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.
Palm Pre Plus and Palm Pixi Plus Showing Up At Verizon
