HOW TO LIVE OTHERS’ LIVES ONLINE

An actor can live many lives when performing. I'm just an IT worker with no acting talent. How can I have such experience? Luckily, I recently discovered Audio4Fun's Voice Changer Software is there to help anyone morph their voice into any other voice. Now with just a few simple adjustments I can at least sound like almost anyone I can think of; perfect things may not exist, but great things are all around us, and this software program lives up to that expectation.

I was really surprised to find this software product with such uniquely helpful features. AV Voice Changer is a smart voice adjusting tool that adapts to every online or offline voice changing task. It includes two substitutive working methods for processing audio streams: the hooking method and the virtual audio driver method, as each gives the program the ability to capture several audio streams from different applications at the same time and change voices in real-time. The program works well in almost every environment, including in-game voice chat, media players and many common instant messenger programs such as Yahoo, Skype, Paltalk, etc. It also helps with many VoIP programs, such as Net2Phone, SkypeOut, Vonage, etc.

Main screenshots of AV Voice Changer Software 7.0

Managing this program is not so difficult. The pitch and timbre morpher graphs allow me to adjust voices manually. But as a lazy guy, I just like to take advantage of my big nickvoice store. (Nickvoice, which means "sample voice", or preset voice settings, is a very Audio4fun concept. It helps you speak completely like other real people, movie characters, or even in animal voices.) Besides some built-in ones, I downloaded a bunch of Nickvoices from Audio4fun's huge add-on store, which also contains many backgrounds and special effects. With them, I can now get enough pirate-courage to adventure through oceans of treasure sounding like Captain Sparrow, while the whole community celebrates Talking Like a Pirate; or I can chat like a zombie from Egypt, or scare my friends during Halloween, or sing the blues like a Snow White to seduce some unsuspecting guy on Valentine's Day. You too can create some online magic with this talented software tool.

Experiencing life with this tool is great fun. I don't know if you guys have the same hobby, but, believe me; this thing is definitely worth a try. To download it, please visit http://www.audio4fun.com/voice-changer.htm. Remember though, while you may experience others' lives in a new way, always be true to yourself, have fun, and stay safe.

ABC Review

Cadence Elite 2012: Punta Mita, Mexico

ABC Reiew Each year, Cadence celebrates our our top producing Cadence leisure travel specialists with a rewarding incentive trip. This year, the Cadence Elite 2012 were flown to Punta Mita for a special recognition weekend filled with Puerto Vallarta luxury and relaxation, from complimentary spa treatments to a tranquil fishing trip. The group of sixteen agents stayed at the Four Seasons Punta Mita, located in "a picturesque fishing village nestled on Mexico's Riviera Nayarit... an oasis of white-sand beaches and turquoise waters that boasts some of the best snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, surfing and golf in the world." Read on for Cadence CEO and Founder Wendy Burk's personal photographs from our Cadence Elite weekend getaway! The stunning view from Wendy's accommodations at the Four Season Punta Minta. Relaxing in the infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  A perfect setting for the Cadence Elite to relax after their hard work in 2012! Colorful local fishing boats line the harbor. The group enjoying a sailing expedition.  View of the Punta Mita shoreline from the sea. Inspired to visit Mexico and enjoy the luxury of Puerto Vallarta? Cadence is a Four Seasons Preferred Partner- an exclusive, invitation-only network of high-end travel consultants from around the world. Book through a Cadence leisure travel specialist for complimentary upgrades and exclusive VIP amenities. Contact us today! CADENCE A world of travel, in sync with you.

Cadence Cruises Exclusive Offer: Azamara

ABC Reiew Cadence Cruises is partnering with Azamara Club Cruises for an exclusive offer in February 2013! Book between February 11th - 13th 2013 and get extra love! Clients who book during the select dates will receive:

• $500 per stateroom onboard spending credit (oceanview or higher)
• $100 gift: complimentary dinner for two onboard and free travel speakers for your mobile device

$100 gift still applies to bookings made during non-select dates through the end of February. Longer stays, more overnights, night touring... Enjoy gratuities as well as select standard spirits, international beers and boutique wines throughout your voyage... And an invitation to a complimentary AzAmazing Evenings event! Applicable sailings: Europe: Azamara Journey: 7/21, 7/28, 8/04, 9/21, 10/01, 10/08, 10/19 | Azamara Quest: 8/07, 8/28, 9/14, 9/21, 10/09, 10/16, 10/23, 11/02 Asia: Azamara Journey: 12/09, 1/06, 1/21, 2/03, 2/17, 3/03 US departures: Azamara Quest: 11/26, 12/08, 12/20, 1/05, 1/15, 1/29, 2/10, 2/18, 3/04, 3/16 Repositioning: Azamara Journey: 10/26, 4/15 | Azamara Quest: 11/13, 3/27 "Azamara Club Cruises® sails to fascinating destinations all over the world throughout Northern Western Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, South America, the West Indies, Central America and the United States West Coast. But somehow the world will never seem the same, when you see it our way. Azamara specializes in what we call Destination ImmersionSM…meaning longer stays, more overnights and night touring in ports of call. No other cruise line spends as much time in port—allowing Azamara guests a richer stay in the destinations we visit, enjoying things like live music, theater and restaurants, and clubs that light up after dark. Of course, onboard our two 694-guest ships the experience is more club-like, with a higher staff-to-guest ratio to ensure that all of your needs are not only met, but anticipated. They say it's the destinations that will attract you… but it's the staff and crew that bring you back." Contact a Cadence Cruise specialist today to take advantage of this Azamara Club Cruises special offer! 1.877.551.4646  |  www.cadencecruises.com  |  inquiries@cadencetravel.com Terms and Conditions: 2013 Valentine's Sale is valid for new bookings only for all Azamara Club Cruises listed above. New bookings must be made between 11-FEB-2013 and 15-FEB-2013 and must have required deposit paid by the end of business on 18-FEB-2013 to qualify for the offer. Offer applies to Oceanview or higher categories only. Offer is not valid for charter or contracted group bookings. Onboard Credit amount is in U.S. Dollars, has no cash value, is not redeemable for cash, is not transferable and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the last evening of the cruise. Onboard Credit will be applied by Azamara Club Cruises to qualifying bookings via internal option code within 10 days of booking creation. Offer is applicable to online bookings, however online booking confirmation will not immediately reflect the onboard credit. All rates, offers and itineraries are subject to change without notice. Offers may be withdrawn at any time. Certain restrictions apply. Valid voyages:  Journey 7/21/13, 7/28/13, 8/04/13, 9/21/13, 10/01/13, 10/08/13, 10/19/13, 10/26/13, 12/09/13, 1/06/14, 1/21/14, 1/21/14, 2/03/14, 2/17/14, 3/03/14, 4/15/14 and Quest  8/07/13, 8/28/13, 9/14/13, 9/21/13, 10/09/13, 10/16/13, 10/23/13, 11/02/13, 11/13/13, 11/26/13, 12/08/13, 12/20/13, 1/05/14, 1/15/14, 1/29/14, 2/10/14, 2/18/14, 3/04/14, 3/16/14, 3/27/14.

Prospects Daily: Spanish and Italian bonds advance…Investor confidence in Germany rises strongly..

ABC Reiew

Financial Markets…Spanish and Italian government bonds bounced back from their earlier losses, with their benchmark 10-year yields dropping 6 basis points to 5.17% and 4 bps to 4.36%, as a report showed German investor confidence surged to the highest level in nearly three years this month, boosting risk-appetite for the region's high-yielding debt. Notably, Spain sold €4 billion ($5.35 billion) of 3- and 9-month bills with an average yield of 0.421%, down from 0.441% in January auction.Asian equities advanced on Tuesday, with the benchmark MSCI Asia Pacific Index heading for an 18-month high closing, amid robust corporate-earnings reports. But gains were somewhat limited on worries that Chinese government will try to cool the property market, pushing China's Shanghai Composite Index lower by 1.6%. The Standard &Poor's cut its sovereign credit rating on Tunisia by one level 'BB-' (three notches below investment grade) from 'BB', citing increased political risk in the wake of the February 6 assassination of a prominent leftist opposition politician, Chokri Belaid. The downgrade was the third one by the rating agency since January 2011.High-income Economies…Investor confidence in Germany rose to a three year high in February, with the ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment, jumping to 48.2 in February from 31.5 in January. This was the third consecutive increase for the index which aims to predict economic developments six months in advance, and the highest reading since April 2010. Economic expectations for the euro area climbed 11.2 to 42.4 in February.Greece's current account deficit narrowed sharply to €0.54 billion in December from € 0.85 billion in November helped by falling imports and lower interest payments after a sovereign debt cut. For the year as whole, the deficit shrank to 2.9% of GDP in 2012 from 9.9% the previous year - its lowest level since 1999 when it joined the euro.Construction output in the Euro Area continued to fall in December, declining by 4.8% (y/y) compared to 4.7% in November, led by weakness in Portugal, Poland, Bulgaria and the UK. On a monthly basis, output decreased 1.7% (m/m) in December, after dropping 0.4% in the previous month.Developing Economies…East Asia and Pacific: Thailand's GDP grew briskly by 3.4% (q/q, saar) in Q4 of 2012, up from 1.5% (q/q, saar) in the previous quarter. Growth for the full year came in at 6.6% up from 6.4% in 2011, reflecting strong domestic demand following the government's stimulus post 2011 floods.Europe and Central Asia: Russia's retail sales slowed in January, growing by 3.5% (y/y) compared to 5.5% (y/y) in December. This is the slowest pace in 35 months as private consumption is weakening.Latin America and the Caribbean: Mexico's GDP growth accelerated in the Q4 growing by 3.1% (q/q, saar) up from 1.4 (q/q, saar) in Q3. Growth for the entire year was flat at 3.9% in 2012 as strong domestic demand offset weaker exports.Middle East and North Africa: Tunisia's industrial production accelerated in November 4.2% (y/y) compared to 0.3% (y/y) in October 2012. Higher growth partly reflects base year effects, with the expansion led by growth in energy production and manufacturing.Sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria's inflation dropped to 9% (y/y) in January from 12% in (y/y) in December 2012 bringing inf

Talking to the UN Security Council about Climate Change

ABC Reiew

Last week, I had the honor of speaking to the UN Security Council about an increasingly dangerous threat facing cities and countries around the world, a threat that, more and more, is influencing everything that they and we do: climate change. World Bank President Jim Kim was in Russia talking with G20 finance ministers about the same thing – the need to combat climate change. Every day, we're hearing growing concerns from leaders around the world about climate change and its impact. If we needed any reminder of the immediacy and the urgency of the situation, Australia Foreign Minister Bob Carr and our good friend President Tong of Kiribati spoke by video of the security implication of climate effects on the Pacific region. Perhaps most moving of all, Minister Tony deBrum from the Marshall Islands recounted how, 35 years ago, he had come to New York as part of a Marshall Islands delegation requesting the Security Council's support for their independence. Now, when not independence but survival is at stake, he is told that this is not the Security Council's function. He pointed to their ambassador to the UN and noted that her island, part of the Marshall Islands, no longer exists. The room was silent.

It fell to us to point out the security implications of business as usual. If the world does nothing to stop climate change:

• half the global population will be living in water-scarce countries by the end of the century, compared to 28% today;
• 35% of sub-Saharan Africa's cropland will become unsuitable for cultivation, with grave consequences for food security;
• the breadbaskets of North America and the Mediterranean will see repeats of this past summer's crop-crumbling heat waves more frequently, to potentially devastating effect.

So what do we do?

First, cities. Developing countries are urbanizing fast - some will be shifting from less than 20% urban today to more than 60% in the next 30 years. The decisions they make today – about transportation infrastructure, water supply, land use rules, building codes and more – will lock in development patterns for decades to come. They can choose to grow green with careful, integrated urban planning and support – they will need direct finance and assistance. We will need to step up our work here in support of our clients. In China, cities are seizing on low-carbon development options. We're helping Lagos develop more sustainable transportation. We will need to change the way we produce our food, as well. The world's farmers will need to produce 70% more food by 2050 to feed a population expected to pass 9 billion people, and yet climate scientists tell us that for every 1 degree Celsius increase in average temperature around the world, crop yields will decrease by an average of 5%. We can and must farm in ways that increase productivity, build farmers' ability to cope with erratic weather, and increase carbon storage on land. We are mobilizing global alliances on climate-smart agriculture, and we have no time to lose. We are also helping countries transition to a cleaner energy mix. We have doubled our investments in renewable energy in the last five years, and the $7.6 billion Climate Investment Funds we administer will support low-carbon, climate-resilient projects in 48 countries. But that $7.6 billion is a drop in the ocean of what is needed to support the transition to green infrastructure and energy systems. The resilient and green infrastructure gap is, after all, calculated at around $1.3 trillion a year – excluding operation and maintenance. Stopping a 4°C warmer world from becoming reality and staying at a 2°C one still requires huge investments in adaptation – effectively the resilience of countries, cities, communities, especially the poor. Disaster risk management – putting effort into prevention and preparedness rather than simply reacting after disasters strike – saves lives and property, and it is increasingly at the core of the Bank's work. Preserving wetlands and mangroves provides protective storm barriers. Avoiding development in vulnerable areas prevents flooding and deaths that often affect a community's poorest residents. Through the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the Bank is working with client countries to mainstream disaster risk management into their development planning. We recognize that there is much more we can do. President Kim has challenged us to take bold action. We need to get prices right, get finance flowing, and work where it matters most. Our mission, to end poverty and build shared prosperity, will be futile if we don't.

 

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (T-Mobile)

ABC Reiew CNET Editors' Rating 3.0 stars Good CNET Editors' Rating 3.0 stars Good

• Overall rating: 6.0
• Design: 6.0
• Features: 6.0
• Performance: 6.0

Set price alert Review Date: 2/06/13 Average User Rating 0.0 stars No reviews. Write a review

The good: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is a well-designed tablet with powerful speakers, a responsive screen, and expandable storage.

The bad: The tablet is overpriced, its dual-core CPU has trouble running large 1080p movies smoothly, and its screen color accuracy isn't as high as the previous Tab 10.1's.

The bottom line: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 comes up short in performance, features, and value compared with competing tablets.

Editors' Top Picks

• 1 Apple iPad (4th generation) Starting at$499.00 4.5 stars
• 2 Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 (gray, 32GB) Starting at$437.78 4.0 stars
• 3 Google Nexus 7 (16GB) Starting at$199.00 4.0 stars
• 4 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Starting at$299.00 4.0 stars

MSRP: $399.00 Similar model: $319.00

• Similar model from Buydig.com $319.00 See it

Set price alert

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was one of the premier Android tablets when it launched in 2011, with specs that, at the very least, matched top-tier Android tablets at the time.

Unfortunately, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 feels almost like a disappointing prequel, rather than a full-fledged "we've improved everything" sequel. Also, the asking price for the cellular versions -- both on and off contract -- is too high, given its offerings.

Design The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is both slightly heavier and a bit less svelte than its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. It still sports the same plastic backside, but now comes in titanium silver as opposed to white.

The tablet feels comfortable in my hands, but it's a bit wide and feels awkward when trying to type and hold at the same time, even if you sport alienlike, Arsenio Hall-length fingers, like me. Also, the bezel isn't completely flush with the outer casing of the tablet, creating a slightly annoying edge.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Asus Transformer Pad TF300 Acer Iconia Tab A510 Weight in pounds 1.28 1.24 1.4 1.48 Width in inches (landscape) 10.1 10.1 10.4 10.3 Height in inches 6.9 6.9 7.1 6.9 Depth in inches 0.38 0.34 0.38 0.46 Side bezel width in inches (landscape) 0.74 0.8 0.9 0.8

When held in landscape, the top edge of the tablet seats five features: from left, there's a power/sleep button, a volume rocker, a 32GB-capacity microSD slot, an IR blaster, and a headphone jack. In addition, two 2-inch-long speakers stretch vertically along the left and right bezel. A dock connector and microphone pinhole sit along the bottom edge.

The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 trades in its predecessor's 2-megapixel front camera for a VGA one, and while it retains a 3-megapixel rear camera, the LED support light has been excised. There's no HDMI option, unfortunately, requiring you to purchase an additional accessory if you have plans to connect the tablet to a TV.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Software features The Tab 2 10.1 is the second Samsung tablet, after the Tab 2 7.0, to ship with Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.3, to be precise) installed. Although the Wi-Fi version is now upgradeable to Jelly Bean, there are currently no plans to offer the same for the cellular versions.

Samsung's TouchWiz UX skin is of course included and comes with custom Samsung apps like Music Hub, Media Hub, and Game Hub, a built-in screenshot app, and the Mini Apps tray located on the bottom of the screen. Tapping it brings up a tray of apps consisting of a calculator, notes, calendar, music player, and clock. However, the most useful of these is still the task manager, which allows you to quickly kill any app running in the background; this comes in handy when apps become otherwise unresponsive.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

The basic look and design of ICS are retained, just with a TouchWiz skin and a few extra shortcuts for quickly turning off Wi-Fi, GPS, screen rotation, and so on.

Peel's Smart Remote app The IR blaster found on the Tab 2 7.0 makes its way to the Tab 2 10.1 and, in conjunction with Peel's included Smart Remote app, helps turn your tablet into a remote control for your TV. Peel can take the place of your cable or satellite channel guide and display a list of shows currently playing locally on your cable or satellite provider's channels. Go to the currently playing tab and click on a show, and your TV switches to the appropriate channel. Peel does a great job of holding your hand initially through a step-by-step set-up wizard. The set-up requires only that you know your TV manufacturer's name, your cable/satellite provider, and your ZIP code. Thankfully, Peel spares us from having to know any more-detailed information; however, be aware that Smart Remote does not work with regular monitors, only TVs or monitor/TV combos.

Once it's set up, you can browse shows by category, mark shows as favorites, or prevent shows you'd rather not see listed from showing up again. Thankfully, Smart Remote now syncs with over-the-air listings, but its accuracy as to which shows and channels were available to me left a bit to be desired.

Navigating the interface took some getting used to, but was easy enough to pick up; however, I took issue with the method by which cable TV screen menus are controlled by the interface. Peel went with a swipe interface that requires you to flick the screen in one of four directions to highlight different menus. While this method works, and after some time could be gotten used to, I would have much preferred more direct directional controls.

As I learned with the Tab 2 10.1, Smart Remote's accuracy is very closely dictated by the information cable and satellite providers choose to release. So, while the Smart Remote guide might have indicated that "Law & Order" was on right now on Channel 12, selecting it didn't always take me to the appropriate channel. In addition, sometimes the channel wasn't available to me or there was a different show on the channel at that time.

While Peel's Smart Remote is still missing some features, it's well-implemented overall. However, I'm still waiting for Hulu and Netflix integration, and an actual search feature would be useful. Also, while I found that the remote reliably functions from 10 to 20 feet away, performance is definitely more reliable within 8 feet. Also, the tablet does not handle obstructions like coffee tables as well as my normal remote does, requiring you to be much more precise when aiming it.

Hardware features The Tab 2 10.1 houses a 1GHz dual-core OMAP 4430 CPU, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. Tablet mainstays like 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi support, Bluetooth 3.0, and GPS are included as well as gyroscope, accelerometer, and digital compass support.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET) Continue to next page 1 2 Editors' Top Picks

• 1 Apple iPad (4th generation) Starting at$499.00 4.5 stars
• 2 Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 (gray, 32GB) Starting at$437.78 4.0 stars
• 3 Google Nexus 7 (16GB) Starting at$199.00 4.0 stars
• 4 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Starting at$299.00 4.0 stars

Sponsored Premier Brands on CNET

• Blackberry
• T-Mobile

  Member Comments Add Your Comment

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (Sprint)

ABC Reiew Slide 2 Slide 3 Slide 4 Slide 5 Slide 6 Slide 7 Previous Next CNET Editors' Rating 3.0 stars Good CNET Editors' Rating 3.0 stars Good

• Overall rating: 6.0
• Design: 6.0
• Features: 6.0
• Performance: 6.0

Set price alert Review Date: 2/06/13 Average User Rating 4.5 stars 1 user review

The good: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is a well-designed tablet with powerful speakers, a responsive screen, and expandable storage.

The bad: The tablet is overpriced, its dual-core CPU has trouble running large 1080p movies smoothly, and its screen color accuracy isn't as high as the previous Tab 10.1's.

The bottom line: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 comes up short in performance, features, and value compared with competing tablets.

Editors' Top Picks

• 1 Apple iPad (4th generation) Starting at$499.00 4.5 stars
• 2 Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 (gray, 32GB) Starting at$437.78 4.0 stars
• 3 Google Nexus 7 (16GB) Starting at$199.00 4.0 stars
• 4 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Starting at$299.00 4.0 stars

Similar model: $319.00

• Similar model from Buydig.com $319.00 See it

Set price alert

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was one of the premier Android tablets when it launched in 2011, with specs that, at the very least, matched top-tier Android tablets at the time.

Unfortunately, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 feels almost like a disappointing prequel, rather than a full-fledged "we've improved everything" sequel. Also, the asking price for the cellular versions -- both on and off contract -- is too high, given its offerings.

Design The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is both slightly heavier and a bit less svelte than its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. It still sports the same plastic backside, but now comes in titanium silver as opposed to white.

The tablet feels comfortable in my hands, but it's a bit wide and feels awkward when trying to type and hold at the same time, even if you sport alienlike, Arsenio Hall-length fingers, like me. Also, the bezel isn't completely flush with the outer casing of the tablet, creating a slightly annoying edge.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Asus Transformer Pad TF300 Acer Iconia Tab A510 Weight in pounds 1.28 1.24 1.4 1.48 Width in inches (landscape) 10.1 10.1 10.4 10.3 Height in inches 6.9 6.9 7.1 6.9 Depth in inches 0.38 0.34 0.38 0.46 Side bezel width in inches (landscape) 0.74 0.8 0.9 0.8

When held in landscape, the top edge of the tablet seats five features: from left, there's a power/sleep button, a volume rocker, a 32GB-capacity microSD slot, an IR blaster, and a headphone jack. In addition, two 2-inch-long speakers stretch vertically along the left and right bezel. A dock connector and microphone pinhole sit along the bottom edge.

The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 trades in its predecessor's 2-megapixel front camera for a VGA one, and while it retains a 3-megapixel rear camera, the LED support light has been excised. There's no HDMI option, unfortunately, requiring you to purchase an additional accessory if you have plans to connect the tablet to a TV.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Software features The Tab 2 10.1 is the second Samsung tablet, after the Tab 2 7.0, to ship with Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.3, to be precise) installed. Although the Wi-Fi version is now upgradeable to Jelly Bean, there are currently no plans to offer the same for the cellular versions.

Samsung's TouchWiz UX skin is of course included and comes with custom Samsung apps like Music Hub, Media Hub, and Game Hub, a built-in screenshot app, and the Mini Apps tray located on the bottom of the screen. Tapping it brings up a tray of apps consisting of a calculator, notes, calendar, music player, and clock. However, the most useful of these is still the task manager, which allows you to quickly kill any app running in the background; this comes in handy when apps become otherwise unresponsive.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

The basic look and design of ICS are retained, just with a TouchWiz skin and a few extra shortcuts for quickly turning off Wi-Fi, GPS, screen rotation, and so on.

Peel's Smart Remote app The IR blaster found on the Tab 2 7.0 makes its way to the Tab 2 10.1 and, in conjunction with Peel's included Smart Remote app, helps turn your tablet into a remote control for your TV. Peel can take the place of your cable or satellite channel guide and display a list of shows currently playing locally on your cable or satellite provider's channels. Go to the currently playing tab and click on a show, and your TV switches to the appropriate channel. Peel does a great job of holding your hand initially through a step-by-step set-up wizard. The set-up requires only that you know your TV manufacturer's name, your cable/satellite provider, and your ZIP code. Thankfully, Peel spares us from having to know any more-detailed information; however, be aware that Smart Remote does not work with regular monitors, only TVs or monitor/TV combos.

Once it's set up, you can browse shows by category, mark shows as favorites, or prevent shows you'd rather not see listed from showing up again. Thankfully, Smart Remote now syncs with over-the-air listings, but its accuracy as to which shows and channels were available to me left a bit to be desired.

Navigating the interface took some getting used to, but was easy enough to pick up; however, I took issue with the method by which cable TV screen menus are controlled by the interface. Peel went with a swipe interface that requires you to flick the screen in one of four directions to highlight different menus. While this method works, and after some time could be gotten used to, I would have much preferred more direct directional controls.

As I learned with the Tab 2 10.1, Smart Remote's accuracy is very closely dictated by the information cable and satellite providers choose to release. So, while the Smart Remote guide might have indicated that "Law & Order" was on right now on Channel 12, selecting it didn't always take me to the appropriate channel. In addition, sometimes the channel wasn't available to me or there was a different show on the channel at that time.

While Peel's Smart Remote is still missing some features, it's well-implemented overall. However, I'm still waiting for Hulu and Netflix integration, and an actual search feature would be useful. Also, while I found that the remote reliably functions from 10 to 20 feet away, performance is definitely more reliable within 8 feet. Also, the tablet does not handle obstructions like coffee tables as well as my normal remote does, requiring you to be much more precise when aiming it.

Hardware features The Tab 2 10.1 houses a 1GHz dual-core OMAP 4430 CPU, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. Tablet mainstays like 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi support, Bluetooth 3.0, and GPS are included as well as gyroscope, accelerometer, and digital compass support.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET) Continue to next page 1 2 Editors' Top Picks

• 1 Apple iPad (4th generation) Starting at$499.00 4.5 stars
• 2 Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 (gray, 32GB) Starting at$437.78 4.0 stars
• 3 Google Nexus 7 (16GB) Starting at$199.00 4.0 stars
• 4 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Starting at$299.00 4.0 stars

Sponsored Premier Brands on CNET

• Blackberry
• T-Mobile

  Member Comments Add Your Comment

Conversation powered by Livefyre

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (AT&T)

ABC Reiew CNET Editors' Rating 3.0 stars Good CNET Editors' Rating 3.0 stars Good

• Overall rating: 6.0
• Design: 6.0
• Features: 6.0
• Performance: 6.0

Set price alert Review Date: 2/06/13 Average User Rating 0.0 stars No reviews. Write a review

The good: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is a well-designed tablet with powerful speakers, a responsive screen, and expandable storage.

The bad: The tablet is overpriced, its dual-core CPU has trouble running large 1080p movies smoothly, and its screen color accuracy isn't as high as the previous Tab 10.1's.

The bottom line: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 comes up short in performance, features, and value compared with competing tablets.

Editors' Top Picks

• 1 Apple iPad (4th generation) Starting at$499.00 4.5 stars
• 2 Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 (gray, 32GB) Starting at$437.78 4.0 stars
• 3 Google Nexus 7 (16GB) Starting at$199.00 4.0 stars
• 4 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Starting at$299.00 4.0 stars

Similar model: $319.00

• Similar model from Buydig.com $319.00 See it

Set price alert

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 was one of the premier Android tablets when it launched in 2011, with specs that, at the very least, matched top-tier Android tablets at the time.

Unfortunately, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 feels almost like a disappointing prequel, rather than a full-fledged "we've improved everything" sequel. Also, the asking price for the cellular versions -- both on and off contract -- is too high, given its offerings.

Design The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is both slightly heavier and a bit less svelte than its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. It still sports the same plastic backside, but now comes in titanium silver as opposed to white.

The tablet feels comfortable in my hands, but it's a bit wide and feels awkward when trying to type and hold at the same time, even if you sport alienlike, Arsenio Hall-length fingers, like me. Also, the bezel isn't completely flush with the outer casing of the tablet, creating a slightly annoying edge.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Asus Transformer Pad TF300 Acer Iconia Tab A510 Weight in pounds 1.28 1.24 1.4 1.48 Width in inches (landscape) 10.1 10.1 10.4 10.3 Height in inches 6.9 6.9 7.1 6.9 Depth in inches 0.38 0.34 0.38 0.46 Side bezel width in inches (landscape) 0.74 0.8 0.9 0.8

When held in landscape, the top edge of the tablet seats five features: from left, there's a power/sleep button, a volume rocker, a 32GB-capacity microSD slot, an IR blaster, and a headphone jack. In addition, two 2-inch-long speakers stretch vertically along the left and right bezel. A dock connector and microphone pinhole sit along the bottom edge.

The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 trades in its predecessor's 2-megapixel front camera for a VGA one, and while it retains a 3-megapixel rear camera, the LED support light has been excised. There's no HDMI option, unfortunately, requiring you to purchase an additional accessory if you have plans to connect the tablet to a TV.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Software features The Tab 2 10.1 is the second Samsung tablet, after the Tab 2 7.0, to ship with Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.3, to be precise) installed. Although the Wi-Fi version is now upgradeable to Jelly Bean, there are currently no plans to offer the same for the cellular versions.

Samsung's TouchWiz UX skin is of course included and comes with custom Samsung apps like Music Hub, Media Hub, and Game Hub, a built-in screenshot app, and the Mini Apps tray located on the bottom of the screen. Tapping it brings up a tray of apps consisting of a calculator, notes, calendar, music player, and clock. However, the most useful of these is still the task manager, which allows you to quickly kill any app running in the background; this comes in handy when apps become otherwise unresponsive.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

The basic look and design of ICS are retained, just with a TouchWiz skin and a few extra shortcuts for quickly turning off Wi-Fi, GPS, screen rotation, and so on.

Peel's Smart Remote app The IR blaster found on the Tab 2 7.0 makes its way to the Tab 2 10.1 and, in conjunction with Peel's included Smart Remote app, helps turn your tablet into a remote control for your TV. Peel can take the place of your cable or satellite channel guide and display a list of shows currently playing locally on your cable or satellite provider's channels. Go to the currently playing tab and click on a show, and your TV switches to the appropriate channel. Peel does a great job of holding your hand initially through a step-by-step set-up wizard. The set-up requires only that you know your TV manufacturer's name, your cable/satellite provider, and your ZIP code. Thankfully, Peel spares us from having to know any more-detailed information; however, be aware that Smart Remote does not work with regular monitors, only TVs or monitor/TV combos.

Once it's set up, you can browse shows by category, mark shows as favorites, or prevent shows you'd rather not see listed from showing up again. Thankfully, Smart Remote now syncs with over-the-air listings, but its accuracy as to which shows and channels were available to me left a bit to be desired.

Navigating the interface took some getting used to, but was easy enough to pick up; however, I took issue with the method by which cable TV screen menus are controlled by the interface. Peel went with a swipe interface that requires you to flick the screen in one of four directions to highlight different menus. While this method works, and after some time could be gotten used to, I would have much preferred more direct directional controls.

As I learned with the Tab 2 10.1, Smart Remote's accuracy is very closely dictated by the information cable and satellite providers choose to release. So, while the Smart Remote guide might have indicated that "Law & Order" was on right now on Channel 12, selecting it didn't always take me to the appropriate channel. In addition, sometimes the channel wasn't available to me or there was a different show on the channel at that time.

While Peel's Smart Remote is still missing some features, it's well-implemented overall. However, I'm still waiting for Hulu and Netflix integration, and an actual search feature would be useful. Also, while I found that the remote reliably functions from 10 to 20 feet away, performance is definitely more reliable within 8 feet. Also, the tablet does not handle obstructions like coffee tables as well as my normal remote does, requiring you to be much more precise when aiming it.

Hardware features The Tab 2 10.1 houses a 1GHz dual-core OMAP 4430 CPU, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. Tablet mainstays like 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi support, Bluetooth 3.0, and GPS are included as well as gyroscope, accelerometer, and digital compass support.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET) Continue to next page 1 2 Editors' Top Picks

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• 2 Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 (gray, 32GB) Starting at$437.78 4.0 stars
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• 4 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 Starting at$299.00 4.0 stars

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