S!ickLeave a commentTechtalkRadio, , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Windows notebook to compete with Chromebooks?

It’s being reported that specifications for a Windows competitor to Chromebooks, for around $200, have been found…

I feel a strong need to comment on this issue. I’ve owned a Chromebook. And many “low-end” notebook computers. And have tried to use outdated computer hardware (notebooks and desktops) with various operating systems. Before you spend your money, I want to try to help you with your decisions about what to buy…and what not to buy.

The information about the possible upcoming HP Stream Notebook PC was publicized by http://www.mobilegeeks.de/hp-stream-199-dollar-notebook-kommt-mit-14-inch-display-amd-plattform-100-gb-onedrive-alle-details/

It should have a 14-inch screen. Anything less, and I have felt a bit cramped…as I do when using a netbook, or a large (10-inch) tablet with a keyboard. The keyboard on my Asus C7 Chromebook was smaller than a standard one. I was not comfortable using it over long periods of time.

The processor in the HP Stream is expected to be a quad-core AMD A4 Micro-6400T. When using Chrome OS, AND Windows, I have no complaints about the performance of dual-core processors…UNTIL:

I am trying to watch video, or stream something from the internet (including YouTube)…
I use multiple applications/programs and browsers…
I have multiple tabs open in a browser…
and I try to use some websites where they are heavy with whatever it is they feel the need to bombard me with (video/graphics, “dancing baloney”, etcetera).

I will never invest my money in any computer (or tablet) with less than a quad-core processor, and expect it to be able to reasonably render multimedia content. I’ve been very, very disappointed. (I have a notebook computer with Windows 7, 8 GB RAM, and it has a quad-core processor which I have no complaints about. I don’t like using my other computers that have Windows 7 and 8, 8 GB RAM, and dual-core processors in them: they lag and drag when I am using them with the internet.)

The HP Stream will probably come with only 2 GB RAM, that cannot be upgraded. We will all need to wait to find how this configuration might perform. There are Chromebooks available with 4 GB RAM, but none I’m aware of with quad-core processors.

If, as expected, it has at least a 32 GB drive…this will be a great incentive. I read a report from someone who was trying to download content from Google Play Movies & TV to his Chromebook ( https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-play-movies-tv/gdijeikdkaembjbdobgfkoidjkpbmlkd?hl=en ) but could not, because it had only a 16 GB storage drive.

A screen-shot of the specifications that were found is at http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/h/www.mobilegeeks.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/605x1165xhp-stream-specs.gif.pagespeed.ic.YcCSaefr99.png

======================

I found a review that gave me answers to some questions I have about the more “powerful” Chromebooks…and I want to warn you about them:

“…Samsung…Chromebook 2 uses Samsung’s latest Exynos 5 chip…along with 4GB of RAM…It does fine as long as I’m only doing one thing at a time, but as soon as I open a bunch of tabs in rapid succession or try to stream music while I power through my RSS feeds, the Chromebook 2 starts to chug…

“…A number of manufacturers are working to put Intel’s latest chips into similarly priced Chromebooks, and every one I’ve tried works faster than this one. These devices don’t need to be exceptional, but before we’ll ever get any work done on Chrome OS they must keep up; the Chromebook 2 feels like it was running two steps behind me all the time, red-faced and breathing heavily.

“…I can’t imagine ever recommending a Chromebook without an Intel processor…

“…I can’t work on a laptop that can’t keep up with me — and I wouldn’t recommend anyone else do so either…”

http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/10/5788934/samsung-chromebook-2-review

 

 

S!ickLeave a commentTTR Website, , , , , , ,

New Kindles…watch video while offline!

There are new Kindle Fire tablets:

All-New Kindle Fire HD 7″ Tablet
7″ HD Display, Wi-Fi, 8GB or 16GB
$139.00

All-New Kindle Fire HDX 7″ Tablet
7″ HDX Display, Wi-Fi, Optional 4G LTE Wireless, 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB
$229.00

All-New Kindle Fire HDX 8.9″ Tablet
8.9″ HDX Display, Wi-Fi, Optional 4G LTE Wireless, 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB
$379.00

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CU0NSCU/ref=sd_allcat_kdpso#kindle-compare

The HD has a dual-core processor; the HDX tablets have quad-core processors.  I can tell the difference in performance of the two types…maybe because I can be consided a “power user” of all kinds of technology (computers, phones, and tablets)  and tend to push them to their limits.  If you intend on using them in in situations that pertain to heavy video and graphic uses…get the quad-core units.

What’s more impressive to me, is the enhancement to Amazon Prime:

“Prime members can now download hundreds of Prime Instant Video movies and TV shows to watch anywhere—on a plane, on vacation, or in the car. Prime Instant Video is the only U.S. online video subscription streaming service that offers offline viewing, and it’s included at no additional cost.”

======================================

After composing this post, I found viewing Amazon Prime content offline has been available via iOS:

“Download purchased and rented videos from Your Video Library for offline viewing on airplanes, road trips, or when a Wi-Fi connection is unavailable…

“…Requires iOS 5.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch…”

S!ickLeave a commentTTR Website, , , , , , , ,

new Kindles…

There’s too much to try to summarize…the press releases can be found at:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1732545&highlight=

and…

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1732546&highlight=

—————————————————————

Other press releases you might find interesting are promoting:

Audible and Amazon Introduce “Immersion Reading” and “Whispersync for Voice”—Two Momentous Steps Forward for Reading

Introducing “X-Ray for Movies,” Powered by IMDb and Available Exclusively on the All-New Kindle Fire Family

Amazon Publishing Introduces Kindle Serials—Great Stories, One Episode at a Time

Amazon and EPIX Announce New Prime Instant Video Agreement – Prime Instant Video Selection has more than Doubled since the Launch of Kindle Fire Last Year

Amazon Announces Expanded Prime Instant Video Agreement with NBCUniversal Cable & New Media Distribution

Amazon Brings Award Winning ESPN 30 for 30 Film Series to Prime Instant Video

Amazon Launches Textbook Rental

Amazon Instant Video App Now Available for iPad

On Prime Instant Video First: Amazon Announces Digital Video License Agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, Bringing Acclaimed TV Shows

Exclusively to Kindle Fire and Prime Customers

Hundreds of Classic TV and Movie Titles from MGM Coming to Prime Instant Video

Amazon Instant Video Now Available on Xbox 360, with Access to ‘Your Video Library’ and Prime Instant Video

Hundreds of Critically-Acclaimed and Blockbuster Films from Paramount Pictures Coming to Prime Instant Video

They can be found at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-news&nyo=0

 

S!ickLeave a commentTTR Website, , , , ,

Slice and dice MP3s really nice!

I’m impressed…and that’s not easy to do, ’cause I tend to want too much.

A press release was sent to me about the MP3 Toolkit:

“…a free and powerful Windows app includes MP3 converter, CD ripper, tag editor, MP3 cutter, MP3 merger and MP3 recorder for users who want to handle MP3 files easier.

“You can use MP3 Toolkit to convert audio…fix tag information, rip Audio CD, record sound or merge audio pieces to a complete MP3 file.”

Yeah, yeah, yeah…I’ll install it and check it out…one day.

That day did come…it was at 5 A.M. that day (finding free time ain’t easy with my schedules)…

“MP3 Recorder is designed to…record any sound from the microphone to standard MP3 format without any limitation on length. Also it’s possible to record streaming audio provided that the sound card supports sound mixing…select sample rate, bitrate and channels…”

“CD to MP3 Ripper…choose bitrate, maximal VBR bitrate, encoding quality…rip the audio from CD to MP3, WMA, APE or WAV…”

“MP3 Converter…MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, FLAC, AC3, AAC or AMR…customize other settings such as bitrate, rate, audio channel…It can also extract the audio stream from popular video formats like MP4, FLV, AVI, etc.”

“MP3 Merger…select files in MP3, WAVE, FLAC or OGG, specify the output settings such as bitrate, rate, audio channel…offers a batch mode that enables merging multiple files in the fully unattended manner…”

“MP3 Cutter…It also has the ability to cut a part of music from a video file, or a movie.”

“MP3 Tag Editor…It supports all ID3v1 and ID3v2 versions. Also, the editor will allow you to edit album photos and lyrics.”

I’ve been looking for something like this: I want to record audio “letters” or “diaries”, stitch them together…and then send the file (or files).

(Some of the formats that are) Supported are…

MP3 Toolkit Input Audio/Video Formats:
AAC, AC3, AMR, ASF, APE, AVI, FLAC, FLV, MP4, M4V, M4P, MOV, M4A, MP3, MPG, MTV, OGG, RM, WAV, SWF, WMV, WMA

MP3 Toolkit Output Audio Formats:
MP3, AC3, AAC (Apple Audio), OGG, AMR, WMA, FLAC, APE, WAV, MPG (Audio)

MP3 Toolkit is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, 2003, VISTA and 7…and Windows 8.

http://www.mp3toolkit.com/

 

adminLeave a commentEntertainment, TTR Website, , , , , , , ,

Review and Video Posted on the WDTV Live Hub Media Center

Photo of the WD TV Live Hub
Andy Taylor reviews the WD TV Live Hub Media Center

Andy Taylor has posted a review of the Western Digital TV Live hub Media Center at TechtalkRadio in the Hardware section of the Site. Not only has he written a review focusing on the digital content sharing, he has also looked at the features that are included with the Storage and Media device that enable Music or Digital Movies downloaded and watched directly on the Television.

The HDMI capable device can allow for 1080p viewing of true HD video on those screen capable of viewing 1080p content. This is a great solution according to Andy for those that are using HD Video Camera yet lack the ability to burn the image to blu-ray. The content can be shared across the network or synched to the 1TB of storage with a removable flash or external drive.

The slim device is a nice fit for the entertainment center and Andy noted that the unit is wall mountable for those looking for more custom configurations in saving space. Not only can you read the review at the site but you can also listen to an interview that Andy Taylor did with Matt Bennion from Western Digital. Andy also shot a video for the Site which is also posted here. Feel free to share the link with your friends, especially if they are looking to add digital storage and easy playback on the Home Entertainment System.

For more Information or to read the Review – take a look at http://www.techtalkradio.com/hardware/wdtv.html