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dui

2014-12-02T09:14:00.001-08:00

WHEN TO USE A DUI LAWER? In metropolitan areas the world over population explosion has become a serious issue giving rise to numerous other problems. People using vehicles are constantly on the increase. In the city of Chicago, the population was estimated to be around 2,707,120 according to 2011 statistics. Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs has become yet another menace affecting mostly the city dwellers on the global scale. As a direct consequence of the complex nature of problems affecting the people, resolving problems of varied nature has been assigned to professionals having specific talents and skills. Just as there are medical practitioners for specific ailments, there are lawyers skilled in specific areas. A DUI Lawyer handles only law suits pertinent to driving under the Influence of alcohol and drugs. That is the area he has specialised. In the city of Chicago, DUI lawyers play a key role by providing guidance and legal advice to those are convicted on DUI charges. Almost all those who are engaged in driving in the crowded streets of Chicago city are ignorant of the gravity of the DUI charges. Some of those who have been charged for drunk driving mistakenly believe that it is not a serious offense. If the services and guidance are not sought the consequences could be disastrous. In the city of Chicago, law enforcement police officials are very vigilant and constantly on the lookout for the errant drivers. Nearly 25 % of the people in Chicago are in the habit of drinking and driving. Backed by the wide range of experience and expertise these legal luminaries are ever ready to come to the rescue of a driver when he happened to be in dire straits. The Services of a DUI Lawyer is required from the moment the vehicle has been ordered to be stopped. INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES GIVEN BY THE DUI LAWYER: The instructions of the legal representative of the offender could play a crucial role in the release or the minimising of the charges levelled against him. The special strategies employed by the DUI lawyer in Chicago city in disproving the charges levelled against the offender could not be done just by an ordinary lawyer. Detailed information under what circumstances the offender was charged are required by the lawyer. The offender is asked never to be rude to the law enforcement officials. In the same manner the law enforcement officials have no authority to be rude to the offender. Almost all the DUI law enforcement officials in Chicago usually violate constitutional rights of an offender. In Chicago, if the arrest of the offender was done against the usually accepted procedure, legal action could be taken against the officials. The offender is duly given instructions not to leave his vehicle, and not to talk too much with the officials. If the law enforcement officials tries to interrogate you , you have the right to tell that you were ready to talk only before your lawyer, Similarly you can refuse to take part in the “Field Sobriety Tests ” If you refused to take part in the field sobriety tests the law enforcement officials could arrest you immediately and rushed you to the nearest police station for further inquiries. During the period you have been asked to stop the vehicle and your arrest, you should make use of the time to contact a legal representative to obtain instructions. The legal instructor makes use of all possible avenues to give maximum number of instructions what to do and what not do. At the police station, the offender has to take part in all the tests and on refusal, has to undergo the penalties. If a chat is initiated by the offender the information revealed might affect the offender during the trial. As the driver was unaware of the legal procedure, it is customary for the lawyer to make the offender aware of every step of the procedure and could reduce the frustration and the trauma of the offender. The offender keeps great confidence on the lawyer and reveals everything that happened since the encounter of Chicago law enforcement officials. The offender should be shrewd enough to behave carefully before the police officials. He should be extremely careful not to reveal anything that might be detrimental to him during the trial. The lawyer handling the case required to do thorough investigations relevant to everything. It is the legal representative of the offender who builds up the case jointly with the participation of the offender, Out of the information given by his client , the legal representative builds up the case several days or weeks before the day of the trial. The legal representative tells his client that the penalties could vary from misdemeanour to felony charges. According to Chicago DUI, if your Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) 0.05% or below 0.08% a driver is not considered as intoxicant but could be arrested . Heavy fines, jail time, and losing license and losing driving privileges are some of the penalties a convict has to suffer if proved guilty but the legal representative fights hard on behalf of the client to get the penalties less serious. WEAK POINTS TO BE ATTACKED AGGRESSIVELY BY THE DUI LAWYER: i. The manner the Blood Alcohol Content was checked could be challenged, ii. The equipment used for the BAC could be challenged. iii. The violation of the constitutional rights of the client by the law enforcement officials during his arrest could be challenged. iv. The rise of the client’s BAC could be challenged due to the medication and the reactions of the pain-killer and not due to the consumption of alcohol or the drugs. v. Swaying of the vehicle was as a sign of intoxication of the client is due to a mechanical defect cropped up suddenly in the engine and not because the client was under the influence of an intoxicant. It is possible to obtain all these vital information relevant to the legal procedure and the guidelines and instructions for the behaviour of the client only because of the appearance of a DUI Lawyer in Chicago.

iPhone 5

2013-01-02T05:58:00.000-08:00

Review :
The good: The iPhone 5 adds everything we wanted in the iPhone 4S: 4G LTE, a longer, larger screen, free turn-by-turn navigation, and a faster A6 processor. Plus, its top-to-bottom redesign is sharp, slim, and feather-light.

The bad: Apple Maps feels unfinished and buggy; Sprint and Verizon models can't use voice and data simultaneously. The smaller connector renders current accessories unusable without an adapter. There's no NFC, and the screen size pales in comparison to jumbo Android models.

The bottom line: The iPhone 5 completely rebuilds the iPhone on a framework of new features and design, addressing its major previous shortcomings. It's absolutely the best iPhone to date, and it easily secures its place in the top tier of the smartphone universe.

The iPhone 5 is the iPhone we've wanted since 2010, adding long-overdue upgrades like a larger screen and faster 4G LTE in a razor-sharp new design. This is the iPhone, rebooted.

The new design is flat-out lovely, both to look at and to hold, and it's hard to find a single part that hasn't been tweaked from the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 5 is at once completely rebuilt and completely familiar.

I've had the chance to use the iPhone 5 for nearly a week

, and have been using it for nearly anything I can think of. Is it as futuristic or as exciting as the iPhone 4 or the original iPhone? No. Does this change the smartphone game? No. Other smartphones beat it on features here and there: if you want a larger screen, go with a Samsung Galaxy S3. If you want better battery life, go with a Droid Razr Maxx.
But, if you want a great, all-around, beautifully engineered smartphone .

What's different?
Look at our review of last year's iPhone 4S, where we said, "Even without 4G and a giant screen, this phone's smart(ass) voice assistant, Siri, the benefits of iOS 5, and its spectacular camera make it a top choice for anyone ready to upgrade."

Well, guess what? Now it has 4G LTE and...well, maybe not a giant screen, but a larger screen. That's not all, though: the already great camera's been subtly improved, speakerphone and noise-canceling quality has been tweaked, and -- as always -- iOS 6 brings a host of other improvements, including baked-in turn-by-turn navigation, a smarter Siri, and Passbook, a location-aware digital wallet app for storing documents like gift cards, boarding passes, and tickets.

The question is: a full year later, is that enough? For me, it is. I don't want much more in my smartphone. Sure, I'd love a new magical technology to sink my teeth into, but not at the expense of being useful. Right now, I'm not sure what that technology would even be.

Like every year in the iPhone's life cycle, a handful of important new features take the spotlight. This time, 4G, screen size, and redesign step to the top.

You've gotten the full rundown already, most likely, on the various ins and outs of this phone, or if you haven't, I'll tell you about them below in greater detail. Here's what I noticed right away, and what made the biggest impression on me.

First off, you're going to be shocked at how light this phone is. It's the lightest iPhone, even though it's longer and has a bigger screen. After a few days with it, the iPhone 4S will feel as dense as lead.

Secondly, the screen size lengthening is subtle, but, like the Retina Display, you're going to have a hard time going back once you've used it. The extra space adds a lot to document viewing areas above the keyboard, landscape-oriented video playback (larger size and less letterboxing), and home-page organizing (an extra row of icons/folders). Who knows what game developers will dream up, but odds are that extra space on the sides in landscape mode will be handily used by virtual buttons and controls.

Third, this phone will make your home Wi-Fi look bad. Or at least, it did that to mine. Owners of other 4G LTE phones won't be shocked, but iPhone owners making the switch will start noticing that staying on LTE versus Wi-Fi might actually produce faster results...of course, at the expense of expensive data rates. I hopped off my work Wi-Fi and used AT&T LTE in midtown Manhattan to make a FaceTime call to my wife because the former was slowing down. LTE, in my tests, ran anywhere from 10 to 20Mbps, which is up to twice as fast as my wireless router's connection at home.

Using your iPhone 5 as a personal hot spot for a laptop or other device produces some of the same strong results as the third-gen iPad...and it's smaller. Of course, make sure you check on your tethering charges and data usage fees, but my MacBook Air did a fine job running off the LTE data connection at midday.

The look: Thin, metal, light as heck
You know its look, even if the look has been subtly transformed over the years: circular Home button, pocketable rectangle, familiarly sized screen. Can that design be toyed with, transformed a little, changed?

From left: The Lumia 900, iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3.

The camera
Something on the iPhone 5 has to not be new, right? Well, even the rear iSight camera's been tweaked, but not quite as much as other features. It's still an 8-megapixel camera, but there's a new sapphire-crystal lens, and improved hardware enabling features like dynamic low-lighting adjustment, image stabilization on the 1080p video camera, and the capability to take still shots while shooting video.

Google Nexus 4

2012-12-19T05:18:00.000-08:00

The Nexus One, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, and now, the Nexus 4. What a coincidence! Google’s newest official smartphone device is not only the fourth in its line, but sports a 4.7” screen. You have to love when things just seem to come together.

Jokes aside, it is really time to pay attention to Google and its newest offering in the Nexus line of devices for a couple of reasons: first off, the newest device brings with it the latest software, as this and the Nexus 10 tablet come with the most recent iteration of Android, Jelly Bean 4.2. And being a Nexus device means that this phone will be getting all the future updates first, before the rest of the Android bunch.

Secondly, this phone carries on its shoulders the weight of a phone manufacturer, with hopes of bringing it back from its unmemorable mid-tier game and back into the big leagues. Yes, Google has put its faith in LG, the Korean electronics giant whose recent phones have unfortunately drifted off into obscurity all too soon.

Perhaps luckily and definitely thankfully, LG might as well have included even the kitchen sink in their newest high-end phones, the Optimus G and the Nexus 4. If the Optimus G is any indication, Google bet on the right player.

Build and Feel

Let’s get the obvious out of the way before we even begin – if you think this phone looks familiar, you’d be right. The Google Nexus 4 looks so much like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus that one might accuse it of blatantly copying its predecessor. But the onset of the Nexus 4 and its familiar design likely hearken to a design template that Google is hoping to instill in its official line. I personally wouldn’t be surprised if we saw shades of the Galaxy Nexus throughout the next generation of the Nexus line, as well.

But it really isn’t a bad thing that the Galaxy Nexus seems to be echoed here – after all, its design was received well, and it translates well to LG’s own vision of the Nexus. Perhaps you will feel as

I did in my comparison of the Nexus 4 to its fraternal twin, the LG Optimus G, when I found the familiarity of this phone actually added to its

appeal.

The button layout is pretty standard, with the power button found on the right and the volume rockers found on the opposite side. Due to past experiences, I am quite paranoid that the power swtiches on any of my phones will eventually sink in and become unusable. While the one on the Nexus 4 doesn’t feel as meaty as the one found on my Galaxy Nexus, I think it is sturdy enough to stand constant presses.

Below the volume rockers is the microSIM slot, where SIM cards from your carrier of choice (GSM) will be inserted. An extra tool is provided with the phone to assist in reaching the release found in the tiny hold right beside it. At first usage, you will have to perform this minor surgery and correctly place the SIM card into the tray, after which it becomes a semi-permanent fixture of the phone. While having a small, slightly weird looking tool (or ‘poker’, as I called it once) might seem weird, it also makes sense – you don’t want people popping out your SIM card easily and crippling your phone.

The headphone jack is found on the top of the phone, along with one microphone. The other microphone is found on the bottom, where the microUSB charging port is flanked by a seemingly new trope with LG phones – the Torx screws. As with the LG Optimus G, these Torx screws are actually an aesthetically pleasing addition, but they also mean that this phone is not supposed to be opened easily. This also means that the battery is not removable.

The back of the phone sports the eponymous ‘Nexus’ word across the upper half, while the 8 megapixel camera and coupled flash are directly above the ‘N.’ The entire back panel is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, which is supposed to give it some good protection – unfortunately, a number of users have reported that even small drops can make either the back or the front render cracks pretty easily. So, be careful with this one.

LG’s Crystal Reflection design brings back a nice aesthetic originally seen on the back of the Optimus G – at certain angles, a pattern of blocks can be seen. It serves as no more than eye candy but thus does its job quite well.

In the hand, the Google Nexus 4 further echoes its predecessor. At 139 grams, the phone is actually a tad heavier than most other devices, but you have to consciously think about it to feel the difference. Skin

slides across the entire glass covered body, while the plastic and somewhat matted bezel connecting the two panels give the feel a little variety. Without a curved glass screen like the Galaxy Nexus,

This is a normal paragraph.

the Nexus 4 is a little thicker and thus has a bit of a blocker feel – which adds to its sturdiness in the hand.

There are certainly bigger phones out on the market, but the Nexus 4 manages to be big and balanced at the same time. I easily kept grip of the phone and was able to reach all parts of the screen without really having to fumble around to get there

. All in all, this is a well designed phone by LG, and while it might look very much like the device that came before it, this is more a sign of things to come rather than a case of blatant design plagiarism.

Screen
LG put in its Google Nexus 4 the same True HD IPS screen that is found in the Optimus G, protected behind a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 2. Between these two layers is, quite literally, nothing – this is due to LG’s Zerogap technology that does away with all layers usually found under the protective glass panel and above the actual display itself. LG claims that this technology not only enhances the display experience, but also helps make content ‘glide underneath the finger.’

At 1280 x 768 resolution and 320 pixels per inch density, you are certainly getting a good display out of this phone. Details shine through, crisp and clear, and even small text is easy to

read. Videos are enjoyable to watch, as colors are

all very well pronounced and vibrant. All of this beauty can also be attributed to the Adreno 320 graphics processor that helps bring your content through the Gorilla Glass. As it did in the Optimus G, all of these elements put together make for quite a viewing experience.

This is easily one of the best displays available on any phone, so LG should be commended for its offering on both of its top-tier devices. Viewing in broad daylight brings little to no trouble, as having the brightness at even around the 60% mark makes the display easily viewable. Angles are also all pretty much covered, as even in some precarious positions, the phone’s content is still in plain sight. I don’t imagine anyone trying to read stuff on this phone at an acute angle, but all this just provides more testaments to LG’s offering on the Nexus 4.

As far as touch responsiveness goes, especially considering the Zerogap technology, I personally was able to fly through menus, select content, and make Barry dodge and duck zappers in Jetpack Joyride with ease and speed. The claim by LG that Zerogap should make content ‘glide underneath your finger’ certainly seems to hold true here.

I do have to mention, as it was brought to my attention in the Nexus 4 vs Optimus G comparison, that some users have been experiencing touch issues with their new devices. In some

cases, P CLASEEEEEEE the screen would not register touches as immediately as one would expect from such a device, while another case involved multi-touch issues like the late response of pinch-to-zoom functionality in the Chrome web browser. I looked for myself and did find that the degree in which Android zooms

content on the Nexus 4 (running 4.2) is less than experienced on my Samsung Galaxy Nexus (running 4.1.2). This held primarily true for Chrome, however, as I did not experience the same issue while viewing pictures in the gallery.

Issues with touch sensitivity are certainly problems that have to be mentioned and dealt with, but I believe that there might be more to it than just the screen or the Zerogap technology (which has been solely blamed at times). Comparisons with the pinch-to-zoom effects on the Galaxy Nexus have brought ideas that perhaps Chrome or even the new Jelly Bean OS are at fault. Many expect there will be an incremental update to Jelly Bean that addresses some of the lag issues seen beyond even just those experienced with the Nexus 4. Sometimes users simply tried a replacement device and found that their issues were resolved. Placebo effect or not, there is more to the issue than is easily discerned.

Investigations are ongoing, but the issues do not seem to be affecting everyone. On the flip side, I have heard just as many people state that while they might see a difference in multi-touch sensitivity, it ultimately comes down to an adjustment to be made by the user and is far from a deal-breaker. So, bottom line: I had a great time viewing and using the screen on the Nexus 4. It is one of the best displays available and you should be able to fly through the phone’s content with ease. You may or may not experience some of the sensitivity issues that some users have reported on, but remember that it can be due to more than just the possibility of having a dud.

Hardware

You’re getting some pretty incredible specifications on the Nexus 4 – LG was sparing no expense when creating this and the Optimus G. A quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor bestows incredible power to this device, making the whole Jelly Bean experience snappy and almost seamless. The processor is backed by an already mentioned Adreno 320 GPU that really helps make the video and graphics look great behind the True IPS display.

It still boggles me how I can talk about a handheld device – much less, a phone – and be able to say that it has a quad-core processor. I remember when it was a big deal for a desktop computer to have that, and now the same power is in the palm of my hand. It also goes to show you how easily mobile devices can become out-of-date – the Samsung Galaxy Nexus remains as a very well-received and memorable phone, but that’s all it is at this point: a memory.

Benchmark tests put the Nexus 4 atop the device food chain, though admittedly just a smidgen below its fraternal twin, the LG Optimus G. This can happen for a number of reasons – also as mentioned before, some attribute lag in certain users’ general experiences to a lack of optimization in Jelly Bean 4.2. Whether or not this is the reason why the Nexus 4 (with the same guts as the Optimus G despite running a different version of Android) does not blow away the rest of the pack, remains to be seen.

You get 2GB of RAM for all the multitasking you want, and when your apps are being backed by such a powerful processor, you can pretty much have as much going on at the same time as you want. 8GB and 16GB internal memory options mean that there is no expandable memory capability – you’re stuck with what you got in there.

LG gets another notch on its belt for putting out one of the current greats in the smartphone market, and it just gets sweeter with Google’s backing of software updates and reasonable pricing. The Nexus 4 certainly seems like the real deal, and the on-paper hype most certainly translates well in practice. Apps load faster and smoother than ever while the new transition animations included in Jelly Bean 4.2 seamlessly bring some gorgeous eye candy to multitasking. All in all, this is one serious package stuffed in a pretty shell.

Battery
Battery life on the Nexus 4’s fraternal twin, as I reported in my review of the LG Optimus G, was more than adequate. I remember being able to get through full days of normal usage without much worry. The Nexus 4 comes with all the same guts of its non-Nexus counterpart, so the battery life should be around the same, right?

There have been some reports of poor battery life, though certain sources like Engadget have been able to update their reviews with news that more current replacement units brought better results. I believe I have one of these particular devices because I was able to get adequate battery life throughout a day’s usage. Using my borrowed microSIM card, I got from breakfast to bedtime (about 15 hours) without needing to plug in. When I did plug in the phone, the battery was down to the last few percent left, though I imagine different degrees of daily usage will make this situation vary.

I did do a battery drain test. Okay, so my dedicated battery life test with the Nexus 10 was a little too intense – streaming videos via WiFi and then streaming the resulting sound to my Bluetooth speaker at the same time (which brought the tablet’s battery to its knees at around 5 and a half hours). This time, I went with something a little more practical: a looping video playing while WiFi is connected to a network. This particular test drained the Nexus 4 down to about 5% just under the 7 hour mark. Having the HSPA+ running will likely bring this number down a bit, but such things are expected.

There is one thing you might miss about the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, in terms of its battery – the fact that it was replaceable. LG has fastened their Nexus device with those two Torx screws on the bottom that essentially seal the phone shut. The official word is that the battery, then, is irreplaceable – or at least tampering with it brings a lot of potential dangers, as we have reported. I remember the Galaxy Nexus coming with a cheap extra battery and charger/dock that felt like a steal when bundled with the plan and device. Having an extra battery is always handy when the phone is feeling power hungry; but with the Nexus 4, you’ll have to just bring along that charger for when the juice runs out.

Connectivity

So, here comes a hotly contested portion of the Nexus 4’s features – the connectivity. We will dive right into the main point everyone is talking about, which is the lack of 4G LTE. Yes, the Nexus 4 is capable of LTE and it is an option that can be enabled deeper within the settings, but it only works in particular areas like Canada. In the United States, however, there have been no reports that the publicized method of enabling LTE has worked – this is due to the Nexus 4’s connectivity being limited to certain bands of the 4G service. Without these bands enabled across the States’ LTE spectrums, it remains to be seen if people in the US will be able to take advantage of this seemingly uncovered capability.

That being said, the Nexus 4 is able to connect to 4G HSPA+ networks, which are not supposed to be as fast as LTE. Given that my model of the Google device was standalone and not from any carrier, I used someone else’s T-Mobile microSIM card to test out the call quality and mobile network on the phone. The phone did well in call reception, as the few calls I made to people were clear and there were close to no lapses in the feed.

Which brings me to the question about mobile network speed. I have to admit that the difference in speed is noticeable – as a 4G LTE user on Verizon, I am used to some pretty breakneck speeds with my data, such as a HD YouTube video loading very quickly (it’s funny when my phone can load a YouTube clip faster that my laptop sometimes) or a Spotify song playing immediately.

In general tests, however, the Nexus 4’s HSPA+ is quite adequate – for most all tasks, the speed of downloading websites didn’t really bother me and I was able to enjoy viewing the internet with relative ease. Putting the T-Mobile HSPA+ side by side to my Verizon LTE showed that my Galaxy Nexus would load a webpage just before the Nexus 4. YouTube videos proved a little more of a challenge, however, as I would sometimes have to wait for even the low quality videos to load on the Nexus 4 – something I’m not often used to doing on my Galaxy Nexus.

I must mention that there was an interesting development in some instances my speed comparison test – when the Nexus 4’s HSPA+ would keep right up with my Galaxy Nexus’ LTE, I noticed differences in the reception strength. Given my location east of Los Angeles, my Verizon LTE had my Galaxy Nexus at half reception strength while the T-Mobile HSPA+ was running at full blast. This seems to have some bearing on the speed, as the Nexus 4’s full reception to the mobile network seemed to bring in some good results, though it was only really comparable to my Galaxy Nexus LTE going at half of its full capability.

So, while there are noticeable differences between HSPA+ and LTE, there isn’t a disastrous lack of speed on the Nexus 4. Those who are LTE loyal will have some gripes with the slowdown, but I believe the vast majority of people will see it as a small setback on an otherwise great phone and experience.

Other connectivity options include Near Field Communications. As this is a Nexus phone, one would hope that the capabilities of NFC Beam between such devices are backwards compatible. Luckily, I have a previous Nexus device, so I was keen to see. I did two tests, back and forth, using websites and pictures – both transferred seamlessly between the two devices. I figured it was worth a mention, because I have had trouble in the past doing Beams between my Galaxy Nexus and at least a Galaxy S3. It’s good to know that the Nexus line does retain continuity in this regard.

Newer features in the Nexus 4 include Miracast, a display streaming service that has become an official part of Android in version 4.2. I don’t have a Miracast-enabled television, so this is a part I cannot report on. This is the same deal regarding the Qi wireless charging ability – the Nexus 4 can handle this standard and Google has created a peripheral geared for wireless charging. I didn’t have any wireless charging mats or docks, but it has been reported to work as expected – I look forward to checking out the Orb soon.

Camera

The Google Nexus 4 comes with an 8 megapixel camera that performs decently well. It is certainly an improvement over its predecessor, which sported a 5 megapixel camera at below average quality – the only real claim to fame that the Galaxy Nexus had for its camera was the fast shutter. You could quite literally just keep pressing that shutter button and rack up a large number of shots.

Photo quality on the Nexus 4 was actually quite good, as I found that the shutter speed used by the optics was adequate enough to get in enough light without blowing out the details the way the LG Optimus G did. From shutter to picture, the speed was not like that found in the Galaxy Nexus. It is still adequately fast, however, so users will just have to be aware of their photos and demand retakes when the shot goes blurry.

The flash, on the other hand, is quite powerful and can sometimes hurt the resulting photos instead of helping. It might be nice to throw some light into that dark indoor shot, but the sheer amount this flash puts out might blow out your content a little too much – not to mention your subject, who will be momentarily blinded.

Essentially, the interface and new features that Jelly Bean 4.2 brings to the table are the story here. A new camera app in the updated Android OS makes some changes to the way users take pictures while remaining somewhat familiar – your shutter button retains the blue color and look… and that’s about it. The interface has been quite overhauled, doing away with traditional touch and tap menus and opting for settings accessible by swipes. Simply touch and hold on any part of the viewfinder and swipe to the appropriate settings – the options will appear and then you just have to move your finger over to what you want and release. It is an elegant way of managing your camera that is very welcome and useful.

Aside from that, however, the options for picture taking are pretty standard, without really adding too much that we already know. HDR is available and helps you get a bit more punch out of the colors in your picture, while a small number of scene modes will help you get an effect you may want out of your content.

The main and pretty much only addition made to the general camera infrastructure is the inclusion of Photo Sphere. The much talked about feature allows for Street View-like pictures, as your phone uses the accelerometer to gauge positioning and you are guided around the grid with small blue dots that you center in the viewfinder. The captured shots are then all put together and a resulting 360 degree view of your surroundings is created. It is a very novel feature that I am sure many will find fun to use – I personally just don’t have much use for it.
Software

All this talk about the camera app brings me to one of the main stories of the Nexus 4, its included version of the Android operating system. As a Nexus device, this phone will receive all of the future updates from Google before everyone else. To a lot of people, this is a very big deal, and rightfully so – new features mean new experiences.

Jelly Bean 4.2 certainly lives up to that idea, as enhancements to the already tried and true Ice Cream Sandwich interface make the overall experience of Android more useful and enjoyable. For example, the new notification drop down menu has been added to, with a side of it now dedicated to the most used settings. After pulling down, a button on the right corner will rotate the notices and reveal tiles of various settings like WiFi and GPS. You can also reveal just the settings by doing a two-finger pull down.

This is a very welcome addition to the stock Android OS, as power widgets and apps embedded in the notification drop down were previous ways that users could change their device’s settings. Now, Google has recognized that need and has baked those capabilities in.

The lockscreen has also been enhanced to include features previously only found on custom ROMs or installed replacements – now, on the lockscreen, swiping left and right from the edges of the screen brings widgets to the front. The lockscreen clock is an included widget, as is a camera launcher that is seen below. There are also widgets for calendar entries, e-mails, and messaging. This makes your most important information easily accessible without having to swipe the lock and go through your applications.

A new keyboard has been included with Jelly Bean 4.2, as well – actually, it is the same touch typing keyboard that we already know and love, but gesture typing has been added in. This is much like Swype, where you just have to swipe around the letters for the word you want. It works well enough, but is simply an added feature and might not keep you from installing a replacement keyboard anyway. I do have to admit that seeing the word you are swiping right above your finger is a nice touch and is very Google.

And of course, there is Google Now – the information and search hub has seen some updates in 4.2, with added cards that show you flight information (after digging in your GMail account for received confirmation notices) and even a birthday card that appears on, when else, your birthday. Voice search has been updated to receive more inquiries, and whole questions are now Googled if a specific function isn’t triggered. Other commands include opening apps (“open GMail”) and setting alarms (“set alarm for 7:30am, label, weekdays).

The last feature that would like to mention is the Daydream function. Smartphones can be more than just pieces of glass and plastic sitting on your dock or charging on your desk with black and blank screens. Google seems to have noticed this, as well, and they have included functionality that makes devices running 4.2 display pictures, colors, or even just the time after an elapsed time charging or docked. I actually really like this function, as it brings a little more usage from such a nice screen when I’m not using my phone.

The clock is adequate enough, especially when the phone is functioning as a side table alarm clock; however, for when the phone is just docked nearby, you can use it as a photo frame. Imagine using this on the Nexus 10 sometimes. Just having the ability to use it when the desire arises is nice.

All in all, the newest version of Android is a pretty compelling reason to choose the Nexus 4. While the rest of the smartphone market tries to keep up, Google continuously brings out new versions of Android with new features that consistently feel like improvements on an already enjoyable and useful platform. With the Nexus 4, you’re already ahead of the game – for quite a few Android users out there, that’s one of the most important aspects of the Nexus line.

Conclusion

To answer the question of whether LG’s Nexus 4 lives up to its pedigree, one would have to look at the sum of its parts. It is already a feat to pack such high-end specs into this device, but the great translation into actual user experience is even more impressive. You’re getting top-notch Android in the Nexus 4 and that is a huge selling point right there.

As far as design goes, I have say that LG has improved on the previous Nexus offering by making a pretty smart move – taking what was already well-received and just building upon it. The Galaxy Nexus was already a fine looking device and the form factor was simplistic while retaining a sleek and inviting profile. In the hand, the Galaxy Nexus just fit and despite the large screen, discomfort was never a part of the experience. LG has taken all of this form and given it some shiny new front and back panels with some Crystal Reflection eye candy to top it off – and the result is an elegant phone that packs a lot of power.

And finally, the elegance and power helps bring Google’s vision of Android to life. The screen pops beautifully, making text easy on the eyes and graphics and video a treat to view. With updated, useful features that blend in with the already nice Android aesthetic, the update to Jelly Bean is worthwhile and enhances the Android experience. With the promise of first dibs on all future updates, it’s hard not to be happy with all that the Nexus 4 offers.

Nokia Lumia 822

2012-12-19T04:55:00.001-08:00

The Nokia Lumia 822, 820, and 810 are, from a hardware perspective, all the same phone -- an affordable mid-tier option with interchangeable casings -- just with different builds and offered on different carriers. The Lumia 820 is AT&T's version of the phone, while the Lumia 810 is a T-Mobile exclusive. That leaves Verizon Wireless' offering, the Lumia 822, which is a decidedly less attractive looking model that alternatively offers more in terms of performance.

Since we recently reviewed T-Mobile's Lumia 810, a very similar smartphone, we will be using this short-form review to highlight the few differences that set Verizon's Lumia 822 apart from its sister handsets. And though the differences are few and far between, they're certainly enough to suggest that this $50 option just might be the best option of the three.

Build and Design

The Lumia 822 takes a more traditional approach to its build, what with its rounded corners and gentle curves, unlike the sharper edges of the Lumia 810. It also features a glossy white casing instead of a matte finish, which I was personally a little disappointed to see, but I recognize that that's just a matter of taste.

The dimensions of the Lumia 822 are similar to its kinfolk, however, sharing the same exact width (2.69 inches) and height (5.03 inches) as the Lumia 810. The Lumia is ever-so-slightly thicker though, measuring 0.44 inches thick. It also features the same bottom-firing "speakers" as the Lumia 810, but this is once again a farce, as pulling off the removable casing reveals that there is, in fact, only one speaker beneath the grill.

Everything else is the same as far as the buttons and ports, as well, with the volume rocker, power button, and dedicated camera button all located on the right side. The 3.5mm headphone jack is on the top edge, while the micro USB port for charging is on the bottom, and the front-facing camera is right next to the earpiece. The 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with Carl Zeiss optics is located on the upper center of the back, along with its flash.

I talked in depth about the display in the Lumia 810 review, but let me repeat that Nokia's ClearBlack display technology makes a relativly low-resolution, 800 x 480 pixel display, look good.

Where the Nokia 822 beats the HTC 8X so far is on software. Call it bloatware if you like, but Nokia's list of exclusives contains a lot of useful stuff. Windows Phone needs Nokia Drive for turn-by-turn directions and Nokia Transit for transit directions. Nokia's camera apps let you make instant animated GIF-like images and combine photos of groups of people to eliminate shots where people's eyes are closed.
Microsoft's new Data Sense is exclusive to Verizon phones, and that's also a big deal. Like our Editors' Choice Onavo Extend, Data Sense monitors the data you're using app by app, and compresses data on its way to and from your phone. According to Microsoft, you can surf 45 percent more on the same data plan with Data Sense than without. That can help Verizon users shift down to lower data plans, and it'll help.
Otherwise, the Lumia 822's specs are similar to T-Mobile's Lumia 810 and AT&T's Lumia 820: a 4.3-inch, 800-by-480 ClearBlack OLED screen, 16GB of storage, an 8-megapixel camera and a 1.5-Ghz Qualcomm S4 processor.

Verizon will have three Windows Phones: the $99 Lumia 822, the $199 Windows Phone 8X and the mysterious Samsung Ativ Odyssey, which we know relatively little about. The 8X has a much more premium-feeling body, a higher-resolution screen and Beats Audio. The 822 has Nokia Drive. Both have Data Sense. It'll be interesting to see whether a lower price and GPS software win out over industrial design here.

The wasted space below the screen and navigation keys that I complained about on the Lumia 810 is still present, but it's perhaps a little less obvious at first glance due to the fact that some of that black space from the bezel is taken over by the white trim of the casing (though it is also available in black and silver). Rather than having close to an inch of black space on below the screen, it switches to white about halfway down -- complete with the Verizon branding -- which keeps it from looking like the bottom of the device was just stretched out.

Windows Phone 8 Smartphone - Nokia Lumia 810

2012-12-19T04:45:00.001-08:00

T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Nokia today announced the upcoming availability of the Nokia Lumia 810 -an exclusive to T-Mobile. The new Windows Phone 8 smartphone offers an enhanced camera, simple design and integrated navigation features. Combined with the only unlimited nationwide 4G data plan, T-Mobile customers will see a superior value with the Lumia 810, the latest addition to T-Mobile’s expanding lineup of Windows devices.

“We’re providing our customers with a unique Windows Phone 8 experience by offering an exclusive device paired with our Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan and a comprehensive set of enhanced features,” said Andrew Morrison, vice president of product management, T-Mobile USA. “The Nokia Lumia 810 gives customers speedy, 4G access to T-Mobile’s nationwide network and the content and features they want, whenever they need it. From navigation tools to an enhanced camera, the Lumia 810 provides a great value and a high-quality experience.

“The Nokia Lumia 810 features a sleek design and high-quality hardware, combined with the efficient and intuitive Windows Phone 8 operating system,” said Olivier Puech, President, Nokia Americas. “When combined with applications such as Nokia Drive and Nokia City Lens, the Lumia 810 ensures that T-Mobile customers are getting the best experience possible out of their smartphone.

Sleek Unibody Design and State-of-the-Art Wireless Charging
Featuring a 4.3-inch OLED WVGA Clear Black display, the Lumia 810 offers high-end performance in a compact package. The new smartphone is powered by Windows Phone 8, making it easy for users to personalize their device and experiences and always stay connected to friends and family. T-Mobile will offer exchangeable shells in cyan and black, which will allow the device to take advantage of Nokia’s convenient and innovative wireless charging solution.

New High-End Camera Features to Capture and Share Quality Photos
With an 8-megapixel camera engineered with Carl Zeiss optics, the Lumia 810 takes crisper and sharper pictures, bringing memories to life. The device also features a new 1.2-megapixel Skype HD certified front-facing camera, providing a high-quality mobile video chat experience. With the Lumia 810, users can capture, share and relive life’s moments with new camera features such as Cinemagraph, a lens that creates animated GIFs, as well as panorama settings and Group Shoot, which allows the customer to choose the best faces and smiles from a burst of photos and stitch them together to produce the perfect group shot.

Enhanced Navigation Experience
The Lumia 810 also comes with new and enhanced navigation features including Nokia City Lens, which overlays information about restaurants, shops, hotels and more on the surfaces of buildings, providing a new augmented reality experience. The smartphone also provides a comprehensive, integrated mapping experience through new enhancements to Nokia Drive, a voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation system, as well as through Nokia Transit, which provides directions to a location using public transportation.

Easier Entertainment
The Lumia 810 also comes with Nokia Music, which features playlists that are curated by an expert team of global and regional musicologists, spanning a wide spectrum of music genres. Completely advertisement-free, and requiring no registration or subscription, Nokia Music allows consumers to enjoy the songs of their favorite artists without disruption. Nokia Music can also be enjoyed offline so consumers can listen to their favorite playlists anytime, anywhere.

Sony Yuga Smartphone

2012-12-19T04:06:00.002-08:00

Increased Social Activity

If your online content isn't promoted on social monsters Facebook and Twitter, it may as well cease to exist. People rely on Facebook as a space for connecting with brands and obtaining interesting information—your blog's content. Image-driven posts elicit increased activity, from user clicks to shares and re-tweets. Since the Internet is overloaded with available and accessible information, you need to stay highly competitive and engaging. Promote original, high-quality content and posts with good visuals that compel people to not only read your content, but share it with others. In 2012, HubSpot compared the number of likes per photo to likes per average post (e.g. text, link and photo) of 8,800 Facebook posts from various company Facebook pages. The study revealed that posts with photos had 53 percent more likes than an average post. Photo posts also generated 104 percent more comments. An eye-catching visual can increase the post's social visibility and interaction, thus driving traffic back to your website. HubSpot also found that their own photo posts got clicked on 84 percent more than text and link posts. Wondering if your imagery is effective? You can gain insight on how effectively your content engages with audiences on social media with a platform like "Spredfast". Branding & Value

Samsung Galaxy S III vs.Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX HD HD

2012-12-19T03:50:00.000-08:00

Motorola has come with a series of beasts running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and each one of them are going to compete with each other on Verizon LTE network as well as smartphones from other companies like Samsung. By design, the Motorola Droid RAZR series are certainly one step ahead with sturdy look, Kevlar coated back and compact form factor, Droid RAZR MAXX HD has a fatty form factor due to the beefy battery inside though.

What makes it difficult to compare the RAZR HD and Galaxy S III is that they have fairly competitive specifications.

For instance, they both feature 1280 x 720 pixel HD resolution AMOLED screens (a resolution often referred to simply as "720P"). They also sport 1.5 GHz dual-core processors which give them similar speed, microSD card slots for expansion, roughly the same amount of memory, same 4G technology, same camera, right down to the Gorilla Glass that protects the touchscreen. While the Galaxy S III's screen is a tenth of an inch larger than the RAZR's, you're not likely to miss the difference.

As far as the spec sheets go, they might as well be twins in most of the important areas.

The place where the S3 and the RAZR HD part company is in how they perform for the user. As I mentioned, both devices are similarly fast. But the RAZR HD can be fast far longer than the S3 thanks to the RAZR's much better battery life. The RAZR includes a 2530 mAh battery, whereas the S3's is only 2100 mAh. That might not sound like a huge difference, but it means hours more of use out of the RAZR on a single charge.

Granted, the S3 has a removable battery, and you could buy a larger extended battery, albeit at the cost of thickness and weight -- even though the S3 is already in its regular version thicker than the RAZR HD. But most people won't bother to do that, and considering the "out of the box" experience, there's not much competition. The RAZR HD simply lasts longer.

That's far from the only difference, though... and those differences are living proof that it's sometimes the little things that make all the difference. For instance, both devices feature an HDMI output. But the S3 does HDMI via MHL connector, which means that you need to have a special adapter (which is not included in the box) plus an HDMI cable, plus a power supply, and presumably, plus the cable to go from the power supply to the adapter where it plugs in. All told, that means at least three, almost certainly four pieces that you need to carry in order for you to simply connect to an HDMI-ready TV. The RAZR, on the other hand, features a standard micro-HDMI port, right next to the micro-USB connector. All you need to hook up to any HDMI ready device is one simple, standard cable. Easy as cutting a cake.

Or let's look at the completely on-device experience for a second. The S3 features a small LED light in the top left corner above the screen to show alerts, such as new emails, messages, and so forth. It's tiny, a small round bit about the size of of the (otherwise invisible) light sensor. Small, and easy to miss if you don't know to look at it. The RAZR, on the other hand, has a large and clear LED for notifications that's almost an inch wide, bright enough to be seen in a well lit room, but not SO bright that it's a distraction in a darkened room, or while you're trying to sleep. It's the right balance between intrusive enough to see, but not intrusive enough to bother you when you don't want to be bothered.

While those might sound a little bit petty, they're the most visible points of a much larger issue: the RAZR HD is simply a little more user friendly than the Galaxy S III. Certainly, you could buy either device and have a grand old time, and be very satisfied with your gadget. But when writing a comparison of the two, the underlying fact is clear: for me, at least, I find the RAZR HD provides a better experience, and more comfort for the user than the Galaxy S III. Battery life, HDMI, and simple usability.

Conclusion

As much as I'm normally a fan of Samsung's devices, this really is fairly simple. The RAZR HD does all the things that the Galaxy S III does, and it does them longer and better. Whether it's the longer battery life, or just the little things like having an easy-to-use HDMI port, better notifications, and an easier menu, the RAZR wins the day.

The main weakness of the RAZR HD is having a non-removable battery... and with its excellent battery life, that's not all that much of a weakness. For new users or upgraders looking for the most cutting edge device, I would say that the RAZR HD is the better of the two... although I might wait to see how the RAZR MAXX HD performs before signing a new two year contract.
What is your choice?

HTC Windows Phone 8S

2012-12-18T10:18:00.000-08:00

With the HTC 8S you can stay connected and stand out: enjoy instant access to the content and contacts that matter most with dual-core performance and an intuitive interface. Plus, with ultra-vibrant two-tone colour wraps, you’ll be guaranteed to stand out from the crowd

The HTC 8S is a device that was designed with entertainment in mind. Music, movies and games are complemented by exclusive, built-in Beats Audio, for unrivalled sound. When it comes to music, you’ll hear every note of each track just as the artist intended, with deep bass and crystal-clear vocals

Stay in touch thanks to real-time updates with personalised Live Tiles. Get updates on a customisable interface that lives and breathes with your personality. And with the brilliant, pixel-packed 4 inch display of the 8S, you can rest assured that you’ll see it all in beautiful detail Create, edit and share in an instant with a best-in-class 5 Megapixel camera. A physical camera button means taking great photos is as simple as pointing and shooting, while an array of themes, colours and special effects let you unleash your creativity and fit your pictures to your mood. Then instantly upload your photos to Facebook and Flickr to share your favourite moments with the people who matter.

UA-37169558-1

For anyone wishing to try Windows Phone for the first time, or even upgrade a previous Windows Phone handset, the HTC 8S handset is a prime contender. Its exciting colour range, which includes Domino, Fiesta Red, Atlantic Blue and High-Rise Grey, offers choices that are sure to make the handset stand out from the crowd.

However, it’s not only the look of the Windows Phone 8S by HTC that will catch the eye of potential buyers, but the spec sheet as well; while the HTC 8S is reasonably priced, its hardware offering has not been compromised. A Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1GHz dual-core processor powers the device, which also includes a microSD slot.

Several of the top Android handsets now come with quad-core processors, but it is argued by chip manufacturers such as Qualcomm that the vast majority of users (95%) only use two cores at any one time. In the case of the HTC 8S, the inclusion of a 1GHz dual-core processor and 512MB RAM provides ample power for a smooth user experience, but also helps to keep the price point down.

In terms of connectivity options, there is no NFC included with the HTC 8S, but it does have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G, which provide plenty of options for sharing media and connecting to the web. There’s also GPS and GLONASS included for navigation, plus a 3.5mm earphone jack for connecting a set of headphones.

The HTC 8S offers a stylish Windows Phone 8 experience at a superb price point

HTC 8S Features
Stay connected and stand out
Ultimate entertainment
Personalised live tiles
Instant sharing and built-in creativity
Windows Phone 8
Qualcomm S3 1GHz dual-core processor
4" Super LCD display with Corning Gorilla Glass
Beats Audio integration
4GB Internal Storage
MicroSD expansion slot
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G
5MP Camera
Internal GPS GLONASS
MicroSIM
HTC 8S Box Contents
HTC 8S handset
Stereo headset
AC adaptor USB cable
Documentation

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Grand Smart Phone

2012-12-18T09:32:00.001-08:00

How many Galaxy-branded phones will Samsung launch? We’re not sure, but it’s not stopping anytime soon. The company on Tuesday unveiled its latest device, the Galaxy Grand, an Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean smartphone with a 5-inch display. That places it right between the size of the screen on the Galaxy S III and the 5.5-inch display on the Galaxy Note II.

The Galaxy Grand packs a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera, a 2-megapixel camera for video chat, Bluetooth 4.0, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of expandable storage and support for HSPA+ 21Mbps networks. It also sports several Touch Wiz features that are available on the Galaxy Note II, such as the Multi Window feature for quickly jumping between applications, Smart Alert, which shows missed calls when you pick up the phone, pop-up video previews, S Voice and more.

Samsung is planning to release two versions of the Galaxy Grand, including a single SIM model and one that accepts two SIM cards. That means international travelers can have two numbers routing to the phone, which makes it a great option for work/recreation or for two people who need to share a single device.

We expect we’ll see this phone during Mobile World Congress in February, where we hope Samsung will discuss pricing and availability in more detail.

Samsung GALAXY Grand runs Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), Google’s latest operating system. Its vivid 5.0’’ display provides an expansive viewing experience, presenting messaging, multimedia and Web content in brilliant color and clarity. Even with the large screen, the phone is still slim, ergonomic and comfortable to hold. You can also enjoy true multitasking running multiple apps simultaneously and without switching screens using Multi Window feature.

GALAXY Grand with an impressive 1.2 GHz Dual Core processor supports seamless multitasking, faster web browsing, lightning-fast screen transitions and superior graphics for some of the most demanding apps and games.

The GALAXY Grand sports a powerful camera with zero shutter-lag and ultra-quick camera start-up. It includes a backside illumination sensor to ensure clear shots even in dark conditions, as well as Full HD video recording.

Samsung GALAXY Grand also includes intuitive features that make the phone easy to use. For example, Direct Call enables users to automatically dial a call by raising the device up to the ear; while users can also shake the phone to trigger status updates, or pan it to zoom into a screen. Smart Alert shows missed events such as missed calls and new messages just by picking up the phone. Popup Video, for example, lets users watch video in a pop-up window anywhere on the screen while running other tasks; S Voice lets you control the phone using your voice; and AllShare Play lets you share content across Samsung devices using a single account.

The phone is pre-loaded with the latest versions of Samsung Hubs to deliver the most popular games, movies and music direct to the user on demand.

The GALAXY Grand will be available in two versions – The Dual SIM version (GT-I9082) will launch first and the single SIM version (GT-I9080) will follow. For the dual SIM version, its innovative dual SIM feature provides total communication flexibility, allowing users to manage two phone numbers from a single phone. It is possible to receive calls on one SIM number while taking a call from the other, ensuring efficient management of personal and work commitments without ever missing a call. Dual SIM also offers the flexibility of selecting different billing plans for either SIM, switching between them to make the most of cheaper call and data plans.

Apple iOS 5.1

2012-12-18T02:21:00.000-08:00

Apple released an update for the iPhone’s operating system last week. Sadly, the move from iOS 5.0.1 to iOS 5.1 offered very little for users of this smartphone. I’ve been using it for a week now, and I’m completely underwhelmed. This is too bad, as there’s a long list of potential enhancements that could have been made.

The most noticeable change is the addition of a camera button on the unlock screen. If you want to quickly take a picture, you can hit this button and slide the screen up and you’ll be in the camera app. The new version also allows you delete images directly from the photo stream.

If you’re an AT&T customer, your iPhone now tells you that you’re connected to a 4G network when you have an HSPA+ connection. Your phone isn’t faster than it was before, however.

Features MIA
What does it offer beyond that? Not much. You still have the “choice” of only one keyboard layout, you can’t specify the default apps for different tasks, there’s only limited support for Bluetooth, you can’t have different signatures for different email accounts… I could go on and on.

One of the best features was mysteriously stripped out. A beta offered Facebook integration, which allowed people to upload images to this social networking service directly from the Photos app. Unfortunately, this did not make it into the final version.

The iOS is much more mature and robust than it was just a few years ago, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. It’s too bad Apple missed this chance to make some of the needed enhancements.

Samsung Galaxy S III Sales Break 10 Million

2012-12-18T01:23:00.001-08:00

Maybe Samsung is right and the next big thing really is here:sales of the company's Galaxy S III smartphone have officially broken 10 million units.

Though he was unable to provide specific numbers, the head of Samsung's information technology and mobile communication division, Shin Jong-Kyun,told the Yonhap News Agency that the company has moved more than 10 million Galaxy S III units since its initial launch in the EU and Middle East at the very end of May.

This outstrips the pace of its predecessor, the Galaxy S II, which took five months to reach 10 million units in sales. And the company's executives are likely satisfied with the news, as Samsung previously stated that, despite fighting component shortages, its goal was to hit the 10 million mark by early July.

Sales in the United States have surely contributed to this figure, as Samsung's new flagship phone is available from all of the top carriers in this country.

To learn more about the Samsung Galaxy S III, have a look here at our review of the US version,or here for our review of the international version.