the gadget and game review

LG X120 Finally in and Reviewed

2009-07-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

On paper, LG's X120 Netbook is just another entrant in the Atom-filled sea of sameness -- and, in many respects, it is. But it also gets a lot of little things right that too many manufacturers still invariably get wrong and, while it's not entirely without its faults, it certainly merits some serious consideration alongside all the usual suspects already on your shopping list. The fact that it also doesn't look too shabby doesn't exactly hurt things either. Read on for our full review.

Body

In the looks department, LG has very nearly hit a home run. The X120 is wrapped in matte white finish that puts most of the other fingerprint magnets out there to shame, and even the green accent wrapping around the rounded edges of the netbook is nice and tasteful and not begging for attention. For some reason, however, LG went with the standard glossy plastic on the inside, which actually doesn't look too bad in person, but just doesn't have the same feel of quality that the exterior does. A matte finish all around -- even, dare we say it, on the screen -- would have been ideal, but this is a netbook after all, and "ideal" is rarely an option.

The X120 also thankfully has a generally sturdy feel to it, and should hold up fairly well to life in your gadget bag, although it neither as thin nor as light as many of its competitors, and its proportions are bent out of shape slightly by the large six-cell battery. That's a trade-off we're guessing most folks will be more than happy to accept, and it's certainly not as unsightly as some of the other six-cell batteries out there.

Opperation
As is no doubt the case with many of you, one of our biggest considerations in any netbook is the keyboard. Early netbooks were invariably hampered by excessively shrunken keyboards that were fine for entering a URL or a quick email, but a chore to use for any sort of real writing. Manufacturers have gone a long way to remedy that situation as of late -- thanks largely to bigger 9- and 10-inch screens -- but it's still often hit and miss when it comes to finding a netbook that'll actually have you considering leaving your laptop at home for the day or a weekend jaunt. On that all-important point in our book, the LG X120 gets a pass.

While our review unit has a bilingual keyboard that sports a slightly skewed layout, it's nonetheless fairly easy to get accustomed to, has a non-squishy feel and, best of all, the regular English keyboard looks to be even closer to the current standard bearers like the Samsung NC10. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the trackpad. While it has a nice tactile feel, it's just a tad too small to be fully comfortable, and the single button on a rocker (much like the MSI Wind) caused a few too many misclicks for our liking, though we're sure things would improve somewhat over the long haul.

Otherwise, the X120 gets most of the bases covered as well as most could hope for, including a generous three USB ports, an SD card slot, and an easily accessible memory bay to bump things up from the stock 1GB. A 3G-equipped version is also available in some parts of the world (which makes up somewhat for the lack of ExpressCard slot), though it hasn't yet been slated for release in the US or Canada.

OS
Like any other current netbook, the X120 gets along well enough with Windows XP, but one of LG's biggest assets is its Splashtop-based Smart-On interface, which gets its own dedicated power button to allow for quick and easy access. As you may recall from our CES coverage, the interface boots in a matter of seconds and gives you access to a few essential applications, including a web browser, a music player, a photo browser, an instant messaging app, Skype, and even a basic games application that links to some online games.

The choice of apps is actually quite telling, and is virtually the very definition of a netbook. No word processor or office apps (not even a calculator), no video player or editor, no dedicated email application, no time-consuming games -- nothing that requires your full attention or an actual time commitment.

Of course, the web browser and your choice of web-based apps will let you get some actual work done if you want, and the interface itself isn't as limited as you may suspect. It has full multitasking, for instance, and it didn't seem to struggle at all even with all the apps open at once. And, of course, Windows XP is always just a click away.

Conclusion

In the end, while the X120 doesn't have any one feature that immediately pushes it ahead of the pack, it also doesn't have any clear disqualifying attributes -- which, when it comes to netbooks, is actually saying something. Interestingly, Canada has actually gotten a kick at this particular model before the US and, at about $530 Canadian retail (or about $450US), it's not the cheapest netbook around, but those looking for something that brings a bit more to the table than the same basic specs likely won't find themselves disappointed.

Sandisk Claims Fastest 32GB Micro SDHC

2009-06-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

The new Extreme SDHC card from SanDisk comes in 4/8/16/32GB capacities and boasts speeds of up to 30MB/s, which SanDisk claims as the world's fastest.

These cards are designed for HD video due to all the new cameras equipped with HD video recording. The new cards will be available in August for and undisclosed price.

SANDISK UNVEILS WORLD'S FASTEST 32GB SDHC CARD

30MB/s Read & Write Speeds and 32GB Storage Capacity Help
Photography and Video Enthusiasts Do More With Their DSLRs

32GB CardPMA, Sydney, June 25, 2009 – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today introduced the fastest 32-gigabyte (GB)1 SDHC™ card on the market. The 32GB SanDisk Extreme® SDHC™ card at up to 30 megabytes per second (MB/s)2 read and write speeds combines industry-leading performance with massive storage capacity, helping digital photography enthusiasts utilize the advanced features of today's DSLR cameras.

"The market for entry to mid-level DSLR cameras is growing, and SDHC is becoming the de-facto card format for these devices," said Susan Park, director, retail product marketing, SanDisk. "Our card's 32GB of storage and up to 30MB/s read & write speeds enable DSLR users to shoot without worrying about storage or speed limitations. SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards provide consumers with a more enjoyable user experience, letting them focus on what is really important – the images that they are capturing."

Lightning-Fast Write Speed Captures Images Quickly
A memory card's write speed plays a crucial role in the overall system of the camera when taking pictures in rapid succession. If a card cannot process data quickly enough then the burst mode shooting may pause unexpectedly as the card catches up to the camera. Burst mode bottlenecks can lead to missing "the" shot, especially at sporting or other fast-motion events. The SanDisk Extreme SDHC card offers maximum data-transfer rates, giving consumers a memory card fast enough to unlock the full capabilities of their DSLRs.

The 32GB SanDisk Extreme SDHC card adheres to the SD Association's new Class 10 specification, which exceeds requirement for today's high definition (AVCHD) video recording. The card offers a sustained write speed fast enough to ensure high-definition video recording and capacity capable of storing 160 minutes of full HD 1920x1080 pixels at 24Mb/s data transfer rate.

Big Files Require Big Storage
Recently-released DSLR camera models like the Nikon D90 and D5000 offer consumers the ability to record HD videos, producing large files that can fill lesser-capacity cards quickly. Today's high-megapixel DSLRs also can generate massive still images like those produced in the RAW format used by professional photographers who want to take advantage of the enhanced picture quality and flexibility that RAW allows during post production.

RAW images demand up to ten times as much storage space as regular JPEG images, and when taken in rapid succession during burst mode can quickly fill smaller storage cards. The 32GB SanDisk Extreme SDHC card can store up to 2500 RAW3 images, providing photographers with piece of mind and confidence that they will not run out of space for their images.

Renowned for their world-class durability, SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards guarantee operation at extended temperatures ranging from minus 13 F (minus 25 C) to 185 F (85 C). SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards are fully compatible with any camera, card reader or other device that supports SDHC cards.

When placed in SanDisk's new ImageMate® Multi-Card USB 2.0 reader/writer, the SanDisk Extreme SDHC card transfers images and video to a computer at rates of up to 30MB/s. The card's fast data transfer rates enable photographers operating under tight deadlines to maximize critical workflow and enter post production as quickly as possible.

Class 10 Performance Sets a New Standard
An SD™ card's speed Class is based on its minimum data-transfer rate, and is used to ensure high-quality video recording standards. The SD Association added Class 10 as part of the SD 3.0 specification released earlier this year. The SanDisk Extreme SDHC card's performance exceeds the requirements of even the highest-quality AVCHD video recording device, and is currently the fastest Class 10 card in the world.

Availability:
The SanDisk Extreme SDHC 32GB cards will be shipping worldwide to major retailers in August. Also in August, the current 4, 8 and 16GB capacity SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards will be upgraded from Class 6 to Class 104.

About SanDisk:
SanDisk Corporation is the global leader in flash memory cards – from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk (www.sandisk.com/corporate) is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company with more than half its sales outside of the United States.

Western Digital My Book World Edition II in 4TB Raid Network Storage

2009-06-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

WD has just released their My Book World Edition II in 2TB and 4TB editions. The Mybooks can connect through either USB 2.0 or as a NAS through Ethernet. Both models have dual drives in case one hardrive fails. They're available now and retail for either $400 (2TB) or $700 (4TB) [Western Digital]

WD'S NEW DUAL-DRIVE MY BOOK® WORLD EDITION™ II NETWORK STORAGE SYSTEM ADDS EXTRA LEVEL OF PROTECTION
FOR A FAMILY'S VALUABLE DATA

Offers an Easy, Double-Safe Way to Backup Computers and Share Media
Throughout the Home

LAKE FOREST, Calif. - June 24, 2009 - WD® (NYSE: WDC), the world's leader in external storage solutions, today introduced its newly redesigned My Book® World Edition™ II dual- drive network storage system in capacities of up to 4 TB. With the double protection of two Mirrored (RAID 1) drives and continuous backup software, the My Book World Edition II network storage system provides an extra-safe place for users to back up and store the data and digital media from all the computers on their network in one central location. Available now at select retailers and the WD online store, the new dual-drive systems join the recently introduced (Feb. 2009) My Book World Edition and are compatible with PC and Mac® computers.

According to a July 2008 report by research firm Parks Associates, the number of households worldwide with data networks will grow from around 170 million in 2008 to 240 million by year-end 2012. The firm also reports that the average broadband household will see its digital media storage needs grow to nearly 900 GB by year-end 2012. In addition, consumers indicate that the most important feature for a network-attached storage (NAS) device is the amount of available storage. With its massive 4 TB capacity, the My Book World Edition II network storage system will serve this rapidly growing need for home data storage.

The My Book World Edition II network storage system uses RAID 1 (Mirrored1) technology to automatically and continuously maintain a second copy of user's data. If one drive in the two-drive system ever fails, the system continues to run and the data is safe. In addition, the new
My Book World Edition II network hard drive includes software that simplifies the task of setting up automatic and continuous data backup for all the PCs in the home. The My Book World Edition II storage systems ship in Mirrored mode and use half the capacity for file redundancy.

With its media server capabilities and fast transfer speeds, this high-capacity system makes it simple to build a centralized digital media library that everyone can easily share. Music, photos and videos can be streamed directly from the My Book World Edition II storage system to any PC, Mac or connected DLNA® media player (such as TVs, Microsoft® Xbox 360 and Sony® PlayStation®3 game consoles or wireless digital pictures frames) using the integrated UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) media server and iTunes® Music server software. Users can also securely access their files from anywhere in the world through the Internet using the free MioNet® remote access service included with every My Book World Edition II storage system.

"Families have more and more digital media like movies, photos and music to store, share and protect. Having two drives inside the My Book World Edition II network storage system, instantaneously and automatically duplicating data, offers consumers the peace of mind of double safe, real-time protection of their valuable content," said Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD's branded products group. "Families can relax knowing their valuable media is backed up while enjoying the ability to stream their content to a plethora of different devices from PCs and Macs to PS3s, Xbox 360s and the latest connected TVs."

Price and Availability

The new My Book World Edition II network storage systems are available now in 2 TB and 4 TB capacities at select retailers and WD's online store (www.shopwd.com). MSRP for the My Book World Edition II dual-drive storage system with 4 TB is $699.99 USD and 2 TB is $399.99 USD.

Palm Pre for $200

2009-05-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

The Palm Pre's release date and price has been officially announced today by sprint. The Pre will go for $199 after a $100 mail in rebate. The Pre will go on sale on June 6th which is two days before the iPhone event. The Pre will be sold in Sprint stores, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and Walmart. I hope you guys are ready for Saturday June 6th.

Verizon's Upcoming Blacberrys

2009-05-15T20:26:00.000-07:00

It looks like the new Blackberrys for Verizon have been leaked. All of the Blackberrys will supposedly have Wifi. Accoriding to the picture the Blackberry Pearl Flip is coming soon so you will be able to get your hands on its flippy goodness soon. The Blackberry Storm 2 looks like it will not have that annoying Click touch sreen feature. I hope that we here more in the coming weeks. [TheBoyGeniusReport]

Sony's X Series Walkman

2009-05-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

Sony's new X Series Walkman in now available for pre-sales on Sony Style and Amazon.
The new walkman features a 3 inch OLED capacitive touch screen.
The new OLED screen delivers outstanding video with exceptional color
reproduction, extremely high contrast and a rapid response rate. The
price is a little high though compared to its contenders (i.e Ipod Touch), starting
at around $299 for the 16gb version and $399 for the 32gb version.
You can pre-order your new Walkman now. [Amazon]

New Blackberry Storm 2

2009-05-14T20:10:00.000-07:00

The lucky guys at Crackberrry.com got their hands on the new Blackberry Storm 2. Apparently the code name for this baby is "Oden". This is supposedly a GSM phone with carrying WiFi and GPS but at this early time we can't confirm these specs. Here are pictures of the delicious new blackberry. [Crackberry]

World's First 1GHz GPU

2009-05-13T13:35:00.000-07:00

AMD has released the world's first 1GHz GPU which is apparently "factory overclocked" 4890. And don't worry this baby will try to not melt your computer down and starts a fire that burns down your whole neighborhood with its air cooling system. Its really just an overpriced version of the 850 MHz one that has been overclocked for you. Anyways its a very nice GPU. [Hot Hardware]

Samsung Alias 2 for Verizon Wireless

2009-05-12T20:20:00.001-07:00

Verizon wireless has announced the successor to the Alias the Alias 2. The new Alias features a neat keypad which changes into a QUERTY keypad when it's flipped into its horizontal position. The keypad is designed with E-ink technology reminiscent of the Amazon Kindles screen. It still has the unique dual hinge that allows it to be flipped open like a traditional clamshell and sideways into a messaging device. The Samsung Alias 2 is now available for $80 after rebates and a 2 year aggreament. [Verizon]

OS X 10.5.7 Update

2009-05-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

Apple has rolled out the 10.5.7 update which is supposed fix sync issues, resolve issues with logging into Gmail, improve parental controls and improve video playback on newer Macs. People start wasting your time reading this last sentence and go update your Macs.

Google Chrome Ads for TV

2009-05-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

Did you guys happen to spot the Google Chrome Ads over the weekend? If not than i have posted the ad so you guys can watch it. I found it kind of weird to find a commercial advertising a web browser but I guess the guys at Google have decided to do it first.

Hugo Chavez Launches the "penis phone"

2009-05-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has personally launched a cheap cellphone called "Vergatorio," which is based on the slang word for penis. Chavez is endorsing the phone throughout his country and the world. He said, "This phone will be the biggest seller in Venezuala and the world. Whoever doesn't have a vergatorio is nothing." So you heard him folks go out and buy a Vergatorio and support communism.

New Samsung i7500 Adroid Phone Video

2009-05-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a hands on an early version of the first Samsung phone with Android. The phone is still a bit glitchy but it has a beautiful AMOLED capacitive touchscreen. The phone looks promising but it still needs some work before it comes out on the market.

Acer has delayed the launch of Entering the U.S. Smartphone Market

2009-05-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

Acer will not be launching its new array of Window's Mobile handsets for the U.S. Apparently the company has run into some problems with U.S. network operators and delayed the launch for sometime in 2010. [Phone Scoop]

Sony's Impressive updated all-in-one

2009-05-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Sony's Vaio JS250J all-in-one continues to impress the folks at Cnet. The 20 inch all-in-one boasts a Blu-Ray drive and is a direct competitor to Apple's 20 inch iMac. The 1,000 dollar all-in-one is not such a bad deal and it's certainly cheaper then what Apple is offering check out the full review at Cnet.com.

Clickfree has unveiled its new External Solid State Drive

2009-05-07T16:48:00.001-07:00

Clickfree has just announced its new external solid state drive. Faster, Smaller, and Lighter than a normal hard rive but at a much higher price. Clickfree's new Traveler hardrives are availble now in 16GB ($80), 32GB ($150), and 64GB ($250) capacities.

At&t might reduce the Iphone's service plan by 10

2009-05-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

At&t may bring in more Iphone customers if it slashes $10 of the Iphone's service which is one thing that have scared away many mainstream users. According to a story on TheStreet.com, analyst Michael Cote of Cote Collaborative said that there was a "strong possibility" of At&t cutting the entry level service plan to $59 from $69. This is a great oppurtunity for Apple and At&t to sell alot of Iphone's before the expected release of the next version on June 8 at the World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco.

Palm Pre APPS

2009-05-04T18:19:00.000-07:00

The promising apps for the Pre including a Palm OS emulator, Pandora app, GPS, Sprint TV and more. Here are videos of the fun.

Palm Pre Emulator

Palm Pre Third Party Apps

Amazing Nokia E71x Phone for 1 penny

2009-05-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

List Price:	$399.99
Price:	$0.01 (with service plan)
You Save:	$399.98 (100%)
More Options:	Buy without a service plan

The phone is avalailable on a 2 year contract for $0.01 it's not
amazing and I think
it should have been offered for free but it's hardly a bad deal for
a phone like this.

www.amazon.com/Nokia-E71x-Phone-Black-
AT/dp/B0027A7XWE/ref=amb_link_84232451_1?pf_rd_m
=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=auto-sparkle&pf_rd_r=0E18A
A0CHDWQZCRDNWX1&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=475996811
&pf_rd_i=Nokia%20E71x

BlackBerry Curve 8520 Preview

2009-05-04T17:43:00.000-07:00

The guys at Crackberry.com have gotten their hands on the new Blacberry Curve. They say that its a nice phone but with a few negatives including an old screen, battery, and camera. The phone is EDGE only meaning that it runs on a slow network. Slow basically its just the Curve 8900 without the trackball. Kind of disapointing but whatever i hope i can get my hands on it.

For the Full Crackberry review click on the link:
http://crackberry.com/blackberry-curve-8520-review

PEACE

New Adroid Phones for Tmobile?

2009-05-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

Okay so apparently I mean apparently emphasizing on apparently these are the new Android phones coming out on Tmobile this year. Look its the G2 and some new phones the Samsung Houdini and the G1 v.2 I don't know if this is real but the G1 v.2 looks interesting.

HELPERS NEEDED GRAVELY

2009-05-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

Okay people so I kind of need your help. If you have any important gadget news of funny news that you want me too post i will add it on the blog and add your name or keep it secret or give you an alias or whatever just email me that news at thegadgetandgamereviwblog@gmail.com

peace out

Why the World is Going to Hell

2009-05-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

The world is going to hell because gadget lovers like me and you are reading blogs that are biased and talk about bull shit. Blogs like Engadget and Gizmodo who I don't hate and I hope will change in the future are going through a phase of what I like to call APPLE BULLSHIT all rights reserved. They are going goo goo gah gah over tech made by APPLE. In my new regime of ubiased news I will give you tech news that is not influenced by Apple or by Microsoft or BlackBerry or Palm ta da da da dah.

Getting To Know You Guys

2009-05-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

Whats Up Everyone my name is Christian I am a new reviewer I am modern, unbiased, new to this shit, and I have a lot of knowledge and a passion for tech. I am pretty strict and fair on my reviews and I will do everything in my power to give you the correct news. So Guys and Girls I'll keep you posted.

Peace

T-Mobile G1 Hands-on

2009-05-04T14:40:00.000-07:00

So finally the G1 has landed on my doorstep. I know I am one of the last reviewers of the G1 but I hope to give an biased and a no bullshit review of the phone. I don't care if you think this phone is old and you already know everything about I am still going to give you the review. I will be giving the review this week.