Gadget Digest: iPad Mini, world’s largest Ice Cream Sandwich tablet, Max Payne on iPhone, Windows 8 laptop and more

 

As another gadget-filled week comes to an end, it’s time to look back at some of the stories that would otherwise have slipped through the sieve of tech awesomeness. From rumours of an iPad Mini to the world’s largest Android 4.0 tablet, here are some more stories worth holding an ear to.

New iPad Mini (allegedly) on the way

Apple may have already released its new iPad but that has not stopped rumors of more iPads. According to reports iPad-makers Foxconn and Pegatron have already received orders for a smaller iPad said to be around 7.85-inches across. 



Facebook pay per view gigs on the way

We’ll soon be able to watch the latest gigs from Facebook. On April 29th the Backstreet Boys and the New Kids on the Block at the O2. To get more people watching a deal between the bands, Facebook and Livebeats to stream the gig at a cost of around £3. In full HD, too. 


Sky deal to show all Bond films

Everyone loves James Bond. Sky included. The television giant has signed a bumper deal to bring every single Bond film to Sky Movies. From Dr. No to Quantum of Solace: we’ll be seeing a lot more of the gadget-toting super spy on our screens.

Max Payne on iOS: does it work on a touchscreen?

Bullet-dodging hero Max Payne has made the crossover to portable iOS gaming in a very credible port of the PC original. Any doubts should be cast aside: Max Payne on iOS is lots of fun, and just the thing to get us in the mood for the upcoming Max Payne 3. 


Intel shows off Windows 8 laptop/tablet hybrids

Windows 8 is set to be the next big thing in the world of portable computing. A new generation of Windows 8 tablets are on the way, ready to take the limelight away from the iPad. We don’t have a release date just yet, but Intel has already been showing off a tablet capable of doubling up as a Windows 8 laptop. They could be arriving sooner than we first thought.

Seen any other stories that have tickled your gadget fancy? Let us know

www.tell-me-first.com

New HP Envy 17 and HP Envy 15 laptops: 5 things you need to know

 

New HP Envy 17 and HP Envy 15 laptops: 5 things you need to know

 

The new high-end HP Envy and HP Envy 15 laptops have been revealed, and they are stunning. Redesigned from the inside out, and coated in brushed aluminium, they more than look the business.

The HP Envy line is HP’s highest-end range, and so feature some terrifically meaty specs. On that note we bring you five things you need to know about the HP Envy 17 and HP Envy 15. 


Watch full high definition movies in 3D

 The HP Envy 17 will arrive in stores with what HP calls a 1080p Radiance screen. That means you’ll be able to view movies and video in full 1080p-rated high definition – the best quality picture possible. The HP Envy 15 will come with a slightly lower resolution 1366×768 screen, however, demanding high definition fans will be able to upgrade. There will also be a HP Envy 17 3D from which users can watch movies on its built-in Blu-ray player, and play games in 3D. A pair of active 3D shutter glasses will be supplied.

 

Super specs

 potential purchasers will be pleased to know that both stock versions of the HP Envy 15 and HP Envy 17 will feature the same specs. On board, these include a powerful Core i5-2430M processor, 6 gigs of DDR3 memory, a 7,200RPM hard drive and AMD Radeon graphics and, what is expected to be a gig of video memory. So whether you’re playing games, watching videos on the web, or just doing a bit of work, performance will remain top notch.

Beats by Dr. Dre integration

 Fresh from dipping his toes into the headphone business, rapper Dr. Dre has lent his audio know-how to HP, in a move that could deliver one of the best sounding laptops we’ve ever heard. The Beats by Dr. Dre partnership adds a six-channel speaker set-up, complete with a subwoofer sure to be able to pump that bass like its nobody’s business. Dr. Dre’s philosophy has been to deliver music the way an artist wants you to hear it. So the HP Envy 15 and HP Envy 17 could end up sounding very special indeed. 


Acer AZ5 and AZ3 multi-touch all-in-one

Impressive battery life

 Nobody wants to carry their cable leads wherever they go. HP is promising a nine hour battery life on the HP Envy 15. Meanwhile, the HP Envy 17 will get nine and a half hours, says HP – more than enough for a full working day. Although workaholics will have something to say about that.

It’s out this year

 The HP Envy 17, Hp Envy 17 3D and HP Envy 15 will be dropping in stores on December 7th. So there’s still plenty of time should you need to start saving up. UK pricing has yet to be revealed. U.S prices currently start form $1,100, up to $1,599 for the HP Envy 3D.

15-inch and 17-inch Apple MacBook Airs incoming

Rumours of a small Apple MacBook Air were circulating long before the 11-inch model was introduced, and now it’s looking like Apple could introduce a larger 15-inch or even 17-inch ultra-thin laptop. The MacBook Pro range is already incredibly thin for what it offers, so thinner and lighter machines would be even more impressive.

With laptops already as small as they’re likely to get, manufacturers are now concentrating on making bigger machines that are as thin and light as possible. Apple leads the industry when it comes to thin and light laptops, with the current 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air models proving incredibly portable. There could be a few more machines on the way, however.

We’ve heard rumours of both 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Air models, which ditch the optical drive found in the MacBook Pro range and use Solid State Drives (SSD) to keep dimensions as thin as possible.

Whether the new ultra-thin laptops could offer fully-fledged MacBook Pro performance without overheating remains to be seen, but it’s a tantalising prospect for those of us who travel a lot yet still want a big screen.

Would you buy a 15-inch or 17-inch MacBook Air? Or would you rather sacrifice a little bit of portability for the integrated optical drive and larger hard disk? Leave a comment and let us know.