World's Smallest Android Set-Top-Box

Chinese handset maker Xiaomi revealed the Mi Box Mini, an Android TV-like device that can play games. Everyone and their mother (in Tech News) is monitoring Xiaomi, the *fourth largest smartphone maker in the world behind Samsung, Apple and Lenovo (owners of Motorola). But that doesn't mean everything they put out is gold.

Xiaomi's been at the TV game the longest after it's smartphone when they first released the Mi Box, their answer to Apple TV. Like the Apple device, the Mi Box could play games, download apps, and stream content. However, unlike the Apple device, the content supported by Xiaomi is mostly China-centric, and this is no different with the Mi Box Mini.

Let's a take a step back and look at the Mi Box Mini. The thing is small, sleek, and did I mention small? At the size of a smartphone charger, the Mi Box Mini only has a plug and an HDMI output. It connects online via Wi-Fi. Xiaomi is offering "1.4 million hours" of content to go with it.

Of course, since it's an Android device, and similar to Android and Apple TV, the Mi Box Mini also has another feature going for it: gaming. The Mi Box Mini's specs surpass those many early Android consoles:

Most of the content available on the Mi Box Mini, and the Mi Box, for that matter, is in Chinese. Some of it might also be illegal and unlicensed content, but I did find Archer in English.Most of the content available on the Mi Box Mini, and the Mi Box, for that matter, is in Chinese. Some of it might also be illegal and unlicensed content, but I did find Archer in English.

Okay, enough about the video, onwards to video games! Sadly, like its predecessors, the Mi Box Mini isn't a gaming machine, even after the various deals that Xiaomi has made, including the one with Ouya. Part of the problem of the device as a gaming platform is Xiaomi's own lackadaisical offerings.

The company has on its store, free of charge, games like Timberman, Flappy Bird and Plants Versus Zombies. Of course there are also loads of Chinese-made mobile games. The games are simple casual titles that would find their way onto many a smartphone, mine included (I really liked Timberman).

Now, according to Xiaomi's forum's and Engadget, there's a way to side load apps onto the Mi Box Mini. I haven't figured out how. There's no Micro SD or SD slot anywhere, so the hardware is limited to 2 GB of usable memory. The Mi Box Mini should also connect to any Bluetooth controller, however it's not connecting to my Moga Pro.

However, at a price of about $30, the Mi Box Mini is incredibly attractive for people looking for a media solution to terrestrial and cable TV. With Xiaomi supposedly slated to hit State-side in the coming year, they may work out something with the Mi Box Mini for Western audiences. I still can't get over how tiny the box is.

Read More

Globe WiMAX LTE Modem OD-235 Username Password

Globe Telecom Philippines is one of the biggest wireless internet service provider in the country that cater not only 2G and 3G network but as well the 4G WiMAX and the future fastest wireless broadband wavelength the LTE broadband. The WiMAX giant ISP already have learned it mistake from the past acquiring WiMAX modem from Huawei such as BM621, BM625, BM622/i, BM622m and the BM23m whose CPEs  are prone to MAC address cloning which they tag the nation as Free Internet Country by the netizens. No wonder this year Globe Telco is shifting its wireless modem from Green Packet Berhad Malaysia product model:OD235 instead of from Huawei Technologies, the new CPE that they are acquiring is a dual band device that is capable as WiMAX modem and as an LTE modem too.

To access the web graphical user interface (webGUI) of the Green Packet OD-235 aka Globe WiMAX LTE modem OD235, just open any of your fave browser and point it http://192.168.15.1 this just similar to DV-235T aka myBRO and the OX-230 of Smart WiMAX outdoor unit CPE. Globe WiMAX LTE modem OD-235 has three (3) account for the webGUI if you want to navigate and fine tune the settings. 

Below are the following username and password of Globe WiMAX LTE OD235 wireless modem

Administrator
Username : power_user
Password : u878mJAskqMd

Admin
Username : ADMIN
Password : ADMIN

SuperUser
Username : USER
Password : USER

For your information the Globe WiMAX LTE OD-235 wireless modem aka Green Packet OD235 is a WiMAX modem CPE and as well a LTE wireless modem, bear in mind that this CPE device can not be use simultaneously or both modem at the same time to connect to the network such as for the WiMAX and LTE. Unlike Smartphone that is a DualSIM it is possible to connect to the Telco network at the same time or simultaneously whereas the OD235 device it is not possible and there is no way. If you prefer to connect to WiMAX then you can not hook to LTE otherwise disconnect it from WiMAX and hook it to LTE. Another thing to distinguish is WiMAX authenticate via MAC address whereas LTE uses SIM.

Sample MAC address Authentication:

MAC: 00:1F:FB:8C:84:A1
User ID: RTJTIiLZxc6xglE4@globelines.com.ph
User Password: 001FFB8C84A1@globelines.com.ph

Read More

How to find the best VOIP softswitch

Thinking about starting a business as a VoIP provider, then one of the first things to consider on your path will be purchasing a softswitch platform. Now that there are more companies on the market that offer such specialist products, which of these offers will be the most professional and will meet your even the highest expectations?

If you work in the VoIP phone industry, then you would have surely heard of the popular Class 4 or 5 softswitches. But what do they do? The main task of Class4 platformsis to maintain high traffic levels for long distance calls. Within its standard features are billing, transcoding and protocol support and conversion. Using the Class 5 platform you can go one step further. It not only has all the features mentioned above, but also dial tone, IVR functionalities, local switching and access to the rest of the network. Its main task is to work for the end-user; so you can add modules to this switch such as IP PBX, Calling Cards Module, Callshop, Callback and many others. When choosing the platform, you should firstly think about how you want your business to work. If you find yourself working directly with retail clients, then go for Class 5.

Built in billing system

Currently, some VoIP software providers can offer you a softswitch augmented with a billing system. It is worth finding such a solution, because this feature will significantly advance your everyday work. Thanks to the billing system it will be easy for you to set up call rates for the end-user and create different tariffs, which you will be able to adapt to different types of customer. In addition you'll be able to simply control your users' payments.

No extra hardware needed

Pay extra attention to the fact that when you purchase a VoIP system, you will also need to invest in additional hardware and software. Typically, to start a business in the VoIP industry, you need no more than a server with an internet connection. If you decide on a rental solution, you do not even need these things

Managing modules available

Conducting business as an Internet telecom provider should not cause you any major problems. Convenient control modules should allow you to easily and intuitively manage the whole system. Using them, you can create your end-users' accounts and control their payments. Make sure you ask for a management module that works online, so you can use itthrougha browser on your PC,a Smartphone or even a tablet. This will give you full control over your clients, regardless of your location.

Freedom of choosing

Whether you want to offer Calling Cards or you are planning to open a Callshop, your softswitch should allow you to attach the appropriate modules to adjust the system into your business profile. The most frequently chosen modules are IP PBX, Calling Cards, Callback, and Call Shop. Most professional companies will offer you a set of additional features too, so you could expand your VoIP business in any direction and advise which of them will be the most suitable for you. They will also offer you the appropriate softphones and other necessary applications and patiently answer all your questions or concerns.

Read More

Top 5 Best Wireless Router

Are you jaded searching for the top 5 best wireless router in the year 2014? If so, you don’t need to look any further since in the succeeding paragraph, you will learn more about the top 5 best wireless router for 2014. If you are one of those persons who are planning to purchase the latest wireless router, it is very important that you conduct your own research first to make sure that you will avail the elite wireless router in town.

In order to help you to carefully opt for the best wireless router, here are the top 5 best wireless router reviews for the year 2014.

1. Linksys EA6900 AC1900 802.11ac Wireless Router

At the first look, you will be amazed with its key features that include exceptional wireless performance, industry leading and user interface and elegant design. Linksys EA6900 AC1900 802.11ac Wireless Router has three packing external antennas with solid rock design and Turbo QAM. The so called Turbo QAM can be defined as the proprietary technology that has the ability to boosts the theoretical 802.11n speeds.

The maximum speed of the wireless router is about 450Mbps-600Mbps. It also has the potential to support the so called Smart WiFi platform cloud wherein it allows a certain user to control and remotely monitor the settings of the router with the use of smartphone, tablet and PC with internet. If you are searching for the fastest and greatest wireless router, Linksys EA6900 AC1900 802.11ac Wireless Router is the solution to your problem.

2. BT Home Hub 5

BT Home Hub 5 will offer you with its key features that include integrated modem of VDSL, 1 USB port with 2.0 and compact and neat design. It will also provide their users with exciting and latest features wherein they are considered as ISP routers. The exceptional design of BT Home Hub 5 is very different from Hub 4 since this product is one of the lightest and smallest routers that are available in the market today. It also has 3×3 antennas that are intended for 802.11n and 802.11ac. It also has the capacity to deliver better performance that you will surely love. Finally the BT Home Hub 5 will not disappoint you with your expectations and demands. Even though you are not their BT customer, you can still avail their product if you desire.

3. TRENDnet TEW-812DRU 802.11ac Wireless Router

The awesome features of TRENDnet TEW-812DRU 802.11ac Wireless Router include WP2, WPA, WPS security, 4x Ethernet Gigabit and mid and near range 802.11n excellent speeds. It comes with affordable prices that will match with your budget. It will also offer you with 3×2 array antennas that are responsible for delivering a short range of blazing performance.

When it comes to long distance performances, the TRENDnet TEW-812DRU 802.11ac Wireless Router is really fast yet cheap. You can really save budget when you decide to purchase this kind of wireless router. It is widely available in market today and rest assured that you will love its awesome key features.

4. Almond Securifi Router

It is considered as one of the elite routers under £100. Just like other routers, it will also offer you with its exciting key features like touchscreen display, wireless bridge and easy to follow set up settings. Almond Securifi Router is the first wireless router with touchscreen display and double wireless bridge. With the help of double bridge, you can easily connect to any Wi-Fi connection. The product will not require you to have installation disks since the setup setting is quite easy to follow. If you are looking for wireless router under £100, Almond Securifi Router is the best choice that you need to consider.

5. Asus DSL- N66U

The Asus DSL- N66U comes with unique key features such as 2.0 USB ports, AllCloud sharing and VDSL2 modem. If you are one of those individuals who are seeking for generation standard then Asus DSL- N66U is the elite performer for you to ponder on. With the help of VDSL2 modem, it will offer you with one time solution that only Asus DSL- N66U can do. It also has internal array antenna that is equipped with AiCloud functionality. This feature will allow a certain user to share their media from USB storage. Asus DSL- N66U is considered as one of the greatest DSL routers that you can buy at a reasonable cost.

The top 5 best wireless router for 2014 that are mentioned above must be your top priority especially when you are planning to purchase your own wireless router. An apparent and better understanding about the said matter is highly recommended to make sure that you carefully choose the elite wireless router that you are looking for. If you want to have additional information about the top 5 best wireless router 2014, just feel free to browse the web and rest assured that you will find your desired wireless router.

Read More

Lenovo Vibe X2 Snap Review

Most smartphones tend to look alike. Not so for the Lenovo Vibe X2 as it is probably the world's first layered smartphone, with three separate layers and a screen slapped together into a single flat and thin smartphone. The result is a fairly unique looking smartphone but how does it perform? Read our full review of the Lenovo Vibe X2 smartphone below and see for yourself if this is the layered masterpiece you've been looking for.

Design, Tech specs and Features - Unique look with above average features

Design-wise, the Lenovo Vibe X2 follows the flat and thin look. The 5-inch display is actually a bit smaller than the other three layers, so it leaves a little space on the top and bottom. At 7.3mm it isn't the thinnest smartphone around but the slightly irregular sized display on the top does make it seem thinner than it actually is. Overall, the layered design makes the Vibe X2 very tough and solid with nearly no flex to it. Tech specs are quite good with a 5MP front camera for the selfie inclined and a 13MP rear camera that doesn't stick out on the back. We found it to be very lightweight at 120g which should make it great for those who like lighter smartphones. Check out the full list of tech specs and features below:

• 2.0GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6595m processor
• PowerVR G600 graphics
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 5-inch IPS display (1080 x 1920 pixel resolution, 441 ppi)
• 13MP rear camera (LED flash) + 5MP front camera
• 140.2 x 68.6 x 7.3mm | 120g
• supports Dual SIM (4G LTE, Micro-SIM + Nano-SIM), WiFi b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1
• features FM Radio, active noise cancellation with dedicated mic, A-GPS
• 2300 mAh battery (non-removable)
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• Available in charcoal, gold, red and white

Read More

How-To Root Lenovo A850 Smartphone

In this tutorial, you can root Lenovo A850 by using your mobile device if you follow very simple steps. This will allow you full access to all aspects of the Lenovo A850 operating system and you will be able to utilize your hardware in the way that you want, including overclocking, installation root only applications, modifying system files, or upgrading to a new Android version. You should know that warranty might be void of your Lenovo A850 smartphone if you use this how-to's provided on this blog post.

What Is Important To Know Before You Start To Root Lenovo A850

This instruction will only work on Lenovo A850 and do not try this procedure on any other device, including others Lenovo products.

Before you start to Root Lenovo A850

• It is very important to backup all important data on your device before you start, just in case.
• You should check that the device has more than 60% battery power.
• You should enable USB debugging on your hardware.
• Download software that you will need.

How to Root Lenovo A850

• First, you should download the framaroot application file to SD card or internal storage. It’s best to place it in the root of SD card.
• Enable application installation from unknown sources, you will find this option under the application settings.
• You should navigate to the root of the SD card or other folder where is framaroot application and install it like any other application.
• When installation ends, open the application
• Now you should choose to install SuperSu from the menu list.
• You will be prompted to reboot the phone. Reboot the device

Disclaimer

You can use this guide for educational purpose only. Neither Android team nor any developers will be responsible if your Lenovo A850 be damaged after following these instructions. You will also void manufacturer warranty for your device. Data on your hardware can be lost, so backup it first.

Facts About Lenovo A850

Lenovo A850 is a touch bar smart phone with 5.5-inch large touch screen and powerful quad-core processor. This device has an attractive price compared with other famous brands. Like other Lenovo mobile devices, three touch keys are provided just below the screen: menu key, home key and return key from left to right. On the upper side of this phone you have a 30W pixel display and front-facing camera that is installed. It can be found for only $212.

Read More

Vertix PR1 3G Portable Wireless Router

Get a local data SIM card when you travel so you can hop online at lower rates instead of racking up data roaming charges.

That plus a device like this Vertix may save you from huge phone bill.

So if you can get it, using a local data SIM when overseas is a no-brainer. But sharing that bandwidth with your laptop, tablet and smartphone can be trickier.

Use a 3G wireless router or Mi-Fi device like this Vertix. It becomes your own hot spot that your devices can log on to.

This gadget works just like your home router. But it is battery driven so you can use it even when you are en route to a meeting in a speeding taxi. Charging is via a standard mini-USB port so there is no need to pack an additional charger when you travel.

The Vertix is the size of a memory card reader. It fits easily in your pocket. Compared to another battery-driven 3G router of about the same price, the Edimax 3G-6218n, the Vertix is only half the size.

To work, such routers need a USB modem dongle, the type that is supplied by telcos with mobile data subcriptions – unlike Huawei models that have integrated modems.

Within 25 seconds of powering it up, it could connect an iPhone 4S and HTC Desire HD to it. We tested two USB dongles with it with a ZTE MF626 and Huawei E1550.

A straightforward set-up is needed via a Web browser. For convenience, the settings for the networks in more than 40 countries are preloaded: from Argentina to Singapore.

Streamimg the high-definition version of the trailer for the Hobbit on an iPhone 4S up to 20m away across office cubicle space without much problem. This little gizmo pumps out more than enough bandwidth for a hotel room.

VERTIX PR1 Portable Wireless Router allows portable data sharing wherever you are in, office, hotel, outdoors , on the train or bus and so on. The compact device can even be placed in pocket or backpack which makes it truly convenient. For continuous operation, PR1 can be used with a supplied AC desktop charger or a USB charging cable which can be connected to your laptop or any USB power source.

Enjoy a wireless data sharing experience with these features:

• Pocket size networking wherever you go with up to 4 hours use on a single charge
• Supports wireless broadband speed up to 150Mbps
• Pocket size device which makes it highly portable and convenient
• External USB 3G modem ensures flexibility when you are travelling

Specifications

• Built-in high capacity Li-ion battery
• Support USB type extenal cellular modems and ethernet or LAN connections (RJ 45 cable)
• GPRS, EDGE, EVDO Rev A, WCDMA HSDPA/HSUPA, TD-SCDMA HSPA protocols
• Widely support 3G/3.5G/3.75G data cards
• Auto dial, Auto APN, 3G/3.5G/3.75G signal display
• Supported protocols: TCP, UDP, IP, ARP, ICMP, DHCP, PPPoE, DNS, PAP/CHAP, HTTP
• Supports 3G auto dialing, 3G fixed time dialing, 3G total online time statistics
• Supports 3G , PPPoE(DSL and Cable modem), Dynamic IP, static IP Broadband access
• Wireless security with 64bit/128bit-WEP and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK support
• Built in SPI firewall which can deny ARP/DDOS attack effectively
• Supports Virtual Server which can be used to create a website on your LAN.
• Supports IP Filtering, Domain Filtering, MAC Filtering, IP and MAC binding
• WDS repeater function support"

The device is rated for four hours. It lasted about that time in continuous testing.

Read More

How-To Safety Hard Reset : Easily Master Format LENOVO A850

Tips and tricks for solving LENOVO A850 problem. When we need Android smartphone with big LCD screen and reasonable price, then LENOVO A850 is the answer. Because LENOVO A850 have 5.5 inches LCD screen width IPS capacitive touch screen. If we like to take pictures a lot, LENOVO A850 will help you to fulfill that need by using 5 megapixel digital camera and also have LED flash to help taking better photo in low light conditions.

What is Advantage of LENOVO A850 Specifications:

• GSM 3G HSDPA Dual SIM GSM-GSM
• LCD 5.5 inches touch screen
• Internal memory 4GB
• RAM 1GB
• External memory microSD, up to 32 GB
• Main Camera 5 MP, 2592х1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
• Front camera for VGA for Picture and Video conference
• Processor Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
• GPU Mali-400MP2
• Operating system Android OS, v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
• Battery Li-Ion 2250 mAh

How to Fix or Problem Solving for Recovery LENOVO A850 hang or not responding or malfunctions or stuck or freezing or bricked ?

Having big LCD screen Android will make us feel so happy to play games or install other applications from Google Play Store. But we have to know that not all applications will run smooth in Lenovo A850 because some creator does not make their applications in good functions, especially for Lenovo A850. In this case, if we force to install unnecessary applications, sometime it will make our smartphone become hang or stuck or bricks or frozen or blank or LCD touch screen not responding. If we get this problem, we need to try doing soft reset or reboot or restart Lenovo A850 to delete cache and temporary files. If Lenovo A850 still get the same problem, we need to do hard reset or master format.

How to force Soft Reset or Reboot or Restart LENOVO A850 ?

When we use Lenovo A850 and get hang or stuck or frozen problem in the middle of using applications, we can try to force reboot or restart Lenovo A850 by pressing POWER BUTTON for several seconds. If the POWER BUTTON can not work, then try to remove the battery of Lenovo A850 by open back case cover and unplug the battery for about 5 seconds. After that we can plug it again in the right positions and turn on Lenovo A850 to finish the restart or soft reset step. In normal situations, doing soft reset or reboot can be done by pressing POWER BUTTON for several seconds until the pop up menu appear, then choose Restart or Reboot to soft reset Lenovo A850. Doing soft reset is safe, because this step will not erase or wipe any important data like contact or photo or files from Lenovo A850.

How to Hard Reset LENOVO A850 with Hardware Button key:

1. Confirm and make sure that LENOVO A850 Battery is fully charge or not empty
2. Turn off LENOVO A850
3. Press together : POWER + VOLUME UP about several second, that the warning will appear at the LENOVO A850
4. Choose: Reset Device or Wipe data or Clear eMMC
5. Make sure we already sure than we know that our application and data will be loose or clear while Resetting LENOVO A850

How to Restore and Reinstall Clean Android Operating system / firmware at LENOVO A850?

LENOVO A850 using Android as operating system, in the first production when ship to store, LENOVO A850 use Android Jelly Bean version 2.2 which run very smooth in this smartphone. After using several month and install many applications, sometime the operating system could damage or broken. In this case maybe we need to reinstall or restore clean and factory default Android operating system or firmware. The source file of factory default Android operating system already saved inside LENOVO A850 rom. We do not need to copy any data for preparing the reinstall step. Just follow the hard reset step above, then the clean and factory default setting Android operating system will be reinstall by itself. The time to reinstall will take less than 5 minutes. Please make sure all data already backup before doing reinstall or hard reset, because all data will be wipe or removed from internal memory.

How to Unlock or Fix or Bypass or Solutions for LENOVO A850 forgot password code or security lock screen pattern or pin (lost password)?

The recommended options to give security protections for LENOVO A850 is using screen lock pattern. Some user still also like to use password pin protections. We can easily choose and change how to secure our LENOVO A850 data when the phone away from us, but using screen lock pattern is faster to open then using password in some situations. The problem happen when we forget the answer of that screen lock pattern or password pin protections. We do not need to worry, because Android have option to bypass or unlock forgotten screen lock pattern or password pin protection. Please do several time wrong answer for that security protection continuously until the phone frozen or locked for several seconds. In this time, we will see Forget Password / Pattern button to help us unlock protection using Google account or Gmail account. If we can not use or Google account at this phone, then we need to do hard reset or master format.

How to Improve Performance LENOVO A850 to make run more faster?

Running LENOVO A850 for Games or doing office activity will be fun if the phone does not have problem. But some user have problem with their LENOVO A850 which run more slowly then before. As far as we know, if the phone run slowly, because there are many applications run in the background and the processor LENOVO A850 performance will be working more hard when that applications doing update or work in progress. That is why we are really recommend for uninstall not use applications, especially which run in the background. If we can not find out which applications that make problem, and need to tweak LENOVO A850 performance run more faster again like beginning, then we may need to perform hard reset or master format to clean anything from our phone and run with factory default applications. After that we can carefully choose and install only specific applications that we use everyday.

Is That Any Secret Code for Doing Format LENOVO A850?

There is no secret hidden code for LENOVO A850 to make it back to factory default. Do the options above to hard reset it.

How to Upgrade or Update LENOVO A850 operating system to Kitkat ?

By default the shipping ROM of LENOVO A850 is Jelly Bean version 4.2.2. Base on the specifications, the LENOVO A850 can be upgrade to Android Kitkat version, but unfortunately until we write this articles, there is no official upgrade for LENOVO A850 to Android Kitkat version. However, there are some other unofficial Kitkat ROM for LENOVO A850 from other community homepage, but if we are not sure how to upgrade it, please do it carefully, because it could make our LENOVO A850 broken or can not use anymore. Using official Jelly Bean at LENOVO A850 is still recommended to use everyday without problems.

The information from this page describe about how to format lenovo a850,lenovo a850 hard reset,hard reset lenovo a850,format lenovo a850,how to hard reset lenovo a850,how to reset lenovo a850,how to reboot lenovo a850,lenovo a850 factory reset,lenovo a850 format,reset lenovo a850. If you need another resource for hard reset, use search function at this homepage or find from our related posts.

Read More

Lenovo A850 Snap Review

Lenovo has strengthening its position on smartphone market and the A850 model is not an exception. Providing middle quality of 5.5 inch IPS LCD screen resolution with 200 ppi, the device is advanced in capacity.

Battery of 2250mAh allow to have up to 28 hours of talks in 2G while the quad-core Cortex-A7 processor is responsible for convenient performance. Additionally, the smartphone is equipped with dual SIM option that make it more even more attractive for people wondering to divide private and work life.

The Lenovo A850: A Smartphone To Reckon With

Lenovo, a long time Asian tech market favorite has done it again. The stylish and functional Lenovo A850 smartphone features an incredible 5.5-inch widescreen display for seamless surfing, video viewing or gaming.

Lenovo, consistent in offering superior performance - just like fellow Chinese brand ASUS, has complemented its latest phablet with an able 1.3GHz CPU, plenty of memory with 4GB of internal storage (including expandable memory to ensure additional data can be stored for photos, videos and gaming downloads so that you never miss a moment), and as a bonus, Lenovo has provided you with the industry favorite, Android 4.2 JellyBean. Even with major competition from other leading smartphone brands, the A850 has managed to stand out from the crowd with a savvy savings price. Packed with performance and sleek design, we adore the all new A850 for its powerful specifications, coupled with its economical price.

Specification and Features

• Processor: Mediatek MT6582M
• RAM Memory: 1GB
• Storage: 4GB
• Rear Camera: 5 mega-pixels
• Front Camera: VGA
• Operating System: Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)

Bringing your multimedia to life, Lenovo has endowed their latest flagship with a huge 5.5-inch display. Complete with IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, with a vibrant screen resolution of 540x940 (200PPI). This wide angle 5.5-inch smartphone allows for a better performance whilst viewing videos, images, web browsing and even gaming. If you're looking for more options when it comes to gaming on your phone check out our great range of Sony Smartphones. Running on your favorite operating system, Android OS JellyBean, it is agile, which guarantees optimal performance. The A850's 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 processor ensures lightning fast speeds for intense multi-tasking, and a smoother experience for your graphics, which is beefed up by the impressive Mali-400MP2 graphics processing unit. The overall result is clear-cut, sharp and fast images throughout your multimedia endeavors. Including 4GB of internal memory and 1 GB of RAM with additional expandable memory of up to 32GB via microSD card, the A850 phablet is pure perfection.

New Improvements

Weighing in at a comfortable 184 grams, the A850 has impressed us all with a robust battery life, which lasts up to 28 hours of talk time on 2G and 14 hours of talk time on 3G, powered by the Li-Po 2250 mAh replacable battery. It's BlueTooth compatible, and outfitted with the ever popular Dual-SIM, which allows you to mix two worlds into one! Other A850 specs include being the CA satellite controlled GPS will help you find your way around town whether driving or on foot. This feature works in offline mode or when connected to the net. So never fear losing your way again! The primary camera is an autofocus 5 megapixel with 2592x1944 pixels and LED flash, with top notch features like geo-tagging and touch focus. It also comes equipped with a front 0.3 megapixel camera, perfect for video chatting. Take great high resolution HD pictures and videos that will help you remember your most treasured moments.

Worth buying

A true work-of-art, this amazing low/budget phone is top quality and out performs its price class. Lenovo phones along with LG Smartphones truly outshine their class. For those looking for power, speed and versatility, this sleek and sophisticated phablet is the answer. It comes with either 2G or 3G connectivity, depending on network availability. For those looking for an even cheaper option, but less powerful, Lenovo Mobile offers a great range of other smartphones including the Lenovo K900.

Read More

Trendnet TEW-714TRU Pocket Wireless Router Review

You have to wonder why there are so many types of electrical plugs in the world. It’s a pain in the neck that Trendnet remedies by providing three swappable plugs: One for use in the UK, one for use in the rest of Europe, and one for North America. Since most other countries use one of those three types of adapters, Trendnet figures its router can plug into 90 percent of the world’s electrical outlets.

The router itself is relatively small; think of a slightly oversized wall wart. It plugs directly into an electrical outlet, much like the Netgear Trek and the TP-Link TL-WR710N. It can operate in one of three modes: As a wireless router connected to a DSL or cable modem or a hardwired network; in WISP mode, connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot; or as a repeater to extend the range of an existing wireless network. You slide a button on the side of the device to choose which mode you’d like it to operate in.

The Trendnet has one ethernet port and two USB ports. One is a USB 2.0 Type A for sharing files stored on a connected storage device, but there is no media server onboard for streaming music, video, or photos.

The second USB port is used only for charging small devices, such as a smartphone, tablet, or media player (it will deliver between 1.1- and 2.1 amps of power). There is no provision for using a 3G, 4G, or LTE USB modem with this router. An on/off button on the other side of the router lets you turn off the router’s network function without disabling its USB charging function.

Like most of the other travel routers in this roundup, the TEW-714TRU supports the 802.11b/g/n standards, delivering one 150Mbps spatial stream on the 2.4GHz frequency band. The router comes from the factory preconfigured with a secure password, and its default SSID, network password, and admin login and password are printed on a label that gets hidden the moment you plug the router into the wall (because it’s on the same side as its prongs). A WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button on the side of the router simplifies the process of adding clients to its wireless network, but you’ll still need to know the admin login info to access its user interface.

In terms of performance, the TEW-714TRU is way in the back of the pack, but it's faster than the last-place TP-Link TL-WR710N. At close range, with the client nine feet from the router and in the same room, it mustered TCP throughput of just 18.4Mbps. The first-place-finishing Netgear Trek PR2000 hit 87.7Mbps here. The Trendnet finished next to last when the client was in the kitchen, 20 feet from router and separated by one wall, delivering TCP throughput of 16.2Mbps.

It wasn’t able to sustain a connection at all when I moved the client to my home office, which is 65 feet from the router and separated by several walls.

Power tips uber alles?

The TEW-714TRU’s power tips will benefit frequent world travelers, and its ability to charge mobile devices and share files from an attached USB storage device are attractive features. But this router’s Wi-Fi performance leaves a bit to be desired.

Read More

Netgear Trek PR2000 Travel Router Review

The Netgear Trek is extremely versatile and it delivers great speed and range, but it operates only on the 2.4GHz frequency band. It doesn’t have as many features as some of its competitors, but it is well designed and is largely self-contained. You’ll never need to worry about packing an AC adapter, because it’s built in—just swing its blades down and plug it into a nearby socket.

If you want better range than what you’ll get from operating the router near the floor, you can plug a USB AC adapter into its micro USB port (but you’ll need to provide your own, since Netgear doesn’t put one in the box). You could also connect an external battery to the Trek’s micro USB port (here again, you’ll need to provide your own).

"When you’re at home, you can configure the Trek as a wireless range extender."

The Trek operates only on the 2.4GHz frequency band, supporting the 802.11b/g/n standards, but it supports two spatial streams in 802.11n mode to deliver maximum throughput of 300Mbps (most of its 802.11b/g/n competitors support only one spatial stream and therefore top out at 150Mbps).

That and the aid of an articulated antenna helped the Trek deliver very high throughput—76.3Mbps—when the client was in my home office, 65 feet from the router and separated by several walls. That's more than three times faster than two of the other routers I tested, and the other three couldn’t reach the client at all.

With the client at close range—nine feet from the router and in the same room—the Trek delivered TCP throughput of 87.7Mbps, and the Trek's performance actually ticked up slightly when I moved the MacBook Pro to the kitchen, 20 feet from the router and separated by one insulated wall.

Pivoting the antenna upward—as I did for my tests—exposes four LEDs that light up to report power status, Internet access, Wi-Fi activity, and the presence of a USB storage device. It’s always nice to have visual affirmation instead of having to guess what’s going on.

Netgear’s travel router has two ethernet ports, so you can connect one to a DSL modem, cable modem, or the ethernet connection in your hotel room, and support one wired network client with the other (or plug in a switch and support as many hardwired clients as the switch has ports). The Trek does not support a guest network, which means anyone who's granted access to your network will be able see all the other devices on your network—you can’t restrict them to just Internet access.

You can also connect the Trek to a Wi-Fi hotspot and share a broadband connection that way. A WPS button would be a welcome addition in these scenarios; as it stands, you need either to log into the router’s user interface to initiate WPS pairing, or read the factory-assigned SSID and Wi-Fi password that’s printed on the router itself (assuming you didn’t change it). This is a minor inconvenience, but an inconvenience nonetheless.

When you’re at home, you can configure the Trek as a wireless range extender to fill in dead spots, or as a wireless bridge to support clients such as older Smart TVs, Blu-ray players, or AV receivers that require a hardwired network connection. Just don’t forget to take it with you when you hit the road again.

The Trek has one USB 2.0 Type A port that can be used to share a portable hard drive over your network. I much prefer Netgear’s Readyshare software for sharing files on a USB hard drive attached to the router. Using an SMB server, you can easily copy multiple files or entire folders over your network. The Trek also has an FTP server for sharing large files over the network or over the Internet.

You can also use that USB port to charge another USB device, such as a smartphone or media player—when the router is plugged into power. Unlike the D-Link and TP-Link devices, however, the Trek does not support USB cellular modems (although Netgear’s website indicates that the model sold in China and Russia does).

The Netgear Trek supports UPnP, but it doesn’t have a DLNA-certified media server. If you consider media streaming a critical feature, you might be happier with D-Link’s DIR-510L. But I don’t imagine that particular feature will be all that important to someone shopping for a travel router.

Read More

Asus Chromebox Review

ASUS’ first desktop Chrome OS device is simply called the Chromebox. From a distance it looks like a somewhat larger Intel NUC. The low profile, square form factor has become the shape of choice for bringing Ultrabook CPUs to desktops. ASUS’ take on the design is matte plastic on all faces, with a glossy plastic trim around the top. There’s a single white LED above the power button on the unit. Google’s Chrome logo and brand integrate nicely on the top of the box. Google appears to be learning from the mistakes of its predecessors - logos are ok, as long as they don’t clutter up the design.

More expensive materials would be nice but for $179, I’m not complaining. In a world where small dimensions usually come at a premium, ASUS and Google continue the Chrome OS trend of delivering a better than expected experience at a given price point.

ASUS Chromebox Comparison ASUS Chromebox vs. Intel Haswell NUC

ASUS Chromebox
	ASUS Chromebox	Intel Haswell NUC
OS Preloaded	Google Chrome OS	None
CPU	Intel Celeron 2955U (2C/2T 1.4GHz 2MB L3) Intel Core i3-4010U (2C/4T 1.7GHz 3MB L3) Intel Core i7-4600U (2C/4T 2.1/3.3GHz 4MB L3)	Intel Core i3-4010U (2C/4T 1.7GHz 3MB L3) Intel Core i5-4250U (2C/4T 1.3/2.6GHz 3MB L3)
GPU	Celeron: Intel HD (200/1000MHz) Core i3: Intel HD 4400 (200/1000MHz) Core i7: Intel HD 4400 (200/1100MHz)	Core i3: Intel HD 4400 (200/1000MHz) Core i5: Intel HD 5000 (200/1000MHz)
Memory	2GB/4GB configs, 2 x DDR3 SO-DIMM Slots	2 x DDR3 SO-DIMM Slots
Storage	16GB M.2 SSD + 100GB Google Drive for 2 years	1 x mini PCIe (full length)
LAN	10/100/1000 Ethernet	10/100/1000 Ethernet
Wireless	dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n, BT 4.0	1 x mini PCIe (half length)
External I/O	SD card reader 4 x USB 3.0 1 x HDMI 1 x DisplayPort 1 x Audio Jack (mic-in/speaker out)	4 x USB 3.0 1 x mini HDMI 1 x mini DisplayPort 1 x Audio Jack (mic-in/speaker out)
Power Supply	65W	65W
Dimensions	4.88" x 4.88" x 1.65"	4.59" x 4.41" x 1.36"
Starting Price	$179	$285

The Chromebox has four USB 3.0 ports. Two are located on the front, and two more around back. On the back side there’s also a Gigabit Ethernet port, DisplayPort and HDMI outputs as well as a 1/8" audio out.

There’s an SD card reader on the left side of the unit, along with a Kensington security slot. The recovery switch is just above the security slot. To enter recovery mode use a pin or paperclip to keep the switch pressed down while powering up the unit. Hit CTRL+D to boot into dev mode once at the recovery screen.

Despite ASUS’ initial claims that its Chromebox would be fanless, there is a single fan inside the machine. Air is brought in through the bottom and vented through the back of the chassis. Fan noise is minimal, and it is entirely possible to run the machine without the fan spinning up but open up enough tabs and you’ll find the fan humming away all the time. My review unit was a development unit, which ASUS claims was a bit louder than final retail units will be. Given the low performance requirements of Chrome OS and the low thermal footprint of the Haswell based Celeron inside, noise isn’t an issue with the ASUS Chromebox.

As with anything this size, the power supply is external. In this case ASUS uses an AC adapter that looks a lot like what you get with one of its Ultrabooks. The external power supply can deliver up to 65W, although I never saw power consumption above 15W.
Hardware & Configurations

The Chromebox will be available in three different configurations. Each configuration is a fully functional PC with DRAM, storage and WiFi already configured. Chrome OS comes preloaded on all systems.

In the US you’ll only find the Celeron 2955U and Core i3 models. ASUS sampled me the $179 Celeron 2955U but upgraded to 4GB of RAM instead of the default 2GB.

ASUS Chromebox Configurations
	Chromebox-M004U	Chromebox-M025U	Chromebox-M020U
OS Preloaded	Google Chrome OS	Google Chrome OS	Google Chrome OS
CPU	Intel Celeron 2955U (2C/2T 1.4GHz 2MB L3)	Intel Core i3-4010U (2C/4T 1.7GHz 3MB L3)	Intel Core i7-4600U (2C/4T 2.1/3.3GHz 4MB L3)
GPU	Intel HD (200/1000MHz)	Intel HD 4400 (200/1000MHz) 4K Video Support	Intel HD 4400 (200/1000MHz) 4K Video Support
Memory	1 x 2GB DDR3-1600	1 x 4GB DDR3-1600	2 x 2GB DDR3-1600
Storage	16GB M.2 SSD + 100GB Google Drive for 2 years	16GB M.2 SSD + 100GB Google Drive for 2 years	16GB M.2 SSD + 100GB Google Drive for 2 years
LAN	10/100/1000 Ethernet	10/100/1000 Ethernet	10/100/1000 Ethernet
Wireless	dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n, BT 4.0	dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n, BT 4.0	dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n, BT 4.0
External I/O	SD card reader 4 x USB 3.0 1 x HDMI 1 x DisplayPort 1 x Audio Jack (mic-in/speaker out)	SD card reader 4 x USB 3.0 1 x HDMI 1 x DisplayPort 1 x Audio Jack (mic-in/speaker out)	SD card reader 4 x USB 3.0 1 x HDMI 1 x DisplayPort 1 x Audio Jack (mic-in/speaker out)
Power Supply	65W	65W	65W
Dimensions	4.88" x 4.88" x 1.65"	4.88" x 4.88" x 1.65"	4.88" x 4.88" x 1.65"
MSRP	$179	$369	?

The Core i3 model ships with an ASUS Chromebox wireless keyboard and mouse (available for $50 separately). The Core i7 model, which isn't available in the US, features a remote control with QWERTY keyboard, external speaker and 1080p webcam.

The $179 configuration is clearly the sweet spot for ASUS’ Chromebox. While the Core i3 model does increase memory capacity and improves performance, unless you have a real need for 4K video out the savings offered by the entry level Celeron model are hard to beat.

Storage

One of the biggest problems with entry level PCs is they ship with a mechanical hard drive rather than solid state storage. The result is very high latency IO and a user experience that can be substantially worse than using a smartphone or tablet when it comes to launching apps. Many Chrome OS devices instead opt for shipping higher performance eMMC solutions or low end SSDs; ASUS’ Chromebox is no exception. All ASUS Chromebox models ship with a 16GB SanDisk U110 M.2 (SATA) SSD. ASUS isn’t multi-sourcing the drives, this should be the only thing you find if you crack open one of the boxes.

The Chromebox ships with an SD card reader and four USB 3.0 ports so you can obviously get media onto the device, there’s just not much space to store it. Also keep in mind that as with (almost) all SSDs you’ll want to keep a substantial amount of free space on the drive to avoid ruining the user experience. In the case of the U110 you have around 12GB free by default, and I wouldn’t drop below 3GB - 4GB free on the drive.

Given the small size of the internal SSD, I don’t expect we’ll see a lot of users pulling large files off of the drive. As there’s no support for network share access under Chrome OS, if you want to play an offline video you’ll have to either stream it off an attached USB/SD card or copy it locally from external storage. Although the Chromebox features four USB 3.0 ports, I measured max sequential write speed at around 42MB/s (copying from a USB 3.0 Patriot Supersonic Magnum SSD). I suspect we’re limited by the write speed to the single NAND device (likely two NAND die) on the U110.

All Chromebox owners receive 100GB of free Google Drive space for 2 years - an attempt to offset the limited local storage.

Memory

ASUS offers three different configurations of the Chromebox. The entry level $179 configuration ships with a single 2GB DDR3-1600 SO-DIMM. Even the upgraded Core i3 model ($369) only ships with a single 4GB DDR3-1600 SO-DIMM. It’s only the fully upgraded Chromebox M020U (Chrome for Meetings) that ships with two SO-DIMMs (2 x 2GB).

ASUS shipped me the $179 system upgraded with two 2GB DDR3-1600 SO-DIMMs (4GB total up from the 2GB base). For light usage I didn’t see DRAM usage exceed 2GB, however when I really started heavy multitasking with the machine I can see 2GB being a bit of a limit. I’m pretty confident that the $179 configuration will make for a good system as is, however it likely wouldn’t hurt to buy another 2GB SO-DIMM ($20 - $25).

Inside the ASUS Chromebox

Like the NUC, it's pretty easy to get inside the Chromebox. Peel off the four rubber feet underneath the box to reveal the four Phillips head screws. Remove the screws and use one of the screw holes to provide leverage to pop the bottom off and you're in.

ASUS' motherboard is slightly rectangular (11.25cm x 10cm) compared to the more square Intel NUC form factor (10cm x 10cm).

There are no real surprises on the inside. The Chromebox features two DDR3 SO-DIMM slots, an M.2 SATA port and a mini-PCIe both of which come populated from the factory.

via AnandTech

Read More