Leader Impression I7A

The Leader Impression I7A ($179 list) is a budget-friendly way to enjoy a taste of Google's latest "Ice Cream Sandwich," Android OS 4.0. This tablet?is for geeks only, as it's laggy and somewhat unstable, and doesn't support the Google Play app market. But with a sub-$200 price tag, a decent display, and a surprisingly solid metal enclosure, Android geeks may be willing to put up with its stability and performance issues.

Design and Features
The resemblance between the I7A and the original Apple iPad is uncanny, with both featuring brushed metal backs with flattened edges?only the I7A is shrunken down to 7 inches. At 6.73 by 5.19 by 0.45 inches (HWD) and 9.44 ounces, the I7A is comfortable to hold, but a bit odd-shaped compared with most 7-inchers. The Amazon Kindle Fire ($199, 4 stars) is taller and narrower at 7.5 by 4.7 by .45 inches (HWD), and heavier at 14.6 ounces. Despite using the same 16:9 screen aspect ratio as the Kindle Fire, the I7A's body has more of a 4:3 ratio, mimicking the iPad. A hard reset pin hole, micro USB port, mini HDMI port, microSD card slot, and Volume buttons all sit along the top edge. I was easily able to mirror 1080p video onto a large HDTV using an HDMI cable?a nice touch for a budget tablet. The Power button can be found on the left edge, while a Back button can be found on the right. Along the bottom edge is the 3.5mm headphone jack and power port, for charging with the included AC adapter (you can also charge using the included micro USB cable.)?

The I7A uses a 7-inch TFT LCD with 1,024-by-600-pixel resolution, the same resolution found on the Kindle Fire. The screen itself gets relatively bright, with a wide viewing angle and pleasantly saturated colors. Details are generally sharp, though text has a fuzziness to it that strained my eyes after extended use. There is also some uneven lighting around the edges of the screen. The screen is on par with the one found on the Kobo Vox?($199, 2 stars), though the I7A has a wider viewing angle.

This is a Wi-Fi only tablet that connects to 802.11b/g/n networks, but only on the 2.4GHz band. Leader advertises Bluetooth, but I couldn't find any way to connect to devices. A 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera works with Skype calls, but there is no rear-facing camera. Also included in the box is a protective folio case, which feels a bit cheap, but is useful for propping up the I7A on desks.

Hardware, Performance, and OS
The metal chassis gives the I7A a premium feel, but underneath the hood are far more pedestrian components. The I7A is powered by a single-core 1GHz VIMICRO Cortex-A8 processor and 512MB RAM with 4GB of internal storage. Only 2.56GB are available for user data, but storage can be expanded by up to 32GB with a microSD card.

Given the low-end specs, it was no surprise that the I7A's performance struggles. Home screen animations appeared smooth, but touch input itself is often jerky, scrolling is rarely smooth, and precise movements are limited by what seem like click-stop intervals built into the screen. In a game like Angry Birds, instead of having complete control of infinitely variable shooting angles, finger swipes move the aim up or down at small, but noticeably set intervals. Web pages load a bit slowly and app crashes were fairly common. Switching between video playback and other apps often caused some hang-ups. It's not as bad as the Kobo Vox, but nowhere near as smooth and hiccup-free as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0)?($249, 4 stars), which also runs ICS.

While more and more tablets are getting the "Ice Cream Sandwich" treatment, it was still a pleasant surprise to find Google's latest OS running on such an inexpensive tablet. The I7A uses a stock build without heavy skinning, but it lacks Google apps, including the Google Play app market. Instead, the I7A comes with the GetJar app market, which offers a mediocre selection of third-party apps. Some popular apps like Angry Birds and Dolphin HD browser are here, but the selection is a far cry from the Google Play market. I was able to use the Amazon Appstore to download and install apps like Deer Hunter Reloaded. Leader did include an APK installer for side loading apps, but this isn't exactly a user friendly solution. While the I7A is free of bloatware, some of the pre-loaded apps, like the Kobo reader app, do not work at all.

Video playback is smooth, and the I7A can handle MPEG4, H.264, Xvid, and DivX videos at up to 1080p resolution. In our battery test, which loops a video with brightness set to max and Wi-Fi turned on, the I7A lasted only 3 hours, 15 minutes?a good deal shorter than the Kindle Fire's 4 hours, 55 minutes in the same test.

Conclusions
The Leader Impression I7A offers an interesting combination of solid build quality, moderate performance, and the latest Android OS at one of the lowest prices we've seen yet. But it's outside the standard Google realm, which limits its appeal to folks who know what they're doing with Android tablets, and its imprecise touch input and stability issues keep us from recommending it to average consumers.

Tablet buyers on a budget should spend just $20 more for a more stable Kindle Fire, though that doesn't run ICS. On the other hand, it's entirely possible to hack ICS onto the Fire, and if you're shopping for an edgy tablet like the Leader Impression, you very well might be the kind of person with the skills to do so. If you demand a classy Android 4.0 experience out of the box, pony up for the $249 Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0), which strikes a great balance between performance, features, and price.?

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DISCIPLINE To Shatter All Accord music review by Gatot

For those who love vintage prog ...

As I grew up with early prog music sometime in the seventies, I could easily relate with this album where the elements of its music having very strong roots to bands like King Crimson, Van der Graaf Generator in some ways with the music style or at least its dark nuances. In modern world you might compare this band with Anglagard, Anekdoten, Parallel or 90 Degrees, etc. It's hard for those of you who were there in the seventies for not liking this album as this one makes the spirit of seventies music alive - it's basically like a trip to the past with modern technology in recording, new band of the 90s.

The opening track Circuitry (6:16) is basically not a straight Crimson-like track as you might hear something very classic rock style especially on its guitar work and vocal style. The composition is actually more on song orientated one so that whoever lived in the seventies or those who appreciate 70s rock music would find this opening track as an entertaining treat. When the Walls are Down (7:29) that follows as second track starts nicely with violin- like sounds followed by medium tempo upbeat music that features vocal (in the style of Peter Hammil). It's an enjoyable track with practically simple composition. Dead City (5:15) strats beautifully with a stunning guitar solo followed with music that sounds nice at the keyboard department featuring vocal line. This time the singing style is totally different with previous tracks. I consider this a s a quite straight forward rock music with a very nice musical break at minute 1:55 featuring stunning guitar solo. I cannot give you any reference on what kind of music this one is because I believe this is quite unique and interesting to enjoy - it's not something like early prog bands ever played before.

When She Dreams She Dreams in Color (13:40) is basically a track that starts wonderfully with a Pete Hammil style of singing where the music is much of slow version of Van der Graaf Generator style. If you do not know the information about this track you would definitely guess that this is Peter Hammil's voice. The much anticipated passage of the music is at the ending part where the music plays repeatedly in the style of King Crimson's Starless demonstrating mellotron drenched sounds and violin-like sounds that blow you away as it repeats slowly and you are overwhelmed by the violin-like sounds and repeated guitar fills (sometimes I get bored) until the song ends.

The epic Rogue (24:04) starts nicely with simple nylon acoustic guitar (classical) fills at the opening part followed by electric great guitar work to feature the vocal line that reminds me to Anekdoten (the singing style). It's really a blown-away opening which really amazed me at first spin and finally become my favourite as well. I like the part when it starts at approx minute 2:59 where the passage sounds different followed with electric guitar work. There are basically great musical passages and transition pieces typically played by guitar and / or piano that bring altogether a very nice experience to listeners who love early prog sounds. At approximately minutes 5 the music changes again and the singing style is with distance voice, referring to the style of Peter Hammil. I can say that overall this epic move beautifully from one style and mood to another with great transition pieces that create wonderful and pleasant listening experience - at least for me personally. Yes, the song tends to be dark from start to end but the movements are really great! I am so fortunate still having this kind of music as great as early days of King Crimson or Van der Graaf performed in totally new compositions by the younger lads of the 90s - and this was just released in 2011! Oh by the way, in the middle of track there were some musical complexities performed by the band. It's fabulous! I have to stop praising this wonderfully crafted epic that has blown me away to the bone! Oh man ..... this is really greaaaaaaaattttttt ......!!!

Overall, you can summarize clearly if you read the above novel-long write-ups that I write emotionally because I am totally blown away. Keep on proggin' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Gatot | 5/5 | 2012-5-20

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Insurer Humana lowers 2012 outlook on legal charge

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PFT: Harbaugh calls Crabtree's hands the best

Getty Images

We?ve been talking a lot about Tim Tebow?s image recently, from the way he?s portrayed in video games to the way his lawyers are zealously protecting his copyright by going after the makers of a T-shirt that doesn?t even have Tebow?s name or likeness on it. And now we have another story about the Tebow image, this one coming from a Broadway actress.

The actress is named Neka Zang, and she?s in the musical Rock of Ages on Broadway. According to TMZ, Tebow posed for a backstage picture with the Rock of Ages cast, but when Zang posted that picture on Twitter, she was asked to take it down.

?Well, Due to Tebow?s ?image? I was asked to remove the pic of him with us half dressed ladies. He does know we arn?t real strippers right?? Zang wrote on Twitter.

It?s not clear who actually asked Zang to remove the picture to protect Tebow?s image, but it?s an odd request: Tebow simply stood with four actresses, smiling. Zang described the actresses as ?half dressed,? but you can see a lot more skin at any beach in America. You?d have to be awfully uptight to think Tebow is doing anything wrong in the picture in question.

So why the request to take the picture down? Apparently someone who?s awfully uptight is involved in the careful managing of Tebow?s image. Tebow has become a beloved figure for millions of Americans who think he represents everything that?s right and wholesome and pure, and with millions of dollars in endorsements at stake, Tebow has people working for him who want to make sure that wholesome image is the only image the public sees.

Paradoxically, by so carefully trying to micromanage his image, Tebow (or the people working on his behalf), may end up damaging his image as an authentic, down-to-earth guy. If you?re so worried about your image that you?re having your lawyers go after T-shirt sellers and asking actresses to remove pictures from Twitter, it?s hard not to question whether there?s any substance there at all, or if everything your fans find out about you is a carefully crafted bit of public relations.

If Tebow wants to maintain his image as the genuine article, he?d be wise to stop trying so hard to uphold that image.

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Pacers guard sorry for "choke" at LeBron

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? Pacers reserve guard Lance Stephenson apologized for making a choking gesture toward LeBron James.

The NBA's MVP wasn't so forgiving.

In fact, he didn't even know he had been mocked.

James said Saturday that he was unaware that Stephenson had been caught by cameras in front of Indiana's bench wrapping his hands around his throat after the Miami star after a missed technical foul during Game 3 on Thursday night.

So when James was asked for his reaction, he dismissed Stephenson.

"Lance Stephenson? You want a quote about Lance Stephenson?" James said after practice. "I'm not even going to give him the time. Knock it off."

James' slam aside, Stephenson was contrite in offering an apology.

"I was wrong and disrespectful to my teammates, the Miami Heat and their organization," he told NBA.com. "I'm sorry that I did that. It was very disrespectful. I'll never do it again."

Indiana coach Frank Vogel said he didn't have to seek out Stephenson for an explanation of his actions because the second-year guard approached him first.

"He came to me before I could even get to him and apologized to me for being a distraction," Vogel said. "He knows it was wrong, and I agree with him 100 percent it was wrong. It's not something we condone. He's a really good kid, he has come a long way with his maturity in his two years. I fully support who he is as a guy and a player and him being one of our guys."

Vogel wants his players on the bench to be engaged and supportive, not rude.

"I want that kind of enthusiasm on the bench. I just don't want it to go over the top," he said. "We're the new Pacers and everything we do is done with class and dignity and respect and showing respect to our opponent. He was over the line and he knows he made a mistake and we move on."

Associated Press

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3 charged in carjacking of pastor Marvin Winans

The Rev. Marvin Winans preaches during a Sunday morning service at Perfecting Church in Detroit, Sunday May 20, 2012, his first appearance before the whole congregation since being beaten and carjacked this week. The 54-year-old gospel singer and pastor of Detroit's 4,500-member Perfecting Church told congregants Sunday that he was never afraid during Wednesday's attack but feels a lingering regret over what it says about the state of the community. (AP Photo/Detroit News, David Coates) DETROIT FREE PRESS OUT MBO (REV-SHARE)

The Rev. Marvin Winans preaches during a Sunday morning service at Perfecting Church in Detroit, Sunday May 20, 2012, his first appearance before the whole congregation since being beaten and carjacked this week. The 54-year-old gospel singer and pastor of Detroit's 4,500-member Perfecting Church told congregants Sunday that he was never afraid during Wednesday's attack but feels a lingering regret over what it says about the state of the community. (AP Photo/Detroit News, David Coates) DETROIT FREE PRESS OUT MBO (REV-SHARE)

This March 17, 2008 photo shows Pastor Marvin Winans at the Perfecting Church in Detroit. Winans was assaulted and carjacked Wednesday afternoon, May 16, 2012 at a gas station on the city's west side. The suspects fled with an unknown amount of cash and Winans' SUV, police said. (AP Photo/Detroit News, David Guralnick) DETROIT FREE PRESS OUT; HUFFINGTON POST OUT

DETROIT (AP) ? Three young men were arraigned Sunday in the assault and carjacking of popular Detroit pastor and gospel singing icon Marvin Winans.

The office of Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy identified the suspects as Detroit residents Montoya Givens and Christopher Moorehead, both 20, and Brian K. Young, 18, of Macomb County's Clinton Township. They are charged with carjacking, unarmed robbery and conspiracy, said Maria Miller, Worthy's spokeswoman.

The charges carry up to life in prison.

The men appeared in Detroit's 36th District Court and were ordered held on $200,000 bonds. Their preliminary examinations, in which a judge decides where there's enough evidence for the case to go to trial, are June 1.

A prosecutor's spokeswoman said Sunday she didn't think the defendants had lawyers yet.

Winans, 54, was attacked Wednesday afternoon while pumping gas in Detroit. The robbers took his sport utility vehicle, Rolex watch, cash and credit cards.

"This is just an example of the diligence that our officers put forth when investigating criminal cases," police Chief Ralph Godbee said in a statement Sunday.

Worthy said she also was pleased with closing the case, but got in a dig at the effectiveness of Detroit police. She said she was "buoyed by the fact that this case was well investigated by the police and that we were able to charge this case quickly. However, with the proper resources this could be done in all cases."

She also said the city should be concerned about an increase in crime, especially offenses that never make it into police records.

Godbee said he agreed with Worthy that "reported crime ...has slightly increased." He called on citizens to make sure crimes are reported and that they cooperate with investigators in solving solve them.

Winans sustained bruises and scrapes and was treated at a hospital and released. He is pastor of the 4,500-member Perfecting Church and delivered singer Whitney Houston's eulogy in February.

"I'm just saddened that it has come to this," Winans said shortly after the attack. "This kind of nonsense just has to stop. It's just the savageness of what's happening in the street."

He continued with that message Sunday, as his congregants welcomed him with cheers and applause.

Recalling what he said to a woman who gave him a ride to his church after the attack, Winans said he told her, "I'm just sad ... to think we have reared young men to prey ? P-R-E-Y ? on people that they think are weaker."

Winans told reporters before the service that he believes Detroit can be turned around.

"The city is fixable, and it starts with the men of the city, in particular the black men," he said. "And I ... want to urge all of you men who hear me to go and get your sons. I'm not bitter. I'm not upset. I'm saddened by what has taken place. But I'm also inspired. We have to make a change in this city."

___

Follow David N. Goodman at http://twitter.com/davidngoodman

Associated Press

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Week in Review: A Right Wing Fail-a-Ganza (Little green footballs)

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