Sub $200 Windows laptop — finally (well, soon)

Credit: HP/Engadget

Apparently those promises of a sub $200 laptop are about to come to fruition. HP has announced additions to its Stream range. There will be two new laptops, with 11 & 13 inch screens.

● Centrino processor
● 2 GB RAM
● 32 GB SSD
● 1,366 x 768 pixel display
● optional touch capability on the 13-inch model
● Windows 8
● one year subscription to 1TB of online storage via Microsoft OneDrive
● one year subscription to Office 365

HP's Stream range will also include 7 & 8 inch tablets.

http://www.cnet.com/products/hp-stream-11-6/

http://au.pcmag.com/news/24808/hp-reveals-199-windows-stream-laptop

http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/29/hp-stream-laptops-tablets/ / HP Hewlett Packard Stream lineup 14-inch version cheap cloud storage cloud reliant systems Web browser access online services Chromebook added flexibility Windows 8 clamshell laptops HP Stream 11.6 HP Stream 13.3 $199 $229 US £179 £199 UK 1,366x768-pixel displays optional touchscreen 13 inch model low power Intel Celeron processor 32GB SSD flash storage fan fanless design full Windows 8 install SSD applications files colours colors magenta blue budget laptops clamshells 1TB online storage Microsoft OneDrive subscription Office 365 one year Microsoft Store gift card $25 4G antenna 200MB of data per month 4G 250MB 3G UK HP DataPass least expensive Windows 8 laptops specifications specs Chromebook accessing remote cloud based apps services running installed software Windows 8 interface fast responsive optimized optimizing operating system OS CPU extended Web surfing productivity casual PC two slate-style tablets HP Stream 7 Tablet HP Stream 8 Tablet Intel powered tablets /

Gresso case protects the iPhone 6 from bending

Credit: Gresso/The Gadgeteer

If you're still not convinced by the reassurances provided by Consumer Reports on the strength of the iPhone 6 in yesterday's post, you might like to add some reinforcement in the form of a Gresso case. 2 mm of aluminium at top, bottom & sides has got to help.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2014/09/29/gresso-case-protects-the-iphone-6-from-bending/ / iPhone 6 phone bend bending carrying carry pocket phone fron back pocket sit down Gresso iPhone 6 cas CNC machined aluminumbumper style protection around edges 2mm solid back cover rigid rigidity 300 lbs of force bend phone unique clamshell design hing magnetic closure metal bumper cases already on the market /

Consumer Reports revisits Bendgate

You've seen the video of an iPhone 6 Plus being bent, but what does it mean? How much force was actually applied? What about the same "test" applied to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4? Is the force the same? Greater? Less?

Consumer Reports steps into the breach with some objective tests of the the forces necessary to bend iPhone 6, 6 Plus, as well as some comparable top-of-the-line smartphones.

Testing concluded that:

● IPhone 6 Plus is more resistant to bending than the iPhone 6
● Both are more bend resistant than the HTC One (M8)
● Both are scored lower than (in order of increasing bend resistance) LG G3, Apple iPhone 5, & Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Perhaps most important is Consumer Reports closing comment: "While nothing is (evidently) indestructible, we expect that any of these phones should stand up to typical use."

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/09/consumer-reports-tests-iphone-6-bendgate/index.htm / bent iPhone 6 creasing iPhone 6 Plus bare hands unscientific lab equipment delicate same tests comparable smart phones tougher test stress test phones three-point flexural test supported at two points either end force applied third point on the top measured force high precision Instron compression test machine tested LG G3 Samsung Galaxy Note 3 HTC One M8 iPhone 5 bendgate controversy Apple invited journalists labs stress tests published reports 25 kilograms 55 pounds force test flex increased force 10 pound increments deform engineers screen come loose case results tough more robust our testing deform 90 pounds of force came apart 110 pounds of force outperformed regarded sturdy solid phone underperformed some other smart phones recovered completely each step up in force screen splintered stopped working serious damage phones continued to work screens illuminated functional to the touch call smartphone smart phone carnage significant force damage indestructible typical use /

10 best remote control drones for 2014

Credit: faveable

Mention the word "drone", & most people think of a quadrocopter or a military drone similar to the one in the image above. Actually drones come in a large range of shapes, sizes, capabilities & prices.

● Single rotor, dual rotors, 4, 6, or 8 rotors, or fixed wing

● With or without GPS, gyroscope, gimballed or not

● Camera capability, sometimes accommodating a GoPro.

● Almost any price you want to pay. Prices in the linked article range from $34 to $60,000. The military style drone at the top of this item (a model of the U.S Air Force Predator drone with 5 foot wingspan) can be yours for just $460.

http://faveable.com/articles/74/best-rc-drones / drones buzz curiosity creative sci-fi fantasies drone fascinating expensive tech toys extremely wildlife photographers zoom up close subject aerial views epic landscapes what's other side mountain wall send your drone up scout trail ahead pilot piloting gadgets learning curve beginner tech-challenged newbie mounted camera fun quadcopter GPS capability do it yourself kit helicopter copter ready to fly flight time light frame stable in wind HT-450 Quad RTF with MultiWii STORM Drone 4 Flying Platform ready to fly 2.4Ghz transmitter controller drone carry GoPro camera minutes of flying landing land dragons dragon jet powered jet-powered engine fly 70 mph breathe breathes fire propane tank jet fuel kerosene Flying Fire Breathing Dragon Hammacher Schlemmer UDI RC U816A UFO Quadcopter 6 axis gyro gyroscope Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Quadricopter controlled iPod touch iPhone iPad Android devices live stream 720p HD video smartphone tablet record AR.FreeFlight 2.0 piloting app 4 Channel Predator Reaper Style UAV Drone RC Plane brushless motor replica of the U.S Air Force Predator drone wingspan fuselage flight weight charge DJI Phantom FC40 Quadcopter UAV RC Drone Wifi camera aerial photography DJI Phantom Aerial UAV Drone Quadcopter GoPro detachable first person camera transmitter 984 foot range connectivity 5.8GHz Wi-Fi transmitter GPS flight control learning to fly Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Quadricopter acrobatic DJI F550 GPS Drone NAZA V2 RTF hexacopter six propellers much smoother flight bigger payload recording equipment DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter with FPV HD Video Camera and 3-Axis Gimbal shoot smooth video crystal clear stills built-in camera 5200 mAh battery gps navigation USB port quadracopter quadcopter give you more power /

Apple replies to complaints of bending iPhones

Credit: YouTube/Unbox Therapy/ABC

In response to claims of iPhone 6 Plus bending in normal use, Apple has responded that:

● 10 million iPhone 6s were sold over the first weekend after going on sale

● only 9 users have complained to Apple about bending phones

● strengthening includes:
◌ construction from a custom grade of aluminum
◌ tempered for extra strength
◌ high-stress locations reinforced with stainless steel & titanium inserts

● iPhones are tested extensively before release, including the "sit test", which simulates sitting on a hard surface with the phone in the back pocket of a pair of tight jeans

http://online.wsj.com/articles/apple-defends-against-complaints-of-bending-iphones-1411668618

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/25/apple-response-bend-iphone6-6p-plus-nine-complaints / Apple responded firmly claims new iPhones bend in use problems went on sale last social media iPhone 6 larger 6 Plus warped bent carried trouser pockets normal use bend extremely rare nine customers contacted Apple bent iPhone 6 Plus Apple spokesman Adam Howorth contact Apple potentially damaging claims aluminium alloy 7.1mm thick thin thinnest available larger phones bending warping designed engineered manufactured sturdy precision engineered unibody enclosure constructed machined machining custom grade 6000 series anodized aluminum tempered extra strength stainless steel titanium inserts reinforce high stress locations strongest glass smartphone industry 6000 series aluminium alloy magnesium silicon harden high-quality materials construction strength durability perform rigorous tests development cycle 3-point bending pressure point cycling sit torsion user studies iPhone 6 Plus high quality standards endure everyday real life use /

Will It Blend? — Glow Sticks

You probably have a good idea of what happens, but worth a look. / blender light stick light-stick lightstick glowstick /

Will it bend? — iPhone 6 Plus

Credit: MacRumors/PD13/Sydney Morning Herald

Claims have been appearing across the 'Net, that iPhone 6 Plus have been bending in users' pockets. These claims appear to be supported by photographs & the videos below. Some users claim their phones bend after a slight bump.

Is this an example of Apple's "premium construction"?

If yours does bend, don't try to bend it back. Can lead to a cracked screen — see the second video below.

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/24/iphone-6-plus-bend-pockets-complain

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/bendgate-apple-iphone-6-plus-found-bending-in-pants-pockets-20140924-10l5qm.html



/ bend-gate bend gate iPhone 6 Plus owners aluminium body bending pocket pockets bend LG bendy G FLEX MacRumors a small but growing number iPhone 6 Plus owners smart phone smartphone bent carry carrying device pocket pockets new 6 Plus bump lightly bumping into someone small nominal amount of force applied Geek.com reports kink front pocket bumped into someone light bump durable sturdier new iPhone 6 Plus 5.5inch diagonal aluminium Cult of Mac metal /