TechFried

Microsoft Surface Windows 8 tablet announced

2012-06-19T10:22:00.000+04:00

Steve Ballmer has just officially announced Microsoft’s own tablet called, Surface, gearing up take Microsoft and Windows 8 in a Mexican standoff with the iPad and Android.

Two models of the Surface will come out – one for Windows 8 Pro and one for Windows RT. Both will have a 10.6 inch display covered with Gorilla Glass 2, bodies made of vapor-deposited (PVD) magnesium case which Microsoft calls Vapor Mg, and a built-in kickstand.

The internals of the Surface are what separate the two models. The Windows 8 Pro model will be powered by Intel’s 22nm Ivy Bridge chips which allow a “full Windows” experience and will ship in 64GB and 128 GB versions.
On the other hand, the Windows RT model will be powered by an ARM processor and will be using a Nvidia Tegra chipset (heavily suspected to be the Tegra 3+). It is lighter and thinner than the Pro version and will arrive in 32GB and 64GB versions.

Take a look at the initial specs found so far.

The Touch Cover though is one of the nifty features of the Surface. Kinda acts like Apple’s Smart Covers but more functional and gives the Surface its personality through different colors. Watch the promotional video below to give you a deeper understanding.

So far no details on pricing but Balmer said that it will be priced “competitively.” As for the release date, the tablets are expected to be released in the fourth quarter of this year after the launch of Windows 8.
What do you guys think? Can the Surface go head to toe with the iPad and Android’s elites? Share your thoughts below.

Source: Yugatech

The Resolutionary “New iPad” vs. the iPad 2

2012-03-08T11:43:00.000+04:00

It’s neither the iPad 3 nor the iPad HD. It’s just simply called, the “new iPad”. But still the rumors were true — it has a new Retina Display, improved quad-core graphics, upgraded camera and 1080p HD video recording. Check out the improved hardware specs compared to the iPad 2.

Third-generation iPad specs:

• 9.7” IPS LCD Retina Display @ 2048×1536 pixels
• 1GHz A5X dual-core processor, quad-core graphics
• 5MP iSight rear camera with autofocus
• 1080p HD video recording with video stabilization
• 2MP front-facing camera
• 16GB, 32GB & 64GB internal storage
• WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 4G LTE up to 72Mbps
• HSPA+ up to 21Mbps and HSDPA up to 42Mbps
• Updated apps (iLife, iWork, iPhoto, iMovie, Garage Band)
• Siri Dictation
• iOS 5.1

Compare that to the old specs of the iPad 2:

Apple iPad 2 specs:
• 1GHz Apple A5 chip dual-core processor
• 9.7″ display @ 1024×768 pixels
• WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR
• UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 7.2Mbps
• 0.7MP rear camera
• 720p video recording @ 30fps
• VGA front-facing camera
• Assisted GPS
• iOS 5

One of the advantages of the new iPad over the iPad 2 is the Siri-like feature. However, people who will buy the new iPad will have to settle for the dictation only feature at the moment. Maybe iOS 6 will bring full Siri assistance in the future.

We’ve also reported earlier that the old iPad 2 prices have been cut down by as much as Php6,000 to make way for the prices of the new iPad. So, the big question is: “Is the new iPad worth the upgrade?”

If you are planning to buy the iPad for the first time and already have the budget, then you might find the new iPad worthy of purchase. But if the beefed-up specs failed to impress you that much, then the iPad 2 is probably a good deal. Plus, you get to keep an extra Php6,000.

For iPad 2 owners, it’s only worth the upgrade if you really need the Retina display, Siri dictation, upgraded optics and new A5X chip. Otherwise, stick to your current affair.

In my opinion, the new iPad is aimed at new iPad users and at those who need an upgraded multimedia powerhouse. But in the end, it’s all about personal preference, finding out which device suits your lifestyle and getting the best value for your money.

Source: Yugatech

Nokia 808 PureView vs. HTC One X: Photo Quality

2012-03-05T22:45:00.000+04:00

The photo quality of the new smartphones that were announced recently were just amazing that they rival even the top point-and-shoot phones and even entry-level dSLRs. Of note are the cameras from the Nokia 808 PureView and the HTC One X.

Sample photos were recently released showing the quality of the images produced by these cameras and as they say, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”.

So let’slook at these early photos from both.

Nokia 808 PureView sample photos:

HTC One X sample photos:

I’m curious to see more sample but it looks like the HTC One X has a good fighting chance against the 41-megapixel shooter of the Nokia 808 PureView.

Source: Yugatech

Ipad 3 Concept Design

2012-03-05T15:56:00.000+04:00

Cool Features, edge to edge Retina display. Check it out:

iPad 3 announcement on March 7

2012-02-29T13:06:00.000+04:00

Apple has sent out invites for a March 7 announcement and by the looks of it, the most likely product is the next-generation iPad (we still don’t know yet if it’s going to be called iPad HD, iPad 3, iPad 2HD or 2S).

Speculations point to a number of new features, including an HD resolution (something like Retina Display), a quad-core processor and possibly options for LTE modem.

In any case, we anticipate that all these announcements at the Mobile World Congress about all sorts of Android tablets can be matched by Apple’s tablet come March 7.

{via}

Source: Yugatech

Nokia Lumia 610: Windows Phone 7 for cheap?

2012-02-28T08:27:00.000+04:00

The Nokia Lumia 610 was finally unveiled at the MWC Nokia press event and is positioned to redefine what is “entry-level” for a Windows Phone.

Here’s why.

Let’s start with the basic specs:

• Running Windows Phone 7.5
• Powered by an 800MHz single-core Snapdragon S1 processor
• 256MB of RAM
• 8GB of internal storage
• 3.7-inch WVGA TFT LCD (480 x 800 pixels)
• 5MP camera w/ autofocus and LED flash
• HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps & HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps capable
• WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1
• GPS
• Measurements at 119 x 62 x 12 mm

The Lumia 610 will be available in four colors (white, cyan, magenta and black) and will hit the market in 2nd quarter of 2012 for the price of 189 euros which is aboutPhp11,000. Is it cheap enough or what?

Check out the hands-on video below courtesy of Nokia.

Source: Yugatech

Asus Padfone officially announced!

2012-02-28T00:03:00.000+04:00

Asus’ re-entry to the smartphone market (after a failed partnership with Garmin) is highlighted by their flagship Android handset called the Asus Padfone, an ICS smartphone that transforms into a tablet.

First unveiled in Computex back in May 2011, the Asus Padfone is a combination of a tablet that’s powered by a detachable Android phone.

Asus didn’t have full specifications of the Padfone then.

Asus Padfone specs:
4.3″ Super AMOLED display @ 540×960 pixels
Qualcomm MSM 8960 Snapdragon S4 Krait 1.5GHz dual-core
Adreno 225 GPU
1GB RAM
16GB, 32GB and 64GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
HSPA+ 42Mbps
8MP autofocus camera
GPS w/ aGPS support
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

The handset itself is also pretty thin at just 9.2mm. The Padfone comes with a 10.1-inch tablet which you an tuck inside (from the back) and turns the whole set up into one large ICS tablet.

Asus did not indicate the battery life of the Padfone but says the tablet adds 5x more battery life to the handset. There’s also an optional keyboard dock which is sold separately (much like the Asus Transformer).

We expect Asus to release the Padfone this April but we’re not sure it that includes the Philippines.

Source: Yugatech

Sony Xperia P, Xperia U takes cue from Xperia S

2012-02-27T17:56:00.000+04:00

While Sony has already announced its first flagship smartphone (post-Sony Ericsson era) with the Xperia S, two new mid-level handsets were also revealed — the Xperia P and the Xperia U.

Sony Xperia P specs:
4.0-inch LCD display @ 540×960 pixels, 275ppi
NovaThor U8500 1.0GHz dual-core processor
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA
3G/HSPA
Bluetooth 2.1
GPS w/ aGPS support
8MP autofocus rear camera, LED flash
1080p video recording
VGA front facing camera
NFC support
FM radio tuner
1300mAh Li-Ion battery
Android 2.3 Gingerbread

While the Xperia P is considered as the mid-level smartphone by Sony, the Xperia U is the entry-level handset with a smaller display screen.

Sony Xperia U specs:
3.5-inch LCD display @ 480×854 pixels, 280ppi
NovaThor U8500 1.0GHz dual-core processor
512MB RAM
8GB internal storage
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA
3G/HSPA
Bluetooth 2.1
GPS w/ aGPS support
5MP autofocus rear camera, LED flash
720p video recording
VGA front facing camera
FM radio tuner
1300mAh Li-Ion battery
Android 2.3 Gingerbread

The NovaThor chipset is a product of ST-Ericsson which consist of an integrated System on Chips (SoC) and modems. The NovaTor U8500 supports a dual-core processor and an HSPA modem.

NovaThor is also the same processor that Nokia uses in their Windows Phone 7 handsets.

Both handsets will be upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich once it becomes available. Though I am told the Sony Xperia S will be released in the Philippines by the 2nd week of April, I am not sure if the XPeria P and Xperia U will tag long with it.

Source: Yugatech

Nokia 808 PureView with 41MP camera announced!

2012-02-27T17:16:00.000+04:00

Nokia earlier teased us with the super-cameraphone and has finally announced theNokia 808 PureView with a humongous 41-megapixel camera.

Running on a Symbian Belle OS, the Nokia 808 basically replaces the Nokia N8 as company’s flagship cameraphone.

Nokia 808 Pureview specs:
4.0″ display @ 360×640 pixels
1.3GHz single-core processor
512MB RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 3.0
HSPA 14.4Mbps
41MP Carl-Zeiss rear camera w/ Xenon flash
1080p video recording
GPS w/ aGPS support
Nokia Symbian Belle

It is interesting that Nokia used Symbian Belle instead of Windows Phone 7 with the Nokia Pureview.

The camera’s sensor has a size of 1/1.2” and capable of 4x zoom while recording a full HD 1080p video. Here are the ful specifications of the camera;

• Carl Zeiss Optics
• Focal length: 8.02mm
• 35mm equivalent focal length: 26mm, 16:9 | 28mm, 4:3
• F-number: f/2.4
• Focus range: 15cm – Infinity (throughout the zoom range)
• Construction:
· 5 elements, 1 group.All lens surfaces are aspherical
· One high-index, low-dispersion glass mould lens
· Mechanical shutter with neutral density filter
• Optical format: 1/1.2”
• Total number of pixels: 7728 x 5368
• Pixel Size: 1.4 microns

Nokia set the price tag of the Nokia 808 PureView at 450 euros or about Php26,000. Expect the Nokia PureView to be released by May 2012.

{via }

Source: Yugatech

Huawei Ascend D quad becomes official: The world's fastest quad-core smartphone

2012-02-27T01:27:00.000+04:00

Huawei officially unveiled the world's fastest quad-core smartphone at MWC, the Huawei Ascend D quad. The Ascend D quad comes with Huawei's K3V2 1.5GHz quad-core processor with a built-in 16 core graphics processor. It also comes with a 4.5-inch HD (720x1280) display with a 32-bit true color graphic processor and 330ppi pixel density, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 8MP BSI rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, Dolby 5.1 surround, Audience earSmart voice technology, LTE, 1800mAh battery and 8.9mm thin profile.
The Ascend D quad will be available in China, Australia, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North and South America, and the Middle East in Q2 2012.

Source: Ilonggo Tech Blog

10.1″ Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 announced

2012-02-26T14:22:00.000+04:00

Samsung is introducing yet another model in the 10.1-inch category of its Galaxy Tab line-up, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. What is rather odd is that the design and hardware specifications of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is almost the same as the older tablet, except for the fact that the new one comes with Android 4.0 ICS out of the box.

Samsung also announced a Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 last February 13 so this Tab 2 10.1 is just part of that new batch.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) specs:

10.1″ PLD TFT display @ 1280×800 WXGA screen
1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core processor
1GB RAM (724MB actual)
16GB and 32GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD
3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash
720p video recording
1080p video playback
VGA front-facing camera
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 3.0 HS
FM radio
HSPA+ 21Mbps
70000 mAh battery
GPS w/ aGPS support
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Samsung will offer the Tab 2 10.1 with WiFi-only and WiFi+3G variants. And unlike the previous Tab 10.1 which di not have any microSD card slot, this one will.

Expect the pricing to be similar to the 1st-generation 10-inch Galaxy Tab.

Source: Yugatech

LG Optimus 4X HD announced with ICS and Tegra 3

2012-02-24T03:29:00.000+04:00

LG Mobile has officially unveiled the successor to the Optimus 2X. Touting a quad-core, Tegra 3 processor running on Android Ice Cream Sandwich, the LG Optimus 4X HD is one of the first Tegra 3 handsets in the world.

LG scored points when it announced the first dual-core smartphone last year and wants repeat that record with the first quad-core smartphone this year.

LG Optimus 4X HD specs:

4.7″ IPS LCD display @ 1280×800 pixels
Tegra 3 processor
NVidia GeForce GPU
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
MHL, DLNA
Bluetooth
HSDPA/HSUPA
GPS w/ aGPS support
8MP autofocus rear camera
108p video recording
1.3MP front-facing camera
2150mAh Li-Ion battery
Android 4.0 ICS

The Optimus 4X HD sports a massive 4.7-inch display and a thin profile of just 8.9mm (close to the LG Prada 3.0 which is at 8.5mm).

The Optimus 4X HD is expected to be released some time in the 2nd quarter of this year.

Source: Yugatech

LG Optimus 3D Cube and 3D Max announced

2012-02-23T03:23:00.000+04:00

LG Mobile has announced two new 3D smartphones a couple of days ahead of the Mobile World Congress — the LG Optimus 3D Cube and the LG Optimus 3D Max, the successor to the first Optimus 3D from last year.

The new Optimus 3D Cube and 3D Max are much thinner now at 9.6mm compared to the first one which is a bit thicker at 11.9mm. The new handsets will also both have NFC support

LG Optimus 3D Cube SU870 specs:

4.3″ 3D IPS LCD @ 480×800 pixels
Nova Display
TI OMAP 4430 1.2GHz dual-core
PowerVR SGX540
16GB internal storage
1GB RAM
HSPA+ 21Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA
GPS w/ aGPS support
Bluetooth 2.1 w/ EDR
NFC
2 x 5MP autofocus camera
1080p video (2D and 3D)
1520mAh Li-Ion battery
Android 2.3 Gingerbread

What’s actually odd is that the Optimus 3D Max is just similar to the Optimus 3D Cube, except for a more basic LCD and smaller internal storage.

LG Optimus 3D Max specs:
4.3″ 3D LCD @ 480×800 pixels
TI OMAP 4430 1.2GHz dual-core
PowerVR SGX540
8GB internal storage
1GB RAM
HSPA+ 21Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA
GPS w/ aGPS support
Bluetooth 2.1 w/ EDR
NFC
2 x 5MP autofocus camera
1080p video (2D and 3D)
1520mAh Li-Ion battery
Android 2.3 Gingerbread

It’s most like that this new 3D duo will split the category in the price point. Remember that LG’s Nova display will be much brighter than the conventional LCD.

Both 3d smartphones will be ready for Android ICS once the updates become available. Expect them to be released in the market starting March 2012.

Source: Yugatech

Apple iPad 3 to be Announced Next Month : 8 Things We Know So Far!

2012-02-20T13:39:00.000+04:00

If information recently fed by industry insiders to various online publications were to be believed, Apple fans should have a field day next month!

According to them, the Cupertino-company is already set to announce Apple iPad 3, the latest iteration to the popular iOS-powered tablet line, via an exclusive event on March 7, 2012 -- that's less than 30 days from now.

But what can we expect from the new iPad? What new features will it have?

The thing with upcoming Apple products is you never really know what they're going to be like until they get officially announced. And the same goes iPad3; So far, everything that we know about the slate are but speculations and supposed leaks from Apple insiders.

Let me do a quick round-up:

1. There are insider reports stating that there's a shortage of Retina Display coming from Apple's current display suppliers, LG and Samsung. And, as if reinforcing this claim, Forbes recently posted a story about Apple's hunt for a new display supplier, which ended with Sharp.

Quoting Forbes, "Apple and Sharp together have a modified IGZO (indium, gallium, zinc) technology to achieve 330 dpi, which is sufficient for an HD display while not using IPS nor having to include dual-bar LED backlighting. In our view, this should lead to several design advantages, namely the device can be thinner, battery life should be longer, and the overall experience for users should be meaningfully improved."

So will Apple call this new screen 'Retina Display' still? Well, that remains to be seen.

2. In November 2011, Korea Times reported that iPad3 will run on the new Apple A6 processor, which - interestingly enough - will be manufactured by Samsung despite on-going legal battles with Apple. Some insiders are saying that A6 will be a quad-core processor with slightly faster clock speed than Apple A5.

3. Last year, CNET hinted that iPad3 will support LTE connectivity via its Qualcomm 4G LTE Gobi 4000 chip. If you're not yet familiar with LTE, it's the latest in radio platform technology allowing operators to deliver speeds of up to a whopping 100 Mbits/second -- far-higher than what subscribers can get from even HSPA+. (As mentioned on TP earlier, this should be interesting Smart Communications as the company has just announced its LTE service, which will be publicly available soon. Smart iPad3-LTE bundles, anyone?!)

4. Photos of iPad3 parts leaked via TheiPadGuide show that the new tablet will have a smaller dock connector compared to its two predecessors. (I'm not so sure about this, really.)

5. According to IBTimes, Apple iPad3 will have a thicker shell compared to iPad2. Quoting the site, "iPad 3 back panel hints at a slightly thicker profile, approximately 1 mm thicker than its predecessor. The iPad 2 was only 88 mm deep, but the slightly expanded form is likely intended to house Apple's upgraded components, including a bigger battery, an improved camera, and a dual-LED lit system to make the 2048 x 1536 display even brighter. By adding a second LED bar into its next-gen tablet, Apple also managed to solve a puzzling problem involving heat dissipation and battery consumption."

6. Some tech bloggers are speculating that both iPhone5 and iPad3 will come with NFC support. For those who aren't familiar with this technology, NFC is a technology that allows devices to connect and interact with each other simply by tapping. There are already smartphones and other devices out in the market that has an NFC chip like Nokia N9 and BlackBerry Bold 9900 so Apple is already playing catch-up in this department.

7. Likewise, there are some tech-bloggers who are reporting that the next-generation iPad will come with a higher resolution camera, 128GB of storage for one variant, a ThunderBolt port, a new light-weight carbon fiber enclosure and a microSD card slot. Aside from the camera improvement, the other features mentioned don't seem likely, I think.

8. According to sources of Taiwanese tech website, Digitimes, there will be two versions of the iPad that will be released this year; One will target the high-end segment while the other is in themidrange price category. The two new iPad models, they say, will both run on an Apple A6 processor - with yet to be disclosed features - but the high-end model will come with a high resolution screen (2048x1536) and the mid-tier model will sport the same display as iPad 2 (1024x768).

Again, these are but rumors and speculations and that, at the end of the day, only Apple knows for sure how iPad3 looks and what its technical specifications are exactly.

SOURCE: TechPinas

LG Optimus Vu announced!

2012-02-20T01:19:00.001+04:00

LG Mobile now has its own smartphone and tablet combo under the name LG Optimus Vu. The device, a 5-incher, is one of the first few ones to be introduced in the market after the Dell Streak 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Note.
The Optimus Vu has a rather unique aspect ratio of 4:3, giving it a mini-tablet look rather than an extra-large smartphone appeal.

LG Optimus Vu specs:

5.0″ IPS LCD display @ 1024×768 pixels
1.5GHz dual-core processor
32GB internal storage
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1
8MP autofocus rear camera
1.3MP front-facing camera
GPS with aGPS support
Li-Ion 2,080mAh battery
Android 2.3 Gingerbread

More details once we get the official press release from the local PR. What’s known though is that the Optimus Vu s very thin at only 8.5mm (that’s as thin as the recently launched LG Prada 3.0).
Like the Optimus Black and the LG Prada 3.0, the Optimus Vu also boasts of a Nova display with a brightness rating of 650 nits.
The Optimus Vu also comes with a stylus so you can draw and make sketches on the screen just like the Galaxy Note. LG Mobile will release this first in Korea by March then the rest of the world after then.

Source: Yugatech

Android 5.0 Jelly Bean to dual-boot with Chrome OS

2012-02-18T13:19:00.000+04:00

It was just recently that manufacturers started rolling-out Android Ice Cream Sandwich to some of their devices but here we are with the latest rumor about the release of Android’s next treat, the 5.0 Jelly Bean, in the second quarter of this year.

Android Jelly Bean will be further optimized for tablet PCs and netbook computers with the ability to dual boot Chrome OS.

Google is probably trying to market their cloud-based platform once more by hitching a ride with Android but I think it’ll be a short-lived affair as brand vendors can choose to have Android 5.0 only or dual boot with Windows 8. The best part is you’ll be able to switch OSes without the need to reboot. Really sweet!

Pretty sure we’ll be seeing Jelly Bean on popular tablets such as the Transformer Prime in the near future. With brands like Asus planning to launch a Windows 8 tablet later this year, added the potential of an Android 5.0 dual boot, I say the tablet wars just got a lot better this time around.

Source: Yugatech

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 announced!

2012-02-13T22:06:00.000+04:00

And we though the current line-up of Galaxy Tabs from Samsung is already all we needed to complete the family. Turns out Samsung is not yet done and has just announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 will actually be the cheapest of all the 7-inch tablets, cheaper than the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 specs:
7-inch PLS LCD display @ 1024×600 pixels
1GHz dual-core processor
1GB RAM
8GB, 16GB and 32GB internal storage
HSPA+ 21Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 3.0
GPS w/ aGPS support
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

This makes the 7-inch Galaxy Tab the most populated form factor in Samsung’s tablet offering. The Galaxy Tab 2 will be offered in WiFi-only and WiFi+3G options starting at around $450 and coming out this March.

Source: Yugatech

Nokia Lumia 800 in the flesh, first impressions

2012-02-09T13:40:00.000+04:00

Nokia’s new line of flagship smartphones will tout a spanking new Windows Phone 7.5 Mango mobile operating system. We finally got one of them to take out for a spin — the Nokia Lumia 800.

The design and form factor of the Lumia 800 did not depart much from the first Meego handset Nokia released back in October 2011, the Nokia N9. You can check out our review of the Nokia N9 here.

The few physical differences would be the screen size (3.7″ for the Lumia 800 and 3.9″ for the N9) and the WP7 navigation menu (Back, Home, Search) at the bottom corner of the glass display.

While a 3.7″ screen might not be as big or at par with the other flagship phones and why Nokia did not just use the same 3.9″ display of the N9 isn’t clear but it surely does offer better pixel density with a screen resolution of 480×800 pixels.

Like the N9, the Lumia 800 also uses a micro-SIM card which is housed in a sliding compartment at the top of the handset. The contraption requires that you pop out the cover of the micro-USB port first before you can slide open the cover and pull out SIM card cradle.

And since the Lumia 800 uses an unibody design, the entire body is encased in a soft-matte polycarbonate material and there’s no way you can easily take out the battery.

The AMOLED screen and Nokia CBD technology provides the Lumia 800 a stunning display. The glass panel in the front still has that slightly embossed edge. I remember Nokia executives explaining how that embossed glass is critical to the navigation experience of Meego in the N9. With Windows Phone 7, I don’t think that same principle applies.

The hardware configuration of the Lumia 800 is decent but not as impressive as the specs of other flagship smartphones. Check out the official specs listed below.

Nokia Lumia 800 specs:
Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon 1.4GHz
Adreno 205 GPU
3.7″ AMOLED display @ 480×800 pixels (252ppi)
Nokia ClearBlack display
16GB internal storage
512MB RAM
HSDPA 14.4Mbps, HSUPA 5.76Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1
8MP autofocus camera, Carl Zeiss optics, dual-LED flash
720p video recording
FM Radio tuner
GPS w/ aGPS support
Li-Ion 1450mAh battery
Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango

Conspicuously absent in the feature-set is NFC which, according to Microsoft, is not yet supported by Windows Phone 7.5 Mango (the WP7 update will eventually support it).

For a better perspective of what I think of the Windows Phone 7 platform, check out my review of the HTC HD7 here.

Source: Yugatech

Asus Transformer Prime TF 201

2012-02-06T16:14:00.001+04:00

Asus Transformer Prime TF 201 specs:

10.1″ Super IPS+ display @ 1280×800 pixels
Gorilla Glass Display
NVidia Tegra 3 1.6 GHz quad-core processor
32GB and 64GB internal storage
1GB DDR2 RAM
1.2MP front-facing camera
8MP autofocus camera with LED flash
3.5mm mic & headphone combo jack
micro HDMI port
micro SD card slot
USB 2.0 port (dock)
SD Card slot (dock)
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1 w/ EDR
up to 18 hours of battery life (w/ dock)
Google Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich

The tablet has the genetic make-up of an ultrabook, albeit a smaller one and could have been easily mistaken for an Asus Zenbook.

Play

What is most surprising with this batch is that they already run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and according to Antutu and Quadrant Standard, the processors run at 1.6GHz each (not the 1.4GHz originally reported).

I also have the first Asus Transformer tablet with me and placed them side by side for a quick comparison. Even the USB charger is also the same as the old one.

The Transformer Prime looks much thinner than the Asus Transformer because the edges are tapered, just like the Zenbook. The keyboard has sunk a little bit and trackpad seems wider with the left and right clickers now integrated into it (not separated as it used to the with the first one). This could have help shave a few millimeters off of the thickness of the device.

Photo Via

Source: Yugatech

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 P6800 announced

2012-02-05T12:01:00.001+04:00

Aside from that 5.3-incher Galaxy Note that Samsung announced, they’re also re-introducing the 7-inch tablet — this time, it comes with a stunning 7.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display — the Galaxy Tab 7.7 P6800.

At 7.9mm on the side, this is now the thinnest tablet ever.

Samsung Galaxy Tab P6800 7.7-inch specs:

7.7″ Super AMOLED Plus display @ 800 x 1280 pixels
1.4GHz ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core processor
Mali-400MP GPU, Exynos chipset
1GB RAM
16GB, 32GB, 64GB internal storage
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
HSDPA 21Mbps, HSUPA 5.76Mbps
Bluetooth 3.0 w/ A2DP
3.15MP camera with 720p video recording
2MP front-facing camera
micro-USB port
GPS
5100mAh Li-Po battery
Android 3.2 Honeycomb
There’s a TV-out port which could be a micro-HDMI and a micro-SD slot as well. Support for HSPA+ network is also present.
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 was just announced at IFA in Germany today and makes it the very first tablet with a Super AMOLED Plus display.

Source: Yugatech

BlackBerry Torch 9860 Review

2012-02-03T13:41:00.000+04:00

The BlackBerry Torch is has finally gone all touchscreen. It started out as an iconic qwerty slider phone and slowly evolved into a touchscreen smartphone.
There were actually two BB Torch handsets that were launched recently. The BB Torch 9810 still features a sliding qwerty keyboard and touch display while our review unit is the Torch 9860 that’s a full touchscreen handset.

This isn’t the first time BlackBerry had a full touchscreen phone in their line-up. I can still remember how they implemented it on the BlackBerry Storm around 3 years ago.

Though not as thin as its other siblings (Curve 9360 and Bold 9900), the Torch 9860 is still relatively thin at 11.5mm.

The display is just 3.7″ (diagonal) which is just enough and slightly larger than the one on the iPhone 4 and the Torch 9810. The screen resolution is 480×800 pixels giving it a density of 252ppi.
The display is bright and crisp with good contrast and color saturation. The capacitive screen is pretty responsive to the touch and gesture commands.

Despite its full touchscreen interface, the Torch 9860 still sports a number of physical buttons for navigation — actually, all the usual buttons are there in physical form, including the optical trackpad which has long replaced the optical trackball.
The microUSB port is on the left side while the volume controls are on the right, along with the dedicated camera shutter and the 3.5mm audio port. The lock button is also found on the top or forehead section of the device, same one on the Bold 9790 and the Curve 9360.

The back panel is made up of anodized aluminum with a laser-etched logo of BlackBerry. The 5MP autofocus camera is there along with the LED flash.
Speaking of the camera, shots are actually decent but the sensor isn’t that fast enough to be able to get really sharp photos so you oftentimes get blurry shots.

The 720p video recording looks good though. Not very sharp but good enough. You’ll notice some dropped frames in this sample below.
I guess the biggest deal here is the touchscreen or virtual keyboard. We’re already very familiar with how good the physical qwerty keypads of the BlackBerry line and having used and reviewed the latest iterations (Curve 9360, Bold 9790, Bold 9900), I’m already impressed with how soft, tactile and ergonomic those keyboards are.
The same cannot be said of the virtual keyboard of the Torch 9860. Although I already expected as much, I was still surprised at how they implemented it on the handset.

In portrait mode, the virtual keyboard is plain and simple yet feels a bit cramped. I guess they can’t do anything more with that narrow space.
It’s a little hard to type into the screen because the individual keys are so thin even if they spaced them apart, you’ll likely to miss a key or two. If you’re a seasoned touch-typist on a touchscreen phone, the one on the Torch 9860 still lacks some sort of visual or tactile feedback.

To remedy, BlackBerry offers additional keyboard layouts. The reduced keyboard provides for Sure-Type (bigger keys but with 2 letters per key) and Multi-Tap (which is similar to the standard alphanumeric layout).

In the landscape orientation, the typing experience becomes more comfortable and easier. You’ll end up using both hands to touch-type but the spacing is wider and the keys are fatter.
I guess this is the best way to type on the Torch 9860 especially if you’re an experienced BB user. I would have suggested they added an alphanumeric keyboard layout but that’s already a departure on the BB qwerty signature (unless of course you include the BlackBerry Pearl).

Where the Torch 9860 excels is the multimedia department. This is primarily because you get a much more usable screen real estate to play with. Unlike the flagship Bold 9900 or even the Torch 9810 with their 2+ inch screens (the Torch 9810 has a 3.2″ display), the BlackBerry Torch 9860 offers a relatively large 3.7″ display.
As such, playing games from the AppWorld is much more enjoyable, browsing the web with its built-in browser is more comfortable and running apps like FB, Twitter and Maps makes more sense because of the screen real estate.

The Torch 9860 performs really well, much like the Bold 9790 and the 9900. The specs will speak for itself and since it’s running on BlackBerry OS 7, you get a fluid and more optimized environment. That gives you a different perspective and experience of the OS and its UI design.

BlackBerry Torch 9860 specs:

1.2GHz Qualcomm 8655 processor
3.7″ TFT capacitive display @ 480×800 pixels
4GB internal storage, 768 MB RAM
HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1 w/ A2DP
GPS w/ aGPS support
5MP autofocus camera w/ LED flash
720p video recording
Li-Ion 1230 mAh battery
BlackBerry OS 7

Conspicuously absent is the NFC feature which is already available on the Bold 9900.
Battery life is tricky. It will last you the whole day but that really depends on how much you use the handset. For the most part, you will likely need to recharge by end of the day. BlackBerry handsets suffer from poor battery life because they are mostly connected to the net (specifically, for BBM to work).

The Torch 9860 is a hit or a miss — either you hate it because you’re so used to the physical keypad of the previous BB handsets or you’ll love because it offers the screen real estate no other BB handset has ever provided (giving you better appreciation of the apps, web browsing and games).

Source: Yugatech

Samsung Galaxy S Advance

2012-02-02T13:28:00.000+04:00

Samsung Galaxy S Advance (GT-I9070) now official, features a dual-core processor and a curve 4-inch screen

Samsung just announced its latest affordable dual-core smartphone the Galaxy S Advance (GT-I9070). The Galaxy S Advance comes with a dual-core 1GHz processor, a curved 4-inch WVGA (800 x 480) Super AMOLED display, 756MB RAM, 8GB or 16GB of internal storage, Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, HSPA up to 14.4Mbps, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0, 1500mAh battery, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and 720p video recording.

Source: Ilonggo Tech Blog

Nokia Lumia 800 Teardown

2012-01-28T13:14:00.000+04:00

I wouldn’t recommend trying this at home, but Tech Republic showed how they cracked open the Nokia Lumia 800. They also listed the internal hardware they found.

One thing to note is that that they thought the unibody polycarbonate case was metal. If you recall, the New York Times also thought the Nokia Lumia 900 was made of metal.

Tech Republic found these inside:

1.4 GHz single-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 (MSM8255T) processor (with Adreno 205 GPU)
Elpida B4064B2PD-6D-F 2Gb LP DDR2 DRAM (512 MB)
16GB Hynix NAND flash chip (H26M52002CKR)
3.7″ AMOLED display (800 x 480)
8 MP rear-facing camera
3.8V, 1,450 mAh Li-Ion battery
Atmel mXT224 touchscreen controller (MXT-N0K1 CCU-1R6 1G4456B)
Broadcom BCM4329 Low-Power 802.11n with Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and FM (BCM4329EKUBG)
Qualcomm PM8058 power management IC
Qualcomm QTR8200 RF Transceiver
TriQuint TQM7M5013 Quad-Band GSM / GPRS / EDGE-Linear Power Amplifier Module
AAC Technologies ELV1411A X Direction Linear Vibrator (vibratior motor).

Source: The Nokia Blog

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Review

2012-01-22T15:47:00.000+04:00

Samsung very first tablet came out about 2 years ago. Since then, the Korean company has outed half a dozen other tablets with ranging sizes and form factors (from 5.0, 5.3 to 7.7, 8.9 & 10.1 inches). The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is basically a refresh of the very first model.

If you’ve owned or tried the Galaxy Tab 10.1 or 8.9, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus looks and feels like their fraternal twin. The hardware configuration and design are almost exactly alike.
At 9.9mm thin and 345 grams, the Tab 7.0 Plus is pretty thin and light. The back panel is made up for glossy, white plastic with a silver accent wrapped around the edges.

One of Samsung’s obvious strategy is to flood the market of Android tablets in all sizes to cater to specific needs and lifestyle of consumers and so far, it is working. Yes, size does matter — whether you want a larger one for better screen real estate or you want something smaller for portability.
The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus sits in the middle — right in between the Galaxy S WiFi at 5 inches and the Galaxy Tab 8.9. So what ou get is a thin and light Android tablet that’s still jacket-pocket friendly.
The 7-inch display is pretty usable, has a nice bright screen and good contrast although the resolution isn’t as packed as what we’ve all wanted (1024×600 pixels). It’s also no match against the sun so you have to deal with glare in the outdoors.

Like the first Galaxy Tab, the Tab 7.0 Plus also comes with cellular features — that means you are able to make phone calls and send/receive SMS with the native apps. The 3G SIM card slot is found on the left side of the tablet along with the microSD card slot for storage expansion.
Of course, to avoid looking silly when holding the tablet up against your ears when taking calls, it is best to use a hands-free earphones or a Bluetooth headset to do so. There’s also that AirDroid App you can download and use to wirelessly use/manage your device over WiFi.

The Tab 7.0 Plus comes with Android 3.2 Honeycomb polished with Samsung TouchWiz UI for tablets. The UI experience is pretty solid, smooth and fluid as expected of the Galaxy Tab series.
From the 5 home screens, you can add widgets, shortcuts, apps and organize them to your liking. You can also set Live Wallpapers for the background but that might just drain the tablet’s battery much faster.
And since this is an Android tablet, it goes without saying that you have access to hundreds of thousands of apps in the Android Market. Some are built for smartphones and a few are made specifically for tablets but you can use any of them as you please.

What the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus have that no other Samsung tablet (and very few other Android tablets) has is the built-in IR Blaster (found at the middle of the right corner).
The only other Honeycomb tablet I’ve seen that has this same feature is the Sony Tablet S but that one has not yet been launched in the Philippines.

With the right app, you can use the tablet as a remote control for a number of appliances and devices at home. I was able to download Peel SmartRemote and use it to control my 3-year old Samsung TV at home.
It also supports several other devices like Blu-ray players, stereos and streaming media players like the Roku and the Apple TV. This universal remote feature will really come handy when you have multiple devices at home and and always misplace the remote control.

The hardware configuration on the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is spot on. In some respects, I feel it’s even a bit better if you compare it to its older siblings, the Tab 8.9 and Tab 10.1.
The bigger Galaxy Tabs were actually using an NVidia chipset so they’re generally good in the gaming department. The Tab 7.0 Plus, on the other hand, uses a 1.2GHz dual-core Exynos chip.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus GT-P6200 specs:
7-inch PLS display @ 1024×600 pixels
1.2GHz Exynos 4210 dual-core processor
Mali-400MP GPU
1GB RAM
16GB and 32GB internal storage
microSD card up to 64GB
3G/HSPA+ 21Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA
3MP rear camera w/ 720p video recording
2MP front-facing camera
Bluetooth 3.0
GPS w/ aGPS support
IR port
4000mAh Li-Ion battery
Google Android 3.2 Honeycomb
The Tab 7.0 Plus is only available in 16GB and 32GB of internal storage but you can expand it using a microSD card with capacities of up to 64GB (sold separately).
The tablet is also capable of speeds up to 21Mbps over mobile internet on an HSPA+ network (same as the Galaxy S2 and the Galaxy note).

Quadrant Standard score went thru the roof at 3,523 (the Galaxy Note got 4,154). The Galaxy Tab 10.1 only got 1,406 when we did the same benchmark before.
As such, you get really good experience with gaming and video playback. Web browsing is also smooth and the 1024-pixel resolution in the landscape mode is perfect for most websites. It’s in the portrait mode (at 600 pixels) where it gets a little cramped.
The two speakers at the bottom end of the tablet is usable but not really that loud enough. I’d suggest using a headphone hooked to the 3.5mm audio jack at the top corner when listening to music or watching movies.

The 3MP camera and LED flash at the back is decent and usable but not that great so I did not bother taking sample shots for here. The photos seems to be grainy and has a lot of noise when used in low-light conditions. It’s got autofocus and can be controlled when you tap the screen for refocusing. It’s capable of recording 720p HD videos though so that’s a plus point in that department.
Battery life is also quite good. I managed to squeeze in around 7 hours of movie playback on a single full charge. That’s at full volume and 50% screen brightness. I reckon it can do better when the settings are dialed down a bit.
Take note though that battery life will heavily depend on case use, the apps running in the background and the idle settings (WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, etc).

The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus surely offered a better experience and performance over its predecessor. It also provided an alternative form factor to those looking at the Tab 8.9 and 10.1 and felt they’re still a bit bulky to carry around. The 7.0 Plus gives that good balance between portability and performance in a very affordable price point.

Source: Yugatech

Comparison: Nokia Lumia 710 vs HTC Radar

2012-01-18T13:28:00.001+04:00

The Nokia Lumia 710 just launched at T-mobile, but there’s another Windows Phone device the carrier is offering that may sway customers away. It’s the HTC Radar. The Nokia Lumia 710 costs less than the Radar, but it appears that HTC’s device offers more features. Here’s my video comparison. Take a look.

You can also watch this video in HD on Youtube. Subscribe to the channel to preview the latest videos before they get published on the blog.

Display. The Nokia Lumia 710 has a 3.7-inch TFT display with Clearblack filter for better viewing outdoors. The HTC Radar has an SLCD display which looks great indoors, but is less visible outdoors than the Lumia. Other than that, I can’t see any other differences.

Build. The HTC Radar has a metallic body while the Nokia Lumia 710 feels plasticky. The sides on the Radar are also rounded, which makes it feel better to hold in the hands.

Internals.
Both the Radar and the Lumia 710 have the same 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 CPU with 512MB RAM
. CORRECTION: Radar has only 1GHz processor not 1.4 GHz like Nokia Lumia 710. Speed and performance appear the same.

Battery. The Nokia 710 has a user-replaceable 1300mAh battery while the HTC Radar has a 1520mAh battery that isn’t removable. Since the two phones have the same processor and run the same OS, I assume the HTC Radar has longer battery life. Sorry, I haven’t tried any scientific tests.
Software. Both devices run Windows Phone 7.5, but there are 2 major differences. The Nokia Lumia 710 offers Nokia Drive for turn-by-turn voice navigation. The HTC Radar offers HTC Hub, which will be familiar to previous Andorid users. Internet Sharing is also available on the HTC Radar so you can use your laptop or tablet on the go. Hopefully a firmware update on the Nokia Lumia 710 will also make that option available.

Camera. The HTC Radar has two camera features that I’d love to see on the Nokia Lumia 710. There’s a built-in panorama camera which works great and there’s burst shot mode where it shoots 5 consecutive photos.

Conclusion

The Nokia Lumia 710 costs less than the HTC Radar, but the more expensive device comes with extra features. I hope a firmware update on the Nokia Lumia 710 will also make those missing features available to the users.

Source: The Nokia Blog