No Bullshit Reviews » Electronics

Archos 101 Android Tablet: Something to Smile About?

info — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 05:38:12 +0000

Archos goes monumental. Again.

The French always liked big things. Look at the Eiffel Tower. Now that’s big. Now it wouldn’t so surprising that France would then release one of the largest internet tablets around. It’s the Archos 101.
But while Archos goes big and heavy, it maintains its prices light and easy. After all, it’s the only way to compete against the likes of Ipad and Samsung. Why pay top dollar from a relatively new player when the Ipad offers a lower price, right?

Yesterday, on a whim I picked up the Archos 101. On first review, I find it is sleek and slim and comes in tad black matte finish. More PVC parts than metallic parts grace this baby all over. all over. There are less metallic parts and more hard plastic polymers for the body, making it lighter and easier to handle. It’s ideally constructed, allowing me to deftly flip it over while watching movies and surfing the web. It’s far lighter than the ipad!

One of the important characteristics for me is the screen. Most android tablets use the resistive screen which relies on pressure. That makes navigation a chore! Pressing down hard WAS mandatory to get any response. But thank God. This new offering now boasts a capacitative screen which allows the device to react more rapidly. No longer did I have to wait before an icon actually activated. Yes!

There is a problem, though. The screen is still TFT, meaning its next to useless under bright sunlight.

Let’s dive into the internals.

The Archos 101 is powered by a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU boasting the latest Android 2.2 Froyo. Like entry level Ipads, it’s got a 16GB internal memory which you can expand via the microSD slot on the side. The clerk told me it can accommodate cards up to 32GB. Now that’s a lot of movies this baby can handle!
I watched 300 and Underworld in HD. The playback was superb and enough screen elements were displayed. I give this an A+ for entertainment. Audio is subpar though. I felt like I was hearing sounds from the bottom of a trashcan by using the built in speakers. Best to use a headset.

The Archos 101 throws in more ports than an Asian throws arrows in a Chinese movie. There’s HDMI, USB and micro USB. That definitely allows meto hook the Archos 101 to almost any USB-capable device.

Many of the apps I downloaded from the app store work on this baby. The system is beefy enough, and the processor fast enough to handle perhaps 90% of the apps out there. I can’t say the same for the trashy chinese units like HappyMe which I tried in the past. Scrolling, launching, closing- all rapid. Not as smooth as that on an ipad, but definitely sufficient enough to get work done.

Would I recommend the Archos 101 after this review? You bet. It’s cheap and works better than 70% of the android tablets I’ve handled. It’s no Ipad, but it holds its own against the second best tablet out there: the Samsung Galaxy Tab

Try it out!

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Free IPad? No bullshit!

info — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 07:05:53 +0000

The apple iPad is hot these days with the release of version 2. Already, most stores are sold out, not only in the USA, but also in most world markets. But there’s good news. Certain units of the apple iPad is reserved for free for those willing to sign up for a newsletter. Check out this offer for free iPads:

Simply leave your contact details and you get the iPad free after participating in a short quiz.

(I’m typing this review on the free iPad I obtained from the company exchanging free iPads in exchange for your opinion.) After I qualified, the company sent in a unit after a week. Not a bad wait for a free ipad, eh?

Get your Free IPad today!

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Linksys e1000 wireless router review

info — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 04:48:25 +0000

Routers just keep getting cheaper and cheaper. Back in 2002, the average unit costs $$100. Now one can get a unit for $18. A best seller at that price is the Linksys E1000 wireless N Router. However, would I invest in this Linksys? Does it serve my purposes?
The linksys e1000 router uses wireless N technology and internal antennas. Resultantly, the device is compact and rather far reaching. It’s specification state

128-bit encryption, NAT support, Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), MAC address filtering, VPN passthrough, firmware upgradable, wall mountable, Wi-Fi Protected…
Linksy’s E1000 Wireless-N Router is best for basic wireless Internet usage and home office productivity. Speed up your wireless network with a router that connects your computer, game consoles and other Wi-Fi devices at high transfer speed. Cisco Connect software has three simple steps to get you set up and your secure wireless network is ready to go. A streamlined user interface allows you to choose from simple to advanced settings with no hassle. Keep Wi-Fi freeloaders and Internet threats at bay with WPA/WPA2 security settings.

The glossy fliers of this product provide a huge list of benefits such as a range thrice that of wireless G and the elimination of deadspots. Considering I live in a very large home, that appealed to me, so I purchased this bargain basement Linksys E1000.

I was disappointed. There’s wisdom to the statement that you get what you pay for. This wireless router repeatedly dropped connection and wireless deadzones where apparent through out my home, fact is, my Linksys wireless G performed better. Far better.

Connection speeds also lagged. I don’t know why, but download speeds dropped to 80kbps. It used to be 120kbps on my wireless g.

I don’t know if the Linksys e1000 was rushed to market without establishing a solid tech background, but this is certainly a bad product. I’d rather have spent $90 for one that performs consistently

Skip this.

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Pacsafe Anti-Theft Bags Review

info — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:58:01 +0000

Who needs Pacsafe Bags? Check out my raised hands and feet!

PacSafe Anti-Theft Bag

The reason is that I frequently travel toc ountries rife with hooligans and thieves. Have you ever landed at a decrepit airport only to be mugged by customs, overcharged by the cabbies, then slashed of your bodybags at the fleamarket? It happened to me a lot. The most saddening time was when a burly dude in what looked like pajamas ripped the strap of my prada and made off with my wallet as I struggled to collect my spilt belongings.

Thank God Pacsafe bags and pouches came along.

I first learnt about Pacsafe at an airport in Singapore. The duty free shop had this funny sign: Travelling to Thailand? You need Pacsafe. I think that’s definitely racist, but upon inspection, I found that their wares were superb. The bag itself is internally meshed with iron and the strap has an internal cord of steel. I exhibited a smidgen of disbelief at first, so the clerk whipped out a nasty looking jungle knife. He hung it on a peg then slashed away. Damn… that that Pacsafe bag deflected every blow. No cuts, no wefts. Just minor abrasions on the external cloth. The contents remained safe.

Today, I own four different Pacsafe models. One for the digicam, another for the slr, another for my laptop and one for my money. No mugger successfully slashed my straps again. Oh yes- there was an attempt at Mumbai, but it failed.

Thanks to my Pacsafe Anti-TheftBags

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Ipad 2: Don’t Get It Yet

info — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 02:02:36 +0000

Yes yes yes. I know you want to experience the 5x faster processor. The twin cameras. The superb smart cover. I did. So I went out and bought one on launch date. Sheez. I should have waited for the version 2 release of the Ipad 2.0. This thing is buggy as hell. For starters, the company spits out fringed pictures at certain periods. Then, it often fails after long hibernation. And that lag? The processor hangs at infrequent intervals.

I had high hopes. This was to be my dream toy, but the firmware requires work. Apple rushed the unit to market to soon, so much so that the Ipad 1.0 sings more beautifully than this rushed monster.

Wait till the firmware update. Save yourself some grief.

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Callaway Upro MX- GPS for Golf Is a Devil’s Tool

info — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:14:47 +0000

Well not exactly. But it’s the next best thing to unleashing almost demonic intuition on the greens. It’s enough to get your partnersscreaming hell. Or sending you to heaven with your putters stuck in your back. You see, the Callaway Upro MX provides truly customized GPS experiences to those who play golf. Standard GPS just won’t do. When you game, you need one that shows you the traps, the holes, the water ways. The Callaway does all that.

The Upro mx I own brags a full-color Multi-Gesture Touch Screen display augmented with precise Optical Finger Navigation system, allowing players to rapidly navigate the deep feature set using a single swipe of a finger. Whether you play in New York or Africa is immaterial, since each purchase will come pre-loaded with over 25,000 courses from the company’s global database.

I’ve found that the device works right from unpacking. It’s vivid screens and top notch aerial photog gives accurate representation of any course you’re on. I paid $210 for the Callaway upro mx. No other hidden costs. No recurring fees.

So the big question: have I benefited? You bet. I secretly glance at my baby every game. And beat my buddies to hell.

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Withings Scale: Embarrass Yourself to Lose Weight

info — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:01:17 +0000

Withings WiFi Body Scale appreciates the power of shame. It tells everyone your weight. Even your ex.

The Withings WiFi Body Scale is an odd Wi-Fi scale that links to the internet and automatically registers your body weight, body fat, and BMI calculation. The scale links directly to your secure account on the Withings website or to a free iPhone app supplied by Withings. The application is your dashboard where you can view all of the data collected by the scale in graphical format. Hence you’ll have a site to scold you about that pizza you snarfed when you go online .

And here’s where things take off. You can instruct have the Withings body scale automatically tweet your readings. Now you’d have everyone from your lovers to your frienemies whispering about your love handles.

Cost: $159

http://www.withings.com/

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Warner Universal Attic Ladder

info — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:17:29 +0000

Do you have stuff? Sure, you do. In fact, it’s likely you even have stuff you’re not using right now. Why, I bet you even have some stuff you’d like to put into storage for use at a later date. If you just so happen to have an attic, then you’re in luck. You’re just steps away from having a veritable bounty of storage space. The steps needed are, of course, a drop down attic ladder. Drop down ladders allow for convenient impromptu access to your newfound home storage unit without dragging out a rickety step ladder or standing on Mom’s dining room chairs. Warner’s Universal Attic Ladder is lightweight, convenient, affordable and can be installed by many do-it-yourselfers. The instructions are clear and straightforward, but will require some skill and basic tools. If you’re not comfortable using a cordless drill, lifting a ladder over your head or being in the same room as a hacksaw, this project may not be for you. However, if you have some basic skills, tools and patience, you can be storing all your unused stuff in your personal attic treasure trove in a matter of hours.

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Sony MDR-NC7 Noise-Canceling Headphones

info — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:46:15 +0000

Noise canceling technology may be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Think about it, can sliced bread make a cross country trip in a cramped airliner any better? Likely not. Sliced bread will not silence Bob, the over-caffeinated insurance salesman who wants to be your new friend. Nor will it turn that screaming banshee of a toddler into a model of decorum. No, sliced bread is no match for noise canceling headphones. Once reserved for the first class travelers and road warriors due to the high price, electronics giant Sony has made noise canceling headphones accessible even to the most miserly of the annoyed passengers. At just one sixth to one eighth the price of the well-known competitors (Their name rhymes with Nose,) these bargain beauties reduce ambient noise by up to 83%, while delivering excellent sound quality from your mp3 player, laptop, Bat Utility belt or Walkman (kudos to you for keeping the cassette alive.)

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Hitachi Drill DS18DL – A Drill Even Girls Love

info — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:17:43 +0000

Let’s talk drills. Certainly, the fire drills from high school were great and got you out of the monotony of Geography class, but the drills at hand here are literally, at hand. Cordless drills offer convenience, ease of use and plenty of power for most jobs. The Hitachi DMR-18 Cordless drill has all the features most homeowners, do-it-yourselfers and handymen (or handywomen) are looking for.
Power is excellent and is easily sufficient to drill through most anything you’ll come across in your home and drive a 3-inch drywall screw into your wall faster than your spouse can say “I think that looked better over there.” Battery life is variable depending on how hard you’re working the drill, but even at maximum use, 20-30 minutes of charge is no sweat. That allows plenty of time to charge the included second battery in the handy charger. Finally, if you shop for tools based on Feng Shui or décor, this drill is a handsome kelly green, so choose drill bit color accordingly. That’s what I did.

I’m a girl and I love this drill. What does that say about this tool?

Erika Kenneth

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