Archive for the ‘Smartphone’ Category
Can A Tablet Replace Your Laptop?
Recently, we’ve been looking at how the humble smartphone can replace some of our everyday gadgets and this got us thinking about the issue of tablets and laptops. Are tablets now powerful and versatile enough to replace our trusty notebooks? Well, it depends on what type of tablet you want to get, and what laptop you are trying to replace.
Tablets have the advantage of being lighter, cheaper and (in most cases) having longer battery life than most laptops. However, laptops can , in general, carry out more functions. It depends on how you use your laptop; if the use is minimal and mostly for entertainment, firing off quick emails and surfing the net then a tablet could well be your best option. Here are some of the main considerations when it comes to the laptop vs. tablet debate!
Do you need a keyboard?
The main difference that people notice with tablets is that they are smaller and they lack a physical QWERTY keyboard. For some, this is perfect but the MSN generation tend to be two finger tappers, whose typing skills have been developed by posting Facebook status updates and tweeting. For them the QWERTY keyboard could be more of a hindrance.
On the other hand, many do need a physical keyboard. If your computer use tends to involve writing long emails, essays, reports and editing spreadsheets, or if you write for a living, then a keyboard is a necessity.
How well do tablets perform?
The simple answer is that it depends on what you are doing. If you’re watching videos or browsing, tablets are, unsurprisingly, smooth and fast. However, since many apps are still not optimised for tablets, you’ll find yourself relying heavily on the browser where you may well notice the lag when you’re searching.
With some tablets, the RAM memory simply isn’t enough to support full multitasking, and some apps will automatically shut down, meaning you could lose work or progress on some applications. You may also find that you are redirected to mobile specific sites and that some tasks, such as video straming, will stop when you switch between tabs, making your browsing experience somewhat frustrating.
Do tablets trump laptops in the entertainment/media stakes?
Tablets are designed to keep you entertained on the go, so it’s no surprise that they are very good at providing plentiful media and entertainment options. You can use your tablet to listen to music, watch videos, browse social networks, read e-books and play unlimited games and apps.
Apps make a massive different to the level of interactivity you get, which is where tablets really do have an advantage over laptops. Imminent increases in processing power and graphics performance may also mean that serious gaming is achievable on a tablet, an area in which they are currently limited.
So, can your tablet replace your laptop?
At the moment, we’d probably say no, unless your primary uses are for entertainment, social networking and browsing. Tablets are, in the main, designed to be entertainment devices, performing simple tasks and providing users with a level of interactivity not found with laptops use.
They’re excellent as portable devices and can be used by professionals and students alike to take notes during meetings or lectures, but even that functionality isn’t as strong as a laptop’s word processing skills. Put simply, if your work revolves around using your laptop heavily, then you’ll probably want to stick with it for now.
On the plus side, tablets are improving all the time, and with the new generation of tablet technology will come enhanced functionality and convenience, meaning that, in time, tablets will more than likely replace the laptop.
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Microsoft Files Patent Application for New Smartphone
A new patent application filed by Xbox and Microsoft has revealed plans to come up with a new smartphone with swappable accessories.
Microsoft, who hasfailed todeliver any innovative or ground breaking product lines after the launch of the original Xbox back in November 2001, could rebuild its reputation in the market if it truly implements patented technologies.
The pictures included inthe patent application filed byMicrosoft clearly highlight how the phone will be equipped with a wide range of removable accessories built for specific tasks. Included in the pictures is hardware that looks very much like a remote control for media devices, and then there is a picture of something that resembles a battery.
Also there is a keyboard, as well as a set of video accessories, clearly visible in the picture.
“The downside and thing that would make this not so cool is that you would need to carry all those accessories with you to be able to use them on the road,” writes Shane McGlaun of SlashGear in his report.
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Samsung Galaxy W: Meteoric Mid-Ranger?
Samsung have adopted a simple way of distinguishing the phones in their Galaxy range from each other by a single letter after the word ‘Galaxy’. This system was more than likely born out of the naming convention that debuted with the Galaxy S and is now in full flow, the latest handset to be titled in such a way being the Galaxy W, a mid-priced handset that has power beyond its standing.
Design
The first impression upon getting hold of the Galaxy W is that it’s styled in a similar way to many of the other handsets in the Galaxy range. It’s a simple, black rectangle with nicely-rounded corners that fits well in your hand but certainly doesn’t look distinctive or stand out in terms of appearance.
A nice touch is the return of the textured back found on the Galaxy S II which makes it nicely tactile and gives it a rugged feel. This is reflected in the overall design of the phone – it’s well-built, sturdy and doesn’t give the impression that it’s going to smash open if you drop it.The device weighs in at 109.9g and being 11.55mm thick it isn’t the slimmest phone around but that contributes to the rugged feel which makes the Galaxy W comfortable to hold.
There’s a 3.7inch touchscreen on the front which is bigger than that on the iPhone 4 but the impressive size of the screen is negated by the low resolution of only 480×800 pixels. It’s noticeably less than that seen on high-end smartphones and even though there’s enough room to fit everything in you do miss out slightly in terms of quality of image reproduction.
Below the screen are three keys, including two touch-sensitive navigation buttons and a physical ‘Home’ key similar to those found on other Galaxy handsets. It’s a credit to the designers that even with the decent size of the touchscreen there’s no trouble in holding the phone in one hand and pressing everything with your thumb – the Galaxy W is sturdy without being bulky and cumbersome.
Power and Operating System
Inside the Galaxy W is its most impressive feature – the 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. To find a high-specced CPU in a mid-range phone such as this is quite impressive. So whilst the W might not stand out in terms of looks it certainly can with its processing speed.
The Galaxy W runs the latest version of Android, 2.3 Gingerbread, with Samsung’s own user interface, TouchWiz, thrown in as well. TouchWiz brings with it some nice touches such as providing users with the ability to customise widgets. Samsung’s Social Hub, which gathers all your social network feeds into one place, also makes a reappearance but the extra functionality struggles to make up for the fact that the UI looks a lot more basic and two-dimensional than the those of other manufacturers and this is something that really stands out on the Galaxy W’s low-resolution screen. The fast processor handles all the phone’s features really well but it’s a bit of a shame that TouchWiz doesn’t look as polished as on handsets from higher up the Galaxy range.
As a plus point though, there is Samsung’s Kies Air software, which is a quick and easy way of transferring music, photos etc form a PC or Mac to the phone without a connecting cable. Apple have introduced a similar system with the latest version of iOS5 but Samsung have been doing it for a while – Kies Air was available on the Galaxy S2 prior to its appearance here. Plugging a phone into your computer seems a bit antiquated nowadays so it’s good to see that Samsung have found a way around this.
Internet
The swift nature of the Galaxy W’s processor ensures that browsing, with a decent connection, is fast and fluid and that everything loads quickly. Having the latest version of Android means you’re not going to miss out on Flash animations although websites don’t look too good on the low-resolution screen. Text is certainly clear and easy to read but web-based images don’t really leap out at you.
Camera
On the back of the Galaxy W is the main camera, a pretty standard five megapixel one that produces some decent images which look surprisingly good on the screen despite the low resolution. The camera can record video in 720p at 30 frames per second and there’s also a front-mounted VGA camera for video calls. There’s the standard 2GB of internal memory which is expandable via microSD upto 32GB.
Other tech specs
- Wi-Fi 802.11/ Wi-Fi hotspot
- v2.0 microUSB
- Stereo FM radio with RDS
- MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264/H.263 player
- MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player
- Li-Ion 1500 mAh Battery
Any downsides?
The Galaxy W’s screen is its biggest letdown with the low pixel-count really noticeable.TouchWiz is a good UI but again, the aesthetics leave a lot to be desired, although this isn’t helped by the less than impressive screen.
Conclusion
The Galaxy W might not be as striking in terms of appearance as other Galaxy devices but its mid-range positioning and affordable price making it a lot more accessible for those looking to make the jump from feature phone to smartphone. You don’t get the bright, crisp screen that you would on a high-end smartphone but the commendable speed of the processor does make up for this, meaning that, when it comes to Android phones, Samsung can put up some decent competition for any other manufacturer.
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Via Sues Apple, Cites Processor Patent Infringement
iPad maker Apple has been sued by a Taiwanese chip designer over a bunch of patents related to microprocessor technology.
Via Technologies claims that Apple has infringed on its patents related to the manner in which chips, used in some of its products, use and manipulate data. The Apple products named in the lawsuit include the iPad, iPhone, Apple TV and the iPod, along with the software that the products use.
The company has filed a lawsuit in a district court in the United States and has even filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission.
“The products at issue generally concern microprocessors included in a variety of electronic products such as certain smartphones, tablet computers, portable media players and other computing devices,” the complaint reads.
Industry watchers are tying the lawsuit filed by Via to Apple’s ongoing patent battle with smartphone maker HTC, which is also based in Taiwan. It has emerged that Via’s chairman is married to HTC’s chairperson Cher Wang, who also helped him found Via.
Apple is currently engaged in multiple legal battles with its competitors in the smartphone market like HTC and Samsung, both of which offer devices based on Google’s Android platform, which has displaced Apple’s iOS as the number 1 mobile phone platform in the United States.
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Does Apple Need Both iPhone 4S & iPhone 5 To Fight Android?
The iPhone 4S could be a key player in Apple’s iOS war against Google’s Android.
eWeek’sNikolas Kolakowski suggests that a mid-range iPhone could actually be the perfect solution for Apple to counterattack the rich diversity of Android fueled smartphones on the market right now. A premium, iPhone 5 would be responsible for taking care of high-end rival smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy SII, the new Nexus from Google and other top Android handsets.
A dual release would mean a change of mobile strategy for the brainiacs at Apple. It would also be a chance for the average users to get their hands on a more affordable device, albeit not having all the same characteristics as its “big brother”, which we expect to be the iPhone 5. iOS 5 and the iCloud will serve as the main reinforcements for Apple’s products, being announced beforehand so that everybody could be aware of the major changes that Apple is preparing.
Apple must realise that the Android market has grown to threatening levels and they simply can’t ignore it. A single phone release on the market isn’t the best solution anymore for the strategists at Apple. The lower spec handset will be particularly useful in emerging markets such as China, where large numbers of potential customers have less spending power.
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Verizon Communications Chief Says ‘Too Many Smartphone Platforms on the Market’
According to Verizon Communications’ chief executive officer Lowell McAdam, it is a fact that today’s market can no longer afford to haveso many smartphone platforms.
McAdamhighlightedthatthere were too many smaprtphone platforms, including Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android, RIM’s BlackBerry, Nokia’s Symbian, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 and HP’s WebOS, fighting to be at the top.
The CEO also said that too many platforms was too much for carriers to handle, and hence one or two of them eventually have to go down.
And that’s exactly what had happened. Nokia officially ditched its Symbian platform and started focusing on the Windows Phone 7 platform. HP also abandoned its WebOS and is trying to sell it to a third party- at least that’s what rumors say.
“The carriers are beginning to coalesce around the need for a third ecosystem,” said McAdam, as reported by Information Week.
“Over the next 12 months I think it will coalesce and you will start to see one emerge as a legitimate third ecosystem. In my opinion, it’ll be between RIM and Microsoft, and I expect Microsoft to come out victorious,” he added.
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Samsung Wave 578 with NFC Arrives in the UK
Technology giant from South Korea, Samsung Electronics has unveiled its brand new Samsung Wave 578 to woo those UK consumers who have been eagerly waiting to experience the wonders that the NFC (Near Field Communication) technology has on offer.
Yes, this brand new Bada powered offering from the Samsung is equipped with the NFC technology, and will hopefully make its own share of contribution in strengthening this relatively new technology in the UK market.
NFC technology enables users to pay for goods just by waving their smartphone over a NFC compatible cash counter.
Apart from being equipped with the NFC technology, the Wave 578 also comes with a pretty decent set of specs and features. The handset features a 3.2 megapixel rear camera, a 3.2 inch WQVGA touchscreen display, Bluetooth, 3G connectivity, GPS and other standard specs.
The Samsung Wave 578 will allow users with Orange Credit Card, Barclaycard and Barclays debit card to shop in over 50,000 compatible stores all across the country.
“Paying with a mobile phone means never being without the right change, and always having access to funds. That’s why I believe contactless mobile is the future of payments,” said David Chan, CEO of Barclaycard Consumer Europe, T3 reports.
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Talk Is Tweet – Microsoft Exec Fired For Gossiping About Nokia WP7 Device
During World War II, there used to be warning posters plastered around London with slogans like ‘Idle Chatter Costs Lives’ or ‘Loose Lips Might Sink Ships’. It seems the 21st century equivalent of loose lips; chatting on Twitter, has cost a Microsoft exec his job. It all started off quite innocently with an excited message from Joe Marini, who until recently headed up Internet Explorer for Windows Phone 7.
The fact that a Nokia Windows Phone 7 device is just around the corner is no big deal in itself, but the Microsoft employee broke the cardinal rule of being a caretaker of a prototype phone when he started answering questions from his followers about the device, such as the one below:
When Marini started rating the phone for build quality and features with an overall 8 out of 10, it possibly proved a step too far for the combined marketing departments at Nokia and Microsoft, as the future handset is a make or break product for the Finnish giant’s smartphone fortunes. So this week, Marini either resigned or was fired for his comments which amounted to just three tweets. Just goes to show that talk, is definitely not cheap in the mobile industry.
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Huawei Blaze – Android Powered Smartphone
Huawei Blaze is the name of the latest mobile phone announced by the company that comes packed with decent list of features so as to take care of all your communication needs. Powered by 800 MHz of processor this phone runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS and deliver good performance.
There is 3.2 inches of capacitive curved touch screen display in Huawei Blaze that is capable of delivering bright and clear content quality through its support to 480 X 320 pixels resolution. For the photography enthusiasts who wish to capture all their special moments in form of images, the phone comes packed with 3.2 MP camera that is capable of taking acceptable quality images.
A front facing camera for video calling is also present in the phone. The music lovers can keep themselves entertained with the presence of FM radio. Huawei Blaze comes loaded with 256MB of RAM, 512MB of ROM and its external memory can be expanded up to 16GB through microSD card slot. Additional specifications of the phone include HSDPA, Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi and others.
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HTC Set To Infuse New Windows Phone 7 Devices With Beats Technology?
Whilst many are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Beats by Dr. Dre-infused HTC Sensation XE, it has been revealed that the Taiwanese smartphone giant is also planning on adding the audio enhancing tech to Windows Phone 7 devices at a later date.
The news comes via tech site SlashGear who report that the company confirmed at a HTC event yesterday that it “will be working with Beats to to bring the company’s music technology to Windows Phone handsets”.
No exact date as to when we’ll see these new Windows Phone 7 devices was forthcoming, but considering that the Mango 7.5 update is due to ship in the next two weeks, it would seem unlikely that any new handsets would be ready in time for its launch.
The chances of the manufacturer’s recently announced Radar and Titan Windows smartphones benefiting from Beats Audio tech at launch also appear slim. This is because the handset needs a special piece of software tied in to a custom DSP (digital signal processor) chip in order to boost the audio performance. So as with the Sensation, it seems logical that there will be enhanced versions of Radar and Titan to follow at a later date.
HTC are also said to be already working on an Android phone designed from the ground up with Beats Audio integrated in to it, rather than shoehorned in to an existing model. Sounds like music to our ears!
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