Sony SmartWatch review

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.


(http://www.wired.co.uk)

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Vodafone Smart 2 out today, cheap Android for just £70

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.


(cnet)

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Sony Xperia Go rugged smart phone battles water and dust

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.


(cnet)

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The Best UFO Crash Cases part 1

1897-The Aurora, Texas UFO Crash


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.


(about.com)

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5 Common Sunscreen Mistakes

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.

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Leaked photos of iPhone 5 reveal new design

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.

 (cnet )

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4 things you may not know about the Galaxy S III

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.

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