Sony Vaio Pro 13

Finding a good laptop is not easy. There are too many variables. Hardware has to be good. And when we talk of hardware, there are processors, RAM, screen, hard disk, keyboard and tens of other components. Even if one or two of them are not right, the experience tends to be poor. Then, there is software, especially the applications that are bundled with a laptop. Right applications make the experience so much better while the wrong ones frustrate a user.

Picking any kind of laptop is tricky. But the problem is particularly acute when you are trying to buy a machine with which you can travel.

Laptop companies, which do a poor job of explaining a laptop and its features to a user, only add to the problem. This is one of the reasons why many people nowadays just pick an Apple MacBook Air when they want a lightweight laptop. Air is a good machine. It has impeccable build quality and good hardware. And Apple promises that MacBooks "just work".

Unfortunately, not everyone likes to use or can use OS X, the operating system that powers Apple laptops. There are people who are more comfortable with Windows. Or maybe they need Windows because their company uses software that only runs on Windows.

Sony Vaio Pro is a laptop made for such people. It is a Windows laptop that aims to be at least as good as MacBook Air. After using it for a while, we think it mostly succeeds, even though there are a couple of issues that holds it back from being a home run.

Ultra light, incredibly thin, superb hardware

Vaio Pro comes in two sizes. One model has an 11.6-inch screen while the other one sports a 13.3-inch display. We tested the model with 13.3-inch screen.

Vaio Pro is incredibly thin and light. You notice this as soon as you take out the laptop from the box. The bigger Vaio Pro weighs just 1 kg. This is totally amazing! The smaller one with 11.6-inch screen is lighter than 800 grams. Both machines are lighter than a MacBook Air with comparable screen size. With a thickness of just 0.68 inches, it is also very slim and easily slips into a backpack or a laptop bag you may be carrying on your travel.


Unlike several other ultraportable Windows laptops, which borrow the design and style from MacBook Air, Vaio Pro sports a different look. It has a more boxy design. The laptop lacks the kind of rounded corners that MacBook Air uses. Vaio Pro too has a wedge shaped design - thicker where the hinges connect screen to the laptop and slimmer at the other hand - but the difference between the thickest and thinnest points is not much. With a MacBook Air, you can probably slice an apple using its thinnest side. You can't do that with Vaio Pro. That is alright, though. A laptop is not for slicing apples, you see.

One of the reasons why Vaio Pro weighs so little is because of the material Sony has used to make its body. Unlike aluminum, which is the norm on ultraportable laptops nowadays, Vaio Pro uses a body made of carbon fiber, which is much lighter. The palm rest - area around the touchpad - is covered with a sheet of aluminum but the rest of the laptop has a carbon fiber shell, which feels smooth to touch.

Overall, we like the design of Vaio Pro. The MacBook Air seems to have a cleaner design but there is nothing in Vaio Pro design that affects the experience negatively.

Vaio Pro uses a chicklet-style keyboard, which means there are no gaps between the keys where bread crumbs can fall while you munch on a sandwich in office. This is good. In our use we found the keys in Vaio Pro to be really good. They offer a lot of depth (for a thin ultrabook) and clicking them feels satisfactory. The amount of springy resistance these keys offer is also good and helps a user type fast and accurately. The keyboard is backlit and hence can be used in the dark.

The trackpad is large. It looks good. Unfortunately, it is one of the weakest - in terms of performance - part in Vaio Pro. The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures but the performance is a hit or miss. The multi-touch gestures like two-finger scroll or pinch-to-zoom work erratically. Worse, the pointer on the screen has a tendency to jump when you are using the touchpad.

In terms of core hardware, Vaio Pro is equipped well. Our review unit had a 13.3-inch touchscreen with Full HD (1080 x 1920 pixels) resolution. It is powered by Intel Core i5 4200U processor, which has a base clock of 1.6GHz and a turbo clock of 2.6GHz. The laptop has 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD. It has two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port and a multi-format card reader. Just like many other ultrabooks, Vaio Pro doesn't have a port for Ethernet cable, which means to access internet on this machine, you will have to use Wi-Fi. It also lacks an optical drive.

Fast performer, terrific screen

The best part of Vaio Pro is its screen. We are used to seeing bad screens on laptops, even on those that cost nearly Rs 1 lakh. Almost 95% laptops in the market use TN (twisted nematic) display panels in their screen. And almost all of them have a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. TN panels are poor at showing colours. Yet, TN panels have become industry standard because they are cheap.

Sony breaks away from the pack and puts an IPS screen, which shows richer colours, in Vaio Pro. The quality of screen is significantly better than anything found on any other similarly priced laptop, including MacBook Air. The Vaio screen is very bright, has a Full HD resolution that makes the text look crisp on it and shows excellent colours. When you change the angle of the screen on Vaio Pro or tilt your head, the colours don't shift or fade the way they do on other laptops. In our opinion the screen alone makes Vaio Pro a better deal than most other Windows laptops in the market.

On the 13.3-inch model, Sony is using touchscreen. This makes using Windows 8, the OS that powers Vaio Pro series laptops, slightly easier to use. In our using we found the touch response on Vaio Pro screen to be fast and accurate. But given that it runs the full version of Windows, we usually preferred using the laptop with the keyboard and touchpad.

In terms of performance, we didn't encounter any major issues with Vaio Pro. The Haswell processor in the tablet is fast and can handle most of the office-related workload, including Photoshop work, and web browsing with ease. The laptop lacks a mechanical hard drive and uses a SSD, which also makes it feel overall faster.

Though, we did have a few issues with the laptop. Just like other laptops, it comes with a few preloaded applications, including a trial version of anti-virus software. We found these preloaded applications affect the performance. Once we uninstalled some of them, the performance was better. We also had a few issues related to Wi-Fi. There were occasions when the WiFi connection dropped without any apparent reason. It was random and infrequent but it definitely affected the experience.

Another issue is Windows 8, which runs on this machine. This is an operating system with dual-personality and a step back from Windows 7, especially when you are going to work on your laptop and not just watch movies on it. You can always use the desktop mode instead of modern UI mode but the fact remains that Windows 8 has usability issues. We would have liked the option of Windows 7 on Vaio Pro. But it is not offered.

Despite its slim shell, Vaio Pro runs cool. The air coming out of the exhaust vents on the left side of laptop tends to get slightly warm when you use the machine for photo editing or video encoding but compared to MacBook Air and some other similarly priced laptops Vaio Pro never gets uncomfortably hot.

Battery life is another strong point of this machine. Once it was fully charged, we could use Vaio Pro for seven to eight hours. Needless to say, it is one of the few laptops that can last whole day without requiring you to plug in the charger.

Should you buy it?

There is a lot going for Vaio Pro 13. It has an MRP of Rs 84,990, which is not bad. But, this price also puts Vaio Pro in direct competition with the 13-inch MacBook Air, which has an MRP of Rs 88,900.

The touchpad issues on Vaio Pro 13 mean we continue to recommend MacBook Air over it. The Apple laptop also has extra 128GB internal storage, which could be useful to some users.

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6 AWESOME THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR GMAIL ID

Everyone has a Google account, and most of us tend to use it only for e-mails. A few others might probably be active on Google+ and YouTube…perhaps, even use the Google Drive service. But did you know that this single ID could be put to other amazing uses?

1. TURN GOOGLE DRIVE INTO YOUR JUKEBOX 

Google Drive is a great cloud service to store all your documents, presentations and spreadsheets. But I bet you didn’t know that you can also use it – in conjunction with a few third-party tools – to create your own virtual jukebox that lets you stream your songs to wherever you are as long as you have an internet connection.
For PCs
To listen to the music you’ve uploaded to Drive, visit www.drivetunes.org (preferably using the Chrome browser) and sign in with your Google account. Allow Drivetunes to access your Google Drive by clicking ‘Accept’. The website automatically detects and lists all MP3 and M4A files, letting you play your tunes from any web-enabled computer.
For Smartphones
    You can install apps like CloudBeats Lite or GDrive (for iOS) or CloudAround (for Android devices).

2. MAKE YOUR OWN MAPS

So you’ve moved to a new home, or you’re probably hosting your birthday party at this new pub. One of the problems you’re faced with is giving detailed directions to get to the venue. Guess what? You can use Google Maps. The service lets you create custom maps, add waypoint symbols and colours; you can also annotate it with text; add snapshots for visual aids, and more… 

    Sign in to Google Maps, click My Places > Create Map.
    Something called Maps Engine Lite will open in a new tab.

You can now use this interface to plot your route. There are four tools – to select items, add markers, draw lines, and add directions. The elements you add are represented as layers (just like in photo-editing software). This makes it easier to mask out certain annotations or routes. The map editor also includes a handy undo-redo option.
    Once you are done, click the Share button to send it via e-mail, Google+, Facebook or Twitter.

3. PRINT FROM ANYWHERE

The wonders of technology. Do you know you can now use the Chrome browser and your Google account to send a printout to your home printer from anywhere in the world?
To set up on your home computer…
    First, make sure your printer is ON.
    In the Chrome browser, click the menu button and select Settings.
    Click the Show advanced settings… link.
    Scroll down to the Google Cloud Print section and sign in to enable the service.
    Select your printer in the list, click Add Printers, and you’re ready to go. 

To print from a remote computer…
    Ensure that your printer and the PC that it is connected to are switched ON.
    Sign in with your Google account in Chrome.
    Click on the menu button, and select the Print… option.
    In the Print panel that appears, under Destination, click on Change… to select your      remote printer. Hit Print.
    It should be noted that you can only print the contents of your browser window using this method. If you want to print a .doc file, for instance, you will need to open it in a cloud service like Google Drive.
    Android and iOS apps like Google Print and PrintCentral Pro can also be used to send prints using Google’s cloud print service.

4. MANAGE YOUR PHONE CONTACTS

Changing your smartphone can be a chore, especially when you have to copy all your contacts from one handset to the other. Hah! You wouldn’t have to go through this pain; not if you had stored all your contacts on your Gmail account…
    In your inbox, click the drop-down labelled Gmail (top-left corner under ‘Google’).
    Select Contacts, and in a one-time effort, manually update phone numbers, e-mail IDs, et al – for all the people in your address book. Alternatively, if you have an existing backup in the CSV or vCard format, click on More > Import.
    Now, whenever you switch handsets – whether Android, BlackBerry, iOS or Windows Phone – all you need to do is add this Google account and set it to sync Contacts.
    Also, whenever you add a new number on your smartphone, make sure it is synced to this Google account.

5. RUN YOUR OWN SHOW ON YOUTUBE

So you’ve always believed you have what it takes to be a video jockey or a TV show host. Sadly, you’ve never had the opportunity to show off your skills. Not true. With your Google account, a webcam, and a good microphone, you can start your own channel on YouTube. Who knows, you might just

6. HOW TO CHECK WHAT’S OCCUPYING YOUR STORAGE SPACE ON  GOOGLE

Every Google user gets 15GB of storage space. This is shared between Gmail, Google+ and Google Drive. To find out how much is being consumed by each service… Sign in to your Gmail account and in your inbox, scroll down to the last e-mail. Below, on the left-hand side, you will see how much space is being used. For example, ‘5.79GB (38%) of 15GB used’. Click on the ‘Manage’ link under this line. Google will display your usage in a pie chart with a break up of how much storage each of the three services are using.
catch the eye of some big-time producer.

To create a video…
Log in to YouTube with your Google ID; click on your account name at the top right-hand corner, and click My Channels to create one. Click the Upload button at the top of the page. Then, in the Privacy drop-down list, select Private (you can change this later from Video Manager). Now click the Record button under Webcam capture to start rolling. Once done, stop the recording and click Play to preview. Click Publish to finalise your recording or Start Over to do a retake.

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Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 8

Windows key – Brings up the Metro start screen. You can start typing to search                        for an app.

Win + D – Brings up the Windows desktop.

Win + C – Brings up the Charms menu where you can search, share, and change settings.

Win + I – opens the Settings panel where you can change settings for the current app, change volume,

wireless networks, shut down, or adjust the brightness.

Win + H – opens the Metro Share panel.

Win + Q – brings up the Metro App Search screen.

Win + W – brings up the Metro Settings search screen.

Win + F – brings up the Metro File search screen.

Win + K – opens the Devices panel. (for connecting to a projector or some other device)

Win + , (comma) – Aero Peek at the desktop.

Win + . (period) – Snaps the current Metro application to the Right side of the screen.

Win + Shift + . (period) – Snaps the current Metro application to the Left side of the screen.

Win + Page Up / Down – moves the current app to the other monitor.

Win+X – Brings up the lunch kind of start menu (very useful)

Windows Key + Print Screen – saves a screenshot into your Pictures folder.  (quite handy)

If there are any other shortcut keys that are new to Windows 8 and we haven’t featured them, be sure to let us know in the comments.

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XBOX vs PS4

The game consoles have landed. Millions of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners are getting their first taste of what to expect from this new generation of high-powered video games.

Perhaps you weren't one of those eager fans who waited in line at midnight to get first crack at the new consoles. Perhaps there's a gamer in your family who would love to unwrap shiny new machine on Christmas morning. So you're wondering: Which console to buy?

Both are first-rate game players that bring cutting-edge computer graphics to your living room. Both come with plenty of games to choose from. Both hold the promise of delivering state-of-the-art entertainment for years.

But there are differences. The obvious distinction is price: Sony's PlayStation 4 retails for $400, $100 less than Microsoft's Xbox One.

The primary reason for that price difference is the Kinect camera and microphone that comes with every Xbox One. Microsoft wants it to be the center of everything you do in your media room, not just games where you wave your arms around a lot. The device, an update of the Kinect that was sold separately for the Xbox 360, now understands a wide range of verbal commands, so you can change cable channels, launch Skype calls and find movies and music without ever touching a controller.

It's a nifty chunk of technology, but it's not for everyone. In this age of surveillance, people might be uncomfortable with having a camera pointed at them all the time - though Microsoft assures us that it won't be snooping.

The PlayStation 4 is less ambitious. First and foremost, it's a game player, and you operate it the old-fashioned way: by pressing buttons on a controller you hold in your hands.

The PS4 doesn't skimp on non-gaming activities. You can also use it to watch movies from services as Netflix and Hulu Plus or to listen to tunes from Sony's Music Unlimited.

Although both can do much more, the PS4 and the Xbox One are ultimately video-game consoles, with the emphasis on games. The current Xbox One line-up is slightly more impressive, thanks to the presence of the stellar racing game "Forza Motorsport 5." But many games, including the latest entries in the popular ‘Call of Duty,’ ‘Madden NFL’ and ‘Assassin's Creed’ franchises are available for both systems.

In a way, choosing a console now is like placing a bet on the future, especially as neither device can play software created for older systems - namely, the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

                                Forza Motorsport on Xbox One

Sony has already announced new ‘Uncharted’ and ‘InFamous’ games for the PS4. Microsoft is expected to continue the "Halo" epic on the Xbox One. Microsoft also has a potential blockbuster exclusive with "Titanfall," a robot battle game from the creators of the landmark "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare."

But most games from outside publishers, including Activision, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, will be available on both systems. Whatever "Grand Theft Auto V" publisher Rockstar Games comes up with next, you can be sure it will want to make it available to as wide an audience as possible. So you'll be fine with either the PS4 or the Xbox One.

What about the Wii U, you ask? Nintendo's console beat both PS4 and Xbox One to the market, but it has stumbled through its first year. It's not a bad machine, but it doesn't deliver the visual razzle-dazzle of the PS4 or Xbox One. Its graphics are closer to what the PS3 and Xbox 360 delivered several years ago.

The Wii U's biggest drawback is its relatively scrawny software line-up, with most of 2013's best games available only on Sony or Microsoft consoles.

In the past, Nintendo has made up the difference with its roster of home grown icons - the likes of Mario, Zelda and Metroid. But in 2013, the company delivered just two marquee-worthy Wii U games, "Super Mario 3D World" and "Pikmin 3."

At $300, the Wii U is the cheapest of the three major consoles. But don't be tempted. Sure, there's a chance that Nintendo will turn around its momentum and get back to publishing good games on a regular schedule. Until then, an awful lot of Wii U’s is going to be gathering dust.

If you or someone on your holiday shopping list just wants to play state-of-the-art games, the PS4 is a fine choice. If you buy into Microsoft's vision of controlling your entire entertainment system with just the sound of your voice, the Xbox One is worth the extra $100. Either way, you won't be disappointed.

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How to hide your Gmail ID from ‘Google+ strangers’

Google controversially brought Gmail and Google+ closer together this week by introducing a new feature that gives anyone using Gmail the ability to send you an email without knowing your email address. The change is turned on by default.

Since Google way back when converted its generic user accounts into Google+ accounts, anyone using Gmail also has a Google+ account. 

As of right now, you can’t sign up for Gmail without creating a Google+ account or vice versa.

If you are added to someone’s Google+ “circle” of contacts on the social network, that person will be able to send you a Gmail message by simply entering your name — regardless of whether you follow them on the service. Your email address is hidden until you respond to the message. Google says the change should make it easier for people to reach those they already know.

Google is automatically opting all Gmail customers into the system — but there is a way to opt yourself out. Here’s how to do it:

The Gmail change is rolling out over several couple days. You’ll get an email message like the one below from the Gmail team. The subject will be “Gmail Update: Reach more people you know.”

After you get this message, you’ll be able to opt out by going into your Gmail settings menu, which can be accessed by clicking on the sprocket icon in the upper right corner. Click the sprocket, and then select “settings.” (The bottom of the email, in an area talking about how to control the change, includes a shortcut into settings.)

Once in the settings menu, you’ll want to scroll down to a section called “Email via Google+.”

By default, Email via Google+ will be set to “Anyone on Google+.”

If you want to opt out of all this, change the setting to “No one.”

Once you’ve done that, don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of this page and select “Save Changes.” If you don’t do this, you’ll remain on the default settings.

That’s it.

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TrackID – Best Music Recognition App

If you hear a song playing around you and are not able to recognize what it is, we now-a-days have lots of Android apps for it which recognize the song along with more details like the Album, Artist etc. While you might have heard of apps like Shazam, SoundCloud etc, TrackID from Sony is one of the best music recognition apps available on the Android platform.

TrackID is from Sony and is pre-installed on all Sony Xperia range of phones. All other Android phones can download TrackID from the Google Play Store.

The TrackID app has a great user interface with a big button in the centre, making it clear and easy for the user to use it for just what the app is designed for. By clicking the record button, the app records the music from the nearby source using the phone’s microphone.

As long as your Android phone is connected to the internet via EDGE/3G or WiFi, the TrackID app will be able to search the internet for the song you had recorded and requested details about it. As soon as the song is found, it displays the song with more information such as the artist, album, track details etc.

Other options in the TrackID app include personalized Artist info and Album Art depending on the song and its availability of extra details. The TrackID app also has download and purchasing options which one can use to purchase or download the song they had just scanned making it quick and easy for them to get that song on their phone.

The TrackID app also has share options which displays the standard Android menu of all the share options that are available on various apps. TrackID is very accurate and displays the exact song and its corresponding details even if there are two songs which are closely related with each other, having a similar tune.

The TrackID app is a must download for those Audiophiles who spend a lot of their time on their Android smartphones listening and exploring music. For the others, the TrackID makes a good app to try and find your favorite songs on the go. It can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

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Best 10 Games of 2013

A video game store can be daunting if you don't know what you're looking for. It's not easy to tell the winners from the losers, and sales clerks typically make the same salary whether they sell you a gem or a stinker.

So when you head to the mall, take this list. These are some of the best games of 2013.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Consoles: Ubisoft, for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC
Price: $59.99

Jack Sparrow's got nothing on Edward Kenway, the swashbuckling hero of this pirate romp. There are treasures buried everywhere in this version of the 18th century New World, but the real prize is the rousing ship-to-ship combat across a churning Caribbean.

BioShock Infinite

Consoles: 2K Games, for the PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Price: $39.99

A detective explores a city floating high above the clouds in this dark satire of American "exceptionalism," the idea that the United States is inherently superior to other countries. Months after its release, players are still arguing over the meaning of its time-bending, brain-twisting plot -- and marveling over its gorgeous setting and unforgettable monsters.

Need for Speed: Rivals

Consoles: Electronic Arts, for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC
Price: $59.99

The latest edition of EA's street-racing franchise is packed with enough high-octane challenges to satisfy the most demanding speed freak. But the chases really get chaotic once the police get involved. And because even the cops drive Ferraris, they're thrilling no matter which side of the law you're on.

Super Mario 3D World

Console: Nintendo Wii U
Price: $59.99

The beloved plumber and his pals Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad explore a sprawling environment jammed with running and jumping challenges. The major upgrade, a cat suit that lets characters crawl up walls, is essential to finding all the secret goodies hidden in the world's nooks and crannies.

Grand Theft Auto V

Consoles: Rockstar, for the PS3, Xbox 360
Pricing: $59.99

A gangbanger, a former bank robber and a psychopath cross paths in the new chapter of the blockbuster crime series. It's vicious, profane and thoroughly entertaining, as the three hoodlums bounce from one ridiculous situation to another in a stylized, ultraviolent nightmare version of Los Angeles.

Metro

Last Light is the sequel to Metro 2033, taking place a year after the events of the first game. Originally slated for release in 2012, the game has since been delayed to an early 2013 release. The writer of the books, Dmitry Glukovsky has been signed on to work with the developers on the game. 

Like Metro 2033, the game is expected to make full use of the PC's capabilities to offer better visuals than its console counterparts. 

The Last of Us

Console: Sony, for the PS3 

Price: $59.99

Twenty years after an infection decimated American society, a jaded survivor and a teenage girl set out on a cross-country journey. Their battles against mutants and other humans are nerve-racking, but the most memorable element of "The Last of Us" is the growing affection between its protagonists.

Wasteland 2

Wasteland 2 is a tactical turn-based and party-based RPG with an "old school" isometric view in which players take control of a party of up to seven characters (three of which are NPCs), and all of whom are highly customizable.

Wasteland 2 comes from the makers of Fallout and the original Wasteland—precursors to just about every other modern RPG. As one of the first major games to be funded by Kickstarter, Wasteland 2's development is entirely independent from the machinations and meddling of marketing departments and corporate big-wigs. 

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Call of Duty: Ghosts is a 2013 first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward, with assistance from Raven Software and Neversoft, and published by Activision. It is the tenth primary installment in the Call of Duty series, and the sixth developed by Infinity Ward. The video game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii U on November 5, 2013, with Treyarch handling the port for the Wii U. 

The game's release date on next-generation consoles PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is officially November 15, 2013, and November 22, 2013, respectively, to coincide with the console release dates. However, the game was released earlier for the PlayStation 4 from some retailers.

In Call of Duty: Ghosts, the story is mostly told through the eyes of one single character, Logan Walker. Players assume the role of Logan for most of the game, with several other playable characters, including an astronaut specialist named Baker, and Logan's father, Elias Walker.

Europa Universalis IV

The war game lives on the PC platform and no other, and the upcoming Europa Universalis is bigger and more expansive than any other wargame before it. The entire duration of the game stretches between the mid-15th century to the late 18th century, containing every detail you ever cared to know about generals, politicians, nobles, and royalty of all the European nations during that time. 

Like its predecessors, the game is all about politics and war on a grand scale. 

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