Unzipping the hard case to check out Audio Technica’s new ATH-ANC9 QuietPoint headphones, you expect no less bang for buck performance and value from the Japanese audio company’s latest version of its excellent noise cancelling cans.

It has been almost five years since the impressive ATH-ANC7 arrived on scene to spoil the party for more expensive rivals (Bose, take note) and Audio-Technica followed it up a couple of years later with a slightly updated ATH-ANC7b.

The ATH-ANC9 that has just been released doesn’t rock the boat as far as the looks or sound go, but it comes with a number of enhancements like better noise cancellation. Oh, there’s also the obligatory microphone for the iPhone crowd to make their calls.

Yet, the most impressive part of the package, surely, is still the sound. Hearing this and comparing it with other noise cancelling headphones, you remember why you are buying headphones for – the music, not the fancy features.

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Now that Nikon has taken care of its top-end customers with the new D4 and D800 DSLRs, it has turned its attention to the entry-level segment of the market.

Camera makers like Canon and Nikon have been going after the burgeoning market of youngsters who want a “cool” DSLR for a while now, and Nikon’s newest entry-level D3200 makes for a very compelling “first camera”.

Nikon will continue selling the affordable D3100 alongside the D3200. Both look nearly identical, so how worthy is this new upgrade? …

A couple of weeks ago, we got our hands on the HTC One X, the Taiwanese phone maker’s best effort in a while and probably the Android phone to beat right now.

We can now say that the One V, a low-cost model launched together with the flagship One X, is also highly impressive. Indeed, with a solid build, useful Sense 4.0 interface and a very fast camera, the One V feels like a premium phone belying its entry-level price tag. …

Mention Focal to audiophiles and the thought of its large floor stander speakers easily come to mind. So when the French hi-fi speaker maker recently said it was getting into headphones, many head-fi folks were thrilled to hear what would come of the effort.

The Spirit One is this first pair of ‘phones from Focal and after a quick listen, I’d say they don’t disappoint, as long as you avoid equipment that can add too much bass, as many portable devices and laptops can do. …

Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras are all the rage right now, and the market is heating up with an even greater variety of brands producing their own take on the format – such as the Fujifilm niche X-Pro1 and Olympus OM-D.

Not to be left behind, Panasonic, which introduced the very first micro four thirds (MFT) camera back in 2008, just unveiled its latest addition to its MFT family: the Lumix GF5. We got our hands on pre-release prototypes to see just how well it’ll stand up against the competition. …

After a rather quiet 2011, the Taiwanese phone maker seems to be back this year with a quite stunning One X flagship phone that will push it into an early lead in an ultra-competitive list of top-end phones.

We had a quick hands-on session today with the Android 4.0 device at a regional launch at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, and we came away quite sure this is the top-end phone to beat now. …

Like all computing devices, tablets are not immune to malicious apps and other software created by cyber criminals waiting to pounce on unknowing consumers.

While the Android malware threat is somewhat overblown, it is undeniable that the number of rogue apps targeting the wide spectrum of Android devices is on the rise. As we spend more time browsing the Web, playing games, connecting with friends and store more information on tablets, it becomes a no-brainer to secure these devices — like how we would with our PCs. …

When everyone was going ga-ga last week over Apple’s new iPad, I went out to a small store in Funan and bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, a tablet that I had under-estimated when I first saw it earlier this year.

I had thought this was simply a refresh of the 7-inch Galaxy Tab that marked the Korean firm’s entry into the tablet market in 2010. But I changed my mind the moment I saw the screen on the new tablet. It is sharp, bright, has great contrast, and is quite stunning.
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Instead of a thin and light design, Sony last year came up with a tablet that had a book-like shape so users holding on to its Tablet S could easily imagine they were reading a book or magazine.

This year, the Japanese firm is looking to a unique clamshell design in its new Tablet P. In terms of looks, this tablet is one that will not fail to catch the eye if you see it at a shop front next to other tablets. …

The Sony Xperia S is the first flagship phone for the Japanese electronics giant after it took over control of Sony Ericsson last year, and it certainly looks the part and competes well in a crowded arena of Android phones. …