intel Celeron N2840 CPU, though its SunSpider JavaScript scores aren’t the worst we’ve seen. In everyday use, I was easily able to juggle 10 tabs at a time, but with the lack of screen real estate I often didn’t even want to push it that far.
Startup is pretty quick: about nine seconds to the login screen. The only odd thing there is that much of that time is actually eaten up by a long pause before you even see the “ASUS” splash screen. By the time you see the company’s logo flash before you, you’re actually almost done booting up.
As I said in my recent review of Google’s second-gen Chromebook Pixel, Chrome has become more usable as an OS, partly thanks to a steady stream of improvements to the software itself, and partly because more and more services are now available in the browser (think: Skype, Spotify, Photoshop and popular messaging apps like Slack). As for Chrome, Google has steadily expanded the list of things you can do offline, so that you no longer need an internet connection for Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, Google Play Music or Google Play Movies & TV. Many third-party web apps such as Pocket and Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader are now offline-capable, and there’s even a section of the Chrome Web Store set aside for apps that don’t need an internet connection. As I always say, the Chromebook setup will never be for everyone; there will always be people who need a proper Windows PC or Mac to install apps like Steam or iTunes. But personally, I’ve found I can survive on Chrome alone much better than I could even a few years ago, and I’m sure many mainstream users would agree.
|
Battery life |
|
|---|---|
| ASUS Chromebook Flip | 10:49 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch, 2013) | 12:51 |
| HP Spectre x360 | 11:34 |
| Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display (13-inch, 2015) | 11:23 |
| ASUS C200 | 11:19 |
| Acer Chromebook 13 | 10:07 |
| Chromebook Pixel (2015) | 10:01 |
| Microsoft Surface 3 | 9:11 |
| Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus | 8:44 |
| Samsung Chromebook 2 (13-inch) | 8:22 |
| Apple MacBook (2015) | 7:47 |
| Dell XPS 13 (2015) | 7:36 |
| Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro | 7:36 |
| Acer Aspire S7-392 | 7:33 |
| Lenovo LaVie Z | 7:32 |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 3 | 7:08 |
| Lenovo LaVie Z 360 | 6:54 |
| Toshiba Chromebook 2 | 6:34 |
| Acer C720 Chromebook | 6:27 (Core i3) / 5:57 (Celeron) |
| ASUS Transformer Book T300 Chi | 5:51 (Quad HD)/6:14 (Full HD) |
The Flip is rated for nine hours of battery life, which I’d say is actually conservative estimate. In Engadget’s standard rundown test, which involves looping a full HD video at a fixed screen brightness, the machine lasted 10 hours and 49 minutes. In other words, it outlasted me in what was already a very long workday. With a more conservative screen setting and more intermittent use, I’m sure you could do even better. Even so, that nearly 11-hour showing is better than most Chromebooks we’ve seen, even battery life champs like the Acer Chromebook 13 and Google’s latest “Pixel.” Other than those two outliers, there’s otherwise a steep drop-off between the Flip and other Chromebooks, with some models struggling to even break seven hours. Basically, then, the Flip might be underpowered compared to the competition, but it makes up for it with outstanding endurance.
Wrap-up
As I said from the outset, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another Chromebook with this kind of convertible design. Lenovo had the similar N20p, for example, but it got lukewarm reviews and is no longer available on the company’s site. That leaves a couple worthy competitors, none of them with a 360-degree hinge. Some favorites include the larger Acer Chromebook 13 ($350), which offers long battery life, a 1080p screen and a more spacious keyboard. We also like the 13-inch Toshiba Chromebook 2 (now $230), which has a low-glare IPS display (also full HD), along with fast WiFi and decent audio. Those models have more robust NVIDIA and Intel processors, respectively, allowing for slightly better performance than the Flip.
That said, the Chromebook Flip comes out to be nearly as good a choice, thanks to its versatile and extra-lightweight design, long battery life and surprisingly good build quality. Even if you rarely use the touchscreen, those attributes make it worth a close look. As a warning, its smaller-than-average keyboard might be a turnoff to some, but it’s still usable, especially if you treat this as a secondary computer, perhaps a travel machine to use on the go. That shortcoming aside, the Flip is still a good deal even if you spring for the pricier $279 model.
Asus launches the Chromebook Flip C100, featuring a 1.8GHz processor and 4GB of RAM
Asus has launched a new hybrid machine, the Chromebook Flip C100. It features a 10-inch IPS display, and can comfortably be flipped around to transform it into a tablet. The device runs Chrome OS, however, it can run Android applications as well.
The Chromebook Flip C100 comes in at at just under 2lbs and is 0.6-inches thick. It features a Rockchip 3288-C quad-core 1.8GHz CPU, 2GB or 4GB of RAM configurations, 16GB of internal storage, 2 USB 2.0 ports, a micro HDMI port, and a integrated SD card reader.
Users will also find the device lasting up to 9 hours on battery. Additionally, you’ll get 100GB of Google Drive storage for two years upon the date you redeem the offer.
It costs $249 or $399, depending on your RAM configuration, and is available through Asus’ own online store, Newegg, or Amazon.
Come comment on this article: Asus launches the Chromebook Flip C100, featuring a 1.8GHz processor and 4GB of RAM
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