The New Razer Blade (2014)

Launched in May 2014, the New Razer Blade had been the focus of the gaming community for quite a while during its pre-order period. When the machine finally shipped, it turns out to be a satisfying piece worthy of the wait and money. The stellar 3200 x 1800 ten-point touch screen sets this gaming beast immediately apart from its competitors, while the 4 ^th gen Core i7 processor and Nvidia GTX 870M graphics delivers a solid gaming experience.

Overview PROS Incredibly thin and lightweight Stylish design and great build quality High resolution display plus ten-point touch screen Razer-style backlit keyboard CONS The limit of 8 GB memory Hefty price tag Lack of dual graphics card BOTTOM LINE

The 2014 New Razer Blade is definitely an impressive gaming laptop, one of its own kind and among the best we've ever seen. The new screen is its biggest selling point, which sets a unique new standard for portable gaming laptops. The performance is also good enough for all main stream game, making this machine ideal for mobile gaming needs.

Build and Design

The New Razer Blade's full metal body resembles a typical MacBook Pro, but it differs in that it is fully painted in black, and has two ridges at the top surface. On the bottom, it also shows two vents which implies the powerful gaming hardware inside. The unit has a footprint of 13.6' x 9.3' (345mm x 235mm), and its height is merely 0.70' (17.8mm), thinner than the latest MacBook Pro. The weight is also pretty light at 4.47lbs (2.03kg), making it quite mobile.

The body looks overall quite fluent and well-built, gaps between parts are even and all edges are all smoothly finished. It surely gives out the typical Razerish impression with its green and dark tone, and its premium feeling.

Input and Output Ports

You'll find in total 3 USB 3.0 ports on the unit, two on the left side, together with the DC port and the array microphone port, while the other one on the right side, where you also get an HDMI 1.4 port. The unit lacks a built-in Ethernet port, so if you need wired internet, you'll need an external Ethernet card. The inner parts of the USB 3.0 ports are all colored in Razer green, making them quite distinguishable.

Screen and Speakers

The 14-inch QHD+ screen is the key point of this gaming machine. It features a gorgeous 3200 x 1800 resolution, together with ten-point multi-touch. Razer is doing serious improvement by hearing its fan's voice here, as the predecessor of the New Razer Blade only had 1600 x 900 resolution, which was quite a dilemma for people considering buying it. The color of the new screen is vivid and ample. Some people may complain about the glossy finish of the screen as there will be annoying reflections from nearby light sources, but we found it's not that a big issue, and it actually feels necessary to complete the premium look of the laptop.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Unlike its 17-inch sibling, the New Razer Blade does not have a full-size keyboard, and it lacks a few standard keys (like the Home key). But that shouldn't be a big problem for gaming, especially mobile gaming. The backlight of the keyboard, as expected, emits typical Razer green, and the fonts on the keys are also quite stylish. Typing on the keyboard feels good, there is ample travel distance for good tactile feedback.

The touchpad is generous in size, and it comes with two separate slim buttons at the bottom, making the device's usability quite nice. Windows 8 gestures performed without any problem on the pad, and it feels very responsive.

Performance

The unit we had for the tests is the 256GB version - the storage volume is the only option you can choose when purchasing the unit, so there are really not many variations. The configuration of our test unit is listed as below:

Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-4702HQ Quad Core Processor with Hyper Threading 2.2GHz / 3.2GHz (Base/Turbo) Memory: 8GB onboard memory (DDR3L-1600MHz) Graphics and Video: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 870M (3GB GDDR5 VRAM, Optimus™ Technology) Display: 14.0″ QHD+ 16:9 Ratio, 3200×1800, with LED backlight, capacitive multi-touch Storage: 256GB SSD (SATA M.2) Webcam: Built-in HD webcam (2.0MP) Communications: Intel® Wireless-AC 7260HMW (802.11a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth® 4.0) Operating System: Windows® 8.1 (64-Bit) Price: $2399.99

We tested with a few most popular games, including Dota 2, Starcraft 2 Hear of the Swarm, and the newly released PC version of Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare. In any of these games, the overall performance is more than satisfying. However, it is worthy pointing out that at its maximum resolution of 3200 x 1800, some games will stutter a little bit. Also, a very important point is by default settings, the units seems not always trying to use its Nvidia card while gaming - it will use the onboard Intel graphics, which will seriously lower any game's performance. So before gaming, we suggest you make sure that in the Nvidia Control Panel, set it to always use the dedicated graphics card. Below are the details of each game we tested.

Dota 2

At top resolution of 3200 x 1800 and maximum graphic settings, the fps was not completely satisfying - at an average of 37 frames per second. While the game can be generally run without much problem, there is some occasional stutter at this frame rate. When it comes to team battle, this is more obvious. Lowering the graphics settings to the medium range helps the frame rate grow to around 50 - significantly improved but still less than optimal. For better gaming experience, we recommend lowering the screen resolution to 1920 x 1080 (and maximum graphic settings).

Starcraft 2 Heart of the Swarm

The fps of HotS at the same settings as Dota 2 is generally lower - at 3200 x 1800 and maximum settings, the fps hovers around 31; at high settings, 37; medium, 45; low, 59. Although overall the fps is lower than Dota 2, the games feels more fluent when playing, no obvious stutter can be observed during battles, although some do happen at some cut scenes in campaign mode. We believe playing SC2 HotS at maximum settings and 3200 x 1800 resolution is an acceptable experience.

Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare

When resolution is set to 3200 x 1800, fps stays around 31 at ultra settings; 38 for high settings. The game feels pretty stutter at this fps, although still playable at high settings.

Benchmarks

We ran two benchmark tests with the test Blade: PCMark8 and latest 3DMark. Results as shown below:

Heat and Noise

During general use, the laptop remained very quiet, and the temperature was pretty acceptable. When it comes to games, the laptop's fans throttle from time to time, which is quite audible. If you are gaming in a silent environment, this would be not desirable. That being said, the noise level of the fans is comparable with other major gaming laptops, so we don't think it that bad. The heat, on the other side, is of a little bit of a problem. Most part of the laptop won't go very hot during gaming sessions, except the top part that's right below the screen and above the keyboard, where the power button sits. This part grows extremely hot during games, which makes the area not touchable - and the problem is, as mentioned, the power button is here. It is okay if you just quickly push the button, but if you want to press and hold, it would be a pain. However, given that press and hold the power button is not normally needed, this shouldn't be a big problem for an ordinary gamer.

Battery Life

We took PCMark 8' Home test as the usage setting, and the battery lasted 2 hours consuming 81% of the total power. This means with normal using (without gaming), it should last for around 4 hours, while gaming would consume all juice within 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Conclusion

The New Razer Blade is definitely a unique gaming laptop that worth to be owned. Priced at around the $2400 point, the unit is by no means cheap, but compared to other laptops you can get at this price, the Blade is a no brainer. While it won't deliver the ultimate gaming experience, its strength lies in its slim, light and beautiful body, while the gaming experience is still quite satisfying compared with other gaming laptops.

The laptop can be purchased from major retailers like Amazon, or from the Razer official website: Razer Online Store

PS: The Razer Blade does not come with a recovery drive but with a recovery partition. If you by any chance messed things up, you can request a drive free of charge from Razer by contacting their support. The drive is pretty stylish and convenient to use, with which you can choose to erase the recovery partition to free up more disk space.

Recommended Products

Steve Kovach/Business Insider

Steve Kovach/Business InsiderThis weekend I wrote a review of the One, a smartphone made by a Chinese manufacturing startup called OnePlus.

It's a really nice phone with a giant 5.5-inch screen and powerful specs that rival what you'd find in an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. What's really cool is OnePlus sells all that for $300, or less than half the cost of an iPhone 5S, which starts at $649.

The catch? Quantities are extremely limited, and you need an invitation before you can buy a One directly from OnePlus.

Before you ask: no, I don't have any invitations to buy the OnePlus One.

But that hasn't stopped readers from emailing me about the device like crazy. I've written dozens and dozens of gadget reviews over the years, and I've never gotten a response like this. Every few minutes another email hits my inbox with a reader asking if I can provide an invitation or an introduction to the company so he or she could get a One. (Sorry, I really can't help you!)

Still, I think the reader interest in the OnePlus One taps into something important.

Smartphones have become cheap enough to make that some manufacturers are willing to sell them for next to nothing in order to gain rapid adoption and market share. We've already seen it with Xiaomi, another Chinese startup that makes high quality Android phones and sells them for just a few hundred bucks. In fact, Xiaomi sells more phones in China than Apple does.

Consumers seem to be waking up to the fact that they don't need to break the bank to get a premium smartphone experience. Apple and Samsung may be happy reaping the profits of the high end of the smartphone market, but there's still plenty of opportunity to court the billions of people left in the world who want to start using smartphones without spending too much.

SEE ALSO: The best smartphones in the world

Google's Android Auto Unites Your Phone With Your Car (video)

Google wasn't just going to sit back and let Apple take over the car industry with their in-car CarPlay system. Instead, they released a first look for their new Android Auto at this week's Google I/O that connects your Android phone with your car, allowing your smartphone to work as an in-dash system that controls navigation, music, messaging and more. The news of Android Auto comes off the release of Google's Open Automotive Alliance that was announced back in January, which is a joint effort with 28 different automakers (including Audi, Honda, GM and Hyundai) and the mobile tech supplier NVIDIA.

Android Auto will be voice activated, allowing you to search for step-by-step directions, find songs and more without having to take your hands off the wheel. It'll also bring your full music library to your car and will ready any text messages that your receive while driving. You'll also be able to dictate reply messages to send back, providing more safety than having to fumble with your phone while driving.

To set up, users will just need to plug their Android phone into the micro-USB cable wired into the car, with the possibility of a wireless solution in the future. Google mentions that the first new cars to support Android Auto will be released later this year, with models coming from the likes of Chevy, Chrysler, Audi, Acura, Bentley, Alfa Romeo, Honda, Hyundai, VW, Maserati, Volvo and Subaru - to name a few.

'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Debut A New Trailer

This summer, all the cartoons you loved are coming to cineplexes. And that includes the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, albeit in a way and a form that you may not be familiar with. These aren't 'our' Ninja Turtles. Well... to some degree, anyway.

Do You Like Turtles?

As you might have noticed, while the core concept of reptiles becoming bipedal and practicing martial arts has remained, some aspects have... changed slightly. First of all, the Foot Clan appears to be a bunch of terrorists with guns instead of a bunch of ninjas who tend to steal stuff off trucks and other relatively harmless hijinks. Secondly, the Turtles themselves apparently need twenty pounds of gear in addition to their ninja weapons. But hey, Donnie's got a springloaded staff!

Michael Bay Strikes

Needless to say, because there can be absolutely no changes to a beloved property without some form of controversy, that's been the case with this movie, every step of the way. Mostly the accusations center around Michael Bay and Jonathan Liebesman, the producer and director, being a little too enthusiastic about the changes they're making, which really is accurate. Shredder has no fewer than, what, three sets of blades on his hands?

Also a point of objection seems to be the total lack of snouts on the Turtles. Which, let's be fair here, the fans kind of have a point. These turtles are freaky-lookin'.

You Can Count On Us

Still, it's just nice to see the property revived. What started as a gleefully ridiculous parody of '80s comic book excess has become a franchise in its own right, and really, this isn't any more insane than the cartoon. Besides, considering what Michael Bay's done to the Transformers, this is fairly mild. At least there aren't two Turtles who turn into racist stereotypes.

HP's New 2014 Envy 15 and Envy 17 Prices Slashed w/ Coupon

Last week HP updated and re-released their 15.6-inch Envy 15 and 17.3-inch Envy 17 laptops with a new design and the latest Q2 2014 Intel 4th generation processors. Best of all, this release week they've dropped the price and launched a coupon code which qualifies, dropping the price of these models by up to 21% off. You'll find the latest price info below.

New HP Envy Laptops (2014)

Listed above are the two new base model laptops for the new HP Envy lineup. Besides the 15% off coupon code, the good thing about ordering HP is the ability to customize upgrades. If you're looking for a better gaming performance you can add up to a GeForce GTX 850M graphics card and RAM up to 16GB. If you wanted a touchscreen laptop though, the base models above are not where you'd find them. HP release a few other Envy 15 and Envy 17 Touch models, listed below:

New Envy vs. Old Envy

HP tweaked the appearance of the Envy and optimized it for Windows 8.1, however the best way to describe the new HP model would be a 'Haswell Refresh'. With Intel's delay of the Boardwell 5th gen CPU to 2015, HP is refreshing their machines with the latest 4th gen 'Haswell' processors.

One of the most notable differences is the Touchpad, you can now switch, snap and close apps quickly and easily with the new HP Control Zone trackpad. It's an easier way to access Windows 8.1 controls using dedicated gesture zones on either side of the trackpad.

9 Must

Apple's latest and greatest laptop features some of their best technology yet! Their MacBook Pro 15″ with Retina Display features an unbelievably sharp display, slim design and new hardware, which includes SSD storage and both Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 connectivity options. If you've updated your laptop or are thinking of getting the new MacBook Pro 15″ with Retina Display, here are some must-have accessories you should also pick up while you're at it.

9. Western Digital My Book Thunderbolt Duo 6TB External Drive

With only 256GB of storage built-in, you're most likely going to have supplement it with something else because it's most likely not even enough for your iTunes library. Western Digital External RAID drives ($499.99) will definitely give you more storage, adding an extra 6TB to your set up. Plus it has fast transfer speeds allowed via Thunderbolt connectivity.

8. Brenthaven 15″ Collins Sleeve

The Brenthaven 15″ Collins Sleeve ($49.99) provides ultra-padded protection for your MacBook Pro and is great for slipping inside a larger bag, while its slim silhouette will complement the design of your 15″ Retina Macbook Pro laptop.

7. Hand Graft Classic HG Laptop Folio/Heritage

The Macback Pro folio ($252) will protect your case while providing you with extra pockets to throw your notepad, charger, iPad, iPhone cables and more in. It's slim and super stylish.

6. Apple Thunderbolt To Ethernet Connector

To make the new MacBook Pro thinner, Apple nixed the gigabit Ethernet port. While you can simply use WiFi, for times when you need to resort to a wired connection, the Apple Thunderbolt To Ethernet Connector ($29) will come in handy.

5. Twelve South PlugBug

This innovative plug ($34.99) combines the MacBook Pro charger with a 2.1AA USB charger so you don't have to use up more wall outlets when combining your devices!

4. Apple USB Superdrive

Along with the Ethernet port, the new MacBook Pro doesn't have a CD/DVD drive, so for times when you need one, the Apple USB Superdrive ($79) will come in quite handy. It's ultra-portable and no bigger than a CD case.

3. ZenDock Retina

Stash away all the cable clutter on your new MacBook Pro with Retina Display with the ZenDock Retina ($159). The device features a sleek, minimal design that complements that of the MacBook Pro and has a mini display port there USB ports and a speaker and mic input. You can also get the optional USB 3.9 ethernet adaptor since it doesn't have that port anymore.

2. Moshi iGlaze Pro

For those who like the MacBook's sleek appearance, the Moshi iGlaze Pro ($64.95) case will provide you protection without sacrificing the laptop's good looks.

1. Incase Pathway Field Bag

Carry your MacBook Pro with Retina Display around in style with the Incase Pathway Field Bag ($99.95) that features luxe materials and lots of protection with its sophisticated design. It comes in two color options - Black or Gabardine (a brownish-grey color) - and has an adjustable leather and canvas shoulder strap, a soft will lined inter and a fold over top with a magnetic leather tab for easy and secure closure.

UndeadTeds Have A Horrific Game Of Peek

Your first hint that something is wrong is, well, all the blood stains. But then, the teddy bear starts talking. And then it gets so much worse! Thank UndeadTeds for the pure nightmare fuel.

Peek-A-BoGAH!

UndeadTeds, as you may have guessed, is a company out to subvert the teddy bear. Fans of the Naughty Bear games will probably be right at home as these bears tend to be themed around the idea that teddy bears have skeletons and can be skinned. Like, say, zombies, beheadings, serial killers, other fun stuff like that. This, however, brings them to a new level, especially in terms of haunting your dreams.

Robobear Fears No One

Probably the most unnerving aspect of this particular bear, aside from the fact that it rips its own face off, is the fact that this is actually just a modified toy that's actually on the market. Seriously, all they did was change what the robot inside the toy was wrapped in. Everything else, right down to the voice chip, is pretty much stock and can be found in malls across the country in a 'clean' version. Which is both incredibly clever on the part of the UndeadTeds team and pretty unnerving in the sense that all it takes is some red paint to make this incredibly creepy.

When Hell For Teddy Bears Is Full...

If you'd like a nightmarish little fuzzball of your very own, you can go to the Undead Teds site and look around; they have a rather large variety of gory little plushies. And, of course, expect more robotic creatures in the future: After all, if it's just a matter of changing what's on the outside, there's all sorts of creepy things that can be done. Just... don't make anything involving Talky Tina, guys. That's just asking for trouble.

REVIEW: Sony's Answer To The Fitbit Is Comfortable And Stylish, But That ...

Business Insider/ Lisa EadiciccoFitbit and Jawbone dominate the fitness tracker market right now, but Sony hopes to change that with its SmartBand wristband. Like many fitness bands, Sony's gadget can track how many steps you take, the number of calories you burn each day, and how well you sleep.

Although the SmartBand looks a lot like its competitors, Sony has taken a slightly different approach in both the band's design and its accompanying app. Rather than simply spitting out stats and data charts, Sony's LifeLog app organizes your daily activity into a colorful, visual timeline of your day that you can play back. The band itself is easily interchangeable, meaning you'll be able to switch out your plain black band for a wide variety of colors and designs.

The Sony SmartBand is now available in the US for $99 (or for a little cheaper through Amazon). Sony's first attempt at a fitness tracker is well-equipped to rival the likes of Fitbit and Jawbone, but it doesn't offer anything more than either of those devices.

How It Works Business Insider/ Lisa EadiciccoThe Sony SmartBand is powered by a tiny module Sony calls the Core. This Core includes all the sensors the band uses to collect information about you.

The tiny module fits securely into the band, but can also be popped out very easily and placed in a different wrist strap.

The SmartBand is available in black and lime green as a special for the World Cup, but Sony also sells colored bands separately in packs of three for $24.99.

Colors that are currently available include orange, navy blue, light pink, hot pink, yellow, purple, and white. At CES and Mobile World Congress, Sony showed off dozens of attractive designs with different colors and patterns too.

The SmartBand syncs with your Android phone to provide a handful of stats, such as how many steps you took that day, what your sleeping patterns are like, how many calories you've burned, and more.

The SmartBand doesn't have a tiny screen on it like some other fitness trackers, so you'll have to check your phone to keep track of your progress and the time. It can, however, buzz your wrist to alert you when there's an incoming phone call, which proved quite useful.

Using It Lisa EadiciccoSince the SmartBand is designed to be swapped out easily, the band itself is pretty flexible which makes it comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

For a period of about two weeks, I wore the fitness tracker comfortably throughout the workday and while sleeping. After about a day, I could barely tell the device was there.

Setting up the SmartBand is easy too. I used NFC to pair the Core with my Galaxy S5, but it can also sync via Bluetooth if you're not using a phone that supports NFC. The Core buzzes to alert you that it's properly paired.

The band's design is minimalistic and simple. There's only one button on it that's used to control all of the band's functions.

The real brains behind Sony's SmartBand is its LifeLog app. The app does exactly what its name implies - it keeps track of almost everything you do. This means it not only logs your burned calories and how many steps you've taken, but it also tracks photos you've taken, games you've played, and books you've read.

You can also add Life Bookmarks by either tapping the symbol within the LifeLog app or pressing the button on the band twice. This creates a bookmark in your LifeLog timeline. So, for example, you could take a photo at an event and record the date and time, add notes, and store it in your timeline.

The app packages all of this information in a colorful interface that breaks down data into different categories and presents it in a timeline. Pressing the play button will play back a visual representation of your day, from when you woke up straight until the end of your evening.

Business Insider/ Lisa EadiciccoSince there's only one button on the SmartBand, however, it can get a little confusing if you plan to manually switch between day and night mode or capture bookmarks. Luckily, you can set the band to automatically switch into night mode by going into the app's settings. Night mode tells the SmartBand that you're sleeping so that it can prepare to monitor your sleep activity rather than your steps.

The SmartBand's battery life proved to be fantastic however. During a two-week period, I barely had to charge the Core.

Conclusion

The Sony SmartBand is a comfortable, customizable fitness tracker for Android devices. I really like the idea of being able to put the Core in different bands as I please, but in general some of the information it provides isn't very useful.

Business Insider/ Lisa EadiciccoThe LifeLog app is colorful and exciting, but it doesn't really offer much of interest beyond its appearance.

The fact that I took a photo or played a mobile game on my phone didn't really provide much value for me overall. I'd much rather see Sony focus more of its efforts on building more fitness functionality into the Core. For example, other fitness trackers such as the FitBit are able to keep track of how many flights of stairs you've climbed throughout the day.

That being said, I definitely found the SmartBand useful as a sleep tracker. The LifeLog app easily outlines information such as the amount of time I spent in deep sleep rather than light sleep throughout the night, and presents it in an easy to read graph.

But you can still do this with other fitness trackers on the market. There are really only two things that make the SmartBand different than its competitors: the fact that you can easily switch out the bands and the timeline within the LifeLog app. Some people may enjoy these features, but for me it's not necessarily enough to choose Sony over the competition.

SEE ALSO: REVIEW: Sony's New Tablet Is Thinner And Lighter Than The iPad Air

8 Things To Know About The Moment Smartwatch (list/video)

Smartwatches are obviously becoming the 'new' smartphone. Everyone is releasing their own version of a smartphone, with everyone waiting to see what Apple drops soon. Momentum Labs thinks all smartwatches are the same and decided to come up with their own that would defy other. While many place technology at the forefront of design, Momentum Labs decided that their Moment Smartwatch should first be a watch or an accessory and second as a device loaded with technology, which is why they came up with its unique design that makes it look more like a bracelet than wrist watch. Check out a few other key features that make the Moment Smartwatch a stand out smartwatch!

1. Wraparound Display With Style

Current smartwatches either have a square or rectangular face (or round like the Kairos Smartwatch Hybrid). The Moment flips this concept and instead makes the display span around the wrist-adorned watch, so the entire device is the display. The band will feature a 0.9mm-thin stainless steel wristband that will have a 1.73″ 150 DPI electrophoretic display that has a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, which Momentum Labs describes as being about the same surface area as most smartphones out today.

2. Full QWERTY Keyboard

The Momentum Smartwatch will feature a full QWERTY keyboard that allows you to type out messages, emails and more. It'll even have a number row on the wristband screen. Although you might be thinking that the keyboard would make for inconvenient typing, but according to the Kickstarter campaign, all you have to do is twist your wrist a bit to use the keyboard.

3. 'Moment Snapware' For Add-On Functions

Because technology is always advancing, the smartwatch will also be compatible with Snapware, which will be small hardware modules from both the maker and third party developers that will add new functions to the smartwatch as they are developed. After its launch, creators look to introduce several modules based on demand like flashlight, GPS, NFC, biometric sensors and more.

4. A Month Of Battery Life

The Moment Smartwatch's 820mAh battery can last an entire month on one single charge, so you don't have to worry about plugging it in every other day or so to juice it up, making it one less device to worry about.

5. Watch Capabilities With A Classic Feel

Some smartwatches today loose the essence of classic timepieces, sometimes forgoing the traditional definition of a watch. The Moment Smartwatch was designed to retain that classic feel and features a dedicated display for telling time. A simple twist of your wrist will showcase what time it is in a contemporary design that's based on an analog watch displace.

6. Remote Control Functions

Not only will you be able to answer calls, texts, and more on the smartwatch, but you'll also be able to use it as a remote control for a number of things like turning on the lights in your home, turning on the TV and more - all from your wrist.

7. Message Privacy

You don't need to have everyone up in your business, which is why creators designed the Moment Smartwatch in such a way that you can read messages on the inside of your wrist for added privacy, hiding it away from noisy eyes.

8. Extras

Because life is messy, the smartwatch will come with an IP67 rating for dust and water proofing, in addition to functioning as an alarm clock and night light while it charges on its optional charger cradle (it comes with a regular USB cable for simple charging wherever). Users can also opt to get a Moment Smartwatch in black on silver or white on gold, with a special Kickstarter Limited Edition Color being offered in black on black.

If you're looking for a smartwatch that nothing like the norm, pledge $174 for the early bird special (but hurry, quantities are almost gone; and when they are, you'll have to pay $188).

Samsung Galaxy Tab S review

Samsung is as Samsung does

Samsung's gadget playbook is pretty obvious to anybody who's been watching. It has created a relatively stable (if uninspiring) design language, chosen plastic as its preferred material, and cranked out device after device - each one based on small, iterative technological updates to the previous models. That's been the strategy for the Galaxy S line of phones for several years running, and it's the strategy that has led the company to release 11 different tablets since the beginning of 2014.

It's easy to look down on Samsung and the tablets it relentlessly churns out. It's practically impossible for anybody but the techiest of tech geeks to remember the tiny differences between them, especially since they all look basically the same. Flooding the market with subtly different variations on the same tablet, hoping that one of them will catch fire, doesn't seem like a great plan.

Which bring us to the Galaxy Tab S. Two of them actually, with 8.4-inch and 10.5-inch displays ($399 and $499, respectively). Each is designed around a core technology that's definitely impressive: a Super AMOLED screen. But whatever the reason behind Samsung's need to keep throwing tablet spaghetti against the wall, I'm hoping to see some real function behind all that pixel flash.

The display's the thing

The core technology inside the Tab S is a Super AMOLED display instead of the more traditional LCD. Samsung's claim is that this tech provides benefits that cascade through the rest of the device. Because it doesn't need a separate backlight, the entire device can be thinner, lighter, and require less power. And of course, Samsung contends that it's just a better screen thanks to deeper blacks, a wider spectrum of colors, and better outdoor viewability.

Samsung's not wrong on any of those points. With these tablets (and the excellent display on the Galaxy S5), Samsung has finally gotten to a place where AMOLED screen technology doesn't feel inferior to LCD. Yes, some people will quibble about sub-pixel arrangements, but you can ignore them. These displays are just straight-up gorgeous, with super-high 2560 x 1600 resolution that makes text look sharp and HD video look great. The smaller, 8.4-inch Tab S is especially nice, though sometimes buttons can feel like they're too small to tap.

The colors on these displays still tend to look over-saturated to my eyes, but Samsung has toned things down considerably from years past. It has also added a software layer that analyzes both what's on the screen and what's in your environment and then adjusts the picture accordingly. It's a limited feature, though, as it only works in a handful of apps. And even in those apps, turning it off and on makes the barest of differences. Actually, my favorite display tweak is the ability to crank the screen brightness down to very dim levels so using the tablet in a dark room isn't a retina-searing experience. AMOLED display used to be terrible, then they slowly became acceptable. On the Tab S, they're great.

Plasticity

The Super AMOLED display also helps with weight and thickness. It's as though a Samsung boss pointed to the iPad and said 'beat those things,' so the engineers did just that. Each Tab S is lighter than its iPad counterpart, and each is ever so slightly thinner, too. The 8.4-inch version is easy to hold in one hand, and of the two it's definitely the one I prefer.

Thinner than an iPad

But there's a tradeoff: everything except the screen is plastic. The back of the Tab S has the same stippled finish as the Galaxy S5 and the edges are rimmed in shiny, slightly distracting metallic bezels. If you were to take Samsung's flagship phone and then blow it up to tablet size, the Tab S is exactly what you'd get. That includes the home button, which doubles as a fingerprint sensor that works only if you're very careful with the angle and speed of your finger swipe. The Tab S also has dual speakers which are plenty loud, though I often found myself muffling the sound with the palms of my hands.

Samsung is also selling some shimmery, colorful folding cases. They snap in to the back of the tablet with plastic grommets, but they require so much force to put on and take off that it almost seems like you're going to bust something. Once they're attached, you have to embark on an origami quest to figure out how the system of folds and magnets will let you prop the tablet up at the correct angle.

At the end of the day, the Tab S hits most of the key hardware points you'll want in a tablet. It's thin, light, sturdy, and has fairly decent ergonomics. But the design is decidedly pedestrian, and that's a disappointment.

Software shenanigans

In terms of raw specs and performance, there's little to complain about with the Tab S. Both models have the enough RAM and processor performance to make Android 4.4 sing. The only time I felt like things were slowing down was when I used two apps at the same time in Multi Window mode, but even then it wasn't a real problem. Having two apps on a single tablet screen is a lovely feature and totally worth dealing with the sometimes confusing interface, and I would really like to see it available on more tablets. Battery life was also fairly good, with each lasting through two days of moderate use.

The software is not very user-friendly

While performance is good, the software is not very user-friendly. I wish Samsung would finally get around to making those rumored software changes, making its UI look a bit more like standard Android. As it currently exists, there's a home screen for Android-style apps and widgets, a home screen for Flipboard-style tiles, an app drawer, a shortcut to your files, and a notification area that's practically a home screen in its own right - and that doesn't even mention all the preloaded software. Even if you're a fan of the software design aesthetic (I'm not), it's a mess.

The headline software feature for the Tab S is a new version of SideSync that mirrors your Galaxy S5 onto your screen, so you can fully operate the phone from the tablet. It might make for a nice showroom demo, but actually connecting up your phone and using it is a little slow and awkward. Like so many of Samsung's software additions, I have a difficult time believing that anybody will use it that much (if at all).

It's tempting to think of Samsung's software like allergies: the sort of thing that's annoying and inescapable, but basically treatable. But the average consumer isn't going to have an easy time of dealing with all of it, and Samsung should have more respect for its users.

Wrap-up

A tablet is more than the sum of its specs

The most important part of any tablet is the screen. If it's terrible, it doesn't matter if the rest of the device is good or not. So for the Galaxy Tab S, it makes sense that Samsung would be so focused on the display, especially since it also helps both battery life and weight. But even on a tablet, the screen is just one part of the whole experience. The design of the rest of the hardware matters, and the software matters even more.

For everything that Samsung got right with the Tab S, it feels like there's something else it just didn't pay enough attention to. Samsung seems to be once again targeting the iPad, but focusing on all the wrong things. It's lighter and has a better screen, sure, but it also feels cheaper and can't compete with Apple's tablet-app ecosystem. There's only so much software hand-waving that Samsung can do to try to make up for that last fact. But creating more elegant hardware is fully within the company's control, and it just hasn't done that here. For the same price as the equivalent iPad, the Tab S should have hardware that's as good as the iPad, and it doesn't.

Maybe the next two tablets will be better. Given Samsung's history, we probably won't have to wait long to find out.

Photography by Sean O'Kane The Breakdown

More times than not, the Verge score is based on the average of the subscores below. However, since this is a non-weighted average, we reserve the right to tweak the overall score if we feel it doesn't reflect our overall assessment and price of the product. Read more about how we test and rate products.

A tablet is more than the sum of its specs

The most important part of any tablet is the screen. If it's terrible, it doesn't matter if the rest of the device is good or not. So for the Galaxy Tab S, it makes sense that Samsung would be so focused on the display, especially since it also helps both battery life and weight. But even on a tablet, the screen is just one part of the whole experience. The design of the rest of the hardware matters, and the software matters even more.

For everything that Samsung got right with the Tab S, it feels like there's something else it just didn't pay enough attention to. Samsung seems to be once again targeting the iPad, but focusing on all the wrong things. It's lighter and has a better screen, sure, but it also feels cheaper and can't compete with Apple's tablet app ecosystem. There's only so much software hand-waving that Samsung can do to try to make up for that last fact. But creating more elegant hardware is fully within the company's control, and it just hasn't done that here. For the same price as the equivalent iPad, the Tab S should have hardware that's as good as the iPad, and it doesn't.

Maybe the next two tablets will be better. Given Samsung's history, we probably won't have to wait long to find out.

Photography by Sean O'Kane The Breakdown

More times than not, the Verge score is based on the average of the subscores below. However, since this is a non-weighted average, we reserve the right to tweak the overall score if we feel it doesn't reflect our overall assessment and price of the product. Read more about how we test and rate products.

DISH Customers Can Nix Annoying Wires With The Wireless Joey

Wires are seriously annoying. In a world where everything is wireless nowadays, it's kind of hard to tolerate devices that still rely on them. DISH fans who hate wires can now opt to get the Wireless Joey, which allows customers to bring the Joey system with them anywhere without the need for Ethernet or coaxial wiring. Basically, it's the same experience as a regular wired Joey but with the freedom to go anywhere. The Wireless Joey comes with PrimeTime Anytime, AutoHop and the same abilities to rewind, pause, record, fast-toward and view TV stuff as the other Joey system, too.

The Wireless Joey is also the first in the industry to feature 802.11ac wireless technology, which provides a stronger signal and faster data transfer speeds (up to three times faster than other competitor's wireless video offerings). The new wireless Joey is powered by a 900MHz 2000 DMIPS BCM7418 processor, in addition to a Broadcom BCM4360 802.11ac chip that operates at the 5Ghz band. DISH users can add the Wireless Joey to their entertainment system for a one-time fee of $50 for the wireless access point then pay $7 a month for each device they want in their home (each wireless access point can accommodate three Wireless Joey devices).

Should You Buy a Cheap Camera Lens or an Expensive One?

What do you get for your money? That's the question everyone looking to buy a piece of tech asks themselves. It also happens to be the question this recurring feature will try to answer. Is it worth spending extra on high-end gear, or do you get what you need with cheaper models? Every month, we'll look at some of the cheapest and most expensive products in a given category, testing each to see what their limits are and help you figure out when you can cheap it out, and when to plunk down some extra cash to get what you need.Hi/Low: SLR lenses

The legendary photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson described photography as being about what he called 'the decisive moment,' capturing that image frozen in time that is the essence of the subject. Although much of what Cartier-Bresson was taking about was learning to see that perfect moment, the equipment you use also plays a part in capturing it.

This desire for perfect photos is what drives many of us to spend big bucks on lenses. One of the reasons to buy a Single Lens Reflex (SLR) or mirrorless camera is the ability to swap lenses. You can use different lenses for different situations, or upgrade to better lenses over time. Sure, a lot of photographers don't bother, sticking with the lens that comes with the camera. But the deeper you get into photography, the more you realize that you'd be happier with your results if you picked up a quality lens.

So how big is the difference between a lens that costs a few hundred dollars, and one costing over a thousand dollars more? What kinds of gains does your money buy? Are the quality improvements substantial enough to be noticed by the untrained eye?

I decided to find out. I took two lenses and shot a series of images with them side-by-side, using the same camera and settings. The two lenses were both made by Nikon: a 50mm f/1.4 that costs about $350 and a 58mm f/1.4 that costs about $1,700, both lent to us courtesy of Borrowlenses.com. I chose two prime lenses like this because they offer better image quality than comparable zoom lenses, and that's what we were looking for: quality photos. Both lenses offer excellent aperture ranges, and having a wide aperture (such as the f/1.4 of these) makes it easier to create an attractive, defocused background in an image.

Looking just at the specs of these two lenses, you'd think that they are the same: they have similar focal lengths and the same aperture ranges. So why the huge price difference? My tests show that both are great lenses, shooting sharp, clean images, but that the 58mm lens is sharper, leading to images of better overall quality.

One thing to note here: most modern SLRs come with a zoom lens as part of the kit you buy. These invariable produce worse images than the fixed focal length, prime lenses I tested. Take it as read that both of these lenses are much better than the one that came with your SLR camera.

Test 1: The Cat Photo

First, I took photos of a jaguar statue, carved by Mexican artist Jacobo & Maria Angeles, which is painted with intricate detail. On first glance, the two images look identical: both lenses captured the details of the painting well. However, a closer look shows that the 58mm lens captured more detail, which produces a more striking image. Look at the eye: the 58mm shot (on the right, click to see it full size) shows more of the details of the brush strokes and dots, which makes for a more compelling photo. The background is also worth looking at: the defocused foliage has a softer, more organic look on the 58mm shot that helps the statue stand out from the jungle (well, my back garden), while the 50mm produces more artificial looking hard circles with halos that detract from the statue. Photographers refer to this defocused organic look as Bokeh, and it makes a lot of difference when you are trying to make the foreground object stand out. A background with plenty of Bokeh looks soft, diffused and non-intrusive, while one with the halos and sharp-edged blobs of a cheaper lens draws the eye away from the subject.

Test 2: The Selfie

Next, I tried a self-portrait. Again, both of the images are sharp, with great detail. But the 58mm lens (on the right) has an edge again: looking at details like the hairs on my chinny chin chin and the pores on my nose, the 58mm shot looks more natural with smoother detail and tone.

Test 3: The Check-In

Shooting on the streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts, I came across two cherry trees in blossom in front of the former home of Edith Lesely, the founder of Lesley University. The differences between these two shots are subtle: both lenses captured a good amount of detail across the images, capturing the paler hints and shades of the cherry blossoms well. The 58mm (on the right, click to see it larger) has the edge here again, though, with details like the pink blossoms against the white paint standing out a little better than the 50mm, especially in the center of the frame.

Test 4: The Landscape

Next was a bucolic shot of a bridge over the Mystic River. For this, I put the camera on a tripod and stopped the lens down to f/16 to make sure that I had plenty of depth of field. Again, the 58mm had a slight, but significant, edge here, with better detail and clarity. The reflections of the sun on the river are also telling: with the 50mm, they have a starburst look, caused by light reflecting within the lens elements. On the 58mm, the starburst look is less visible. To be fair, I could have removed this on both lenses by using a slightly wider aperture, but the idea here is to compare them. If you look at the bottom right corner of the image on the 50mm version, you can also see how much detail is lost in the waves, while the 58mm image remains sharp to the edge.

The Verdict

I balanced my own tests with a comparative review of these two lenses done by DXOLabs, and I can definitely rate the 58mm higher than the 50mm. Based on the visible details within my own images, and DXO's objective measurements of sharpness, transmission (the amount of light the lens lets through) and chromatic aberration (the color fringing caused by different frequencies of light being diffracted differently by the lens elements), it's clear that while both lenses are good, the 58mm is better.

But is it worth the extra $1,350? For most shooters, no. The $350 lens shoots excellent images, and a lot of photographers won't notice the subtle differences between the two - especially if they're not generating large prints. Camera lenses are like wine: when you get to the good stuff, a subtle improvement costs you a lot more, and some people can taste the difference. Others are happy with a cheaper bottle that tastes just fine, and the $350 50mm f/1.4G lens shows that you don't need to spend that much to get a lens that is much better than the cheap zoom your SLR came with.

It's a truism to say that buying a more expensive lens isn't going to make you a better photographer. Our old friend Cartier-Bresson himself used one camera and one lens-a Leica with a 50mm-for most of his career. But he was regarded as one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century because he knew exactly how his camera would perform. A good photographer takes the time to understand their equipment so they can get the best image, irrespective of how expensive their kit is. If you spend $350 on a lens and really learn how to use it, you'll be closer to the ideal of photographers like Cartier-Bresson, who used good equipment to take great photos.

9 Doggy Devices Dedicated To Man's Best Friend 2014 (list)

Being a dedicated dog owner is no easy feat. Sure, it has its rewards like unconditional love from your four-legged friend, wagging tails and face licks, but owning a dog is hard work. You have to feed them, walk them, play with them, etc. But thanks to new technology and innovations, it doesn't have to be that hard! We've rounded up a few cool gadgets that make life with Fido a whole lot easier, so you can focus more of your attention on the simple things of pet ownership like having a best bud for life!

9. WhistleGPS

Always know where your dog is with the WhistleGPS (pre-order $99), which is the smallest, longest-lasting and quite affordable pet location and activity monitor. You'll get to track Fido and his daily adventures on your smartphone or tablet thanks to its accompanying app.

8. PetCube

Play with Fido when you're away with the PetCube that boasts a laser system that can be accessed via its mobile app. But that's not all, since the cube lets you virtually check in on your pet and talk to them via a built-in mic and speaker and even share access with friends and family.

7. Animal Planet Programmable Electric Feeder

If Fido's carrying around some extra pounds, portion his/her food with the Animal Planet Programmable Electric Feeder ($39.99) that'll prevent overeating or unneeded feedings. It's also a great device for when you're gone a couple of days on vacation and leave Fido along since it will feed them when you program it to. It holds up to 10 pounds of dry food and allows you to dispense up to three meals a day.

6. Cool Down Doggie Leash

Keep your dog nice and cool while out on walks on super hot days with the Cool Down Doggie Leash ($15) that features a built-in mister and water bottle reservoir. The brightly colored leash is lined with tubing and a mister that will spray cool water on your pooch, cooling them down.

5. RapidBath Dog Washer System

Giving your pooch a bath has never been easier with the RapidBath Dog Washer System ($37) that attaches to your garden or shower hoses. It uses its HydroSurge RapidBath Bathing System - a comb composed of water - to provide even the dirtiest dog with a deep clean that will wash away debris, dander and dirt hidden beneath even the thickest of coats.

4. Tug Preventing Dog Leash

Keep Fido from tugging when out for walks with the Tug Preventing Dog Leash ($39.95) that will emit an ultrasonic frequency that will irritate your dog and make him stop tugging. The device attaches between the leash and your dog and is inaudible to human ears.

3. Petsafe Portable Wireless Fence

Keep your dog safe when out at the park, a friend's house and more with the Petsafe Portable Wireless Fence ($280) that will keep him safe within a 90-ft radius. Just plug it in, strap the collar on Fido and you're good to go. If your dog breaches the system, the base will emit a small electric shock and tone that will have them returning to the perimeter within seconds.

2. Dogpets Dog Treat Dispenser

Reward your pooch for good behavior with the Dogpets Dog Treat Dispenser! Just fill it up with cube-sized snacks and pull the trigger to launch the treat in the air for you dog to jump and grab.

1. PetChatz

Check in on your pet while away with PetChatz ($349). You'll be able to hear and see each other while apart and even reared them with snacks. Just one click on your phone or computer will dispense a tasty treat.