Archive for the ‘Cellphones’ Category
iPad 2 – thinner, lighter, and faster
March 4th, 2011 by adminApple has made its second-generation iPad official – the iPad 2 is here. It features a new design, it is lighter and packed with new features. Although it has the same 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD with 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, Apple says that is 33 percent thinner and up to 15 percent lighter than the original iPad, actually its 8.8mm thick as opposed to the 13.4mm iPad and weights 1.33 pounds (601 g).
iPad 2 is powered by Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor at 1GHz which Apple claims is up to twice as fast than the 1GHz A4 chip in the original iPad and having the same power consumption as the A4. The company also said that the iPad 2′s graphics performance is up to nine times better than on the original iPad.
The new tablet is also equipped with two cameras - a front-facing VGA camera for FaceTime and Photo Booth with 30fps recording function, and a rear-facing camera that captures 720p HD video with 30 frames per second with audio and 5x digital zoom. The new version come in 16, 32, and 64GB storage options, has 802.11 a/b/g/n(WiFi+3G models), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, 3-axis accelerometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass, assisted GPS and has a built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that promises up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music. It also offers built-in speaker, microphone, as well 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack, giving you convenience to hook up your favorite headphones or external speakers.
The iPad 2 is capable f 1080p Full HD HDMI output, but you have to purchase an optional Apple Digital AV Adapter that plugs into the standard Apple dock connector. This adapter will let you mirror your iPad screen on an HDTV and also will allow you to charge the tablet at the same time. It will set you back another $39.
Apple offers and new cover for the iPad 2, called Smart Cover which is designed with a self-aligning magnetic hinge that makes it easy to attach and remove, has a soft microfiber lining to help keep the screen clean, and provides protection for the iPad screen. It’s also automatically wakes iPad 2 when it’s opened puts it to sleep when it’s closed. The Smart Cover can also acts as a a stand for typing or viewing videos and is available in vibrant polyurethane for $39 or leather for $69 in a wide range of colors.
The iPad 2 comes with iOS 4.3 version pre-installed, that brings new features like updated Safari browser, FaceTime, iTunes Home Sharing, enhancements to AirPlay, Personal Hotspot to share an iPhone 4 cellular data connection over Wi-Fi and the choice to use the iPad side switch to either lock the screen rotation or mute audio.
The iPad 2 is available from March 11th in black or white with following prices:
- WiFi-only models – 16GB at $499 | 32GB at $599 | 64GB at $699
- WiFi+3G models – 16GB at $629 | 32GB at $729 | 64GB at $829
“With more than 15 million iPads sold, iPad has defined an entirely new category of mobile devices,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “While others have been scrambling to copy the first generation iPad, we’re launching iPad 2, which moves the bar far ahead of the competition and will likely cause them to go back to the drawing boards yet again.”
HTC Desire Gets (Unexciting) Software Update
June 12th, 2010 by adminThe hot HTC Desire is still proving very popular, and a new update over-the-air brings a host of new features – stopping short of the highly anticipated Android 2.2.
This 1.21.405.2 update (also coming to the HTC Legend) popped up at some time over the weekend, requiring the Desire to get a few nips and tucks under the bonnet rather than the full refurb that Google’s ‘Froyo’ update promises.
Details in the new HTC Desire update include the addition of a new Youtube application, with support for HQ videos, a new bootloader, and a new radio image.
Be still our beating heart!
Admittedly, these frequent fixes are testament to HTC’s ongoing passion for Android in their devices, and a good sign that our new handsets will remain futureproof for some time to come.
The real excitement surrounding Android 2.2 is the myriad of changes it’s been confirmed to be bringing to Google-powered phones – the ability to back up apps to an SD card spells the end of running out of space (almost), whilst the update promises greatly improved operating speed, tethering to turn your phone into a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot as well as full Flash video support for browsers.
With the iPhone’s newest model around the corner, expect to see Google fighting back with their 2.2 update in the immediate future, and it being highly likely that some cheap HTC Desire deals also cropping up around the same time.
Make no mistake, the Android vs. iPhone battle is continuing apace, and flagship handsets like the Desire are certain to be amongst the thick of it.
Sony Ericsson Dazzle With The Xperia X10 And Vivaz
March 18th, 2010 by adminSony Ericsson kicks off 2010 with two gorgeous new handsets – the Vivaz and Xperia X10, each of which were developed with design and functionality at the forefront of the manufacturer’s mind.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10
The Xperia X10 is Sony Ericsson’s first Android smartphone and when it debuted at last month’s Mobile World Congress, everyone was keen to see how the Swedish manufacturer had adapted the open-sourced software to reflect Sony Ericsson values.
Delays to release mean that The Xperia X10 is running a slightlhy older version of the operating system, nevertheless, Sony Ericsson have made a highly customised skin for the platform which offers a unique user experience that engages with the user.
The two signature applications for the Xperia X10 are Timescape and Mediascape: Timescape is about blending you social communications into one rich graphical stream: view all your Facebook updates, emails and text messages in one place. Similarly, Mediascape offers quick access to your all photos, music and videos in one place. See below for a demonstration video:
Also shown at MWC were the X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro smartphones. As you’d expect – the X10 Mini is a smaller version of the X10 with cut-down specs and a mid-range price tag. The X10 Mini Pro meanwhile throws in a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 deals.
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Sony Ericsson Vivaz
Debuting at the same time as the X10, was the Sony Ericsson Vivaz (formerly known as the Kurara).
The Vivaz is Sony’s high-end feature phone and it guarantees intuitive access to all your music, games and applications at top speeds with enhanced 3G and Wifi.
The centre-piece on the Vivaz is it’s massive 8.1 million pixel camera – which is the ideal tool for capturing life’s brightest moments in glorious HD. The gorgeous 3.2” screen then lets you display your images at WVGA quality across 640 x 340 pixels.
Social networking is also made incredibly easy – with integration of all your favourite social sites- Facebook, Twitter, Myspace etc.
The Vivaz is also a beautiful handset and it’s “human curvature” styling is meant to ergonomically reflect the human form. Going forward this design will be a distinguishing feature on all Sony Ericsson’s entire handset portfolio.
The Vivaz is available in a range of seductive colours – Venus Red, Galaxy Blue, Moon Silver and Cosmic Black.
Keep your eyes open for equally attractive Sony Ericsson Vivaz deals.
Consumers Having to Compare iPhone Deals on Anything But Price
March 3rd, 2010 by admin 
Looking for a decent deal on your mobile phone is a tricky task at the best of times, but with everyone scrambling for a piece of the Apple pie iPhone contracts seem fixed within some very rigid parameters.
The problem is that, demand for the iconic device is so high that Apple can afford to keep the price of it’s handsets high when selling to the carriers, who in turn make their profits on sheer sales volume.
O2 was the first network to carry the iPhone on it’s UK launch, way back in November of 2007 and for two years it remained the sole carrier of iPhone in the UK.
Hopes for a fall in the price of iPhone contracts were then pinned on Orange iPhone Deals, which were announced toward the end of 2009. However consumers, expectant of a drop in price to result from the increase in competition, were again disappointed.
Even wheniPhone’s third UK carrier, Vodafone pitched in with their own Vodafone iPhone deals this January, the price situation remained the same.
So, what’s a customer to do?
In the absence of any price war, it seems that consumers have had to choose a network according to other non-price criteria, for instance data policy or 3G coverage.
So how do the major networks’ iPhone deals measure up on non-price factors?
O2’s 3G network coverage has been notoriously patchy, so Orange and Vodafone are now keen to stress their superiority in that field – previously Orange have claimed to have the best coverage. For their part, Vodafone now advertise a ‘Sure Signal’ service which allows customers to boost the signal in their home.
Meanwhile, it turns out that so-called ‘Unlimited Internet’ deals are not the passes for unlimited internet access that they purported to be. Orange stipulates a 750MB monthly limit before they start asking questions. Vodafone, by comparison allows a more reasonable 1MB per month.
So it’s vital to bear in mind how heavy your data usage is likely to be – or you could end up with an unexpectedly large phone bill.
Lastly, contract length is an important consideration: Networks now offer 24 month contracts with slightly lower monthly costs, however considering that updates to the product come about every 6 months, being tied down to an older model for 25% longer than a 18 month contract might prove painful if you’re the sort of gadget freak who has to have the latest model.
Is the price situation going to improve for UK deal-seekers?
Most probably not. Considering the unwavering demand for Apple products it’s unlikely that prices for any Apple products are going to take a dip. And going forward you can expect the situation to prevail for future apple products too – for instance iPad and the next iteration of the iPhone (iPhone 4g) when they arrive in the UK later this year.
COOL N900 Best Of Nokia N900 Clone Phone
February 10th, 2010 by admin
What you see above is not the real Nokia N900, it’s COOL N900, probably the best Nokia N900 clone. The clone looks exactly the same as the real one having a 3.2-inch touchscreen, dual camera and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It even has a S60-like UI.
Additional features that the Nokia N900 doesn’t have are its FM tuner, dual sim slots, TV receiver and priced at 750 Chinese Yuan.
[m8cool]