May 27, 2011

HTC Flyer Review: More Portable Than iPad

HTC Flyer 3G / WiFi HotSpot / GPS / 5MP / 7 Inch Tablet Device review: More Portable Than iPad, By Robert P. Seaton (Elmhurst, IL)
"_SPECS_
* 7" Screen (1024x600 resolution)
* 1.5GHz Processor
* 1GB RAM
* 32GB Internal Storage
* 5 Megapixel Camera
* 1.3 Megapixel Front-facing Camera
* Available with 3G
* GPS/Bluetooth/WiFi b/g/n

As far as hardware goes, the Flyer is definitely a bit on the heavy side when compared to my cousin's iPad. He complained about it, but it's not like you really notice how heavy it is when you use the device. Plus, the Flyer's screen is a lot smaller so I find it less awkward to hold with one hand. The heftiness actually makes the device feel more sturdy than the iPad. It's not that elegant, but more of a rugged device. Manly, if you will. Since it's only ~7", I can actually fit it in most of my pockets, something that you can't do with an iPad, so I think on that front it is more of a portable device. The Flyer also comes with a really nice case.

Like I said, the screen is smaller than that of the iPad, but larger than that of a phone. I think it strikes a good balance between being too large and too small. Web browsing on it is fantastic and it has flash support, unlike one of its competitors. ;) Unlike the cramped keyboard on my phone, typing on the Flyer is nice and easy with plenty of room. The tablet's autocorrect also seems to be smarter than on my Atrix, but I could be making that up. The Flyer is almost small enough that you can use it like you would a smartphone, but not quite. It's just a little too bulky.

The screen is really nice at 1024x600 resolution and great for watching movies. It's a lot brighter than my MacBook's screen and it's even pretty usable (gasp!) outside! The battery life is definitely a champ. One day my whole family was using it (HEAVY usage) and it easily lasted the whole day. Most days I can go about two or three days of regular use before I need to recharge it. You can even schedule it to sleep at set hours of the day to conserve even more battery life, so I have it set up to turn off the WiFi and stuff while I'm sleeping.

Altogether, I'm pretty happy with my Flyer, but there are a couple downside. The speakers, for example, are not very good, so you should definitely invest in a good pair of speakers. While I think the small(er) screen is an advantage, it might be a deal breaker for some folks. Also, the Android app store is pretty lacking when it comes to apps for tablets, and some apps don't use the entire screen, which is kind of annoying. The camera is also pretty bad, but the UI is definitely better than the other devices that I compared it to at Best Buy. The magic pen thing is also kind of cool, but I don't really use it that much."

May 25, 2011

Blackberry Playbook Review: What is everyone's problem?

Blackberry Playbook Review: What is everyone's problem? By D. Bannister (Calgary, Alberta Canada):
"I own the iPad 1. I like it. I don't love it. The apps are great. But it is large and cumbersome. It doesn't really multi-task. And I hate the way it handles email. I use a Blackberry Torch phone. I love the way it handles email. And the apps are very good. Fewer. But very good.

So it was with some trepidation and excitement I bought the Blackberry Playbook. The trepidation was because of the advanced reviews which universally panned it. I looked at it, held it, and bought it. And I will tell you it is one piece of stunning equipment.

May 20, 2011

Samsung B7510 Galaxy Pro

Samsung Galaxy Pro is a touchscreen smartphone with QWERTY keyboard in candybar form factor. It runs Android 2.2 Froyo and has 2.8" display, 3MP autofocus camera, 800MHz processor, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. Samsung Galaxy Pro's QWERTY keyboard is for professionals who want the tangible feedback of pushing buttons while typing but it also embraces the navigational and intuitive ease provided by a capacitive touch screen.

GALAXY Pro comes equipped with ThinkFree Office, so you can create, open and edit work documents from your mobile - no PC required! You also have access a varied portfolio of business applications from Android Market. A quick glance lets you check all your messages at once with the integrated inbox, while the integrated contact list lets you send a message to friends or work associates. The Integrated Calendar keeps your professional contacts close at hand. Stay on top of your game no matter where you are! With Android Market access, you can download from thousands of apps available. Make your mobile do what you want it to do! GALAXY Pro comes with a secure Wi-Fi connection provided by CCX (Cisco Compatible Extension), secure access to intranet through Virtual Private Network and device management and security solutions from Sybase Afaria to ensure high protection for business data.

May 18, 2011

LG P990 Optimus 2X Android phone

LG have started 2011 with a bang by introducing one of the most powerful Android phones we've ever seen. While other top end smartphones can only manage a single 1Ghz processor, the LG Optimus 2X up's the ante by including two 1 Ghz processor cores. This opens up LG Optimus 2X to a world of full HD (1080p) multimedia while the competition can only mange lower 720p video. Video clips recorded on the LG Optimus 2X is so good, you'd be hard pressed to tell they were recorded on a phone. Throw in 1080p HDMI out (for viewing movies on a HD TV) and DLNA support for wireless media streaming and the LG Optimus 2X has all the multimedia bases covered. The dual core processor not only makes the LG Optimus 2X amazing at multimedia but it lets it power though Android and apps with astonishing speed. There is virtually no lag or slowdown when your using the LG Optimus 2X. Everything its fast, smooth and slick no matter how hard you push it. Its a genuinely amazing handset that leapfrogs the competition and is the benchmark handset to beat.

May 5, 2011

Huawei Ideos S7 Slim Android Tablet

Huawei Ideos S7 Slim Android Tablet with flip-out kickstand, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, EDGE, 2+MP Camera, MP3 player, 3.5mm Jack, microSD card slot: The Huawei S7 Android tablet is a 7 inch touchscreen device with an 800 x 480 pixel capacitive display, and runs Google Android 2.1. The tablet has a 768MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 256MB of RAM, and a microSD card for storage. It supports 802.11b g n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and HSPA UMTS 3G connectivity.

Huawei Ideos S7 Slim Android Tablet Details:
* 7 inch Touch Screen, running Android 2.1 OS.
* 2 megapixel front facing camera.
* Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, WiFi 802.11n, HSPA UMTS.
* Li-ION battery 3.7V 2200mAh

May 3, 2011

Acer Iconia Tab A500-10S16u 10.1-Inch

Rethink how you go mobile with the Acer Iconia Tab A500, designed to maximize content enjoyment and to provide the same rich multimedia, gaming and web experience you can enjoy on your home PC with the added user-friendliness of the 10.1 inch multi-touch screen.
The Acer® Iconia Tab A500 is designed to maximize content enjoyment, providing a rich and vibrant experience on the user-friendly 10.1" multi-touch screen display with an astounding 1280 x 800 resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio, while the orientation-less design ensures optimal on-screen viewing from every angle - up and down or left to right.

The highly intuitive Android™ 3.0 Honeycomb™ operating system, specifically optimized for tablets, combined with Acer UI brings a whole new level of interactivity placing all resources at your fingertips. Simple touch operations enable quick and easy media playback and users can also scribble notes, create sketches, and have fun with intuitive touch games. In addition, the Android Market lets you choose from thousands of apps and games, making your Tab uniquely yours.

Acer Iconia Tab A500-10S16u 10.1-Inch Tablet Computer Features:
* Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system
* 10.1” HD Multi-Touch Display: (1280 x 800) resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio
* NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* NVIDIA® GeForce® GPU
* 1GB DDR2 Memory
* eMMC: 16GB on board
* MicroSD memory card up to 32GB
* Dolby® Mobile Technology
* 5MP Rear Facing Camerawith Auto Focus and single LED flash
* 2MP Front Facing Camera
* Dual Analog Microphone
* Dual Speaker
* 802.11b/g/n Wireless(802.11n 2.4GHz only)
* Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR
* Sensors:G-Sensor, E-Compass, L-Sensor, Gyro-meter
* 1- Micro USB 2.0 Port
* 1- USB 2.0 Port
* 1- Micro HDMI™ Out (support Dual Display)
* Rechargeable Lithium-ion polymer Battery
* Up to 8-hours battery life