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.

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.

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.

At alaTest, we have put together a list of some of the best Android tablets out there. As a note of caution, some of these tablets are transformables as they can be used as an ultrabook or a notebook by attaching a portable keyboard.

1. Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 – With a 1.6GHz Tegra 3 CPU, the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity is one of the fastest Android tablets as of now. The 10.4-inch wide tablet weighs close to 1.32 pounds and is 0.33 inches thick. In other words, it is lightweight, easy to carry and the design is impressive. It comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0.3 and the display is much better than many other tablets. Finally, this Asus tablet has an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, both of which perform brilliantly. As the name indicates, it can be transformed into an ultrabook with the help of a keyboard dock which can be bought with the tablet itself.

2. Google Nexus 10 – The Google Nexus 10 runs on 1.7GHz dual-core Exynos 5250 CPU and it ships with 2GB RAM. The tablet which weighs a mere 1.33 pounds was one of the first of its kind to run on Android 4.2. The Google Nexus 10 boasts of a sturdy design, high resolution display and an unbelievably fast processor. All in all, it comes highly recommended if you are looking for an Android tablet.

3. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 – The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with a stylus or an S Pen. It takes a little getting used to, but once you get there, it can expand the range of things you can do with your tablet. Performance wise, the tablet is powered by 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos CPU and 2GB RAM. It comes with Android 4.0.1 with an upgrade available for Jelly Bean. As with the other tablets, the tablet performs well and the design is impressive as well.

Besides these tablets, there are other variants with some differences in hardware and software. Among these, we recommend Asus Transformer TF300, Google Nexus 7 and Asus Transformer Prime.

What to look for in a netbook?

While looking for a netbook, the criteria are markedly different from a laptop. For one, you will have to lower your expectation in terms of technical specs. After all, there is only as much as a small netbook can offer. Among other things, look for a good battery life since you will be using a netbook on the go. Additionally, check if a netbook has sufficient number of USB ports, an HDMI port, a full sized keyboard and a competitive processor.

Which are the best netbooks as of now?

Taking into account all these criteria, we have put together a list of some of the most impressive netbooks available as of now:

1. Asus Eee PC 1015PN – The Asus netbook boasts of a dual core 1.5GHz Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 250GB hard drive and a 10.1-inch display. The USP of this netbook is the Nvidia Ion Graphic card which translates to better video and audio performance. Hence, the netbook is good for much more than just typing e-mails while you are travelling. You can also use it to watch a movie, listen to music or play some games.

2. Acer Aspire One D270 – This netbook from Acer ships with a dual core 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB RAM and a 320GB hard drive. The display size is standard i.e. 10.1 inches and the netbook has multiple USB 2.0 ports along with Blutetooth 4.1. With this model, Acer decided to focus on the core features of a netbook. Hence, even if it doesn’t have any extraordinary features, it does function well as a traditional netbook.

3. Toshiba NB 550D – This netbook from Toshiba makes the switch from Atom to AMD processor. It performs much better than an average netbook with improved graphic features. On the flip side, the memory is rather low (1GB) for the performance it delivers and the battery life isn’t that impressive either.

4. Acer Aspire One Happy 2 – The Acer Aspire One Happy 2 instantly catches your attention due to its design and vibrant colors. It operates on an Atom processor and runs on Windows 7 Starter edition. At the same time, you can also use Android 2.3.1 on this netbook. So, if you want to use the netbook to finish a quick, easy task, you can use the Android version. Alternatively, if you want to do some serious work, you can revert to the Windows OS.

When it comes to buying a desktop for business purposes, the criteria are markedly different. For one, the bling of appearance and audio-visual features become rather irrelevant. Instead, you should focus on the power, memory, safety and convenience of usage. A business desktop will be used primarily for storing data, handling e-mail accounts, creating software programs, developing spreadsheets etc. The important factors is that most of these things will be done all at once. Hence, an efficient business desktop must have the raw power to sustain a lot of multitasking. If you want to make an intelligent choice, forget about external features and focus on the internal specs of a desktop.

Based on these criteria, we have put together a list of the best desktop PCs for business:

1. Dell Vostro 470 – The Dell Vostro 470 is probably the most powerful business PC in the market as of now. It ships with a quad-core, 3.4 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB RAM and as many as 10 USB ports, divided between 2.0 and 3.0. It also comes with Intel’s Hyper Threading Technology which makes multi-tasking a pleasure on this desktop. All this, coupled with Windows 7 Professional OS, makes for an unbeatable combination.

2. Lenovo ThinkCentre M91P – The Lenovo ThinkCentre is a series of desktops designed primarily for business enterprises. The M91P boasts of a dual core 2.7GHz processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive and 64-bit Windows 7 Professional OS. It has 8 USB ports, two in the front and six at the back. Additionally, it comes with a display port, gigabite ethernet and many other peripherals.

3. Apple iMac – The Apple iMac is truly an exception in the world of business PCs since it packs performance with good looks. The sleek and suave appearance is backed by solid performance as well. The iMac ships with a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4GB memory and 500Gb hard drive. The Mac Snow Leopard OS is ideal for business users and the multi-touch mouse and wireless keyboard add to the ease of use.

4. HP Z220 CMT Work Station – This desktop is another powerhouses when it comes to raw performance. Thanks to its 3.06 GHz Intel Xeon processor, the desktop functions smoothly without any glitches even when you run a lot of programs simultaneously. Other specifications are just as impressive – 8GB RAM and 1GB Nvidia graphic card. Additionally, it has all the external USB and HDMI slots you will ever need to get professional work done.

In this day and age, no office functions without tech gadgets. Right from the elementary laptop to the fancy Walkstation, an office is heavily dependent on electronic gadgets. These gadgets increase your productivity by speeding things up and keeping them organized. So, if you have been missing out on the advantages of office gadgets, it is time to do some shopping. Here is a list of some of the most essential gadgets for your office:

1. HP EliteBook 8460p- When it comes to must-have gadgets for an office, a laptop is a no-brainer. However, what matters is the choice of laptop. The HP EliteBook 8460p is ideal for office use. It ships with a powerful Intel Core i5, 2.4 GHz dual core processor. Additionally, it has 320GB RAM and 4GB memory. At the same time, it has some additional features which add to its functionality in the workplace. For instance, it is equipped with the HP Quick Web function, which allows you to access the internet without re-booting Windows. These features, along with a decent battery life, make this laptop fit for business use.

2. HP Officejet Pro 8500 – This multi-function printer is the answer to all printing, copying and faxing requirements. A stand alone printer is a thing of the past. Modern multi-purpose printers combine several functions in one, saving money and office space simultaneously. The HP Officejet Pro 8500 comes with a variety of networking options, an LCD touch screen and fast output in terms of printing. All in all, it makes for an excellent office gadget.

3. Seagate Replica Hard Drive - Irrespective of the scale and size of a business venture, official data holds the business together. If all your official data is stored in your laptop, you can lose some or all of it if your laptop crashes due to some reason. Therefore, you must have a back-up of all your data on a hard drive. The Seagate Replica Hard Drive comes with 500 GB storage space and the best part is that the moment you connect it to your laptop, it automatically makes a back-up of everything, including your laptop’s OS. This means that you don’t have to manually drag and drop or copy and paste, just connect the drive and thats that.

4. Keurig Platinum Brewing System – If someone was to calculate the daily consumption of coffee in any office, it would come out to be a quite an astounding figure. Coffee is the fuel which keeps offices running. Hence, it is important to invest in a high quality coffee machine. The Keurig Platinum Brewing machine offers a lot of options, it allows you to adjust the cup sizes and the temperature of the coffee. Additionally, it comes with an LCD touch screen, a digital clock and an auto program feature. Get this machine and kickstart your day with a brisk cup of coffee.

So, if your resolution was losing weight or making more money or getting things organized or managing time efficiently, the following gadgets can help you immensely. Let’s quickly run through some of these:

1. Samsung Chromebook – The Samsung Chromebook is one step further in the drive towards a web-based, Cloud centric OS. As opposed to traditional operating systems which run on installed software, the Chromebook operates on a web-based software. It comes with a dual core Cortex A15 processor and 2GB memory. The Chromebook is thin and lightweight, and the best part is that it is priced at just $249. While it is definitely not meant for users who want to use multiple applications at once, it is ideal for travellers on the go. Unlike a tablet, it has more functionality and flexibility, which means that you can save both time and money without compromising on the efficiency aspect. Sounds like a win-win situation.

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 – 2012 was definitely the year of hybrids, it was the year when giant strides were made in resolving the tablet v/s laptop dilemna. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 is one of the many hybrids that were launched this year. More importantly, it was one of the better hybrids that we saw in the past year. This hybrid comes with Windows 8, one of the many features which sets it apart from others. It comes with a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB memory and 500GB hard drive. Finally, it manages to preserve the best of both the worlds i.e. it functions equally well as a laptop and a tablet. So, if you have resolved to declutter your life and make it more organized, this might be the place to start.

3. iPhone 5 – Any recap of 2012 is incomplete without the mention of the iPhone 5. It was, by a huge margin, the gadget of 2012. It had everything that you could ask for, a faster A6 processor, 4G and a bigger screen. So, how can you use an iPhone to stick to your resolutions. For starters, it is almost like a mini organizer. You can design your daily schedules, set reminders and check your progress. Additionally, there are thousands of apps for everything you can think of, right from losing weight to acquiring new skills.

Besides these gadgets, there were others like the Samsung Galaxy Note II, iPad Mini, Windows Surface and Nokia Lumia 920 which created quite a stir in the gadget world. It is time to explore these gadgets and get creative with their applications. You will be pleasantly surprised by what your discover!