LG X110 Netbooks: Internet On The Go

As laptops get smaller and lighter, there seems to be a certain need to be always connected to the Internet, especially for those on the move. Having WiFi on a notebook is very much the standard now, but you're not always guaranteed a WiFi connection every where you go.

Enter the increasingly popular 'Netbook' type of notebooks. Also known as a UMPC (Ultra Mobile Personal Computer), Netbooks give you the mobility and Internet connectivity whenever you want it as it has 3G SIM Card slots built into it. As long as you're subscribed to a mobile broadband service like DSTCom's Go!broadband, then you're good to go!

Netbooks nowadays are clever enough to detect the best possible connection to the Internet, so when there's no WiFi detected, it will automatically switch to your 3G connections.

There are tons of Netbooks currently in the market, but we recently had the chance to test (& play) with one of the latest by LG, the X110.

Key Features;

• 10″ 1024 X 600 LCD LED Backlit

• 259 mm/180 mm/31 mm (width/height/dimension)

• Intel Atom N270 CPU 1.6GHz

• 1.19kg

• 1GB DDR2 RAM

• 802.11b/g WiFi

• 160GB HDD

• Bluetooth 2.0

• Windows XP

• 6cell (Li-Ion) Battery

• Wide Keyboard

• 4-in-1 Card Reader, 3x USB 2.0

• 1.3M Pixel Webcam

• 3G / GPS

As you might have noticed from the specifications, the X110 is very well equipped for your mobile computing needs, especially for such a tiny machine.

The model we reviewed featured a 6cell battery, which lasted more than 3 and a half hours , a great feat for a notebook of its size and kind. It's also packed with a 160GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM, more than enough memory and storage for the average traveling user.

The 3G Internet connection is managed by the Ericsson Wireless Manager 5 application which was simple to use. Simply slot your 3G SIM Card into the slot below the battery and launch the application.

You can even send and receive SMS and MMS via this panel and also manage/create your phone book too.

As DST's Go!broadband settings is not available by default, you will have to create a new Profile and fill in the details as shown above. The password is "internet" (without the "").

Overall, we enjoyed every minute reviewing this netbook. It was such a joy to use, convenient to carry around, and most importantly, a great value for your money.

The LG X110 is available at Incomm for B$1099.00 with further discounts if you use your DST Card.

Apple iPods: The best MP3 player lineup, ever.

Apple has been somewhat predictable for the past few years when the holiday season nears - releasing all new iPod line-ups during September 'surprise' Apple events. This year's event introduced arguably the best and possibly the most affordable iPod line-up ever.

The talk of the gadget world this time was the introduction of a slimmer, sleeker iPod touch, multi-colored 'tall' iPod Nanos, iPod Shuffles in new colors, and perhaps the biggest announcement this year - the news that all iPods are now made even more affordable.

iPod Touch (2nd Generation)
When first introduced last year, the iPod Touch was the talk of the town, and it deserved it. Besides having a great 'Multi-Touch' screen which lets you view and listen to your music in a cool new way, probably the main selling point of the original iPod Touch to Bruneians was its ability to surf the Internet with its very cool-to-use Safari browser. It meant that we didn't have to carry a heavy laptop around to cafes anymore just to surf, and the fact that this little gadget costed under $500 was great at the time. What could Apple do to improve it? Quite a few things actually..

The 2nd generation iPod Touch is even thinner now - only 0.33-inches thin, which somehow makes other MP3 players look somewhat huge! Apple has also managed to incorporate speakers in this amazingly thin gadget, which solves the problem of always having to bring your headphones everywhere.

Another major improvement is the iPod 2.1 software that's installed which lets you download games and applications through Wi-Fi right on to the iPod Touch. There's hundreds of free apps and games to choose from, which somehow makes it a great competitor to the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS.

The 2nd Generation Apple iPod Touch is now available at AV Electronics for $388 (8GB), $498 (16GB), and $698 (32GB).

iPod Nano (4th Generation)
Probably the most noticeable feature of the new iPod Nanos is that they now have the same 'tall' design as the 1st and 2nd generation models, with Apple choosing to get rid of the recent 'shorter', and probably less selling design of the most recent generation of Nanos. They're also now available in an unbelievable 9 colors in total, so you probably won't have a problem getting one in your favourite colour.

The 4th Generation iPod Nano is the thinnest iPod Apple has ever made, being just 6.2mm deep (from front to back), and after checking out these little gadgets in person, they really are tiny!

Apple has also incorporated the same accelerometers which are used in the iPod Touch into these new Nanos, which automatically changes the screen orientation when the gadget is turned sideways, letting you view all your album art.

Another cool addition is the 'shake to shuffle' feature, which lets you listen to random songs whenever you vigorously shake the Nano.

Fitness fans will be glad to know that these Nanos also have a built-in Nike+iPod receiver, which when connected wirelessly with an in-shoe sensor lets you track your runs and automatically gives you feedback on your progress and calories burnt.



The 4th generation iPod Nano is available at AV Electronics for $248 (8GB) and $328 (16GB).

iPod Shuffle

The iPod Shuffle continues to be what Apple claims to be the world's most 'wearable' MP3 player with it's tiny size and 'clip' design, but the only new features announced this time around was that it now comes in new colours - a more vibrant blue, green, pink and red, on top of the grey model.

The iPod Shuffle is available at AV Electronics for $78 (1GB) and $108 (2GB).

Nokia E71: Smart Simplicity

The Nokia E71 is most probably one of the hottest Nokia devices in the Bruneian market at the moment, especially with this gorgeous phone always being sold out not long after it being in stock, almost every week.

The most sought after colour of the E71 is the White Steel version, which are even being sold by some vendors at marked up prices despite having the same functionality as the Black Steel version.

With a stainless steel case, etched graphics, the Nokia E71 bears the hallmarks of Nokia quality and craftsmanship.

Designed for people who lead a mobile lifestyle and demand quick and easy access to their personal and work email, the Nokia E71 supports email accounts from more than a thousand internet service providers (ISPs) around the world, as well as Gmail, Yahoo! mail and Hotmail. Additionally, the Nokia E71 supports Nokia's Intellisync Wireless Email solution as well as third party email solutions. A nice touch to the Nokia E71 is a new switch mode that allows people to easily switch between personal and work home screens.
The Nokia E71 also supports the latest Ovi services including maps, music and media sharing that power users expect from their device. This includes fast and seamless browsing with HSDPA (3.5G), wireless LAN and 3G connectivity, Assisted GPS (A-GPS) and Nokia Maps for navigation, and a music player with support of up to 8 GB of expandable memory.

Photo taken with the Nokia E71 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera
(Shooting tip: press on the T button/key to autofocus)

Still unsure if the Nokia E71 is for you? Below are some links to reputable websites which have reviewed the phone in detail;

- Nokia E71 - The Gadget Show Hero
- Nokia E71 review: Messenger of steel
- Nokia E71 It’s Everything and More
- All About Symbian - Nokia E71 review.
- Nokia E71 – Marvel for the Chosen
- Joel on Software Nokia e71 Review

The Nokia E71 is available at Incomm for B$728.00 with further discounts if you use your DST Card. Call 2430801 to check for stock availability.

Rain Design: Accessories that ooze style and functionality

When you're looking for new accessories for your Computer or laptop, you usually of course look for those that function well. For the fashion conscious however, the accessories should both function well and look good at the same time.

Rain Design Inc. are known all over the world (especially among the Apple Mac faithful) as a company that designs and creates original, user-friendly, and of course 'sexy' looking accessories for the Mac.

A good selection of their products have recently been available to us Bruneians..

iLap

Everyone who actually uses their laptops on their laps know how hot the machines can get, especially after a few hours. It's also advisable to provide good ventilation for them, even when they're lying flat on a desk, as leaving laptops on for extended hours in a badly ventilated area could lead to overheating.

Throughout the years manufacturers have come up with all sorts of laptop cooler stands, all of which have had multiple cooling fans built in to them, which draws power from either your laptop or the nearest power socket. Rain Design's iLap however, is not your usual cooling stand.

Designed to match Apple's Macbook Pro/Air range, the iLap is made of aluminum, with a sand-blasted and silver anodized finish. One word, Sexy.

The one thing that you'd probably notice first is that it doesn't actually have any fans built in to it. It uses its lightweight aluminium body as a cool sink, drawing heat from your laptop, and making it rise as hot air!

The iLap is ergonomically designed to suit both lap and desk work, it raises your laptop screen higher to reduce strain on your neck and shoulders. It also comes with a removable, plush, black velvet cushion which makes it feel extremely comfortable on the lap. The cushion also doubles up as the perfect wrist-support.

Another great thing is that the iLap can also be used with laptop models of other brands too.

Rain Design's iLap is available at AV Electronics in Kiulap, in different sizes, depending on your laptop's screen size; 13-inch - $115, 15-inch - $125, 17-inch - $135.

mStand

Following in more or less the same footsteps as the iLap, Rain Design's mStand helps you work comfortably by raising your laptop to the same ergonomic height as your laptop's monitor. The tilt design brings the screen closer meets your eye level, to prevent from slouching.

This product also incorporates the same sexy aluminium finish as the iLap, and hence, also works as a cool sink for your laptop.

The mStand transforms your laptop into a stable and stylish workstation and is available at AV Electronics for $115, and can also be used with laptop brands other than Apple.

iRest

The iRest is a gorgeously designed wrist rest, and mouse pad, that's just so comfortable to use.

The gel-filled wrist rest made of Lycra allows for therapeutic support, and actually reduces fatique in your wrist, while the optical precision mouse pad surface allows control over fine cursor movements, and also offers extra padded comfort for your palm.

Rain Design's iRest is available at AV Electronics for $57.

Acer Aspire Gemstone Blue 6920: World's 1st 16-inch HD Blu-Ray Laptop

For those on the hunt for an affordable new laptop, packed with the latest technology, then the Acer Aspire Gemstone Blue 6920 is a great one to consider. This new line fuses elements of the original Gemstone series, and is also the world's first 16-inch laptop with a full High Definition, full brightness screen.

IThe new series expresses maximum power thanks to the Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology featuring the latest Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors, the mobile Intel PM965 Express Chipset and the integrated module for wireless connection, supporting Acer SignalUp with InviLink Nplify wireless technologies.

This 16-inch notebook, which features an HD CineCrystal LCD screen with a screen resolution of 366x768 pixels, is perfect to enjoy High Definition TV or Blu-Ray Disc content. The shades and tones are intense with 33% more color range intensity than the typical notebook panels.

To compliment the Gemstone Blue's screen, Acer has also integrated a second generation Dolby Home Theater technology with powerful CineSurround, Tuba CineBass booster, and True5.1 output, setting a new standard for notebook sound.

Perhaps the most noticeable feature of this sexy-looking gadget is the brand new CineDash media console, a touch-sensitive interface that gives you a new way to manage entertainment, as well as navigate menus, adjust volume and control media on the fly.

The Holographic 3D cover is also sexy addition to the design of the laptop. The backlight shines beneath the Floating Acer logo, which sparkles with varying gradations of black and blue when viewed from different angles.

The Aspire 6920 runs on Intel Centrino Processor Technology, featuring the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, and is packed with generous Hard Disk storage of up to 320GB. Besides featuring an optical drive (Blu-Ray and DVD), the Gemstone Blue also has a built-in 6-in-1 card reader that supports the most common card formats.

If you thought those were the only entertainment features, then think again.. Acer has also integrated a TV Tuner for digital television! The laptop provides a simple way to capture the interactive world of terrestrial digital and analogue television. Acer's Arcade Deluxe multimedia software suite helps users view and switch between channels with a clear and easy-to-use interface.

All in all, with its sexy looks, and great features, this laptop is definitely, without doubt, such a bargain!

For more information on the Aspire Gemstone Blue, please click here.

The Aspire Gemstone Blue is available now from Concept Commercial Suppliers, and all Acer authorized dealers in Brunei at a recommended price of B$2,368.00 with further discounts available.

i-Buddy: Get even more into your Instant Messaging

Avid MSN and Windows Live Messenger users have a new gadget to get them even more into their Instant Messaging.. Introducing i-Buddy, a cute little gadget which detects emoticons on MSN, and automatically makes little movements.

The 3-inch tall figurine, connected to the computer with a USB cable, features 8 emotional motions, including happy and angry, which are all expressed by combinations of its wings flapping, body twisting, and even multi-coloured light flashing. You can even customize, and create your own emotional motions too.

The i-Buddy is available now at Concepts Commercial Suppliers for B$58.00. To find out more, please visit i-Buddy's official website.

Nokia 6120 Classic, SE K660 & SE Z770i: Affordable, yet highly recommended 3.5G phones

With the recent launch of DSTCom's new 3G Services, Prima and Easi customers have been able to upgrade their mobile SIM card (for free until 31st August 2008), to enjoy Internet access speeds on their mobiles of up to 7.2 Mbps on their newly upgraded 3.5G (HSDPA) network.

For you to truly make full use of the HSDPA capabilites of this 3.5G network, we here by present to you a line up of some affordable, and highly recommended HSDPA ready mobile phones;

Nokia 6120 Classic


Main features;

• Surf the web and download music and videos quickly over the high speed 3G or HSDPA connection
• Document viewer: Quickoffice and PDF
• Catch all the action on the video recorder
• 2 megapixel camera with flash and panorama imaging
• Make video calls
• 35 MB of internal memory, microSD card slot
• Convenient PC synchronisation via MiniUSB connector

At B$368.00, this phone is a real bargain. Running on the Symbian 9.2, S60 3rd Edition platform, it's very stable, and you can easily add applications like instant messengers, and Skype amongst others. Unsurprisingly for a phone in this price range, it lacks WiFi connectivity. (If Wi-Fi is what you need, then check out the highly recommended Nokia E51 which we reviewed earlier on here). Overall the Nokia 6120 Classic is a joy to use, especially with its no nonsense, and super fast interface.

Sony Ericsson K660


Main features;

• HSDPA enabled
• Web Optimised (Landscape Browsing and Shortcut Keys) for easy surfing
• Google Maps for Mobile
• 2 megapixel camera with instant photo upload to your blogsite
• Walkman Player 3.0
• Video Calls
• 10 hours talk time and 350 hours standby time
• 32MB of internal memory, further expandable through the Memory Stick Micro card slot

If you're a big Sony Ericsson fan, then this phone would tickle your fancy. You'll be able to enjoy landscape browsing when you surf the Internet from this phone. The built-in Google Maps application will allow you to find your way instantly with interactive maps that let you zoom in or out, or pan in any direction to orient yourself. Enter your current location and destination and receive point-to-point directions. The K660 is definitely an all-rounder phone, and at B$368.00, we think it's worth every cent.

Sony Ericsson Z770i


Main features;

• HSDPA enabled
• Picture Blogging
• Google Maps for Mobile
• Walkman Player 3.0
• Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
• Track ID music recognition
• 320x240 pixel 262K TFT QVGA display
• 32MB internal memory and removable external storage with Memory Stick Micro.
• FM Radio with RDS

If the 'candy bar' design of the Sony Ericsson K660 is not your style, then the 'flip phone' design of the Sony Ericsson Z770i could be for you.

The Z770i features lets you browse the Internet with its magnetic mouse pointer, supports RSS feeds, picture blogging and e-mail access using web mail and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. The Z770 also features Google™ Maps for Mobile. At B$388.00, the Z770i is a serious contender which will help you enjoy the full benefit of the HSDPA network.

All phones are available at Incomm with further discounts when you present your DST Card.

Acer Ferrari 1100: Speed, performance and precision

When the word Ferrari comes to mind, you'll immediately associate it with speed, performance, and precision. It's not surprising then that Acer's partnership with the super car manufacturer produced a laptop line that also offers a great blend of speed, performance, precision, and not to mention exceptionally good looks.

The latest in the line of Acer's Ferrari ultra-portable notebooks is the Ferrari 1100, the successor to the popular Ferrari 1000. This gorgeous piece of gadgetry is as good as it gets in this high-performance notebook range.

Weighing a mere 1.95kg, the Ferrari 1100 sports actual carbon fiber shells, tasteful accents, and smoothly rounded edges, which will surely attract not only racing enthusiasts but even the fashion conscious. The distinct yellow prancing stallion Ferrari logo is immediately distinguishable, giving you the feeling that you're looking at a precision-driven, perfectly built piece of machinery.

Acer has taken the Ferrari even further into the ultra-portable notebook range by upgrading its display to a brighter 12.1-inch wide screen LCD, that's just beautiful to look at. With 2GB of RAM, a generous 250GB hard drive, and now a built-in slot loading DVD burner, it surely makes the Ferrari 1100 one of the most feature-packed ultra-portable notebooks around.

The notebook's ATI Radeon X1270 3D integrated graphics is optimized for Windows Vista and the Windows Aero 3D interface, delivering compelling graphics and video for running business and multimedia applications.

The Dolby Home Theater system offers truly enhanced virtual surround sound, blasting multi-dimensional, ultra-clear sound through the built-in stereo speakers.

The features by no means end there. Asides from integrating a built-in web cam, Bluetooth, the latest wireless LAN connectivity, various slots which include an S-Video/TV output, a VGA port and more, the Ferrari 1100 also incorporates an integrated biometric fingerprint reader. This solution uses convenient finger-swipe security in place of passwords. This means you'll be able to unlock your notebook, and even log-on to your MSN Messenger and websites that require passwords by just swiping your finger onto the reader.

The machine also comes with an exclusive Ferrari wireless Bluetooth optical mouse that also sports the Ferrari logo.

Another cool addition to this gorgeous laptop is the inclusion of an Acer Xpress VoIP phone, which lets you make free calls through the Internet wirelessly from the notebook, just like you would do on a mobile phone. It can also act as a speaker phone, which is perfect for video and audio conferencing.

All in all, the Ferrari 1100 performs as good as it looks, and is surprisingly very affordable for a notebook that's very feature-packed. It's definitely a must-buy for the always-on-the-move professionals who want both style and performance, and of course not forgetting the die-hard Ferrari fans.

The Acer Ferrari 1100 ultra-portable notebook is exclusively available in Brunei at Concepts Commercial Suppliers, for $2,848.00 (with further discounts available to less than $2,300). For more information please call 2448102/3 or 2423214/5.

MacBook Air: Ultra Thin, Ultra Portable

Apple seems to have a habit of introducing innovative products at the Macworld Conference & Expo, which is held every year.. 2006 saw the fast Intel-based iMacs introduced, and last year the world got excited at the unveiling of the long-awaited iPhone, arguably the most innovative cellphone ever created.

This year was no different. There had been calls for an ultra-portable Apple laptop by the Mac faithful beforehand, but when Apple's CEO Steve Jobs introduced the MacBook Air, all expectations were very much exceeded.

It's been an eagerly-long wait since its January introduction for the MacBook Air to reach our Bruneian shores, but when AV Electronics finally launched it last Monday, it was indeed definitely worth it.

MacBook Air Ad


The MacBook Air is unbelievably thin (fits in an office envelope!), and yet surprisingly tough and sturdy. Its design is without doubt revolutionary, and will definitely make you want one. Seeing photos of this amazing device will already make you crave for one, but you really have to see and hold it in your hands to really appreciate how great a gadget it really is. Even having the notebook on your lap is a surreal experience at first because of the lightness of the device, it's just very hard to believe that they managed to fit a computer into such a small piece of aluminium!

Thinness, design, and weight aspects aside, the MacBook Air is also packed with great features, and powerful performance.

The glossy, 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display is a joy to look at, giving you vibrant images and rich colours at full brightness the moment you turn it on.

Apple has also incorporated a full-sized, full-featured keyboard, just like the ones on a MacBook, onto the MacBook Air, but went a step further by adding backlit key illumination.

A built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the keyboard and display when you move into places of different brightness, making the keyboard light up and reducing the display's brightness making it easier on the eyes.

Apple has also incorporated a track pad with brilliant multi-touch technology, made popular by the iPhone and iPod Touch. Not only can you use the track pad to move the cursor around, but you now can even pinch, swipe, or rotate to zoom in on text, advance through a photo album, or adjust an image with ease.

Performance-wise, the MacBook Air features a more-than-generous 2GB of RAM, twice more than the standard built-in to most current laptops. It's also packed with a 1.6GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, all of which makes working with your favorite applications a breeze. With up to 5 hours of battery-life, this gadget will be a sure hit with frequent travelers and businessmen.

This gorgeous device sports an 80GB hard drive, and you even have the option to upgrade it to a pricey, but technology-advanced 64GB solid-state drive, which gives you super-fast data access.

The thinness of the MacBook Air, however, means that it had to compromise on some usually-built-in features, an Optical DVD/CD drive. But with Apple's innovativeness, we never really thought that this was much of a problem. Other than having the option to purchase an external SuperDrive, which connects via USB, Apple has introduced a cool feature called Remote Disc. For those few times when you need to install software on your notebook from a CD or DVD, Remote Disc lets you wirelessly use or “borrow” the optical drive of a Mac or PC in the vicinity, so you can have full access to its optical drive.

There are a lot more features packed into this stunning device, like its built-in iSight camera, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, and the tons of creative and productive Apple software bundled into it, making us crave more and more for it!

A guided tour to the MacBook Air


The Apple MacBook Air is available at AV Electronics in Kiulap for B$2,988.00.

Aliph Jawbone: Noise is Nothing

In the world of mobile communications, many users stay with the simple earbud headsets that come with their phone. While this may save you some money, you're usually stuck with poor sound quality, and sometimes unmanageable earpiece wires that tangle ever-so-easily. Fortunately, there are alternatives in the market, Bluetooth headsets are widely available here, offering you a wireless way to talk on your mobile phone from a headset. Simply 'pair' the devices together, and you're good to go.

Now anyone who's used standard Bluetooth headsets before will be able to tell you that besides the advantages of being 'wireless' and having the slight 'cool' factor, the sound quality isn't that great, especially to the people who receive their calls, as they're susceptible to hearing their surrounding's noise.

Aliph's Jawbone, however, offers an outstanding mix of comfort, style, and performance that's far superior to other headsets.

The Jawbone's design is without doubt strikingly-sexy, and it's unsurprising that it was recently featured in an exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Even the box it comes in when you buy it looks like it fell off a designer's shelf!

The Jawbone was also dubbed, among other feats, as the 'Wearable Device of the Year' by the popular American website Engadget, due to its extremely comfortable fit which lets it slide on and off with ease.

Besides the Jawbone's design and style, most of the accolades come from the technology behind the device, a military-grade noise cancelling feature they call Noise Shield. This technology has resulted in numerous awards including being called 'The Highest Rated Bluetooth Headset. Ever" by the popular tech company CNET.

Not only does it virtually eliminate all background noise from your call, but as your background changes it also seamlessly adjusts the speaker output so you can hear your caller’s voice better. The Jawbone’s intelligent system of sensors, software, and ergonomic features allow you to use your mobile phone in any environment without shouting, or even straining to hear. No matter where you are, it will automatically adapt to your surroundings, which in turn results in a clear, and uninterrupted conversation.

The Jawbone’s sound technology was optimized for The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. Department of Defense’s research and development agency, to maximize communications clarity in the most hostile conditions. In other words, it makes communicating in a war-zone, with gun-fire and helicopter noise around you, simple. Its voice activity sensor technology can identify precisely when its user is speaking and separate his or her voice from background noise.

Watch the Jawbone in action..


After using this sleek device for more than a month, we still haven't found any flaws, in both the sound quality and it's design. The 'hidden' buttons on the headset are easy to use, and work like a charm.

The Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth Headset comes in three colours, Black, Silver, and Red and is available in Brunei at the QQeStore, with the absolute lowest price in Brunei guaranteed!* For more information on its price, please click here.