Top 5 UltraBooks

We are now duly listening about ultra books now and then so what is an Ultra book? An Ultra book may be defined as an high end type of  a laptop specifically defined by Intel Ultrabooks are mainly designed to feature reduced size and weight without compromising performance and battery life. They use low power Intel processors with integrated graphics and uni body chassis to fit larger batteries into smaller cases.

We know that Intel released a $300 million fund to facilitate the development of a new line of notebooks that would shake up the Mac Book Air’s seemingly unbeatable popularity among connoisseurs of slim and exceedinglyportable laptops

So ultra books are being a steady competition to Apple's mac books.an accordance to these events lets have a round up of top 5 Ultra books in the market.

1. Asus Zenbook UX31

The Asus Zenbook UX31 is know to be one of the first ultra books in the market –it has given a birth seed that would ultimately determine the direction of the ultrabook’s development. it has a 13.3 inch display and sleek aluminum finish. The specs are also quite impressive; the Intel Core i7 processor can handle multi-computing tasks remarkably well, but the lack of a dedicated graphics card can be a setback for those who want have heavy 3D gaming. But still, at the MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price) of $899.99, the Asus Zenbook UX31 is a great deal.

Technical Specifications

Processor	Intel® Core™ i7 2677M Processor
Chipset	Intel® QS67 Express Chipset
Memory	DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, OnBoard Memory
Display	13.3" 16:9 HD+ (1600x900) LED Backlight
Graphics	Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Storage	SATA3 256GB SSD
Battery	50 Whrs Polymer Battery
Weight	1.3 kg
Price	$899

2. Dell XPS 13

Dell has given rebirth to the ultra book by its innovative and mac book killing design. The lid has a slightly glossy finish to it, and is, thankfully, fingerprint-resistant. The solid carbon fiber bottom has a special metal flap that covers unsightly product stickers. The keyboard has a nice travel and is conveniently backlit, which is extremely helpful for people who like to type in low light conditions. The 1.6 Ghz Intel processor, paired with a 128GB SSD memory drive, offers a phenomenal computing experience. The Dell XPS 13 has a budget-friendly price of $999.

Technical Specifications

Processor	2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7-2637M processor
Chipset	Intel® QS67
Memory	4GB Dual Channel DDR3 1333MHz Memory
Display	Elemental Silver Aluminum and 13.3" Hi-Def (720p) True Life(1366x768) WLED Display
Graphics	Intel® HD Graphics 3000
Storage	Up to 256GB Solid State hard drive
Battery	47WHr battery; 6-Cell Li-Polymer
Weight	1.36 kg
Price	$999

 

3. HP Folio 13

The HP Folio 13′s price currently ranges around $900, which could go significantly lower if purchased with an HP coupon code. Released a little late behind competitors such as Acer and Asus (who were the first companies to release ultrabooks), the Folio 13 was HP’s first foray into the Intel-powered, ultra-thin notebook market. It has the standard ultrabook specs, such as a 128GB SSD memory drive, and an Intel Core i5 processor. Its viewing angles can be quite dodgy, but its long battery life will surely attract lots of consumers. 

Technical Specifications

Processor	2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Mobile Processor
Chipset	Mobile Intel® HM65 Express Chipset
Memory	DDR3 SDRAM, 1333 MHz (1600 MHz downgrade to 1333 MHz), One slot supporting up to 4 GB
Display	13.3-inch diagonal LED-backlit HD2 (1366 x 768) BrightView
Graphics	Intel® HD2 Graphics 3000
Storage	128 GB mSATA SSD
Battery	6-cell (59WHr) Li-Ion battery, HP 65-watt non-smart AC adapter
Weight	1.50 kg
Price	$900

 

4. Acer Aspire S3

This Ultra book is known to be the cheapest of all known ultra books, it has an Intel Core i5 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM. But at a selling price of $699.99, Acer can be expected to compromise a few features here and there. Unlike most ultrabooks that depend solely on SSD for memory, the Aspire S3 comes equipped with a hybrid drive that features 320 GB of standard HDD memory and only 20 GB of SSD.

Technical Specifications

Processor	Core i5-2467M
Chipset	UM67 Express
Memory	4GB DDR3 SDRAM DDR3-1333/PC3-10666
Display	13.3" active matrix TFT
Graphics	Intel HD 3000
Storage	320 GB serial AT
Battery	3-cell Li PO
Weight	1.35 kg
Price	$699

5. HP Envy 14 Spectre

This ultra book from HP is tender sleek and ultra thin elegant device. Though it is quite heavier than most ultrabooks (due to its 14 inch display versus the standard 13.3 inch), it is still a great buy at $1300. The Envy 14 Spectre boasts the most brilliant and color-accurate display among its competitors. And it is also one of the sturdiest; the Envy 14 Spectre comes covered with Gorilla Glass which will surely protect the device for a long time.

Technical Specifications

Processor	Intel® Core™ i5 and i7 ULV Processors
Chipset
Memory	4GB or 8GB of DDR3
Display	13" diagonal HD BrightView LED backlit display
Graphics	Intel HD 3000
Storage	128GB mSATA solid-state drive for lightning-fast performance
Battery	Long lasting upto 9 hrs
Weight	1.8 kg
Price	$1300

All Shortcut keys for Windows 8

Windows 8 consumer preview has been launched few months back and now Microsoft has conformed the release date of official Windows 8 on 26 th October 2012. Here are the list of shortcut keys for Windows 8 which helps you to do things faster and in convenient  way on the all new Windows 8 operating system

WINDOWS 8 shortcut keys

•   Win + Page Up - Move Start screen to left monitor
•   Win + Page Down  - Move Start screen to right monitor
•   Win + Enter  - Launch Narrator
•   Win + Space - Switch input language and keyboard layout
•   Wind + Shift + V - Cycle through toasts in reverse order
•   Win + C  - opens Windows 8 Charms menu where you can search, share, and change
•   Win + D - opens and brings up the old Windows desktop
•   Win + G - Cycle through Windows 8 desktop gadgets
•   Win + H -  Share Charm
•   Win + I - Settings Charm
•   Win + J - Switch focus between snapped and larger apps
•   Win + K – Devices charm
•   Win + L – Switch users
•   Win + O – Lock screen orientation
•   Win + P – Windows 8 Projection options
•   Win + Q – Opens Windows 8 Metro App Search screen
•   Win + V - Cycle through toasts
•   Win + W - Opens the Windows 8 settings search app
•   Win + X – Quick link power user commands
•   Win + Z – Opens the App Bar for the current Metro application

Nokia GEM Phone Concept Transforms Its Entire Body Into a Touchscreen

Nokia has released an innovative and futuristic phone concept called Nokia GEM phone. If you feel the display on the phone isn’t big enough, how bout turning the entire handset into a touchscreen? This is what Nokia GEM phone concept offers you. This futuristic phone was launched as part of the celebration of Nokia Research Center 25th anniversary. You can see that GEM has the ability to change its appearance from camera to phone based on the functionality selected by its user. In fact, this phone can display advertising messages on its back.

User could have the same image at different zoom levels, such as when you read a map, it’s possible for you to zoom and pinch the map from the rear of the phone while keeping the view of a large scale area on the front. Smart idea huh?

Jarkko Saunamäki, a senior design manager who led the team that invented GEM, explained that using this future mobile phone, user can launch any application and turn the mobile phone just like its active app. For example when you launch a camera app, Nokia GEM phone concept will automatically transform its body to look like a camera. The video animation from Nokia demonstrates how user can take a photo and transform the result to wrap around the whole device. There’s no need to buy phone casing every month, when you get bored with the old theme, you could just take a cool wallpaper photo and replace the exterior appearance of your Nokia GEM phone.

In this video, you’ll be able to see how virtual buttons and logos are located at both sides of the phone where you can easily browse them. This concept also becomes one of Red Dot Award winning concepts 2011. So, what do you think guys? Do you think Nokia GEM phone concept can beat iPhone?

7 Essential Tips for Picking a Student Laptop

If I had been drinking something at the time, I would have spit it all over my screen. That's because I was reading a laptop buying guide that was so superficial, so full of errors, half-truths and oversimplifications, that I couldn't believe my eyes. I won't name any names (cough, The New York Times), but this was my favorite gem: "Most flash drives still exceed 300 gigabytes, which is enough for most people." Um, actually most SSDs start at 128GB.

Here's another: "Battery life specs mean little. Have a power cord with you." Oh, and the processor doesn't matter at all.

If I were a parent reading a guide like that heading into the back-to-school season, I would have just thrown up my hands and did some eerie eeny-meeny-miny-mo at Best Buy. But you don't have to. Just follow my simple buying tips.

1. Choose The Right Size

Although 15-inch laptops tend to be the cheapest, 13- and 14-inch models are better for students on the go because they usually weigh under 5 pounds, making them much easier to transport to and from class. If you're shopping for a high school student who will be using the system mostly at home, a 15-incher will be fine, but even then they'll probably want to easily move it from room to room.

A smaller 11-inch laptop will often do the trick, but it's not as practical back at the dorm, where your student would probably want to plug it into a bigger monitor.

2. Pay for Premium Design

One feature back-to-school shoppers tend to overlook is the look and feel of the laptop and materials used. After all, your student will want to be seen around campus carrying something that's sleek instead of clunky. At the same time, the notebook should feel like it's built to last. When possible, opt for a design that at least has a metal lid, which will help protect the display and resist wear and tear during those years away at school.

The HP Sleekbook ($599), for instance, has a brushed aluminum finish on the lid and around the keyboard, and a soft-touch finish on the bottom that's easy to grip. Another tip: if you press down on the lid or keyboard and you see a lot of flex, keep on looking.

3. Get Specs for the Long Haul

Despite what you may have heard, the CPU can make a big difference. For instance, Intel's latest third-generation Core processor (also called Ivy Bridge) offers up to twice the 3D graphics performance, which means the difference between being able to play "World of Warcraft" at a smooth frame rate and watching it stutter on the screen.

If you're looking to save money, though, a second-generation Core processor wi ll do the trick. Stay away from Pentium CPUs, though, as they're just not fast enough for the long haul.

As for memory, 4GB is sufficient, but if you can find a notebook for the same price with 6 or 8GB of RAM, get it.

A notebook’s storage drive has almost as much impact on its performance as its CPU. While more expensive and lower in capacity than hard drives, Solid State Drives (SSDs) dramatically improve the performance of the entire system so consider a system that has one.

If you’re buying a laptop with a traditional hard drive, go for one that operates at the faster 7,200 rpm speed and, when possible, opt for a minimum of 500GB, though you can get away with 320GB.

4. Consider an Ultrabook

Intel and its partners are going right after students with a new class of laptop called Ultrabooks, which sport thin profiles and wake from sleep almost as soon Junior flips the lid. They also offer at least 5 hours of battery life.

These notebooks tend to be more expensive, but there are a few value-priced models that parents and students should consider, such as the 14-inch Dell Inspiron 14z (4.2 pounds, $699) and Toshiba Satellite U845 (3.9 pounds, $749).

Lower-cost Ultrabooks combine a solid state drive with a traditional hard drive, which is fine for students, but more premium notebooks, like the 13-inch MacBook Air and ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A, opt for all-flash memory. Your student will be trading blazing-fast performance for a smaller 128GB of storage, in which case the cloud will have to be their friend.

5. Go for at Least 5.5 Hours of Battery Life

Saying that battery life specs mean little and that you should just bring the power cord is a cop-out. It's not always easy for students to plug in when they're going to class or finishing up a paper in the campus coffee shop. So get them a notebook that lasts at least 5 hours and 30 minutes on a charge. How can you tell? Our reviews include results from our homegrown battery test, which involves continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi.
While it's too pricey for some, the 13-inch MacBook Air blew us away with its 8 plus hours of endurance in our tests (continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi). Another long-distance runner that’s a good choice for students is the Sony VAIO S Series 13 ($899), which not only lasts more than 6 hours in our test but features an optional battery slice that doubles the endurance.

6. Pick a Good Keyboard and Touchpad

Your student will be doing lots of typing, from writing reports to Facebook updates, so they should try it out to make sure there’s enough travel and springy feedback instead of a cramped or mushy keyboard. And don't ignore the touchpad, which is just as important. Make sure navigating the desktop is smooth instead of jerky and that multi-touch gestures like pinch to zoom and two-finger scroll are responsive. If the buttons are integrated into the pad, make sure they’re easy to press and not too stiff.

7. Consider Both Macs and Windows PCs.

Doing more of our computing online has indeed made choosing an OS less important, but there are still fundamental differences in the overall user experience. For example, some may like the fact that Apple’s OS X Lion offers an iPad-like Launchpad to see your apps, while some will prefer the way Windows 7 lets you multitask. Generally speaking, Macs are more secure and are typically better designed machines, while Windows’ systems tend to be cheaper and offer a wider array of programs (especially games).

The differences between Windows and Mac will become even more pronounced this fall with the introduction of Windows 8 and Mountain Lion. Windows 8 has an entirely new interface that, while dynamic, involves a learning curve. Meanwhile, Mountain Lion will bring more iOS features to the Mac while keeping the overall look and feel the same.

10 Most Expensive Mobile Phones in the World

Technology.am — Nowadays, mobiles are not only essential thing but also an important status symbol. Manufacturers feel the public pulse and are making handsets that cost many thousand dollars.
To know more about the world’s most expensive mobile phones, read on.

1. Goldvish “Le million”:

Goldvish Le million is the most expensive mobile phone in the world and is a masterpiece, basically in addition to the ILLUSION collection, according the Guiness Books of Records. Its cost is $1,000,000.
Geneva-based Goldvish phone is made out of 18-carat white gold and features 1,800 diamonds totaling 120 carats, according to designer Emmanuel Gueit.

There were only 100 of these phones made and is only available on special request. These Goldvish Le million handsets are of the highest levels of Swiss craftsmanship and precision.

If you want less costly mobile phone than Goldvish Le million, then Goldvish also offers several other diamond-encrusted 18k gold models in your choice of rose, yellow, or white, starting at a much more reasonable $25,600.


2. Vertu Signature Cobra:

This phone is so exclusive that only eight will ever be made. Its cost is $310,000.

Vertu is now taking orders for the Signature Cobra, designed by French jeweler Boucheron.

The Cobra will feature one pear-cut diamond, one round white diamond, two emerald eyes and 439 rubies.
For buyers who are only filthy rich, rather than obscenely rich, twenty-six of the less flashy Signature Python phones will be available for a mere $115,000.

3. Sony Ericsson Black Diamond:

Singapore-based industrial designer Jaren Goh has presented this rendering of an ultra stylish high-end Sony Ericsson, dubbed Black Diamond.

The designer has used some pretty impressive materials for the build, featuring titane with polycarbonate, mirror-finish cladding and diamonds.

The OLED technology underneath the polycarbonate skin that covers the phones entire face gives the 4 megapixel screen a borderless look. The mirror finish gives the phone a sleek, futuristic look.

Now for the scary part this will only be available in 5 Unique numbered pieces in Limited Edition for the astronomical sum of $300,000.

4. Vertu Diamond:

The Diamond is Vertu’s premium range of high-end mobile phones. As the name suggests the handsets in the Diamond range are diamond-encrusted handsets made from platinum.

This Vertu Diamond Cellphone comes in four 18-carat white or yellow gold models, and one made of platinum. They are embedded with Pave diamonds and are only made to order.

Only 200 of the handsets are being produced, the most expensive believed to be worth an estimated $88,000.

5. GResso luxury phone with Black Diamonds:

Luxury cellphone maker Gresso keeps churning out more and more expensive handsets. With their first models they were content with African Blackwood and some golden plating on the back. Then came Gresso Avantgarde Sol collection, with the keypad keys made from gold.

Now they planned to replace golden keys with diamonds. And no ordinary diamonds, but extremely rare and expensive black diamonds to boot.

For just a $12,663 you get your African Blackwood phone with golden keypad and four navigation keys replaced wit black diamonds.

But in addition if you want to be a real show-off, you should opt for Gresso Avantgarde Royal Black Diamonds edition.

In this phone all your keypad keys will be made from black diamonds of 2.53K. And, because these gems are rare enough, only 50 pieces of this Royal handset will be made ever. Its cost is around $42, 213.

6. Motorola V220 Special Edition:

This Motorola phone has been customized by Austrian designer Peter Aloisson, who took a standard phone, encrusted it with 1200 diamonds and gave it an 18k gold keyboard.

The Motorola V220 Special Edition costs around $51,800 which is basically for football stars and film stars.

7. Gold Edition Nokia 8800 Phone:

Nokia enjoy making over their N8800 cell phone.

The GOLD edition of Nokia 8800 comes with a $2,700 price tag. Its Gold Edition includes a special edition box and charging dock.

It includes a 0.5 Mega pixel SVGA camera and a 2, 62,000 colors, TFT (208 x 208) display.

Connectivity options include EDGE, Bluetooth, Infrared, Java, MMS, SMS, USB, WAP and it has 64 MB of internal memory.

Some other features found on the phone which now may now look standard include, 64 polyphonic, FM Radio, Mp3 Player, Video Recording and 180 mins talk time.

8. Mobiado Professional EM (wood):

Have you ever thought of wood to be the basic element to epitomize your affluence? Well, think now as the mobiado professional EM has been launched to redefine your classiness with the elegance and grace of wood.

Made from ebony wood, hard-anodized aluminum and titanium, Nokia driven Mobiado Professional EM handsets are individually unique due to the variations in wood patterning per instrument.

It features a 1.3 megapixel camera, music player, FM radio, Bluetooth, and according to Mobiado it’s the first production phone with Titanium buttons.

Only 200 are being made and each one has its limited number engraved on the back and it is available at $1,900.

9. Bang & Olufsen (Samsung) Serene:

A joint venture of Bang & Olufsen and Samsung has crafted this Samsung serene as one of the elegant choice of the era to show off the “affluence”.

The Bang and Olufsen Serene has several novel features. It has a built-in motor to assist you in opening and closing the phone.

A side camera and a circular keyboard make this phone quite a nice piece to just even look at. You can use the phone either way up as the handset can invert the screen display.

The B&O cleverly stops the screen from getting greasy when you talk on the phone.

There’s a toblerone-shaped docking station/charger, so that the Serene can be used on a desk.

The B&O Serene weighs 110 grams and measures 65x70x24mm when closed. Talktime is 3 hours with 10 days standby time.

The Serene is currently available for a cost of $1,275.

10. Lamborghini 8800 Sirocco from Nokia:

Nokia and Lamborghini have created a limited edition Nokia 8800 Sirocco phone.

The Lamborghini Nokia 8800 Sirocco is another special edition, like the previously launch Aston Martin branded Sirocco.

The phone features special Lamborghini themes and ring tones as well as a video documentary.

The legendary Lamborghini logo impressed at the front and at the back of the handset makes it an ideal logo of “highlife”.

It has a unique slider mechanism because of the Lamborghini manufactured ball bearings. It will also feature Lamborghini graphics as wallpapers, screensavers, ringtones, and even has a short documentary video about the Lamborghini.

Only 500 of the phones will be made and will only be available from Lamborghini dealerships but if you badly need a 8800 Sirocco limited edition phone, check out the Diamond Edition.

Ten Unusual Shapes For Mobile Phones

The form factor of your cellphone is quite a defining factor on whether you approve of it or not. The grip, the interface and accessibility, all depend on this. Here is a re-cap of the Ten Most Unusual Shapes For Mobile Phones.


10) Nokia 888 Mobile Phone by Tamer Nakisci

A wiggly worm or a bracelet, you choose its form!

9) Tarati – Touchless Cellphone by Nonobject

No keys on this phone, just poke your stubby fingers through the holes to dial the numbers, fat fingers…watchout!

8 ) The Brix by Seokwon Hong

Long before someone thought of the tablets, designer Seokwon Hong gave us a taste of prime screen space with this concept. It just whetted our appetite for more, only difference is that we don’t need multiple faces to seamlessly connect, just a single iPhone-esque piece will do.

7) Soft Mobile Phone Concept by Roman Kriheli

Reminds me of a puffer fish more than anything else! It just bloats up!

6) Dial Phone by Jung Dae Hoon

Jewelry, retro , projector mish-mash!

5) Mobile Script Phone by Aleksandr Mukomelov

Like a script that opens up to unveil the secrets, the OLED screen unfurls and becomes your playground.

4) “_______” by Marc Schömann

This phone was probably heavily influenced by Dan Brown!

3) Soft Phone by Qian Jiang

Cotton Candy of a phone; It’s a series of discs with electronic fabric stretched in between! Unique in shape and materials.

2) Wearable Mobile Phone by Sunman Kwon

How many times have you used your fingers to dial a number, now how about using them for a keypad?

1) Moto Concept by Joseph Liang

This has to be the cutest looking phone EVER! A total DOLL!

Sony Xperia 'Mint' leaked and reviewed: 4.3-inch (?) HD screen, 13MP camera, 1.5GHz S4 processor

While we've been fussing over the Xperia GX (aka the LT29i), it seems Sony's been working on something one integer higher. Mobile-review has published a run-down of a device it claims is called the LT30p -- aka the Mint we first heard of back in January -- which also appears to possess many of the specs we'd want from a high-end phone. The front side hosts a 1280 x 720 4.3-inch LCD, while the rear boasts the same 13-megapixel camera as the GX, and there's a microSD slot on the side too. Internally, Mobile-review says ICS is running off a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, which all sounds healthy enough -- but since the build quality looks a bit suspect and we don't know for sure that this is a final production handset, we'll wait for IFA fever to paint a fuller picture.

Update: Although Mobile-review says it has a 4.3-inch screen, a side-by-side photo with the GS III after the break suggests the Mint's panel may be slightly larger than that.