The alaTest Blog

Water and gadgets aren’t exactly the best of friends. All of us must have lost some gadgets to water, be it a cell phone or headphones or an iPod. With most of the gadgets, the good news is that you can easily save them from any contact with water. However, what do you do about gadgets you want to use around water? That’s when things start getting a little tricky. Waterproof digital cameras or rugged cameras, as they are sometimes called, have been designed to serve a very specific niche. Let’ see how well they have fared up till now. Read the rest of this entry »

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 »

The normal layman out there might just get intimidated with the complicated features offered by a Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera or a DSLR as it is commonly called. An absolute must-have for professional photographers, a DSLR is gaining popularity among amateurs as well. In fact, it is the ideal kind of camera for anyone passionate about photography. 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 »

The economic force known as Supply and Demand has recently reared its ugly head due to the flooding in Thailand, and as tragic as the flooding is for those living there, its effects have been felt worldwide, especially in the consumer markets. Read the rest of this entry »

So you survived Thanksgiving, which can mean only one thing: Holiday shopping season is officially here! Sure, there have been holiday themed sales since the start of the month, but the traditional start is today, Black Friday. Not everyone can make it to the stores on Black Friday, so here are a few gift ideas that you don’t necessarily need to wait in line to get a good deal. Read the rest of this entry »