The Best Computing Gadgets of 2014

Like every New Year, even the year 2015 is sure to mark many new beginnings, innovations and new things on different grounds. So is true for the technology domain as well. As users, we wait for new gadgets, new technology, and new products to get released. What technology in 2015 holds for us is still a mystery as there is time for things to get unveiled? 

Before talking about the new gadgets of 2015, many of the tech savvy and gadget lovers might take an interest in brushing up the best tech gadgets 2014.  

In the year 2014, many innovative products and new gadgets got launched. The list appears to be never ending, and it is a very small place to list them all. Thus, getting very specific, this blog lists out the best gadgets in the domain of computers that include laptops, Ultrabook, Chromebook, desktops, etc.  Following are such top 5 computing devices of the year 2015.

Acer Chromebook 720P-2600

The year 2014 marks a good lift in the market of Chromebooks. Many brands embraced the trend of designing Chromebooks, which are putting a tough competition to the Windows devices. In the list of Chromebooks, Acer Chromebook C720P-2600 is worth mentioning. The device bundles everything we love about Chromebooks. In a great and affordable price, it brings you the comfort of easy Web browsing and a big bunch of useful apps. The device flaunts a clear and bright touch-screen and boasts an all-day long battery life. Its solid-state drive storage doubles its power. The compelling impact of the touch screen is commendable. While it stands powerful in terms of its within the case elements, there design wise also it is a star performer. Its white plastic design makes it look sophisticated without hinting its competitive price.

 

 Lenovo ThinkPad X240     

Business laptops are always one of the fondest of tech gadgets as it has a larger section of users. When the talk is about business laptops, Lenovo ThinkPad is sure to get a mention. Lenovo has so far launched many models of ThinkPads, and all were successful in the market. In the year 2014, we received the Lenovo ThinkPad X240. It is light and slim business Ultrabook that caters to the users looking for solid performance, durable Mil-Spec design, and high portability. The light weight of the device and its outstanding battery life of 15+ hours make it a perfect device for on-go usage. It is powerful as it bundles a 12.5-inch (IPS) touch-screen, Intel Core i5 Haswell CPU and a speedy solid-state drive.

Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch Retina Display (2014)     

If you want a laptop that can replace your desktop, then Apple MacBook Pro 15-Inch Retina Display is the right tech gadget. It has 15 inch screen, so it’s big, bright and huge. But it is a light weight laptop, which is easy to carry and solid in its performance. Above that it has the stunning Retina display that faults 2,800-by-1,800 resolution. The new display lets you enjoy your movies, videos, in a remarkable way. Retina display is just one of the many other strong specifications of the device. It comes loaded with two Thunderbolt 2 ports, Intel Iris Pro graphics, HDMI output and 16GB of RAM. It offers nine hours of battery life.

Origin EON17-SLX (2014)    

If you are a gamer, then the Origin EON17-SLX is one device you must know about. It is a powerful gaming laptop with an Intel Extreme Core i7-4930MX processor, speedy storage, and dual Nvidia GeForce GTX 780M graphics. The device is not very preferable from the portability stand but in terms of hardware and software it is a rocker. Its resultant performance is splendid and just up to the expectation of any game lover.

Apple iMac With Retina 5K Display

With iMac with Retina 5K Display, Apple brings the retina display feature to the domain desktop. There are still many people who are fond of desktop and demand the best of specifications and features in their laptops. If you are one of those then, Apple iMac With Retina 5K Display will sure wow you. It has a brilliant screen and in every way it is an all-in-one iMac with a quad-core processor, Apple's speedy Fusion Drive and AMD Radeon discrete graphics.

Thus, here you have the list of some of the best tech gadgets 2014. If you are yet to offer gifts for New Year or Christmas and contemplating what can be the best Christmas gifts or wish to provide tech gadgets to your loved ones, here you have a list.

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2: Another Android-Powered Tablet with Some Amazing Features

Lenovo, a Chinese PC manufacturing company, has once again claimed its excellence in designing and manufacturing a wide range of comfortable yet work-efficient portables. In its recent product launch event, the company unveiled its latest Lenovo tablet PC- the Yoga Tablet 2, featuring a stylish appearance, power-packed performance, and some enthralling features. The slate is Lenovo’s latest 10.1-inch tablet that maintains optimal balance and allows people to use it efficient by adjusting its unique kickstand to suit different needs. The new Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 can serve numerous computing purposes likes reading, web browsing, working on crucial projects, answering emails and watching or listing to the entertainment content. The highly flexible little tablet is quite comfortable to use as it can transform itself into various positions, ideally like a ‘Yoga’ moniker. The amazing design and powerful specification are the two common factors that allow this amazing gadget to stand out among other tablets available in the Android market.

Let’s discuss some of its amazing features and specifications in detail: 

Build and Design

Like its earlier versions of tab Lenovo, the 10-inch tablet by the company ensures optimal performance and speedy browsing sessions with Google Android Interface. The Yoga Tablet 2 comes with an inbuilt kickstand that adjusts it in different modes to create a comfortable using environment. The entire body and exteriors are made using a combination of plastic and aluminum while the stand and the sides use shiny aluminum alloy to add some beautification. The back cover features a plastic case with a chrome polish that adds a stylish appeal to the gadget.

The device features a massive 6400mAh battery bulge at the bottom of the kickstand to provide a nice grip while reading long text documents and web pages in the portrait mode. You can also use this slate in the landscape mode by holding it up upright with a stand and pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard for getting work done.

The power button and the volume rocker occupy the bottom-left of the device; back camera is at the bulgy edge, and the front camera adorns the left edge of the tab Lenovo. The headphone jack gets it place on the right edge, and the kickstand slot has an opening for an external memory card and an SIM card to enjoy seamless entertainment. This Lenovo Tablet 2 allows you to enjoy entertainment at it max with its two front-facing Dolby Digital Plus stereo speakers.

Features and Specifications

You can use the inbuilt kickstand to transform your tablet for watching movies or preparing it for easier typing sessions. The tablet supporting Android operating system has another two modes, reading in the portrait mode and hanging it on the wall.  

The tablet gets power from the Intel Atom Z3745 chipset, with a quad-core processor that is nicely paired with the Android 4.4.2 KitKat to provide a performance boost. Its inbuilt 16GB of storage offers ample space for storing all your documents, music, games, videos and other files easily. The company ships this device with various Lenovo apps along with some other important apps like Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, and others.

The device powered by Google Android supports multitasking feature and allows users to open several apps at a time. You can safely store all your crucial files and data on Lenovo’s proprietary cloud app- SYNCit or simply use SHAREit to send files across devices using Bluetooth. On purchasing this device, you’ll get an 8MP rear camera and a 1.6MP front camera for capturing all your special moments with optimal ease. The device features a 10.1-inch IPS LED LCD Touch display and supports a screen resolution of 1920x1200 pixels to empower your gaming, working, and entertainment experience. 

  Software and Performance 

The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 uses its typical home designed user interface, and it is clear that it had got a lot of inspiration from Apple’s iOS 7. The seamless interface, changes in icons and their placement and an introduction of new features make it difficult to guess if the device runs Android or not. The App Drawer gets replaced with a Control Center and the settings page also looks quite similar to that of the iOS 7. The size of the icons is larger than its previous versions, and you can access your notifications with the help of the drop down feature. 

The tablet operates on Google Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS, along with Intel Atom Z3745 chipset and a 2GB RAM to ensure hassle-free experience while running heavy games and opening websites. The Lenovo Tablet 2’s interface allows seamless switching between apps and the back and home buttons will appear while holding the tablet in the portrait mode. The tab features inbuilt 16 GB storage space to store all your important documents, favorite music and exciting games.

The device running on Android operating system supports Wi-Fi or a 3G network and allows you to browse the Internet quickly. The device incorporates Bluetooth 4.0 and a micro USB slot for transferring data and plugging in the power cable into the device.

The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 features a massive 6,400 mAh battery and needs around three hours to charge completely. The device supports an impressive battery life by functioning for 8 hours and 43 minutes during active HD video playback and up to 11 hours during active web browsing.

Verdict and Price

The Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 is available at $299 and offers direct competition to the Apple’s original iPad Air (16GB Wi-Fi model) and the 10.1 inch Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 4. The Lenovo Tablet 2 features a useful kick stand and comes paired with amazing hardware to ensure optimal comfort while using it in different positions and modes. But its bulky appearance and heavy weighing factors may outweigh the benefits in the eyes of some of the users looking for a light weighted device. At 619 grams, the tablet is around 200 grams heavier than the other stylish and sleek large-screen tablets in the Android market. The device doesn’t feature an enthralling display in comparison with rival tablets, but users can compromise on it if they are looking for a hard-core productive gadget.

All You Should Know About OS X 10.10 Yosemite

Apple previewed OS X 10.10 Yosemite in July 2014 and since then it was in Beta. But finally Apple has launched OS X Yosemite and hence, it is the time to review it. 

 New look, OS X redesign

 When the talk is about OS X 10.10 Yosemite, then the biggest point to talk about is its new design elements. We all remember that how in 2013, the new iOS 8 got released with a completely new design. Hence, it was expected that with OS X 10.10 Yosemite also Apple would bring up some very remarkable difference in the design or a completely new look. 

No doubt the new Mac OS X has many new elements in terms of design, and it does share some elements in common to iOS platform also like translucency, flatter icons, brighter colors, and typography. But yet the two operating systems are still quite separate. 

 So, even an iOS user will find a noticeable difference in the designs. Everything in OS X has a flatter and more modern esthetic. All of Apple's built-in apps have got new icons that are exclusive to the doc, and these icons don’t have any 3D shading or skeuomorphic details. The menu bar sits flush against the rest of the desktop. When you get inside an app, you will see a narrower toolbar on top. This toolbar has buttons either hidden or arranged in a single row. Additionally, Apple has moved to a new font and new design of icons.

Pass on work from one Apple device to other 

Continuity or Handoff is one of the major updates in the OS X 10.10 Yosemite. With this feature, you can pass on a half done activity on your Mac to your iPhone or iPad, or vice versa, provided these two devices are placed close to each other. If you are writing an email or preparing a presentation on your Mac and need to work on the same file on your iPhone also, then transferring the files between the two devices will be easy now. Simply use the Handoff feature, and you will be able to pick up the work in your smartphone from where you had left it off in your Mac. 

This feature is not just limited to sharing the documents or files, but you can even pick up the same browsing link across the different Apple devices. Continuity supports passing off content so smoothly that it is like passing the same screen from your Mac to iPhone or iPad. 

The best thing is to initiate the Continuity; you don’t require doing much as it happens automatically. You just need to sign in all your Apple devices into the same iCloud account. This feature is operational everywhere even on the elevator, car, couch, car, office, club, home or other locations. 

Make calls through Mac

 

Another very interesting feature of OS X 10.10 Yosemite is that it supports call making from Mac. When you work in your Mac, it’s not necessary that your iPhone has to be at your computer table. Probably you have given it your kid to play games or put it on charge in the next room. In any such scenario, if the phone rings, you don’t need to get up from Mac to receive a call. The ‘Continuity’ feature lets you check your iPhone SMSs and MMSs messages and can make and receive a call from Mac. 

 Use iPhone to Create a Hotspot 

Using the ‘Continuity’ feature of OS X 10.10 Yosemite, you can easily convert your iPhone into a hotspot for your iPad or Mac. So, this feature helps if any of your Apple devices gets out of Wi-Fi range. Simply connect the device to your iPhone’s hotspot. However, it is important that your iPhone should be close to the other Apple device, and then only it will works as hotspot.

This new instant hotspot feature in OS X 10.10 Yosemite cuts down the need of going to the iOS settings to get the hotspot feature enabled. Now the hotspot can be created automatically and instantly between a compatible iPhone and Mac.

In one word, Apple OS X 10.10 Yosemite is a new OS not just in terms of its feel and looks but also because of the many new added features. ‘Continuity’ has enhanced the compatibility between different Apple devices. Thus, Apple devices have become more useful in complement to other.