Specifications: Intel Core i5 (8250U) 1.6Ghz, Intel HD Graphics 620, 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD, 13.9-inch IPS LCD 3840 x 2160 pixels with Dolby Vision (touchscreen), rotating soundbar with Dolby Atmos, 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt), 3.5mm audio combo jack, USB 3.1, fingerprint scanner, 720p webcam, dual antenna WiFi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, 1.4kg
Pros: Stylish all metal + glass design, capacitive fingerprint scanner, includes full size USB port, glass trackpad, lightweight, built in stylus with silo, webcam security slider
Cons: Expensive, glass lid prone to smudging, scratching & breakage, bulky power adapter
The Yoga range of convertible laptops from Lenovo has been around for over six years now. The previous generation Yoga C920 is still fresh in memory and quite a desirable machine, thanks to the unique watchband hinge design. This latest version does away with the watchband, placing a rotating soundbar in its place.
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The design is a conventional convertible — by that we mean the screen swivels around a full 360 degrees to enable different usage modes. The ‘Glass’ in the name means that this is a special edition of the C930 with a glass lid instead of metal. The glass is super glossy and has a dotted wave design. Honestly, we prefer the understated look of brushed metal compared to the glass. Not to mention the glass also attracts a lot of smudges/fingerprints.
Lenovo Yoga C930 Glass The rest of the machine (sides, palmrest, bottom) feels very premium with cool brushed metal surfaces in iron grey. They’ve managed to fit in a 13.9-inch screen in a form factor that normally houses a 13.3-inch display. The top and side bezels around the screen are thinner but the bottom bezel is quite hefty. To be fair, it also gives you space to hold the machine when in tablet mode. A surprise addition is the active stylus that slots into the machine itself. The stylus works well, has left/ right click buttons, is sensitive to tilt/pressure and charges when housed in its silo. But it is a tad smaller than the usual stylus.
The rotating soundbar in this laptop is a first. Normally, speakers face the user but when you switch to tent or tablet mode, the sound is directed away from you. The soundbar in the Yoga C930 is part of the hinge itself so it doesn’t block the sound. Why has no one thought of this before? There are a total of four Dolby Atmos speakers in the machine: two tweeters in the soundbar and two down-firing speakers in the base of the machine.
The keys are slightly concave, nicely spaced and the feel is good — although key travel is less than what you would get on a larger laptop. They also have even white backlighting with two levels of brightness adjustment. Coming to the screen, our review unit was a 4K IPS panel with touch and Dolby Vision enhancements. We found that the screen has colours that pop and deeper contrast — great for all types of multimedia.
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Lenovo Yoga C930 Glass As for ports, we weren’t expecting much from a thin & light (1.4kg) convertible but were surprised to see a full size USB 3.1 port. It also has a 3.5mm combo audio jack and two USB type C ports (both Thunderbolt). It also charges via USB-C and the adapter is rated at 65 watts.
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Performance from the Core i5 is good for all sorts of use (even light gaming), helped along by the speedy flash storage and ample RAM. It delivers good battery life too: between 9 to 10 hours on WiFi with regular use.
If you’re looking for a premium convertible laptop, we also like HP’s Spectre x360. There are two sizes available (13.3 and 15-inch) in multiple configurations. The Spectre 15-inch is cheaper, has a unique design, metal lid and offers better specs (Core i7 8th gen, 16GB, 512GB, 4K IPS touch panel, Radeon RX vega M graphics) for Rs 1,67,000.
Not all innovative tech is launched by big brands. Crowdfunding is a great way that small companies with big ideas can get the cash they need to get started.
ET rounds up some of his current favourites.
Not all innovative tech is launched by big brands. Crowdfunding is a great way that small companies with big ideas can get the cash they need to get started.ET rounds up some of his current favourite..
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A multi-screen computer setup offers several advantages for work and play. This is easy to do in your home or at the office but what about when you’re travelling or working out of a café? For such instances, Taihe Gemini is a portable 15.6-inch touchscreen display which weighs just 900 grams. You can get it in full HD (touchscreen) or 4K (non touch) resolution and it has a metal kickstand design to prop up at any viewing angle. Depending on the version you choose, it can have HDMI, USB Type-C, mini DisplayPort, 3.5mm audio and multiple USB ports (UHD variant only) for connectivity. You don’t have to worry about power because the Gemini has a built-in battery for up to 5 hours of backup. You can use it in landscape or portrait mode with your laptop, phone or console in mirror mode or as a second display. It’s currently on Kickstarter and the full HD variant is for US$ 219 while the 4K variant is US$ 299 with shipping estimated to begin in May 2019.
(Image: www.kickstarter.com)
A multi-screen computer setup offers several advantages for work and play. This is easy to do in your home or at the office but what about when you’re travelling or working out of a café? For such i..
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Only when you get a good laptop stand will you realize the difference it makes in terms of ergonomics. Trouble is, laptop stands are large and heavy — you don’t really want to add that weight to your existing laptop, especially if you move around a lot. MOFT is the world’s first invisible laptop stand that sticks to your laptop without adding much bulk. It’s made using polyurethane and fiberglass — you shouldn’t notice the 3mm thickness and 65 gram weight at all. It can be adjusted to raise the laptop up by 2 to 3.2-inches. MOFT works with laptops with up to 15.6-inch screens and uses removable glue to attach/detach without leaving residue. You can get it in four colours: gold, rose gold, silver & grey. At the time of writing, it has already been 22535% funded on Indiegogo. You can get your order in for US$ 19 with delivery in April 2019.
(Image: www.kickstarter.com)
Only when you get a good laptop stand will you realize the difference it makes in terms of ergonomics. Trouble is, laptop stands are large and heavy — you don’t really want to add that weight to you..
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It may look like a fat whiteboard marker but Zanco’s Smart Pen is actually several devices in one. They claim it’s the world’s thinnest mobile phone (it’s a feature phone but has a 0.96-inch colour display). It also has physical number and navigation buttons. Other features include a nano SIM slot, microSD slot for storage, 3.5mm jack, built-in dual mics, a call receiver speaker, loudspeaker, front camera and rear camera. For connectivity, it has Bluetooth 3.0 using which it can connect with a smartphone and act as Bluetooth headset. Not to forget, it also works as a touchscreen stylus, a laser pointer, voice recorder, Mp3/Mp4 player and has a voice changer feature. Battery life is about 6 hours on a single charge. At the time of writing, the project has already been funded and you can pre-order one for US$ 59 + shipping with delivery expected in April 2019.
(Image: www.kickstarter.com)
It may look like a fat whiteboard marker but Zanco’s Smart Pen is actually several devices in one. They claim it’s the world’s thinnest mobile phone (it’s a feature phone but has a 0.96-inch colour ..
Read More
If you want a 100-inch or larger screen using a projector, you would need one of those heavy, bulky devices that consume a lot of power. The Piqo pocket projector changes this notion by projecting a 240-inch screen from a 2-inch size cube that weighs only 210 grams! It has full HD resolution, 200 lumens brightness (most pocket projectors only do 100 Lumens) and even has automatic keystone adjustment so that you get the best possible picture. It has HDMI input, 3.5mm audio out, a microSD card slot, USB port for media playback, plus WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. There are touch controls on top, built in speakers, a quad core processor, 16GB internal storage and a 5-hour battery life. Moreover, the projector is Android powered — you can install apps from Google Play Store and watch content without connecting any device. At the moment, the projector is available for an early bird price of US$ 349 on Indiegogo (Rs 25,000 approx.) with delivery expected in May 2019.
(Image: www.piqoprojector.com)
If you want a 100-inch or larger screen using a projector, you would need one of those heavy, bulky devices that consume a lot of power. The Piqo pocket projector changes this notion by projecting a ..
Read More
With mobile gaming on an all-time high (thanks to games like PUBG), there is a lot of interest in smartphone gaming accessories. There are gaming docks and controllers available, but nothing looks quite like the Muja gaming pad. It sticks to the back of your phone using suction cups, connects over Bluetooth and is compatible with iOS and Android. This design ensures that the phone does not overheat. The touchpad is divided into four zones which can be customized for any controls. You get front as well as rear controls which is handy for FPS games. Muja has a built-in 450mAh battery which should last about 56 hours of gameplay on a single charge. The company behind the gamepad, HandScape Inc, will be offering it at a 50% discount compared to standard retail price when it goes live for funding in February 2019 on Indiegogo.
(Image: www.indiegogo.com)
With mobile gaming on an all-time high (thanks to games like PUBG), there is a lot of interest in smartphone gaming accessories. There are gaming docks and controllers available, but nothing looks q..
