Top 5 Laptop Models That are Great for Business Use This 2015

While personal computers have higher storage capacities and faster processors, laptops offer features and benefits that are almost the same, sometimes even more, which made students and business owners to turn towards getting the best laptops in the market today. Laptops provide users with easier access, greater efficiency, and unrivaled portability. The last one mentioned is basically the main advantage of having a laptop. Having a small-sized computer allows users to carry it anywhere, allowing them to work on their task or perform any kind of computer work anytime. A laptop consumes much less power compared to a desktop computer and can still work using its batteries in case a power outage occur. Also, there are several private and public wireless networks that provide easy access of the Web to its users.

Here we have a list of top laptop models that are perfect for business people. Each one has a feature that will meet your every business need.

Lenovo ThinkPad T450s

This laptop is made for business because of its fast performance, long battery life, and the best keyboard anywhere. That's why this 14-inch notebook, an update to the former T440s, is considered as the best overall work laptop. The ThinkPad T450s boasts a sharp and clear full-HD display, a durable design, and perks like Lenovo's TrackPoint pointing stick, which provides more precise navigation than the touchpad. The notebook also provides approximately 16 hours and 1 minute battery life if you opt for Lenovo's extended battery.

Key features:

• TrackPoint pointing stick
• Hot-swappable battery
• Fingerprint reader (optional)
• Solid state drive (optional)
• Touch screen (optional)

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

Dell XPS 13

If you're a business owner who frequently travels, the Dell XPS 13 is the right laptop for you. Dell managed to cram a 13-inch notebook into the footprint of an 11-inch system by trimming the bezel around the display. It's less than half of what you would normally find on most other notebooks with just 0.2 thick. The XPS 13 is compact and well-built, with a gorgeous screen, fast performance, and surprisingly good audio quality. You may have to pay a lot of extra to get it with a touchscreen, but even then, it's priced in line with other flagship Ultrabooks -- and in some ways it's a better choice, too.

Key features:

• Edge-to-edge display
• Thin and light design
• Small footprint
• Solid state drive 
• Touch screen (optional)

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro

If you're looking a business-oriented notebook that has a versatile function, Lenovo's Yoga 3 Pro is your best candidate. This 2-in-1 hybrid device can fold backward a full 180 degrees, which allows you to use it like a large tablet or fold out the keyboard if you need to get down to work. The Yoga 3 Pro boasts an elegant watchband-style hinge that gives it a thinner overall design. Some other features include an awesome 3,200 x 1,800 pixel touchscreen display, fast Core M processor and a lightweight design of 2.6 lbs only.

Key features:

• Thin and light design
• Convertible laptop/tablet
• Solid state drive 
• Touch screen (optional)

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is undoubtedly the most attractive and capable device Microsoft has ever produced. This laptop/tablet hybrid is designed for use with a keyboard, even though the accessory is sold separately. The Type Cover keyboard is one of the better tablet keyboards you will find, with its superthin design and good trackpad. Its 12.2-inch tablet display is spacious and sharp, which provides a surprising amount of real estate to work on. The Surface Pro 3 has a stylus included, allowing you to take notes directly on the pressure-sensitive display. Another great thing about the Surface Pro 3 is its built-in kickstand that comes useful for taking down notes because it gives users a good angle for writing.

Key features:

• Thin and light design
• 2-in-1 hybrid (detachable keyboard sold separately)
• Pressure-sensitive display
• Pen included
• Solid state drive 
• Touch screen 

Desktop dock compatible (not included)

MacBook Air (13 inch, 2014)

The Apple MacBook Air is a winning choice for business users who want an ultraportable notebook with lasting battery power, where tests claimed that the superthin device lasted for a good 12 hours. Even though its 13-inch display could be sharper, you'll be compensated with its premium aluminum build, comfortable keyboard, precise touchpad, and new ways to connect your MacBook to your iPhone. It may not have a Retina display, but this notebook does have a slightly more powerful processor that doesn't ding the battery life, and it's $100 cheaper. This gives users a compact, powerful, and productive laptop that will definitely suit many business users' needs.

Key features:

• OS X Yosemite
• iPhone continuity
• Solid state drive
• Thin and light design
• Long battery life

Rumored Features of the Upcoming iPad Pro

When the rumors of iPad Pro broke out last August 2014, there has been a never-ending talk about the possibility of a larger iPad, along with other expected greater features. The upcoming iPad Pro is the next evolution of Apple's long-running slate, something that could replace a laptop with a larger screen, more powerful processor, and an attachable keyboard. With more features ranging from dual operating systems to a Touch ID button, including features that we have come to love in the iPad Air 2 such as 2GB RAM and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. If this makes you a little more curious as to what the upcoming tablet can bring to the table, check out some of the rumored features surrounding the iPad Pro.

BIGGER THAN EVER

Initially, there have been reports that the iPad Pro will be definitely big, measuring 12.9 inches diagonally. If the iPad is said to replace your MacBook, then it has to be bigger. Since then, articles circling around the web announce that the larger iPad will be sporting a 12.9-inch screen, and be called iPad Plus, instead of iPad Pro or iPad Air Plus. With this expected size, the iPad Pro would be closest in size to the 13-inch MacBook Air.

While rumors on the larger (largest?) iPad is still at gray area, it is believed that the tablet will closely resemble the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, still having its signature thin chassis and slim bezels. A website in Japan hinted that the king-size iPad will be somewhat thicker than the slender iPad Air 2, which measures 6.1 mm thick. The iPad Pro's size is expected to come between 6.9 and 7.1 mm, meaning it will be about as thick as the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

PROCESSOR AND RAM

Also similar with the iPad Air 2, the iPad Pro will be shipped with the triple-core A8X processor. As an upgrade to the A8 processor, which was introduced in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models, the A8X offers some noticeable performance enhancements. Based on the Geekbench 3 multi-core benchmark, the A8X processor in the iPad Air 2 is up to 55 percent faster than the A8 processor in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Although most rumors are suggesting that the iPad Pro will be integrated with the same A8X processor used in the iPad Air 2, there's one rumor surfaced that Apple will be introducing an updated, and more powerful A9 processor for the iPad Pro.

The iPad Pro is also expected to be shipped with 2GB of RAM, same with the iPad Air 2, which is the first Apple mobile device to have 2GB RAM.

SMART COVER with KEYBOARD and STYLUS

Apple's Smart Cover is expected to be a lot smarter when it is rumored to come out with the iPad Pro. According to a recent patent filing, Apple could possibly release a Smart Cover that is equipped with a full keyboard, similar to the Type Cover on Microsoft's Surface. The company's patent suggests a keyboard that could operate independently from the cover, allowing you to attach the keyboard to your iPad in various configurations or use the accessory wirelessly. The keyboard may also support gesture controls on a small panel, thus eliminating the need for a traditional touchpad.

Apple may also bundle the iPad Pro with a proprietary stylus, if they want it to keep up with strong competitors like the Note Pro. The stylus is suggested to have stylus orientation detection, which would allow a touchscreen to react differently based on various types of stylus strokes.

TOUCH ID HOME BUTTON and EYE TRACKING

When the iPhone 5S rolled out last year, it was the debut of the Touch ID fingerprint-reading home button. So it makes sense that this feature should also make its way to the iPad Pro. The Touch ID allows users to unlock their device and authorize purchases with a tap of a finger, although it would be cooler if Apple will add the capability to replace website passwords with a touch.

Along with fingerprint support, the iPad Pro could make use of your eyeballs as well. The tablet is said to tap eye-tracking technology according to International Business Times, though there aren't any specific details as to how the said feature could work.

RELEASE DATE

Blighted by multiple delays last year, the iPad Pro is now expected to roll out in the markets in September 2015, according to a Bloomberg report. There are also reports that the larger slate will not be visible till the second half of the year, with its production only taking place in the third quarter.

Amazing Gadgets and Technologies That Will Satisfy Your Tech Cravings This 2015

With all these new tech toys, both out and still upcoming -- wearables, smart devices, mobile technology, Internet things, and everything in between, there's so much in store for tech enthusiasts this 2015. Although some are not yet out in the market, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 unveiled them recently, along with the R&Ds and prototypes that were released last year from different companies and organizations.

So let's take a look at some of these new and upcoming gadgets to give you a better idea.

Apple Watch	Apple has finally joined the smartwatch battle. Some of its significant specs include retina display, with the smaller watch sporting a 1.5-inch 272 x 340 display, while the larger variant has a 1.65-inch 312 x 390 screen. Its display can sense force via a new feature called Force Touch, which allows the device to distinguish between a tap and a press for more contextually specific controls. Another feature is the Taptic Engine, which offers haptic feedback for your wrist, tapping you with notifications or on specific sides of your wrist for Apple Maps navigation. It also has a heart rate sensor and Digital Touch that allows you to reply with a little hand-drawn message instead. When the Apple Watch does eventually go on sale, there will be three model choices -- each with two display sizes to suit different wrist sizes. The company promised to launch the smartwatch on the first quarter of 2015, no precise date at this point.
Sony Steel Edition SmartWatch 3	Sony is also taking its turn at wearable devices with this matte-finished steel edition SmartWatch 3. It's powered by a Qualcomm chipset in standard 24mm watch strap for non-stop hours of fitness activities. What's good about this smartwatch is that the main module can be popped out and put in other surrounds, making it easy to change between styles if ever you would like to get all active with it. Specifications include a 1.6-inch, 320 x 320 transflective LCD display and built-in GPS to help track your running (a unique part of Sony's Android Wear device). The Sony Steel Edition SmartWatch 3 will be rolling out in February this year.
Smartphone app that helps diagnose sleeping disorders	Are you looking for something that can help you diagnose sleeping problems? An app that does just like that is now under development. A team of researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology and Florida State University are currently working on a project that will enable your smartphone to listen to and monitor your breathing while you sleep without wearables. It was featured in MIT Technology Review and the said smartphone app will be developed this year.
Fin	Over the years, people have become too bored using the remote control in switching between channels. Fin, a bluetooth-enabled device, comes with a gesture interface that allows you to control smart devices like your TV. Fin has three built-in sensors for the beam signals to work with a 100 metre range between the hand and the smart device. It's not yet available in the market, although RHLvision offers pre-order, and that a prototype has already been produced.
Project Ara by Google	Reinventing the way we build, buy, and use smartphones in the future is the main objective of Google's Project Ara. It's not a phone for now, but a project being worked on using DARPA philosophy instead. The components of the phone are composed of magnetic modules that are networked to communicate with each other to function seamlessly like a smartphone.

iPad Air vs. iPad Air 2 Is it Upgrade-Worthy

As we have learned initially from Apple, as it was announced less than a month ago, the iPad Air 2 is claimed to be not just the best, but the thinnest tablet in the market today. Measuring just 6.1 mm, the iPad Air 2 also features other upgrades such as the CPU, the iSight camera, the Wi-Fi speed, and now the TouchID starting at $499. However, there is also the cheaper iPad Air for only $399. Both tablets will come with iOS 8.1, which means both will have the Apple Pay functionality for online purchases.

To give you a better picture when comparing the two tablet models, below is a chart that will give you a spec-by-spec face-off between the two. Check them out:

	iPad Air	iPad Air 2
Starting Price	$399	$499
CPU	A7 and M7 coprocessors	A8X with M8 motion coprocessor
Display	9.7 inches / 2048 x 1536 pixels	9.7 inches / 2048 x 1536 pixels
OS	iOS 8	iOS 8
Battery	11 hour 51 minutes of continuous Web browsing	Up to 10 hours of continuous Internet browsing
Connectivity	802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi or LTE	802.11ac Wi-Fi or LTE
Size	9.4 x 6.6 x 0.29 inches	9.4 x 6.6 x 0.24 inches
Weight	1.05 pounds	0.96 pounds
Storage	16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB	16GB, 64GB, 128GB
Front/Rear Camera	1.2-MP (720p HD) / 5-MP	1.2-MP (720p HD) / 8-MP
Ports	Lightning, headphone	Lightning, headphone

Display

With Apple claiming that the iPad Air 2 as the least reflective tablet there is, the company was able to achieve the striking thinness of the Air 2 by laminating the layers of the display together, which effectively eliminates the air gap between the glass and touch components. Combining it with some anti-reflective coating, the new panel design should improve viewability.

As for other stuff about the display, pretty much it's just the same with the iPad Air's original display. Both tablets offer a 9.7-inch LED-backlit multitouch screen with IPS technology. Both also offer a resolution of 2048 x 1536, resulting to 264 pixels per inch.

Design

Honestly, it would be quite a challenge to distinguish the two tablets from one another at a glance because of them having very similar designs. However, try turning them on their side, however, and the problem is solved right away. Why? That's because the iPad Air 2 is about 18% thinner than the original iPad Air -- that's specifically 6.1 mm vs. 7.5 mm. So don't be surprised if the entire world claims the Air 2 as the thinnest tablet in the planet today.

Aside from the space gray and silver color in which the iPad Air is available in, you can also get the gold version of the iPad Air 2. Another difference of the Air 2 is the gold ring around the home button, famously known as the TouchID. This fingerprint scanner keeps a log of your prints on your iOS device, which enables you to sign in to Facebook or use Apple Pay with a swipe.

Specifications & Features

Its internal specs are possibly the biggest difference between the first and generation of iPad Air. Apple upgraded the Air 2's CPU to the A8X, the new version of the A8 found in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus but is just for iPad. The iPad Air will still only run with the last-generation A7 and M7 chips.

Another upgrade is the iPad Air 2's rear camera. Instead of the 5-MP iSight on the Air, the Air 2 gets 8MP. It can also shoot in Burst mode for photos and slow-mo for video, which the Air doesn't have. Both offer a 1.2 MP FaceTime camera on the front with face detection and 720p HD video.

Obviously, the iPad Air 2 is an improvement over the iPad Air. Along with it is TouchID, a faster processor, faster Wi-Fi connection, and a new camera. You need to pay an extra $100 though, as the iPad Air 2 costs $499, compared to the original Air which costs just $399. For those who are budget-conscious but still want to have a full-sized, best-in-class tablet, the iPad Air is still a great choice.

Revamp Google Chrome's New Tab Page with These Useful Extensions

Some may find the New Tab page of Google Chrome very minimal with only just a search bar and a few quick links to the frequently accessed sites. This default appearance may be considered boring and uninspiring, and its lack of options to customize somehow makes it less lovable to some. The good news is that Google released some useful extensions, which can give your default New Tab page a complete makeover. Here they are:

1. Dream Afar

This extension is visually appealing that contains useful features like weather forecast and simple speed dial. After installing the Dream Afar extension, you'll be welcomes with a Google search bar along with the local time and weather reports. In addition, you can quickly access all your apps, history, and bookmarks via the links displayed on the upper-right corner of the browser.

Although the customization options are limited, you can still do so by going to the options panel, which appears on the menu icon. A great feature of Dream Afar is that you can either remove the enter search widget or you can choose from other search engines like Bing and Baidu. Simply select the radio button of your preference and that's it.

2. Lightning Speed Dial

Lightning Speed Dial is a rather simple dashboard with a beautiful wallpaper, search bar, and quick links to your favorite websites and Chrome apps. This new tab extension is perfect for someone who prefers a minimalist look and feel. Like with Dream Afar wherein the customization options are only few, you can easily design your own start page by enabling you to change its wallpapers (you can even add your own wallpapers from your PC), link categorization, and others.

You can easily access the extension's settings page by clicking on the Setting link at the bottom-right corner of the page. Although you may find very few options, it's good for users who prefer a lightweight and no-nonsense New Tab page for Chrome.

3. Spots

The Spots extension is highly-customizable with a dashboard rich in features for all your online activities like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. Once you've installed this extension, you'll be greeted with colorful spots that correspond to links to your most viewed websites, along with an awesome wallpaper. One advantage of using this extension is that you can easily sync it between different computers by simply logging in to your Google or Facebook account.

As for its settings, you can access them anytime from the drop-down menu found on the upper-left corner. From here, you can configure anything from colors, backgrounds, presets, content discovery, notifications, tab behavior, icons, and many others. These options will let you fully customize your New Tab page to match your style and personality, as well as your online needs.

If you are a frequent Chrome user, using any of these extensions will greatly improve your productivity and browsing experience with the New Tab page. Give one of these new extensions a shot and find out which one of them will perfectly suit your style and needs. You'll definitely enjoy a better start page for your everyday browsing activities.