Samsung Wave Review Posted by Rida Kamran on 9:17 AM

The Samsung Wave, which is the first outing for Samsung’s very own Bada OS, features some impressive specs – a super AMOLED screen, 1GHz processor and a slim design – but is it actually any good and, more importantly, does it have what it substance to take on the likes of mid-range Android, RIM and Symbian devices?

On first inspection, the Samsung Wave is clearly of the highest quality. It’s slim, light in the hand and has a beautiful super AMOLED screen, which even looks impressive when the device is switched off. In addition to this, the Samsung Wave feels sturdy in the hand and really looks the part with its polished metallic body – basically, the Samsung Wave is quite a looker.

And once you power it up, that Super AMOLED screen jumps to life – and, believe us, it is quite a sight to behold. The Wave’s 3.3-inch 480 x 800 pixel touchscreen is both crisp and vibrant displaying colours and details in the highest quality. So much so, in fact, that the Wave could easily give some high-end devices – such as the Nexus One – a serious run for their money.

As we all know, a lot of mid-range touchscreen devices lack the tactility of their higher-end counterparts – and, as a rule, Samsung is usually no exception to this law.

Fortunately, with the Wave, it really is a different story.

Samsung has really out done itself with regards to the touchscreen interface on the Wave – it’s responsive, tactile and seemingly flawless. For instance, if you compared it to the touchscreen fluidity of a device like the HTC Hero, there really is no comparison – and the Hero, in many respects, is generally considered a better device.

However, the Samsung Wave is not perfect. For starters, it is very difficult to get your head around how it actually works at first and, while the UI might be reasonably tight, there’s no video introduction like the one you get on HTC devices and you’re pretty much left to figure it out for yourself.

There are some very cool aspects to the Wave though. For example, there are two home screen modes: The first, features five home screens where live widgets, such as the FT and The Register can be stored. The second is similar to a generic menu, but just laid out over an additional three home screens and features things like Twitter, Facebook, Address Book, Email and Settings etc.Switching between the two “screen modes” is very simple, you simply press the Wave’s main button, which is located in between the Call and End-Call button.

We did like this feature of the Wave, but, again, it did take us quite some time to figure it out, which was quite annoying – so, if you’re thinking of getting this device, it might be worth checking out our user guides for the Samsung Wave first, which will be on the site prior to the device's launch.

Motorola Droid X (Verizon Wireless): Posted by Rida Kamran on 8:17 AM

Motorola and Verizon  aren't afraid to go after the competition, whether it be blatantly calling out a certain phone in TV ads or introducing a pretty killer device right before the launch of another. However, when you're introducing devices like the Motorola Droid X, we can see why they would be so bold.

The Droid X is the latest member to join Verizon's army, and just like the original Droid before it, it's a beast, but in a good way. The smartphone rocks a brilliant 4.3-inch touch screen and offers some great multimedia features, including an 8-megapixel camera with HD video capture, HDMI output, and DLNA support. However, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that it does lack some features that the similar-looking HTC Evo 4G has, such as a front-facing camera and, of course, 4G support.

Design:
Motorola and Verizon definitely like to go big with their Android devices, first with the Motorola Droid and now with the Droid X. Measuring 5 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by 0.4 inch thick and 5.47 ounces, it's a hair taller than the HTC Evo 4G, but also slightly thinner and lighter. We were actually surprised at how light the phone felt in the hand, but at that size, one-handed operation is a bit tough if you have smaller hands. It also makes for a tight squeeze in a pants pocket, but without a slide-out keyboard like the Droid's, it's doesn't feel quite as bulky. There is a slight bump on back where the camera and flash are housed, though we didn't find it to be too much of a nuisance. The backside also has a nice soft-touch finish, and the Droid X feels like a solid handset overall.

User interface:
The Motorola Droid X will ship running Android 2.1 with a revised version of Motoblur software. The latter looks nothing like what we've seen on the Motorola Cliq and Backflip. You still get widgets for your social networking updates, weather, photo gallery, and favorite contacts, but they no longer take up huge chunks of space on your home screen, and you can even resize the widgets. It makes for a much cleaner experience, and you don't feel overwhelmed by all the information.

HTC Aria Posted by Rida Kamran on 8:27 AM

HTC Hero and the US version of the Legend, the HTC Aria ($130 with a two-year contract from AT&T; price as of 6/14/10) is the second Android phone to land on AT&T. While it doesn't have the beefy specs of the HTC Droid Incredible (on Verizon) or the HTC EVO 4G (on Sprint), the Aria should satisfy AT&T customers holding out for a full-featured Android device.

Solid, Yet Elegant Design

From the moment you first pick it up, you can tell that the Aria is a solidly designed phone. While the phone looks more or less like your typical HTC-designed phone, there are a few subtle, unique design elements. There are four holes in each corner of the soft rubberdized back, exposing the alloy-finished fasteners that hold the Aria together. Like the Droid Incredible's fire engine red innards, both the Aria's battery and plastic internal structure are brightly unicolored--this time in mustard yellow. Hardware-wise, it is practically identical to the Legend with the same display, battery, processor and camera. The only difference is the lack of a camera flash.

Like RIM, with its most recent BlackBerry models, HTC made the switch to an optical trackpad rather than a physical trackball. This is a welcome update as trackballs tend to get dirty or fall out. I found the trackpad nicely responsive as I quickly scrolled through the Aria's menus. I don't usually rely on trackpads/trackballs for navigation, but it is a useful alternative.

HTC Pure and HTC Tilt 2: Posted by Rida Kamran on 1:31 AM

AT&T has announced two Windows Mobile 6.5 phones with WVGA (800 x 480 pixel) displays, enhanced TouchFlo 3D software, and touch-sensitive "zoom bars." The HTC Pure and HTC Tilt 2 include 528MHz processors, dual cameras, GPS, WiFi, FM receivers, and ambient light sensors, according to the carrier.

While they're among the first Windows Mobile 6.5 phones to hit the market, the HTC Pure and HTC Tilt 2 appear to be revamped versions of devices first released by HTC internationally back in February. Though it has a new plastic casing, the Pure (below left) equates to the earlier Touch Diamond2, while the Tilt 2 (below right) equates to the Touch Pro2 -- already released by T-Mobile USA, Sprint, and Verizon. 

The HTC Pure includes a 3.2-inch screen with 800 x 480 resolution, a touch-sensitive "zoom bar," and a five-megapixel camera with autofocus (the secondary videoconferencing camera found on the international Touch Diamond2 is AWOL, however). Also cited by AT&T are the phone's "expandable memory," ambient light sensor, and gravity sensor.

Though detailed specifications were not released by AT&T, the HTC Pure likely retains the Diamond2's quad-band GSM capabilities, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The phone also includes the latest version of HTC's homegrown software stack, TouchFLO 3D, and a customized version of the Opera Mobile 9.5 web browser.

Features and specifications listed by AT&T for the Pure (or HTC for the Touch Diamond2) include:

Processor -- Qualcomm MDM7200A clocked at 528MHz

Memory -- 288MB of RAM and 512MB of flash storage

Display -- 3.2-inch screen with WVGA resolution (800 x 480 pixels)

Cameras -- 5 megapixel main camera

Wireless:

WAN -- Quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) GSM/GPRS/EDGE and 850/900/2100MHz HSDPA

LAN -- 802.11b/g wireless

PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0

GPS

FM radio (on Touch Diamond2, but may not be present on Pure)

Other I/O:

HTC ExtUSB (mini-USB connector, also providing headphone output)

Expansion -- microSD slot

Battery -- 1150mAh lithium-ion battery

Dimensions -- n/s by AT&T, but Touch Diamond2 measures 4.25 x 2.09 x 0.54 inches (108 x 53.1 x 13.7mm)

Weight -- n/s by AT&T, but Touch Diamond2 weighs 4.15 ounces (111.5g)

HTC Tilt 2

AT&T's HTC Tilt 2 includes most of the same hardware and software as the HTC Pure, but its WVGA screen is 3.6 inches, while its main camera offers 3.2 megapixel resolution. The device sports a QWERTY keyboard that slides out at an angle, making the phone resemble a miniature laptop computer, plus a speakerphone employing dual microphones and HTC's "Straight Talk" technology. Also included is a battery that offers an uprated, 1500mAh capacity.

Features and specifications listed by AT&T for the Tilt 2, or by HTC for the Touch Pro2, include:

Processor -- Qualcomm MDM7200A clocked at 528MHz

Memory -- 288MB of RAM and 512MB of flash storage

Display -- 3.6-inch screen with WVGA resolution (800 x 480 pixels)

Cameras -- 3.2 megapixel main camera (VGA-resolution secondary camera does not appear to be on the Tilt 2)

Wireless:

WAN -- Quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz) GSM/GPRS/EDGE and 850/900/2100MHz HSDPA

LAN -- 802.11b/g wireless

PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0

GPS

FM radio (on Touch Pro2, but not confirmed for Tilt 2)

Other I/O:

HTC ExtUSB (mini-USB connector, also providing headphone output)

Expansion -- microSD slot

Battery type -- 1500mAh

Dimensions -- 4.57 x 2.33 x 0.68 inches (116 x 59.2 x 17.25mm)

Weight -- 6.17 ounces (175.5g)

Further information

According to AT&T, the Pure is available now for approximately $150, following a two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate. The Tilt 2 will be available "in the following weeks" for approximately $300 following rebate and service agreement, the company adds.

Nexus One Review Posted by Rida Kamran on 8:48 AM

Google seems to have outdone themselves once again, this time though, with a cell phone. The Nexus One is the first phone using Android 2.1 and has given Google quite a name in the cell phone industry. This smartphone complements the Android family very nicely and you could even go as far as saying its intensity amplifies the family, and makes it a strong competitor against the Apple iPhone and the Droid Incredible.

Design: 

This phone is beautiful. Actually, this phone is more than that; it’s a wonder and is stunning. The screen is an outpour of 16.7 million colors and the 800 x 400-pixel display makes it a sensation. The Nexus is the same size as the HTC Hero and HTC Droid Eris, but unlike the Droid, the Nexus has a trackball. This is a great navigation tool for the phone but also can be used for its color-based notifications that lets you know if you received a new email, text message or phone call without turning on the screen. Similar to the iPhone, the Nexus One lacks a physical keyboard and all typing is solely done using an on-screen keyboard. But the on-screen keys aren’t anything to complain about, as they respond well to the user. Google knew what they were doing with the Nexus’s design and left you with four buttons, laid out exactly as the Droid, which makes navigation throughout the phone easier. These include the back, home, menu and search keys.

Multimedia: 

A huge addition to the Nexus One is the camera which is leaps and bounds ahead of most android phone cameras. The 5MP (Mega-pixel) camera includes 2x digital zoom, LED flash and the option to tag the location of the photos from the phone’s AGPS receiver. Other features include white balance and color effect controls, autofocus, infinity focus and three quality settings so those quick candid moments become crisp and clear photos. And still shots aren’t the only thing this Google smartphone excels at. Up to thirty minutes of video can be shot in a 720 x 480-pixel resolution and a gallery application allows photos to be arranged and displayed in a grid format for easy viewing.

The media player in the Nexus One isn’t great, but it certainly isn’t terrible. It is a basic player with the basic features: playlist options, shuffle modes, repeat and the option to add music from the Amazon MP3 Store. However the phone does offer up to 20 hours of audio playback. That will keep you pre-occupied for quite some time.

Call Features/Quality: 

Aside from all the neat stuff the phone offers, this is a phone, and the call quality of this cellular device should be mentioned. The phone has a strong enough battery that allows for up to seven hours of continuous talk time in a 3G network and ten hours in 2G. But one of the neatest features dealing with call quality on the Google Nexus One is its noise cancelling technology. Two microphones are placed on the phone, one to capture your voice and the other to capture the background noise. This reduction of the background noise makes your phone call clear and makes the main function of the phone, using it to talk to others, that much better.

Memory/Storage: 

Storage is not a problem with this phone. With a 4GB Micro SD Card in the phone, there is still room to expand to 32GB, which is the same amount of memory found in the Apple iPhone. No contacts, pictures or music will need to ever be deleted with that much room found on the cellular device. The Qualcomm QSD 8250 1 GHZ processor is also a blessing, as it speeds things right along and saves you time finishing your long to-do list.

Palm Pre Review: Posted by Rida Kamran on 7:45 AM

The name Palm was virtually synonymous with PDAs not too many years ago. But when PDAs gave way to the more versatile smartphones, Palm was left behind by the likes of BlackBerry and the Apple iPhone. While they continued to make some pretty good devices, the legacy Palm OS didn’t get much attention so their entry level Centro phones quickly became outdated. Palm chose to use Windows Mobile as the operating system for their higher end, business oriented Treo smartphones but that eliminated the uniqueness that they had enjoyed by making both the software as well as the hardware and the Treo became just another WinMo phone.

Design: 

The Palm Pre is an attractive package that is dominated by its 3.1-inch, diagonal measure, touch screen. Yes, that’s a bit smaller than that of the trend setting Apple iPhone 3GS but its 320x480 HVGA resolution provides a superior image. The screen features multitouch technology so you can pinch and pull images to zoom in or out. Applications, in the form of cards, can be easily scrolled or flicked out of the way to close them and email can be deleted simply by swiping it from left to right.

Unlike many touch screens, a virtual keyboard isn’t an option so the phone slides open giving access to a physical keyboard. In general we’re in favor of such keyboards for typing but this one is something of a disappointment, particularly because it’s too cramped.

Multimedia: 

Our favorite aspect of the Palm Pre is the webOS and the way it allows for integrating applications with the web and in particular, a system called Synergy. This Palm exclusive allows for the sharing of information between such applications as MS Outlook, Facebook, Google and Google Talk, AIM, Yahoo! Mail and LinkedIn. Contact information in one application is shared so that all your data can be available in one consolidated place – though there is an option to keep it separate if you prefer. This makes searching for information quick and thorough independent of the application in which it may be stored. It also allows for switching a conversation from application to another seamlessly. For example, a conversation can be started using AIM and then changed to text messaging in a single, continuous display.

The other top feature is the Pre’s ability to multitask. Open applications display as a Deck of Cards that you can scroll through to interact with the one you want and simply tap it. There’s no need to close one application to use another one as is required with the iPhone and many others. When you are ready to close an application, just flick the card and it’s gone. It’s not the only multitasking smartphone – BlackBerries do it nicely – but the user interface is makes it particularly practical.

HTC Droid Incredible Posted by Rida Kamran on 7:25 AM

                                                  

Overall Rating

We live in a world where time does not slow down. As a busy person you need something to help you keep pace with your fast-paced life, and the HTC Droid Incredible does just that. With a simple design, amazing screen and a good camera, the Droid Incredible is giving other Smartphones, such as the Nexus One and the Apple iPhone, a run for their money. It places near the top when considering a new smartphone. For a side-by-side comparison and objective reviews.

Design: 

The Droid Incredible really is, as the name says, incredible. HTC has been producing very solid phones for a few years now. With a design similar to other smartphones, this HTC device is an attractive phone. With a 480 x 800-pixel display, the colors will pop and bring a whole new world to the palm of your hand. Designed with a 3.7 inch screen, the Incredible has a much larger display than the Apple iPhone and is the same size as Google’s Nexus One. However, when comparing the Incredible to the Google smartphone, the Droid is chunkier and more difficult to hold in one’s hand. They are similar with very little difference, but the Nexus One contains a more sleek and fluid design.

This HTC phone has an optical joystick which is used to navigate on the phone instead of a trackball. Four small buttons, home, menu, back and search, are found on the front of the phone but these are so small that the touch screen is used for almost everything.

Multimedia: 

Outdoing most other smartphones, the Droid Incredible features an 8MP camera and dual LED flash. For a phone camera, that's impressive. And this camera doesn’t stop there. The camera features built-in editing so you can edit your photos directly on your phone. The photo gallery is new and unique on the Incredible and can be opened in either a timeline or a grid. Even video can be captured at 640 x 480 pixels, which means it will look sharp and you will be proud to call the video footage your own.