Mobile phones are marvellous little compact slabs of technology, but for some it seems, a phone is just isn't handy enough. Enter Sony's SmartWatch, designed to connect to your Android phone via Bluetooth and deliver a wealth of functionality from your wrist including music controls, messaging and social networking updates.
Design
It's a neat little 36mm square with a flip clip at the back that attaches it to the supplied silicone strap which is available in a variety of colours. It makes for a secure fit and slots in and out neatly without any hassle or you can do without the strap altogether and clip it to your lapel. You connect it to your PC via the supplied USB cable which features a proprietary connection to the watch.
The default display is a digital clock but when you press the single button at the side you're presented with four programmable shortcut options: music, Twitter/Facebook, messaging and weather, all of which you can access while your phone is safely tucked away in pocket or bag. Incidentally, there's a growing number of apps available for it as well, including the ability to see the view from your phone's camera -- terrific for Mission Impossible-style remote spying. So long as you don't break the Bluetooth connection by moving more than 10m from your phone, that is.
Features and performance
It's small, but the pin-sharp 1.3-inch OLED display is startlingly clear, and the screen supports multitouch. It connects using Bluetooth 3.0 and vibrates when you receive a call -- it will also show you who's calling so you can decide whether or not you want to take it. It's intended for use with Sony (Ericsson's) Xperia phones, but it should also be compatible with other Bluetooth-enabled Android handsets from Samsung, HTC and Motorola -- best to road test it with your phone before you buy though.
It's certainly a lot easier to control your music playback while you're on the move than fiddling with your phone. The obvious audience for the SmartWatch is the sporty type who wants to keep up on their social networking while (literally) on the run. But the whole concept has a bit of an issue, in that when you're jogging, say, you tend to be moving around, and hitting the right button on such a small surface isn't always easy peasy, even with a touch screen as responsive as this. Likewise reading messages -- you can see them, but they're much easier to read when you stop moving, which rather seems to be missing the point.
Battery-wise it kept going for a good few days of occasional use, so it should be perfectly fine if you charging it between workouts, even long ones.
Vodafone's new own-brand blower, the Smart 2, is out today, costing just £70 on pay as you go.
Those looking for a high-falutin' quad-core smart phone should move swiftly along, as the wallet-friendly Smart 2 caters for those looking for more affordable Android kicks.
Powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Smart 2 has a snug 3.2-inch display, and is 12.35mm thick, meaning it's rather chunky. This pebble-shaped smart phone comes in grey or white options, and has a modest 150MB of internal memory, so you'll need to use a microSD card to bump up the capacity. The good news is there's one included in the box.
Around the back of the Smart 2 there's a 3.2-megapixel camera, which is unlikely to capture award-winning snaps, but should prove capable when it comes to snapping your buddies' boozy antics.
If anything's likely to betray the Smart 2's budget chops it's the low resolution 320x480-pixel display, which means web browsing will feel a bit cramped. The 800MHz processor probably won't be up to powering brand-new apps, either.
The Smart 2 follows on (as you may have guessed) from last year's Vodafone Smart, which had a less powerful processor, 2.8-inch screen and ran an older version of Android.
Thanks to the merry march of progress, the Smart 2 is shaping up to be much more capable. If you've got a little extra moolah (and don't mind your networks citrus-hued instead of scarlet), you might want to examine the recently renamed Orange San Diego, which will be going on sale on 6 June for £200 on pay as you go.
Sony's crafted a brand-new Android smart phone capable of surviving an accidental dive into your pint. The Xperia Go is a 3.5-inch, dust-fighting rugged phone that Sony reckons is ideal for outdoorsy types.
Whether you're scaling Everest or drunkenly stumbling into a lamppost while texting, the Xperia Go has been built to resist life's untoward elements. You get a scratch-resistant screen, and what Sony calls the "highest water and dust resistance of any smart phone".
That means that like the Motorola Defy, the 9.8mm-thick Xperia Go should avoid shattering into a million pieces if you so much as look at it the wrong way. Its resistance rating is IP67, which means it offers total dust ingress protection, and is okay with water immersion between 15cm and 1m depth.
The rough-and-ready build is the selling point here, as apart from doubling as a dog's chew-toy, the specifications on offer are rather modest. The 3.5-inch display has a resolution of just 320x480 pixels, meaning it won't be the best phone out there for web browsing, while the camera boasts a strictly ordinary 5-megapixel resolution.
The Xperia Go is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, which isn't particularly snappy in these quad-core times, while the Go will launch running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Sony swears it's 'upgradeable' to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but that's no guarantee that an update will be incoming any time soon.
There's no word yet on when the Xperia Go will actually be released, but it's confirmed to be flaunting a range of colours, coming in black, white or yellow. As far as pricing goes, nothing has been confirmed, but with modest specs, I wouldn't expect this mid-range mobile to break the bank.
Sony has also unveiled a higher-spec water-fighting smart phone, the Sony Xperia Acro S. But Sony tells me that particular phone won't be coming out in the UK.
Would you like a sturdier smart phone? Let me know in the comments or on our Facebook wall, then relax with this daft promo video for the Xperia Go, which sees young professional types being clumsy with the phone while cooking a healthy meal.
Occurring during the "Great Airship" wave of the late 1800s, the legend of a UFO crash and a dead alien have survived over a century of debate. Allegedly, the dead alien pilot is buried in the local cemetery. The story of the crash was related by local newspapers, the UPI, and AP. The city received "historical site" status because of the incident . 1941-The Missouri UFO Crash Retrieval
Brought to public knowledge by UFO investigator Leo Stringfield, from an account by Charlette Mann. Mann related the story of her grandfather Reverend William Huffman, who claimed to have been called to the scene of a crashed UFO with dead aliens outside of town.
1947-The Roswell, New Mexico UFO Crash
The most famous UFO case of all occurred near Corona, Mexico. Rancher Mac Brazel found strange crash debris on his morning rounds, and reported his find to local radio station. Soon, the military from Roswell AFB was involved, and issued a press statement that the Air Force had captured a UFO.
1967-UFO Crash at Shag Harbor, Nova Scotia
Eyewitnesses see several unknown objects in the sky, and soon they crash into the seas of Shag Harbor. Rescue workers, fearing a plane crash, rush to the area, only to find bright, yellow foam on the ocean. Several days of search find nothing. Investigators believe the object, still intact has left the area.
1948-UFO Crash at Aztec, New Mexico
Author Frank Scully described the Aztec crash as that of a craft which was measured at exactly 99.99 feet in diameter, covered by a material which resembled a light weight, shiny metal that possessed incredible strength and durability. It seems that nothing on this earth could penetrate or damage the hull of this craft from another world.
1953-UFO Crash in Arizona
The eyewitness was working for a company that had a government contract at a nuclear site in Nevada. He was summoned by his boss on 5-21-53, and sent on a "secret" assignment. Arriving at their secret destination, two military light-alls illuminated a surreal scene in the late night, pre-dawn skies of the desert. The engineer was amazed to see a disc-shaped craft embedded in the sand.
1965-The Kecksburg, Pennsylvania Crash
On December 5, 1965, something came from the skies of Canada, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, finally crashing into the woods near the town of Kecksburg. Frances Kalp was the closest to the crash, and reported it to the local radio station. Soon, Pennsylvania state police and U.S. military took over the investigation.
We all know that regularly using sunscreen is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer. Unfortunately, many people make mistakes when it comes to wearing sunscreen. Properly applying sunscreen and following manufacturer instructions are key to maximum protection.
Common Sunscreen Mistakes 1 .Applying sunscreen AFTER going outdoors. Sunscreen needs to be applied 15 to 30 minutes BEFORE going outside to give it time to be absorbed into the skin. Follow manufacturer's instructions for absorption time, which is typically up to 30 minutes before heading outside.
2. Not applying enough sunscreen. Experts recommend that an adult should use about 1 ounce of sunscreen for adequate coverage. Remember that all body parts that will be exposed to the sun need to be protected. Most people forget to apply sunscreen to their face, ears, neck and feet.
3. Not reapplying after swimming or sweating. Sunscreen that is not labeled "waterproof" or "water resistant" does come off while you're in the water or sweating. Even waterproof and water-resistant sunscreen provide a limited window of protection. Check the product label to learn how often to reapply iat. Most provide between 45 minutes to 2 hours of coverage.
4. Not reapplying sunscreen at all. Many people have the misconception that one application of sunscreen will provide all-day protection. Not true. Sunscreen generally needs to be reapplied every two hours or after exercise or water activity. Check the label for specific instructions
5.Using sunscreen only when it is sunny. Sunscreen needs to be used on both sunny and cloudy days. Harmful UV rays can still affect people when it's cloudy. It's important to keep in mind that all people are at risk of skin damage caused by the sun's harmful UV rays, so it is crucial to wear sunscreen regardless of your skin tone or ethnicity
Source:
Skin Cancer Prevention". What You Need to Know About Skin Cancer. National Cancer Institute. 01 Aug 2005. Accessed 25 June 2008.
As we anticipate the eventual unveiling of Apple's next iPhone, the rumor mill is churning out reports at a rapid clip. This time around, two Apple-tracking blogs have published pictures that they claim might be showing off the new iPhone.
The fun started recently when 9to5Mac, along with repair company iFixYourI, published photos of a new part from a Chinese supplier. The part appears to be the back plate for an iPhone featuring an aluminum piece. In addition, the back plate features a smaller dock connector than the one found in Apple's other products.
9to5Mac's findings follow several reports that have cropped up over the last several months suggesting Apple might bring back aluminum to its iPhone. Back in December, Boy Genius Report said, citing "a close source," that the next iPhone would come with a mix of aluminum and a "rubber or plastic material" flanking it. The images from 9to5Mac seem to show the same.
The smaller dock connector follows a host of reports saying Apple is reducing the size of the port on its mobile products.
Not to be outdone, Apple rumors site MacRumors published its own set of photos of what the blog suggests might be the next iPhone. Those images, which come from another repair firm, uBreakiFix, show the same aluminum part surrounded by a white casing. The blog also published a picture from another site, Sw-Box, showing a new iPhone part with the headphone jack at the bottom of the device, rather than the top.
Announced last week in London, the Galaxy S III is Samsung's latest flagship smartphone and the much-anticipated successor to the popular Galaxy S II. The third-generation S series handset comes with a new design that's reminiscent of the Galaxy Nexus, while retaining a few tweaks such as the Home Button and physical menu keys from the Galaxy S II.
The handset also differentitates itself from other current high-end Android smartphones such as the HTC One X with a removable 2,100mAh battery as well as a microSD card slot for more storage. While some may feel that the handset design isn't exactly "new", Samsung has added a few things to refresh the appearance of the phone. Here are five things you may not know about the Galaxy S III.
Avoiding legal battles
Android Police has a very interesting article on the S III's design. Specifically, the article points out that Samsung wants to avoid getting its handset banned in countries where it is facing legal issues with Apple.
The article highlights certain features, such as the non-symmetrical top and bottom and the lack of the curved square edges present in the S III as evidence for its claims. It all sounds very believable when you think about it.
Where's my Recent Apps?
The menu button doesn't call out Ice Cream Sandwich's Recent Apps--instead, it defaults to Gingerbread's menu button. This is not something we're particularly fond of, though Samsung's not the only guilty party. LG did the same thing with its ICS handsets, and we feel it doesn't really match Google's ICS design guidelines. Samsung could have made TouchWiz more ICS-like by doing what HTC did with its Sense UI and enhanced the Recent Apps menu instead
Corning Gorilla Glass 2
Despite its plastic build, the Samsung Galaxy S III comes equipped with Corning's second-generation Gorilla Glass. The S III's slim profile is partly due to the use of Gorilla Glass 2, which is 20 percent thinner (at 0.8mm) than the original Gorilla Glass. Despite the reduction in depth, the glass is touted to retain the same strength as its predecessor, which means it will not crack or break as easily as normal glass
Face and voice unlock
ICS introduced Face Unlock, a feature where you can use your face to unlock the handset. It's not foolproof though, as we managed to unlock the device using a photo. Samsung has added another layer of security through a voice recognition feature. In theory, this should make it much harder for someone to unlock your handset, though we are guessing that this may not work too well in noisy environments.
If you don’t have a Netflix account, this app won’t pertain to you much, but since that seems to be a minority of folks these days, we’ve added the movie-and-television giant to our list. Users can manage accounts, add items to a queue, or stream shows or movies that are available via Instant Watch. Streaming can be a bit much for the 3G connection we were working with, but if you have a Wi-Fi connection you shouldn’t have any problems. With a good connection and a device with a good-size screen, you’ll have a pretty solid streaming experience.
Google Music isn’t bad for uploading your catalog, but buying music on it isn’t wise because it only allows you to download a song twice (forever). AmazonMP3 is nice because every track you purchase from Amazon is auto saved to the cloud and accessible from any device. More importantly though, you can download MP3s of any track on as many devices as you want as many times as you want. When you buy music from Amazon, you actually own it.
The Spofity Android apps allows premium Spotify users to take their streaming experience on the road. You can stream any music from the service including your own playlists, but if you are worried about using up too much data, you can also make them available offline, allowing you to listen to them without needing an Internet connection.
Depending on your TV and/or Internet provider, this handy app will let you stream ESPN networks directly through your phone. This app won’t work for everyone, but those who can get it to work will no doubt love being able to stream ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU through their Android devices. For it to work, you must have cable with Brighthouse Networks, Time Warner Cable, or Verizon FiOS TV; Comcast is notably not included. If you don’t have TV with those networks but have Verizon FiOS Internet, you’ll have access to ESPN3 only. With access, users can live stream all the important sports games of the year plus watch live analysis on shows like SportsCenter, Mike & Mike, and SportsNation.
Our favorite streaming music app for every platform delivers customizable radio complete with album art and a rating system that lets you fine tune every station to your liking. Unlike the iPhone version, the Android version also lets you multitask while you listen.
If you are an HBO subscriber, the HBO GO app is essential. Not only are you able to watch the latest episodes of your favorite shows, but you can also watch the entire back library of HBO content. You can catch up on your favorite show before the next season premier.
If you don’t have a Kindle, fret not. Amazon would still like to sell you books through your Android device. Download the app and you can browse and buy from over 900,000 books in the store. Perhaps the best feature, however, is that the app will automatically sync your last read page, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across devices. If you do have a Kindle, this means that you can seamlessly transition from your reader to your phone if you want to carry a lighter load that day.
Not so awfully long after it announced its US$1 billion plan to purchase Instagram, Facebook today released a photo-sharing app of its own, Facebook Camera.
Currently available only for iOS devices, Facebook Camera allows users to shoot, edit, filter, and share photos to Facebook without ever leaving the app.
Features include posting multiple photos at a time, adding a caption, cropping, and applying one of 14 vintage-style filters.
More than just a photo-publishing app, however, Facebook Camera lets you browse photos your friends are sharing to Facebook, and allows you to comment and like images within the stream. Deleting photos or friends' comments doesn't seem to be an option, though. The app is now available in the Apple App Store, and according to the Verge, Facebook is considering the app for other platforms.
Source-cnet.com
The company has just launched its latest Exilim EX-ZR300 compact camera. Packing a 16.1-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, the camera sports a 12.5x, 24 to 300mm (35mm equivalent) focal range and can record movies in full-HD 1080p resolution. Casio claims that the shooter can acquire a focus lock within 0.12 seconds, fire off in burst mode at 0.26-second intervals and starts up in less than one second.
To date, the EX-ZR300 is also the first compact camera to be compatible with Toshiba's Flash Air wireless SD card format. This allows you to transfer images wirelessly to compatible external devices and online cloud services.
Casio Exilim EX-ZR300 specifications:
16.1-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor
12.5x optical zoom, 24 to 300mm, F3-F5.9
3-inch, 460k-dot LCD screen
ISO 80 to 12,800
1080p full-HD video recording.
Source-.cnet.com
A new report backs up other recent information suggesting Google will soon be launching its own tablet device to take on Amazon's Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablet. The wait for Google’s much-anticipated tablet could be soon be over, if a new report from Taiwan-based DigiTimes is to be believed.
The tech news site said on Thursday that the 7-inch device, developed with Asustek, will go on sale in July, with shipments of up to 600,000 units expected in June. The report added that total shipments of between 2 million an 2.5 million units are targeted for this year. The information – which DigiTimes said it had received from sources in the upstream supply chain – fits in with other reports and rumors that have been circulating in recent months. “Google originally planned to release its entry-level 7-inch tablet PC in May, but design and costs did not reach its expectations, and the product was delayed to July for some minor adjustments,” the report said.
This corresponds with a report last month that suggested the launch of the Google tablet had been postponed while the company reworked its design in an effort to force its price down. It’s believed the Internet giant is aiming for a price tag of between $150 and $200. Google has been keeping tight-lipped about its forthcoming tablet, a device which it hopes will perform well against Amazon’s Kindle Fire unit and Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet. Both the Kindle Fire and the Nook Tablet sell for $199.
Besides a 7-inch screen, it’s thought Google’s device will also sport a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich . With the Mountain View company shortly to throw its own device into the mix, the low end of the tablet market is starting to fill up with some big hitters. If Google hasn’t compromised on too many key features in an effort to force down the price of its tablet, it could well have a winner on its hands.
Announced together with the LG Optimus Net, the Optimus Pro is a Gingerbread (Android 2.3) handset that caters to the QWERTY-loving Android crowd. The specs of the smartphone will not appeal to power users, but bargain hunters will probably be looking forward to the expected low pricing of the smartphone.
Upside The Optimus Pro's keyboard features shortcut keys to your email and calendar, perfect for email junkies and for use as a work phone. It also has a 2.8-inch touchscreen for finger navigation.
The 800MHz processor should be fast enough for everyday usage, though we suspect you may encounter lag or stuttering if you're playing graphically intensive games.
Like the Optimus Net, the Pro packs a large 1500mAh battery, which should translate to a full-day battery life or more. This will depend on your usage patterns, of course. Downside The 2.8-inch touchscreen may be larger than the 2.6-inch display found on the HTC ChaCha and the Huawei Boulder, but the resolution remains the same at QVGA (320 x 240 pixels). This may actually be too low a resolution for comfort, but we'll find out if this is an issue when we get an actual retail set.
Based on the sole picture that LG released, the design of the smartphone seems a little drab compared with the polished looks of both the ChaCha and the Boulder. Being a budget handset doesn't mean it has to be an ugly one, and the Pro's plain looks can be a downer.
Pakistan on Sunday blocked the micro-blogging social networking site Twitter for about 12 hours because it refused to stop promoting an online competition on Facebook to post images of Prophet Mohammad.
According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Mohammed Yaseen, Facebook agreed to address Pakistan's concerns but Twitter refused to oblige.
Negotiations, he said, went on till late Saturday night and when Twitter did not comply, the Ministry of Information Technology issued instructions to block the micro-blogging website.
The ban came into effect around 11 a.m. (local time) on Sunday as the twitterati of the country were tweeting till about that time.
Maintaining that PTA just forwarded the Ministry's instructions to all Internet Service Providers, including mobile phone companies to block Twitter, Mr. Yaseen added that this restriction would be lifted once the micro-blogging site addressed Pakistan's concerns. The ban was lifted around 10.30 p.m.
The government's action evoked a mixed response with some welcoming the move while many wondering why Pakistan had to be so sensitive as there were no reports of other Islamic countries blocking either Facebook or Twitter.
Twitter and Facebook are hugely popular among the netizens of the country with many finding it the safest avenue to vent their angst over contentious issues.
The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is the latest addition to RIM’s prolific BlackBerry Bold range. The thinnest BlackBerry manufactured to date, the Bold 9900 measures just 10.5mm in thickness but still offers the best feature set available in a BlackBerry smartphone.
A range of new features have been added to the Bold 9900, making it a great upgrade for the existing BB owner, or the perfect handset for the Blackberry first timer.
Firstly, it runs the new BlackBerry 7 OS, which has been enhanced to combine effectively with another new feature, the 2.8-inch, TFT capacitive touch screen. The 9900 is the first in the Bold range to feature a touch screen, which is bound to entice the BlackBerry user that also enjoys a front facing QWERTY keyboard.
The improvements do not end there. The Bold 9900 boasts a 1.2GHz processor, making it twice as powerful as its predecessor, the Bold 9780, and the most powerful BlackBerry smartphone to date. Near Field Communication (NFC) is also included, another first for a BlackBerry handset.
As well as the improvements that the BB 9900 brings to the Bold range, it also maintains the features that have made it so popular in the first place. Strong connectivity options include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, as well as web-browsing on the go with 3G connectivity. GPS is also included and the new BlackBerry 7 OS is integrated with BlackBerry Maps for even better navigation support.
BlackBerry smartphones are not typically renowned for their camera capabilities, but the Bold 9900 may have what it takes to change this sentiment. It offers a 5MP camera with LED flash, a host of features and the ability to record video in 720p high definition. It also offers the media playback options that you would expect from a smartphone and features a 3.5mm headphone connection, as well as 8GB internal storage.
Features of BlackBerry Bold 9900
BlackBerry 7 OS 2.8" Capacitive Touchscreen Backlit QWERTY keyboard Thinnest BlackBerry to date 1.2GHz processor 8GB Integrated storage 5MP Camera WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n 3G/UMTS Connectivity NFC What's In The Box of BlackBerry Bold 9900
BlackBerry Bold 9900 3.5mm Stereo Headset Battery 1230 mAh USB Sync/Charge Cable Mains Adaptor (UK/EU) Polishing Cloth Pocket Pouch Case User Documentation
The Xperia P is one of the better handsets from Sony Mobile's lineup this year. The smartphone has a great build quality and the WhiteMagic display is one of the best displays you can use outdoors
Announced at Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona, the Sony Xperia P was one of two handsets announced at the tradeshow. The other is the Xperia U and together with the Xperia S, these three handsets feature Sony's NXT design. This means that all three handsets look pretty similar--you'll note the flat front screen and curved back, as well as the transparent lighted band located at the bottom.
Design
Compared with the Xperia S, the slightly smaller Xperia P seems much easier to hold, and the brushed metal feels good in our hands. The 4-inch display also makes the P usable with just one hand, while size-wise, the smartphone is just slightly wider than Apple's iPhone 4S.
Unlike the Xperia S, the P does not come with plastic covers for its ports. The rear cover is also non-removable. This is no big loss, since the removable rear of the Xperia S only lets you access the microSIM card slot; the Xperia P's uses a microSIM slot located on the left side instead, and is a more elegant solution.
Located above the microSIM slot are the micro-USB and micro-HDMI ports. On the top is where you'll find the 3.5mm headphone jack, and finally, on the right are your power, volume and camera shutter buttons. We note that the handset's speakers are located on the right--an interesting design choice, to be sure.
The handset sports a 4-inch qHD (960 x 540 pixels) display, and comes with Sony's new WhiteMagic display. Sony claims the display is bright enough that you can view the screen comfortably even in direct sunlight. We found this to be true, when we used the phone outdoors-- we had no issues reading on the Xperia P's bright display.
The P features the same transparent lighted band at the bottom, and has the three icons for Back, Home and Menu. Instead of the Xperia S's annoying button placement (the keys are located above the icons), Sony has made the P's buttons on the lighted strip itself, which makes so much more sense.
Weighing at 120g, the Xperia P feels light enough in our hands, though its 10.5mm depth means it is much thicker than most phones. Lastly, the handset comes with a non-removable 1,305mAh battery.
Features
Unlike the smaller Xperia U, Sony has included built-in NFC for the Xperia P. This will allow you to make full use of the Xperia SmartTags the company is touting. These programmable NFC tags will allow you to quickly launch apps and services by simply tapping your Xperia P onto the tag. However, no SmartTags are included in the package. See our Xperia S review for more about this feature.
Other connectivity features include HSPA, Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi. The handset comes with 16GB of onboard storage, though only 13GB is available for use.
The Xperia P does not come with the latest Android operating system (Ice Cream Sandwich) at launch. Instead, it runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) but Sony has promised that an update for the handset in the future.
That said, Sony has added tweaks to enhance the user experience. Like in Android 4.0, you can create folders by dragging apps on top of another and the company has also added notifications for messages on the lock screen (you can also slide the message to unlock your handset and jump straight to reading it.
The 8-megapixel camera uses Sony's Exmor R, which is a backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor. There was no shutter lag. The Xperia P's shutter button also lets you take a picture even if your phone is locked by holding down the button, which launches the camera app and immediately snaps a picture. We note that the white balance isn't adjusted properly when you use this feature. The shot after that will look better as the handset would have some time to adjust correctly. However, that takes away from the immediacy of this feature.
We found images taken by the Xperia P's camera to have lots of detail, but colors do seem a little washed out. In low-light situations (and with flash turned on), there still seems to be quite an ample amount of noise. For a midrange handset, the Xperia P's camera seems above average in our books.
Performance
While it does not have a quad-core processor as we've seen in the latest high-end smartphones, the Xperia P's dual-core 1GHz processor was more than sufficient to keep things running smoothly.
The smartphone lasted us for a day at moderate usage, and that's on top of our usual test settings with two Gmail accounts, Facebook as well as Twitter set on push. It may be a good idea to carry around a battery charger, especially since you won't be able to swap in a spare battery if you run dry.
Lastly, there's no issue with voice quality and call reception. However, there seems an attenuation issue when it is used indoors. When the phone is gripped with the palm touching the back (see below), the signal bars seems to fall off, but we note that you're still able to make calls but data is affected--web pages' loading time slowed down to a crawl. The speaker located at the right side was loud enough to be heard, and we didn't think the location affected the quality of the audio.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tied the knot over the weekend, and his Timeline status update is already breaking Like records with more than one million overall responses. Less than 48 hours after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on his Facebook Timeline that he officially married his long-time girlfriend Priscilla Chan, the status update has since gained more than one million Likes, surpassing previous records for breaking news on the social media website.
Of course, Zuckerberg breaking his own record on his own site comes as no surprise. Coming off a wild past week, Zuckerberg must have at least earned a few more fans who were following closely after the impending Facebook IPO event. To date, The Zuck has more than 14 million subscribers, with the wedding status update garnering roughly 730 comments from fans and friends. While the update on Priscilla Chan’s Facebook page may not have amassed an equally massive public reaction, the numbers can hold its own. At the time of publishing, Chan’s wedding status update on her Timeline shows nearly 40,000 Likes and 80 congratulatory comments, and those digits are still rapidly increasing.
The wedding caught much of the general public by surprise after an eventful week for Zuckerberg. The intimate and small backyard wedding took place on Saturday, just a day after Facebook became public, and the bride wore a simple lace gown with Zuckerberg’s ruby wedding ring which he designed himself. Guests who arrived thought they were invited to celebrate Chan’s graduation from medical school. The college sweethearts met during their undergraduate terms at Harvard and began dating even before Zuckerberg changed the social media world with the creation of Facebook.
Before the wedding status update, Zuckerberg’s most popular Facebook post was his thank you note to Steve Jobs after the Apple co-founder passed away in October of 2011. That post received more than 580,000 Likes and 201 comments — perhaps because it was a little more expected coming from an iconic figure in Silicon Valley. Still, those are the kind of reactions we’ll never see on our own Facebook pages.
If these numbers are any indication, Zuckerberg’s wedding status update just might be this year’s Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal nuptials.
Frustrated with the touchscreen keyboard of your handset because it isn't all that accurate? Well, there's always the option for a physical keyboard. After all, if you're a voracious Facebooker or Twitterer, you really don't want to accidentally send out badly typed posts, which can be hilarious for everyone but you. However, do note that depending on the handset design, the option of having a physical keyboard usually means a smaller-sized screen. Of course, there are still large touchscreen handsets with slide-out keyboards, which are usually much thicker. Read on to see if any of these QWERTY phones are for you.
1. BlackBerry Bold 9790
The Canada-based company has gone with a narrow form factor for the Bold 9790, which makes it an upgrade of last year's Bold 9780 with a few design tweaks. However, some of the changes have been met with a lukewarm reception. For example, the row of raised buttons under the touchscreen has sparked mixed reactions.
Upside This is one of the smallest and lightest BlackBerrys we've tried. We like the fact that we are able to slip the phone into a tight jeans pocket and still sit comfortably. In addition, even though the Bold 9790 weighs a featherlight 105g, it does not feel flimsy.
There's no denying that RIM makes great hardware and this phone doesn't disappoint. Even though the buttons are small, it's easy to type accurately thanks to its raised, ridged edges. (To prove this point, we typed this entire hands-on story using the Bold 9790's keyboard without too many errors.)
A lot of thought has been put into the design, like how the screen and keys curve organically at the sides. It's a breath of fresh air compared with the monolithic blocks of today's smartphones.
Downside The 2.45-inch LCD touchscreen has a resolution of only 480 x 360 (HVGA). We wish RIM had included a higher-resolution screen, seeing that the Bold range of devices usually caters to a higher-end market, compared with the more mainstream Curve family.
We thought the Bold 9900's (left) screen was quite small, but the 9790's (right) is tiny by comparison. This might deter users from watching videos and doing heavy Web surfing.
The 5-megapixel camera is only able to record VGA videos. Earlier BB 7 OS devices such as the Bold 9900 and Torch 9810 are capable of HD video recording, so it feels like a step backwards for RIM.
The device comes with BB 7 OS which is already available on other BlackBerrys released this year, such as the Bold 9900. However, RIM says that a BB 7.1 OS update is "imminent".
On another note, BBX, RIM's next-generation platform, is due to be released next year. As the new OS will likely not be supported by current devices, users will have to live with the BB 7 OS for the duration of their telco contracts.
Outlook This is far from the panacea that RIM needs to save its shrinking market share. Perhaps BBX devices that are slated to be released next year may have a better shot at that.
That said, the Bold 9790, which costs an estimated US$515 in Indonesia, could be a good choice for those on a tight budget--such as students--and may also suit those upgrading from a feature phone. The handset may also be worth a look for CrackBerry addicts who are currently looking to upgrade to the BB 7 OS.
Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform has been released for more than a year and a half, but it has struggled to become a worthy competitor to Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. The small number of devices running WP, as well as the relatively poor ecosystem have led to sales of just 2.7 million Windows Phone gadgets in Q1 2012. The mobile operating system powered only 2.6 percent of the smartphones sold worldwide in the first three months of 2012, which is disappointing for a product developed by a company that is so used to dominating markets
While the poor sales will probably go on for a while, as far as apps go, Microsoft is currently making efforts to draw in new users and satisfy the existing ones. According to a Pocket-Lint report, Bill Gates’ company has applied for a patent on a service that will allow applications from Android, iOS, and other rival platforms to be transferred to Windows Phone
Although it sounds like an excellent idea in theory, we have to be realistic and say that it’s almost impossible for Microsoft to launch such a service soon and also it to be as functional as we imagine it. Why is that? Well, it’s very simple! In order for an app or several apps to be migrated from one platform to another, you need the permission from the initial OS and needless to say that we don’t see Android or iOS welcoming such a thing.
In fact, both Android and iOS developers are trying their best to make users “addicted” to their ecosystems by offering as many exclusive apps as possible, so it’s unlikely that Windows will get any of the two to agree sharing apps on a regular basis.
There’s also the money aspect for the regular user, which will likely be required to pay two times for the same app. Most users these days don’t like to pay in the first place and rely mostly on free content, so to think anyone would want to pay twice the value of an app only to be granted the “honor” of having Microsoft’s mobile OS powering their devices is, simply put, a fantasy.
In fact, these two issues are probably the most important things that are getting in the way of the project’s development. Microsoft has applied for the patent of the migration service way back in November 2010 and, considering the fact that we haven’t heard anything official on the matter until now, we can assume that the project is far from being finished.
Be that as it may, the idea is still a pretty enticing one and we would love to see it applied for Android and Apple, for example. There are still a lot of very useful and functional iOS-exclusive apps, so it would be very nice to be able to simply transfer them or have a service suggest similar apps in a matter of seconds.
Do you think that Microsoft’s project could ever see the light of day? And if so, do you think that it will be more than a simple suggestion service? Would you fancy “migrating” from Android to Windows Phone if Microsoft’s platform would have a better ecosystem and support for more apps?
Have you found that your HTC One X isn't always letting you know when you've received a text message? We've observed the problem on two units here in CTIA this week, and HTC is now confirming to us that it's a known issue on a "very small number" of retail phones. The symptoms are twofold: you won't see an incoming message notification in the status bar or a badge on your Messaging home screen icon after new texts roll in, which means the only way you'll know that someone is trying to reach you is by actually opening the app. Reports from posters on Android Central and xda-developers suggest that both AT&T and global versions are affected to some degree.
Though the problem appears to be intermittent, the downside is obvious: unless you remember to open the Messaging app from time to time, there's a risk of going hours or days without realizing that people are trying to get in touch. Fortunately, HTC has a software update already in the works — there's no timeline on the release, but we're told it'll be pushed "as soon as possible."
Description: If you want the best HTC phone currently on the market, look no further than the One X (and its T-Mobile brother, the One S). It’s on the large size, but should be usable for most people. It has a killer camera, runs Android 4.0, and is one of the best designed phones on the market. Universal Beats audio integration also helps make this our pick as the best phone currently on AT&T. It is also a dual-core phone, but in our benchmarking tests, it runs as fast as many Tegra 3 quad-core phones.
Description: Among the best AT&T phones, the iPhone 4S stands out. It looks identical to the 4 on the outside, but it packs some new features. The update has a dual-core processor, better camera, and a new iOS 5 operating system. Siri voice control lets you use more natural language to talk to your iPhone, and iCloud will let you automatically store your documents and media on the net. The only downside is that it doesn’t have 4G LTE. The next iPhone, due in October, probably will
Description: We’re not big fans of the Galaxy Note for one reason: It’s too big. If you happen to have huge hands or want to endure holding your phone with two hands, then maybe the Note is for you. It has a built-in stylus that may be of use to those who like to draw or take written notes, and the added screen space is useful at times. On the downside, it’s still running an old version of Android and due to its odd dimensions, apps may look a little weird
Description: The Galaxy S2 Skyrocket is the same phone as the S2, but with 4G LTE. We like the S2 and it’s one of the best-selling phones of 2011. It doesn’t disappoint in any one area, though its plastic construction may turn off some. Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 interface rivals HTC’s Sense as does Samsung’s camera. The Skyrocket is a bit larger than the standard S2 with a 4.5-inch screen instead of a 4.3, putting it on par with the size of the T-Mobile and Sprint versions of the phone
Description: All Windows Phone 7.5 devices are pretty good, but Nokia currently takes the prize because of its dedication to the platform. It has a dozen or so exclusive apps like turn-by-turn navigation, etc available on its phones and the Lumia 900 is the only Windows Phone with 4G LTE. We found the device to be a bit more uncomfortable than the Lumia 800 due to its boxy shape and large size, but give it a try. If you like the feel, Windows Phone is definitely worth exploring
Description: Where the Nokia Lumia 900 is weak, the Samsung Focus 2 shines. It provides the same 4G LTE connection at half the price of the Lumia and in a much more comfortable package. The Focus 2 is easier to hold and sized a bit smaller, making it more ideal for those who may also be considering an iPhone. It doesn’t have some of the custom apps Nokia’s devices do, but the AMOLED screen and standard Windows 8 features will get you through. Until Windows Phone 8 comes, WP7 can’t get much better than the Focus 2
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