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When it comes to laptops, we tend to ogle at the best and shin­iest ones that can process loads of data in seconds. We’re taken away by the glitz and glamor of expensive performance-oriented devices, failing to acknowledge that laptops in today’s informa­tion age have also turned into a necessity. Most of the time lap­tops are used casually for inter­net browsing, word processing, and general content consump­tions. For a laptop to perform any of these tasks well, it doesn’t need to be equipped with the lat­est and greatest the industry has to offer. A decently spec’d laptop at a modest price range should be good enough. If you’re in the market for a general use laptop at a competitive price, here are some options.

Lenovo IdeaPad 110

Price Rs 53,990

If you’re looking for a laptop that you can comfortably work on, the Lenovo IdeaPad 110 is just for you. The specifications on the computer is decent, with a 6th Generation core i5 proces­sor paired with 4 GB of RAM. The screen is also decently sized at 14-inch and it has good color representation, meaning better saturated colors and viewing angles. While the laptop is also built well, its main selling feature would be excellent chiclet keyboard it comes with. The keyboard on this IdeaPad is perfect, as it provides decent feedback and has ample key-travel.

The keys are also adequately spaced, making the typing experience one of the best on a budget laptop. If you do a lot of typing, this keyboard will serve you well. In terms of performance, the computer is equipped with some decent mid-ranged specifications that work wonder under light load but once your push it with a plethora of Google Chrome tabs, the machine will start slow­ing down. But for casual usage, the computer is a stellar performer.

Acer Aspire E5-575g

Price Rs 56,990

Should your tastes deviate from a simple home laptop to a more business-oriented one that looks at home both at office and while you’re working out of a coffee shop, the handsome design of the Acer Aspire E5-575g has you covered. Even though the laptop is made of plastic, it has a scratch-proof design on the lid that repels many unsightly gnashes and scuffs. On the inside, the Acer comes with the same 6th Generation Core i5 as the previous model and the same amount of RAM, as well as a dedicated Nvidia graphics card. The addition of a dedicated graphics card extends the capabilities of the laptop signifi­cantly with higher graphics programs like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and InDesign working flawlessly on it. The Acer Aspire E5-575g is a companion laptop that is great to take with you for work or while you travel.

If you have plans for a trip this summer, you might already have a DSLR ready. Travelling is fun, but so are the sprawling mountains hiding behind thick clouds, the downward curve of thatched roofs and wooden fences, and the smiles on the people who inhabit these villages. All moments that your DSLR camera would be happy to capture. But as helpful as the camera might be, there will be moments when the limitations of your camera lens will hold you back. If you’re not a professional by any chance and carry a decent crop-sensor camera, taking these lenses on your trip might greatly extend your photographic capabilities.

Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

Price 36,990

What are trips made of? Landscapes, cities, towns and architectural marvels. They all demand a wide shot that captures more of the vista than your stan­dard lens, which is where the Canon EF-S 10-18mm lens comes to the rescue. This lens is not the first attempt from Canon to satisfy the wide-angle needs of Canon APS-C users. With the 10-22mm lens the company had already managed to satisfy many DLSR users and following its success, they released the 10-18mm relatively cheaply.

Apart from providing the photographer a wider field-of-view, the lens also comes with some interest­ing features. The STM in its name stands for Stepping Motor Technology, which means the lens auto-fo­cuses almost silently and the Image Stabilization on the lens is sure to pique many DLSR filmmakers’ interest. Although not as sturdy as Canon’s L Series lenses, the 10-18mm is not shoddy either, as it follows the same aesthetics as your default Kit Lens as well as it’s build quality—a gauge of what kind of quality to expect should you order it online. The Canon EF-S 10-18mm is a great addition to your lens kit, be it for travel or otherwise.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

Price Rs 15,499

You’re covered on the wide-angle front now, but what about those pesky situations where you find yourself too far from the subject you want to pho­tograph. The Canon EF 70-300mm is just the lens, which will zoom quite far into your field-of-view for a telephoto experience that will help you capture distant subjects. Unlike the pervious lens, this one is actually for full-frame cameras but will work on your APS-C sensor as well, with a bit of an additional zoom (nothing to complain about there).

While there are a few problems with this lens, like fringing and overall softer focus, they aren’t bother­some and the lens produces pretty decent photos. At this price point, the Canon EF 70-300mm is a good lens to invest in. You’re not getting the best in build quality but with a similar quality of the kit lens, it’s not fragile as well.

Chances are you have recently invested in a shiny new laptop or desktop and are looking for programs to test the limit of what your machine can do. These limits can be easily tested with some of the new games in the market while they also keep you entertained. Most of us have grown up with some form of computer games and that interest has stayed with us even through our adulthood. As much as you, games over the years have evolved as well.

Long gone are the days of pix­el-based graphics with limited game mechanics. Today games are complex not only in the way they look but also in the way they play. Game developers are looking for different ways to push the boundaries. The year 2017 brought us some interest­ing games that blurred the lines between childish entertainment and works of art. Today, we talk about some newer games that redefine the genre.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Properly titled ‘Indie Triple-A’, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a game that looks like it came out of a big company but was instead developed by a small team of around 20 developers at Ninja Theory. The graphics are spectacular, augmented by complex motion capture technology. The tit­ular protagonist, Senua, is rendered in complex emotional brushes.

This works for the narrative of the game that revolves around psychosis, a condition that con­stantly plagues the central character with voices swirling around her head all the time.

Part hack-and-slash action, part puzzle solving, Senua’s Sacrifice is a game that is uncomfortable to play: the controls are slow and most of the game revolves around trying to align symbols in the air; even the narrative keeps pushing Senua into situations where more pain is inflicted onto an already damaged mind. These aspects con­stantly remind the player that as a game based on the fragile, tortured mind of a troubled Celtic warrior it’s not supposed to be fun. Nonetheless Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a game that video games connoisseurs should definitely try.

Nier: Automata

Created by a crazy developer behind a creepy mask, Nier: Automata is a poignant reflection of his drug-addled mind. Truly a hybrid game, Nier Automata is an action RPG that is sometimes hack-and-slash, sometimes top-down shooter, and sometimes an action platformer among many other genres. The most interesting part is how seamlessly it moves from one kind of game­play into another while keeping the pacing and gameplay balanced throughout. The game tells the story of the battle robot A2, who makes her way through the desolate dystopian world of Nier where all living humans have left for the moon after a humiliating defeat against automatons created by a higher being.

The narrative is what piques interest because of its bizarre and yet entertaining take on existen­tialism, following themes like the meaning of life and the humanization of those on the other side of the war. The game looks good, sounds great and is a delight to play. If you can look past its rather clunky controls on the PC, Nier: Automata is a game that should appeal to you, never mind the genre.

When Microsoft released its spanking new portable music player Zune in 2006, it was playing a game of catch up with Apple. Following the trend of the portable music players introduced by Apple, Microsoft designed the Zune Player, a device that was not inherently a bad product. But it was a case of too little, too late, thus failed astronomically. Microsoft made the same mistake with the Win­dows Phone in 2010, coming up with a new Phone OS, but it was very basic compared to its competitors. Today, Windows Phone has been completely replaced by Windows 10 Mobile, which in turn is heavily criticized for being clunky, buggy and unfinished.

Considering the unpopularity of the operating system, the Windows Store has also suffered as a result. Many pop­ular apps like YouTube are missing from the Store and it generally has a very low app count compared to the Play Store or the App Store. Even though hardly anyone uses a Windows Phone today, there are still some great Apps on the Windows Store that you can easily try out on your Windows 10 PC.  

Open Live Writer

Price  Free  

 If you’re someone with an active blog and regularly post on your website, Open Live Writer is the app for you. The Windows Store App immediately connects with your blog on start-up and will also download your blog theme. The app then uses the theme in the workspace, making it feel like you’re work­ing on the blog itself. The app works with all major blogging services including WordPress, Tumblr and TypePad. Very similar to Blogger from the past, Open Live Writer has a clean, non-cluttered interface that also comes packed with loads of features that help you take con­trol of your blog. Open Live Writer is a must try for all bloggers out there.  

Adobe Photoshop Express

Price Free

Adobe Photoshop has turned into a necessity in today’s digital world. There have been countless instances when you need a quick photo edit or a simple design when you realize that you don’t have Photoshop installed on your computer. For such situations, Adobe offers a free, simple app on Windows Store that works as well as the full-version of Photoshop.

While designing might not be possible on this Universal Platform app, it offers great photo editing tools such as noise reduction, spot healing tools, and filters. Adobe Photo­shop Express is just the app you need for those quick photo edits.  

Microsoft To-Do

Price Free

There are plenty of To-Do List apps on all mobile markets to choose from, however, Microsoft’s To-Do List app deserves a recom­mendation purely based on its simplicity and great design. The app starts with a nice My Day tab that consolidates everything you need to work on for the day. It also has options for creating multiple lists while working on all devices for continuity. On a Windows 10 PC, it sends out helpful push notifications for your list items. The Microsoft To-Do is a joy to use solely because it is beautiful to navigate while also being clean and simple.  

As a secondary device primarily focused on con­tent consumption, growth in the tablet market has been labored for the past few years. We’ve heard of some new tablets here and there but nothing jaw-dropping like the advancements we’ve seen in the smartphone market. Also owing to the extended life of the tablet, normal consumers rarely find the need to upgrade to a new tablet when their old one is working just fine. Lack of wear and tear that a smaller smartphone would go through means tablets usually stay pristine in their cases and backpacks. Investing in a tablet is a good idea for these reasons, and you’ll constantly have access to a big screen Android device while you are also assured of its safety. Here are some tablets you should consider.

Microsoft Surface Pro

Price

Rs 195,000

With a price tag this high, you might expect a lot from this device. And the Surface Pro delivers with performance on par with a full-fledged laptop. It even comes with fully functional Windows 10 and a nice detachable keyboard. Companies have tried and failed, countless times, in their attempts to create a good hybrid tablet-laptop. Microsoft has finally hit the jackpot with the Surface Pro.

Apple has continuously dominated the tablet scene with its blazing fast in-house processors and its A10X mobile chip. The Surface Pro equipped with the Core i7 laptop processor beats the A10X out of the water in terms of performance. With a massive 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD Storage, the Surface Pro is nothing to scoff at, even by laptop standards. With the added benefit of unclipping the keyboard for a portable tablet experience, fully supported by the fast and reliable Windows 10 operating system, the Surface Pro is a device with paramount power in a portable tablet package.

Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro

Price

Rs 56,000

If the massive price tag of the former product scares you, don’t worry, there are plenty of good, cheaper options as well. The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro, for example, is a device that fully embraces the content consumption device label. Although it comes with its own niggles of heavy weight and laggy user-interface, it is great for media consumption with its clear audio and a sharp 10.1-inch screen.

Pushing the envelope further, the tablet comes with a built-in projector that projects a massive 70-inch image onto a wall. The device is also ergonomic, with a nice groove that nests inside the curve of your palm, while a sturdy stand will support your device for the projector or when you’re watching something. The Yoga Tab 3 Pro is innovative and while it brings new features to the table, it still suffers from a few growing pains.

Many portable devices like the MP3 player and the point-and-shoot camera have been rendered obsolete by the versatile smartphone. But one device has persisted is the ebook reader. Having a device that lets you focus on your book without swarming you with noti­fications and alerts is the perfect gadget to read on. Further, the brilliant epaper display mimics an actual page in a book. Since the technology uses actual ink, reading on epaper displays are a breeze, be it indoors or while basking in the sun outside.

A device that is purely focused on one functionality is great if you’re looking to do some read­ing on the go and because of this niche quality of the product, there are plenty of ebook read­ers to choose from today. Here are a few that stand out.

Kobo Aura One

Price $229

The Kobo Aura One is a new entrant in the e-book reader scene but is an exceptionally good device. It’s large, waterproof and supports all kinds of files. Kobo is also not restricted to the Amazon store, which means books you find any­where can be easily synced to the device. This adds a great deal of convenience, since no conversion is needed for books to be compatible with the device. The Aura One’s display is also great with a massive 7.8 inch size that easily makes this tablet sized.

The huge screen size does not make it unwieldy but rather helps you get more characters into the screen. The screen is also backlit, making it easy for night-time use. It also comes with handy front adap­tive light that changes color tones for less strain on the eyes. While more expensive than the Paperwhite, the Aura One is also a beast with 8GB of internal storage that will ensure you never run out of space for your digital library; a memory card slot here would be appreciated, but the massive storage makes it hard to complain about. If you want to go all out with your ebook reader, you can’t go any farther than the Kobo Aura One.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Price $119.99

You can’t really have a list of ebook readers without the famous Kindle Paperwhite. A staple amongst many digital book readers, the Paper­white is affordable, sharp and fast. Buying into an Amazon eco-system also means that you have access to its exhaustive library of digital books.

The device is also reasonably sized at a decent 6-inches, with a Carta E-paper display running at a native resolution of 1,448 x 1072, which makes this display incredi­bly sharp. With a pixel density of 300 pixels per inch, the screen is sharp too and the e-paper makes it a device that performs well on all kinds of environments.

The only problem is that the dis­play does not come with a backlight, so reading in the dark would be hard. Otherwise, the Paperwhite is a great device for the price.

With the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 in full swing, CCs can be found slumped around their television sets, the glow of the screen illu­minating their excitement, ready for a triumphant roar at any moment. The games are a great time for friends to come to together and cel­ebrate. During this festive time, however, there are some who cannot watch the games. For those on the move or are busy, there are plenty of phone apps. Make sure to have one of these free apps on hand if you don’t want to miss any action from Russia, or when you want to simply look through highlights with your friends.

2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Official App:

We can’t really have a list of World Cup apps without the official offer­ing from FIFA itself. FIFA has done a great job with the app this year with a comprehensive coverage of the game, with features like latest score, exclusive updates, fixture-check, team tracking and rankings. The app also lets you watch the game live on the go, which is a neat feature when you can’t watch it on the big screen. If you just want to look at some highlights, the app offers a pleth­ora of photos and videos as well. Content like player interviews and match highlights come as a welcome change from the number-heavy facts we usually find in these apps. The only thing missing is commentary and game analysis, but there are plenty of other apps and portals for that.

BBC Sport:

If you’re not too much into the World Cup but just want to follow the game, the BBC Sport app is for you. It offers some great up-to-date analysis, live coverage and high­lights; it performs best when it’s sending you ping notifications on the latest updates. The BBC Sport articles are well-written, easily com­pressible and detailed. The BBC Sport app is not only centered on the World Cup, it also provides ample news for other sports. To make sure you don’t get lost in the barrage of information, the app lets you create your own My Sport page, where you can customize the infor­mation you want. This helps you focus on the games you love and drown out the rest.

theScore:

theScore is a great app if you’re a fan of all sports and not just football. The app does lean more towards football, with a wide coverage of leagues and matches over the world. The app houses all the regular features like breaking news alerts, in-depth game stats and video interviews. Going a bit further, the app consolidates information from various social media sites, providing you with an insight on what the community thinks and is talking about. theScore is a brilliant app to keep track of the online community of World Cup fans.

The smartphones have turned into an extension of our arms; we can’t even dream of leaving our homes without our handy little devices any­more. And to meet the growing consumer demand, there has been a constant surge in the number of smartphones available in the market. Today, a good smartphone can be found at all prices ranges, and 2018 has been a great year for good smartphones. If you’re in the market for one, here are some devices at different prices ranges you should consider.

One Plus 6

Price

Rs 71,000

The One Plus 6 is the Chinese company’s flagship for 2018 and while the price is a bit steep compared to earlier One Plus prices, it’s still understandable considering how prices of flagships tend to go only up. To justify the price, One Plus has done a great job of designing a phone that rivals other competent competitors. The One Plus 6 is completely redesigned and is now almost totally made of glass, with some metal strips to support the frame. It’s a beautiful design to behold too.

The screen behind the front panel is gorgeous, with a bezel-less 6.28-inch screen running at a native resolution of 1080 x 2280 resolution. The panel itself has sharp colors, wide viewing angles and natural brightness. The internals on the device aren’t any­thing to scoff at either, as the device is powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor, supported by 6 GB of RAM and a 3,300 mAh battery. The device is a beast when it comes to a smartphone at this price range.

Xiaomi Mi 6

Price

Rs 39,999

The Mi 6 is Xiaomi’s flagship available for a frac­tion of the cost of the One Plus 6. While the phone is cheaper, it’s also not as innovative as the one from One Plus. Xiaomi has, with the Mi Mix con­cept phone, shown us that it capable of making the bezel-less design work, but it hasn’t yet brought it to its flagship devices. The phone has the same bland design as pervious Mi phones and in an age of bezel-less screens, it still has distinct physical keys. Regard­less, it is still good if you don’t mind a phone with a bezel (well, at this price range, you don’t really have a choice). The Mi 6 has stellar hardware for a phone at this price range. It comes with a Snapdragon 835 processor, 6 GB of RAM, and a 3,350 mAh battery. This phone deserves a recommendation just based on its specifications.

Nokia 6 2018

Price

Rs 29,399

Finnish smartphone company Nokia doesn’t need an introduction but it has also seen its share of ups and downs. Depending solely on Microsoft’s Win­dows OS, the company failed in the market because of a failed OS. While their phones were good, few people wanted to jump aboard an OS that still lacked major community support. Recently, however, the company has made a comeback and the Nokia 6 is just the smartphone that highlights Nokia’s come­back. At a budget price range, the device comes with some serious hardware: a Snapdragon 630 processor, 3/4 GB of RAM and a 3000 mAh fast charge battery. For the price, the Nokia 6 2018 is a powerful device to invest in.