The Nexus 7 Review: Google's First Tablet Gets Benchmarked

Googles’s first tablet impresses in a big way. Light, lean, and packed with Jelly Bean, the low-priced Nexus 7 hits the sweet spot and plays all the right notes. If the “perfect” tablet is what you seek, the one-of-a-kind Nexus 7 might be it.

Despite the flurry of recent Google-branded device launches, I believe the company will have a hard time shaking the perception that it's primarily a software company, much like Amazon is a commerce company with a tablet device that makes it easier to spend money on Amazon. But what's Google's play in its Nexus 7?

Up until now, Google's many hardware partners have been the ones actually doing battle with Apple for market supremacy. This works out well for Google, though, freeing the company to focus on a more robust software ecosystem (fragmented as it might be) as its partners throw themselves at innovating on the hardware side.

As a result, what we have now is a remarkably diverse landscape of Android-based devices appealing to almost every need.

A perfect tablet, if there is such a thing, requires hardware and software that serve to complement each other. For example, Sony’s Tablet S is a multimedia buff’s dream because it includes so many home theater-inspired design cues. The Tablet S has a great audio setup, it's ergonomic, and it includes a built-in TV remote. Likewise, the Kindle Fire is perfect for Amazon addicts because its Android ecosystem is specifically modified to support all things Amazon. Hardware and software that appears to have been designed in concert creates a magic far greater than the individual pieces on their own.

And that's why Apple's tablets succeed. Apple is obsessed with controlling both sides of the design and manufacturing process. Could that have been Google's impetus for working more closely with a hardware partner on its own branded tablet?

Needless to say, the company's dramatic Nexus 7 unveiling at its I/O 2012 event came as no surprise. The Nexus 7 is Google's first official tablet offering. But it's the product of many lessons learned from a number of hardware partners, so we expect it to hit the ground running, without the teething pains observed from a number of other first-gen Android-based designs.

Tablet	Operating System	Screen Size	Resolution	Price
Nexus 7 (8 GB)	Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)	7"	1280x800	$199
Nexus 7 (16 GB)	Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)	7"	1280x800	$249
Kindle Fire (8 GB)	Customized Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)	7"	1024x600	$199

We think that the Nexus 7 is a very sexy-looking tablet. Its svelte design turns heads, as does its list of features, respectable 8 GB of storage capacity on the base model, and $199 price tag. It also appears as direct competition for Amazon's popular Kindle Fire. The main differentiator is that Google's Nexus 7 runs a completely unaltered version of Android 4.1, code-named Jelly Bean, giving it access to Google Play, a feature sorely lacking on the Kindle Fire.

Under the hood, Nexus 7 offers brawn to match its beauty, employing Nvidia's powerful Tegra 3 SoC. As we noted in Asus Transformer Prime TF201: A Tablet With A Higher Calling, Tegra 3 doesn't actually offer the best GPU performance, despite the chip's pedigree. However, Nvidia argues that the currently-available benchmarks aren't able to tap into the platform's potential. And it's telling to us that many of the more graphically-intensive games for Android are either optimized for or outright require Nvidia's hardware.

Specifications	Length	Width	Height	Screen Size	Resolution	Aspect Ratio	Weight
Google Nexus 7	7.8”	4.7”	0.41”	7”	1280x800	16:10	0.75 lb.
Amazon Kindle Fire	7.5"	4.7"	0.45"	7"	1024x600	16:10	0.89 lb.
Apple iPad 2 (3G)	9.5"	7.31"	.34"	9.7"	1024x768	4:3	1.33 lb.
Apple iPad 3 (3G)	9.5"	7.31"	.37"	9.7"	2048x1536	4:3	1.46 lb.
Motorola Xoom	9.8	6.6"	.5"	10.1"	1280x800	16:10	1.5 lb.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1	10.1"	6.9"	0.34"	10.1"	1280x800	16:10	1.3 lb.

More than anything else, we're impressed with the Nexus 7’s physical design. It was easy to fall in love with the Fire's 7" screen, and we immediately started eschewing the tablets sporting larger screens. They simply felt too cumbersome to carry around. But, like the Fire, Google's Nexus 7 makes it more mobile.

Both the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire are roughly the same size as a typical e-book reader. Amazon's Fire is a beefcake at 0.89 lb and 0.45” (11.4 mm) thick, though, whereas the Nexus 7 only weighs 0.75 lb. and measures 0.41” (10.45 mm) thick. The difference in weight doesn't appear so distinct, but it also doesn't convey how much more comfortable the Nexus 7 is to hold and use. The Kindle Fire's frame is squared-off and blocky, which frankly feels a little awkward. The Nexus 7 employs tapered and angular edges, with a textured rubber back cover.

Many folks find fault with the fact that Google's Nexus 7 lacks a rear-facing camera, but I think that's a completely unnecessary feature on a tablet. If I need to take a snapshot, I reach for a smartphone. The folks I've seen taking pictures in public places using tablets look ridiculous. Now, a front-facing camera is more important, since it can conceivably be used for videoconferencing. And the Nexus 7 includes a 1.2 MP sensor with a built-in microphone expressly for that purpose. The Kindle Fire, on the other hand, does not have a front-facing camera. Advantage, Google.

Introducing Nexus 7

The development history behind the Nexus 7 is shrouded in some mystery. It was originally known as Asus’ Eee Pad MeMo 370T, and if you flip the Nexus 7 over you'll find a label with the 370T model number. Google's Eric Schmidt stated the company would unveil a tablet back in December of 2011, and a year later, at CES 2012, Asus announced that it would sell its MeMo 370T for $249. Oddly, the MeMo 370T disappeared from view shortly after, and Asus acted as if its CES announcement never happened.

In retrospect, Google may have been impressed enough with the MeMo 370T that it contracted with Asus to produce the Nexus 7. Some have pointed out that Asus is an odd partner choice after Google acquired Motorola Mobility, but that merger was not completed until May 2012. The Nexus 7 would have had to be in development already.

Android 4.1 Makes Its Way to TouchPad via Cyanogenmod

HP's TouchPad gets a little taste of Jelly Bean.

Zoom

Now that the TouchPad has been left for dead yet again, with no open WebOS support, Cyanogenmod is becoming more and more tantalizing. Bargain shoppers who were able to snag the TouchPad during its fire sale were quickly given the ability to switch over to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) thanks to the active and charitable modding community.

Last month, Google released the source for Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), meaning the community has been hard at work porting the operating system to a variety of different tablets. Now, anybody that held out on purchasing a Nexus 7 because they already had a TouchPad will be pleased to learn they too can have aJelly Bean flavored tablet.

Android 4.1 Preview on HP Touchpad

Thanks to XDA Developers user "Jcsullins", any HP TouchPad owner will be able to install an unofficial CyanogenMod 10 preview build based on Google's Android 4.1. Of course, it is a preview so there are a large number of problems with the build, but you can be assured that these will all be corrected in the following weeks. If you're feeling adventurous, head on over the the RootzWiki page for detailed instructions on how to install the build.

Ultrabook buying guide: Does it make sense to buy one right now?

If you have been following the category of laptops closely in the past six months, then the word ‘Ultrabook’ wouldn’t have been lost on your ears. Yes, Ultrabook is a new sub-category within mainstream laptops that’s exploding all around us. Some industry experts are hailing it as the inevitable future of all laptops. 

But let’s not look too far into the future whileUltrabooks have surfaced around us just a few months ago. No one can deny the fact that as far as 2012 goes, Ultrabooks is the new buzzword of the laptop PC market. Here’s what you should know about an Ultrabook if you or your friends are contemplating to buy a new laptop soon.

What is an Ultrabook?
Intel defined netbooks very clearly back in 2007-2008 as mini-laptops with a small, compact form factor, ranging from screen size 10 to 11.6-inch, and all running some variant of Intel’s Atom processor. However, Ultrabooks aren’t categorized in such well-defined terms. Having reviewed the majority of the Ultrabooks launched in India, we know that these are mainly thin and light laptops that offer increased ultraportability without compromising on performance.

Other specific design and hardware attributes of an Ultrabook range from the MacBook Air-like unibody chassis that sports a sealed battery compartment for prolonged battery life; a low-powered variant of the latest Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processors with onboard graphics; and SSDs for storage, among other things.

How is it any different from a regular laptop we hear you ask? Well, for the most part, it isn’t. Compared to the netbook, which brought the 10-inch form factor to the masses and made it mainstream, Ultrabooks aren’t hugely different from laptops sold now or 5 years ago. In fact, they’re a natural progression of a category’s evolution and demands -- slimmer design, better performance, longer battery life. But it’s all packaged in a different marketing machine called the ‘Ultrabook.’

While there may be small differences between a regular laptop and an Ultrabook’s design and hardware, the biggest difference we see is from the manufacturers. Earlier, offering an ultraportable laptop for consumers was considered as essential to complete a range or portfolio of distinct laptops for a few well-established laptop manufacturers. But that isn’t the case anymore. Nearly every laptop manufacturer, including the ones who never before sold an ultraportable laptop, will launch an Ultrabook this year -- most of them are set to launch multiple variants -- and most have launched their first Ultrabooks already.

Why is that? It’s high on Intel’s agenda this year. In fact, according to Intel, 70% of new laptops launched this year will be Ultrabooks. Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and Toshiba have already launched their first Ultrabook laptops in India -- Acer was the first among the lot, while Dell joined the club only a few months ago. Most of them have a 13-inch form factor and a slim, ultraportable profile. I think the heaviest Ultrabook we’ve picked up weighed 1.5 kg, while the lightest was around 1.3 kg -- that’s the same weight as a 10-inch netbook!

We must say that we’re quite impressed by the overall capability of most Ultrabooks we tested, running on Intel’s Core i5 or Core i7 processor, they could easily match and, in some cases, surpass the performance offered by a 15-inch entertainment laptop. The HP Folio 13, especially, didn’t let its faster processor dampen its battery life score -- it lasted easily over 5 hours on a single charge -- a feat that most regular laptops will find hard or impossible to emulate. So yes, the excitement surrounding Ultrabooks is justified to a large extent.

Specs demystified
So you’re excited about buying an Ultrabook and dump your boring old laptop, but you’re not sure what to look for. What makes an Ultrabook special and rise above the levels achieved by regular laptops? We take a closer look at the essential specs that matter and what you should look for before buying your next Ultrabook.

1) CPU
As far as Ultrabooks go, the magic is all in the processor. Remember what we said earlier that similar to ‘netbook’, the original mini-laptops that surfaced back in 2007, the term ‘Ultrabook’ is something that’s coined by Intel. It is Intel that’s providing manufacturers with special processors to be used only in Ultrabooks. That was the case back in late 2011, when the first wave of Ultrabooks arrived sporting second generation “Sandy Bridge” Core processors, it is the case now with recently launched and upcoming Ultrabooks sporting Intel’s “Ivy Bridge” chips -- third generation of Core processors.

Almost all Ultrabooks we’ve seen so far either sport Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. Needless to say, these processors are quite powerful and are able to handle every-day apps and multi-tasking quite easily. They also provide very good HD 1080p video decoding for smooth movie playback. We don’t know if there’s a low-powered Core i3 processor-based Ultrabook up for grabs, but whether you’re a student, professional or home user, the Ultrabooks you buy will easily support your every-day task (apart from gaming). Another thing to remember that the minimum performance benchmark in an Ultrabook is always higher than a regular laptop of a previous generation. So despite the Ultrabook’s anorexic dimensions, there’s still more firepower locked inside its hardware than a regular laptop ever before.

2) RAM
A general rule of thumb for any PC, not just specific to Ultrabooks, is that the more RAM a PC has, the faster is its performance. In what way? Although apps and programs are installed on the physical hard drive, when they’re accessed or opened, the working parts of the program are fetched and loaded into the system memory or RAM. If two identical PCs have only differing quantity of RAM inside, the PC with greater RAM normally works a bit faster than the other.

Among all the Ultrabooks launched till now, we’ve seen a minimum of 4GB DDR3 RAM (clocked at 1333 MHz) as a standard. This is a good starting point to make the Ultrabook capable of handling almost all everyday tasks without a hitch. However, our advice to you would be to bump up the RAM (if possible) during the time of the purchase. Manufacturers usually have one or two SKUs (stock keeping unit) for every range of Ultrabook they launch -- they have slight differing specs from each other. If you get your hands on an Ultrabook that offers greater RAM, and if you can afford it, definitely go for it. We’ve heard from manufacturers that the cost of upgrading RAM during the point of sale is lower than upgrading it later in the product’s lifespan.

Of course, if you’re the tinkering type who likes to open their laptop and service them personally, buying a high-performance that’s supported by the Ultrabook chipset after purchasing the notebook is another option.

3) Storage
Can sleek, thin laptops have higher-capacity hard drives? Of course, they can, but what’s the point? Higher-capacity hard drives (750GB and above) are rare on mainstream laptops because they’re expensive -- but we’ve seen the Samsung Series 5 Ultrabook come equipped with a whopping 1TB internal hard drive. To add them on to an Ultrabook would just jack the prices of these premium laptops even higher.

We have seen Ultrabooks offer between 320 GB to 500 GB of storage, if they come with an internal hard drive. For Ultrabooks that sport a faster SSD, current norms dictate disk capacity between 128 GB to 256 GB. Manufacturers are very careful when it comes to offering Ultrabooks with SSD-only storage, because cost-per-GB of an SSD is still extremely high compared to a conventional, spinning hard drive. The decision that they have to make is whether the end consumer will be satisfied with a lower-capacity drive vis-a-vis a competing offering which has more storage, since speed of competing SSDs isn’t hugely different.

If you’re contemplating an Ultrabook purchase, understand one thing. To gain higher performance, an SSD completes the ‘holy triumvirate of performance’ when paired with a high-speed processor and fast RAM. If these three things are high-performing, your machine will be high-performing. For users who don’t want their Ultrabooks to break performance records, you’re much better off opting for an internal hard drive for a storage option. And guess what? That decision will help you save a few thousand dollars easily.

4) GPU
Should you buy an Ultrabook with on-board graphics or should you shell out a bit extra for that other Ultrabook which has the cool new GPU that everyone’s raving about? It’s an important buying decision, considering which direction you choose, for it has long-term implications on your Ultrabook’s usefulness.

Regular laptops are thick, clunky and have comparatively larger area to incorporate bigger volume of hardware. Designing Ultrabooks with a dedicated GPU isn’t exactly a cakewalk -- there are physical and thermal restraints that just can’t be breached. So you have two types of GPU options on an Ultrabook (actually, on any other laptop as well): onboard and discrete. As you’d expect onboard GPU is provided by the chip manufacturer (in this case, Intel) while discrete ones are embedded onboard via third-party graphics chips.

Third-party graphics processing units have come a long way since Nvidia showcased its GeForce 256 all the way back in 1999. NVIDIA and AMD recently released their GeForce 600M and 7000M mobility GPUs, respectively, for use in modern Ultrabooks and laptops. Both manufacturers are extremely competent and both have their pros and cons. Unfortunately, as far as Ultrabooks is confirmed, which GPU you end up with isn’t wholly dependent on your choice alone. For unlike desktop PCs, where you can remove and replace one card after another, that simply isn’t possible on an Ultrabook or a laptop. It may so happen, going by the variety of Ultrabook SKUs launched in the market, that you may like the GPU on one machine but not the choice of processor, or vice versa.

But one thing’s for sure. If you have intentions of gaming with the latest games on your brand new Ultrabook, definitely opt for one that has either NVIDIA or AMD graphics. If you aren’t so enthusiastic about gaming, let me assure you the onboard Intel graphics is more than sufficient for your use.

5) Screen
The early Ultrabooks that were launched late last year sported machines that had a fixed form factor -- 13-inch. For some unspecified reason, the first wave of Ultrabooks only came with 13.3-inch screens. They ignored all other form factors. But Samsung and HP launched 14-inch variants, respectively, earlier this year and recently Lenovo also announced their first 14-inch Ultrabook for the Indian market -- the Lenovo IdeaPad U410 -- and so has Dell.

It’s commendable that screen sizes are getting bigger with Ultrabooks. But what’s disappointing is apart from the Asus Zenbook UX31HE, I can’t remember a single other manufacturer whose Ultrabook has a higher-resolution display. Everyone seems to have accepted that 1366x768 pixel resolution is good enough, only Asus’ Zenbook packed higher pixels-per-inch (1600x900) compared to any other Ultrabook with a similar form factor (13-inch). At least for 14 and 15-inch Ultrabooks, the industry should consider introducing higher-resolution displays.

For consumers thinking of buying an Ultrabook with a bright screen, pick one that has an LED-backlit display. We highly recommend going to a digital store like Croma or Reliance to first-hand experience your future Ultrabook’s screen quality -- pay attention to viewing angles, brightness, contrast, and richness of colours being displayed. Almost all Ultrabook displays are glossy in nature, but if you manage to find one that has an anti-glare coating, nothing like it.

Top seven games to look out for in August 2012

Finally, gaming season looks to be livening up. July was a relatively dry month for gamers and many of us got bored running through our old collection of games. 

If you are one who has been saving money to spend on some awesome games, be prepared to burn a hole in your pocket, as August is one month that is seeing the launch of some really good games.

The genres too are quite diverse from FPS to action and even adventure games. Add to the mix a classic trilogy remastered in HD and you have a variety of games that will appeal not only to newcomers but veteran gamers alike.

Here is our pick of seven games to watch out for in August 2012.

1. Darksiders 2

Words cannot describe how excited we are to get our hands on Darksiders 2. The game will launch in the second half of the month and this time around, players will don the role of Death. The story of the game takes place in the same timeline as the first so fans of the franchise will feel right at home.

Filled with new maps, weapons and an arsenal of new movies, death is on a journey to save his brother, War (the lead protagonist from the first game), who has been blamed for starting the apocalypse. Death must find proof that his brother is innocent.

Gamers can don the role of the grim reaper on the Xbox 360 and the PS3 for Rs. 2,599 and for Rs. 999 on the PC.

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2. Sleeping Dogs

Developed by Square Enix, Sleeping Dogs is inspired by classic Hollywood and Asian cinema style action thrillers. The game is a gritty open-world cop drama set Hong Kong. Gamers will don the role of an undercover cop, Wei Shen, whose task is to take down a criminal organization from the inside.

The game gives players the ability to perform a set of martial arts moves and a cinematic set of environmental takedowns.

Players who liked Batman Arkham City will feel right at home in Sleeping Dogs as the game employs the same free flowing combat system.

Undercover gamers can pick up this thriller for Rs. 2,599 for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 and for Rs. 999 for the PC.

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3. Counter Strike Global Offensive (CS: GO)

After what feels like a decade of waiting, CS: GO will finally hit store shelves in the second half of August. One of the best features about the game that kept us excited was the ability to play cross platform. Unfortunately, this feature has been removed. The only solace is that cross-play will be maintained between the PC and Mac. The new Valve game will however launch on the PC, Xbox 360 and the PS3. The PS3 version of the game will also receive Move support.

CS: GO will offer players new characters, maps and weapons along with new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leader boards, and more.

Gamers can pick up CS: GO for Rs. 699 on the PC

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4. Transformers Fall of Cybertron

If you were unhappy with Michel Bay’s last Transformers film, fear not. A Transformer game is here to save the day. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron takes fans through the finale of the war between the Autobots and Decepticons. The fight for Cybertron is coming to an end and the planets eminent destruction is upon gamers.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is a third person action game where players can don the role of their favourite Autobot or Decepticon, or even better, create their own character with in-depth customization options from the vehicles they can transform into to their weapons and special abilities.

Gamers can pick up Transformers: Fall of Cybertron for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 for Rs. 2,999.

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5. Ratchet and Clank Collection

The furry Lombax, Ratchet, and his wisecracking sidekick robot, Clank, are bringing their classic PS2 outing exclusively to the PS3. This trilogy of Ratchet & Clank classics contains Ratchet & Clank, Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, and Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal – all remastered in 1080p for the PlayStation 3 with additional upgrades such as Trophy and 3D support.

The classic trilogy will be available towards the end of the month on the PS3 for RS. 2199.

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6. Journey Collector’s Edition

The Journey Collector’s Edition will launch exclusively for the PS3. This is the first disc-based release, and will be available at for just $29.99 (Rs. 1,700) on August 28. The disc will contain the three games that have been made by thatgamecompany – Journey, Flower and flOw.

The complete set of bonus flOw, Flower, and Journey content includes:

• Thirty-minute behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of Journey
• Creator commentary alongside play-throughs of all three games
• Three exclusive mini-games from thatgamecompany
• Concept art and screenshot galleries for all three games
• Original soundtracks for all three games
• PS3 dynamic themes and wallpapers
• PSN avatars including eight exclusive new Journey avatars never released before
• Official game trailers and developer diary videos
• Reversible cover art

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7. Deadlight

A side scrolling survival horror game, Deadlight feels like a mixture of Limbo and Shadow Gun. The game is downloadable from the Xbox Live Marketplace for $15 (Rs. 835 approx.).

Set in 1986, you done the role of the lead protagonist who has survived the zombie apocalypse and is on a mission to survive. The game is a mixture of running, jumping, traversing hazardous environments and of course occasionally shooting zombies.

Top five apps for London Olympics 2012 followers

We are well and truly into the Olympic Games. Which has given us the time to try and test a bevy of apps that claim to deliver the best from London right on to your handset or tablet.

And when the dust settled, these five apps stood out from the Olympics app crowd (note: we are not including the NBC and BBC Olympic apps because they are not available to Indian users at the time of writing)

London 2012 Olympics Official Results (iOS, Android, BB and Windows Phone)
Yes, we know official apps tend to be a tad unwieldy and not too sleek in terms of presentation, but at the end of the day, nothing quite beats getting the news from the horse’s mouth. We have found the Official app to be very brisk, if often a trifle bare-boned in its coverage of events - the updates seem relatively dull and the player profiles are very limited and sometimes incomplete (Saina Nehwal’s height and weight were “not provided”). We would have liked more spice and more colour, but at the end of the day, the sheer speed and comprehensiveness of the app are more than enough to park in the must-have category for all Olympic followers. The perfect app to get the latest from London - and we love the fact that it is available on most smartphones and tablets.

Available from: iTunes App Store, Google Play, BlackBerry App World, Windows MarketPlace

Reuters London Olympics 2012 (iOS)
We know Reuters best for blazingly fast news updates but the folks seem to have borrowed a page out of The Guardian’s iPad App Book (remember the phenomenal Eyewitness app) and come out with an image rich app for the iPad. The app shows the events on the Olympics in a gorgeous image-studded timeline, which you can scroll across. Yes, there are news and results as well and you can check out the medal tally, but do not go about looking for live coverage here (you will be chucked to the Reuters Olympic Site for that). This app is all about the moments you might have missed on TV, presented beautifully, complete with captions and even details and profiles of the photographers.

Available from: iTunes App Store

Olympic Medal Alerts (iOS, Android)
In the midst of all the technological and high-graphics razzmatazz being exhibited by just about every media house, the International Olympic Committee get full marks for sticking to simplicity. Their Olympic Medal Alerts app focuses just on delivering medal alerts and that’s it - no fancy imagery or text (it is less than a megabyte download). You choose the teams and events you are interested in (yes, you can choose all if you are feeling liberal) and also whether you wish to get notifications pushed on to your device or e-mailed to you. And that, literally, is that. Yes, we know we are going to find people bleating about the absence of analysis and news and whatnot, but we found the app to be invaluable for getting neat, unobtrusive alerts, especially when we were busy.

Available from: iTunes App Store, Google Play

Sports Illustrated Live from London (iPad)
A superbly illustrated magazine for every day of the Olympics? Free of cost? Yep, that is what the folks at Sports Illustrated (SI) have come out with. Each issue is a great mix of images and superb sports writing. We recommend downloading every one and keeping them for posterity on your iPad. For this is truly magnificent stuff. Just make sure you have plenty of storage space and a decent Internet connection - each issue could be anything from a 10MB to a 50 MB download, and downloads tend to go back to the beginning whenever you pause them. No “live” element here, though - you will be directed to the SI site for that.

Available from: iTunes App Store

Medals 2012 (iOS, Android)
The father of the modern Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, might have gone on and on about how taking part was more important than winning, but the stark fact remains that the medals tally remains one of the most ogled-at statistics in any Olympic Games. And if medals are what get your pulse racing, then this is pretty much the app for you. It presents the medals won by three countries of your choice in the form of a graph and that apart also shows the complete medal table and list of winners as well as the medals on stake on each particular day. Very much the app for those interested only in those on the podium. Mind you, we wish the iOS version would not stutter so much while loading.

Mountain Lion users report considerable drop in battery life on some devices

Apple’s latest desktop OSX 10.8 Mountain Lion may have gotten off to a good start in terms of the features it offers, but it seems to have hit a speed bump with the way it affects the battery life of some devices.

Since July 25^th (the launch of Mountain Lion),Apple’s forum has been flooded with users reporting that their MacBook Pro and MacBook Air devices seem to drain faster than usual. As of writing this article, the forum has gone up to 31 pages with 450 replies.

The effect on the battery life of the device seems to be different for different users. Some say the battery life has been affected by an hour or so where as other claim that the battery life has dropped to half its original capacity.

Users have tried a variety of options to rectify the issue such as reinstalling the OS or disabling some of the features of the OS but all in vain.

One of the users, qwertzy4711, says on the forum, “My mid 2011 13" Macbook Pro i5 2.333GHz 128GB harddrive, faces since the update to Mountain Lion as well a dramatically lower battery lifetime. I would estimate that the battery drains some 40-50% faster. I don't determine a warmer bottom or a higher fan activity since the update so far. Best regards from Germany.” 

Apple has recently acknowledged the problem and is looking into the issue. The boys at Cupertino have started contacting users who complain about the battery issue and have been asking users to log activity monitor data and gather system information in order to determine a cause for the problem. 

If you are one who has been affected by the Mountain Lion battery problem, you can participate in the Apple forum here.

Samsung Confirms Galaxy Note 10.1 Launch for August

Samsung today confirmed plans to launch a quad-core 10.1-inch Galaxy Note this month.

Despite straddling that awkward space between smartphone and tablet, Samsung's 5.3-inch Galaxy Note has been quite successful. Now the company is looking to add a 10-inch slate to the Galaxy Note line-up. Though the company already has a 10-inch tablet in the form of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Galaxy Note adds a stylus to the mixture. Samsung UK today revealed that the Galaxy Note 10.1 would be available worldwide in August.

  

The Galaxy Note 10.1 packs a 10.1-inch WXGA 1280x800 LCD and digitizer, a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, a second 1.9-megapixel VT camera up front, Bluetooth 4.4, WiFi, 3G, USB 2.0, 16GB/32GB/64GB of storage space, MicroSD (up to 64GB), and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

"Following the success of the very first Galaxy Note which we launched at the end of last year, we're delighted that our UK customers will now be able to experience the evolution of this device for themselves," Simon Stanford, VP of Telecommunications and Networks Division at Samsung UK and Ireland, said.

"The Galaxy Note 10.1 is a product we are very excited about and will offer our customers a new way to use and experience a tablet device. As well as being able to consume content such as videos, photos, document and the Internet, the Galaxy Note 10.1 also gives them the power to produce, create and customise that same content – something they won't get from any other product on the market."

Samsung didn't mention anything about the Galaxy Note 2, which is the follow-on to the Galaxy Note and is expected later this month.

Go for The Digital Gold: Olympic video games

Not everyone can compete at the levels necessary to make the Olympics, but there have always been great sporting games that let everyone participate from their own living rooms. We take a look back at the best Olympic video games.

The world's eyes turn toward jolly ol' England on July 27th for the start of the London 2012 Summer Olympics. The honored and respected quadrennial international contest has a rich history of memorable moments and human drama that has made the event a must-see for sports fans and nationalists alike.

The Olympics have made an impact on home computers and video game consoles, too. Although Olympic video games lack wondrous people moments such as Michael Phelps winning eight gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics or 1980's "Miracle on Ice," they gives armchair athletes the ability to make their own marks against smack-talking friends.

The video game industry has released numerous Olympic-themed games in its roughly 40-year existence (both officially licensed and non-licensed) games that let gamers participate in the hurdles, 100-yard dash, swimming, gymnastics, and other sports. Unfortunately, like other video games based on real-world properties, the quality of Olympic video games has been hit or miss—mostly miss. That said, there are a few golden gems in the muck that are worth a play.

The Olympic and Olympic-themed games in this roundup cover the computer and home video game console titles that are true representatives of the multi-sport event—no stinkers here. Their play styles, however, are radically different. Older games crafted with the arcade and 8-bit computers in mind are button-mashing and joystick-jiggling affairs that wrecked controllers; the most-recently released Olympic title utilizes Microsoft's revolutionary Kinect motion-controller for hands-free gaming.

As always, check out our slideshow below for commentary on the best Olympic games, and feel free to leave your own picks in the comment section.

The Activision Decathlon (1983)
 

The Activision Decathlon's programmers (which included the legendary David Crane) must have been sitting on significant joystick stock. That's what immediately comes to mind when reflecting on this early '80s title which brought the high jump, 400-meter race, discus throw, and other contests to the ColecoVision, Commodore 64, and MSX platforms. The Atari 2600 version was a bastard of game that destroyed joysticks (and wrists) as gamers had to rapidly move their sticks left and right to run. Still, The Activision Decathlon is a title (somewhat) fondly remembered by the Gen-X set.

Summer Games (1984)

Summer Games was the first of Epyx' multi-sport competitive titles that were released in the mid to late '80s. Although Summer Games lacked an official Olympic license, the game packed several Olympic sports including pole vaulting, sprinting, skeet shooting, and more. The Commodore 64 version let gamers compete in even more events than the other versions as it let players link it to Summer Games II (released in 1985) to create a single huge event.

Winter Games (1985)

Epyx did more than replicate the summer Olympic Games. Winter Games, the developer's take on the Winter Olympics, also lacked an official Olympic license, but it was another excellent sports title for the Amiga, Apple II, Commodore 64, and home video game systems. Winter Games featured eight events, including the ski jump, luge, bobsled, biathlon, and other snow-and-ice competitions.

Track & Field (1987)

This is the game that gave an entire generation of kids hand blisters, sore fingers, and other nerd-specific injuries. Track & Field, Konami's first foray into Olympic-themed video games, was originally released in arcades in 1984, but ported to the Atari 2600, Commodore 64, NES, and other home computer and video game consoles. Players' race for glory saw them compete in the long jump, hurdles, javelin throw, and more. The NES version used a chip-tuned "Chariots of Fire" as its splash screen composition, a track used in the arcade version's closing credits.

Capcom's Gold Medal Challenge '92 (1992)

Released the same year as the Barcelona Summer Olympics, Capcom's Gold Medal Challenge '92 features over a dozen events including the long jump, 100 meter backstroke, weightlifting, and marathon. Capcom's Gold Medal Challenge '92's gameplay relies on heavy button-mashing, but unlike many other 8-bit Olympic-themed video games, it requires players to press the "B" and "A" buttons with a particular rhythm. The game's also well-remembered for its 8-player competition that inspired much smack talk.

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (2012)

There was quite a drought when it came to memorable Olympic Games games, but the wait for a couple worth playing has ended just in time for the London 2012 Olympics with the inevitable video game tie-ins. This time, as in 2008, former rivals Nintendo and SEGA have collaborated on an arcade-style take on the ceremonies with the lengthily-named Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. This Nintendo 3DS cartridge boasts over 50 competitive events starring the plumber, the hedgehog, and several of their friends, rivals, and enemies. There's lots of competitive fun in the single or multiplayer modes, but the overly simplistic versions of some events dulls the experience a bit.

London 2012 (2012)

London 2012, the official tie-in game for the upcoming summer Olympics, is Sega's second take on the international contest (the other being Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games). The sports title features numerous competitions (archery, aquatics, gymnastics, table tennis, and more), and countries (including Australia, Brazil, Greece, Jamaica, Kenya, Ukraine, United States) to select. London 2012 also features motion control support (Microsoft Kinect for Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation Move), an online multiplayer mode to compete with online community's best, and very solid commentary. London 2012's biggest positive is its modern game design; rapid-fire button-mashing is discouraged in favor of more precise, well-paced inputs.

Windows 8 to Feature New OEM Activation Method

everal NDA-tainted slides have been leaked that reveal a new activation process used by the OEM version of Windows 8. The new product activation standard is called OEM Activation 3.0 (AKA OA 3.0), and provides benefits over the previous version used in Windows 7, OA 2.1, such as allowing OEMs to digitally order and receive product keys directly from Microsoft.

For the uninitiated, the OA process allows PC manufacturers to ship systems with Windows pre-installed and already activated so that end users aren't required to take additional activation steps when they boot up their rig for the first time. Hackers usually take advantage of the OA process to activate pirated copies of Windows using fake license keys.

However hackers now face a new challenge. The leaked slides show the difference between the OA of old, and the new system that will be used in Windows 8. To crack down on piracy, manufacturers will be required to write a unique Windows product key -- which is associated with the hardware hash -- into the system's BIOS instead of using the same product key for every shipped desktop or laptop.

The new OA system will also require OEMs to supply production reports to Microsoft, detailing their license compliance. A "Genuine Microsoft" label must also be affixed to the chassis, dumping the previous "Windows Certificate of Authenticity" sticker. Unused keys can be returned in real-time without shipping or insurance costs, according to the leaked slides.

"OA 3.0 is the new product activation standard for Microsoft, beginning with Windows 8," one slide states. "The new program enables OEMs to digitally order and receive product keys from, and report computer information to, Microsoft as well as enable activation of software on specific hardware."

In comparison, OA 2.1 allowed OEMs to write the same bypass key into the BIOS of every shipped PC. TheCertificate of Authenticity was shipped from an authorized replicator and sent to the OEM's shipping address. When received, they were required to be affixed to the chassis (just like the current label). OEM's were not required to send production reports, and the RMA had limitations.

Products not eligible for OA 3.0 at launch include non-client Windows 8 products (Windows Server, WindowsEmbedded), and previous version of the OS including Windows 7, Vista and others.