Notebooks.com » Xavier Lanier

Best Gaming Notebook: Samsung Series 7 Gamer is a Stylish Beast (video)

Xavier Lanier — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:18:10 +0000

The Samsung Series 7 Gamer is one of the best machines we’ve seen at CES 2012. Samsung’s first gaming notebook packs enough raw power to play the latest video games at their highest settings.

This notebook comes with a lot of the features you’d expect to see on a gaming notebook, but its designers managed to do so in a tasteful manner and fit it all into a relatively thin and light package. With a sticker price of $1,799, the Samsung Series 7 Gamer comes with a massive 2TB hard drive, Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA Geforce GTX 675 graphics with 2 GB of memory.

The Series 7 Gamer doesn’t have an overly aggressive appearance, which means it’ll blend into the non-gaming world a lot better than gaming notebooks from Alienware and others. The Series 7 Gamer has an overclocked processor, a keyboard that shifts colors, the speakers pulsate with ambient light and you can choose between fancy gaming-inspire desktop backgrounds. But that’s only when you spin a small dial into gaming mode and get ready to do battle. The Series 7 Gamer behaves itself and quiets down into library or balanced modes the rest of the time.

Series 7 Gamer Battlefield 3 Demo

Its display is absolutely gorgeous, making games more immersive. If you spend too much time using this notebook you’ll have a tough time switching back to a notebook with an ordinary display.

Battlefield 3 performed very well on the Samsung Series 7 Gamer. Gaming purists may still opt for fully upgradeable desktops, but most people will be completely satisfied with this notebook.

The Series 7 Gamer notebook is Notebooks.com’s pick for Best Gaming Notebook of CES 2012.

Best Gaming Notebook: Samsung Series 7 Gamer is a Stylish Beast (video) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Dell XPS 15z: Thinnest 15″ PC on the Planet, Takes on MacBook Pro

Xavier Lanier — Tue, 24 May 2011 05:01:46 +0000

The Dell XPS 15z is a new notebook that’s being marketed as the “Thinnest 15″ PC on the planet.” Measuring in at just under an inch thick, the Dell XPS 15z can easily be mistaken for a 15″ MacBook Pro, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Dell’s latest creation looks and feels great, especially when compared to the bulky plastic-clad notebooks that are found at most electronics retailers.

It’s impossible to ignore the similarities between the MacBook Pro ant the XPS 15z. But before you begin examining the similarities and differences between the two notebooks too closely, it’s much more important to figure out if having Apple’s OSX or Microsoft’s Windows 7 on your machine. If you’re a Mac fan, there’s nothing about the XPS 15z that’ll hasten a switch over to Windows. But if you’re looking for a solid 15″ notebook that looks a lot like a Mac, the XPS 15z might be for you.

Starting at $999, the Dell XPS 15z is $800 cheaper than the base 15″ MacBook Pro. The XPS 15z’s $999 starting price is on par with the price of the HP Envy 14, another stylish all-metal notebook.

Dell’s XPS line offers a bump in power over typical consumers notebooks, but like most 15″ consumer notebooks they are too bulky to tote around all day comfortably. The standard XPS 15 measures up to 1.5″ thick, while the XPS 15z measures just .97″. The XPS 15z is about half a pound lighter than the standard XPS (non ‘z’ series) model.

The Dell XPS 15z is available starting today for $999 from Dell.com. We’re hoping that Best Buy and other retailers will sell the XPS 15z in stores so consumers will get a chance to touch and feel the XPS 15z themselves.

Dell XPS z-Series

The new Dell XPS 15z, isn’t alone, Dell tells us that the XPS 15z is just the first of several notebooks which will be a part of the XPS z series. According to Dell, the XPS z-series will be defined by “blending precision, craftsmanship and quality in elegantly thin design.”

Like the rest of the XPS line, the z-series has much beefier guts than the average consumer notebook. Those interested in enjoying their multimedia collections, editing video and playing video games will appreciate the XPS 15z.

We’ve been told that the future of the XPS line looks a lot more like the XPS 15z series than what Dell currently offers.

Dell XPS 15z Quick Specs

This new notebook is packing 2nd Gen Core 2.30GHz Core i5 and 2.7oGHz Core i7 processors (dual core only) and NVIDIA GT525M GPU options with 1GB or 2GB of Video RAM, 4 to 8GB DDR3 RAM and up to a 750GB hard drive. There is a slot load DVD +/-RW Drive and a 1.3MP Webcam with dual array digital microphones.

Unfortunately, the thin design doesn’t allow for a Blu-ray Disc drive.

The ports and connectivity are one area where Dell outshines Apple. Rather than copying and pasting the ports from the MacBook Pro, Dell has added 2 USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 3.0 and a USB 2.0/eSATA port.

Dell XPS 15z Design

In keeping with the XPS z-Series ethos, the XPS 15z has a clean look thanks to its anodized aluminum exterior and rounded edges and corners. A magnesium alloy palmrest and backlit keyboard finish off the XPS 15z’s polished appearance.

The Dell XPS 15z is .97″ thick and starts at 5.54 pounds, which if you are measuring is .02 thicker than the MacBook Pro, which is why Dell isn’t claiming the thinnest 15″ notebook on the planet. Still, it is an impressively thin notebook that is able to deliver on design without also adding an inflated cost.

Like the 15″ MacBook Pro, the XPS 15z has a battery meter made up of a series of LED on the edge with the ports.

Dell XPS 15z Keyboard and Touchpad

Dell is including a spill resistant backlit island style keyboard standard on the XPS 15z. The XPS15z has a multitouch touchpad that supports gestures and has two dedicated mouse buttons. The inclusion of physical buttons is probably a wise one since many PC notebooks haven’t been able to integrate clickable touchpads as well as Apple notebooks.

Dell XPS 15z Display

The Dell XPS 15z has a 15.6″ display which will have a 1366 x 768 resolution and 200 nit brightness as standard, but users can upgrade to a full HD 1920 x 1080 display with a 300 nit brightness rating. The Full HD 300 nit display option will run an extra $100, but is well worth it for the higher resolution and increased brightness which will make it easier to use outdoors even though it isn’t an anti-glare display.

Dell XPS 15z Graphics

On the graphics side, the XPS 15z comes with a NVIDIA GT525M GPU which can be configured with either 1GB or 2GB of video RAM depending on your needs. The XPS 15z supports NVIDIA Optimus which will automatically switch to the Integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics when less power is needed in order to save battery power. The XPS 15z also supports Intel Wireless Display 2.0, which means users can wirelessly stream HD content to HDTVs with an with an optional $99 adapter.

Another nice feature tucked into the XPS 15z’s graphics toolkit is support for NVIDIA 3DTV Play which allows users to connect to compatible 3D TVs to display 3d photos, videos and games.

Dell XPS 15z Audio

The Dell XPS15z isn’t just looks, Dell has included Waves MaxxAudio 3, which we heard in person back at CES and were impressed with the software’s ability to really give audio a boost. If you connect to a stereo, you can get 5.1 surround sound.

The slimmer design means you won’t find premium speakers, such as the JBL speakers built into some Dell models, built in however.

Dell XPS 15z Battery Life

Being thin means that Dell needs to work to get a decent size battery in the XPS 15z. Dell has put an 8-cell 64WhR battery in the XPS 15z that is rated to last 8 hours and 22 minutes. However, like other PC manufacturers, Dell is using a synthetic benchmark that’s know to overstate battery life. In the real world, we expect the XPS 15z to delver somewhere between five and six hours of Web surfing on a single charge.

The battery is not user replaceable, a trade-off that’s increasingly common on thin notebooks. While this allows for a thinner design, it means that you can’t lug around a backup battery or extended battery for a long day away from your home or office.

Dell XPS 15z Gallery

Dell XPS 15z Detailed Specs

Features	Specifications
Processor Options	Intel® Core™ i5 2410M Dual Core (2.30GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90GHz) Intel® Core™ i7 2620M Dual Core (2.70GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.40GHz)
Chipset	Intel® HM67
Dimensions (HxWxD)	Height: 0.97” (24.68mm) / Width: 15.15” (384.85mm) / Depth 10.25” (260.37mm)
Starting at Weights *	Starting at 5.54lbs (2.51 kg)*
Display	15.6 High Definition (720p) WLED with TrueLife™ (1366×768); 200-nit typical 15.6 Full High Definition (1080p) WLED with TrueLife™ (1920×1080) ; 300-nit typical
Color	Anodized aluminum in Elemental Silver; Formed aluminum base, Magnesium alloy palmrest in dark gray
System Memory	4GB dual channel DDR3* 1333MHz up to 8GB DDR3* 1333MHz; 2 DIMM slots
Graphics Options	NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M with 1GB graphics* memory NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 525M with 2GB graphics* memory NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology ; NVIDIA 3DTV Play
Battery	8-cell/2.6Ah – 64WHr Lithium Polymer Up to 8 hours, 22 minutes* of battery life
AC Adapter	90 Watt
Hard Drive Options	7200RPM SATA HDD up to 750GB*; onboard free fall sensor
Optical Drive	Slot load 8x DVD+/-RW (reads & writes to CD/DVD) (9.5mm)
Keyboard / Touchpad	Standard full size, backlit chiclet keyboard; spill-resistant Multi-Touchpad with Integrated Scrolling & Gestures and two mechanical buttons; 100 x 56 mm – centered on system
Connectivity Options	10/100/1000 Ethernet network standard, opt external USB Modem Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6230 802.11 agn (2×2), Bluetooth 3.0 (not available in Russia), Intel® Wireless Display ready*
Sound	High Definition Audio +Waves MaxxAudio® 3 5.1 Surround sound can be supported via HDMI and 2 x Audio Jacks
Webcam	1.3MP HD with dual array digital microphones
Media Card Reader	9-in-1 supporting SD, SDIO, SDXC, SDHC, MS, MS Pro, MMC, MSXC, xD
Ports and Connectors	HDMI 1.4 (1), Mini DisplayPort (1), RJ-45 (1), headphone (1), microphone (1) 3 total USB ports; USB 3.0 (2); USB 2.0/eSATA combo with PowerShare (1)
Productivity & Entertainment Software	Dell™ Stage™ & WebCam Central, Skype™, Cozi, Adobe® Acrobat® Reader X, Adobe Photoshop® Elements, Trial 8, Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (reduced–functionality versions of Word and Excel with advertising), Internet Explorer 8, Windows Live™, McAfee SecurityCenter trial, Dell DataSafe; Roxio Creator Starter, NVIDIA 3DTV Play
Operating System	Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium
Services	Dell Basic 1 Year Mail-in Service and Limited Hardware Warranty* standard

Dell XPS 15z: Thinnest 15″ PC on the Planet, Takes on MacBook Pro is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Review: Kanex iAdapt HDMI Adapter for MacBooks

Xavier Lanier — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:57:16 +0000

Apple makes some of the best laptops in the business, but it can be a challenge to connect MacBooks to third-party peripherals. Until recently, connecting a MacBook to an HDTV was a multi-adapter affair. Enter the Kanex iAdapt, a simple dongle that acts as a bridge between current generation MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro’s Mini DisplayPort and any HDMI cable.

First introduced on the MacBook Pro in April of 2010, the latest Mini DisplayPorts on Macs output both audio and video. The signals are passed through the Kanex iAdapt, on through any HDMI cable and ultimately to any HDTV. All you need to do to get started is plug the DisplayPort end of the Kanex iAdapt into your MacBook and plug an HDMI cable into the other end.

By default, Macs are setup to mirror whatever’s on the primary display onto external displays. You can extend your desktop onto your HDTV if you choose, but this setup isn’t ideal for sharing content, such as movies and slideshows. When I first tried using the iAdapt with my MacBook Air I couldn’t see part of my desktop. This was easily corrected by adjusting the Overscan settings in Display Preferences.

Kanex and other manufacturers do sell cables with an HDMI connector on one end and a DisplayPort connector on the other,but I prefer the iAdapt over these solutions. It’s much more compact than lugging around a cable. You also don’t have to leave an HDMI cable constantly dangling from your HDTV. When I need to show off something from my MacBook on the big screen, I simply borrow my XBOX 360′s HDMI cable.

So why would you want to plug your MacBook into an HDTV? It’s much better to show of pictures of your kid’s games, family events and vacations on the big screen than on your MacBook’s tiny display. You can also share streamed content, such as movies from Netflix.

The Kanex iAdapt is available for $20 from Amazon.com.

Review: Kanex iAdapt HDMI Adapter for MacBooks is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

New MacBook Pro Review 13″ (part 1)

Xavier Lanier — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 20:38:57 +0000

Apple announced updated MacBook Pros yesterday and I’ve already got my hands on the top retail configuration, complete with a Core i7 processor and new graphics. This model definitely puts the ‘Pro’ back into the 13″ MacBook Pro, which was lagging the competition and the 15″ MacBook Pro in the firepower department.

I’ve been using a fully-loaded 13″ MacBook Air as my primary laptop, relegating my fully-loaded 2010 15″ MacBook Pro to occasional desk duty. The 13″ MacBook Pro may prove to be an in-betweener, or it may be returned to Best Buy where it was purchased if it doesn’t live up to the hype.

In this part of our multi-part MacBook Pro Review, we’ll go over the unboxing experience, general features and first impressions. At the conclusion of this part of the MacBook Pro review, you can read our buying recommendation.

Remember, no matter how many MacBook Pro reviews you read, buying a new laptop is a very personal decision and it’s best to try out each model you’re interested in yourself if possible. It’s also important to buy a Mac from somewhere with a reasonable return policy that does not charge a restocking fee.

13″ MacBook Pro Configuration

The $1,499 configuration is the best-configured 13″ MacBook Pro you’ll find on store shelves. You can customize a 13″ MacBook Pro with premium options, such as an SSD, through Apple.com, but this is the model countless students, artists and professionals will buy at Apple Stores, Best Buy and other retailers.

For $1,499 you get:

2.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor
4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory
500GB, 5400 RPM hard drive
Intel HD Graphics
SDXC memory card slot
Firewire 800
Two USB Ports
Super Drive (DVD/CD burner)
Thunderbolt Port
13.3″ 1280×800

13″ MacBook Pro Unboxed

The new 13″ MacBook Pro comes in a familiar white box, just like previous generations and other current MacBook models.

One thing that never gets old when writing MacBook Pro reviews is the out of box experience.Apple continues to maintain the best out of box experience of any laptop manufacturer. As soon as the box is opened, you get to see the MacBook Pro,without having to remove any additional packaging or shove aside any pamphlets.

Beneath the MacBook Pro is the MagSafe power adapter. It comes with the modular AC prongs, with the compact one already attached to the power adapter. A 6 ft. cord attaches if you sit further away from an outlet.

Also below the MacBook Pro are two packets. One has pamphlets with regulatory information. The other has a pair of DVDs to reinstall OSX and the bundled applications. When we reviewed the MacBook Air, we noted that Apple put these files on a thumb drive since that computer doesn’t come with a DVD drive. Apple should ditch the discs and do the same with the MacBook Pro.

MacBook Pro 13″ Exterior Features

The 13″ MacBook Pro’s glass trackpad is identical to the one found on the 13″ MacBook Air. It’s smooth and silk and offers the best multi-touch trackpad of experience I’ve experienced. Gestures, such as swipes and pinches, make it easy to navigate and control the MacBook without using shortcuts.

As with previous MacBook Pros, the new model has a backlit keyboard that automatically illuminates when the lights dim. This is a really nice feature, even for those users who can type a mile a minute. It can be incredibly frustrating hunting for a function key or trying to hit multiple keys at the same time in the dark. This is a feature that’s sorely missed from the current MacBook Air models.

The left side of the 13″ MacBook Pro looks pretty similar to the previous model. Towards the rear is the MagSafe power connector, an Ethernet port and a FireWire 800 port. Towards the front is an audio jack that can be used for audio input and output. The MacBook Pro’s audio jack is compatible with mobile headsets, such as the one that comes with the iPhone, making it easy to chat via Skype or other programs.

Between the two USB ports and the FireWire 800 port is a Thunderbolt port. This is a new port that’s multi-functional and super fast. It can support HD video and lightening fast data transfers to external drives and other peripherals. If this technology catches on, it will make life a lot easier for those that often move large files around or hate clutter. This is the first computer to feature Thunderbolt, which means there’s not much to plug into it as of now. You’ll most likely continue to plug in your backup drive and peripherals into the USB ports for the foreseeable future. This feature alone is definitely not worth ditching your old MacBook in favor of a new one, no matter how tempting other MacBook Pro reviews make Thunderbolt sound. This will be a standard feature in all future MacBooks, so bide your time until your current Mac starts falling apart or you really need a new one.

On the right edge of the 13″ MacBook Pro is a SuperDrive and Kensignton lock slot, two items that are absent from the MacBook Air. The SuperDrive can write and read a variety of DVD and CD formats, but Blu-ray is still missing in action. In the year 2011, Apple should either ditch optical drives all together, or bump the SuperDrive up to Blu-ray so users can enjoy their Blu-ray movies on the go or burn 50GB of data onto a single disk. Blu-ray is becoming very, very common in PC notebooks, even those that are far cheaper than the MacBook Pro.

As you can guess, the 13″ MacBook Pro comes with a 13.3″ display. There a couple of things that are big negatives in my book. The display has a glossy finish, making it unusable outdoors and frustrating to use with your back to a window. The 13″ MacBook Pro display has a resolution of just 1280 x 800, which simply isn’t enough for many applications and multi-tasking.

The 15″ and 17″ MacBook Pros can be had with a matte display, which is far superior in most lighting conditions. The 11″ and 13″ MacBook Airs come with displays that are a little glossy, but they don’t have the thick protective layer of glass that makes reflects so much light.

The 13″ MacBook Air has a high-resolution display, ringing in at 1440 x 900 pixels. That might not sound like a whole lot of a difference, but it does make the MacBook Pro’s display feel a little more crowded than the MacBook Air’s. Apple should offer higher resolution and matte displays, especially for professional creatives. It would certainly be worth an extra $100 or $200.

Some 13″ MacBook Pro reviews will note that the display is gorgeous, like previous models, and in the right conditions I agree. Unfortunately, my definition of ‘right conditions’ is having the MacBook Pro’s display set to maximum brightness or using it in a dimly lit room.

MacBook Pro Hard Drive

We’ll get more into hard drive options in a future part of this MacBook Pro review series, but so far the Achilles heel of this computer so far is its slow hard drive. It spins at 5400 RPM, which is exactly the speed of drives found in low-cost netbooks and notebooks. At $1,499, Apple could at least have the courtesy to drop a 7200RPM drive in this MacBook. It’s unfortunate that Apple isn’t offering a faster hard drive option with its retail MacBook Pro models. We’d really like to see an SSD retail model as well, but the masses are still hooked to GB over I/O speed. Many notebook buyers forget about I/O (input/output) performance when shopping for notebooks, instead focusing on processor speed, RAM and other specs that we’ve been conditioned to focus on over the years.

MacBook Pro Battery Life

The 13″ MacBook Pro is rated to last for up to seven hours on a single charge. Though Apple’s notebooks often beat their advertised battery ratings, we’ll have to reserve judgement until we put the new MacBook Pro through its paces. It’s a safe bet that users will be able to actually get seven hours of web-browsing battery life out of the new MacBook Pro as long as the display isn’t cranked up to maximum brightness and they use Apple’s Safari web browser.

Initial MacBook Pro Recommendation

After using the 13″ MacBook Pro for a few hours I’m confident in recommending it to any notebook buyer looking for a premium computer. It’s ready to rock right of the box and has the same excellent user experience as the rest of the MacBook line. If you’re a power-hungry Mac user that doesn’t want to lug around a 15″ MacBook Pro, I say go for it.

The only reasons to get a 15″ MacBook Pro would be if you absolutely need the larger display (optional high-res and matte finish) or if you need every ounce of processing or graphics power for work or play. If you’re rarely mobile, the 15″ MacBook Pro can make a better desktop replacement.

If you don’t hoard a lot of video or play the latest video games you’ll probably be better off with the 13″ MacBook Air. The 13″ MacBook Air has a slower processor, but offers a much better overall experience. It can be maddening slow to perform resource-intensive tasks such as exporting videos from iMovies on the MacBook Air compared to the 13″ MacBook Pro, but it feels snappier in every day tasks thanks to its standard SSD and NVIDIA graphics. The biggest tradeoff with the MacBook Air is that storage space is scarce, with only 128GB in the base model.

At 2.3 lb, the 13″ MacBook Air is a hair over half the weight of the 13″ MacBook Pro, which weighs in at 4.6 pounds. That’s still a pretty light computer and you might find yourself saying ‘it’s not ‘hat bad’ when you check it out at a store, but it can really weigh on you if you’re a highly mobile user.

The MacBook Air is clearly the future of Apple’s mobile computers. The latest MacBook Pro is an evolution of an old theme, albeit a very good one.

MacBook Pro Review Part 2 Coming Soon

The 13″ MacBook Pro is rated to last for seven hours on a single charge and tear through complex applications thanks to its Core i7 processor. I’ll be writing part two of this multi-part MacBook Pro review soon and will share my experience with what’s the fastest 13″ Apple notebook to date.

If there’s anything you’d like us to focus on in a future part of this MacBook Pro review series, leave a comment with your request below in the comments section.

MacBook Pro Review Photo Gallery

New MacBook Pro Review 13″ (part 1) is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Notebooks.com’s Best of Macworld 2011 Awards

Xavier Lanier — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:59:48 +0000

Notebooks.com was at Macworld 2011 in San Francisco to check out some of the best apps, hardware, accessories, and peripherals for the Apple ecosystem. We found eleven products that stood out from the show and awarded them Notebook.com’s Best of Macworld 2011 awards.

Best iOS App for Home: Appetites

Appetites is a unique take on the traditional cookbook. Built entirely for the iPad–not the iPhone–Appetites is not just your traditional step-by-step written cookbook, it’s a step-by-step video cookbook. Rather than a long cooking show, each step in a recipe gets its own video clip. This strategy for the app is great as videos are broken down into small, digestible chunks for the novice chef. Need help preparing a pomegranate? There’s a video for that!

After you’re done with each step, you can either tap to replay the video or flick to scroll to the next step. Videos are pre-loaded in the app, which means you won’t need an Internet connection and videos start playing immediately.

Appetites also comes with a handy recipe feature that will allow you to email your ingredients list so you can head to your neighborhood grocer and prepare meals.

Initially, Appetites will launch with a very limited set of recipes. However, the company is planning to launch 12 video cookbook recipes every month to grow the catalog. Want more recipes? Those will go for $0.99 as in-app purchases. We found Appetites to be a refreshing take on a traditional cookbook that is polished and a joy to use.

Best iPhone Case: FastMac Impact Shield

Made from a bio-degradable soy-based gel, the Impact Shield for the iPhone–along with sleeves for laptops–helps to keep the iPhone protected from impact and breakage. FastMac says that the Impact Shield lives up to its military certification in drop and impact tests. How rugged is it? Well, the Impact Shield is no bigger than a typical iPhone case despite its ruggedness. Rather than wielding around a bulky case, a la OtterBox style, iPhone users are in for a treat as FastMac’s solution is sleek and elegant.

The way the shield works in protecting your iPhone is that the interior of the hard plastic case is lined with the soy gel. When an impact occurs, the gel helps to dissipate the force, keeping your precious Apple solution protected. The best part about the Impact Shield is that it offers rugged protection in a very consumer-friendly look and form factor. The FastMac Impact Shield is only $20, which is far less other rugged cases.

Best iPhone Skin or Shield: Wrapsol Ultra

The idea behind Wrapsol’s new Ultra case is similar to wraps and skins such as Invisible Shield. However, Wrapsol’s wrap promises more protection than the competitors, looks elegant, and is easy to apply. The new Ultra wraps don’t require a liquid solution to apply. That means no messy soapy sprays to apply. Just peel the plastic and squeegee the tough panels to the front, rear, and sides of your iPhone. Moreover, unlike the orange peel-like texture on the Invisible Shield, the Wrapsol Ultra has an ultra smooth surface, resembling glass with a barely there appearance. Best of all, whatever bubbles appear at the time of installation will disappear on their own within 24 hours.

Most iPhone skins at Macworld were all about graphics, featuring an array of pop-star and movie inspired graphics. They may be alright if you want the world to know how much you love Justin Bieber, but they won’t do much to protect your iPhone.

Wrapsol says that with its Ultra wrap, your iPhone investment can stand up to not only scratches, but also minor drops. The Wrapsol Ultra is available at Walmart and through Wrapsol.com,

Best Mobile App Innovation : Nuance Dragon SDK

Just over a week ago, Nuance announced that its Dragon Mobile SDK was released to developers, empowering them to build high-grade speech recognition into just about any Android or iOS app. Developers can now embed Nuance’s code into their apps and rely on Nuance’s repository of speech patterns and recognition experience in the cloud. As with Nuance’s own mobile apps, third party apps will capture audio and send it off to Nuance’s cloud-based servers for transcription. The results are sent back to the user’s handheld.

This move has the potential to shape how apps and user experiences are created, allowing for quicker data entry, selection and navigation. Enabling voice recognition in iOS apps is incredibly easy. According to Nuance, some developers testing the SDK have been able to add voice to their apps in as little as an hour.

Nuance’s voice recognition engine has been employed by a number of third-party apps through a limited pilot. Apps including Siri, Price Check by Amazon, Ask for iPhone, aisle411, Merriam-Webster, Dictionary.com, and SpeechTrans already use Nuance’s technology.

At Macworld 2011, Nuance hinted at speech coming to the living room, though the company was secretive in what those applications may be.

Best Mobile Travel Companion: Navigon Inrix Traffic Update and Mount

Navigon is one of the best selling GPS apps on iOS. The German-based company releases regular map updates and software enhancements to its downloadable turn-by-turn voice-guided GPS app, which doesn’t need an Internet connection for navigation. The app, available for a flat fee on Windows Mobile, Android, and iOS, was recently updated to provide a number of useful features, including split-screen active lane assistance to help users get into the right lane ahead of time to prepare for a turn. At Macworld, the company announced that it would be relying on Inrix and crowdsourced information to gather traffic data.

Better traffic data means users will be able to drive around traffic jams instead of being stuck in them. Inrix collects traffic data from delivery trucks and other users with an active Internet connection to transmit speed data. Navigon can now calculate the quickest route for you based upon current traffic information, rather than relying on historic traffic data, for local city streets and for major freeways.

Navigon also introduced an elegant windshield mount for the iPhone 4 at Macworld 2011. The minimalist mount has a much lower profile than other mounts we’ve seen. The mount, which retails for $50, comes with a 5-foot long USB cable and a car charger to keep your phone powered and charging while navigating.

Best iOS App: Jammit App

Jammit App is a play along app designed to help aspiring musicians learn their favorite tunes and play along with the artist that actually played them. The real magic of this app is that it features the original master tracks of some of rock’s most popular songs. Jammit App has some music industry insiders on staff, who’ve somehow negotiated the rights to songs from the Grateful Dead, Foreigner, Motley Crüe, The Ramones and others.

The app isolates the users’ choice of vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard or drums from the rest of the band. Sheet music is included for each part and they can be slowed down or looped, allowing the user to play along at a comfortable pace. Once the user learns the part, they can rock with their favorite bands and record their jam session.

Best Mac Hardware Upgrade: Other World Computing Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD

Other World Computing’s MacBook Air Mercury Aura Pro Express SSDs are designed to increase the storage capacity of Apple’s latest MacBook Airs. Many MacBook Air owners find that 64GB, 128GB or even 256GB just isn’t enough. The Mercury Aura Pro Express is available in capacities of up to 360GB and can fit in both the 11.6″ and 13.3″ MacBook Air.

The Mercury Aura Pro Express isn’t a cheap solution, but the blazing fast data transfer rates and higher capacity make the MacBook Air even better. According to OWC, these drives are 22% faster than the ones that ship with the MacBook Air.

The 180GB version is $499, the 240GB is $579 and the 360GB version is $1,179. The sweet spot is clearly the 240GB version, which would be a very welcome upgrade to the 11.6″ MacBook Air, which maxes out at 128GB direct from Apple.

Best Mac Media Accessory: McTiVia

McTiVia is the best living room accessory we’ve seen for Macs in a long time. McTiVia allows users to send whatever’s on their MacBook’s small screens onto their HDTVs. A small box sits next to the HDTV and connects via HDMI. It employs WiFi, which means you don’t have to run a cable between your MacBook and TV.

The solution is as simple as can be. It allows users to share exactly what’s on their screen, including movies and content that might not be available via Apple TV. McTiVia will stream content at up to 30 frames per second for video files up to 720p resolution.

McTiVia is avaialable for $199 from Awindinc.com/mctivia

Best iOS App & Hardware Combo: Scosche myTrek

The Scosche myTrek is a wireless pulse rate monitor for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The myTrek is worn on the forearm and connects to the iOS device via Bluetooth. Optical LED sensors capture the user’s heart rate, which is analyzed by the myTrek application. The device has a couple of buttons that allow the user to control music without leaving the app or touching your iPhone.

The myTrek app keeps a running history of the user’s heart rate during workouts. It can be used while running, biking, lifting weights or just about any other strenuous activity. The Sosche myTrek will be available in time for summer

Best New Mac App: Boom

Boom is a simple sound utility for the Mac that helps to increase the sound output of your Mac computer. With more quieter speakers on a MacBook and MacBook Air, Boom is a simple to use, inexpensive $5 program that’s accessible from the utility menu bar at the top of your OS X display. For times when you need to increase the volume output of your portable Mac’s speakers and don’t want to tote around third-party speakers, Boom will help increase the volume output anywhere between two to four times that of your Mac. Simply crank up your default volume control to max, and if that’s still not loud enough you can increase the volume control of Boom. The app is great for those who want to watch and share movies on their Mac notebook, or for those who need to do presentations on the go with audio.

Macworld 2011 Best of Show: HyperJuice Magic Box

HyperMac batteries sold like hotcakes until a dispute with Apple ended sales of the external MacBook battery, which featured a MagSafe adapter. At Macworld 2011, Sanho showed us the rebranded HyperJuice batteries, which require the purchase of an airline power adapter. Unfortunately, the airline power adapter doesn’t charge the MacBook’s internal battery. That solution isn’t as elegant, but the newly introduced Magic Box is.

With a couple of splices, the Magic Box allows users to borrow the MagSafe end of any MacBook’s AC adapter and plug it into the HyperJuice battery. The solution tricks the MacBook into thinking its plugged into a wall outlet, which means the battery will charge your MacBook, even when stowed in your bag.

The MagicBox means that all those MacBook users will again be able to stay mobile for several days without plugging in.

Notebooks.com’s Best of Macworld 2011 Awards is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Boom Boosts MacBook Speaker Output, a Must Have App

Xavier Lanier — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:40:19 +0000

MacBooks aren’t known for loud speakers, making headphones a must-have in noisy environments and forcing users to plug in a pair of speakers when sharing content with more than a friend or two. Boom is a new app that unlocks the potential of any MacBook’s speakers, increasing the volume of any app dramatically.

When the reps from Global Delight, the developers behind Boom, first told us about this app, I thought they were exaggerating a bit. But after downloading the app ($4.99 at GlobalDelight.com/boom), I was blown away. With Boom enabled, I was able to crank up music on the MacBook Air to a point where it was uncomfortably loud. There was noticeable distortion at higher volumes, but you can go far beyond the limits of the stock audio settings without any problems.

While there are other volume boosters for Macs out there, they’re generally tied to a single application, such as iTunes. Boom doesn’t much care which application is putting out audio, boosting it all. You can enjoy higher volumes when watching online videos, chatting with friends via Skype, watching videos or streaming music.

Once Boom is installed on a Mac, an icon will appear at the top of the screen. Clicking on it reveals a volume slider and another icon that launches the EQ.

As an added bonus, users can drag and drop files that aren’t loud enough onto the Boom app for conversion. The result is music that can be synched back to an iPad, iPod or iPhone that plays louder and with EQ tweaks of your choosing.

Apple intentionally limits the volume output from its MacBooks and iPhones to protect users’ equipment and eardrums. If you do install Boom on your device, we encourage you to only use it with your MacBook’s speakers as pumping up the volume on your headphones could cause some serious earaches and potentially permanent damage.

A free 7-day trial of Boom is available at GlobalDelight.com/boom.

Boom Boosts MacBook Speaker Output, a Must Have App is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

iRest Lap Stand for iPad at MacWorld Expo 2011

Xavier Lanier — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:30:51 +0000

Rain Design introduced the iRest Lap Stand at MacWorld Expo 2011. The stand has two padded cross bars, including one that is long enough to reach both of your legs while seated. The result is users can use their iPads on their laps without performing a sort of balancing act. With the iRest Lap Stand, the iPad can be used hands free in either portrait or landscape mode.

The device weighs less than a pound and can fold flat when not in use. It’s not the most portable iPad accessory, but it will make it easier to lounge with an iPad on a couch.

Rain Design is showcasing the iRest Lap Stand at MacWorld 2011, where it’s available for $49.90. The company will be selling it online and through retailers in the near future.

iRest Lap Stand for iPad at MacWorld Expo 2011 is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

FastMac Impact Shield Case for iPhone 4

Xavier Lanier — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:26:13 +0000

FastMac is showing off its new Impact Shield Case for iPhone 4 at MacWorld 2011. The case looks like just about any other silicone iPhone case, but it has a hidden layer of Impact Gel, allowing it to absorb an incredible amount of force without damaging the fragile iPhone 4.

We’ve seen a number of highly protective cases from manufacturers like OtterBox and Speck for the iPhone 4, but rugged cases are usually much, much bulkier than standard cases. While the FastMac Impact Shield Case doesn’t have all of the features found on more expensive cases, such as dust and touchscreen protection, it does meet U.S. military specifications for drops. FastMac claims that this case is the thinnest and lightest mobile phone case to meet mil spec standards.

At MacWorld 2011, FastMac reps dropped an iPhone 4 wrapped in an Impact Shield case from about six feet onto carpet over concrete several times. There was no visible damage.

The Impact Shield Case is something you should consider buying if you want something sleek, but don’t want your pocket to bulge. The FastMac Impact Shield case is only $19.99 and will be available at FastMac.com soon. The Impact Shield Case will be available in six colors, including black, white, orange, pink green and blue.

So how can such a thin case offer so much protection? Here’s a quick look at the Impact Gel that lines the interior of the Impact Shield Case. As you can see in the video, Impact Gel can protect poor M&M’s against a hammer.

FastMac Impact Shield Case for iPhone 4 is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

LunaTik iPod Nano Watch at MacWorld 2011

Xavier Lanier — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:22:46 +0000

The LunaTik and TikTok watches are on display at MacWorld Expo 2011. The watch bands transform the iPod Nano into a watch, which of course can do a lot more than simply tell time. We first learned about the LunaTik and TikTok through Kikstarter.com, a site that helps raise money for startup projects, but this is the first time we saw it in person.

The LunaTik watch looks well made, as if it was build by Apple designers rather than a third party. The metal is machined precisely and it feels good in the hand. The special edition red LunaTik is available to those who pledged at least $150 to the project via KickStarter.

The LunaTik and TikTok project raised almost a million dollars in a few short weeks on Kickstarter.com. We’re pretty certain this overwhelming support will translate into serious sales once the product makes it onto retail shelves. The founder of the project also works for a company that designs private label mobile accessories for major retailers, including Sprint and Verizon.

This iPod Nano watch adapter can be pre-ordered from LunaTik.com for $69.99.

LunaTik iPod Nano Watch at MacWorld 2011 is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

Jammit App Lets You Jam With the Pros

Xavier Lanier — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:10:55 +0000

Jammit App is an app that helps aspiring musicians learn how to jam like the pros. There are a lot of music learning apps out there, but Jammit App is unique because it allows users to play along with the actual recording artists they hear on the radio, or more likely their iPods.

The guys behind Jammit App are music industry veterans and have struck deals with record labels to bring popular songs like Smoke On the Water, I’m Just a Girl and Dirty Little Secret into the app. Users can listen to individual tracks, such as the guitarist, and follow along on sheet music. After some practice, they can stand in for their favorite rockstar and hit record the jam session.

As someone that studied music for a decade, I can certainly appreciate Jammit App. It’s infinitely better than simply picking up a stack of sheet music or trying to play along with a band on the radio. With Jammit App, you can loop a few measures and slow down difficult parts without distortion.

The Jammit App will provide access to the Jammit Store, which will have version of songs suited for Drums, Vocals, Bass, Guitar and Keyboard learning and recording. Jammit App will launch with primarily rock songs, but there are hopes to branch into more genres.

Jammit App will run on any current iOS device, including the iPad and iPhone 4.

Jammit App Lets You Jam With the Pros is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.