The alaTest Blog

We’ve gone over last month’s data, and once again, the numbers are in! We don’t always do a “Trends” post every month simply because a month generally isn’t enough time for the trends to change, but that’s not the case this time. Digital cameras and smartphones are still popular; however, the top devices in each category have seen some major changes. It also seems that notebooks are starting to overtake HDTVs in popularity. Read the rest of this entry »

Our March numbers are in, and we’ve looked over the top 10 products for the last month. Think you can guess what they are? Digital cameras were quite popular (both SLR and Compact) holding both first and second place. A total of four HDTVs also made the cut as well as three smartphones (all Android). Here’s the breakdown: Read the rest of this entry »

Last week, we gave you a list of the top five entry level DSLR‘s for beginners. This week, we are going to take a step backward (yes, you heard that right. Backward, not forward) from there as we try and make the choice between a compact camera and a DSLR easier. Having said that, we must acknowledge, right at the very beginning, that the choice is not a simple one. There are several technical, personal as well as economic factors to be considered. But, we are going to try our best to break it down into simpler elements. Read the rest of this entry »

For the past several years, there have seemingly been massive advancements in LCD technology. We’ve seen contrast ratios go from 500:1 up to Infinity; refresh rates have jumped from 60Hz to 960Hz. But is it possible that all of these numbers are just marketing hokum? Read the rest of this entry »

There definitely was a time when the Apple iPad had absolute authority over the domain of tablets. If the iPad 3 was released in that day and age, nobody would even compare it with other similar gadgets. However, things sure have changed. Even though the Apple iPad continues to impress its fans, it has some close competitors to play against now. It’s only been a few days since Apple released the iPad 3 and comparisons are already ripe with the Galaxy Note 10.1. Read the rest of this entry »

Mobile World Congress 2012 has just wrapped up, leaving our heads spinning in the clouds as we wait for all of the newly announced products and technology to make it to consumer shelves. While MWC always has more mind-bogglingly awesome devices than we could possibly list in a short blog, there were a few items that we think you should keep an eye out for as they’ll be releasing this year. Read the rest of this entry »

The moment you decide to buy a new digital camera, the first thing you think of is the megapixel count. Such   is the pervasiveness of the megapixel myth that we forget to even consider other (more important) factors. So,   let’s try and answer the big question- How much does the megapixel count matter or does it matter at all? Read the rest of this entry »

We’re convinced that MILCs (Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras) were an absolute stroke of genius in terms of digital camera design. They pair the portability of a compact with the amazing control and image quality of an SLR. If you’re in the market for an entry to mid-range digital SLR, you might want to consider an ILC instead. Read the rest of this entry »