Acer Aspire S13 review: This might just be the best Windows-based Ultrabook in its price range

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By Anirudh Regidi /  23 Aug 2016 , 11:45

The MacBook Air has been the gold standard for ultrabooks almost since its unveiling. At the time it launched, it was the only thin, light and solidly built ultrabook around with decent specifications. Today however, there is a plethora of powerful, gorgeous devices to choose from.

Acer’s Aspire S13 is one such device. It’s slim, light, well-built and more powerful than the Air; it’s also more expensive. It does seem like a great device, but is it worth it?

Build and design: 8/10

First things first. This laptop is thin, very light and looks rather nice. It’s meant to be a business laptop and the muted black finish does help with that image. The entire device seems to be made of metal, though the lid does have a coating of some sort of plastic.

There’s metal under that plastic though, an aspect that we discovered in a rather unfortunate fashion, as you can see below:

Sorry, Acer!

The device is built very well, with one exception. Everything feels solid and unbendable, but the hinges, they feel like cheap plastic. The hinge mechanism itself is made of metal, but the caps are silvery plastic and very flimsy plastic at that.

The plastic pieces around the hinge keep popping open

Another complaint we have with the design of the device is concerning the charger. It’s very compact, smaller even than the MacBook Air’s charger, but the contact point is very flimsy. It doesn’t sit snug in the charging port when plugged in and would have felt at home on a cheaper device.

These are minor niggles in an otherwise great device though. Don’t let those oversights throw you off.

Keyboard and Trackpad: 8.5/10

The keyboard and trackpad are a pleasure to use. They’re comfortable and responsive and the trackpad has just the right amount of friction for my taste.

The keyboard is a compact one and lacks a numpad. There are no shared media keys either, but all other functions such as Wi-Fi toggles, brightness and volume controls, etc. can be adjusted in combination with the Fn key.

The keyboard is backlit

The keys are also very firm in that there’s no wobble when typing. Even if you press a corner, the entire key depresses, which makes for a pleasant typing experience.

The touchpad responds fluidly to gesture inputs and the left-click and right-click buttons are also smooth and responsive. The lack of a touch-screen was a bit of a downer, but overall, I’m very happy with what Acer has done with the keyboard and mouse.

Features: 6/10

The hardware choice for the Acer Aspire is very sensible. You get a 15W Intel Core i7 6500U processor clocked at 2.5GHz (dual-core with HT), 8GB LPDDR3 RAM and a 512GB SSD. The screen resolution is a bit low at 1920×1080, but it’s enough for a 13.3-inch screen and we aren’t complaining.

You get two USB 3.0 ports, one on each side, a USB Type-C 3.1 port and HDMI output. You also get an SD card reader and 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO support, which is to be expected in this day and age.

The fact that all of this is packed into a device that’s as slim and light as the MacBook Air is saying a lot.

The laptop does lose out for its lack of accessories and relatively low-resolution screen – considering we are seeing higher resolution displays from competition.

Display: 7/10

The display on the device is an FHD, 13.3-inch IPS panel. It has a matte finish (Thank you, Acer!) and good brightness levels.

Colours are a bit of an issue, they seem a little muted, and black levels are also not up to the mark. We also found banding to be slight problem. Sharpness was on point however, and so were the refresh rates.

The resolution is a bit odd for a 13.3-inch screen. Without scaling, everything feels a tad too small and to make things feel right, you need to scale to 125 or 150 percent. The problem there is that Windows doesn’t handle scaling very well and sharpness is ruined.

Performance: 6.5/10

In terms of performance, this laptop is right up there alongside the best in its class. Bearing in mind that this device doesn’t come with a graphics card, its CPU performance is actually better than most devices, a step higher up the performance chain.

For comparison, the Acer Aspire S13 scored 44431 in 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme with an i7 6500U, whereas the likes of the Asus G551VW and Dell Inspiron 15 7559, both with the more powerful Intel i7 6700HQ, scored a measly 38,374 and 30,851 respectively. 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme is a CPU intensive test that doesn’t stress the GPU much.

Even without a dedicated GPU, the Aspire S13 managed 48fps in Grid: Autosport at 720p at the medium preset, which is eminently playable. Obviously, light gaming is possible, but that’s not what the laptop is for.

The video conversion time — using Handbrake — was also quite fast at 11 minutes.

Another area where the device shines is in the storage benchmarks. Acer very generously equipped the S13 with a 512GB SSD, which leads to stellar read and write rates of 525 MB/s and 414 MB/s respectively.

This laptop is overkill for the average user, but as long as you’re not gaming, you’ll never be left wanting for performance. In fact, the PCMark score of 2912 is among the highest we’ve seen in this category.

There is one problem in this otherwise perfect performance score and that is overheating. Under heavy load, the CPU temperatures cross the 70 degree Celsius mark and the base heats up to 48 degrees Celsius. This is under heavy load though.

Under normal use, the base gets a little warm, but not uncomfortably so.

Battery Life: 5/10

Battery life was a tolerable 3 hours in our benchmarks, which translated to about 4-6 hours of use. This is not bad for daily use, though we wish there was more on offer.

Verdict and Price in India

I enjoyed every moment I spent with the Aspire S13. It’s lightweight and high-performance made it my go-to option whenever I needed something done quickly (it boots up in seconds). If I bought this laptop for myself, I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.

The price of Rs 84,000 is also not that bad. You’ll only get Intel i5 powered devices in this price range and few will offer a 512GB SSD.

The Acer Aspire S13 is among the best laptops I’ve ever tested and if you’re in the market for a workhorse Ultrabook, it might just be the one for you.

Diwali 2016: Here’s how you go about buying a smartwatch

By Videep Vijay Kumar /  29 Oct 2016 , 13:21

Where does the smartwatch fit in as far as life-invading technology goes? Is it a device meant to complement your smartphone; echoing alerts whilst providing both quick access to information as well as marginally contributing to the inconveniences of a digital life, or a fitness tracking device to help you live one healthier? It’s a fashion statement surely—just look at the fancy watch faces, dials and strap accessories, minimalist UX and design sensibilities that scream “innovative-yet-classic”.

In the end, does one turn merely into a piece of jewellery like your uncle’s Omega Seamaster (presumably seldom used for deep sea diving as “intended”), or a daily workhorse (once again, as intended)? All we know is that the world is buying fewer smartwatches than before, but there are some good options for those of us still looking for one.

Pebble Time Steel

Let’s open with the original smartwatch. Pebble seemed to recognise that battery life was important way before anyone else. Android and Apple smartwatches can barely make it through a day, while Pebble’s e-paper powered devices made it through days of heavy use. The Time Steel will make it through a whole week at least (battery rated at 10 days) without requiring a charge. The Time Steel isn’t a particularly cool looking device, but the E-paper display combined with the battery life, 30m water resistance and all-round solid build quality make it a decent option.

Where to buy: Amazon.in

Price: Rs.11,999 – Rs.13,599

Samsung Gear S2

With the public release of Android Wear 2.0 being pushed to 2017, it appears that Droid fanboys have to make to with the current state of things (as with the latest versions of the smartphone operating systems). The Samsung Gear S2’s rotating bezel, display, and better-than-average battery life are all solid positives. It’s a cut above the rest of the Android smartwatch competition with some slick design and innovative engineering. It certainly helps if you have an accompanying (non-explosive) Samsung smartphone for optimum effect, but other Android phones will do as well (just not as nicely). It’s still a little thin on apps, but that’s a problem with the ecosystem in general and not the Gear 2 itself. Overall, a solid option if you’re looking at Android wrist companion.

Where to buy: Amazon.in

Price: Rs.26,999

Apple Watch Series 2

If you’re the sort who gets angry at people calling Apple’s wrist devices “iWatches”, this is the product for you. Not to be confused with “season 2” or “part deux”, the Apple Watch Series 2’s in-built GPS, optimised operating system, 50m water resistance and stunning display truly set it apart from the rest of the pack. There’s not much improvement in terms of battery life, however, so you’re probably going to have to charge this thing every day after rigorous swimming, gym-ing and other outdoor activities.

Oh, and you can still use it to provide canned responses to messages, read your email and all of that. If you’re not a lazy slob, you’re likely to get more out the Apple Watch Series 2 than the rest of us lazy slobs. It’s pretty clear that the goal with successive iterations of this device is to help everyone lead a healthier life (the Nike+ version is a good example of this), and if used as intended and not a piece of jewellery, that’s exactly what you’re getting.

Where to buy: Amazon.in

Price: Rs.27,500

Moto 360 (2nd Gen)

Why would anybody recommend the Moto 360 at all? Well, because of the lethal combination of classic looks and basic smartwatch functionality—nothing else, really! When it comes to smartphones, outside of Google’s own Nexus (and now Pixel) series of phones, Moto has always delivered the closest experience to what vanilla Android could deliver, free of bloatware and clutter. The Moto 360, similarly, offers the quintessential barebones Android wear experience, albeit in a stylish package.

Keep in mind, however, that the watch’s middling battery life and limited suite of applications are a disadvantage, but there are noticeable improvements over the first generation models, including a better display and improved UX. Just don’t go swimming wearing it on your wrist.

Where to buy: Flipkart.com

Price: Rs.19,999

Huawei Watch

If you’re looking for the best-looking set of Android wear watches, you need not look further than Huawei’s products. They look great, are uber-comfortable, and feature sapphire crystal displays often found only on luxury watches. They’re basically going to do what other Android wear watches are going to do, and as a result, there’s nothing special about the software. But it’s all about the aesthetics with Huawei, and the sheer variety of options on offer. The lack of GPS and average battery life (24 hours on a single charge) are downers, but the IP67 rating means, you can occasionally withstand a test of the elements.

It’s all about the aesthetics, however, and if its looks you’re after, you can’t do much better for a smartwatch than the Huawei Watch.

Where to buy: Amazon.com

Price: Rs.22,500 approx (incl. shipping + duty)

Garmin Vivomove

Simple, minimalistic, neat and utilitarian are some of the words I would use to describe Garmin’s Vivomove. Treading the fine line between smartwatch and fitness tracker, the Vivomove combines both to great effect. What set it apart? The Vivophone runs on a regular coin batter which lasts up to a year, syncs with both iOS and Android, is waterproof and it’s the most modern looking smartwatch of the whole lot thanks to its minimalist design sensibilities.

It can come off as more watch than smartwatch with its activity metres visible on the watch-face (a target activity metre and an idle “warning” metre which fills up red if you sit on your behind a lot). Sync it with a smart device of your choice by simply tapping on the crown.

Downsides include sync issues and lack of advanced features, but for a barebones, stylish smart device, you can’t do much better than the Garmin Vivomove.

Where to buy: Amazon.in

Price: Rs.10,800 – Rs. 19,990

Tesla’s Musk adds solar roofs to his clean energy vision

  29 Oct 2016 , 13:50

By Nichola Groom

Tesla Motors Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk on Friday unveiled new energy products aimed at illustrating the benefits of combining his electric car and battery maker with solar installer SolarCity Corp.

The billionaire entrepreneur showed of solar-powered roof tiles that eliminate the need for traditional panels and a longer-lasting home battery, which Tesla calls the Powerwall, aimed at realizing his vision of selling a fossil fuel free lifestyle to consumers.

“This is sort of the integrated future. An electric car, a Powerwall and a solar roof. The key is it needs to be beautiful, affordable and seamlessly integrated,” Musk said while showcasing the products on homes that once served as the set of the television show “Desperate Housewives.”

Musk is the biggest shareholder in both Tesla and SolarCity, which is run by two of his first cousins. Analysts have been dubious of the deal’s proposed synergies, with some suggesting the merger is a way for Tesla to rescue money-losing SolarCity. A vote on the acquisition is scheduled for Nov. 17.

The rollout of the product, expected as soon as next summer, would be “unwieldy” if the two companies are not combined, Musk told reporters.

Having two separate companies “slows things down, makes them more expensive. It’s worse for shareholders,” he said.

Musk refused to answer a reporter’s question about how Tesla’s balance sheet would accommodate the acquisition of SolarCity.

By incorporating solar modules into rooftops, Tesla is hoping to succeed with a solar technology that to date has had little success. Just this year, Dow Chemical said it would stop selling a solar shingle it

ISRO aims for a World record, to launch 83 satellites on a single rocket

Representational image

  28 Oct 2016 , 19:21

Indian space agency ISRO is aiming for a world record by putting into orbit 83 satellites — two Indian and 81 foreign — on a single rocket in early 2017, a top official of Antrix Corporation said.

He said the company’s order book stands at Rs 500 crore while negotiations are on for launch order for another Rs 500 crore.

“During the first quarter of 2017 we plan to launch a single rocket carrying 83 satellites. Most foreign satellites are nano satellites,” Rakesh Sasibhushan, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Antrix Corporation said.

Antrix Corporation is the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

He said all the 83 satellites will be put in a single orbit and hence there will not be any switching off and on of the rocket.

The major challenge for the proposed mission is to hold the rocket in the same orbit till all the satellites are ejected.

He said ISRO will use its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle XL (PSLV-XL) rocket variant for the record launch.

For ISRO, launch of multiple satellites at one go is not a new thing as it has done it several times in the past.

According to Sasibhushan, the total payload/weight carried off into space by the PSLV-XL rocket will be around 1,600 kg.

Citing non-disclosure agreements, Sasibhushan declined to

Baidu expects further revenue drops during the fourth quarter

Image: Reuters

  28 Oct 2016 , 19:05

Chinese internet search giant Baidu Inc warned investors fourth-quarter revenue will slide, hitting shares, as a government crackdown on healthcare advertising that tipped the firm into its first-ever quarterly sales drop bites even harder.

Baidu said revenue could slip as much as 4.6 percent in the October-December period, following the 0.7 percent third-quarter drop it reported on Thursday. Though the latter was better than analysts had estimated, the warning was enough to send shares down as much 4 percent extended New York trading.

Though net profit remained robust last quarter, the revenue slowdown comes as China’s biggest search engine, with a market value of about $60 billion, rides out a public and regulatory backlash. Earlier this year it was at the center of a national media outcry when a student with a fatal cancer blamed Baidu ads for directing him to suspect, ultimately ineffectual treatment.

Regulators responded by slapping curbs on the firm’s lucrative healthcare advertising business.

Chief Executive Robin Li said on an earnings call Baidu is unlikely to regain ground lost in the current “challenging” period until early next year. Baidu estimated fourth-quarter revenue will be 17.84-18.38 billion yuan ($2.63-2.71 billion) – 4.6 percent to 1.7 percent below the same period a year earlier.

“Q4 is what we consider to be the bottom,” said Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Li. “We will see a more pronounced impact over the next quarter.”

Reflecting the new regulations, Baidu said the number of advertising customer dropped 16 percent in the third quarter.

Jennifer Li said the pool of advertisers available to Baidu’s core business was still large, but conceded the new regulations would have a lasting impact. “Because of this really strict control…some of the customers will not be able to do business with us,” she said.

For the three months ended September, Baidu revenue fell to 18.25 billion yuan. The drop was slightly smaller than the 1 percent fall estimated by a Thomson Reuters survey of 15 analysts, while net profit rose 9 percent to 3.10 billion yuan.

Having flagged earlier this year that the new rules would affect revenue, Baidu said this month it would establish a $3 billion investment fund focused on mid- and late-stage deals in the internet sector in a search for new business lines with growth potential.

Baidu has also placed long-term bets on fields like artificial intelligence and even automated driving, but these projects are still far from profitability.

During the conference call, Robin Li reiterated the company’s commitment to research and development projects, saying that the company is on track to start small-scale production of a Baidu autonomous vehicle by 2018.

Silicon Valley could gain key data privacy ally in next month’s Senate election

  28 Oct 2016 , 17:38

Next month’s Senate election in Wisconsin could gain Silicon Valley a key ally in Washington in the high-tech industry’s battle against the U.S. government’s growing appetite for more access to private data. Democrat Russ Feingold, 63, the only lawmaker to vote against the USA Patriot Act in 2001, leads incumbent Republican Senator Ron Johnson in the state in opinion polls ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

Johnson, 61, rode a wave of support from conservative Tea Party activists to victory six years ago, sweeping Feingold out of office. But polls this year have consistently shown Feingold ahead, although recent surveys show a tighter race.

Privacy advocates and former Feingold staffers said they expected Feingold, if returned to office, to be sympathetic to the privacy concerns of technology companies and civil liberties groups on issues such as encryption and domestic spying, at a time when many lawmakers are being pressured to confront security threats from Islamic State and other militant groups.

The Feingold campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp and other tech giants have tussled in recent years with government agencies over how much user data the companies should be forced to retain and share with investigators hunting for criminal suspects or national security threats.

Those tensions grew after former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked secrets about U.S. surveillance practices in 2013. They reached a crescendo earlier this year when the FBI tried to force Apple to unlock an iPhone tied to one of the shooters in a San Bernardino, California, attack that killed 14 people.

Chief among the goals of many companies and privacy advocates is reforming a foreign intelligence authority used to justify once-secret broad internet surveillance programs exposed by Snowden that will expire in December 2017 unless Congress reauthorizes them.

Should Feingold return to Capitol Hill, former staffers said he would probably seek a seat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, where he would have privileged access to classified information about government spying.

Feingold’s campaign has received far more contributions than Johnson’s from donors employed by tech companies including Alphabet Inc’s Google and

LG U smartphone with octa-core processor and 13MP camera announced

By tech2 News Staff /  28 Oct 2016 , 17:06

LG has quietly taken the wraps off the all-new LG U. Interestingly, the highlight seems to be the design and specs that are almost similar to the LG Nexus 5X. Priced at KRW 396,000 that translates to approximately Rs 23,000, it is believed to be South Korea exclusive, so far.

Moreover, it will come on its own mobile operator partner called LG Uplus. There is no word on its release in other countries yet, but there is no denying that the 5X was a fairly successful device. The LG U  measures 147.6 x 73.2 x 7.7mm and weighs 135 grams. It will be made available in three colour options – Black, White and Pink.

Coming to the specifications, it seems just like the LG 5X. It has clearly taken design cues from the 5X. On the display front, it sports a 5.2-inch full HD (1080×1920) screen. It runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and unlike the Nexus 5X, gets an octa-core 1.14GHz processor under the hood coupled with 2GB of RAM. However, the exact chipset is not mentioned.

On the camera front, it comes with a 13-megapixel rear snapper, and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. It gets 32GB onboard storage that is exandable up to 2TB. The connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB port. A 3000mAh battery completes the package.