When we say cool accessories, we aren’t really talking about a Smart Cover or a set of headphones. Instead, we are interested in more fascinating accessories which will allow you to do exciting things with your iPad. Here are a few such accessories:

1. Apple Camera Connection Kit - If you were slightly disappointed by the camera quality of your new iPad, this will definitely cheer you up. The Camera Connection Kit contains two 30-pin dongles – one of these can read SD cards while the other works as a USB port. Using these dongles, you can connect your camera to the iPad, transfer photos and view them on a large screen. At the same time, you can also use the USB port to connect your iPad to other devices.

2. Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover - It is a well known fact that  typing long documents with a virtual keyboard can be quite uncomfortable. If you hope to do a lot of typing on your iPad, you must get the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard. Owing to the presence of magnets, it operates as a stand and holds your iPad still while you type. It is thin and sleek and works efficiently.

3. CCM Capacitive Stylus - The touch screen of an iPad is an absolute delight to work with, isn’t it? With a stylus, you can do so many fascinating thing on an iPad – you can draw, paint, play games which involve these activities etc. Some would say that you can do all this with your hand, but it is impossible to achieve the same degree of precision as with a stylus.

4. Jawbone Jambox – The Jawbone Jambox is a small bluetooth speaker that can act as the perfect audio companion to your iPad. Even as the original audio quality of an iPad is quite impressive, you will need an amplifying device if you are playing games or having a party or watching a movie. The Jawbone Jambox is a portable speaker that can provide the much needed boost to your iPad’s audio output.

Here are a few gadgets that will make your workout sessions more productive and entertaining:

1. Fitbit Flex – The Fitbit Flex is an activity tracker that can be worn as a wristband. It can track the distance travelled, calories burned, sleep patterns etc. It can also provide a detailed breakdown of the quality of your workout sessions. Later, you can connect the band to a computer through a USB or you can directly sync it to an iPhone or some Android devices. This way, you can track your daily progress and modify your workout sessions accordingly. The Fitbit Flex is waterproof, comfortable to wear and provides accurate results.

2. Fitbit One – If you don’t want to be seen wearing a wristband everywhere or  if you find it stifling, you can opt for Fitbit One which is a small device that you  can strap to your shirt or pocket. Just like the Fitbit Flex, it counts the number of steps you take in a day, the number of stairs you climb, the number of calories burnt and measures your sleep pattern.It can be connected to a laptop through USB and can be synced to your iPhone.

3. Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale - It’s time to give up your archaic weighing scale. The FitBit Aria Smart Scale won’t just tell you your weight, it will track all changes in your weight and upload them to a free iPhone app through your wireless network. So, you don’t have to manually track your weight or make charts to track your weight, just let  the Smart Scale to do all the work.

4.  Bose SIE2i Headphones – What’s a workout without your favorite music? The headphones you use for workout sessions should have the following features – the earbuds should stay in place even when you run on the treadmill or lift weights, they must be water and sweat resistant and finally, the audio quality must be excellent. The Bose SIE2i headphones come with all of these features and make for wonderful workout companions.

To help you out, we have put together a list of some of the best Mother’s Day tech gift ideas:

1. Nike FuelBand – The biggest problem with maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the lack of motivation. When nobody is watching, you might just feel tempted to skip your yoga session or eat that delicious piece of cake lying in the fridge. The bottom line is that you need a constant source of motivation. Enter Nike FuelBand. It’s a simple wrist band that measures your physical activity and intake of calories throughout the day. This information is then uploaded to an online account everyday so that you can track your progress or the lack of it. If your mom has been meaning to kickstart her physical fitness regimen, this might just be what she needs.

2. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite - Working mothers find it very hard to take out some time to pursue their interests or just relax for a while and read their favorite novel with a cup of coffee. In fact, the closest she might come to having some alone time is when she is waiting for an appointment at the doctors or travelling in a bus or an airplane. But one can’t carry books with them wherever they go. Therefore, Kindle Paperwhite makes for an excellent gift. Your mom can read off this Kindle whenever she gets some alone time. The resolution is great, the display is bright and it comes with Wi-Fi as well.

3. Philips Fidelio SoundRing AirPlay Speakers – Every mother would love to enjoy a relaxed evening with her favorite music playing in the background. The Philips Fidelio SoundRing is an excellent wireless AirPlay speaker which can stream music from your iPod, iPad or iPhone. The Philips Fidelio comes with a rechargeable battery, the audio quality is clear and sharp and it is quite a stunner in terms of external appearance.

4. Roku 3 TV Box – Is your mom crazy about TV? Doe she follow a lot of TV series simultaneously? If yes, then the Roku 3 TV Box is the perfect gift for her. With this gadget, she can stream all her favorite shows on the television set. It supports more than 750 TV channels like HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Netflix, Amazon Instant etc. Get your mom one of these and she will never have to miss a single episode of her favorite sitcoms.

At alaTest, we are giving you a list of some of the best PS3 and Xbox 360 games for kids. Not only are these games safe for children, they are extremely enjoyable.

1. Little Big Planet 2 – Little Big Planet 2 is one of the most popular games for PS3 and PSP platforms. The game is packed with 30 plot lines wherein Negativitron, the beast is trying to destroy the planet. As Sackboy, the player has to prevent this from happening by fighting all kinds of enemies- cupcakes, fireflies etc. The game allows its users to add or remove certain features and customize their world. In other words, children can let their imagination run wild while saving the world from Negativitron. The graphics are sharp, the plot lines are crisp and the game works like an absolute charm. What’s more, your child might actually learn a thing or two about physics as well!

2. Sports Champion – Using the Move motion controller with on a PS3, kids can play a variety of sports like volleyball, table tennis, disc golf etc. This game will come as a huge relief to all parents who are concerned about the lack of physical activity in their children. With Sports Champion, your children will have to sweat it out as they enjoy a thrilling game. Thanks to the high sensitivity of the Move controller and the PlayStation Eye Camera, there is very little separating a real game from a virtual one.

3. Kinect Disneyland Adventure - One just can’t go wrong with the alluring world of Disneyland. Compatible with an Xbox 360, this game is an absolute delight for children as it lets them navigate through the virtual world of Disneyland. Children can take rides, meet Disneyland characters and visit the most famous places within the amusement park. At the same time, they can take up challenges and games. All in all, it will be a dream come true for your children.

4. Kinectimals – Are your children fond of animals? Would they like a chance to cuddle a tiger cub? If yes, they will instantly fall in love with Kinectimals. Designed for young children, this game can be played with Xbox 360 and Kinect. The game has a variety of animals, right from tigers to polar bears to giant pandas. Children can pet these animals, cuddle them or even train them by teaching them basic movements like jumping, skipping etc.

Besides these games, there are many others like Carnival Island, Toy Story 3, Puss in Boots, Happy Feet 2 etc. which are suitable for your children. Get your children one of these and their faces with instantly light up with happiness.

The smartphones which have already been launched in the year made headlines around the globe. Let’s quickly review these new releases:

1. Samsung Galaxy S4 – Samsung Galaxy S4 is the much anticipated successor to the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy SIII. The smartphone comes with a 5-inch super AMOLED display with a higher resolution than S3. The processor is also upgraded to 1.9GHz quad-core or 1.6GHz octa-core and the phone ships with a 13-megapixel camera. As an added advantage, the battery life is longer and S4 also boasts of a thinner build than its predecessor. Apart from the specs, the Samsung Galaxy S4 also comes with some cool features like Air View, Smart Pause and Smart Scroll. While Air View allows you to control the touch screen without actually touching it, Smart Pause and Smart Scroll features will pause a video or scroll the screen according to your eyeball movements. All in all, the Samsung Galaxy S4 takes the concept of being user-friendly to a different level altogether. It might not be groundbreaking but it does take significant steps towards a fuller experience of using smartphones.

2. HTC One – The most obviously impressive feature of the HTC One is the design which is crafted exclusively of premium metals. HTC has invested a lot of effort in creating a suave design to compete with the likes of S4 and iPhone 5. On the technical front, the phone comes with a 4.7-inch screen with 1080p resolution, 1.7GHz quad-core processor, 32/64GB internal memory and 2GB RAM. The camera comes with a unique Ultra-Pixel sensor which can capture more details due to its larger size. All of these features, along with Android Jelly Bean, make for a powerful smartphone, one that can be compared with the other giants in the league.

3. Blackberry Z10 – If you have been a loyal customer of Blackberry, this phone will definitely delight you. The flagship model, which was being touted as a do-or-die attempt by Blackberry, has received largely positive reviews. While it hasn’t swept them off their feet, it has managed to impress them with its features. The Blackberry Z10 comes with 4.2-inch LCD display, Blackberry 10 OS, an 8-megapixel camera, 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 2GB RAM. Sure enough, the OS needs a little getting used to, but once you are accustomed to it, it works like a charm.

Besides these phones, you can also check out Sony Xperia Z or LG Optimus G if you are looking for a new smartphone.

Today, we will take you through some innovative Easter gift ideas which can do justice to the spirit of the festival. Here we go:

1. Philips Senseo HD7870 Coffee Maker – Easter is all about spending time with your loved ones, attending the mass, setting up an egg hunt for your kids and enjoying a wholesome family dinner afterwards. How about having a cup of hot and soothing coffee to finish off the day? Gift your friends the Philips Senseo HD7870 Coffee Maker which can make a perfect coffee in under 30 seconds. You can select the strength of your coffee, it has a touch panel display and a removable water tank and drip tray. All in all, it’s a wonderful addition to anyone’s house.

2. Koldfront 12-bottle Wine Cooler - If you know a friend who is something of a wine connoisseur, this would make for a perfect gift. It is made of stainless steel, the temperature is perfect for the wine and it can fit snuggly on a kitchen countertop or in a mini bar. Additionally, a wine cooler is immensely helpful as well. After all, a rich meal is incomplete without a glass of good old wine at the perfect temperature.

3. Xbox 360 or PS3 Games – If you want to make your kids happy this Easter, look no further. Give them some of their favorite Xbox 360 or PS3 games this year around. Luckily for you, there is a huge variety that you can choose from, right from Dishonored to Borderlands to Dance Central  etc. Just buy one of these and wait for the look on your child’s face. It will be totally worth it.

4. Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 Hard Drive – Now, we are talking computers again. A hard drive is essential especially for people who have crucial data on their laptops. The Lenovo USB 3.0 offers 750 GB memory and it is extremely simple to operate. You just have to connect it to your computer, press the unlock key, enter your password and there you go. The device will work just like a normal USB drive.

When you visit a store to look for a barbecue grill,you would be surprised by the sheer variety of grills available. Soon enough, you will realize that you just don’t walk into a store and buy a grill. Before you can do that, you have to acquaint yourself with certain key features pertaining to grills. Here are a few of them:

1. Type of grill – There are primarily three types of grills – gas, charcoal and electric grills. Each of these grills has their fair share of advantages. A gas grill gets heated very quickly and the temperature can be controlled with precision. This grill uses either a propane tank or natural gas from an accessible pipeline as its fuel. On the other hand, a charcoal grill takes a while to grill food but the rich, smoky flavor is unique and unparalleled. Finally, an electric grill is ideal for indoor use, it heats up quickly and it uses less oil for grilling. So, there is good news for weight watchers.

At the same time, also consider the heat output of a grill, often measured in terms of BTU or British Thermal Units. For best performance, you should look for a grill that has a high BTU along with an efficient heat distribution and retention system.

2. Size – The ideal size of grill will depend on the dimensions of your backyard or your patio where you plan to keep the grill. Additionally, you must also factor in the number of people you would be normally cooing for. For a regular gathering of 6-10 people, a 360 square inch grill would suffice. However, if you have huge parties regularly, you should look for bigger grills.

3. Material – The material of a grill is important for two reasons – first, it decides how quickly the grill heats up and second, the strength and durability of the grill also depends on it. One can find grills made of aluminium and cast iron but nothing compares to stainless steel.

4. Features – Gone are the days when a barbecue could grill only a handful of chicken pieces at once. Thanks to features like multi level cooking surfaces, side burner and rotisserie, you can achieve a lot more with a single grill. Additionally, grills also come with an overhead lamp for better visibility during the evening. Obviously, additional features come at a price. So, look out for the price as well!

Based on these considerations, we have put together a list of some of the best barbecues and grills available as of now. These are – Weber Kettle Charcoal BBC with 3 piece tool set, Spirit E-301 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill and Summit E-470 Freestanding Natural Gas Grill. More about these in the next post. Stay tuned!

Chromebook Pixel – Review

The Chromebook Pixel comes with a third generation Intel Core i5, 1.8GHz dual-core processor, 4GB RAM and 32/64GB hard drive. It also boasts of high resolution Retina touch screen display usually found in Apple MacBook products. The Chromebook Pixel weighs 3.35 pounds and it sports a 12.85-inches display. The design is flawless, the touchscreen functions brilliantly and the Chrome OS is just as smooth as it looks. In terms of performance, the Chromebook Pixel will not give you any reason to complain.

On the flip side though, $1300 is a hefty price to pay for an ultrabook that runs on a cloud based OS. The Chrome OS comes with its share of limitations – you can’t use regular programs like Microsoft Office and Photoshop. Sure enough, there are alternatives like Google Drive and Pixlr but it can take a while to get used to them. Additionally, they might not compare to Microsoft programs in terms of performance and productivity.

As a result of these limitations, the Chromebook Pixel caters to a very select audience i.e. people who primarily use their laptops for online browsing or who are comfortable using Cloud based alternatives for traditional programs. Additionally, one has to be willing to pay quite a lot of money for an ultrabook that might not meet his or her basic technical requirements.

How does it compare with its competitors?

As soon as the Chromebook Pixel was launched, comparisons were made with MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. The Apple MacBook Pro comes with high resolution Retina display which makes for unbelievable clarity and sharpness in terms of display. In terms of technical specs, MacBook Pro is way ahead of Chromebook Pixel with a third generation Intel i7 2.3 GHz quad-core processor, 8/16GB memory and 256 GB hard drive. Additionally, one gets to use the iOS which is a full-fledged operating system with an array of programs as opposed to cloud based Chrome OS. However, these features come at a high cost as the MacBook Pro with Retina Display is priced close to $2000.

One can also compare Chromebook Pixel to Acer Aspire S7, an ultrabook which runs on Microsoft Windows 8. This ultrabook from Acer ships with Intel i7 1.9GHz dual-core processor, 4GB memory and 256 GB hard drive. Microsoft has made a very conscious effort to ensure that the Windows 8 OS supports a touch-friendly experience and the results are evident. The touchscreen is more receptive than other operating systems and the ultrabook performs without any glitches. Again, this ultrabook doesn’t come cheap either. Priced at close to $1600, it is a few hundred dollars expensive than the Chromebook Pixel.

Due to the same reasons, the Microsoft Surface Pro is often compared to a variety of products including tablets, ultrabooks and hybrids. For instance, the device from Microsoft is usually pitted against the Apple iPad and the MacBook Air simultaneously. At alaTest, we will do a comparative analysis of three gadgets – Microsoft Surface Pro, MacBook Air and Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13.

1. Microsoft Surface Pro – Once you examine the specs of Surface Pro, you will be more inclined to slot it among ultrabooks. It ships with a dual core, 1.7GHz Intel i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage and 10.6-inch display. Additionally, it also has a few USB 3.0 ports along with a micro-SDXC slot. It weighs close to 2 pounds which is a tad bit heavy for a regular tablet. At the same time, it is lighter than any ultrabook on the market. All in all, the Microsoft Surface Pro makes for a powerful ultrabook(when used with a portable keypad) with a high quality processor. It is ideal for frequent flyers who want to get some business done while travelling. It could also double up as a tablet with a touch screen if you are comfortable with the weight and the size.

2. MacBook Air - The Microsoft Surface Pro is often compared to MacBook Air as both of them have very similar specifications. The Surface Pro can be easily used as an ultrabook by attaching a portable keyboard. Both the Surface Pro and MacBook Air have the same processor specs i.e. dual core Intel i5 1.7GHz and both of them come with 4GB RAM. MacBook has a bigger display and it is also slightly heavier than Surface Pro. The major difference boils down to the operating system – Windows 8 versus iOS. In terms of performance, there isn’t a lot separating the two and the choice comes down to personal preferences.

3. Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 - The Lenovo IdeaPad is a hybrid which promises to give you the best of both the worlds i.e. a tablet and an ultrabook. The Lenovo hybrid boasts of a 360 degree hinge feature, using which, you can convert it from a laptop to a touch-friendly tablet. It ships with an Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM and 128GB storage space. The hybrid promises to give you a high quality experience, both as a tablet as an ultrabook. Just like the Surface Pro, Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 runs on Windows 8 but the former has a stronger processor. However, Lenovo’s battery life is comparatively better than Surface Pro. Clearly then, the differences are minor and you will have to make a choice based on your priorities.

While considering the sound quality of a speaker for the purpose of gaming, one must consider two factors – a sound card and the speakers. In the most recent computers, a sound card comes pre-installed in the mother board. To get the best possible results, it is a good idea to gather information about the kind of sound card installed in the mother board. Before buying a computer, you might want to read reviews about the sound card in question. The other component which determines the audio output is the quality of speakers. Typically, a surround sound system consists of multiple speakers, a subwoofer and sound controls. These elements work together to create a complete gaming experience, one where you will be immersed in the virtual world of gaming.

At alaTest, we have put together a list of some of the best PC speakers for gaming:

1. Logitech Z2300 – The Logitech Z2300 speaker system is composed of a subwoofer, two speakers and a console that can be used to control sound. The system comes with top notch 2.1 THX certified audio quality, a response bandwidth of 35Hz to 20kHz and the subwoofer boasts of 120 watts power. In simpler words, these speakers from Logitech provide excellent sound quality. The audio output is powerful enough to shake a large room even as the detailing is immaculate.

2. Altec Lansing Expressionist Ultra MX6021 - The PC speakers from Altec Lansing ship with 2.1 THX audio system along with 200 watts of sound. The entire system consists of two speakers, one front firing subwoofer and a desktop controllers which allows users to control volume, bass and treble. This control also has a set of audio jacks for headphones. The sheer power of the subwoofer makes for a delightful audio output which has the potential to please any gaming enthusiast.

3. Bose Companion 5 Multimedia Speaker System – Bose has been one of the pioneers of the world of audio devices. The Multimedia speaker system lives up to the pristine glory associated with Bose. Unlike other speaker systems, the Bose Companion system offers connectivity through USB ports and is equally suitable for a large living room and a smaller study room. The TrueSpace surround-sound feature promises to overwhelm you within sharp and crisp sound quality.