Following the Galaxy S4 Google Play edition’s update to Android 5.0 last month, Samsung has started pushing Lollipop to the regular version of the GS4.
We've seen some outstanding monitors appear recently. From the massive-o-monitor that is the Philips BDM4065UC to the wide-screen awesomeness of the LG 34UM95, we've had some great new screens hit our test benches.
What we haven't seen recently though are any budget-oriented screens, just high-spec panels.
So what do you do if you don't have the ready reddies to spend on a massive panel?
Thankfully Viewsonic has been creating good-value monitors, with our favourite IPS panel technology inside, for years. We've been recommending the 23-inch VX2370Smh as our pick of the budget screens for a good long while now, but such things don't last forever and that monitor is now getting harder and harder to find.
Thankfully it's getting replaced by this slightly smaller, but still happily IPS-laden, VX2363Smhl.
This vision in white plastic is reminiscent of some of the budget AOC IPS screens we've seen in the past, using a recessed bezel to make it seem like the panel stretches out to the very edge of the monitor's face.
That gives the screen a nicely classy look on your desktop and the actual panel doesn't disappoint either.
At this price you'd maybe expect to have TN tech forced upon you, but even these 6-bit IPS panels have much better visuals than an old budget TN screen.
The viewing angles aren't up there with the finest panels we've seen recently, but the colours are still vibrant and the contrast levels are good, as well. The black levels and white saturation of this screen, even straight out of the box, are also really impressive.
We're not going to pretend this panel is totally perfect, or will work for photo professionals, but for a seriously budget IPS screen the VX2363Smhl is really impressive for the money.
The surrounds, however, are a little less impressive.
The stand is a very basic tilt affair, while the sheer mass of plastic on show speaks to its budget heritage, too. But when you're plugging Kyrat's endangered species in glorious Technicolor, you're not going to give a pair of fetid Sky Tiger kidneys what's surrounding your screen.
All you want are the visuals being piped directly into your eyeballs with decent panel tech.
We would also argue there's little point in spending more money on a 1080p panel. If you're going to be splashing any more cash we'd recommend pointing it at a larger, higher-resolution monitor.
The way things are going you're likely to want to upgrade to a higher resolution monitor fairly soon anyways – hardware performance has nailed 1080p even in the lower echelons of GPU tech, so we're moving forwards to 1440p and 4K next.
Spending £110 on this screen will keep you happy with your current rig, offering pleasing IPS visuals without shredding your wallet.
It should also keep you going until your next hardware upgrade, at which point you may well be looking to pick up a better screen to show off your nice new hardware, too.
The price is the big win for this new Viewsonic monitor as is the fact that it has managed to squeeze an IPS panel in there too.
It may only be a 6-bit screen, but we'd still take it over a TN-based monitor even with that 5ms response time.
The plastic chassis is a bit clunky, though it doesn't crowd the screen with a hefty bezel. It's also not massively adjustable.
For a 1080p gaming PC this bargain-priced monitor wouldn't be a bad fit. It's not going to last forever and the 23-inch panel isn't the biggest or most beautiful, but it's a decent IPS screen for the price.
On the face of it the OfficeJet Pro 6830 appears to offer just about everything the small business could want when it comes printing, scanning, copying and, should the need still arise, even faxing documents, and all for less than £100 inc taxes (around $156, AUS$190). It can also print and scan in colour, plus it's the first business inkjet that can be used with HP's pay-per-page Instant Ink service. But, and it's a fairly big but, the Officejet Pro 6830 does have its limitations and may not be the business bargain it appears to be.
A very sturdy and compact device, the OfficeJet Pro 6830 is based around an HP thermal inkjet engine capable of printing up to 18ppm in black and white and 10ppm in colour, with an impressive duty cycle rating of 15,000 pages per month. Four separate ink cartridges are employed and maximum resolution is 600x1200dpi for both monochrome and colour output. An automatic duplexer is also built-in enabling documents to be printed double-sided, with a single 225-sheet A4 input tray incorporating a 60-sheet output tray in its cover.
The 1200dpi scanner sits just above the print engine with an automatic document feeder (ADF) on top which can be lifted up to allow originals to be scanned manually although on this model scanning is single-side only.
A 2.66-inch (6.75cm) colour touchscreen allows for walk-up scan/copy/fax operation and there's a front-mounted USB port for printing and scanning to and from a memory stick as well as options to scan remotely from a browser.
Unpacking and putting the OfficeJet Pro to work was a very quick and easy task, all done from the built-in touchscreen over a WiFi connection and taking around 10 minutes. Drivers and software for Windows and Mac clients comes on a DVD but we opted to download from the HP website to get the latest implementations.
In terms of speed we got around 4-5 pages per minute for mixed text and graphics documents and up to 10ppm for pure text with the first page typically appearing in around 15 seconds. Quality was good enough for most business needs, but we did see striations when printing photos and other images, and the finished documents came out a little wet, turning wrinkled when dry. Another irritation was the single paper tray which soon ran out and was far from easy to refill, plus there was a pronounced pause between sides when using the duplexer and our finished documents often overflowed the catch tray onto the floor.
We mostly printed over a WiFi network although you can also print directly using a point-to-point wireless connection or via the HP Connected portal simply by emailing documents to the address assigned. Mobile printing is similarly well catered for on both iOS and Android platforms and hard to fault on a printer in this price bracket.
Other than paper handling our main concern was how quickly the ink was used up with the three colours (cyan, yellow and magenta) all but exhausted after just 80 pages. However, that was with low-capacity starter cartridges and we did print a lot of images. High capacity replacement cartridges are available and a big selling point on this OfficeJet Pro is support for HP's Instant Ink service, which can save both time and money as far as ink is concerned.
With Instant Ink you effectively pre-pay for ink via a monthly subscription based on the number of pages (colour or black and white) that you expect to produce. HP will remotely monitor usage and post replacement cartridges to you before they are needed as well as arranging for disposal of empty consumables. Plans start at £1.99-per-month for 50 pages ($2.99 in the US, sorry Australia it's not available yet), with automatic rollover of any unused page allowance. Should this not be enough you can buy extra pages at £1 for each 15 pages ($1 in the US) or switch to either the 100-page/£3.49 per month plan ($4,99) or 300-page/£7.99 per month high use service ($9.99 in the US).
Compared to buying cartridges yourself HP reckons Instant Ink can save up to £516 (around $804, AU$983) per year for customers on the high use plan. That's not something we can confirm but we did find a full set of high-yield cartridges (rated to last for up to 825 pages) selling for £68 (around $106, AU$130) whereas a 3-month Instant Ink high use subscription (300 pages/month) is just £24 ($30 in the US) which is clearly a massive saving.
There's nothing intrinsically wrong with the OfficeJet Pro 6830. Indeed it delivers everything a small business needs to print, scan, copy and fax, does it with some aplomb and for a lot less than laser alternatives. However it has the look and feel of a consumer printer rather than a robust business solution, especially when it comes to paper handling which is a real Achilles heel.
That aside, if the budget is tight it's still worth considering and we'd definitely recommend signing up for Instant Ink. But if you're going to share the printer with lots of users and you can afford a bit extra you're probably better off with something that has more to offer in the paper handling department.
Despite its low price and lack of size, the OfficeJet Pro 6830 is bristling with connectivity options plus a full complement of mobile printing and scanning tools that we found easy to learn and highly effective. It's also a very easy device to operate, both via the colour front panel and remotely through either a browser or using custom apps.
Inkjets are notoriously expensive to run but HP reckons that the OfficeJet Pro 6830 can produce professional colour documents at up to 50% of the cost of a laser and by signing up to its Instant Ink service this seems more than plausible. In fact, by fixing the cost per page and delivering the necessary ink to your door in advance of it running out, Instant Ink is very much a no-brainer and something we'd strongly recommend to anyone buying this or any other supported HP inkjet.
A single paper tray is a real limitation on a business printer, further exacerbated in this case by the lack of a bypass feeder. Not only do you have to keep a close eye on how much paper is available but, in order to print to envelopes, card, pre-printed paper and so on, you have to load the material into the sole paper tray and quickly complete the required print jobs before anyone else tries to use the printer. You then have to remove any unused media and top up with paper to make the printer/copier ready for normal operation.
The catch tray on top of the paper drawer is another annoyance, spilling documents onto the floor rather than keeping them safe. Some of ours also got caught on the plastic stop bar, ending up scrunched and smeared. Moreover, in a busy office the catch tray will nearly always be full of forgotten old documents making it even harder to refill the paper drawer beneath.
And lastly, it must be about time for HP and other vendors to drop the built-in fax modem. Very few businesses use fax these days and we're sure most would rather have better paper handling.
A good little all-in-one for sole traders and micro businesses, the OfficeJet Pro 6830 scores high on both the connectivity front and in its printing capabilities. Plus, if you sign up to the Instant Ink service, it can be very cheap to run. The single paper tray is, however, a real drawback when it comes to high print volumes and sharing, and businesses with more than a handful of users are better off with something a little more flexible in this respect.
Beau HD compares the Google Nexus 9 against the Dell Venue 8 7000 in terms of real-world performance and speed. The Nexus 9 features a dual-core Nvidia Tegra K1 processor clocked at 2.3 GHz with a Kepler DX1 GPU and 2GB of RAM. The Dell Venue 8 7000 is equipped with a quad-core Intel Atom Z3580 CPU clocked at 2.3 GHz with a PowerVR G6430 GPU and 2GB of RAM.
When Android 5.0 was officially released to AOSP, HTC said that it would push Lollipop to the One (M7) and One (M8) in 90 days. And while it has updated some of its international One models to Android 5.0, other versions remain on KitKat with the February 1 deadline looming. As a result, HTC has decided to share an update on the matter.
Just a couple of weeks after Google posted the Android 5.0.2 factory image for the Wi-Fi-only Nexus 7 [2013], the same image for the LTE model has gone live as well.
The Android 5.0.2 factory images for the Nexus 7 [2013] (Mobile) and Nexus 7 [2012] (Mobile) are now live on Google’s developer website. The images are build LRX22G, the same as the other 5.0.2 factory images that are available.
Nokia and Microsoft have released several wireless charging plates and battery packs in the past, and today there’s one more that you can buy.
Chrome OS has revolutionized the way we look at "inexpensive" and "capable" in the computing world. After producing some truly long lasting laptops, including the Acer Chromebook 13, the Taiwanese electronics maker has turned its attention to desktops with the Chromebox CXI.
No bigger than most wireless routers, the Chromebox CXI brings Google's cloud-based OS to desktops. Of course, small family computers aren't a novel concept. Mini-ITX systems equipped with only a bare minimum of components have long existed. Similarly Intel has also introduced its own line of compact computers with the NUC and then there's also the all-in-one LG Chromebase.
Starting at $179 (£178, about AU$230), the Acer Chromebox CXI is a wonderfully affordable way of turning any monitor or HDTV into a capable computer.
The Acer Chromebox CXI looks best standing up and, for a simple plastic box, it's quite attractive. The exterior of the unit is adorned with a diamond-like engraved texture that's a refreshing change to the usual slab of matte plastic on most Chrome OS devices.
The miniature computer is also about the size of a small paperback book. The unit's small footprint makes it easy to place anywhere, whether you're standing it vertically next to a monitor or placing it horizontally into a small corner of your desk.
Users can also attach the Chromebox CXI onto a small stand accessory with rubber feet to prevent it from sliding off surfaces. Alternatively, the small Chrome OS desktop comes with a fully metal VESA mounting bracket, which allows the device to hook onto the back of a monitor or HDTV, turning displays into a makeshift all-in one PC.
Looking around the device, you'll also notice the Chromebox CXI is outfitted an abundance of ports. In the front we have two USB 3.0 ports with a SD card reader. Around back there are another two additional USB 3.0 ports along with a DisplayPort as well as HDMI.
The position of some of the ports also ends up ruining part of the Chromebox's design. Firstly, Acer chose to put the headphone and microphone combo jack on the back. My other issue lies with the hard L-shaped power that plugs into the back, which just ends up sticking out whether you place the unit on its side or standing up. It's an unfortunate design choice that detracts from the CXI's otherwise clean look.
The Chromebox CXI ships with an included mouse and keyboard that are surprisingly more than decent considering the low price of this overall package.The keyboard is firm and solid despite being entirely made of plastic. What's more, the action on the keys feels nice and springy, with each button traveling approximately two centimeters when depressed.
Similarly, the mouse is more than serviceable with audibly clicky buttons. The sides of the peripheral also feature a dimpled texture, which adds a bit more for users to hold onto with a claw-style mouse grip.
Of course, you're free to hook up any peripherals you see fit. The Chromebox had no qualms with connecting to my gaming keyboard or gaming mouse. I was also able to easily pair a set of Wearhaus Arc bluetooth headphones with the Chrome OS desktop.
The Chromebox CXI is a very compact package measuring 1.3 x 5.1 x 6.5 inches overall. The Intel NUC, on the other hand, is more of a squared off puck with 4.6 x 4.4 x 2 inch dimensions. The LG Chromebase is by far the largest device next to these two micro PCs, thanks to it's included 21.5-inch display. As such, you'll need to clear off some more room on your desk to make way for the 20.8 x 15.6 x 7.4 inch all-in-one.
Here is the Acer Chromebox CXI configuration given to TechRadar for review:
Spec Sheet
For this review Acer, shipped us the top of the line version of the Chromebox CXI with 4GB of RAM – double the base unit's still decent 2GB of memory – which normally retails for $219 (£195, AU$359). All configurations share the same 1.4GHz Intel Celeron 2957U processor with integrated HD graphics, and 16GB of SSD storage.
The LG Chromebase, unsurprisingly, comes at a much steeper $319 (£250, AU$599) premium on Amazon. However, dropping the extra 100 clams nets you a decent 1,920 x 1,080 IPS panel outfitted with a very similar 1.4GHz Intel Celeron 2955U processor with 16GB of SSD storage, but only 2GB of RAM.
Users looking for a completely barebones computing experience can pick up the Intel NUC DN2820FYKH for $134 (£99, AU$159) at Newegg. It's the cheapest device in this bunch, but keep in mind it only comes with the hardware inside, which includes a 2.13GHz Intel Celeron N2820 processor with 1GB of RAM, and that's it. Users will have to supply their own keyboard, mouse, screen, operating system and even the storage device.
Despite being powered by just an 1.4GHz Intel Celeron chip, the Acer Chromebox CXI is no slouch. The compact computer handily kept up with an intense web browsing session in which I opened 30 Chrome tabs open across three browser windows while streaming Google Play Music and editing images in yet another window streaming the Photoshop beta for Chrome OS.
The Acer Chromebox also had no problems driving a 1,920 x 1,200 display and playing YouTube clips, Jack Reacher on Netflix or local HD files I had on tap.
After living a week mostly using just Chrome OS, the Acer Chromebox CXI proved to be solid for micro computer at home and work life. There still a few notable omissions in Google's cloud-based world – most notably gaming and media playback – that will make a Chrome OS desktop unappealing to all users.
But for those who need a no frills home computing experience for relatively little money, the Acer Chromebase CXI is an easily recommended option.
The Acer Chromebox CXI is an attractive little system. The Chrome OS desktop's inherently small shape makes it easy to place anywhere on or off a desk already littered with electronics. What's more, if you have a spare screen on hand, this is an affordable way to add yet another capable computer to the house.
I was pleasantly surprised with how well the Chromebox CXI handled itself despite running with some rather meager components. Whether it was opening 30 Chrome tabs, streaming 1080p YouTube videos or editing images in the Photoshop streaming beta, this little rig rose to the challenge and performed admirably.
I only have a few nitpicky issues with the Chromebox CXI. The position of the ports could use bit of revision, especially with the headphone port being located around back. Additionally, it's hard to hide the power cord. And finally, the small fan on the back of the Chromebox can wind up to an annoying whir in a quiet room.
The Acer Chromebox CXI was made with affordability with mind for users whose digital lives gravitate to the web, and it delivers spectacularly on this promise. For $219 (£195, AU$359), this compact Chrome desktop comes at a major bargain compared to building your own mini computer.
Of course, users who don't have a spare display lying around should look to the LG Chromebase for a more complete all-in-one PC package. Conversely, the barebones NUC comes with the absolute bare minimum leaving users with greater freedom, and expense, to supply all the other essentials, including everything from a storage drive and OS to the keyboard and mouse.
The Acer Chromebox CXI fits into a neat middle ground. It's the perfect device for users who want a smaller device that they can plug into nearly any screen and peripheral setup, with the simplicity of Chrome OS.
I discovered the Koss Porta Pro headphones while I was in college. Oblivious to their decades-old legacy, I found satisfaction in these headphones primarily for their budget-friendly price, but also their ear-opening performance, which offered a higher-quality sound than I was used to.
Fast forward to 2015, the Porta Pro are in their 31st year of manufacturing. At the same time, the Milwaukee, Wis.-based company has marched forward into the world of wireless with the BT540i. At $199 (about £176, AU$256 through international shipping), can these flagship wireless headphones provide the near-perfect balance of value, build-quality and sound performance to kick it with today's innovative competition?
Right off the bat, it's fair to say that the BT540i don't make a loud fashion statement. It's not trying to. The BT540i delivers a favorably plain, but very streamlined design that is eye-catching.
Included in the zip-up carrying case is the BT540i, along with a 3.5mm cable for alternative wired listening and a micro USB charging cable.
Black matte plastic with hints of brushed metal make up the finer details found on the flexible earcups. Moving them around in my hands, the BT540i have a generous range of motion, allowing them to perform a full 180-degree lateral swivel. If you, like me, have a hefty cranium that tests the limits of most hats, you'll be A-OK with the fit of the BT540i.
The functionality of the BT540i is all crammed into the right earcup. Moving your fingers around the outside ring of the cup reveals the 3.5mm input for wired listening, the Micro USB port and the unit's buttons (5 in total with one on/off switch that also toggles Bluetooth discover functionality). The buttons jut out a few centimeters, just enough to feel them with your fingertips, but they're barely noticeable from an onlooker perspective.
The hinges are located just above the earcups. The metal detail capping each end looks fantastic, but doesn't makes a lick of difference in the tensile strength of the already heavy-duty plastic hinges.
Finally, the metal-reinforced headband is covered in leather on the top. The underside of the band is fluffy and soft with cushion wrapped in a material that feels like felt cloth.
Good design is important. A healthy set of features is too. But what commonly detriments an otherwise appealing product is when there's too much pizazz in place of an absence of performance. Can the Koss BT540i strike this balance without sacrifice?
Something sounded familiar with the BT540i. The drivers are Koss' own unique PLX40 drivers, but the sound signature I enjoyed in the Porta Pro is back, but better than ever in these wireless headphones.
Comparing the new BT540i to the aging, but still great Porta Pros won't do us much good anymore. It's time to leave nostalgia behind. What matters more is how the BT540i ranks up against some of the prominent contenders in the wireless headphone space.
For the price, it's tough to beat these Koss headphones. I was tickled how spot-on the sound was. The stunning clarity at which the lows, mids and highs present their accuracy can be heard with this music sample, "Love Cry" by Four Tet.
The BT540i presents a natural, balanced sound that steers clear of being too bass or treble-heavy. It's a sound signature that I enjoy, but it's not quite what some of my colleagues in the office were looking for. There are, undoubtedly, many of you who also prefer a warmer sound that leans more on the low-end, or a cooler sound that's more mid-rich.
Battery performance and Bluetooth connectivity fared well through more sedentary day-to-day operation like sitting at my work desk. They also delivered through more frantic activity like speed-walking through my commute. Some tests proved that connecting via NFC was a little difficult, but still possible. Call clarity was clear and the dual microphones helped to transmit my voice without feeling the need to shout.
The Koss BT540i are a winning option if you're looking for a set of headphones that pump out great sound. They're an even better option if you're also in the market for wireless headphones that won't break the bank and can stand up well to the scrutiny of everyday use.
The button layout on the right earcup takes some effort to learn. Since it's out of sight, errors will occur until you warm up to it.
I was a little buggered by the finicky NFC-connectivity, which was really hit or miss with the NFC-enabled HTC One. After 5 minutes of awkwardly smacking the phone against the BT540i, it connected. A very inelegant solution to what shouldn't be a problem at all.
The BT540i don't offer the most innovative list of features for a modern set of wireless headphones, especially when compared to flashy alternatives like the JBL Synchros S400BT. If you're looking to spend even less money, check out the JBL Synchros E40BT, which we liked a lot for under $100.
On the other hand, if you're jonesing for premium features, like active noise cancellation, prepare to pony up to $250 for the Plantronics BackBeat Pro. Ultimately, at $200, the Koss BT540i work superbly and are a fantastic value for anyone looking for a straight-shooting set of wireless headphones.
