You might be aware that Apple just announced a certain little (or not so little depending how you look at it) gadget called the Apple iPad. One only needs a quick glance to realize that it looks like a vastly oversized iPod Touch but what are its main strengths and its greatest disadvantages? Here is the way I see it:
Key features
Magnificent 9.7” capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity
Optional 3G connectivity (data only)
1 GHz Apple A4 CPU
iPhone OS 3.2
16/32/64 GB of onboard storage
Weight of 680 grams (730 grams for the 3G version)
Very slim 12.7mm waistline
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
10 hours battery life and 1 month of stand-by
Accelerometer and compass
Compatible with every iPhone app without any modifications
The cheapest version costs less than an unlocked iPhone
iBook application
The keyboard dock (purchased separately) easily converts the iPad into a nettop
Main disadvantages
It’s not a computer but a big iPod Touch
No Flash support for the web browser
No multitasking
No camera
No standard USB port (you can get USB connectivity with an accessory but you need to pay extra)
130 US dollars (90 euro) for a 3G modem seems pricey
iTunes required
No kickstand – it cannot stand on a table without the dock
The dragon in the HTC camp has awoken, ladies and gentlemen, and it's time it shows what it's capable of. Be it a dragon, or a lion, the HTC HD2, codenamed HTC Leo, is truly a spectacular device. It seems to have all modern mobile technologies in its pocket, bridging the gap between phones and tablets.
HTC are pushing the boundaries of the impossible by fitting the 4.3-inch screen in a phone smaller than the Toshiba TG01, which was the first Snapdragon-based device ever to be released. HD2 is certainly a feat of engineering and something to really look up to.
HTC HD2 official images
Now that it has just hit the market, the HD2 is bound to make some serious waves in the high-end smartphones pool and we guess many of you would probably be checking it out this holiday season. And you would be right to do so. Let's go over its impeccable specs sheet one more time:
The HTC HD2 most certainly feels great in hand - the quality of the used materials is nice and the slim bezel around the screen is almost as spectacular as the slim profile. For the fist five minutes you can't help but simply sit there and just stare at the amazing screen.
But with touch smartphones getting screens that large sooner or later ergonomics had to be sacrificed. We somehow thought that the original Touch HD had almost crossed the line, but the HD2 has definitely crossed over. Reaching your thumb to the opposite angle of the screen is quite a task and it's not really comfortable to use the phone single-handedly. But we guess many of you would find the compromise with ergonomics quite worth it.
The HD2 is impressive
Join us on the next page where we'll get into some unboxing action, and as part of this brief preview article we'll get into the ins and outs of HTC HD2 design and construction
The Nokia army of touchscreen smartphones gets larger by the hour and the Nokia N97 mini is surely one of the most interesting new recruits. The Finnish company has obviously reconsidered its priories and now focuses on optimization, rather than expansion with its flagships.
Nokia N97 mini official photos
The original Nokia N97 was the first sign of that as it hardly offered any ground-breaking features, instead relaying on the good all-round performance. However the first high-end S60 touchscreen handset left enough room for another similar handset in the portfolio and Nokia feel that its downsized version is enough to fill the gap.
Key features
Slide-n-tilt 3.2" 16M-color resistive touchscreen of 640 x 360 pixel resolution
5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash and VGA@30fps video recording
Symbian OS 9.4 with S60 5th edition UI with kinetic scrolling
Slide-out three-row full QWERTY keyboard
ARM 11 434MHz CPU and 128 MB of RAM
Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G with 3.6Mbps HSDPA support
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
Digital compass
8GB onboard storage
microSD card slot with microSDHC support
Built-in accelerometer
3.5 mm audio jack and TV-out
Stereo FM Radio with RDS
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
Web browser has full Flash and Java support
Nice audio reproduction quality
Office document viewer
Main disadvantages
The S60 touch UI is still inconsistent
Outdated camera interface and features
No DivX or XviD video support out-of-the-box
No smart dialing
No office document editing (without a paid upgrade)
No camera lens protection
No FM transmitter (though that may be stretching it too far)
Nokia N97 mini vs Nokia N97
More compact (113 x 52.5 x 14.2 mm, 75 cc vs 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm, 88 cc)
Lighter (138g vs 150g)
Smaller display (3.2" vs 3.5")
Less internal memory (8GB vs 32GB)
Smaller battery (1200 mAh vs 1500 mAh)
No lens cover
No FM transmitter
Arrow keys vs D-pad
The N97 mini has quite a task on its hands, constantly being compared to the moe high ranking Nokia N97 even though it comes later to the market. As usually happens in such cases, the price difference that would have been present if both handsets were launched simultaneously is reduced and the balance of powers has shifted.
Nokia N97 mini at ours
Still the reduced display (and mostly body size) is a welcome change for many users, who used to find the Nokia N97 intolerably bulky. We certainly hope it's got a few tricks up its sleeves so it can put up the original N97 a good fight and differentiate enough beyond size and pricing. Well, we're about to check that and much more in one of our trademark reviews, starting with the unboxing on the next page.
The Consumer Electronics Show 2010 was a great opportunity for Palm to introduce two smartphones for Verizon, as well as the perfect occasion to make Sprint cry hard. When Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus were unveiled, I said to myself that this cannot be true. How can Palm to this to Sprint and its customers? I don’t know but if you’re on Big Red then you should have a big smile on your face as both the Pre Plus and the Pixi Plus are now shipping.
Recently, it has been thought that if you buy a Palm Pre Plus then you’ll receive a free Palm Pixi Plus, but the Verizon website shows that the offer is valid only if you buy a Pixi Plus. If you’re going for the Pre Plus then you can choose between three phones. They’re not among the best, but they’re free, and if you’re getting a Pixi Plus, then just get another one for free.
Palm Pre Plus costs $149.99, while the Pixi Plus will cost you $99.99. Learn more about the details at Verizon’s official website right here.
Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus Showing Up At Verizon
Nowadays Android is running wild and after we’ve witnessed the release of a bunch of Google OS running cellphones, it was netbooks’ turn to show off. Android 1.5 Cupcake has just been released for T-Mobile USA and many G1 users are very satisfied. Meanwhile Sony has just completed a successful event at E3 2009 where they unveiled the PSP Go and a motion-sensing controller for the PS3, but now they are concentrating on other stuff.
According to some reports in Japan, Sony is developing two devices based on the Android OS. Rumors say that Sony is working on an Android-powered Walkman, while the other is a Personal Navigation Device, and both will be launched next year. In Japan it is said that Sony has a “thing” for Android therefore they are looking to build a Walkman and a PND for the people so that they can taste the Android experience.
The good thing is that Sony acknowledged the fact that open-source software cuts down the costs dramatically therefore consumers will receive good products are good price. The rumors might be true as Sony Ericsson will launch an Android 2.0 Donut-based smartphone sometime this year. Well, this doesn’t prove that Sony loves Android, but maybe they are trying something new. Android was welcomed by the public so it’s definitely worth trying.
A few days ago we reported that Sony might introduce a new PSP. Although these are only rumors, it is normal to have them because the E3 expo is due to come in just a few more weeks. There were many reports and sources who said that a new UMD-less PSP is coming at E3 on June 2nd, however, this is not the only product that Sony will unveil. According to a trusted source, Sony is going to launch a motion-sensing remote especially for PS3.
The source says that Sony is in talks with many third-party game developers in order to introduce a simple new feature into their upcoming games in order to be compatible with the PS3 motion-sensing controller. E3 is coming and it’s the perfect way to release a product to rival against the Nintendo Wii Remote, and the soon to be released, Wii Motion Plus. The problem is that we don’t know if Sony’s PS3 motion-sensing device is better than Nintendo’s products.
I have to say that Sony is a little hypocrite as when Nintendo’s Wii remote was released, they criticized it and laughed at it. However, Nintendo proved them wrong and the Wii Remote has become the most successful-selling accessory in the US and beyond.
For the moment, Sony declined to comment just like they did when asked about a new UMD-less PSP. Well, now are waiting for E3 to open its doors. I hope we will see some interesting stuff there.
Remember the Sony PS3 motion controller unveiled earlier this year? We actually thought that it’s never coming, but the company just waited the Tokyo Game Show to unveil the PS3 motion controller release date. The full system is going to be available in the SPring of 2010 and if you are wondering what are you going to do with it then rest assured as there are more then ten motion control games that Sony will release.
The Sony PS3 motion controller has been introduced thanks to Resident Evil 5, but not the game you know: it was a special Director’s Cut that’s also coming in Spring 2010. Resident Evil 5 Director’s cut was played with the motion controller in one hand, and a dual-shock controller in the other and it was amazing.
Sony will offer a new experience to its users thanks to the PS3 motion controller, but until then let’s see what games users will play next Spring:
Ape Escape.
Echochrome 2.
Eccentric Slider.
Sing and Draw.
Champions of Time.
Motion Party.
The Shoot.
Tower.
Resident Evil 5 Director’s Cut.
LittleBigPlanet.
Besides these, Sony announced that users with a PS3 motion controller will be able to download an update which will make PAIN, Flower, Hustle King, EyePet, and High Velocity Bowling playable with the next-gen gaming controller.
Although it was expected this spring, the new PS3 Motion Controller’s release has been postponed until 2010’s fall. Avoiding mentioning an actual date, Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. declared that the decision to wait until fall 2010 is suported by their desire to offer a new, exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users.
Also, Sony’s stab at motion control for the PlayStation 3 is currently known only as the PlayStation 3 Motion Controller, a name that likely won’t stick. But is the glowing magic wand ultimately going to be known as Arc? They have time to decide.
VG247 says, citing an unnamed but “concrete source” who outs the PlayStation Eye powered wand as Arc. It was at one point known as Gem, at least during the prototype stage and to the best of EA CEO John Riccitiello’s knowledge.
PlayStation’s tech guys made a demonstration of the system at Develop last year. If you haven’t seen it, get it from here
“Pink“ is the codename for a planned smartphone by Microsoft and Verizon to compete with the Apple iPhone. It may use technologies from Zune and Danger. They also plan to launch an app store to go with the phone. The targeted market for the Pink Project is the teen/2x years market.
Project Pink, the mystery what is it said to be emanating from the Microsoft Premium Mobile eXperiences (PMX) group built around the people and technologies nabbed after the Danger acquisition, is a project build outside Windows Mobile 7 section. Rumors say that the Pink devices might be the first to run Microsoft’s new premium Pink services but still be WinMo 6.x based.
Microsoft Pink released this spring ?
If all said are true, we could see the Microsoft pink inthe first quarter of 2010, with no need to expect Windows Mobile 7 that will be lunched at the end of the year. I guess we will have to wait until Mobile World Congress.
Moments ago Apple posted its quarterly financial earnings and we’ve noticed another revenue record of the Redmond-based company. iPhone sales went up, Mac sales went up, and even though iPod sales were down 8%, Apple still managed to sell 21 million iPods in one quarter, but nothing unusual so far. However, Steve Jobs took his time and simply confirmed the Apple Tablet. How? Well, by releasing this statement:
“The new products we are planning to release this year are very strong, starting this week with a major new product that we’re really excited about.”
Although there is nothing “that” new, we have an official confirmation that Apple will release new products this year and we’re thinking about the next-gen iPhone, new iPods, new MacBooks, and new Macs among others. According to Jobs, the first product will be released this week and it’s a “major new product,” so that’s something that currently doesn’t exist in the Apple lineup: the tablet, probably called iSlate or iTablet or iPad.
Jobs’ statement came with an incredible timing as rumors are circling around saying that Verizon is preparing its managers for Wednesday. Why? Because “Wednesday is a big day.” Like said: timing is killer here. I simply cannot wait for January 27th to come. Will the Apple Tablet be subsidized by the Big Red? It sure looks this way! Now we have to wait, but if more details show up, we’ll let you know about it so stay tuned!
HTC woke up overnight and decided that Europeans suck, while deciding that T-Mobile is its Lord. The US version of the HD2 is now listed with a spec boost on HTC’s official website and I have to say that there are some important changes at the handset. HTC HD2 US features 1GB ROM (up from 512MB), 576MB RAM (up from 448MB) and a 16GB (up from 2GB) microSD card in the package. Just like the EU version, 128MB of the total amount of RAM are reserved for the 3D accelerator therefore HTC decided that it would be best to raise the 448MB to 576MB.
The HTC HD2 is a beast with Sense UI! If this phone won’t be upgradeable to Windows Mobile 7 then the phone will never be able to fulfill its true potential. I simply cannot think of a non-QWERTY better phone than this one. 1GHz Snapdragon, 1GB ROM, 576MB RAM, 3D acceleration support, 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen with multitouch support, Sense UI, 5-megapixel camera, GPS/aGPS, G-sensor, digital compass (hear me, augmented reality?) and virtually everything you need. I just cannot think of a better phone! When HTC designed this phone, the company probably thought of the next-gen iPhone, but it desperately needs support from Microsoft.
It's not like we didn't tell you. And hey, it's not like we're on time either. But we guess better late than sorry goes both ways. Once a popular (mostly stateside) PDA and smartphone maker, Palm were going full blast from safe to sorry. So, did they try to put the brakes? Negative. They hit the U turn.
Many must've doubted Palm ever getting out of the twilight of their dwindling smartphone line. But we're not gonna give you all that crap about second chances. It won't be fair to the Palm Pre. It couldn't have been bleaker for the company but the Palm Pre is not the kind to walk around a with "Will work for food" sign on its neck. No sir. It's looking to elbow its way through a crowd of apples, androids and PocketPCs.
Palm Pre official photos
Are we talking the mother of all comebacks here? We honestly don't know. But it looks like a debut of the same magnitude as the iPhone OS, Android and Maemo. The Palm Pre seems to have all the things that made the iPhone so special: multi-touch display, an Application Store, fluid and creative UI and a good web browser. But Palm didn't stop there - the webOS is all about multitasking - to an extent that gives quite a point to those who wouldn't call the iPhone a proper smartphone.
The webOS and all the touchscreen gadgetry will sure keep us busy enough. It's the interface and the handling that will earn the Palm Pre its deserved share of admirers. But before we power up this multitasking monster and start navigating its new and unique system, let's look at the package itself.
Key features:
3.1" 16M-color TFT display of 320 x 480 pixel resolution and excellent sunlight legibility
3 megapixel fixed focus camera, LED flash
Quad-band GSM support
Tri-band UMTS support with HSDPA
ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz, PowerVR SGX graphics chip
256 MB RAM
Sliding-out full QWERTY keyboard
Palm webOS is an innovative multi-touch user interface, heavy on multitasking
Touch-enabled Gesture Area
Built-in GPS receiver
Wi-Fi
8 GB of onboard storage
Accelerometer, proximity sensor
3.5 mm audio jack
Bluetooth with A2DP support
Application Store for direct apps download and installation
Office document viewer
Main disadvantages:
No video calls over the 3G network
No memory card slot
Glossy plastics look cheap, love fingerprints
Camera has no auto focus… nor any settings at all, disappointing image quality
No video recording unless hacked
Web browser lacks Flash support, but it's on its way
No DivX/XviD video playback support
No Bluetooth file transfers
App Catalog available in a limited number of countries
Small and fiddly QWERTY keyboard keys
No onscreen keyboard, portrait typing only
No smart dialing
The specs ring the iPhone bell and you may think the Pre is just another copycat - you'll be wrong. The Palm Pre is pushing a brand new OS and doesn't keep a stiff upper lip like some other smartphones - that goes to you Symbian and WinMo.
Palm Pre in our hands
But so much for the resemblance to iPhone. It's a completely different form factor, there are some novel navigation solutions and there's a QWERTY keyboard and multi-tasking. The Palm Pre is a fresh and exciting addition to the world of smartphones.
The webOS may have learned a lot from the iPhone OS, but it certainly is trying to do things its own way. The Pre is obviously limited much like the first iPhone and earliest Android handsets.
It's not the list of do's and don'ts that makes this phone though. It's not the capacitive, multi-touch-enabled touchscreen, it's not the QWERTY keyboard. The Pre hopes to be a symbol of a company's rebirth and promises an exciting time for touchscreen. And it's got a darn good reason to be hopeful: the webOS.
We'll get there but let's take this one step at a time. The Palm Pre gets unboxed, handled and described right after the jump.
With the Bold almost reaching perfection in the BlackBerry arts, new horizons need to be explored to keep the spark alive. The tall task to pioneer new territories (in BlackBerry terms anyway) falls on to the Curve 8520.
BlackBerry Curve 8520 official photo
The new Curve has a price tag that's easier on the wallet and - coming from a BlackBerry - that's a welcome change of game plan already. But what makes this here Berry a shocker is… wait for it… music keys. Last time we checked features like that were teen geek stuff and we don't know many teens are walking around with a BlackBerry in their pocket. Well, it's certainly going to be interesting to see how BlackBerry's attempt to woo this new demographic will turn out.
Key features
2.46" 65K-color TFT landscape display of QVGA resolution
Comfortable four-row full QWERTY keyboard
Quad-band GSM support, Wi-Fi connectivity
2 megapixel camera with fixed focus
512MHz CPU
BlackBerry OS v4.6 with responsive trackpad navigation
Hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
3.5 mm audio jack
Decent audio quality
Nice web browser
Office document editor
Smart dialing
Dedicated music keys
DivX and XviD video support
Main disadvantages
Many features are unusable without a BlackBerry Internet Service account (plan)
BlackBerry OS offers basic text-only submenus
Mediocre camera performance and features
No FM radio
No 3G support
No TV-out functionality
Music keys are stiff and unresponsive
No built-in GPS receiver
Back panel is a fingerprint magnet
Most of the software-related shortfalls in the list above are shared by all other BlackBerries out there. The hardware disadvantages boil down to features that the 8520 needed to skip to fit budget. After all, the fancy stuff is in the more expensive 8900 Curve and 9700 Bold. So if you're already ok with the 8520 Curve specs and you want to go for a BlackBerry device and service, you won't find anything substantial to complain about here.
Obviously it took a few sacrifices for the Curve 8520 to keep that price tag within limits. The magnificent screen was ruthlessly trimmed down to the run-of-the-mill QVGA resolution. On a second thought though, that only puts it on a par with the screens on the Nokia E71 and E72 and we don't see anyone complaining about them.
BlackBerry Curve 8520 studio shots
But how Blackberry and other makers define cheap are completely different things, so a commitment-free 8520 Curve fetches nearly the same as a Nokia E71. Now, that can't be too good for the BlackBerry, right - especially now that Nokia are offering their paid Push Messaging service in quite a lot of countries.
As we see it, the only way for the Curve 8520 to escape constant comparisons to its Nokia counterparts is to find some way to appeal to a wider market.
But frankly, we're a little skeptical whether one handset can convince the masses that BlackBerries are now as much about pleasure as they are about business. RIM have built a reputation on churning out no-nonsense corporate phones and it will take several more generations (and frankly, optimizations) for people to start seeing the company differently.
The Nokia X3 is our first glimpse into the new Xseries and we’re excited to see how things have changed since XpressMusic ran the show. And they have changed, the new angular look is a testament to that. The S40 on the inside has changed as well, throwing Ovi Store and basic multi-tasking into the mix.
Nokia X3 official photos
Currently the Xseries is composed of two completely different phones. The Nokia X6 is a touch phone running Symbian, and the X3 is an affordable Series 40 slider. It packs stereo speakers, excellent audio quality and a built-in FM radio antenna for a complete sonic experience. All right, we said affordable, so don’t go looking for top-notch gear beside the obvious full music package.
Nokia X3 introduces us to the Xseries
The Nokia X3 runs the Series 40 6th edition but it’s unlike any S40 handset we’ve seen before. For a brief, joyful moment, we thought Nokia have finally given in and added multitasking. The truth turned out to be different but still there were small steps taken in the right direction. And you should see what they’ve done with the Gallery – it’s only a notch bellow the S60 one.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and let’s take a look at the Nokia X3 pros and cons.
Key features
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
2.2" 262K color QVGA display
3.2 megapixel fixed focus camera
S40 user interface, 6th edition; rudimentary multitasking
Stereo FM radio with RDS; Built-in antena (so it plays on the loudspeakers even if you don’t plug the headset)
Stereo speakers
Standard 3.5mm audio jack
Up to 26 hours of music playback
Bluetooth (with A2DP) and microUSB port
microSD card slot (16 GB supported, 2GB included)
Rich preinstalled application package
Ovi Store, Ovi Maps and Ovi Share
Main disadvantages:
No 3G connectivity
Smallish display with poor viewing angles and sunlight legibility
Slider action has an unpleasant plastic-on-plastic friction
No accelerometer for screen auto rotation
S40 interface feels clunky and out of date
No true multitasking
No smart dialing or an office document viewer
A bunch of software bugs
Video recording maxes out at QCIF@15fps
The specs look like nothing to be excited about but a shortish feature list never tells the whole story. So, think before you go “Nah, it sounds lame”, because you’ll be wrong about sound. We spent several days with it and now we’re ready to tell you the story behind those specs, the good, the bad and the ugly, the whole thing.
More Nokia X3 photos
Do we have your interest? Good. Jump to the next page where we open the box and take a look at the Nokia X3. After the hardware inspection we’ll try to explain what the deal is with this multitasking-but-not-quite situation.
The Sony Ericsson may be green at heart but it sure looks like a red hot package complete with imaging, connectivity and novel design. Makers are keen to ride the green wave and phones are rushing to catch up. It seemed Sony Ericsson's GreenHeart had a slow start. But after a nice and easy rehash and the no-frills Naite, the GreenHeart is getting a speed boost with the Elm and the Hazel. Eco-friendly materials are combined with top-notch features and the already must-have social networking.
Sony Ericsson Elm official photos
The Elm is not the standard feature phone we've got used to seeing from Sony Ericsson. Its true power is well hidden inside and the exterior makes sure the Elm will take more than a casual look. This candybar packs all the connectivity you will ever need - Wi-Fi, DLNA, GPS receiver, Bluetooth, 3G support with HSPA and microSD card slot.
Still camera: 5 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, geo-tagging, face detection, smile detection
Video recording: VGA @ 30fps
Connectivity: Wi-Fi with DLNA, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, GPS receiver with A-GPS and Wisepilot trial
Misc: Splash-resistant body, accelerometer sensor for screen auto rotation, SensMe, Noise Shield, Clear Voice and Intelligent Volume Adaptation, social networking integration with homescreen Widget Manager, HD Voice Ready
Battery: 1000mAh BST-43 Li-Pol battery
Surely, the specs above reveal the Elm's intention to give you a square deal besides the eco-friendly factor. In this quick preview we'll be trying to look beyond the promises the Sony Ericsson Elm is making. The handset we have is far from mature software-wise but the hardware is all there and the finish looks good. The trademark Sony Ericsson Flash-based UI is at its usual best but some of the promised extras will obviously have to wait for a more final unit and a proper review.
The Facebook integration is no news since the C901, but the Elm is keen to bring more - Facebook, Twitter and MySpace all a click away on your homescreen, courtesy of a novel widget system.
Sony Ericsson Elm live shots
Since none of those are available on our test sample, we guess widgets and social networking will perhaps be the final touches to the Elm - and some of it will even be left to carriers themselves. But there's still enough stuff to check about an ambitious handset with a small environmental footprint and a long spec sheet.
Jump to the next page for more Sony Ericsson Elm live action.
Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus Showing Up At Verizon
PS3 Motion Controller
Apple Tablet
T-Mobile HTC HD2
