Monday, November 28, 2016

GPD Win10 - first look


My GPD Win 10 from DinoDirect arrived today... Rushed to open it up:

 
 
 

and to plug it in:


The following pictures compare the GPD Win's size to that of my venerable but not yet replaced Zaurus SL-C3200:

 
 

What you get:

 

And the specifications:
  • Intel Atom x5-Z8500 quad-core Cherry Trail processor @ 1.44/2.24 GHz (Burst) with Intel HD Gen8 graphics @ up to 600MHz
  • Memory: 4GB LPDDR3-1600
  • Storage: 64GB eMMC 4.51 flash + micro SD slot up to 128GB
  • Display: 5.5″ capacitive touch IPS screen; 1280×720 resolution; Corning Gorilla Glass
  • Video Output: mini HDMI
  • Audio: mini HDMI, 3.5mm headset jack, microphone and speaker
  • Connectivity: WiFi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0
  • USB: 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x micro USB port
  • QWERTY keyboard with DPAD, two ALPS Joysticks (including one acting a mouse when needed), ABXY controls, volume and gaming buttons
  • Battery: 6000 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery, good for 6 to 8 hours.
  • Dimensions: 15.5 x 9.7 x 2.2 cm (closed)
  • Weight: 300 grams
GPD Win Reviews:
5.5-inch Windows Laptop Offers PC Gaming on the Go
GPD Win handheld gaming PC gets a CPU upgrade ahead of launch

GPD Win YouTube Reviews:
Lon.TV GPD Win review
Reviews 2 Go GPD Win Video Review
Liliputing GPD Win handheld Windows gaming PC

GPD WIN Mini Gaming Laptop / Tablet Windows 10- How to Guide and Specs Review

GPD Win Forums:
OESF GPD Win forum

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Random charts - race

 
 

"Almost eight years after Barack Obama’s election as the nation’s first black president –an event that engendered a sense of optimism among many Americans about the future of race relations1 – a series of flashpoints around the U.S. has exposed deep racial divides and reignited a national conversation about race. A new Pew Research Center survey finds profound differences between black and white adults in their views on racial discrimination, barriers to black progress and the prospects for change. Blacks, far more than whites, say black people are treated unfairly across different realms of life, from dealing with the police to applying for a loan or mortgage. And, for many blacks, racial equality remains an elusive goal..."

Random charts - elections

Source: In a crucial Democratic stronghold, Trump surged. Clinton didn’t.

Source: The disengaged plurality: 42% of eligible US voters stayed home

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Google Home - first look


Received the Google Home that I had pre-ordered a few weeks ago... Unboxed and plugged it in.

 
 

Downloaded and ran the Google Home app, and in a matter of a few minutes was good to go:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

So far so good. A very preliminary comparison to my Echo - you can speak much more 'naturally' to your Google Home while your command syntax has to be more exact/precise with the Echo; and Google Home starts off with much fewer capabilities in the areas of 'skills' and home automation. I would expect that the latter can be more easily fixed by Google than the former by Amazon! 

A small annoyance, the Google Assistant repeats back your command to you... Seems unnecessary, and for some reason it gets on my nerves. Here, I feel less would be more...

Google Home reviews:

Review: Google Home: Blabbermouth (Wired)
Google Home vs. Amazon Echo: The battle begins (c|net)
Google Home review: In catch-up to Echo, but with promise (USA Today)
Google Home review: The Assistant steps into your living room (Engadget)
Google Home Obliterates the Echo, But It's Got Some Work to Do (Gizmodo)
Google Home review: A step forward for hotwords, a step backward in capability (Ars Technica)

Google Home Forums:
Google Help Home Forum

YouTube reviews:
The Verge
Digit
Engadget
Phandroid
TechnoBuffalo
YouTube search results