iPhone 3G accessories

Its been two weeks now since the iPhone 3g launch and there has been a avalanche of iPhone 3G related accessories in the market. Most of the iPhone accessories are still compatible with the new iPhone 3G.

Here we have listed the seven best iPhone 3G accessories that are a must have for all iPhone 3G lovers:

1. Apple Universal Dock

The Apple Universal Dock is the most basic accessory for the iPhone 3G. It offers easy access to a USB port for charging and syncing your iPod or iPhone or for connecting to a TV or speakers. It comes with changeable inserts called dock adapters which enable you to use any other Apple device like iPods with the dock. When your iPod or iPhone is in the Dock and connected to a stereo or TV, the included Apple Remote lets you just lay back and just choose a playlist, slideshow, or video and enjoy. The Apple Remote offers play/pause, volume control, and forward/back buttons for easy control.

You can also connect the Dock to a stereo or speakers using a stereo audio cable to play music from iPod or iPhone and also display photos or video on a TV or other video device using a Component AV Cable or Composite AV Cable to play videos from your iPhone 3G / iPod.

The Dock is available for just $49.00. You can check out some details and buy it here : Apple Universal Dock

2. Plantronics Discovery 925 Headset

The Plantronics Discovery 925 is the coolest Bluetooth headset in town. It features a very sleek and clean design which is perfectly in harmony with your iPhone 3G. It is extremely light and is available in 12 colors. It has a good battery life, about 5 hours and great sound quality.

Its longer VFrame design include a powerful antenna and an extended microphone that picks up sound accurately. It has the AudioIQ technology which automatically cancels out background noise. Its minimal but aesthetic design has only two buttons using which you can adjust volume, pair it with other devices and perform other functions. It also offers Multi Point technology using which you can pair it with multiple devices. It has an effective range of about 30 feet which is quite decent.

It comes with a black leather charging case which is an easy way to store, charge and protect the headset. It provides an extra 5 hours of charge to the Discovery 925.

It is priced at $149.95. Check out the following link for more details : Plantronics Discovery 925

3. Altec Lancing T612 Speakers

The T612 digital speaker system from Altec Lancing was originally intended for the older iPhone. But it is fully compatible with the iPhone 3G as well. In addition to its striking good looks, the T612 delivers delightfully clear sound with satisfyingly deep bass. And if you get a call while listening, the music pauses automatically. Then once you’ve completed your conversation and re-docked the iPhone, the music resumes playing exactly where it left off.

To ensure superior sound quality, the T612 includes internal GSM shielding to keep its speakers from picking up potential intermittent noises emitted by iPhone or other mobile devices. It also provides powerful neodymium speakers and XdB bass-enhancement technology.

The T612 comes equipped with a wireless remote for maximum convenience and control. It offers power on/off, volume up/down, track back/forward, play/pause, and separate bass and treble controls.

All in all, its the perfect little speaker system for your iPhone 3G and is available for $199.95.
You can check it out here : Altec Lancing T612

4. Etymotic HF2

The Etymotic HF2 is the perfect companion for all the geeky audiophiles who own an iPhone 3G. It is compatible with both the iPhone and the iPhone 3G as well as the entire range of iPods and other PMPs with 3.5 mm jacks. These are the best in canal earphones money can buy. They provide you with the most accurate and flat audio reproduction in earphones. It has an excellent frequency response and is the ideal stereo headset. The bass is nice and perfectly balanced. The ear buds do look a bit weird but are the best when it comes to audio quality. It comes with an inbuilt mic so that you can answer calls just as easily.

It is available for $179 which may seem a bit steep, but they are worth every cent. You can check out more details and specifications at this link : Etymotic HF2

5. iSkin Revo - Black

The iSkin Revo is like a protective second skin for your iPhone 3G. It is made of the finest grade silicone and polycarbonate and covers all surfaces, ports, and controls of your iPhone 3G. It also offers some shock resistance. It includes “privacy” skins to cover your iPhone 3G display when viewed form certain angles thus protecting it from prying eyes. When viewed normally, it gives ou a clear display.

The display allows full touch sensitivity. iSkin revo also includes the ViSOR, a durable scratch-resistant polycarbonate cover to further protect your iPhone screen. It easily snaps to the front of the revo case when the screen isn’t in use. And when you want to tap commands or operate the phone, it snaps to the back.

It goes for $39.95. Details here : iSkin Revo - Black

6. Kensington Mini Battery Pack

The Kensington Mini Battery Pack is a mini charger for your iPhone 3G. It keeps your iPhone juiced up while on the move. It is quite small and convenient to use. it is compatible with all iPods and iPhones. It also has an LED Power meter which keeps track of the amount of charge left. It is powered by a small yet powerful Li-ion Polymer battery pack.

It is available for $49.99. Check out the details here : Kensington Mini Battery Pack

7. Apple USB Power adapter

And last but not the least, we bring you the Apple USB Power adapter. It is very compact and handy and can be used to charge your iPhone / iPhone 3G and any iPod when you are not near a computer. Just plug it to any power outlet and you are ready to roll. It is very simple but very useful.

It is priced at $29.00. Check it out here : Apple USB Power Adapter

Apple iPhone

The Apple iPhone App Store has become very popular and has crossed about 10 million downloads already in the first 3 days. The App Store has about 800 apps at the time of writing this article. The best thing about the App Store is that most of the cool Apps and Games are either free or priced low.

Here we present a list of the best free iPhone 3G Apps.

1. Google Mobile :

Google Mobile gives you a single text box to search the web and your contacts on the iPhone. As soon as you start typing, it automatically starts searching Google and gives search suggestions. Google Mobile saves the searches in memory to provide you a better searching experience over time. It also has the My Location feature to detect your current location on a map. You can also access other Google services using Google Mobile. Google Mobile is very fast and intuitive.

2. Twitterific :

Twitterific is a must have for all the Twitter junkies out there. It enables you to read and publish Tweets while on the go. It has a very simple and clean interface which makes Tweeting a joy.

3. Remote :

Remote converts your iPhone into a wireless remote control to control your music on your Mac (iTunes) or Apple TV via a wifi network. You can search / play / pause / skip tracks from your iPhone. It is the perfect application for all the lazy bums out there.

4. eBay Mobile :

You can use eBay mobile to login to your eBay account, to search for items, to track items, to participate in auctions, and buy / sell items from eBay. You no longer need a computer to trade on eBay, the iPhone can do it for you.

5. Shazam :

Shazam is pretty much like the TrackID feature of Sony Ericsson. You can listen to any song, identify it via Shazam, and purchase it online. Additionally you can save your tag history, share it with friends, see related videos on YouTube and link Photos and Images with your tags.

6. Facebook :

Facebook allows you to login to your Facebook account through a simple interface, instead of through the website which might be a bit heavy for the Safari browser. You can check your messages, chat with friends on Facebook and check updates.

7. AIM :

AIM is a free App allowing you to chat away using your AOL Instant messenger ID on the iPhone 3G. You can set different statuses, group your contacts, mark them as favorites and much more.

8. NetNewsWire :

NetNewsWire is an RSS reader for the iPhone. You can sync your feeds with NetNewsWire on your Mac. It features a nice and polished interface to keep in touch with the latest news and other feeds.

9. Loopt :

Loopt turns your iPhone into a social compass. Find out where your friends are and what they are doing. You can share your information with Facebook if you wish. You can also share photos and tips on cool places. You can alter your privacy settings if you dont want to be tracked.

10. Evernote :

Evernote is a cool little application to create notes on the iPhone, sort them accordingly and find them easily later. You can capture notes, web pages, images etc and tag them. It syncs with EverNote on your Mac or PC.

11. MySpace Mobile :

A sweet App to access your MySpace account from your iPhone. It provides you all the options you would expect in a MySpace account. More ever, it is fast and light.

12. PhoneSaber :

PhoneSaber is not exactly an application, but it is still loads of fun. It converts your iPhone into a virtual lightsaber. You can change the color of your lightsaber and listen to cool lightsaber sound effects. Get ready to kick some bad ass using your iPhone.

Note : To download the Apps through the App Store, you can use the App Store icon on your iPhone 3G to browse through the various Apps and Games available and download them to your phone. You can also login to the App Store using your iTunes account and then sync the Apps or Games to your iPhone.

HP Pavilion dv5 (dv5z)

The newest 15-inch notebook from HP arrives just in time to make a big impact for back-to-school shoppers in 2008. The HP Pavilion dv5 features the latest AMD dual-core processors, cutting edge graphics that slaughter the competition, and a price that's so competitive you'll have a hard time coming up with reasons not to buy this notebook. Take a look at our full review and find out what makes this notebook so impressive.

HP Pavilion dv5 (dv5z) has the following specifications:

• Processor: 2.1GHz AMD Turion X2 Ultra dual-core processor ZM-80
• Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3200
• Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium with SP 1 (64-bit)
• Screen: 15.4" WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
• Memory: 2GB (up to 4GB configurable)
• Storage: 160GB SATA HDD (5400rpm)
• Optical Drive: SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
• Wireless and Communications: 802.11b/g WLAN
• Battery: 6-cell Li-Ion (10.8V, 47Wh)
• Dimensions: 14.05" (W) x 10.2" (D) x 1.37" (min H)/1.65" (max H)
• Weight: 5.84lbs
• Warranty: 1-year

Build and Design

The dv5z has a new and improved design, replacing the long-lasting and much-loved dv6000 series chassis design. The display cover has the durable plastic Imprint finish, which holds up quite well to minor abrasion without scratching. The body of the notebook is smooth with rounded edges, making it extremely comfortable in your hand while carrying it around. The screen also sports a latchless design, making it easy to open the notebook with one hand. Although the lid lacks any latch to keep it held shut, the hinges feel fairly strong, keeping the lid secure. Pressing firmly onto the back of the screen cover will produce some ripples on the screen ... but you must apply significant pressure to cause this.

The plastic chassis is quite rigid and suffers from no flex or creaks even when twisted between my hands. Although I don't recommend tossing your notebook down a staircase, the dv5z should survive years of daily travel in a backpack or the occasional drop off a desk.

Our dv5z features the "Mesh" Imprint Finish which looks the name implies: a fine gray mesh pattern over a black surface. The Imprint Finish on the dv5z is much more subtle than the previous designs we've seen on HP notebooks. I suspect most average consumers will find the mesh pattern more acceptable in workplace environments than the older generation patterns. While the dv5z still looks like an attractive consumer notebook, the Imprint Finish isn't quite as "splashy" or "busy" as it used to be.

The bottom of the dv5z is quite simple with some nice heat vents located in strategic positions to help keep the laptop cool. The access panels on the bottom of the notebook make it easy to upgrade RAM, replace the hard disk drive, or replace the motherboard battery if needed. This arrangement makes it simple for the novice user to make upgrades, but more serious users will have to remove the entire base of the chassis in order to access the rest of the motherboard.

Screen

The 15.4-inch diagonal WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050) is quite simply one of the best 15-inch screens I've seen on any notebook. Detail is amazing, colors are rich with deep contrast, backlighting is even across the entire surface, and viewing angles are good. There is some color inversion when you view the screen from below ... but how often do you tilt your screen back and view it that way?

Input and Output Ports

The dv5z has an impressive number of ports with some nice additions you won't find on most consumer notebooks. Here's a run down of the ports:

• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• 1 eSATA port/USB port
• ExpressCard/54 slot
• HDMI 1.3 connector
• 5-in-1 multi-card reader
• Microphone in, two headphone/audio out ports
• 1 Expansion Port 3 Docking Station Connector
• 1 RJ -45 (LAN)
• 1 VGA out
• Kensington lock slot

While three USB ports might not sound like enough for a 15-inch notebook, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, this budget notebook comes with an eSATA/USB port which allows you to connect either a USB device or an eSATA device. Although USB is still a great connection method for accessories USB cannot provide fast data transfer rates for huge amounts of data. We need a faster way to transfer files as more and more consumers start storing their family videos, digital photos, and personal media collections on 2TB and larger external hard drives. This is where eSATA comes in. Without getting too technical, an eSATA port can transfer data to and from an eSATA-equipped external storage drive six times faster than USB.

The second important feature to consider on the dv5z is that HP still includes a dedicated docking station connector on their laptops for those of us who use our laptops as desktop replacements. This is far more important than most people realize. Most other notebook manufacturers have removed dedicated docking ports and now only offer USB docking stations. USB is great for connecting one or two devices at the same time, but if you are trying to transfer data, video, audio, and perhaps even your Ethernet connection over a single USB port you will suffer a major reduction in speed. The dedicated Expansion Port 3 on the dv5z can handle all of your docking station needs all at the same time with virtually no reduced performance.

HP deserves serious praise for adding the eSATA port and keeping the dedicated docking port when most of the competition doesn't offer these features on consumer notebooks.

While we're on the subject of ports, it's worth mentioning that the HDMI port also supports audio as well as video via a standard HDMI cable. Many laptops with HDMI ports only support video, but the dv5z supports both video and audio. To test this I connected the dv5z to my 1080p HDTV. As soon as I connected the HDMI cable the computer recognized the connection and asked if I wanted to extend my desktop or duplicate my desktop (I chose duplicate) and then I inserted a DVD into the notebook's drive.

The dv5z upscaled the DVD movie to a full 1080p resolution and upscaled the movie to 1680 x 1050 resolution for the built-in display. The video playback was flawless with no skipped frames and the audio synched perfectly with the action on the screen (or screens). This is quite impressive and is something you just don't expect to see on a budget notebook.

Performance and Benchmarks

HP offers the new Pavilion dv5z with a range of AMD processors, including the older generation 1.9GHz Athlon X2 QL-60 dual-core processor. However, the big news this year is the availability of AMD's new "Puma" platform with improved processors and graphics. The new AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-80 2.1GHz dual-core processor is an obvious evolution of AMD processor technology, but the real news is the integrated graphics.

It isn't very often that we get excited about an integrated graphics processor (IGP). Every IGP on the market is painfully inferior to a dedicated graphics card and every IGP on the market struggles to handle high definition video and 3D video games. Not so with the ATI Radeon HD 3200. For the first time ever consumers have a low-cost IGP that offers flawless 1080p video playback and can even play many 3D video games at reasonable frame rates!

Keyboard, Touchpad and Media Controls

The keyboard on the Pavilion dv5z has zero flex and excellent key travel with quiet presses. I can't say with absolute certainty, but I suspect the keyboard is the same part used on the dv6700t (or at least the dv6780se we previously reviewed).

The keys have a durable coating which makes the keyboard look and feel better when typing. The slight glossy texture of the keys won't develop the typical "shine" that begins to show up on keys after extended use.

The dv5z also features attractive touch-sensitive media buttons that seemingly vanish behind the "liquid metal" surface when the computer is turned off, but light up when the notebook is turned on.

The palm rest area features the same "Mesh" Imprint Finish used on the lid. The touchpad is nice and large and features a durable and responsive surface that is also covered in the HP Imprint Finish. The marked vertical scroll section is likewise accurate and responsive. The touchpad buttons have deep feedback and produce quiet, cushioned clicks.

One of the nice features found on HP touchpads is the touchpad on/off button. If you press the small button above the touchpad you can disable it ... perfect for people using an external mouse. Although the touchpad is quite nice I would have liked to see the same style of touchpad that HP started using on the tx1000z, tx2000z, tx2500z and HDX notebooks ... perhaps on next year's notebooks?

The reason I mention the touchpads on the other HP notebooks is because I have mixed opinions about the glossy touchpad on the dv5z. The touchpad surface feels nice and smooth, but if you have even slightly moist fingertips your finger with stick to the touchpad and you won't be able to drag the cursor in smooth, straight movements. As long as you have extremely dry skin (or use an external mouse) this won't be a problem.

Another added bonus is the inclusion of a media remote. This little remote tucks away in the ExpressCard slot and is great for moving through slide presentations or for controlling the notebook when it's connected to your HDTV.

Speakers

The speaker quality was "above average" for a notebook without a built-in subwoofer. The speakers for the dv5z are located at the top of the keyboard area beneath the media buttons.

There's not much to write home about the Altec Lansing speakers. They get loud enough with minimal distortion and the sound isn't as "tinny" as is the case with nearly all laptop speakers. However, the speakers don't produce the kind of output that "fills a room" the way you might want if you're listening to your music collection on the built-in speakers. On the brighter side, both audio out ports delivered crystal clear audio to my earphones during the test period.

Heat and Noise

The Pavilion dv5z does a reasonable job keeping heat under control. The system fan and heatsinks in the notebook do a great job managing heat when the system is under load ... as we discovered when we ran multiple benchmarks back to back. Below are images with temperature readings listed in degrees Fahrenheit:

Noise was likewise a non-issue with the fan on the dv5z. The fan moved a significant amount of hot air but the noise was reasonably quieter than what we hear on most budget notebooks. When the fan is on low it is perfectly silent. When the fan is on high (such as when the system is stressed while playing 3D video games) you can hear it running in a quiet room but it's still not as loud as many budget notebooks we've reviewed. Of course, the manufacturer of the cooling fan in your notebook might be different and the dv5z will produce more heat if you configure it with a dedicated graphics card, so your mileage (or decibels) may vary.

Battery Life

We knew it was too much to expect a budget notebook to be perfect, but we were a little disappointed by the battery life from the dv5z. The 6-cell 47WHr Li-Ion battery provides sub-par battery life for the dv5z. With Vista's power management running in "balanced" mode, screen brightness set to 50 percent and wireless on, the 6-cell battery delivered 2 hours and 22 minutes of battery life. By comparison, most budget notebooks can deliver more than two and a half hours of battery life on "high performance" mode with the screen set to maximum brightness.

There is also an available high-capacity 6-cell Li-Ion battery for those users needing extended battery life. It's odd that there is no 9-cell or 12-cell battery option at the time of this writing, but that may change in the future.

Conclusion

As I mentioned in our First Look, there are a lot of reasons to be excited about this notebook. First, we're just glad to see HP release a new notebook chassis design since they were using the same old dv6000 series design for several years. More importantly, we're in complete awe over the performance of the integrated graphics on this machine.

Sure, you can get better gaming performance if you spend more money for a notebook with a good dedicated graphics card, but you would have to purchase a mid-range or high performance dedicated card to surpass the performance of the integrated graphics in the dv5z. For the first time consumers shopping for a budget notebook don't have to sacrifice performance in order to have a low-cost laptop.

In the end, the HP Pavilion dv5z left me more than a little frustrated. The simple reality is that this budget notebook packs the best integrated graphics solution we've ever seen inside its sleek chassis. However, battery life was far too limiting. In fact, this notebook would have received an Editor's Choice Award if it could have managed at least 3 hours of battery life ... but 2 hours and 22 minutes is just unacceptable.

Also, it's hard to understand why HP doesn't allow consumer to purchase this notebook with a Blu-ray drive unless the system is configured with a dedicated graphics card. The new ATI Radeon HD 3200 IGP is perfectly capable of running a Blu-ray drive, so it makes no sense for HP to require consumers to purchase a dedicated graphics card.

If you can live with the poor battery life and lack of Firewire it's hard not to recommend this notebook to anyone and everyone needing a laptop for less than $900.

Pros:

• Amazing integrated graphics performance!
• Great design and build quality
• Amazing integrated graphics performance!
• Fabulous screen
• Amazing integrated graphics performance!
• Great keyboard and media buttons
• Amazing integrated graphics performance!
• Includes HDMI and eSATA ports
• Did I mention the AMAZING integrated graphics performance?

Cons:

• Poor battery life
• No Firewire port
• No built-in TV tuner option at time of this writing
• No Blu-ray option with integrated graphics even though the HD 3200 IGP can handle it
• Touchpad surface is either great or "sticky" depending on how dry your fingers are.

HP Pavilion tx2500

The HP Pavilion tx2500 is the much needed update to the tx2000 Tablet PC. That's right, the tx2500 has an updated processor and graphics. HP finally answered our prayers and added the new AMD Puma processor and ATI Radeon HD 3200 integrated graphics into the same great design. So let's see how much better it performs.

HP Pavilion tx2500 Tablet PC specs:

• AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86 2.4GHz processor
• 3GB DDR2 RAM
• 160GB hard drive
• Mobility Radeon HD 3200 IGP
• 12.1" WXGA Display with dual active/passive digitizer (1280x800)
• 8X DVD multiformat burner with LightScribe
• 802.11 a/b/g/n WLAN with Bluetooth support
• Windows Vista Business OS
• Integrated gigabit Ethernet and v.92 modem
• 6-cell battery
• Integrated webcam, fingerprint reader, Mini Remote Control
• ExpressCard/34 Slot
• 1 x Multi-format card reader
• 3 x USB ports
• 2 x headphone out and one microphone-in
• 1 x Expansion port
• 1 x VGA and S-video
• Weight: 4.5 lbs

Design and Build

The tx2500 has a solid chassis and design. The overall design is the same as the tx2000, with the glossy "Echo" imprint finish which extends onto the silver keyboard. It has a very sleek appearance, but be careful it is a fingerprint magnet.

Weighing in around 4.5 pounds the tx2500 is perfect for students. It gets a little heavy to carry around in tablet mode all day, but it's great for sitting on your desk and taking notes and you can always substitute in the weight saver if you don't need the optical drive.

The tx2500 still has the touchscreen and active digitizer, which makes navigating the Web easy. You can use your finger or the pen. The tx2500 also has great entertainment features, like Altec Lansing speakers, a mini-remote control and quite a few media buttons. For the price this tablet seems to be packed full of features.

Display

The 12.1" WXGA display is kind of grainy, but this is very common with tablets. It is glossy and reflective, but nothing major if you like the high-gloss screens. The screen is hard to read in the sunlight and well lit rooms. The viewing angles are average, but can be awkward depending on how the tablet is tilted, sometimes making it very hard to read because the colors bleed.

The tx2500 has both a touchscreen and active digitizer, it's a real tablet. The screen automatically changes orientation when rotated into tablet mode and the small hinge is surprisingly sturdy. The pen feels nice as well and I prefer it when navigating over my finger because it is more accurate. At the highest setting the screen is bright and the colors are bold, but you can't tell what you are setting it too because there isn't an on-screen indication for brightness levels, which would be a nice feature to have on this high-gloss display.

Performance and Benchmarks

The tx2500 features the new AMD "Puma" platform which includes both the updated Turion X2 Ultra dual-core processor and the all new ATI Radeon HD 3200 integrated graphics processor (IGP). The Radeon HD 3200 is a remarkable IGP because it is the first integrated graphics solution that is genuinely capable of playing 1080p video without skipping frames or playing many 3D video games with reasonable frame rates. While most tablets with integrated graphics produce a 3DMark05 score of less than 1,000 the HD 3200 IGP is theoretically capable of two or three times that level of performance.

However, since the Radeon HD 3200 is an integrated graphics solution, it suffers from the same potential problems as any IGP. Namely, it shares the system resources (RAM) and is soldered directly to the motherboard (so it cannot be replaced without replacing the entire motherboard). In the case of our tx2500 review unit, we encountered an unexpected problem. While most people using notebooks and tablets with the new Radeon HD 3200 are reporting 3DMark05 scores of more than 2,919 3DMarks (including our own editorial team testing the new HP Pavilion dv5z) our tx2500 review unit never reached these impressive scores.

After a week of constant attempts by our editorial staff of technical experts to diagnose the problem (including multiple driver updates and replacing the system RAM), it was determined that the Radeon HD 3200 in our review unit was not operating properly due to a hardware malfunction. In other words, our tx2500 is going to have to go back to HP for repair or replacement.

Tablet Features

There are plenty of multimedia buttons for watching DVDs, listening to music or viewing your photos. There is even an optional Webcam, which makes this tablet great for chatting with friends over the Web, especially with the productivity that comes with the new Puma processor. It converts into tablet mode with ease and when in tablet mode the speakers are still accessible, a definite bonus

The tx2500 has both a touchscreen and active digitizer, so now you are getting the best of both worlds for under $1,000. You can take notes on the screen with the pen, which has nice feedback and is easy to navigate with, or use your finger to navigate through windows as well.

Heat and Noise

The tx2500 does tend to get warm, especially when running benchmarks or working hard. I didn't notice much heat when browsing the Web or going through emails, but the bottom does get a little warm. When the tablet is running multiple applications or benchmarks the fan kicks on and the heat comes blowing out the vent and the exhaust is hot to the touch. This is after a few hours of being on though. None of the parts of the tablet were so hot that they were uncomfortable to touch, except for the bottom under extreme working conditions.

I didn't notice any noise from the tx2500 either. The only time the tablet was noisy was when I ran benchmarks and that is when the fan kicked on high. It was annoying and sounded like a hair dryer. Besides that the fan didn't kick on much and even when it ran on a low setting it was quiet.

Ports

The tx2500 comes packed with a great variety of features and ports. I don't think most users will have a complaint in this department. The entertainment features alone make this tablet more like a notebook, which you don't see on many Tablet PCs.

Front view - Power Slider, 2x headphone jacks, 1x microphone jack, Wi-Fi slider

Left side view - 1x DC jack, 1x ExpressCard/34 slot, 1x multi-format card reader, DVD drive

Right side view - 1x USB, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, 1x Expansion Port 3, 1x VGA out, 1x S-Video out

Back view - 1x modem jack, 2x USB, 1x Lock

Underneath view - Vents and battery

Battery

I found the battery life to be acceptable on the tx2500. It came with a 6-cell battery that sticks out slightly from the back, but can be used as a nice handle when using it in tablet mode. When the battery was set in High Performance mode I got around 1.5 hours of usage with full screen brightness and Wi-Fi on. The number increases to about 3 hours in Balanced mode with Wi-Fi on. I didn't try out the Power Saver mode because the screen gets very dull and you don't get much performance, but I am sure it improves battery life slightly as well. If you want more battery life, I recommend getting the 8-cell battery for longer computing times.

Speakers

The tx2500 is fitted with Altec Lansing speakers, which produce good sound quality for listening to music or watching movies. That was HP's focus; I mean the tx series are called entertainment notebooks. If you compare the speakers to your standard notebook, they produce comparatively loud, clear sound, but they don't compare to the higher-end multimedia notebooks equipped with subwoofers.

Even in tablet mode you still get that loud clear sound from the speakers because they don't get covered like on other tablet models, which is a bonus. The headphones come in handy too, if you want to watch a movie or you don't want to disturb your co-workers.

Wireless

I had no problems staying connected where ever I traveled. The tx2500 worked well at my house and my office. The WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n with Bluetooth is a good option to have and coverage doesn't seem to be a problem. I don't live in a rural area though, but still think it should work fine. The consumer level Infrared for controlling media functions via the included remote is a plus because you can watch movies while laying in bed too.

Conclusion

Overall I am impressed with the tx2500. The updated AMD Puma processor and ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics are a big plus. Web pages render faster and surfing the Web is a breeze. Even though our tx2500 had some problems with the integrated graphics it still performed better then most tablets on the market now and we are sending it back to HP to fix. College students and other consumers should be happy with all the features the tx2500 packs, especially considering it's available for under $1,000. The active digitizer/touchscreen combo is very nice, even though the screen is a little washed out. Watching movies on it is still a lot of fun and it still maintains the same sleek design as its predecessor.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Touchscreen and active digitizer
• Entertainment features
• Solid design
• Improved GPU

Cons

• Washed out display that can be very reflective
• Hight heat output when system is stressed

Apple 3G iPhone

So finally, after an eternity of waiting, the 3G iPhone is here. The iPhone has been the most hyped gadget in the history of mobile phones. Despite it lacking some very essential features, it went on to become very popular and changed the way people perceive smartphones, catalyzing innovation from another manufacturers as well. It has made MultiTouch a standard feature in upcoming smartphones. Let’s see if the iPhone 3G can live up to the huge hype created by its older sibling.

First Look :

The iPhone 3G is basically the same old iPhone in a new shell with 3G and A-GPS thrown in. Apple hasn’t addressed the demand for features like Video Recording, a better Cam, Flash support in Safari and setting songs as ringtones yet. However it now comes with the much faster 3G network support. Apple has also bundled in A-GPS for all the GPS lovers. The 3G iPhone is available in 8GB and 16GB versions, available for $199 and $299 with contracts and $599 and $699 for the contract free versions respectively. The iPhone 3G also comes with the new iPhone v2.0 firmware. It supports downloading softwares and games from the App Store for a fee.

Apple iPhone 3G Specifications:

• Dimensions : 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm
• Weight : 133 g
• Display : 3.5″ Touchscreen with MultiTouch, 16M colors
• Resolution : 320 x 480 pixels
• Connectivity : GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, WLAN 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.0
• Internal Memory : 8 GB / 16 GB.
• Camera : 2MP Cam, 1600*1200 pixels
• Price : $199 / $299 (with contract) & $599 / $699 (w/o contract).

Design :

The iPhone 3G, as like any Apple product, is slim and beautiful. It has more or less the same design as the iPhone. The iPhone 3G has sloping edges unlike the original iPhone and is a bit thinker at the center. It is slightly lighter than the older iPhone. The back of the phone is now made of black plastic instead of the silver aluminium original. The 8 GB iPhone 3G is out in only black, while the 16 GB will be available in black and white. The screen is the same as the old iPhone. The other ports and keys show no changes. One other change is that you no longer get the Dock bundled with the iPhone. It has to be purchased separately for $30. Not that it matters much, because you do get a small and cute charger with the iPhone 3G now.

3G and GPS :

The iPhone supports 3 major UMTS bands making it compatible with 3G networks all around the globe. The 3G support greatly increases the surfing speed in Safari, providing a much better browsing experience. The iPhone 3G also supports A-GPS (Assisted GPS) which traces your position using satellites and nearby cell phone towers. It also supports Live tracking to track you on the move as well as Geotagging to tag images and other media with geographic locations. The A-GPS works perfectly with the bundled Google Maps application.

Applications :

The iPhone 3G also offers support for 3rd party Apps and Games via the newly launched App Store. Users can purchase and download many Apps over Wi-Fi or over a data connection using their iTunes account. The App Store currently features many cool apps like eBay, Loopt, Facebook etc. It includes support for office documents and also offers Microsoft Exchange support - Push email, Contacts, Calendar etc. It also supports the POP3 and IMAP mail protocols (for popular mail services like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hot Mail etc) like its predecessor. Apple’s new service - Mobile Me, offering features like Push Email, Contacts, Calendar, Data backup, Online storage, is also fully compatible with the iPhone 3G. Safari is better than ever and changes its orientation with the help of the accelerometer according to angle at which the phone is held. MultiTouch gestures are used when browsing to navigate, zoom just like the older iPhone. However, it still doesn’t support Flash. The onscreen virtual QWERTY keyboard autocorrects any mistakes as you type, but still it is a bit difficult typing on it without any tactile feedback. Also there is no cut-paste support yet. It is as if Apple has simply ignored all the demands of the First Gen iPhone users.

Multimedia :

The iPhone has great sound quality, living up to its iPod lineage. Coverflow looks great on the iPhone 3G. It has excellent video playback, with transparent video controls available with just a tap. The 3.5″ screen offers much more screen real estate then other phones and is ideal for watching movies. One welcome addition for music lovers is the inclusion of a new flush headphone jack instead of the recessed jack in the older version, allowing you to use any standard 3.5mm headphones with it. The device syncs perfectly with iTunes on a PC or Mac. The iPhone 3G still has the old 2MP cam with no Autofocus or Flash. It still doesn’t have FM or video recording. It doesn’t support sending files over Bluetooth and no A2DP.

Other Features :

The iPhone 3G seems to have significantly better call reception quality than the original iPhone. It has an improved battery life lasting about 4.5 hours with 3G and Wi-Fi usage and offers 10 hours of talktime. You can also turn off 3G from the settings to squeeze even more juice out of the battery. It also has better Wi-Fi reception than the older version.

Pros :

• Great Design
• MultiTouch Screen
• Superb Audio and Video playback
• 3G and A-GPS support
• 3rd Party Applications - App Store
• Good browsing experience
• Better battery life

Cons :

• Network Locked
• Expensive
• No mechanical QWERTY Keypad
• Mediocre 2MP Cam with no AF/Flash/Video recording

Final Thoughts :

The iPhone 3G, though expensive, is still a good buy considering its great features. Its MultiTouch interface is a major plus point. Apple hasn’t ironed out many of its much complained about creases from the iPhone. It doesn’t exactly trump its competitors but does carve out its own place. It offers a superb multimedia and web browsing experience. It may also turn out to be a decent gaming device with the new Games churned out by the App Store, some of them making brilliant use of the Accelerometer and other sensors. We definitely give it a “Recommended” rating. However existing iPhone users don’t actually need to upgrade if they don’t require the faster 3G connection or GPS as they don’t have any other new noteworthy features.

Our rating : 7/10