Tech PIVI

Tablet - a word that was synonymous with stationery and medicines until the late Steve Jobs launched a device called the iPad, and the rest as they say is history. However, the Apple iPad is one expensive device and even though it is the dream gadget for almost every tech lover, it isn’t affordable by all! That's where the plethora of budget tablets take the limelight. At the beginning, these budget tablets were, for the lack of a better word, horrible. Why? Well for starters they ran smartphone OSes and the utility you derived from them was zilch. Fast forward two years and we have a different scenario. The phase of bad first generation tablets has passed; we have tablets that are not only affordable but boast of decent power under the hood. The best part is that these devices run on Google’s Android OS, which gets the job done really well, especially if the device runs Android 4.0 ICS. If you are one who is testing the tablet waters and doesn't want to drop...

Microsoft announced new keyboards and mice today: the Wedge Touch Mouse and Wedge Touch Keyboard, and the Sculpt Touch Mouse and Sculpt Touch Keyboard. The Sculpt products, though quite nice, are iterative updates of existing gear, but the Wedge Touch Mouse and Wedge Touch Keyboard are truly cool, and offer further evidence of the Microsoft’s renewed commitment to great design. Both Wedges (and, indeed, all four devices) depend on Bluetooth, so there are no cables to connect. The Wedge Touch Keyboard comes with its own cover that doubles as a multi-angle stand for a tablet. Take the cover off, and you can prop a tablet up on it, and adjust the angle via a joint in the center. When placed on the keyboard, however, the cover automatically powers the keyboard down. The underside battery compartment is designed so that when it’s flipped upside down and held against a tablet surface (so that the covered keys are against the tablet screen) it grips easily in your fingers. The keyp...

In a move to make photo viewing more enjoyable on Facebook,the website has announced launching a re-designed version of its photos section In a move to make photo viewing more enjoyable on Facebook, the social networking giant has announced launching a re-designed version of its photos section.  "We are announcing improvements to the photos section that make viewing photos more enjoyable," Facebook Product Manager Emily Grewal announced on the company's website yesterday.  With this move, users would be able to access photos all at one place above the timeline. Earlier Facebook's users could view photos segregated into albums.  "Now when you click photos at the top of your timeline, you'll see larger pictures that fill up the page. You can use the menu to find shots you are tagged in, pictures you have shared and albums you have created...With your Facebook photos all in one section, it's simple to show friends your favourites. Click th...

When the MacBook Pro with Retina display is in the game, Apple's "regular" Pros may seem a bit like also-rans. After all, why would you choose them when you could get a brilliant 15-inch 2,880 x 1,800 IPS panel and a Core i7 Ivy Bridge processor? Well, price, for one thing. While we walked away from our Retina MBP review mighty impressed, that model starts at $2,199. The latest crop of Pros, meanwhile, keep the same pricing scheme as last year's models ($1,199 and up), but step up to Intel's third-generation Ivy Bridge processors. We took the entry-level 13-inch for a spin to get a feel for how the dual-core Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM and Intel HD Graphics 4000 stack up to the competition. Read on to see how it fared. Look and feel The latest MacBook Pros look nearly identical to their 2011 predecessors, with the same aluminum, unibody construction, backlit, island-style keyboard and glass trackpad. The dimensions and weight also remain unchange...

Nokia has confirmed that it’s shutting down it’s last factory in Salo, Finland. This would result in a loss of 780 jobs instead of the previously speculated 850 jobs. The final phone to carry the”Made in Finalnd” stamp was made on Wednesday. The factory will be closed officially in September 2012. Nokia had stated previously in June that it aims to cut 3,700 jobs in Finland and 10,000 jobs globally in order to save costs. Nokia has been posting losses for the past few quarters and they’re trying their best to stay afloat. The closing of the plant in Salo will also be accompanied by the closure of research and development centers in Germany and Canada. This should help them to save around 2 Billion US$ by the end of the year. source

Here is the review of the LG’s first Quad-core smartphone powered by 1.5 GHz Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and running on Android 4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich)  It was  announced at MWC 2012  and started rolling out in  Europe in June.  Let’s dive into the complete review. Hardware The 4.7-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) True HD IPS display with 313 ppi is bright. Even though it is slim, the device is huge and it is tough to hold it for those who have small hands. Since the power button is at the top, it is not that easy to hold and unlock it with a single hand quickly. There are proximity and  ambient light sensors    at the top. The ear piece is at the center right below is the LG logo and the 1.2MP front-facing camera next to it. The capacitive touch buttons are below the display that lights up when you unlock the screen. The volume rocker is at the right. It is very sleek at just 8.9mm. The left side is blank without any keys, ...