Just for the pleasure of seeing what's out there currently for the enterprise market and what will be coming our way in the future at more affordable prices, we've gathered together some of the highest capacity external hard drives currently available.

Apple iMac 27-inch Core i3 3.2 GHz

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Unveiled a month ago, the new Apple iMac 2010 Core i editions now have more coherent, more robust configurations. Is the iMac, the reference when it comes to all-in-ones, still a good choice?

Available in 21.5 and 27-inch versions, the new iMac is now equipped with a Core i processor and an ATI graphics card right down to the entry-level model. We tested both the most affordable configurations, equipped with Core i3s at 3.06 and 3.2 GHz.

> Review: Apple iMac 21.5-inch Core i3 3.06 GHz
> Review: Apple iMac 27-inch Core i3 3.2 GHz

> Reviews: All-in-one Computers

To make it easier for you when you're looking through our monitor reviews, we've brought together all of computer displays (some of which also include TV tuners) onto a single page: Monitor Reviews: 22''-30'' LCD Displays.

Until now, they were split up according to how big they were, but that doesn't make much sense any more.  There are now over 100 monitors, so you can use the filters to pick out the one that's right for you.


You can remove any that didn't score more than four stars, or those that are too expensive, too big, too small and so on.  Once you're done, you can click on the Permalink button to get a link you can add to your favourites or send to friends ...

> Monitor Reviews: 22''-30'' LCD Displays

French manufacturer Archos presented no less than five Android-based tablets in the days running up to the IFA. They say there's strength in numbers, but will that be enough to have Steve Jobs worried?


With a range of different-priced models due to hit the shops this autumn, Archos looks to have got the tablet market covered, from entry-level right the way up to the high-end. The screen size varies in relation to the price, from 2.8 inches to 10.1 inches.

The Archos 28 (2.8-inch screen, 4 GB or 8 GB memory, from £99) and 32 (3.2-inch screen, 8 GB memory, £129) would perhaps look more at home in the MP4 multimedia player market. They have Wi-Fi for mobile Internet connectivity but there's no 3G. Plus, given their budget price tag, both have resistive touchscreens.


Higher up the range, the A43 (4.3-inch screen, 8 GB or 16 GB memory, from £199) and A70 (7-inch screen, 8 GB of flash memory or 250 GB hard drive, micro SD expansion slot, from £229) both have capacitive touchscreens.

But if any of the tablets is designed as a real rival to the iPad, it's got to be the Archos 101, with its 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen (1024 x 600 pixels). It has a processor clocked at 1 Ghz, like the A43 and A70, and (just) 8 GB or 16 GB of memory, which can be expanded via the micro SD slot. It weighs a little under 500 g. Plus, like the A43 and A70, it has a USB port and an HDMI output. The Archos 101 will cost £269 for the 8 GB model or £299 for the 16 GB model.


All models are billed for release in September and October.

No AndroidMarket

A major downside of all these Android Froyo 2.2 devices is that none of them has access to Android Market, and buyers will have to make do with the manufacturer's own store, AppsLib. This is certainly a brave (some would say risky) choice on behalf of Archos, which could prove to be a very costly decision for a brand that's still recovering from a less-than-rosy 2009. However, Archos CEO Henri Crohas was as optimistic as ever at the product presentation, assuring us all that the brand was well ahead of the competition.

> Touchscreen Tablet Reviews: the iPad and the rest

Our photography expert Franck Mée has given himself the job of changing my computing habits.  I've decided to accept his challenge and spend a whole week without touching Microsoft Windows.  Instead, I'll be using Linux—and, wherever possible, open-source software.

For the time being, he's working on choosing alternatives to my favourite programs.  Photoshop is out, but Gimp is in.  Will my 3D graphics card be supported?  What about my monitor in portrait mode?  What will I use instead of Outlook in Linux?

At the same time, Franck and Sam McGeever have hatched an even trickier test: as well as using open-source software, I'm also going to use web apps whenever I can!  That means not only no Excel, but that I'll have to use a Google Spreadsheet (or something else ...) instead.  It sounds pretty tough, given how complicated some of my formulae are, but we'll see!


We'll have the first episode of this little experiment soon, when this die-hard Windows user sits down in front of Linux for the first time.

Our investigations into TV panel switching mainly targeted Samsung and Sony, as their LCD TVs are particularly popular at the moment. However, no TV manufacturer is innocent in all this, as each and every one of them switches panels in LCD TVs to varying extents. For us here at DigitalVersus that's just not acceptable!

When will manufacturers realise that changing the panel in a TV changes the product entirely?

Some will argue that the 'electronics' inside a TV are much more important than the screen technology, notably with reference to technology such as Sony's Bravia Engine, etc. We, however, don't agree! The screen has a huge role to play in deciding the overall quality of a TV.

Changing the panel affects:

• responsiveness,
• viewing angles,
• colours,
• depth of black,
• energy consumption,
• input lag,
• gamma (whether the image looks too dark or too light),
• light homogeneity.

So how can one given TV equipped with panels based on different types of technology be supposedly identical? It just doesn't wash.

50% difference between two screens in the same product!

Our sister site already spoke out about this when investigating panel switching in monitors a few years ago, but now we're saying it louder and clearer than ever before, as consumers' expectations of display quality have moved up a level. A test we carried out showed the differences between two versions of the same TV to be huge. In fact, we saw a 50% difference in contrast between models of the same TV equipped with different kinds of panel technology!

So we're appealing to all TV manufacturers out there: LG, Loewe, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba at al. Please make one model of TV with one panel. If for any reason you change the panel, please change the name of the product.

> TV Reviews: Compare 40'', 42'', 46'' and 47'' Full HD TVs

PS: Maybe manufacturers would get the message if they were bombarded with letters and e-mails from disgruntled users (over to you!). Maybe they'd change their ways if other tech news and reviews sites got involved (Engadget, CNET, Tom's Hardware, TechRadar etc. plus specialist TV sites). Maybe they'd really sit up and take notice if if Which? or BBC Watchdog picked up the story ...

Jays v-Jays

MARCHANDS €     Amazon mark...  39.90  Amazon.co.uk  40.68  Compare prices

Today we're testing headphones from two higher-end European manufacturers; one British and one Swedish. But how will they get on against the big German brands that dominate the sector?

First up is Bowers & Wilkins, a brand whose reputation precedes it. After branching out into iPod docks, sound bars and computer speakers, B&W has now launched a pair of headphones. This first attempt isn't perfect but is far from disastrous.

Jays made a name for itself by launching the smallest in-ear earphones in the world, and for creating high-quality products with incredible neutrality and accuracy. After the c-Jays headphones with their range of earpad designs, the v-Jays are a simple, sleek and stylish follow-up.

> Review: Bowers & Wilkins P5
> Review: Jays v-Jays

> Headphone Reviews

Apparently one of the major attractions at this IFA 2010, the Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet has been revealed in a little more detail at its official presentation.

The news had already filtered through, but now we know a bit more on the market impact of the Samsung connected tablet. Introduced like a star at the Samsung press conference, we also now have more detail on the spec of the Galaxy Tab.

A connected touch tablet weighing just 380 g with a 7-inch TFT capacitive screen with 1024 x 600 pixel definition; Froyo 2.2 is indeed the version of Android chosen, with, therefore, Flash 10.1 support for web browsing.



The processor is clocked at 1 GHz - it's a Cortex A8, with a Power VR SG-X540 for the graphics part. Two versions will be available as of the end of October, a 16 GB model and a 32 GB model. Note that there's a micro-SD slot with a maximum capacity of 32 GB, as well as an A-GPS receiver. The Galaxy Tab also has a 3 megapixel photo sensor (video at 720x480 pixels at 30 fps) and a 1.3 megapixel webcam for front-on video conferencing. There's a 4000 mAh battery.

Connectivity includes WiFi b/g/n, 3G+ and Bluetooth 3.0. In addition to the Android Market and its 50 000 available applications, there's also access to a Samsung apps store, which is slowly picking up. Finally, Samsung has, as expected, equipped its tablet with a few "hubs": Music Hub, Readers Hub, Social Hub and Media Hub. At these hubs you'll find e-books (Samsung says that over 2 million books and thousands of papers will be available on launch), music, social networking sites and a video player. The Samsung video player is Full HD compatible and supports DivX, Xvid, MPEG4, WMV, H.263 and H.264.

Numerous accessories will also be marketed, including covers, book style cover, cigarette lighter charger, composite out, HDMI dock, dock supporting a keyboard...

In many ways, the Galaxy Tab is a giant, boosted Galaxy S, like the iPad retroactively echoing the iPhone 4. Except that here, Samsung seems to be spreading itself wide so as to secure itself a nice little market share.

We will return to its handling in the days to come, with more information (strategy, our thoughts on the product) and input from the Samsung teams.

Pricing

Pricing has yet to be confirmed though some rumours put it in the region of £655 for the UK market. Operators will ultimately determine how much it costs however and if you sign up for a deal it could come down to under £200.

> Touchscreen Tablet Reviews: the iPad and the rest

Hardly was the Steve Jobs press conference over than we were able to get our hands on the new iPad Touch, Nano and Shuffle, freshly announced.

While waiting for more (including videos), here are the first few photos...

• £189 for the 8 GB,
  
• £249 for the 32 GB
• £329 for the 64 GB

• £129 the 8 GB model
• £159 the 16 GB model

• £39

Looking to upgrade to 3D without spending a fortune? Then you'll be pleased to hear that Samsung has just announced a 50-inch 3D plasma TV with a very interesting price tag!

One reason many consumers are not yet upgrading to 3D is the price of the TVs currently on the market. So one part of the Samsung stand has got everyone talking at this year's IFA, as the brand is proudly presenting a 3D plasma TV that's set to launch for under £1,000! We first heard about the PS50C490 back in July, but this 50-inch 3D plasma HD TV (720p, with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels) has now been officially presented and is lined up for release this autumn for around £915 (TBC).

Other spec includes 2D-to-3D conversion, three HDMI ports and a USB connection. Plus, the PS50C490 has a sleek and particularly slim design. It goes without saying that Samsung has had to make a few compromises to make a 3D TV at this price. First of all, the resolution (see above) could be higher, but Samsung has also cut back on accessories, with no 3D glasses included as standard.

> Reviews: 3D Televisions

As journalists, we get access to manufacturers' stands at the IFA trade fair before it opens its doors to the general public. After being turned away from the Panasonic and Samsung stands (which weren't ready yet), the nice people on the Philips stand let us have a snoop around.

There's no mistaking the fact that Philips has got high hopes for 3D technology: check out that huge logo right in the middle of the stand!


The products on display also reflect this, with a stand displaying 21:9-format 3D TVs (with glasses, obviously).


From our very brief glimpse of it in action, we have to say the results were a bit of a mixed bag. Three dimensional images sometimes look they'd been split up, which isn't great, but that's just a first impression. We'll have to test one of these TVs fully before we can tell you more.

3D TVs and ... shavers!

It seems that Philips' electric shavers have now gone 3D too. Although locked away in a display cabinet, we did spot several '3D' SenseoTouch models. We'll be reviewing a couple of them very soon too, as part of a brand new product category.